Patent ID: 7223930

Claim:
An encased starting switch contact assembly protected against dust and small particles for a single-phase rotating electric machine, comprising: an auxiliary winding to start the machine until it reaches an operational speed; a mechanical starting switch consisting of a pair of blades made of a conducting material having highly conductive contacts at one of their ends, said blades movable between a first position where the contacts are in contact with each other to turn on the auxiliary winding and start the machine and a second position where the contacts are apart from each other when the machine is running at the operational speed, thereby turning off said auxiliary winding; an actuating disk for moving said contacts between said first and second positions; a centrifugal actuator for driving said actuating disk; and a casing covering said contacts to protect them against dust and small particles, wherein said casing comprises a substantially “L” shaped body defining a cylindrical main portion and a leg portion radially extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said main portion, said main portion having a first opening at its upper end and said leg having a second, elongated opening at its distal end.