Square D Company

James B Warren

Stanley H Edwards, Jr

Jackie C Sullivan

Kenneth P Roberts

William D Penland

Simon S Smith, Jr

Dwight D Edwards

A pressure responsive switch apparatus comprising a housing including a wall defining a passageway having an end adapted to communicate with a source of fluid under pressure, a switch supported by the housing, an actuator which is movably supported by the housing and which includes an end extending into the passageway, an actuator for actuating the switch in response to movement of the actuator, and a cup-shaped member detached from the actuator and located within the passageway and between the actuator and the end of the passageway for sealingly engaging the wall and moving the actuator away from the end of the passageway in response to pressure from the fluid source.

Pressure responsive switch with cup shaped actuating member

A pressure sensitive switch has means for producing linear motion in response to pressure, means for springably resisting the linear motion, means for operating a switch after a predetermined linear motion, and a lifter pin having a projection on a first end for slidably engaging a hole in the means for springably resisting the linear motion, the lifter pin being mounted between the means for producing linear motion and the means for springably resisting the linear motion so as to transmit force from the means for producing linear motion to the means for springably resisting the linear motion, the lifter pin decoupling rotational motion between the means for producing linear motion and the means for springably resisting the linear motion. A piston may serve as the means for producing linear motion in response to pressure. The piston is mounted in a cylinder, and is supported on a first end by a fluorocarbon polymer ring and is supported on a second end by a fluorocarbon polymer slip ring which supports an elastomeric O ring, thereby minimizing friction between the piston and the cylinder. The piston has a substantially hemispherical hammer end for engaging the lifter pin without applying a moment to the lifter pin of any significant degree. The lifter pin engages a spring seat which in turn has an operating rod screwed into a threaded hole of the spring seat. The operating rod in turn engages a lever and induces rotational motion of the lever about an axle in order for the lever to operate the plunger of a switch. The switch may be either an electrical switch or an optical switch. The pressure transmitting parts comprising the piston, the lifter pin, the spring seat, and the operating rod are made of high strength materials in order to provide a rugged construction which can withstand pressure transients having a high rate of rise.

Pressure sensitive switch having rugged construction and accurate trip

An industrial type switch having modular parts which may be assembled so the switch may be used in a wide range of installations. The switch includes a differential module which is easily adjustable to operate over a selected range of pressures, a plug-in snap switch module so the switch may be easily wired and serviced, a range module so the response of the switch to pressures within a range may be readily accomplished, and any one of a plurality of different type actuator modules which are mountable on the exterior of the switch so the switch may be used in a large variety of different type installations.

Growing community of inventors

Arden, NC, United States of America

James B Warren