US3218401A

US3218401A - Torsional and axially movable resilient rotor structure for electric switches

Info

Publication number: US3218401A
Application number: US132065A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles W Root
Original assignee: Bendix Corp
Current assignee: Bendix Corp
Priority date: 1961-08-17
Filing date: 1961-08-17
Publication date: 1965-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-16
Also published as: GB983996A; ES280086A1

Description

Nov. 16, 1965 c. w. ROOT TORSIONAL AND AXIALLY MOVABLE RESILIENT ROTO STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1'7, 1961 IN VEN TOR.

CHARLES W. ROOT MM Q ATTORZEYS N 6, 1965 c. w. ROOT 3,218,401

TORSIONAL AND AXIALLY MOVABLE RESILI T ROTOR STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC SWITO Filed Aug. 17, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. ROOT I q .7 BY

ATTORNE S Nov. 16, 1965 c. w. ROOT 3,218,401

TORSIONAL AND AXIALLY MOVABLE RESILIENT ROTOR STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed Aug. 17, 1961 3 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR. CHARLES W. ROOT 5 mm w m m/Q fnwzw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,218,401 TORSIONAL AND AXIALLY MOVABLE RESILIENT ROTOR STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Charles W. Root, Sidney, N.Y., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, Sidney, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 132,065 15 Claims. (Cl. 200-11) This invention relates to electrical apparatus, and more particularly to a switch, such as an engine starting and ignition switch.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel multi-position switch.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a multi-position switch which is particularly characterized by its simplicity and economy of manufacture.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a novel multi-position switch of the rotary type wherein the rotor is made up essentially of an integral resilient electrically insulating body, parts of which urge the contacts on the rotor into firm electrical engagement with the contacts on the stator of the switch.

Still another object of the invention is the provision, in a multi-position switch of the character indicated, of integral resilient means which both carries the contacts on the rotor and returns the rotor to a stable condition from one into which it has been turned to initiate a temporary operation, as during the starting of a motor.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a switch of the type indicated wherein there is incorporated at least one contact which is normally in inoperative condition but which may selectively be made operative by movement of the switch rotor in a direction different from the usual or normal direction of movement of such rotor.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of an ignition switch made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal axial section taken on line 22 of FIG. 3 through the switch of FIG. 1, the outer casing and stator of the switch being shown in the same position as in FIG. 1, the rotor of the switch being shown turned to the start position, the rotor of the switch being shown in its axially outer position wherein the accessory contact of the switch is deenergized, certain of the parts being shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the switch from the stator end thereof, the view being taken from the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in transverse section through the switch, the contacts on the rotor of the switch being shown in phantom lines in the positions which they occupy when the rotor is in start position, the section being taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another view in transverse section through the switch, the section being taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2, with the rotor of the switch turned into start position;

FIG. 6 is a view in end elevation of the switch mounted on a panel, the key-like operating member of the switch being shown in elevation in the position which it occupies when the switch is in off position, the view being taken from the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

"ice

FIG. 7 is a composite schematic view showing four successive positions of the switch rotor and the contacts which it carries relative to the stator of the switch; some of the various angular positions of the switch shown in this figure are somewhat different from those of the other figures of the drawings for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 8 is a view in transverse section through the switch, the section being taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a view in longitudinal axial section through the main body of the rotor of the switch, the section being taken along the line 99 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the rotor of the switch thrust inwardly into a position in which the accessory contact of the switch is energized, the housing of the switch being fragmentarily shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 11 is a wiring diagram of an engine ignition circuit incorporating the switch shown in FIGS. 1-9, inclusive, the circuit of FIG. 11 also including a motor starting circuit and a circuit for energizing an accessory device, both of such latter circuits being selectively energized through the switch.

The switch of the illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown herein in an application wherein it functions to control the starting and magneto-energizing circuits of an internal combustion engine. In such application the embodiment of switch illustrated provides positive off and on control of a high or low tension magneto or of battery ignition, and provides selectively operated starting contacts whereby the engine may be started in one position of the switch. In the embodiment shown, the switch also provides means for energizing an accessory circuit in all but the off position of the switch. As a consequence of such features, the switch permits a simple, one-handed operation thereof selectively to energize the accessory circuit only while the engine is not running, to deenergize the accessory circuit and to stop the motor, to start the motor, and to allow the motor to run, in both the latter positions of the switch the accessory circuit remaining energized.

Although the switch is illustrated herein as an ignition switch operating as above described, it will be apparent from the following description that the switch is capable of a variety of other uses in the embodiments thereof shown, and further that it is of a construction which lends itself readily to modification of the manner of connection of the contacts thereof, such as the stator contacts, so as to permit the switch to be employed for a large number of other purposes.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown therein a switch, generally designated 10, which is useful, for ex-v ample, as the ignition switch of an outboard motor. Switch 10 has a housing generally designated 11 which may be made, for example, of metal. The housing has a rear hollow cup-like portion with a peripheral wall 15 and an end wall 14, wall 14 being centrally joined to a central axially extending barrel portion 12. The stator of the switch is in the form of an insulating disc 16 made, for example, of molded plastic material, disc 16 being mounted in an annular seat 17 on the forward or inner end of the portion 15 of the housing. A skirt 19 surrounds the edge of disc 16, angularly spaced portions of the skirt being extended rearwardly as shown and being deformed radially inwardly so that portions 20 thereof overlie the bevelled outer edge of disc 16. As a result, the disc 16 is strongly held against axial withdrawal from casing 11. The disc is accurately angularly located with respect to the casing by having one of the projections on skirt 19 (shown at the bottom in FIG. 3) accurately received within a slot 13 in the edge of disc 16. The rim portions 18 of disc 16 on both sides of slot 13 are unbevelled, the further edges of such portions 18 engaging the edges of opposed extensions on the skirt 19.

Barrel portion 12 of the casing is threaded as shown at 21 so as to receive thereon a nut 22 which is designed to underlie a mounting panel 23 as shown in FIG. 6. A cap 24 is threadedly received upon the outer end of barrel 12 so as to overlie the mounting panel 23.

The stator of the switch shown is provided with three radially outer angularly

spaced contacts

25, 26, and 27 and with two radially inner angularly spaced

contacts

29 and 30. The radially outer and inner contacts are adapted selectively to be bridged and thus connected by three angularly

spaced contacts

31, 32, and 34 carried by the rotor. The relative positions of the radially inner and outer contacts on the stator are shown in the schematic diagrams of FIG. 7 wherein the contacts are designated by the same reference characters as those employed in connection with the actual structure but with an added prime. In FIG. 7 also, the contacts of the rotor are also shown schematically and are thus designated by the same characters as the actual contacts but with an added prime.

The contacts on the stator, shown in detail in FIG. 4, may conveniently be formed from one piece of electrically conducting metal such as copper which has been initially blanked out with the proper configuration. Such blank has five

integral terminal tabs

35, 36, 37, 39, and 40 thereon. The terminal tabs are bent so as to project out- Wardly from the main extent of the blank in directions normal thereto. The contact blank may then be placed as an insert in the mold of a plastic material molding press, and the disc 16 of plastic material molded thereabout. Following this, the disc 16 and the main body of the contact blank now included as an insert therein are machined so as to cut an annular groove 60 therein, such groove being concentric with the axis of the rotor and stator. The inner face of the stator is also drilled or milled at location 43 to a depth at least slightly exceeding the thickness of the contact blank. The thus described machining or cutting operations result in the formation of the aforesaid separate radially

outer contacts

25, 26, and 27 and the radially

inner contacts

29 and 30. The annular groove 60 is further modified by having portions of greater width formed therein at angularly spaced positions as shown in FIG. 4. Some of such widened portions, which are generally circular in shape, of the groove, to be described hereinafter, are adapted selectively stably to hold the rotor in any one of the first three positions thereof shown in FIG. 7. Others of such widened portions, which are elongated in shape, are adapted to relieve the contacts of the rotor from engagement with the radially inner and outer contacts of the stator when the contacts lie within such portions.

The rotor of the switch has a main body 41 which in the described embodiment is made as an integral element molded of resilient electrically insulating rubber or rubberlike material. Body 41 has a main disc-like portion 42 from which there extends rearwardly an axially directed sleeve portion 43. Portion 42 of the rotor has three re cesses in the form of bores 44 disposed therein, bores 44 being located at equal distances from the axis of the rotor and being angularly spaced about such axis in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The forward end 45 of each of bores 44 is of somewhat reduced diameter, there being an annular shoulder or seat 46 at the junctions of the main and forward portions of the bore. The rear surface of portion 42 is generally flat, as shown at 47. From such flat surface 47, at the location of each of the

contacts

31, 32, and 34 there is a rearwardly extending thin-walled cup 49 which is integrally molded with the rotor body 41. Cup 49 has a rear transverse wall or diaphragm 50 which has a central opening 51 therethrough.

Each of the bores 44 and the cup-like extensions 49 on body 41 receives its respective rotor contact. Each of such contacts is made of an integral piece of electrically conducting material such as copper. As shown in FIG. 2,

each of

contacts

31 and 34 has a rear body portion 52 which accurately but slidingly fits within the bore 44. The length of portion 52 of the contact is substantially equal to that of the length of the bore 44 inwardly from shoulder 46 when the cup-like extension 49 and diaphragm 51) are in their relaxed state. F orwardly of body 52 contact 34 has a portion 54 of reduced diameter which slidably but accurately engages the forward portion of the bore in the rotor. Contact 32 is generally similar to

contacts

31 and 34; the length of the forward end of contact 32, however, is appreciably less than that of

contacts

31 and 34, so that in the relaxed condition of the rotor the contacts have the relationship shown in FIG. 9.

An annular shoulder 55 between

portions

52 and 54 of the

contacts

31, 32 and 34 interacts with shoulder 46 of the bore stably to hold the contact in the rotor while permitting its ready insertion thereinto and removal therefrom when desired. The forward end of each of the contacts is rounded at 56 and the rear end of the contact is rounded at 57. Portion 42 of the rotor is constantly thrust to the right in FIG. 2 by interaction between the

contacts

31 and 34 on the rotor and the stator and, in turn, the thrust between the rear end 57 of such contacts and the end wall or diaphragm 50 of cups 49 of the rotor. The cavity 59 within casing portion 15 is made of such axial length as to permit the diaphragm 50 to bulge appreciably to the right when the

rotor contacts

31 and 34 bridge the narrow portions of groove 60. The dimensions of the parts and their relative dispositions are such that when the nose portion of one or both the

contacts

31 and 34 is stably received within the circular portions of groove 60 the diaphragm 50 is appreciably bulged or bowed, thereby constantly urging such contact to the left and into firm electrical engagement with the inner and outer contacts on the stator.

The groove 61) in the inner face of the stator has three angularly spaced tapered

enlarged portions

61, 62, and 64 and four circular

enlarged portions

65, 66, 67, and 69 disposed as shown in FIG. 4. As above mentioned, when the

rotor contacts

31 and 34 are Within the circular enlarged portions of groove 60 they bridge and effect contact between the radially inner and outer contacts of the stator. In FIG. 4 the rotor is shown in the starting position of the switch with rotor contact 34 bridging

stator contacts

26 and 30, rotor contact 32 confronting

stator contacts

27 and 30, and with rotor contact 31 lying on an insulated portion of the stator. It will be understood that, with the rotor in the axial position of FIG. 2, contact 32 does not engage

contacts

27 and 30. When the rotor is thrust forwardly into the position shown in FIG. 10, however, contact 32 does engage

contacts

27 and 30.

The portion 42 of rotor 41 has a peripherally relieved portion 70 into which a radially inwardly projecting stop member 71 on the housing extends. The angular extent through which the rotor may be turned is thus limited by the

elements

70 and 71. Portion 42 of the rotor is turned, and such portion is resiliently returned from the starting position to the running position of the switch, by the following mechanism.

The sleeve or neck portion 43 of the rotor extends axially within the barrel 12 of the casing. Sleeve 43 has a circular cylindrical bore 72 therein which extends from the outer end of the sleeve generally to the root of the sleeve. The inner or root end of bore 72 is tapered at '74 and leads into an axially extending rectangular slot which extends into body 42 of the rotor somewhat short of the inner or forward faces thereof. The tapering of the bore '72 at 74 facilitates entry of a key-like member '76 into slot '75. Such key-like member 76 has an elongated shank 77 which is adapted to be inserted into bore 72 and slot 75 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The portion 42 of the rotor may be turned by turning member 76 by its outer finger and thumb engaging portion 79.

The outer or rear end of neck 43 of rotor 41 is slidably engaged by the outer end of the bore in barrel 12 of the switch casing. An outwardly projecting land or spline 4S integral with neck 43 fits within a longitudinally extending groove 58 in the wall of the bore in the barrel of the casing, as shown in FIG. 3. The neck 43 is in its relaxed condition when the switch rotor 41 is in the off position. The torsion characteristics of neck 43 of the rotor are such, however, that the rotor is stably held in either the accessory actuating (Ace) position or the Run and Acc. position (FIG. 7) when the switch rotor is turned by key 76 either counterclockwise from the off position or clockwise therefrom, respectively. In either of the first and third positions of the switch rotor shown in FIG. 7 the retention of

contacts

31 and 34 on the switch rotor within the respective circular enlarged portions of groove 60 in the stator is firm enough to overcome the tendency of the twisted neck 43 of the switch rotor to return the rotor to off position.

When, however, the switch rotor is turned still further in a clockwise direction (FIG. 7) from the Run and Acc. position into the Start and Acc. position, the neck 43 of the switch rotor is subjected to a substantial additional torsion. The engagement between

contacts

31 and 34 and the stator of the switch is insufiicient to retain the rotor in such last position; consequently, when the key 76 is then released, the switch rotor returns to the Run and Acc. position, when it is again stably held until it is again deliberately turned by the operator.

An annular outer surface 80 on the neck 43 adjacent its root is rotatably and guidingly received within the forward portion of the bore in barrel 12 of the casing. Engagement between an annular shoulder 81 on the switch rotor and the forward end of barrel 12 prevents axial movement of the rotor as a whole to the right from the position thereof shown in FIG. 2. The portion of neck 43 between spline 48 and the rear or outer end of surface 89 is radially relieved somewhat, to allow it to twist, when required, free of contact with the bore of barrel 12.

The key '76 has two radially outwardly directed projections 85 located axially inwardly of handle 79. Projections 85 are adapted to cooperate with the outer end portion of barrel 12 of the switch casing whereby to prevent the withdrawal of the key from the switch when the switch rotor is in other than the Off position. The key is positively retained in the switch at the other positions of the switch rotor by the provision of an inwardly projecting flange 85' on the outer or rear end of barrel 12 of the switch casing. Flange 85 has a circular bore 87 therein which accurately receives the shank of key 76 outwardly of projections 85. Two opposed grooves 89 in flange 85' are of a width and radial depth which at least slightly exceed such dimensions of projections 85. The slots 89 are aligned with slot 75 in rotor 41 when the rotor is in its off position; consequently, the key may be fully inserted into operative position in the switch rotor when the latter is in such position. When the key is turned either clockwise or counterclockwise from such off position, however, the projections 85 on the key lie forwardly of flange 85', so that Withdrawal of the key is then positively prevented.

It will be understood that when the switch rotor is in the position shown in FIG. 2 the resiliently rearward dishing or bowing of the diaphragms 50 at the rear ends of portions as of the rotor body maintains the

contacts

31 and 34 in firm engagement with the switch stator, and maintains the annular shoulder 81 on the rotor in engagement with the annular shoulder presented by the forward end of barrel 12 of the switch casing. In such position of the rotor the contact 32 is spaced from the switch stator. When the rotor is thrust forwardly into the position shown in FIG. 10, however, the diaphragms 50 backing up

contacts

31 and 34 are additionally resiliently dished, and contact 32 is then thrust firmly into engagement with the stator; contact 32 then operatively cooperates with whatever contacts on the stator which it overlies. In the position of the rotor shown at the left in FIG.

7, the accessory circuit is energized through contact 34; in the two positions of the rotor shown at the right in FIG. 7 the accessory circuit is energized through contact 32 when the switch rotor is in the forwardly thrust position of FIG. 10. In such forwardly thrust position of the rotor, the projections on the key are received within the passage in neck 43 of the rotor and are frictionally engaged thereby to retain the rotor in such position until the key is withdrawn into the position of FIG. 2. If desired, the passage in neck 43 of the rotor may be provided with an annular groove (not shown) to receive projections 85 and to retain the key '76 somewhat more positively in the position of FIG. 10.

In FIG. 11 there is schematically shown a motor circuit in which the above-described switch may be advantageously employed. It is to be understood that such circuit and manner of use of the disclosed switch are illustrative only, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention. The switch 10 shown in FIG. 11 is employed as the starting switch for a single cylinder engine provided with magneto ignition, a starting motor, and with an accessory such as a light or a radio, the switch providing for the selective turning of the ignition system on and 0H, the starting of the engine, and the energization of the accessory.

The switch 10 of FIG. 11 is provided with five lead wires. A wire connects switch terminal 29 to ground. The other wires, 111, 112, 124, and 126 are connected to switch

terminals

39, 35, 4t), and 36, respectively, and eX- tend to separate contacts of a separable connector schematically shown at 99. Two other contacts of connector 99 are connected to a battery 1% by

wires

107 and 109.

Beyond connector 99 wire 197 extends to ground and to one side of a starting motor 1% for the engine. The other side of the starting motor 1% is connected to a contact 114 of a starting relay 101. The other contact of the starting relay is connected to wire 109. The relay 101 has a soleoid 113 having one end connected to ground and the other end connected to wire 112. The wire 112 is energized when contact 34 connects

switch contacts

26 and 30. At other times the contacts of relay 101 are electrically unconnected. The wire 116 is connected to the winding 1112 of the engine magneto so as selectively to connect the magneto winding to ground through the switch 10. When ungrounded, the winding of the magneto is operatively connected to the engine spark plug schematically shown at 121. The wire 124 is connected to one end of a first terminal which provides a power source for an accessory device (not shown); the other terminal 125 of the power source for such accessory device is connected to ground. An accessory device connected to

terminals

105 and 125 will be supplied with power from battery 1% when the rotor of switch 16 is in the Acc. position, with the rotor in the retracted axial position shown in FIG. 2, and will also he supplied with power when the body of the rotor is thrust axially inwardly (FIG. 10) in both the turned Run and Ace. and Start and A00. positions of such rotor.

The switch of the present invention in accordance with preferred embodiments thereof is waterproof, and thus is especially desirable for use in applications wherein it is exposed to moisture, as in marine installations. Thus an annular sealing gasket 127 is mounted in the annular seat 17 in the switch housing, such gasket being sealingly engaged by the rear outer edge portion of stator disc 16. The housing is impervious; the stator disc is impervious, and forms a closure for one end of the housing. The thrusting of the rotor body by the resilient deformation of diaphragms 5t) maintains annular shoulder 81 of the rotor in sealing engagement with the inner end of barrel 12 except when the rotor is thrust into the position of FIG. l0, a position which the rotor ordinarily occupies for only short periods. There is sealing but rotatable engagement between annular surface 89 on the rotor and the annular surface at the inner end of the barrel 12 at all times. The outer end of the neck 43 is snugly and sealingly received within the passage through the outer end of barrel 12.

The contacts on the stator and rotor of the switch are at all times sealed from the atmosphere. Thus moisture or other foreign material can not intrude into the contact zone of the switch. The switch is also of advantage in areas wherein explosive atmospheres are encountered, since the switching zone is fully enclosed.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be especially understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and the like, as well as the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the invention, may be made therein without depaiting from the spirit and scope of the invention as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch comprising a stator, a rotor having a body made of a resilient selt'sustaining rubber-like electrically insulating material, means for mounting said rotor adjacent the stator for angular movement about an axis, said body having an axially extending recess therein opening toward said stator, and a contact slidably disposed in said recess and projecting therefrom into engagement with said stator, the portion of the body which forms the inner end wall of said recess remote from the stator being thin and stretchable to resiliently bias said contact into engagement with the stator.

2. A switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said recess and contact have engageable shoulders to yieldably retain said contact in the recess.

3. A switch having a body made of a resilient selfsustaining rubber-like electrically insulating material, a recess in the body, and a contact having its rear portion slidably disposed in the recess and its forward end projecting beyond the body, the contact being generally circular cylindrical in shape, the rear end portion of the contact having a first, larger diameter accurately fitting within the recess, a portion of appreciable length at the forward end of the contact being of a second, smaller diameter, a radially inwardly directed flange on the body at the forward end of the recess, said flange having a relaxed diameter appreciably smaller than the diameter of the rear end portion of the contact, the portion of the body which forms the rear sidewall of the recess being thin and axially extensible to a substantial degree when the contact is subjected to an appreciable rearwardly directed force so as resiliently to urge the contact forwardly in the recess.

4. A multi-position switch comprising a stationary ele- \ment having a first set of contacts disposed thereon, a movable element which may be selectively moved to any one of a plurality of positions, said movable element having a second set of contacts thereon, the contacts of the second set being adapted to engage selected ones of the first contacts in the different positions of the movable element, the movable element having a body made of a resilient self-sustaining rubber-like electrically insulating material, a support for the movable element, a portion of the body of the movable element being resiliently distortable .and having a part engaging a fixed portion of the support so as to permit the moving of the movable element from a first position to a second position while distorting the distortable portion of the body of the movable elemcnt, said distortable portion being so constructed and arranged as to return the movable element to said first position thereof when the movable element is released.

5. A multi-position rotary switch comprising a stator having a first set of contacts disposed thereon, a rotor which may be selectively turned to any one of a plurality of angular positions, said rotor having a second set of contacts thereon, the contacts of the second set being adapted to engage selected ones of the first contacts in the difierent positions of the rotor, the rotor being made of a resilient self-sustaining rubber-like electrically insulating material, the contacts of the second set being supported by the rotor and being resiliently pressed by the material of the rotor toward the contacts of the first set, a support for the rotor, a portion of the rotor body being resiliently distortable and having a part engaging a fixed portion of the support so as to permit turning of the rotor from a first position to a second position while distorting the distortable portion of the rotor body, said distortable portion being so constructed and arranged as to return the rotor to said first position thereof when the rotor is released.

6. A imulti-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of the contacts of the second set normally projects further from the rotor than at least one other of the contacts of such set, and the material resiliently pressing the said further-projecting contact of the second set forwardly toward the contacts of the first set is yieldable to permit rearward movement of such contact in its support so that the forward ends of the contacts of the second set lie in positions such that they may operatively cooperate with the contacts of the first set upon the thrusting of the rotor forward with the further-projecting contact against the stator.

7. A multi-position rotary switch comprising a housing shell having a stator connected thereto, a first set of contacts disposed on the stator, a rotor supported within the housing shell, said rotor being mounted so that it may be selectively turned to any one of a plurality of angular positons, said rotor having a second set of contacts thereon, the contacts of the second set being adapted to engage selected ones of the first contacts in the different positions of the rotor, the rotor having a main body made of a resilient self-sustaining rubber-like electrically insulating material, a portion of the rotor body being dis tortable and having a part engaging a fixed part of the housing shell so as to permit turning of the rotor from a first position to a second position while distorting the distortable portion of the rotor, said distortable portion being so constructed and arranged as to return the rotor to said first position thereof when the rotor is released.

8. A rnulti-position rotary switch comprising a stator having a first set of contacts disposed thereon, a housing shell, a rotor supported within the housing shell and mounted so that it may be selectively turned to any one of a plurality of angular positions, said rotor having a second set of contacts thereon adapted to engage selected ones of the first contacts in the different positions of the rotor, the rotor having a main body and an elongated resiliently distortable portion extending axially from the main body, said elongated portion being journalled in the housing shell at the inner end of the elongated portion adjacent the main body of the rotor, the outer end of said portion having a part engaging a fixed part of the housing shell so as to permit turning of the main body of the rotor from a first position to a second position while torsionally distorting the elongated portion, the torsion characteristics of the elongated portion being such as to urge the return of the main body of the rotor to said first position thereof when the same is released.

9. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein the elongated portion is a sleeve having an axial bore, and which includes means for turning the main body of the rotor comprising a socket in the main body aligned and communicating with the bore of the sleeve, said socket being adapted to receive a rotor-turning handle extended through the sleeve.

llt). A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 9, wherein the socket is generally in the form of an elongated thin rectangle in cross section, and comprising a removable generally fiat elongated handle disposed in the socket and extending outwardly through the sleeve, a rear portion of the housing shell projecting beyond the outer end of the sleeve, said rear poition of the housing shell having a keyhole slot therein receiving the handle, and at least one enlarged zone on the handle which prevents the axial removal of the handle from the sleeve except when the enlarged zone is aligned with the keyhole slot.

11. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 9 wherein the outer end of the socket terminates substantially at the inner end of the sleeve and the said fixed part of the housing shell surrounds the outer end of the sleeve, and comprising a removable elongated handle having a shank with an inner end disposed in the socket and shaped to mate therewith, the shank having an outer portion extending outwardly through the sleeve and comprising at least one enlarged zone adjacent the outer end thereof fitting within and substantially resiliently distorting the wall of the here through the sleeve adjacent its outer end, whereby the frictional engagement between the enlarged zone of the shank and the wall of the bore through the sleeve functions to aid in retaining the rotor of the switch in a position wherein the sleeve is distorted.

12. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rear end of the distortable portion of the rotor has an outward projection at one zone thereof, and the said fixed part of the housing shell at least partially surrounds the rear end of the distortable portion of the rotor and has an arcuate recess accurately receiving the projection, whereby the rear end of the distortable portion of the rotor is held from rotation with respect to the housing shell.

13. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein the resiliently distortable portion of the rotor permits turning of the rotor from said first position to a third position in which contacts of the second set engage contacts of the first set and the pressure of the engagement of the contacts is sufiiciently firm to prevent the distorted portion of the rotor from returning the rotor to the first position from said third position.

14. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein at least one of the contacts of the second set is normally out of engagement with the stator and is moved into engagement with the stator and a contact of the first set thereon upon the thrusting of the rotor forward.

15. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein the rotor has recesses therein opening toward the stator and the contacts of the second set are slidably disposed in the recesses with their forward ends projecting beyond the rotor toward the stator, the forward end of each of said contacts is of a smaller diameter than the main body of the contact, the contacts are held in the respective recesses by an annular shoulder around the forward end of each recess, the diameter of each recess .at said shoulder is more than the diameter of the forward end of the contact therein and less than the diameter of the main body of said contact, the length of the main body of each of said contacts is substantially equal to the length of the recess inwardly from said shoulder, and the rear walls of the recesses are yieldable and resilient so as to permit pushing the contacts rearwardly in the recesses and to exert a forwardly directed force on the contacts when the contacts are pushed rearwardly against the rear walls of the recesses.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,462,684 7/1923 Clum 20044 2,088,340 7/1937 Rabe 267--57 X 2,428,214 9/1947 Gorey 339-69 2,546,744 3/ 1951 Hasselbaurn 200-44 X 2,706,803 4/ 1955 Templeton 339-259 X 2,868,906 1/1959 Soreng 200-44 FOREIGN PATENTS 352,724 4/ 1961 Switzerland.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A SWITCH COMPRISING A STATOR, A ROTOR HAVING A BODY MADE OF A RESILIENT SELF-SUSTAINING RUBBER-LIKE ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MATERIAL, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ROTOR ADJACENT THE STATOR FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS, SAID BODY HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING RECESS THEREIN OPENING TOWARD SAID STATOR, AND A CONTACT SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN SAID RECESS AND PROJECTING THEREFROM INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STATOR, THE PORTION OF THE BODY WHICH FORMS THE INNER END WALL OF SAID RECESS REMOTE FROM THE STATOR BEING THIN AND STRETCHABLE TO RESILIENT BIAS SAID CONTACT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STATOR.