Contraves Ag

Hans Wermelinger

Heinrich Haller

Hansrudolf Lehmann

A stepping or indexing mechanism for an encoding rotary or multi-position switch is arranged within a switch housing. The stepping mechanism comprises a symbol or numeric wheel, two substantially mirror-image and mutually symmetrically arranged locking or latching levers, a locking or latching wheel, a gear meshing with the symbol or numeric wheel as well as a switching or indexing element arranged laterally at the switch housing. The locking or latching levers are movably mounted at one end in a bearing or support element and at the other end are structured for the rotatable mounting of a related roller. The latching levers are drawn together with the rollers by a tension spring or equivalent structure into latching or locking recesses of the locking wheel. For the switching operation the locking levers are deflected against the restoring force of the spring out of the locking recesses, and the rollers then slide along locking or latching cams or dogs provided with arcuate-shaped flank profiles. The stepping or indexing mechanism insures for an exact switch or indexing operation which can be positively transmitted to the symbol or numeric wheel.

Stepping mechanism for an encoding rotary switch

A forward and rearward indexible stepping mechanism, for instance for a multi-position switch, which is arranged within a housing and has a one-piece drive which can be brought into engagement with a rotatably arranged pinion by means of a linear work movement. At the drive there is provided a flexible latching element which connects two plungers in a bridge-like fashion, so that a latching cam arrangement formed at the latching element engages at the pinion.

Stepping mechanism

Within a housing of a multi-position switch there is arranged a forwardly and backwardly indexible stepping mechanism comprising two actuation elements which can be individually brought into engagement with a pinion of a character support or carrier by accomplishing a linear working movement. Each actuation element comprises a push-button, a switching or indexing element and a preferably hairpin-shaped spring element, or is operatively connected with a coil spring mounted in the housing. By means of each push-button the related actuation element is moved in a first direction, whereby its switching element, guided by a first pin along a cam or equivalent structure, is deflected, and a second pin comes into engagement with the pinion, so that this pinion, which is rotatably mounted upon a shaft, can be moved in a predetermined direction against the restoring force of a latching spring engaging into a tooth gap of the pinion by means of a latching cam or nose. The return of such actuation element, after completion of the indexing step, is accomplished by the restoring force of the related spring element.

Growing community of inventors

Rumlang, Switzerland

Hans Wermelinger