General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc.

General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc., D/b/a Topworx, Inc..

Gregory Curtis Merrifield

Robert Lynn LaFountain

Michael John Simmons

Brian Phillip Pate

Robert Lafountain

A switch adapter can include a base having one or more openings, a support coupled to the base, and one or more retainers for coupling a switch to the adapter. The support can have one or more openings between its interior and exterior. The retainer can be adapted to couple to at least one of the base, the support, and a combination thereof. The switch adapter can include one or more switches, such as a replacement switch, and can be adapted for replacing a limit switch with a proximity switch. A proximity switch can be coupled to a switch adapter in one or more positions, and a switch adapter can be adapted to couple with a plurality of different switch mounts. A switch adapter can include a mass compensator for adjusting its center of gravity.

Switch adapter

Proximity switches include a hermetically sealed unit that can be used in harsh environments and under significant pressures, such as underwater and in nuclear power facilities, without having any parts that would require replacement or periodic maintenance. The proximity switches are preferably switches actuated by physical movement of a contact in response to changing magnetic forces. The switches are preferably disposed in a body tube optionally including a hermetic seal assembly to seal an open end of the body tube and/or a ferrule that prevents electrical wires attached to the switch inside the body tube from being pulled away from the switch. Further, the switches preferably maintain a contact pressure between electrical contacts sufficient to withstand acceleration seismic testing of 10 g with no contact discontinuity.

Double pole-double throw proximity switch

A method of non-rotatably securing a target to a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis within an enclosed proximity switch assembly is described. The target support at least one target magnet and a hub having a body portion extending along the longitudinal axis. The body portion includes an outer surface and a shaft aperture extending along the longitudinal axis, and further includes at least one threaded body aperture extending from the outer surface to the shaft aperture. The shaft is inserted into the shaft aperture, and a set screw is inserted into one of the body apertures. A torque is applied to the set screw to threadably engage the set screw with the one of the body apertures such that a distal end of the set screw contacts an outer surface of the shaft. The set screw is sealed within the body aperture with a high-temperature potting.

Method of manufacturing an enclosed proximity switch assembly

A quick-disconnect connector assembly includes a housing having a bore that extends up to but not through a first end of the housing. The connector assembly also includes a proximity switch disposed within the bore, and the proximity switch includes a switch body, a first contact member, and a second contact member. A portion of each of the first and second contact members extends from the switch body towards a second end of the housing. In a first switch position, a contact of a displaceable switching assembly is in contact with the first contact member, and in a second switch position, the contact is in contact with the second contact member. The connector assembly also includes an external connection assembly including a first pin that is electrically coupled to the first contact member and a second pin that is electrically coupled to the second contact member.

Quick disconnect connector assembly

An enclosed proximity switch assembly includes a top enclosure and a bottom enclosure that are coupled to form an interior volume. A shaft protrusion upwardly extends from a top surface of the top enclosure, and an interior bore portion having an enclosed volume is defined within the shaft protrusion to form a portion of the interior volume. A first end of a vertical shaft is rotatably disposed within the interior bore portion such that the shaft rotates relative to the top and bottom enclosures. A samarium cobalt target magnet is coupled to the shaft, and the target magnet interacts with a samarium cobalt driver magnet within a proximity switch when the target magnet is rotated within a predetermined distance of a top portion of the proximity switch. The interaction causes a switch to move from a first state to a second state, or vice versa.

Enclosed proximity switch assembly

Proximity switches are disclosed that preferably are provided in a hermetically sealed unit that can be used in harsh environments and under significant pressures, such as underwater and in nuclear power facilities, without having any parts that would require replacement or periodic maintenance. The proximity switches are preferably switches actuated by physical movement of a contact in response to changing magnetic forces. The switches are preferably disposed in a body tube optionally including a hermetic seal assembly to seal an open end of the body tube and/or a ferrule that prevents electrical wires attached to the switch inside the body tube from being pulled away from the switch. Further, the switches preferably maintain a contact pressure between electrical contacts sufficient to withstand acceleration seismic testing of 10 g with no contact discontinuity.

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Prospect, KY, United States of America

Gregory Curtis Merrifield