A rotary switch assembly for use with a fuel burner valve having a user rotatable shaft. The switch has an annular sleeve which upon being received over the valve shaft is engaged to be rotated by the valve shaft. The rotor has a conductive contact ring frictionally engaging the rotor with inward projections on the ring frictionally engaging torque transmitting grooves formed on the rotor. The rotor is journalled on the switch base which has stationary contacts provided on opposite sides of the rotor. User rotation of the valve shaft causes the rotor to rotate and the wiper contacts complete a circuit between the stationary contacts.

First and second self-supporting sheet metal contact plates (104,106) are mounted in an insulating housing (12), in planes perpendicular to the axis of a driver (24) which is rotatable to a series of detented positions. The driver (24) carries first and second contactors (78a,78b) having first and second contact points (96,98) slidably engaging opposite sides of the plates while also having riders (90,92) engaging opposite sides of the first contact plate at all times. The driver (24) carries first and second coil springs (188,190) biasing the contactors (78a,78b) against the plates (104,106). The first and second plates have first and second sectors (120,122) with first and second radial edges (142,144) on opposite sides of a narrow gap (254,256) across which the points are movable at different radially spaced locations. The points break contact substantially simultaneously with the second edge whereby wear due to electrical arcing is distributed between the radially spaced locations. A third contactor (78c) is biased by the second coil spring (190) into sliding engagement with third and fourth contact plates for making and breaking another electrical circuit therebetween. A pinion gear on the driver meshes with and drives a gear rack on a linearly movable vacuum valve for performing vacuum switching functions. The contact plates are clamped between case and cover components of the housing. To facilitate assembly, the first and second plates are initially connected by a narrow temporary web (107,263) and have rectangularly bent flanges with interlocking hooks (330,332) remote from the web for strictly limiting relative movement of the plates. The third and fourth plates have a similar web and hooks.

This relates to a rotary switch assembly for a multiple work station machine wherein the work stations rotate and are sequentially presented to an operating position. There may be a high voltage and two low voltage switches with the switches being so constructed wherein electrical connections are made with each work station in timed relation to its presentation to the work position and for the required period of time.

A switch is mounted on a plate within a housing having a housing body with a port and a removable housing cover. A switch actuator rod is mounted on a pivot within a sleeve that may be coupled to the housing so that the rod extends through the port and engages the switch within the housing. A linear actuator rod is slideably mounted within a sleeve which also may be coupled to the housing so that the rod extends through the port and engages the switch. A spring is mounted on the housing cover in a direction traverse to the arc through which the swing actuator rod pivots so that it engages the end of rod and biases it away from the switch. By removing the cover, moving the rod to the opposite end of its arc, and replacing the cover, the direction of engagement of the rod with the spring may be changed. The switch plate is movable along the rod's arc of pivot so that the tch trip point along the arc may be adjusted.