US5516993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety switch
Assignee: HANS BERNSTEIN SPEZIALFABRIK fur SCHALTKONTAKE & CO GmbH
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Filing: 1994-11-14
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Granted: 1996-05-14
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Expires: 2014-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A safety switch includes a housing having at least one opening and supporting a spring-biased tappet which is movable between two end positions by a switching mechanism including a switch wheel received in the housing. The switch wheel includes at each side a pair of separate but operatively interconnected resiliently mounted locking members. Each locking member carries a locking pin which is engageable in a bore of the surrounding housing. An actuator is insertable through the opening to act on ramp surfaces of the locking member, with the ramp surfaces being spaced from the grooves in the switch wheel. Thus, only a very particular actuator of complex configuration is suitable to effect the unlatching and subsequently the turning of the switch wheel for movement of the tappet from the initial position to a switching position.
Inventors
- 👤 Rolf Wecke
- 👤 Roland Monnings
- 👤 Ralph Hoppmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H27/00; H01H27/002; H01H2027/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A safety switch, comprising: a housing having at least one opening; a spring-biased tappet supported in said housing and movable between two end positions; a switch wheel received in said housing and rotatable about a pivot axis between an initial position and a switching position, said switch wheel acting upon said tappet for moving said tappet between the end positions in correspondence to said initial and switching positions; an actuator engageable in said opening for turning said switch wheel between the initial position and the switching position; and locking means arranged on each side of said switch wheel for controlling rotation of said switch wheel, said locking means including a pair of separate but operatively interconnected locking members which extend at an angle to each other and are movable radially toward said pivot axis, with each said locking member having a locking pin engaging in respective bores of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A safety switch, comprising: a housing having at least one opening; a spring-biased tappet supported in said housing and movable between two end positions; a switch wheel received in said housing and rotatable about a pivot axis between an initial position and a switching position, said switch wheel acting upon said tappet for moving said tappet between the end positions in correspondence to said initial and switching positions; an actuator engageable in said opening for turning said switch wheel between the initial position and the switching position; and locking means arranged on each side of said switch wheel for controlling rotation of said switch wheel, said locking means including a pair of separate but operatively interconnected locking members which extend at an angle to each other and are movable radially toward said pivot axis, with each said locking member having a locking pin engaging in respective bores of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes return springs, each said locking member being separately biased by one of said return springs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said at least one opening of said housing is formed as two openings, said actuator moving said switch wheel in a same direction of rotation for actuation of said tappet from an initial position regardless of the selection of said openings for engagement by said actuator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said switch wheel has an end wall acting as a stop in one direction of rotation when said switch wheel is in the initial position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said switch wheel has an outer surface provided with a groove, said housing having a projection engaging said groove for guiding said switch wheel during rotation, with said groove having one end forming a stop for the initial position of said switch wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said switch wheel has a surface area acted upon by said actuator, each of said locking members including a surface area actuated by said actuator and extending backwards from said surface area of said switch wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said housing has a lower housing part and a hood, said hood accommodating said switch wheel together with said locking members and pivot axis and being connectable to said housing part in two positions which are offset by about 180°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said switch wheel has opposing end faces provided with pockets in the form of a cross for receiving and movably guiding said locking members radially with regard to said pivot axis, said locking means including at least one return spring received in said pockets for biasing each pair of locking members, said switch wheel having peripheral bores for engagement by said locking pins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said switch wheel has a central area provided with a first circumferential recess of small depth for engagement by said tappet in the one end position, and a second circumferential recess of greater depth which is angularly spaced from said first circumferential recess, with said first and second circumferential recesses being connected via a control cam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said locking members are provided with key members having ramp surfaces cooperating with said actuator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The safety switch of claim 10 wherein said switch wheel has radial grooves, said ramp surfaces of said key members being situated backwards with regard to said grooves, with said actuator having a crossbar for engagement in said grooves and lateral contact pieces acting on said ramp surfaces of the key members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein one of said locking members has a forked element provided with fork arms and defining a base, the other one of said locking members having a head piece and a web engaging said forked element and including a first protruding bevel cooperating with a bevel at the base of said forked element, said fork arms of said forked element having a second protruding bevel cooperating with a beveled sliding surface underneath said head piece of the other one of said locking members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein each of said locking members has an oblong hole for receiving said pivot axis when fitting said locking members into each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The safety switch of claim 1, further comprising a plug for tightly sealing said opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The safety switch of claim 1 wherein said actuator is of U-shaped with a crossbar and front contact pieces, without pointed ends or sharp edges.
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) | 1999-05-14 | 1999-11-13 | 2000-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-14 | 2003-11-13 | 2004-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-14 | 2007-11-13 | 2008-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |