Claims
- 1. A control switch terminal assembly comprising a housing having a back wall and a front face, said housing providing a side wall portion extending from said back wall toward said front face and terminating at a location spaced from said front face: an inclined lateral wall extending from said side wall portion to said front face at a location laterally spaced from said side wall portion, said side wall portion providing grooves therein open along the forward side thereof, said lateral wall providing openings therein aligned with said grooves and extending from said side wall portion to opening ends spaced from the lateral extremity of said lateral wall, and terminals mounted in said grooves installed therein by movement through said openings.
- 2. A control switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein a locking bar is secured at each end in said housing in engagement with said terminals to retain them in said grooves.
- 3. A control switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein said locking bar serves as an extension of said side wall.
- 4. A control switch as set forth in claim 3, wherein said locking bar serves as an extension of said lateral wall.
- 5. A thermal cycling switch having a housing of insulating material having an end wall, a plurality of side walls extending from said end wall and defining a face, at least one of said side walls being planar and terminating in an edge a spaced distance from said face, a cover extending over said face and secured to said housing, said housing and said cover defining a cavity, a rotatable operating cam mounted centrally in said housing, first and second switches in said cavity, said first switch being positioned between said cam and said planar side wall, said second switch being positioned between said cam and the side wall opposite said planar side wall, said planar wall having a plurality of slots extending from said edge toward said end wall, each of said switches including at least two terminals with each terminal extending through one of said slots from said cavity to the exterior of said housing, each of said terminals being staked to said planar wall to hold said terminal and the connected portion of the switch in position in said cavity, and a locking bar secured in said housing generally in alignment with said planar wall and extending between said edge and said face to clamp said terminals in said slots.
- 6. A thermal cycling switch as set forth in claim 5, wherein said housing includes an inclined lateral wall portion extending from said planar wall over said terminals.
- 7. A thermal cycling switch as set forth in claim 6, wherein said lateral wall is spaced from said planar wall by said locking bar.
- 8. A thermal cycling switch as set forth in claim 7, wherein said locking bar provides portions of said lateral wall and said planar wall and defines the intersection of said walls.
- 9. A thermal cycling switch as set forth in claim 5, wherein said housing side walls define grooves parallel to said planar wall and said locking bar engages said grooves.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 07/107,333, filed Oct. 9, 1987, now abandoned.
This invention relates generally to control switches, and more particularly to a novel and improved, infinitely variable thermal cycling control switch. Such switch is particularly suited for regulating the heat output of a surface unit of a domestic electric cooking range.
Domestic electric cooking ranges include a cooking platform or surface in which a plurality (usually four) of resistance surface cooking units are provided. Each surface cooking unit is provided with a control switch permitting the user to individually control the associated unit.
Typically, the control switches are mounted on vertically extending control panels at either the front or the back edge of the cooking surface. Such switches provide a user-accessible control knob which is adjusted by the user to adjust the heat output of the associated cooking unit. When such switches are infinitely variable, they normally provide a bimetal leg supporting one of the switch contacts of one of the switches. The bimetal leg is connected in series with the associated cooking unit, and operates to open and close the switch with a time cycle determined by the position of the other contact of the switch. The position of such other contact of the switch is controlled by a cam connected to the control knob.
An example of such a control switch is described and claimed in U.S. Letters Pat. No. 4,471,338 (assigned to the assignee of the present invention), and such patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In the past, the switch components have usually been mounted on an associated terminal which is in turn mounted on the rearward wall of the switch housing. Generally, such terminals are positioned in the rear wall of the housing at locations selected for convenient support of the associated switch component. Consequently, the terminals have been located in essentially a random pattern. Therefore, such terminals have usually been connected by an individual connector associated with each terminal.
The labor involved in connecting individual connectors to individual terminals is significantly greater than would be required if a single compound terminal connector were utilized to connect all of the terminals. Further, the use of separate and individual connectors increases the likelihood of incorrect wiring of the switch into the range system. Further, since the terminals usually project from the rearward or back face of the switch housing, a relatively deep cavity has been required for each switch.
There are several aspects to the present invention. In accordance with one important aspect of this invention, the terminals of the range control switch are arranged in a row and extending parallel to each other. A unitary multiconductor connector is provided with a separate conductor for each terminal and is installable as a unit to provide all of the switch connections. Such unitary connector facilitates automated assembly and, even when manually installed, reduces the labor content required for the installation and eliminates the possibility of incorrect wiring.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the row of terminals is provided in a side wall of the switch housing rather than in the rearward wall thereof. Therefore, the depth of the cavity required to mount the control switch is substantially reduced and approaches the depth of the switch housing itself.
In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, a novel and improved structure is provided to allow installation of the switch terminals in a side wall of the switch housing without requiring longitudinal movement of the terminals with respect to their length. Further, a novel and improved structure is provided for securing the terminals of a control switch in the switch housing thereof.
In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of this invention, the switch housing is provided with a stepped side wall within which the switch terminals are mounted. Such stepped side wall provides mounting grooves and laterally extending slots or openings, permitting the terminals of the switch to be moved into their mounted position by passing through the associated slot or opening. When each of the terminals is positioned in its mounting groove, it is staked on one side and subsequently a locking bar is installed against the opposite side of the terminal to permanently secure the terminal within the housing.
The illustrated control switch provides two line switches and a pilot light switch. Each switch provides switch arms extending generally parallel to the rearward wall of the switch housing. The terminals are shaped to support each of the switch arms in its proper location within the housing, even though the terminals are all mounted along one side wall of the housing.
In order to permit the installation of the switch within a shallow range cavity, the rearward wall of the illustrated embodiment of the housing is provided with an inclined portion so that the depth of the switch housing adjacent the one edge is less than the depth adjacent to the opposite edge.
Since all of the terminals are positioned in alignment, the illustrated control switch is connected to the circuitry of the associated range by a unitary connector providing a conductor associated with each terminal. Such unitary connector can only be installed in a correct position. This ensures that the proper electrical connections are provided and facilitates the automated assembly of the unit.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the stepped wall portion is partially open or cut away. This provides easier access during assembly so that the terminals can be moved a slight distance laterally and the length of the slots or lateral openings can be shortened for increased rigidity. This also provides better access for a supporting tool during assembly. The cutaway portion is covered by a projecting lip or ledge on the locking bar which also gives greater rigidity to that member.
These and other aspects of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and are more fully described in the following specification.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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107333 |
Oct 1987 |
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Patent Grant
4896004
