US3015705A - Dual rotary switch assembly - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1962 w. B. DULL DUAL ROTARY swrrcn ASSEMBLY M52721? W/LL/A/V/ 5 DUAL 1 t m y w e m i! 2 w m w. R m m v. 5m 5 5K m v ma "I wmm q, u? w A N (F 6 1 M w w z n F ufaa Jan. 2, 1962 w. B. DULL 3,015,705

DUAL ROTARY SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed 001;. e, 1958 2'Sheets-Sheet 2 217m W/LL/AM 5. 01/44 3,@l5,7il Patented Jan. 2, 1962 3,015,705 DUAL ROTARY SWITCH ASSEMBLY William B. Dull, Goldwater, Mich., assignor to Kingston Products Corporation, Kokomo, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Oct. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 765,603

' 7 Ciaims. (Cl. 200-6) The present invention relates broadly to electrical switch constructions, and is more particularly concerned with a dual rotary switch provided with a pair of cooperating angularly adjustable actuator members having camming flanges cooperating with resilient contact arms and resilient positioning means to thereby effect selective actuation of the contact arms and self-indexing of the switch through the positioning means.

According to the general principles of the present invention, a pair of one-piece actuators made of molded nylon or the like and each provided with a stem having a flange formed thereon are used to actuate resilient contact arms into selective bridging engagement with contact terminals carried on a base plate. The contact arms and the actuating flange oneach stern are enclosed in a switch housing. Each flange is provided with teeth around its outer circumference for meshing engagement with the other flange whereby rotation of one actuator member drives the other actuator member. One side of the flange on both the driving and driven actuator member has camming surfaces formed thereon selectively engaging the contact arms, while in the exemplary ernbodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the other side of the flange of the driven actuator member has camming surfaces selectively engaging resilient positioning means preferably supported by an adjoining wall of the housing. Any desired number of positions may be provided in the switch of this invention, and in particular applications stop means may be utilized to limit the angular adjustability of the actuator members. However, normally the novel switch herein disclosed is selectively adjustable through a complete revolution of 360 so that stop means are not required.

By provision of camming surfaces on one side of both flanges, and camming surfaces on the opposite side also of one of the flanges, the resilient contact arms are actuated to perform electrical functions and the resilient positioning means engaged to perform the mechanical functions of indexing and-angular movement control. Further, by provision of the gearing arrangement whereby one actuator member is driven by the other, a greater number of switch positions are obtained without substantially increasing the dimensions of the switch housing. In addition, by reason of the inherent resilience of the contact arms and positioning means, all parts are preloaded and unnecessary looseness therebetween, rattling and other undesirable actions are effectively avoided. Also, the preloading gives a good positioning feel in the operation of the switch. I

A primary aim of the present invention accordingly lies in the provision of a new and improved dual rotary switch assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary switch comprising a minimum number of relatively simple components.

A further object of this invention is to provide onepiece actuator mechanisms for a rotary switch which do not require lubrication and which may be readily fabricated utilizing high speed production techniques.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dual rotary switch incorporating novel actuator members in meshing engagement one with the other and effective to induce the performance of both electrical and mechanical functions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, particularly when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view, with parts shown in'elevation, of a rotary switch provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the interior of the switch housing, with certain parts removed, to show particularly the resilient positioning means as located therein;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the interior of the switch housing, and showing the cooperating actuator members after proper positioning therein;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the base plate illustrating a particular arrangement of contact switch means;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the base plate and showing the contact switch means and terminal members connected thereto; and

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of one side of an actuator member to illustrate camming surfaces provided for engagement with the resilient positioning means shown in FIGURE 2.

The switch of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 15, and comprises an enclosure or housing 16 which can conveniently be made as a cup-shaped stamping of generally rectangular configuration including a wall 17 and upstanding side walls 18. At the edges of the side Walls 18 there is provided a plurality of tangs or lugs 19 which can be struck over to retain in firm assembly across the open side of the enclosure 16 a base member or plate 20 made of an electrically non-conductive material.

The base member 20 is a rectangularly shaped insulator sheet and has its edges notched as at 19a in FIG- URE 4 to receive the tangs or lugs 19. Attached in firm assembly to the base member is a plurality of contact terminals. For clarity in description, the designations T T and T are applied to the contact terminals which secure the switch contacts to the base member 20, while the legends T T and T are applied to the contact terminals against which the switch contacts are selectively depressed during operation of the switch assembly 15. The switch assembly now to be further described is a sixposition switch, however, it will be appreciated that the principles of this invention apply to switches having a greater or lesser number of positions, and that accordingly the number of contact terminals may be widely varied. Modifications may further be practiced in the arrangement of camming surfaces later to be described. The number of switch positions to be provided is limited principally by availability of space on the actuator members for'the camming surfaces as well as the limitations of space on the base member for the contact terminals, and the six-position switch herein disclosed should therefore be considered as exemplary only.

It is to be noted particularly from FIGURES 4 and 5 that each contact terminal T T and T comprises a connecting contact portion 21 on the outside of the switch 15 and a switch contact portion 22 inside of the enclosure 16. A single connecting portion 21 serves to secure the switch portions 22b and 220 to the base member 20, and a single connecting portion 21 attaches the switch portions 22d and 22a to said base 20. The switch portion 22a is mounted by the connecting portion 21 of the terminal T only. Various means may be employed to effect the attachment of the switch portions and connecting portions to the base member 20, and a preferred mode is to slot the switch portions for reception of the connecting portions and to flare one end of each of the latter portions against each switch portion, as indicated in FIG- URES l and 5 by the numeral 23. It may be noted at this point that the enclosure 16, being closed by the base member 20, has a hollow space 25 bounded on opposite sides by walls formed by the base member 29 and the wall portions 17 of the enclosure 16.

Each of the contact arms includes a body portion 26zz-e connected to the base member 20 by means of the connecting portions 21 of the terminals "f -T as noted, and each of the contact arms is disposed inside of the space 25 of the housing 16. It is to be seen that the contact arms 22a, 22c and 22a are essentially identical in configuration, and that the contact arms 22b and 22d are also similarly shaped. Each contact arm 22 is made of a strip material which is electrically conductive, and preferably has an inherent resiliency or springiness in order to develop the novel functions of the present invention.

The terminals T T and T are each provided with a connecting portion 27 disposed outside of the space 25 and a contact portion 28 interiorly of the enclosure 16. Securement of the noted terminals to the base member may be effected by flaring one end of each contact portion outwardly as at 29 to form a pressed contact with the outer surface of the base member. It is to be seen from FIGURES 4 and 5 that the contact terminal T serves by its contact portion 28 both of the switch portions 22c and 22a, that the terminal T provides the contact for the switch portions 22b and 22d, and that the contact portion 28 of the terminal T serves in the exemplary form shown only the switch portion 22a. For ease of understanding in the later to be described operation of the present switch assembly, the suffixes a-e have been applied to the contact portions of the terminals T T 7 and T acted upon by the switch portions 22a-e, respectively.

The body portion 26 of each contact arm extends toward the respective contact terminals T and includes an angularly bent detent portion indicated at 29a-e, the legs of the detent portion being shaped to protrude inwardly into the space of the enclosure 16. In the case of the contact arms 22a, 22c and 22s, the respective detent portions may be struck out of the contact arms in generally midway of their lengths to provide on each an oppositely bent portion 30a, 30c and 30:2. With respect to the contact arms 22b and 22d, it may be noted that their respective detent portions comprise the entire width of the arms. Each contact arm ZZa-e further comprises a switch contact portion 31a-e, respectively, in registry with the contact portions 28a-e of the terminals T T and T According to the principles of the present invention, there is provided a pair of cooperating one-piece actuator members which are conveniently fabricated as integral molded articles made of a suitable electrically non-conductive material such as nylon or the like. A commercially available material which has proven suited in actual practice is identified as Du Ponts Zytel No. 101. In this connection, it may be noted that the material selected may include such a representative plastic material as nylon which has the characteristic of being self-lubricating when fitted into bearing engagement with a metallic surface.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1 and 3, the actuating members of the present invention are indicated generally at 32 and 33, the member 32' being herein referred to as the driving member and the member 33 as the driven member. The driving member 32 will first be described in detail.

The member 32 comprises a generally cylindrical stem 34 flattened as at 35 to receive a finger manipulable knob (not shown) to facilitate manual actuation of the switch 15. At the opposite end of the stem 34 there is provided a reduced diameter pin 36 which is received in and seated in an aperture 37 located in the base member 20 to thereby provide a bearing and journal support for the end of the actuator 32.

The wall portion 17 of the enclosure 16 is also provided with an apertured embossment 38 surrounded by a relatively thin washer 39 and sized to provide a bearing and journaling engagement for the stem 34 of the actuator 32.

At an intermediate portion of the stem 34, the driving member 32 is provided with a flange 40 which extends radially outwardly from the stem inside the space 25 of the enclosure or casing 16. The flange 40 has front and rear faces 41 and 4-2, respectively, spaced from the wall 17 and base member 20.

The front face 41 of the flange 40 is essentially flat as shown, while the opposite face 42 is constructed to include three arc-like camming surfaces 43, 44 and 45 shaped and disposed to engage the detent portions 29b, 29a, and 290, respectively, of the contact arms 22b, 22a and 220. Each camming surface 43, 44 and 45 is provided at opposite ends with a sloped or inclined portion 46 and a generally flat portion 47 therebetween, and the camming surface 45 is interrupted about its circumference to provide a pair of spaced camming segments. As mentioned earlier, other arrangements of camming surfaces are well within the purview of this invention should it be desired to pro vide a switch having a greater or lesser numberof electrical positions than those shown in the drawings and described herein.

The peripheral portion of the flange 40* is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth 48 for meshing driving engagement with teeth 49 similarly spaced and located upon a flange 50 of the driven actuator member 33. It is to be seen from FIGURE 1 that the actuator members 32 and 33 are generally similarly shaped, an essential departure therefrom being the absence of a stern portion on the member 33 extending outwardly from the casing or housing 16. The actuator member 33 is pro vided at one end with a reduced diameter pin 51 which is received and seated in an aperture 52 located in the base member 20 to thereby provide a bearing and journal support for the end of the driven member 33; The wall por' tion 17 of the enclosure 16 is also provided with an apertured embossment 53 sized to provide a bearing and iournaling engagement for the end of the actuator opposite to the reduced diameter pin 51.

The flange 50 of the actuator 33 has front and rear faces 54 and 55, respectively, spaced from the wall 17 and base member 20. The face 55 of the flange 50 is constructed to include a pair of arc-like camming surfaces 56 and S7 shaped and disposed to engage the detent portions 29d and 2%,.respectively, of the contact arms 22d and 22s during rotation of the actuator 33 in meshing relation with the actuator 32. As was described in connection with the camming surfaces on the flange 40 of the actuator 32, the camming surfaces-56 and 57 on the flange 50 are each provided with a sloped or inclined portion 58 at opposite ends thereof and a generally flat portion 59 therebetween. The camming surface 57 is discontinuous to provide a pair of interrupted camming segments, in the manner of the camming surface 45 on the base flange 40. With respect also to the camming arrangement on the flange 50,'variations may be effected should it be. desired to provide a switch having a greater or lesser number of electrical positions than those shown in the drawings and described herein.

To assure that the camming surfaces on the flanges 40 and 50 will be located properly with respect to the contact switches 22a-e, alignment indicia 60 and 61 are provided on the faces 42 and 55 of the flanges 40 and 50, respectively. Such indicia may be in the form of a raised portion integral with each face, may be a recess in one of the teeth 48 of the flange'40 and a recess on the face 55 of the flange 50, ormay be painted on said faces or otherwise applied thereto.

Referring in particular to FIGURES l and 2, the apertured embossment 53 in the wall 17 of the housing 16is surrounded by and has seated thereupon resilient positioning means 62. The positioning means functions in cooperation with camming means located on the face 54- of the flange 50, said means comprising as shown in FIGURE 6 a plurality of rounded bottom notches 63 circumferentially spaced with respect to one another in the manner shown. Six of said notches or camming surfaces are formed to provide the desired indexing functions during rotation of the actuators 32 and 33, although it is of course appreciated that the number and positioning of the camming surfaces 63 may be varied when a greater or lesser number of positions are desired in the switch 15. 7

To function properly in cooperation with the camming surfaces 63 to provide the desired indexing, the positioning means 62 is shaped to include at one end a yoke portion 64 surrounding an apertured emhossmen-t 65 in the wall 17 of the enclosure 16 to restrain the positioning means against movement within the housing. The opposite end of the positioning or indexing means is formed to include a raised or tongue portion 66 having a detent 67 thereon. As appears in FIGURE 1, the major portion of the length of the resilient positioning means; 62; lies flush with the inner surface of the wall 17, withthe exception of the raised or tongue portion 66 of'said positioning means. Itis to be seen that the tongue'portionis generally rounded for proper reception in ;the closed rounded end of each camming notch or groove 63. i I

. In addition to being restrained against movement within the housing by location on the embossrnents 53 and 65, the positioning means 62 is held closely against the inner surface of the wall 17 by an annular bearing ring 68 which projects axially from the face 54 of the flange 5i) and is spaced concentrically outwardly of the central portion of the actuator 33. The bearing ring 68 is sized to surround the apertured embossment 53 and has an annular bearing edge 69 .slidably abutting the resilient positioning means 62 and preventing inward movement of said means within the housing 16.

7 Similarly, the actuator member 32 is shaped to include an annular bearing ring 7t having an annular bearing edge 71 slidably abutting the washer means 39 surrounding the apertured embossment 38. The annular bearing ring 70 is spaced concentrically outwardly of the stem 34 of the actuator 32, and functions to maintain the washer means 39 in firm contact with the inner surface of the wall 17. It has been found desirable to incorporate the bearing means 39 in the assembly to provide a'better bearing relation with the annular edge 71 on the actuator 32,

Between the pin 36 and the stem 34 of the actuator 32 there is a radial shoulder 72 which engages against the base 25. Similarly, between the pin 51 and inner stem portion 73 of the actuator 33 there is a radial shoulder 74 which also engages against the base 20. Accordingly, the portion of the stem 34 lying between the flange 40 and the pin 36, as well as the stem portion 73 of the actuator 33, operate as spacers in positioning the respective flanges 4t) and 5t} relative to the base member 2t). Likewise, in addition to cooperating in maintaining the positioning spring 62 against the inner surface of the housing wall 17, the bearing ring 68 operates as a spacer positioning the flange 50 relative to the wall 17. In like manner, the bearing ring 70 on the actuator 32 spaces the flange 46 relative to the wall 17.

It is to be further noted that the axial dimension between the radial shoulder 72 and the annular bearing surface 71, as well as the axial dimension between the radial shoulder 74 and the annular bearing surface 69, is such that when the actuators 32 and 33 are positioned with their respective flanges 40 and 5t) interiorly of the space 25, the resilient contact arms 22 resiliently engage the camming faces 42 and 55 of the flanges 4t) and 50 and develop a spring bias detent function upon cooperatively engaging the camming surfaces 45, 46 and 47 on the face 42 and the camming surfaces 56 and 57 on the camming face 55.

When the switch 15 is assembled as shown in FIGURE 1 with the indicia 60 and 61 aligned in the manner of FIGURE 3, the detent portion 67 of the resilient positioning means 62 is in the camming notch 63a on the front face 54 of the actuator member 33. Further, the detent portion 2% of the switch contact 22a is acted upon by the flat portion 47 of the camming surface 44 on the actuator 32, and the detent portion 29c of the switch contact 220 is upon the flat portion of the camming surface 45; In this first position of the switch 15, a circuit is completed from the terminal T to the terminal T and a circuit completed from the terminal T to the terminal T Rotation of the actuator member 32 in a clockwise direction when viewed looking toward the wall 17 of the switch 15, causes the detent portion 2% to travel upon the flat portion of the cam 44 to continue the circuit from terminal T to terminal T and further causes the detent 29b to ride upon the camming surface 43 to depress the switch contact portion 31b of the switch 22b against the contact 2% of the terminal T Simultaneously, the detent 29c remains in contact with the camming surface 45 to continue the circuit from the terminal T to the terminal T Rotation of the flange 40 in meshing engagement with the flange 50 of the actuator 33 causes counterclockwise rotation of the flange 50 to engage the detent 29d of the switch contact 22d and complete a circuit from the terminal T to the terminal T Upon completion of this rotation, the switch 15 is in its second position and the camming surface 63b on the front face of the flange 50 receives the detent 67 of the resilient positioning means 62 to properly index the switch.

Continued rotation of the actuator 32 moves the actuator 33 so that the resilient positioning means indexes the switch to a third position, at which time the positioning means is contacted by the camming surface 630 on the face 54 of the radial flange 53. It will be found that in this third position the detent portions of each switch contact 22a-e is in engagement with the relatively flat portion of each camming surface 43, 44, 45, 56, and 57. Accordingly, the switch contact portions 31ae are depressed against the contacts adjacent thereto. In this third position a circuit is completed from terminal T to terminal T a circuit completed from terminal T to terminal'T and a circuit effected from terminal T to terminal T Continued clockwise rotation of the actuator 32, and consequent counter-clockwise rotation of the actuator 33, moves the detent 29a off the camming surface 44, releases the detent 291) from the camming surface 43 and causes the detent 292 to move off the camming surface 57. In this fourth position, the switch contact 31d is depressed against the terminal contact 28d and the contact portion 310 bears against the terminal contact 280. Accordingly, a circuit is completed from the terminal T to the terminal T and from the terminal T to the terminal T Upon further rotation of the actuators 32 and 33, the resilient positioning means 62 indexes the switch into the fifth position by reception in the camming notch 63:: on the radial flange 50. The detents 29a and 29a remain out of engagement with their adjacent camming surfaces, the detent 29c is off the camming surface 45, the detent 29d is upon the flat portion 59 of the detent 56, and the detent 29b is upon the flat portion 47 of the camming surface 43. A circuit is thereupon completed from terminal T to terminal T and from terminal T to terminal T The final position of the illustrative switch 15 shown finds the detent 67 of the resilient positioning means in the camming notch 63; of the radial flange 50 of the actuator 33. At this time the detent 29d remains upon the flat surface 59 of the camming surface 56 and the detent 29e is upon the camming surface 57. All other detents are released from their respective cam'rning surfaces. With the detents 29d andwe thus contacted, a circuit is completed from terminal T and from terminal T to terminal T Again, as noted, a greater or lesser number of switch positions may be provided without departure from the novel concepts of the present invention.

A switch of the character described finds many applications in the appliance and related industries, and the switch may be conveniently mounted on an appliance cabinetor related structure in a number of different ways. The wall 17 of the enclosure or housing 16 may have an outwardly turned portion 75 (FIGURES 1 and 2) receivable in a suitable opening in the supporting structure, and the casing 16 may be rigidly secured thereto by passing a metal screw or bolt or similar means through a threaded apertured embossment 76 in the wall 17 of the enclosure 16 and into said supporting structure. Other forms of mounting means may of course be employed.

Because of the inherent resiliency of the spring contact arms 2211-12 and the positioning spring means 62, the actuators 32 and 33 are in effect preloaded, thereby tending to maintain selected positions of adjustment obtained by rotating the actuators relative tothe detent portions 29a-e of the contact arms and relative to the detent 67 of the positioning spring 62. When the actuator 32 is manually operated, good positioning feel is atforded because the detent 67 tends to definitely snap in place when said detent seats in a cam recess 6361- on the flange face 54. The actuator is also securely locked in place, and is not moved out of selected positions of adjustment because of vibration or inadvertent turning of the stem 34 of the actuator 32.

Various modifications may be efiiected in the structure herein disclosed without departing from the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rotary switch comprising a substantially rectangular cup-shaped housing open along one wall, a terminal member closing said wall and attached to said housing, resilient contact arms secured to the terminal member and having detent portions extending into the housing interior, a first one-piece actuator member comprising a stem journaled in the terminal member and one wall of said housing and a flange extending radially from said stem inwardly of opposite ends thereof, one side of said flange having cam surfaces formed thereon receiving the detent portions of the resilient contact arms during rotation of the actuator member, a second one-piece actuator member journaled at opposite ends in the terminal member and one wall of the housing and having between said ends a radially extending flange engageable with the flange of the first actuator member for rotation therewith, one side of the flange of the second actuator having cam surfaces formed thereon receiving the detent portions of other resilient contact arms during rotation of the actuator members, the other side of the last-named flange being provided with cam surfaces arranged adjacent the periphery thereof, and resilient positioning means clampingly held between the housing and the second actuator memher and having a detent portion engageable with the camming surfaces on the other side of the last-named flange to index the actuator members.

2. A rotary switch comprising a substantially rectangularcup-shaped housing open along one wall, a terminal member closing said wall and attached to said housing, resilient contact arms secured to the terminal member and having detent portions extending into the housing interior, a first one-piece actuator member comprising a stem journaled in the terminal member and one Wall of said housing and extending outwardly therefrom for hand manipulation and a peripherally toothed flange extending radially from said steminwardly of opposite ends thereof, one side of said flange having cam surfaces formed thereon receiving the detent portions of the resilient contact arms during rotation of the actuator member, asecond one-piece actuator member journaled at opposite ends in the terminal member and one wall of the housing and essentially entirely contained within said housing, said second actuator member being provided with a periphen ally toothed radial flange engageable with the flange of the first actuator to be rotatably driven thereby, one side 7 of the flange of the second actuator having cam surfaces formed thereon receiving the detent portions of other resilient contact'arms during rotation of the second actuator by the first actuator, the other side of the last-named flange being provided with cam surfaces arranged adjacent the periphery thereof, and resilient positioning means clampingly held between the housing and the second actuator member and having an end portion engageable with the cam surface on the other side of the last-named flange to index the actuator members.

3. A rotary switch comprising a substantially rectangular cup-shaped housing open along one wall, a terminal member closing said wall and attached to said housing, resilient contact arms secured to the terminal member and havingdetent portions extending into the housing interior, a first one-piece actuator member comprising a stern journaled in the terminal member and one wall of said housing and a peripherally serrated flange extending radially from said stem inwardly of opposite ends thereof,

one side of said flange having arc-shaped radially and circumferentially spaced cam surfaces formed thereon receiving in pressing contact the detent portions of the resilient contact arms during rotation of the actuator memher, a second one-piece actuator member journaled at opt posite ends in the terminal member and one wall of the housing and provided with a peripherally serrated radial flange in meshingengagement with the flange of the first actuator for rotation therewith, one side of the flange of the second actuator having arc-shaped radially and cireumferentially spaced cam surfaces formed thereon receiving the detent portions of other resilient contact arms during rotation of the actuator members, the other side of the last-named flange also being provided with cam surfaces arranged adjacent the periphery thereof, and resilient positioning means clampingly held between the housing and the second actuator member and having a detent portion engageable with the cam surfaces on the other side of the last-named flange to index the actuator members.

4. A rotary switch comprising a substantially trectan-l gular cup-shaped housing open along one wall, a terminal memberclosing said wall and attached to said housing,

a pair of spaced groups of resilient contact arms secured to the terminal member and having detent portions extending into the housing interior, a pair of one-piece actuator members each comprising a stem journaled in the terminal member and one wall of said housing and each having'a flange extending radially from said stem inwardly of opposite ends thereof, the flanges being notched along their outer circumferences for meshing engagement one with the other, one side of each flange having cam surfaces formed thereon receiving the detent portions of each group of the resilient contact arms during rotation of the actuator members, the other side of one of the flanges being provided with cam surfaces arranged adja cent the periphery thereof and the other side of the sec ond flange being essentially flat, and resilient positioning means clampingly held between the housing and the other actuator member and having a raised end portion provided with a detent thereon, said detent engaging the cam surfaces on the other flange side to index the actuator members.

5. A rotary switch comprising a substantially rectangular cup-shaped housing open along one wall, a terminal member closing said wall and attached to said housing, resilient contact arms secured to the terminal member and having detent portions extending into the housing interior, a first one-piece actuator member comprising a stem journaled in the terminal member and one wall. of said housing and a peripherally notched flange extending radially from said stem inwardly of opposite ends thereof, one side of said flange having a plurality of arc-shaped cam surfaces spaced radially and circumferentially from one another and provided with inclined and relatively flat portions receiving the resilient contact arms during rotation of the actuator member, a second one-piece actuator member journaled at opposite ends in the terminal member and one wall of the housing and provided between said ends with a peripherally notched radial flange in meshing engagement with the flange of the first actuator for rotation therewith, one side of the flange of the second actuator having a plurality of arc-shaped cam surfaces spaced radially and circumferentially from one another and provided with inclined and relatively flat portions receiving other resilient contact arms during rotation of the actuator member, the other side of the last-named flange being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches arranged adjacent the periphery thereof, and resilient positioning means clampingly held between the housing and the second actuator member and having a raised end portion provided with a detent thereon, the detent of said raised end portion being received in the notches on the other side of the last-named flange to index the actuator members.

6. A rotary switch comprising a substantially rectangular housing having a pair of spaced walls, one of which comprises a terminal member removably secured to said housing, the other of said walls having a plurality of apertured embossments thereon, a plurality of groups of resilient contact arms attached to the terminal member and having detent portions spaced from said walls, a first one-piece actuator member comprising a stem portion journaled in the'terminal member and one of the apertured embossments in the other housing wall and having a hand manipulable portion extending outwardly from said Wall, said member being provided with a peripherally serrated flange extending radially from said stem portion inwardly of opposite ends thereof, one side of said flange having cam surfaces formed thereon receiving the detent portions of one group of resilient contact arms during the rotation of the first actuator member, a second one-piece actuator member essentially entirely within the housing and having a stem portion journaled in the terminal member and journaled at its opposite end in a second of the apertured embossments, said second actuator having a peripherally serrated flange in meshing engagement with the flange of the first actuator to be driven thereby upon rotation of the hand manipulable portion, one side of the flange of the second actuator having cam surfaces formed thereon receiving the detent portions of a second group of resilient contact arms upon rotation by the first actuator, the other side of the lastnamed flange being provided with notched cam surfaces arranged adjacent the periphery thereof, and a resilient positioning member carried by one of the second of the apertured embossments in the other housing wall and maintained thereon by the second actuator member and having a yoke portion surrounding a third of said embossments, said positioning member further including a tongue portion having a detent thereon engageable with the cam surfaces on the other side of the flange to index the actuator members.

7. A rotary switch comprising a substantially rectangular housing having a pair of spaced walls, one of which comprises a terminal member removably secured to said housing, the other of said walls having apertured embossments thereon, a pair of horizontally spaced groups of resilient contact arms attached to the terminal member and having detent portions spaced from said Walls, a pair of one-piece actuator members each comprising a stern portion journaled in the terminal member and one of the apertured embossments in the other housing wall, each of the actuators having an integral disc-shaped flange serrated about its outer circumference for meshing engagement with the other of said flanges whereby rotation of one actuator drives the other actuator, one side of each of said flanges having arc-shaped radially surrounding and circumferentially spaced cam surfaces formed thereon receiving in pressing contact the detent portions of one group of resilient contact arms during rotation of the actuator members, the other side of one of the'flanges being essentially flat and the other side of the other flange being provided with circumferentially spaced cam surfaces arranged adjacent the periphery thereof, and a resilient positioning member carried by one of the apertured embossments in the other housing wall and maintained thereon by the other actuator member and having a yoke portion surrounding another embossment, said positioning member further including a tongue portion having a detent thereon engageable with the cam surfaces on the other side of the other flange to index the actuator members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,928 Goebel Apr. 29, 1884 490,746 Gibbs Jan. 31, 1893 1,694,928 Rider Dec. 11, 1928 2,454,646 Gates Nov. 23, 1948 2,530,006 Ellithorpe Nov.l4, 1950 2,697,156 I Hortman Dec. 14, 1954 2,868,930 Pistey Jan. 13, 1959 2,876,313 Dull et a1 Mar. 3, 1959

Images