The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 1982
Filed:
Apr. 27, 1981
Jean Debaigt, Maisons Laffitte, FR;
CGEE Alsthom, Levallois-Perret, FR;
Abstract
A rotary switch has a control shaft (8) controlling electrical contacts (not shown). On being moved from the 'OFF' position as illustrated towards an 'ON' position by turning clockwise (arrow 9), a ramp (21) on a cam (2) engages a cam follower (41) mounted on a first lever arm (3). The first arm is held in position against the thrust of the cam follower's bias spring (42) by a catch (31) engaging a bearing surface (51) of a second lever arm (5). Similarly the second lever (5) is held in position by a spring (52) urging it against the moving part of an electromagnet (7). The electromagnet is shown in its powered position with spring (61) compressed thereby. Turning the shaft also winds up a return spring (not shown) tending to urge the shaft towards the 'OFF' position. The shaft is held in the 'ON' position by the cam follower (41) engaging in a notch (20) in the cam. When power to the electromagnet fails (i.e. normally the power that is switched by the switch), its moving part is thrust by the spring (61) in the direction of arrow 91. This disengages the catch (31) from the bearing surface (51), allowing the first lever to move away from the shaft, and hence disengaging the cam follower from the notch (20). The shaft is then free to return to its 'OFF' position under the action of its return spring.