Rotary shaft position switch
US4214133A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1977 |
| Grant date | Jul 22, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H36/0073
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A rotary shaft position indicator and control in which a switch is housed within an enclosure sealed against dust, moisture, corrosive or explosive foreign materials and is magnetically actuated in response to rotary shaft position. In one embodiment a plurality of microswitches are disposed within a sealed switch cavity and cams are mounted on a rotatable spindle, each cam positioned to actuate a microswitch. A first annular magnet is secured to the spindle. Disposed proximate the first annular magnet and separated therefrom by a non-magnetic wall is a second annular magnet secured to the rotary shaft. The annular magnets are magnetically coupled through the non-magnetic wall such that rotation of the shaft causes the spindle to rotate, thereby actuating selected microswitches. In an alternative embodiment the microswitches are actuated magnetically by bar magnets secured to the rotary shaft and separated from the microswitches by a non-magnetic wall of the sealed housing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.