Rotary switch with direction-of-rotation output
US6127636A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 3, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2019/006
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A rotary switch with direction-of-rotation output includes a thumbwheel (12), a first reduced-diameter ratchet wheel (14), a second reduced-diameter ratchet wheel (16), and a mounting shaft (18) upon which the thumbwheel (12), ratchet wheel (14), and ratchet wheel (16) are mounted in side-by-side frictionally engaged relationship. The ratchet wheel (14) and the ratchet wheel (16) cooperate with respective pawls (24)(30) so that the ratchet wheel (14) is constrained for rotation in one direction only about the shaft (18), and the ratchet wheel (16) is constrained for rotation in the other direction only about the shaft (18). The thumbwheel (12) is in frictional engagement with the ratchet wheel (14) and the ratchet wheel (16) so that rotation of the thumbwheel (12) will cause one of the two ratchet wheels to rotate. Normally closed electrical switches (44)(46) are mechanically connected to the respective pawls (24)(30) so that rotation of the thumbwheel (12) will cause one switch or the other to open and close to thereby determine the direction-of-rotation of the thumbwheel (12).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.