Push to turn mechanism

• US 5,129,283 A
• Filed: 08/31/1990
• Issued: 07/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Koehler, Randal W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US07/575,758
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 74/527, 74/553, 74/526, 74/504, 403/335
• US Class Current: 74/553
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/50 Flanged connections
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/126 on ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2063 Stops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial

Abstract

A rotary actuator for an appliance having a shaft with a radially outwardly-extending boss with a cam surface thereon locked in an "OFF" position between a stop and a detent lug. The user is required to move (push) the shaft axially in order to enable the boss to clear the detent to permit rotary movement away from the "OFF" position stop for affecting a control function. As the boss is rotated past the detent to the desired "ON" position, and upon user release, the shaft is spring biased to return to its initial axial position. Upon return rotary movement of the shaft by the user, the cam automatically moves the shaft axially to enable the boss to pass by the detent to return to the "OFF" position against the stop.

Claims

1. A rotary shaft control actuator for an appliance comprising:

(a) base means having a shaft with a boss thereon extending radially outwardly therefrom encompassing a central included angle not greater than 25°

, said shaft and boss user-rotatable between a first rotary control position and a second rotary control position, said base means including means defining a limit disposed for contact by said boss in said first control position, said shaft independently user movable between a first and second axial position;

(b) detent means disposed on said base means between said first and second control positions and operatively contacted by said boss to prevent movement from said first to said second control position when said shaft is in said first axial position;

(c) means defining an axially-inclined cam surface on at least on of said boss and said detent means;

(d) means biasing said shaft and boss to said first axial position, wherein upon user movement of said shaft to said second axial position said boss is rotatable past said detent means to said second control position and in which position, upon user release, said shaft returns to said first axial position, and upon user movement in the reverse direction toward said first position, said cam surface is operative to move said shaft and boss to said second axial position permitting said boss to move past said detent means and return to said first control position where said shaft and boss return to said first axial position.

2. A rotary shaft control actuator for an appliance comprising:

(a) base means having a shaft with a boss thereon extending radially outwardly therefrom, said shaft and boss user-rotatable between a first rotary control position and a second rotary control position, said base means including means defining a limit stop disposed for contact by said boss in said first control position, said shaft independently user movable between a first and second axial position;

(b) detent means comprising a generally hook-shaped lug disposed on said base means between said first and second control positions and operatively contacted by said boss to prevent movement from said first to said second control position when said shaft is in said first axial position;

(c) means defining an axially-inclined cam surface on at least on of said boss and said detent means;

(d) means biasing said shaft and boss to said first axial position, wherein upon user movement of said shaft to said second axial position said boss is rotatable past said detent means to said second control position and in which position, upon user release, said shaft returns to said first axial position, and upon user movement in the reverse direction toward said first position, said cam surface is operative to move said shaft and boss to said second axial position permitting said boss to move past said detent means and return to said first control position where said shaft and boss return to said first axial position.