Hydraulically-piloted switch
US5136128A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 11, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H11/06
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A hydraulically-piloted switch assembly includes a housing through which runs a hollow conduit that in use contains a fluid under pressure. A linear conduit portion defines a bore one end of which projects away laterally from a portion of the conduit. Slidable sealingly within the bore is a piston. There is an opening in the housing to the exterior atmosphere from the bore with one end of the pistion being movable through the opening to a position exposed beyond the housing. The piston is urged by a compression spring away from the opening to retract the piston end. An elongated leaf spring is secured at one end fo the housing, has an intermediate bend disposed adjacent to the exit of the opening and has its other end defining a finger that projects away from the opening. An outwardly-biased plunger of a microswitch is located in the path of flexure of the finger as the piston end is engaged and disengaged from the bend. The spring rate of the coil spring is selected to determine the actuation of the microswitch by the plunger in correspondence with the pressure level of the fluid relative to atmospheric pressure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.