US3555215A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular limit switch
Assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC
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Filing: 1969-06-06
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1989-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A limit switch includes tiered contact modules, each comprising a case made up of a base and a removable cover with a movable contact carrier therein. A headed retaining pin extends through the cover, base and contact carrier, and a retaining clip at the other end of the pin acts with the head to hold the elements of the module together. The pin is rotatable and has a tool socket in the head and has a threaded portion beyond the retaining clip which is used to mount the module in the housing of the switch. The upper contact carrier is fitted with an extension engageable with the carrier of the lower module. The extension is threaded to be axially adjustable and has a noncircular cross section. An adjustment wheel has a mating noncircular opening which receives the extension to provide a keyed connection so that rotation of the wheel causes adjustment of the extension. The switch housing is vertically split and a gasket is interposed between the two parts, the gasket comprising a central web which seals off the two sections from one another and skirts which extend into respective housing sections to provide electrical isolation.
Inventors
- 👤 William F Dehn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H21/00; H01H21/02; H01H21/18; H01H21/22; H01H21/24; H01H21/28; H01H21/285; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/503
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
A contact module for a limit switch or the like, said module comprising: a case having opposite upper and lower walls and a base portion defining a rear wall and a removable cover defining a front wall facing the rear wall, the case further defining a vertical slide track opening through the upper wall; stationary contact means in the case; a movable contact carrier in the case that is reciprocally movable along the track with an upper end of the carrier being accessible through the open upper end of the track, the carrier being provided with an opening therethrough that is transverse to the front and rear walls and elongated in the direction of the track; movable contact means carried by the carrier to be selectively engageable with the stationary contact means; and a retaining pin that rotatably extends through the front and rear walls of the case and the carrier opening, the pin having a head that engages the outside of the cover and is provided with a tool socket, the pin also having a head that engages the outside of the cover and is provided with a tool socket, the pin also having a threaded end extending beyond the rear wall; and a retainer clip removably attached to the pin inwardly of the threaded end, the clip engaging the outside of the rear wall to cooperate with the head to hold the base and cover together while allowing the pin to rotate freely so that the threaded end can be used to attach the module to a support.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
A contact module for a limit switch or the like, said module comprising: a case having opposite upper and lower walls and a base portion defining a rear wall and a removable cover defining a front wall facing the rear wall, the case further defining a vertical slide track opening through the upper wall; stationary contact means in the case; a movable contact carrier in the case that is reciprocally movable along the track with an upper end of the carrier being accessible through the open upper end of the track, the carrier being provided with an opening therethrough that is transverse to the front and rear walls and elongated in the direction of the track; movable contact means carried by the carrier to be selectively engageable with the stationary contact means; and a retaining pin that rotatably extends through the front and rear walls of the case and the carrier opening, the pin having a head that engages the outside of the cover and is provided with a tool socket, the pin also having a head that engages the outside of the cover and is provided with a tool socket, the pin also having a threaded end extending beyond the rear wall; and a retainer clip removably attached to the pin inwardly of the threaded end, the clip engaging the outside of the rear wall to cooperate with the head to hold the base and cover together while allowing the pin to rotate freely so that the threaded end can be used to attach the module to a support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a limit switch or the like including a housing and a pair of contact modules mounted in the housing one above the other, the improvement wherein the modules include vertically reciprocally movable contact carriers that are aligned with the lower end of the upper carrier facing the upper end of the lower carrier; an extension threadedly fitted to one of said facing ends of the carriers to be axially adjustable with respect thereto and to be engageable with the other carrier, said extension having a portion of noncircular cross section; and an adjustment wheel with a mating noncircular opening through which the extension passes to provide a keyed connection between the wheel and extension as a result of which rotation of the wheel causes rotation and resulting axial adjustment of the extension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a limit switch or the like including a housing and a pair of contact modules mounted in the housing one above the other, the improvement wherein the modules include vertically reciprocally movable contact carriers that are aligned with the lower end of the upper carrier facing the upper end of the lower carrier; an extension threadedly fitted to one of said facing ends of the carriers to be axially adjustable with respect thereto and to be engageable with the other carrier, said extension having a portion of noncircular cross section; and an adjustment wheel with a mating noncircular opening through which the extension passes to provide a keyed connection between the wheel and extension as a result of which rotation of the wheel causes rotation and resulting axial adjustment of the extension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
232 words
A limit switch according to claim 2 wherein each of the modules comprises: a case having opposite upper and lower walls and a base portion defining a rear wall and a removable cover defining a front wall facing the rear wall, the case further defining a vertical slide track opening through the upper and lower walls, the movable contact carrier being reciprocally movable along the track with the ends of the carrier being accessible through tHe open ends of the track, the carrier being provided with an opening therethrough that is transverse to the front and rear walls and elongated in the direction of the track; stationary contact means in the case; movable contact means carried by the carrier to be selectively engageable with the stationary contact means; and a retaining pin that rotatably extends through the front and rear walls of the case and the carrier opening, the pin having a head that engages the outside of the cover and is provided with a tool socket, the pin also having a threaded end extending beyond the rear wall that is received in the housing to mount the module thereon; and a retainer clip removably attached to the pin inwardly of the threaded end, the clip engaging the outside of the rear wall to cooperate with the head to hold the base and cover together while allowing the pin to rotate freely.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
194 words
A limit according to claim 3 wherein: the housing is split into two facing sections, with one section containing the modules, said modules together constituting switch means, and the other section containing external terminal means, both the switch means and the terminal means being inwardly spaced from the side walls of the associated housing section about substantially their entire circumferences, one of said switch and terminal means having bayonet means projecting toward and engageable with the other when the housing sections are assembled; and there is a gasket of insulating material interposed between the housing sections, said gasket including a central web extending across the facing portions of the housing sections to seal off one housing section from the other, said central web having opening means therethrough through which the bayonet means are received with a close fit, the gasket including a first skirt on one side of the web that extends a substantial distance into one of the housing sections to substantially surround the switch means and a second skirt on the opposite side of the web that extends a substantial distance into the other housing section to substantially surround the terminal means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a limit switch or the like of the type comprising a housing split into two facing sections, with one section containing switch means and the other section containing external terminal means, one of said switch and terminal means having bayonet means projecting toward and engageable with the other when the housing sections are assembled, the improvement wherein each of said switch and terminal means is inwardly spaced from the sidewalls of the associated housing section about substantially its entire circumference; and there is a gasket of insulating material interposed between the housing sections, said gasket including a central web extending across the facing portions of the housing sections to seal off one housing section from the other, said central web having opening means therethrough through which the bayonet means are received with a close fit, the gasket including a first skirt on one side of the web that extends a substantial distance into one of the housing sections to substantially surround the switch means and a second skirt on the opposite side of the web that extends a substantial distance into the other housing section to substantially surround the external terminal means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a limit switch or the like of the type comprising a housing split into two facing sections, with one section containing switch means and the other section containing external terminal means, one of said switch and terminal means having bayonet means projecting toward and engageable with the other when the housing sections are assembled, the improvement wherein each of said switch and terminal means is inwardly spaced from the sidewalls of the associated housing section about substantially its entire circumference; and there is a gasket of insulating material interposed between the housing sections, said gasket including a central web extending across the facing portions of the housing sections to seal off one housing section from the other, said central web having opening means therethrough through which the bayonet means are received with a close fit, the gasket including a first skirt on one side of the web that extends a substantial distance into one of the housing sections to substantially surround the switch means and a second skirt on the opposite side of the web that extends a substantial distance into the other housing section to substantially surround the external terminal means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |