Cam switch
A cam switch mechanism is an electromechanical or electrical component that is used to open and close electrical switches in a certain time sequence. A fundamental distinction is made between mechanical and electronic cam switches.
Mechanical cam switch mechanism
The mechanical cam switches include, among other things, travel switches that were previously used in electric railways , in many household appliances such as washing machines or tumble dryers , built-in drum switches and cam switches that can be operated purely manually .
Electronic cam switch
The aim of electronic cam switches is not only to replace mechanical controls, but to make their function more precise, simpler, more universally applicable and wear-free. The mechanical cam switch mechanism operates a switch over sections of a circle, which switch is closed over the length of this section. Such a section is defined as a "cam". Each switch represents an output. Several circles arranged in parallel give the number of outputs.
This basic principle was adopted from the mechanical cam switches. A cam is programmed on an output by entering a switch-on and a switch-off point. The output is switched on between these points. Compared to mechanical cam switches, new functions are now possible with electronic cam switches: Dynamic cam shifting (compensation of the dead time of a connected actuator), angle-time cams, electronic zero point shifting and much more are possible.
literature
- Günter Boy, Horst Flachmann, Otto Mai: The master's examination in electrical machines and control technology. 4th edition, Vogel Buchverlag, Würzburg, 1983, ISBN 3-8023-0725-9