High speed low level voltage commutating switc

Dimeff, J.

English

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Y 
c 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700030599 2020-03-17T02:15:40+00:00Z
FF 
LO ECTRICIU, STEPPING SWITCH 
... 
3,076,065 - United States Patent Office Patented Jan. 29, 1963 
1 2 
imposed upon base plate 10, with their terminals extrud- 
ing inwardly as shown for connection to the individual 
output channels of voltage to be measured. Each con- 
tact pair 14 is connected at its ends by insulating nylon 
John Dbeff9 sari Jose, calif., assirnor to the United 5 actuating tips 18. The tips hold the wires out of contact 
zyg & ~ ~ $ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  & ~ & d d ~ ~ ~ ~  with each other. A circular shorting bar 20 (see FIG. 2) Filed Aug. 2,1960, Ser. No. 47,121 of conductive material is secured on the base plate be- 
7 Claims. (C1.200-19) neath the contact pairs between the point at which the 
(Grauted under Title 35, U.S. Code (19521, sec. 266) pairs are mounted and the nylon tips. Auxiliary plate 22 
10 is mounted on the plate 12 centrally thereof, supporting 
The invention described herein may be manufactured a stationary air supply pipe 24 extending upwardly there- 
and used by or for the Government of the United States from. For supporting the contact pairs in the proper 
of America for governmental purposes without the pay- position, contact clamping ring 26 of nonconducting ma- 
ment of any royalties thereon or therefor. terial, such as, nylon, is placed over the contact pairs 
This invention relates to a high-speed stepping switch, 16 and secured to the base plate 10 by bolting shield 28 to 
more particularly, it relates to a high speed commutating the base plate with bolts which extend through shield 28 
switch fur low level voltage inputs. Prior art switching and clamping ring 26 and between contact pairs 14 into 
devices of the high-speed type invdve the use of magnetic the base plate 10. The contact pairs 14 are spaced from 
drive devices (as in the telephone cross bar switches); the base plate 10 and shorting bar 20 by the superimposed 
contacts in which the velocity of the moving vector past 20 support ring 16. The extremities of the Contact pairs are 
the stationary contact is related mechanically to the rate then free to move toward the base plate 10 and make 
of switching (as in the telephone stepping switches); or contact with the shorting bar to complete a circuit; how- 
devices which use a mercury jet to establish contact or ever, have restrained movement in the oppsite direction 
deform a cylinder which in turn establishes contact with beyond the normal rest position by the clamping bar-26 
the stationary connections. These prior art devices are 25 which overlies the inner portions of the contact pairs. 
subject to the disadvantage that because of kinetic en- Shield 28 also serves to protect the contact pairs from 
ergies, friction heating and magnetic coupling they typi- air currents. When the clamping ring 26 and the shield 
cally generate thermoelectric or electromagnetic noise 28 are in position the outer edge of the shield 28 lies be- 
voltages in their related circuits and are limited, there- tween the tips 18 and the point ar which the contact pairs 
fore, to operation at slower speed where these noise volt- 30 are mounted. Rotor 32 is mounted to rotate above shield 
ages are small, or are limited to operation at higher input 28 as will be described later. The rotor 32 is provided 
voltage levels where signal magnitudes are large enough with am internal air channel 34 shown in phantom lead- 
to obscure the inherent noise levels. ing from hollow spindle or shaft 36 to air n o d e  actua- 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide tor 38. The air nozzle actuator 38 is fastened to the 
a high-speed commutating switch for low voltage inputs, 35 rim 40 of rotor 32 by bolts or screws as shown. The 
that is, voltages of the order of zero to one hundred diameter of rotor 32 is greater than that of shield 28 and 
microvolts. is such that the actuating nozzle is directly above the 
It is another object of this invention to provide a high- nylon contact points 18 when the device is assembled. 
speed commutating switch to connect to and provide a When rotor 32 is assembled in operating position over 
sample of each of a series of low level voltages connected 40 shield 28, pipe 24 extends upwardly within hollow spindle 
to its various inputs. -36. An 0 ring, not shown, between the outer surface 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a of pipe 24 and the inner surface of the hole through rotor 
high-speed stepping switch for low level voltages which 32 through which pipe 24 extends into hollow spindle 36 
operates without the introduction of appreciable electri- prevents the passage of air around the outside of pipe 24 
cal error voltages from heat, friction and other sources, *6 and over the surface of shield 28. The 0 ring is located 
or without appreciable noise while being switched from below air channel 34. The spindle 36 is closed at its 
one channel to another at high speed. upper end (not shown) so that air entering pipe 24 under 
The invention is best described by reference to the ac- pressure is forced through internal air channel 34 and 
companying drawing3 hereby made a part of this appli- out through the air nozzle actuator 38 on to nylon contact 
cation and in which, tips 18. To complete the assembly, a disc-shaped cover 
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the device; plate or housing 42 is mwnted securely to the base plate 
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section of the base plate of by bolts or otherwise. The cover plate 42 is of sufficient 
the devices showing the contact pairs in detail; height SO that when bolted into position its internal top 
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembled device surface clears the top surface of rotor 32 so that the rotor 
partially cut away; will rotate without touching it. The cover plate 42 is 
FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the provided with air access holes 44 to permit the escape of 
manner in which various channels are switched; air ejected through air nozzle actuator 38. The hollow 
*FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram simiiiar to that of FIG. spindle 36 is mounted for rotation so that it is in the 
4 showing the inputs as transducers, and showing the proper position to rotate with respect to shield 28 with- 
manner of connecting inputs to a readwJt device, analog 6o out touching it and also in proper position so that air 
computer, and recording device in a typical application nozzle actuator 38 is at the required height above tips 18. 
of the invention, and The hollow spindle passes up through support ring 46 
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the switching the bearing and spacer assembly 48 and nut SO protrud- 
arrangement for a modification of the invention. ing on beyond nut 50 so that it can be driven by dEect 
Referring now to FIG. 1, ct base plate 10 is shown pro- O5 drive or otherwise. The bearing and spacer assembly 48 
vided with plate 12 on which are mounted symmetrical has a total combined thickness to provide positioning of 
contact pairs 14 of conductors, each pair representing an rotor 32 in the proper position. The assembly is secured 
input channel. The conductors are made of gold plated in place by means of nut 50. The rotor may be driven 
copper, gold, or other suitable material, and they have by any conventional means. 
sufficient stiffness and rigidity to be supported horizon- 70 Referring now to schematic circuit diagrams 4 and 5, 
tiply as respects the mounting point. They are mounted the manner of sequentially switching the separate chan- 
by means of insulating support ring 16, which is super- nels into a recording device by means of the pairs of 
3,076,065 
HIGH-SPEED LOW-LEV= ELECTRICAC 
STEPPING SWITCH 
1 
S , ~ ~ $ , O ~ ~  
F 
conductors leading from channel is shown. Typi- What is claimed is: 
cally, an individual electrical circuit is connected to the 
input of a measuring device by two contacts when the 
switch is operated. Multiple pairs of conductors, each 
pair representing a channel, are conn d to the contact 
pairs at the insulating support ring In the case of 
a circuit in which only one connect is required, the 
use of two contacts is accomplished as shown schemati- 
cally in FIG. 4, in which connection between an individ- 
ual channel and the measuring instrument is made by 
common and simultaneous connection of their similar 
contacts to a shorting element. When readings are re- 
quired, rotor 32 is rotated at a predet 
air is forced into the switch through 
1. A high speed commutating switch for sequentially 
measuring the voltage from a plurality of low-voltage 
inputs comprising a plurality of pairs of conductors con- 
nected to the voltage sources to be measured, a conduct- 
ing element disposed intermediate the extremities of said 
pairs of conductors, and means engaging one of the ex- 
tremities of, said contact pairs for sequentially contact- 
ing each of said contact pairs to the conducting element 
and sequentially disconnecting them. 
2. A high speed commutating switch for sequentially 
connecting a plurality of input voltages to a recording 
device, comprising multiple contact pairs of conductors, 
each pair connected at one extremity to an injut to be 
lb measured, each conductor 04 said pairs being separated 
at the other extremity by insulating material, said con- 
tact pairs *being circularly arranged, a conductive element 
disposed iutermediate the extremities of and in prox- 
shorting bar immediately spring away from the shorting imity to said contact pairs, first means engaging said 
bar when the air stream has passed on. The result is the 2o insulating material for sequentially connecting each of 
contact of each contact pair with the shorting bar and said contact pairs with said conductive element, and 
instantaneous release therefrom after the air stream has second means for sequentially disconnecting said contact 
passed on so that each channel is sequentially switched pairs. 
into the recording assembly to permit the voltage output 3. The switch of claim 2 in which said means for con- 
of the channels to be *recorded by means of the readout 25 necting said contact pairs with the conductive element 
device, analog digital computer and recording device as is an air current. 
shown in FIG. 5. 4. A high speed commutating switch for sequentially 
Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a schematic dia- connecting a plurality of voltage inputs to be measured 
gram of a modification of the invention in which two to a recording device, comprising, a base plate, a plu- 
separate similar contacts may be individually connected 3o rality of contact pairs of conductors mounted on said 
to the two similar electrical leads of the measuring in- base plate in circular arrangement at one extremity 
strument when this is required. of the pair, the other ends of the pairs of conductors 
The above construction is designed to minimize the being connected .by a tip of, nonconducting material, a 
kinetic and thermo-energy that must be dissipated in the circular shorting element immediately beneath said con- 
contacts on closure by, (a) the separate determinablity 35 tact pairs approximately midway between the point at 
of the speed at which the actuating mechanism is moved which they are mounted and the tips, said contact pairs 
and the sped at which the contacts must rub in complet- being spring biased out of contact with said Contact 
ing the circuit, ( b )  the low mass of the deflecting system, shorting element, a rotor mounted to rotate above said 
( c )  the thermal separation of the contacts from the point contact pairs, an air actuating nozzle on the rim of said 
at which the closing force is applied by a low thermal 40 rotor directly above said nonconducting tips, means for 
conductivity plastic, and ( d )  the shielding of the actual forcing air under pressure out of said actuating nozzle, 
contacts from air currents generated by the motion of said rotor adapted to be rotated at a predetermined speed 
the actuator. The effect of the unavoidable minimum by power means; whereby as said rotor is rotated air 
kinetic and thermal energy associated with the contact from the nozzle causes sequential contact of each con- 
closure is minimized by, (a) providing a high degree of 45 tact pair with the shorting bar and the spring biased 
physical similarity in the parts, ( b )  constructing the con- condition of said contact pairs effects immediate release 
tacts (stationary and movable) of a material Of high of said contact, and the contact pairs sequentially con- 
thermal diffusibility, ( c )  constructing the statio- con- tacting said shorting bar being adapated to provide sig- 
tacts to provide a high rate of conduction from one in- nals for measuring and recording equipment. 
ternal point to another, and ( d )  mounting contacts (sta- 50 5. A high speed commutating switch for sequentially 
tionary and movable) so as to maximize the rate of heat connecting voltage inputs to be measured to a recording 
conduction to the body of the switch. device, comprising, a rectangular base plate; a raised 
From the above description it is seen that there has portion on said base plate; a shorting bar on said raised 
\ been provided ( a )  a circuit arrangement involving two portion; an insulating ring on said raised portion; a plu- 
symmetrically arranged contacts for use in a high-speed, 55 rality of contact pairs of conductors affixed by one ead 
multichannel, single-pole switch, in which electrical error to said insultaing ring in circular arrangement; a non- 
signals generated in one contact oppose and cancel error conducting tip connecting the other ends of said contact 
signals in the other contact, (6) a rotating mechanical pairs and holding them separated, said contact pairs be- 
actuator for a switch in which the contact is made by ing spring biased out of contact with said shorting bar; 
mechanical motion of a member separated from the ro- a centrally positioned auxiliary plate on said raised por- 
tating member and having separately determinable ve- tion; an air pipe supported in said auxiliary plate and 
locity and energies, (c) an arrangement for closure of a extending inwardly therefrom; an insulating circular 
switch contact in which kinetic energy oE the actuating clamping ring clamped over said contact pairs imme- 
device is expended at a point on the contact mechanism diately outward &om said insulating ring; a dish shaped 
which is thoroughly insulated from the contact points clamping shield adapted to enclose said contact clamping 
and which therefore minimizes the flow of thermal energy ring mounted over said ring and having a beveled sur- 
from the actuating point to the electrical contact points, face on its outer edge; a circular rotor adapted to fit over 
and ( d )  an arrangement for a sequential switch in which said shield for rotation, said rotor being dish shaped, 
a nonconducting fluid stream is used for an actuating and having a diameter greater than that of said shield; 
device. 10 an air n d e  actuator secured to the rim of said rotor 
It will be apparent from the above description that SO that its outlet is directly over said contact points, said 
many modifications 2re possible in the light of the above rotor having a hollow spindle extending upwardly from 
teaching. It is, therefore, to be understood that within its center and enclosing said air pipe when assembled, 
the scope of the appended claims the invention may be said spindle being closed at its upper end, said rotor be- 
practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. ing provided with an air channel connecting said hollow 
. a  
5,076,066 
spindle and said air actuati n o d e  whereby air forced 
through said pipe is forced out said nozzle onto said con- 
tact points; a dish shaped cover plate provided with air 
exits at the bottom of its outer edge adapted to fit over 
the assembly of base plate, shield and rotor and of suf- 
ficient depth so that its internal top surface clears the 
top surface of said rotor, said top plate being provided 
with a central orifice and a supporting ring thereover 
having a bearing surface therein, said hollow spindle 
extending upwardly through said supporting ring; said 10 
spindle and rotor adapted to be driven by power means, 2,365,218 Rogers _______  Dee. 19, 1944 
and the contact pairs sequentially contacting said short- 2,501,431 A~~~~~ et __________  M ~ .  21, 1950 
ing bar being adapted to Provide Signals for measuring 2,773,665 Berger ________________  Dec. 11, 1956 
and recording equipment. 2,773,951 Finlay -__-____________ Dec. 11, 1956 
6. The switch of claim 4 wherein shield means is l5 2,808,549 Vandeventer ____________  Oct. 1, 1957 
positioned between said rotor and said contact pairs 2,852,636 Block et al. ____________  Sept. 16, 1958 
whereby the area of engagement of, said contact pairs 2,855,473 Rabinow _-_-__---____- Oct. 7, 1958 
with said shorting bar is ded from air currents gen- 
erated by said rotor. 
7. The switch of claim 4 wherein said rotor and con- 
tact pairs are housed within a cover plate fixed to said 
base plate, said cover plate having holes in the vicinity 
of said nozzle to permit escape of air facilitating heat 
dissipation. 
References Cited in the file of this patent 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 


High speed low level electrical stepping switch Patent

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