Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Switch activation inhibitor – Actuator blocking device
Patent
1998-10-05
2000-05-09
Gellner, Michael L.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Switch activation inhibitor
Actuator blocking device
200 6127, 200 6128, H01H 928
Patent
active
060606711
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention generally relates to electrical switches and more particularly relates to steering column electrical switches.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In manually operated electric switches, frequently, it is of importance to prevent switches from being switched on, indexed to the next position or switched in the wrong direction by inadvertence. Various measures are, therefore, taken to prevent an undesirable operation of electric switches. For example, a gear switch has been described in Applicant's Patent Application P 44 39 905.7 wherein a neutral position can be arrested so that an engine gear cannot be clutched or shifted, by inadvertence, from the forward to the rearward direction and vice versa.
Similar problems are also likely to be encountered with manually operated rotary switches in which an actuator can be indexed, by inadvertence, to the next position or rotated in the wrong direction, thereby attaining an undesired switching state. This problem may also be faced with steering column switches wherein a rotary switch actuated by a rotary handle is provided in the actuating lever.
It is the object of the invention to prevent, in a rotary switch of this type, a new switching position from being set by inadvertence.
The invention resides in predetermining the individual rotary positions of the switch by means of suitable locking means. The invention provides a locking ring engaging with the aid of a locking contour, with bias, a conforming locking contour of the support rigidly connected to the casing. The bias can be substantial so that only by intentionally applying substantial force, the next switching step can be performed. Hence, switching or over-switching by inadvertence is not likely to occur. As the locking contour and the conforming contour, preferably, are meshing, the locking contour will first have to be disengaged from the conforming contour in order to enable the next switching step to be taken. The contour can be so selected that the teeth are provided with sloping faces associated to one another which in the event of a rotary movement of the handle automatically result in a disengagement of the locking contour from the conforming contour because the sloping faces of the teeth act as ramps pushing the locking ring out of the conforming contour. However, a rectangular engagement will require a specific disengagement, for example, by longitudinally displacing the handle in order to enable the locking contour to be twisted with respect to the conforming contour.
To limit the number of switching positions (i.e. the number of rotating steps of the rotary switch), the two locking contours associated to one another can be twisted step by step with respect to one another until the stops of locking ring and support rigidly connected to the housing are in abutment with one another.
To attain, in a simple way, the bias desired for automatic engagement, a helical spring, holds the contour of the locking ring in permanent engagement with the conforming contour on the support, wherein - as previously mentioned - due to sloping toothed flanks of the confirming contours, the locking ring through a rotating movement, can be disengaged against the bias so that after exceeding a critical point it automatically locks, under bias, in the next step of the tooth.
The individual teeth of the locking contour can be equidistantly distributed across the front face of a ring which accordingly applies to the conforming contour on the support. The teeth can be of a triangular or sinusoidal configuration unless a rectangular toothing is chosen as previously mentioned.
If it is desired, that the individual rotating steps are to be successively locked by a simple rotating movement and if, in exceptional cases, e.g. in special designs of the switch, the next locking step is to be taken only after a special manipulation, a gate lock is arranged on the support and is axially displaceable and non-rotatable thereon when said support is in a first axial position. The gate lock described therein ca
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Mozer Reiner
Neubauer Walter
Gellner Michael L.
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Lewis J. Gordon
Nguyen Nhung
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