Configurable switch

• US 6,114,639 A
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Mantua, Mark A., Hall, Jeffrey S., Olsen, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUEBKE, RENEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/106,573
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 200/280, 200/281, 200/243, 200/16 A
• US Class Current: 200/16.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/20 Bridging contacts for circuit breakers H01H73/045
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0012 for converting normally open to normally closed switches and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2011/062 by inserting only

Abstract

A configurable switch having a base and interchangeable stationary contacts positioned in adjustable locations with respect to the base. A plunger is slidably mounted with respect to the base so that the plunger moves between a first position and a second position. One or more moveable contacts are mounted in a normally open position or a normally closed position. In the first position or the second position, the moveable contacts make contact and/or break contact with the stationary contacts depending upon the respective arrangements of the stationary contacts and the moveable contacts. Thus the configuration of a four-circuit switch can be altered with a minimum of different components to be, for example, a four normally closed circuit configuration, three normally closed and one normally open circuit configuration, two normally closed and two normally open circuit configuration, etc., with a minimum of expense or retooling.

Claims

1. A configurable switch comprising:

a base having a plurality of pairs of openings;

at least two pairs of stationary contacts connected to the base, each stationary contact having a contact leg mounted within one opening of the pairs of openings;

a plunger slidably mounted with respect to the base, the plunger moveable between a first position and a second position;

at least two moveable contacts mounted in one of a selectable normally open position and a selectable normally closed position with respect to the stationary contacts, the at least two moveable contacts contacting the stationary contacts in one of the plunger first and second positions;

wherein one of the at least two moveable contacts may be separately positioned in either the normally open or normally closed position regardless of the position of another moveable contact.

2. A configurable switch according to claim 1 wherein the base has eight pairs of openings.

3. A configurable switch according to claim 1 wherein each of the stationary contacts is interference fitted into the base.

4. A configurable switch according to claim 1 further comprising a bias element urging the plunger into one of the first position and the second position.

5. A configurable switch according to claim 1 wherein the plunger has at least one opening extending therethrough and at least one moveable contact is selectably positioned within the at least one opening in the plunger.

6. A configurable switch according to claim 5 further comprising at least one bias element urging at least one moveable contact into the selected position.

7. A configurable switch according to claim 5 wherein the plunger has four openings.

8. A configurable switch according to claim 1 wherein the stationary contacts and at least one moveable contact are arranged in a configuration selected from the group consisting of:

a switch having four normally open circuits;

a switch having four normally closed circuits;

four different configurations having three normally open circuits and one normally closed circuit;

four different configurations having three normally closed circuits and one normally open circuit; and

six different configurations having two normally open circuits and two normally closed circuits.

9. A configurable switch according to claim 1 further comprising a case enclosing the base and at least a portion of the plunger.

10. A configurable switch according to claim 1 wherein at least one moveable contact comprises a pair of contact pads.

11. A configurable switch comprising:

a base having a plurality of pairs of holes extending therethrough;

at least two pairs of stationary contacts adjustably mounted with respect to the base in one of a normally open position and a normally closed position, each stationary contact having a contact leg mounted through one hole of each of the pairs of holes;

a plunger slidably mounted with respect to the base, the plunger moveable between a first position and a second position;

at least two moveable contacts connected to the plunger in a selected position and arranged such that in one of the first position and the second position at least one moveable contact contacts the stationary contacts; and

wherein each stationary contact is interchangeably connectable between either of each of the pairs of holes.

12. A configurable switch according to claim 11 wherein the plunger has at least one opening, and wherein the at least two moveable contacts are mounted within each of the at least one opening.

13. A configurable switch according to claim 11 further comprising at least one bias element urging at least one moveable contact into the selected position.

14. A configurable switch according to claim 11 further comprising a bias element urging the plunger into one of the first position and the second position.

15. A configurable switch comprising:

a configurable base having a plurality of pairs of openings;

a plurality of stationary contacts each one stationary contact having a contact leg mounted within only one opening of each of the pairs of openings and interchangeable between both opening of each of the pairs of openings;

a configurable plunger moveably mounted with respect to the configurable base, said plunger having at least one opening;

at least one moveable contact adjustably mounted within the at least one plunger opening in one of a normally open position and a normally closed position with respect to the stationary contacts; and

wherein the stationary contacts and at least one moveable contact are arranged in a configuration selected from the group consisting of;

a switch having four normally open circuits;

a switch having four normally closed circuits;

four different configurations having three normally open circuits and one normally closed circuit;

four different configurations having three normally closed circuits and one normally open circuit; and

six different configurations having two normally open circuits and two normally closed circuits.

16. A The configurable switch of claim 15 further comprising at least one bias element urging the at least one moveable contact into contact with the stationary contacts.