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:
Jun. 22, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 03, 1997
John L Scheele, Greenfield, WI (US);
Allen-Bradley Company, LLC, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
An auxiliary switch provides an output or feedback signal indicative of the position or logical state of a contactor, disconnect or other principal device to which it is coupled. The switch is formed as a modular unit which can be fixed directly to the principal device, and is actuated by movement of elements within the principal device. An optical switch set within the auxiliary switch includes an emitter and detector pair aligned in mutually facing relation. An actuator is movable with the principal device and supports an optical shield. The actuator displaces the shield between a position clear of the optical path and a position interposed between the emitter and detector to change the state of the auxiliary switch. A power supply circuit may be housed within the switch for supplying power to the optical switch and to output circuitry. The device is particularly tolerant to contamination and can reliably output low level logic signals indicative of the state of the principal device.