Patent ID: 6365849
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A composite switch comprising:a substrate; a first fixed contact unit and a second fixed contact unit disposed on a surface of said substrate in such a manner as to be symmetrical about a reference line which is perpendicular to the surface of said substrate; a rotating member rotatable about an axis along said reference line; a first rotating contact unit which contacts with one of said first fixed contact unit and said second fixed contact unit, and a second rotating contact unit which contacts with the other of said second fixed contact unit and said first fixed contact unit, wherein said first rotating contact unit and said second rotating contact unit are respectively held by said rotating member; a first facing contact leg electrically connected to said first rotating contact unit and a second facing contact leg electrically connected to said second rotating contact unit, wherein said first facing contact leg and said second facing contact leg are disposed in such a manner as to face each other across said reference line; a central movable contact member which is movable along said reference line between a state of electrical connection with said first facing contact leg and said second facing contact leg, and a state of electrical disconnection from said first facing contact leg and said second facing contact leg; and at least one operating shaft for rotating said rotating member and moving said central movable contact member along said reference line; wherein said first fixed contact unit comprises a semicircular first common contact member and a plurality of first individual fixed contact members respectively located at different circumferential positions concentric with respect to said first common contact member; wherein said second fixed contact unit comprises a semicircular second common contact member and a plurality of second individual fixed contact members respectively located at different circumferential positions concentric with respect to said second common contact member; wherein said first rotating contact unit comprises a first contact leg and a second contact leg; and wherein said second rotating contact unit comprises a third contact leg and a fourth contact leg; wherein, upon rotation of said rotating member, when said first contact leg contacts with said first common contact member and said third contact leg contacts with said second common contact member, said second contact leg alternately contacts with said first individual fixed contact members, and said fourth contact leg alternately contacts with said second individual fixed contact members, and when said first contact leg contacts with said second common contact member and said third contact leg contacts with said first common contact member, said second contact leg alternately contacts with said second individual fixed contact members, and said fourth contact leg alternately contacts with said first individual contact members.