Proximity switch in mounting arrangement

US4680436A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• WABCO Westinghouse Steuerungstechnik GmbH & Co. · DE

Inventors

• Walter Brausfeld · Hannover, DE
• Helmut Gottling · Altwarmbüchen, DE
• Rudolf Moller · Gehrden, DE
• Peter Muller · Munich, DE
• Gerhard Scharnowski · Gehrden, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 28, 1986
• Grant date: Jul 14, 1987
• Expiry date: Jul 28, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01H9/0207
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A contactless proximity switch and mounting arrangement for determining the position of a movable member within a cylinder which has two end covers secured on the cylinder by means of a plurality of tie rods, includes a switch housing which secures to one of the tie rods. A contact opening formed in the switch housing has disposed therein, a switch having a pair of contacts and a permanent magnet disposed in a fixed manner. One pole of the permanent magnet is connected to a first contact, while the second pole is disposed in a contacting relation to the cylinder. A second contact is electrically coupled to the cylinder at a position a predetermined distance from where the second pole is disposed. As the movable member, which is constructed of a ferromagnetic material, nears the switch housing, the air gap between the second contact and second pole is bridged and the contacts close indicating the proximity of the movable member to the switch element. The entire proximity switch apparatus can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder.