Importance

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Abstract

A switch probe includes an electrically conductive tubular outer receptacle and a tubular barrel in the receptacle. The barrel has a conductive inside surface and an insulative coating on its outside surface in contact with the inside of the receptacle to isolate the barrel from the receptacle. A terminal disposed in the receptacle has a conductive bearing affixed to the conductive inside of the barrel and a conductive terminal pin extending through the receptacle. An insulative coating on the surface of the terminal contacting the inside of the receptacle electrically isolates the terminal from the receptacle. A conductive plunger travels axially in the barrel against a biasing spring which retains the plunger in a normally open position. A stop in the wall of the barrel engages the plunger to retain it at a critical distance travel spaced from the receptacle. Two parallel electrically conductive paths, electrically isolated from each other, are formed axially. One conductive path extends along the plunger, the electrically conductive inside of the barrel, a conductive portion of the terminal, and to the exterior terminal pin. the other conductive path extends along the receptacle so that travel of the plunger against the bias of the spring, from the normally open position through its closure travel distance, causes the plunger to contact the receptacle and conduct along the inside diameter of the receptacle and complete a circuit through the other conductive path.

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First Claim