Texas Instruments Corporation

David A Czarn

Dale R Sogge

Edward F O'Brien

Gary A Baker

Stanley G Homol

Alan M Sadler

Aziz Rahman

A high pressure switch (10) is shown having a housing member (12) with an orifice (22) extending from a first end (18) to a recess (24) formed in a surface (26) in a central portion (14) of the housing. A sidewall (28) extends from surface (26), leaving a shoulder around the recess, forming a cavity (32). An annular support plate (34) is received on the shoulder of surface (26) capturing a flexible membrane (36) which closes recess (24) to form a pressure chamber. An eyelet (40) is disposed contiguous to the support plate (34) and is locked in place by deforming the outer distal portion (30) of wall (28) radially inwardly over the outer periphery of eyelet (40). A terminal (44) is mounted on eyelet (40) but electrically isolated from the outer ring of eyelet (40) by electrically insulating material (46). A pressure/force converter in the form of a piston (58) is received in the bore of annular support plate (34) and is provided with a circular force transfer rib (64) adapted to transfer force to an electrically conductive, snap acting disc (50) upon the occurrence of a selected level of pressure in orifice (22). Snap acting disc (50) is disposed on a disc seat (48) formed in eyelet (40) and captured there by projections (54) formed above the disc seat (48). Disc (50) normally is out of engagement with a stationary contact (52, 52') when in a non-actuated configuration but is adapted to form an electrical path between the stationary contact (52, 52') and the housing (12) when the disc (50) snaps to its actuated configuration.

High pressure switch apparatus

A pressure responsive switch having upper and lower contact assemblies with a snap acting member and an electrically conductive member sandwiched therebetween. The assemblies each include an insulating body with a hollow center and an electrically conductive member having a contact in the center portion and extending externally of the body. The snap acting member is in constant engagement with the sandwiched conductive member and normally in engagement with the electrically conductive member of the upper assembly. When a pressure is applied which is sufficient to cause the snap acting member to snap into its second stable state, the connection thereof with the electrically conductive member in the upper contact assembly is broken and connection is made with the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly. The switch is normally closed by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly which extends externally thereof. The switch can be provided as normally open by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the upper assembly which extends externally thereof. In accordance with another embodiment, the switch is provided for operation in conjunction with a printed circuit board. The switch comprises an electrically conductive contact member fixed to the board and having a contact bump and an air conducting passageway. An electrically conductive support for a flexible conductive member is secured to the board within the fixed conductive member the flexible member moving into and out of engagement with the bump in response to pressure changes.

Method for making pressure responsive switch

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

A pressure responsive switch having upper and lower contact assemblies with a snap acting member and an electrically conductive member sandwiched therebetween. The assemblies each include an insulating body with a hollow center and an electrically conductive member having a contact in the center portion and extending externally of the body. The snap acting member is in constant engagement with the sandwiched conductive member and normally in engagement with the electrically conductive member of the upper assembly. When a pressure is applied which is sufficient to cause the snap acting member to snap into its second stable state, the connection thereof with the electrically conductive member in the upper contact assembly is broken and connection is made with the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly. The switch is normally closed by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly which extends externally thereof. The switch can be provided normally open by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the upper assembly which extends externally thereof. In another embodiment, the switch is provided in conjunction with a printed circuit board. The switch comprises an electrically conductive contact member fixed to the board and having a contact bump and an air conducting passageway. An electrically conductive support for a flexible conductive member is secured to the board within the fixed conductive contact member, the flexible member moving into and out of engagement with the bump.

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Cumberland, RI, United States of America

David A Czarn