Selective Reset of Toggle Devices

I'm thinking of something like a car brake servo assist?

The big question is really...can you design out this requirement in a simple way? Or to put it another way...are you solving the core problem or are you solving what you think needs solving...

Dunno if that makes sense?

I always say ..what the customer wants, needs, and thinks he needs are often 3 entirely different things.

So what I'm trying to say is..are you sure that is what you relly need?

Del

I agree with Del. Are the mechanical toggle switches a design requirement? Can you replace with a momentary push button tied to a latching circuit? That would make reset extremely simple. If you need visible indication of each switch's state, an indicating lamp should do the trick.

Good points, Del! While the actual design of this machine can be anything it needs to be the basic functionality needs to remain roughly as I have described. I know it might all make more sense if I told you exactly how this machine will be used but the customer won't let me reveal its exact purpose.

CSM - These toggle devices are not switches! They are similar to a Destaco clamp in size and function. While toggled up they support a physical load of at least 100 pounds. The magnitude of the load that they can support is adjustable via changing the spring tension pushing against the toggle link. When that load increases beyond the preset, the load drops down suddenly as the toggle device moves past toggle. A momentary push button/latching circuit would certainly work here. Once again, I need to reset these toggle devices electrically (pneumatics are not an option. air cylinders would be so EZ!) with a manual "backup".

Who knows, maybe this design will morph into something completely different than what the customer or myself have envisioned so far. Thanks for your input!

tightwoods

Why not consider high lift cams individual or on a common shaft, with a geared drive you can exert plenty of force these could be synchronised in many ways to actuate your toggles.

Why not consider high lift cams individual or on a common shaft, with a geared drive you can exert plenty of force these could be synchronised in many ways to actuate your toggles.

Thanks Garth! I'll noodle it.

tightwoods