Eaton Corporation

Joseph Lazzaro

Gregory L Nadolski

John P Groves

Eugene F Duncan

Daniel J Kalista

James A Bongard

Paul Klingseisen

Cheryl A Fredricks

Michael J Delaney

Donald L Van Zeeland

A proximity switch assembly (10) for signaling the location of a movable member (36) at either of opposite end limits of movement relative to a stationary frame (44, 46) includes a compact elongate housing (58) adapted to be mounted on the frame to extend along the path of movement of a power driven member (32), such as the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder, which shifts the movable member between its end limits. The proximity switch is fixedly mounted in the housing and carries a switch actuating member (68) mounted for sliding movement over a relatively short distance sufficient to move an actuating target (74) into and out of actuating proximity of an air core proximity sensing coil (120) within the housing. Lost motion abutment shoulders (70, 72) on the switch actuation member and power driven member (54) move into engagement with each other as a power driven member approaches each end of its stroke.

Inductive proximity switch exhibiting magnetic field immunity

Protective shroud for an electric cable

A protective shroud (22) for a flexible electrical cable (20) at the location where it emerges coaxially from the rear end (14) of an electrical device, such as an inductive proximity or photoelectric sensor (2), serving as a strain relief and protection from being bumped as well as retaining such electrical cable (20) at a gradual right-angle bend from a horizontally-mounted sensor (2) to keep it out of the way, such as from the aisle adjacent a conveyer on which the sensor is mounted. Snap-in means including an annular groove (18) on the rear end of the sensor (2) and a constricted-opening (22f) slot (22e) in the inner side wall (22d) of the shroud (22) afford snap-in mounting of the latter onto the rear end (14) of the sensor (2) with the shroud (22) being rotatable thereon to allow the electrical cable (20) to be oriented in any desired direction. Another version of protective shroud (24) adapted for a vertically-mounted sensor ( 2) in FIG. 3 has its snap-in slot (24f) in its upper end wall (24e) so as to surround and protect the downwardly hanging cable (20) at the location where it emerges from the rear end (14) of the vertically-mounted sensor (2). The shroud (22,24) is mounted of plastic material of a selected color to identify the product of a particular manufacturer.

Electrical device with protective shroud for flexible electrical cable

Growing community of inventors

Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

Joseph Lazzaro