Machining fixture positioning switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12226869-B2
Application number	US-202217683545-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2022
Priority date	Mar 26, 2021
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

Abstract

A switch housing body has a base and a sidewall having an axis and extending from the base to a rim and having a pair of axial slots. A switch cap has: a cap body having a top web; and a sidewall extending from the top web to a rim and having a pair of holes. A shaft passes through the pair of axial slots and pair of holes. A spring biases the cap axially away from the housing from a compressed condition to an extended condition. A cap electrical contact and a housing electrical contact have an electrically closed condition at the compressed condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switch comprising:
a housing having a housing body comprising:
a base; and
a sidewall having an axis and extending from the base to a rim and having:
an outer diameter surface having an external thread; and
a pair of axial slots;

a cap biased axially away from the housing along an axial range of motion from a compressed condition to an extended condition, the cap having:
a cap body having:
a top web; and
a sidewall extending from the top web to a rim and having:
a pair of holes; and

a shaft passing through the pair of axial slots and pair of holes; and

a cap electrical contact and a housing electrical contact respectively on the cap and the housing and having an electrically closed condition at the compressed condition.

2. The switch of claim 1 wherein:
the housing body comprises stainless steel.

3. The switch of claim 1 wherein:
the cap body comprises stainless steel.

4. The switch of claim 1 wherein:
the housing electrical contact is mounted to the housing body sidewall rim;
the cap electrical contact is mounted to an underside of the cap body top web; and
respective electrical leads for the housing electrical contact and cap electrical contact pass through respective holes in the housing body.

5. The switch of claim 1 wherein:
a spring biases the cap axially away from the housing along the axial range of motion from the compressed condition to the extended condition.

6. The switch of claim 5 wherein:
the spring is a frustoconical coil spring.

7. The switch of claim 6 wherein:
the cap further comprises a stem having a transverse hole;
the shaft passes through the transverse hole; and
the spring bears against the stem.

8. A machining fixture for holding a part to be machined, the machining fixture including a plurality of switches of claim 1 and further comprising:
a body having a plurality of holes into which the plurality of switches are respectively threaded.

9. The machining fixture of claim 8 further comprising:
one or more clamps for holding the part in an installed condition compressing the plurality of switches.

10. The machining fixture of claim 9 wherein:
the one or more clamps are hydraulic clamps.

11. The machining fixture of claim 8 further comprising:
means for displaying respective states of the plurality of switches.

12. A method for using the machining fixture of claim 8 , the method comprising:
installing a part to the machining fixture, the installing depressing the plurality of switches to their respective compressed conditions; and
machining the installed part.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
displaying respective states of the plurality of switches.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the machining is responsive to displayed closed state of all switches of the plurality of switches.

15. A fixture for processing a part, the fixture comprising:
a body having a plurality of threaded holes;
a plurality of switches having:
a housing body mounted in a respective associated hole of the plurality of threaded holes; and
a part-engaging member for contacting the part in an installed condition of the part and mounted to the housing body for axial movement between a compressed condition and an extended condition, the part-engaging member biased from the compressed condition toward the extended condition;
a housing body electrical contact; and
a part-engaging member electrical contact for contacting the housing body electrical contact in the compressed condition; and

at least one clamp for holding the part in the installed condition.

16. The fixture of claim 15 wherein:
the at least one clamp comprises a pair of hydraulic clamps.

17. The fixture of claim 15 further comprising:
means for displaying respective states of the plurality of switches.

18. A method for using the fixture of claim 15 , the method comprising:
installing a part to the fixture, the installing depressing the plurality of switches to their respective compressed conditions; and
machining the installed part.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
displaying respective states of the plurality of switches.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein:
the machining is responsive to displayed closed states of all switches of the plurality of switches.

Assignees

• Raytheon Tech Corp
• Rtx Corp

Inventors

• King Christopher R

Classifications

• H01H13/14

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title

• B23Q2717/00

  Arrangements for indicating or measuring · CPC title

• B23Q2716/00

  Equipment for precise positioning of tool or work into particular locations · CPC title

• B23Q2703/04

  using fluid means or a vacuum · CPC title

• B23Q3/082

  hydraulically actuated · CPC title