General Automotive Specialty Co., Inc.

Data Instruments, Inc.

William T Holmes

Mark Levine

Herman W Erichsen

Louis J Panagotopulos

Edward W Baumgartner

A rotary switch having a terminal base molded on a lead frame which includes internal contacts and external terminals, along with the connecting straps between them, all formed of a single metal part. Portions of the metal of the lead frame are selectively removed in order to create a variety of switch configurations. Different switch actuating rotors are provided which further allow creation of different switch modes (single throw, double throw, etc.). The rotor is also provided with detents in order to allow for retention and indexing of the switch positions. A ramp may be selectively installed into the rotor to eliminate unwanted detent positions without requiring a different rotor. One or more 'floating' movable contact elements complete the circuits when the rotor allows a respective spring to force a floating movable element into contact with both of a corresponding pair of stationary contacts of the terminal base. A separately usable illuminated indicator module is mounted on a bushing surrounding the switch rotor and the knob of the switch transmits light passing from the indicator module to the front of the knob where it can be viewed. The module includes a light distributor which directs the light from a single lamp to several positions corresponding to the switch positions.

Rotary switch

Rotary switch indicator including horseshoe light guide

A connection device for a trailer light system, having a socket simulating a vehicle lamp socket and a plug joined to said socket simulating the base of a lamp, with wires joined directly or indirectly to said simulated socket or simulated plug for energizing the trailer light circuit.

Electrical connector for trailer

A beam-type strain gage pressure transducer is disclosed having strips of piezo-resistive material supported on a sensing beam, one being subject to compression and another to tension in response to applied pressure. The beam structure may be made by screw machine techniques to form a beam integral with a circular base structure. A highly flexible diaphragm permits force generated by application of pressure to be transmitted entirely to the beam. Components and construction are suited to high production and automated assembly techniques.

Pressure transducer

The invention improves upon the diaphragm/beam-type transducers and method of manufacturing same described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,575. The new transducers and method of manufacture utilize strips or slivers of silicon or germanium which are larger than the individual strips used in the apparatus and method described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,575 by an amount sufficient to permit (a) the formation of two gages on each strip and (b) the forming of bonding pads on each gage. The bonding pads are formed on the gage strip before the strip is bonded to the beam, so that formation of the bonding pads and bonding of the strip to the beam can be handled automatically. The strips are mounted to one side of the midpoint of the beams, so that when a diaphragm/beam is deflected by application of a fluid pressure, one of the two gages will undergo a tension strain while the other gage will undergo a compression strain. Because both gages form part of the same silicon or germanium strip, they tend to be virtually identical in physical and electrical properties, thereby simplifying calibration of the resulting transducers.

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Jackson, NJ, United States of America

William T Holmes