DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR SETTING MECHANICAL APPARATUS

摘要

A mechanism for setting a thermostat having a housing wall forming a mounting opening. A rotatable setting shaft projects through the mounting opening and defines a circumferential groove concentric with respect to the shaft axis and a cam is fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the housing wall. The cam has a bore with at least one slot at a predetermined angular location and the shaft is locked to the cam by expanding the shaft into engagement with the bore and slot. The shaft is journaled in a bearing for rotation relative to the housing wall. The bearing comprises at least a collar-like structure fixed with respect to the housing wall and extending axially relative to the shaft and radially inwardly deformed toward engagement with the shaft groove. The collar-like bearing structure and shaft groove cooperate to enable rotation of the shaft relative to the collar-like structure about the axis and to restrain the shaft against axial movement relative to the housing wall. In one embodiment the bearing is integral with the housing while in another embodiment the bearing is formed by an externally threaded tubular member.