Patent ID: 6294746
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A rotary switch, comprising:a housing;a rotor approximated to said housing;an electrically conductive wiper disposed on said housing;an electrically conductive contact surface disposed on said rotor;said wiper and said contact surface being movable between a first relative position and a second relative position;an electrical circuit being closed comprising said wiper and said contact surface in series when said wiper and said contact surface are in said first relative position, said electrical circuit being opened when said wiper and said contact surface are in said second relative position;said housing defining an axis of rotation, said rotor being rotatable about said axis of rotation with respect to said housing to provide said first and second relative positions of said wiper and said contact surface;said wiper being confined at an angular position about said axis of rotation on said housing, and said contact surface being confined at an angular position about said axis of rotation on said rotor, such that, with rotation of said rotor about said axis of rotation with respect to said housing, said wiper and said contact surface are moved between said first and second relative positions;said wiper and said contact surface when in said first relative position defining a thrust axis;said wiper being supported on said housing with respect to said thrust axis, and said contact surface being supported on said rotor with respect to said thrust axis, such that said wiper and said contact surface are urged into mutual electrical contact when in said first relative position;said housing and said rotor cooperating to provide resistance to rotation of the rotor relative to the housing when said wiper and said contact surface are in said first relative position, whereby said first relative position is stabilized;said housing defining a position key, said rotor defining a shell, said position key and said shell cooperating to provide resistance to rotation of the rotor relative to the housing when said wiper and said contact surface are in said first relative position.