Texas Instruments Corporation

Alan M Sadler

Dale R Sogge

Gary A Baker

Edward F O'Brien

Charles M Anastasia

David A Czarn

John J Chrupcala

Claudine M McCluskey

Aziz Rahman

Ethan J Coulson

An internal vehicular transmission range switch (10) has a movable contact support (20) which slides along a straight path in a recess formed between a housing having a base member (12) and cover (14) between first and second extremities in dependence upon the movement of the manual valve (4) to which it is coupled by an arm (18) extending from the support through a slot (16) formed in the housing. An elongated slider having a lower (20e) and upper (20d) blade portions received in respective channels (12a, 14a) formed in the housing integrally attached to the movable contact support blocks ingress of contaminant particles into the recess while permitting fluid flow into and out of the recess. A second embodiment (10') has a generally U-shaped member (18') having one leg (18a') attached to the movable contact support and extending through an O-ring (24) in an end wall of the housing and a manual valve coupling arm (18c') formed at the distal end of a second leg (18b'). A third embodiment has an endless track (26) in which an elongated, flexible band (28) having opposite ends attached to the movable contact support (20) on opposite sides of manual valve coupling arm (18) blocks entry of contaminant particles through slot (16') in the housing through which arm (18) extends.

Internal transmission range switch system

A sensor assembly for use with automotive transmission systems includes an overmolded lead frame 10 having a plurality of sensing stations 16, 17 18, 19 20, 21 and 22. A temperature dependent resistor 32 is encapsulated in a post 42 integrally formed with the overmold at temperature sensor station 16. Post 42 is adapted to be received in a bore 68 cast in the transmission housing wall and serves as a datum to position the mounting holes of the assembly in alignment with selected bores in the transmission housing. Temperature sensing station 16 is circumscribed by an annular rib 52 which cooperates with a plurality of protrusions 62 to receive therebetween an O-ring seal member 54.

Temperature sensing apparatus

A normally open pressure responsive switch having upper and lower housings with a snap acting member and an electrically conductive member sandwiched therebetween. The housings each include a body with a hollow center portion and the lower housing has a contact in the center portion extending externally of the member. The snap acting member is in constant engagement with the sandwiched conductive member and normally out of engagement with the contact. When pressure is applied which is sufficient to cause the snap acting member to snap connection is made with the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly. An elastomeric sealing member is mounted in the upper housing and has a neck portion received in the hollow center portion, an integrally attached flange biased against the electrically conductive member and lower housing and an integrally attached lobe extending above the upper housing to seal off the hollow center portion when the switch is mounted at a switch receiving seat.

Normally open pressure switch

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North Attleboro, MA, United States of America

Alan M Sadler