VIBRATION-TOLERANT MULTI-POSITION, MULTI-POLE CONTINUOUS ROTATION STEPPER RELAY

• Main Author: WINER, Gordon E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 21.08.2024
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC SWITCHES; ELECTRICITY; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES; RELAYS; SELECTORS

Apparatus and associated methods relate to sequentially opening and/or closing a plurality of switches. A rotational securing assembly sequentially secures and releases a plurality of indexing members (78a-h) evenly distributed along a circular path centered on an axis of rotation of the rotatable disk (74), thereby sequentially securing and releasing the rotatable disk (74) to and from a sequence of rotational positions. A ratcheting assembly sequentially engages a plurality of advancing members of the rotatable disk (74), thereby sequentially rotating the rotatable disk (74) to a next one of the sequence of rotatable positions. A cam coupled to the rotatable disk (74) sequentially either opens or closes a plurality of switches attached to an annular frame and distributed along a second circular path centered on the axis of rotation. Operations of the rotational securing assembly are coordinated with those of the ratcheting assembly so as to advance rotation of the rotatable disk (74) in a stepwise fashion.