CN112136197A

CN112136197A - Change-over switch

Info

Publication number: CN112136197A
Application number: CN201980034187.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马尔科·布罗乔利; 彼得罗·罗塞雷托; 安德烈亚·马里纳奇
Original assignee: Butikno
Current assignee: Butikno; BTicino SpA
Priority date: 2018-05-23
Filing date: 2019-03-22
Publication date: 2020-12-25
Also published as: AU2019273780B2; MX2020011485A; AU2019273780A1; EP3797437C0; EP3797437B1; BR112020023774A2; IT201800005622A1; EP3797437A1; WO2019224616A1

Abstract

A diverter switch (100) comprising: -a housing (20) made of an electrically insulating material, a first side button (30a) and a second side button (30B) both sliding with respect to the housing (20) along respective sliding axes (a-A, B-B) between an initial rearward position and a final forward position; -a rocking control member (50) adapted to be rotated in two opposite directions by a first side button (30a) and a second side button (30b), respectively; -a rocking switching member (60) having a first end portion (61) and a second end portion (62) opposite the first end portion (61); -a first movable contact (70a) and a second movable contact (70b) arranged on the rocking switching member (60); -a first fixed contact (80a) and a second fixed contact (80 b); -an electrically conductive support bracket (90) on which the rocking switching member (60) rests; wherein the swing control member (50) is adapted and configured to rotate the swing switching member (60) between three stable angular positions: -a first angled end-of-stroke position, wherein the first movable contact (70a) is in contact with the first fixed contact (80a), and wherein the second movable contact (70b) is separated from the second fixed contact (80 b); -a second angled end-of-stroke position, wherein the second movable contact (70b) is in contact with the second fixed contact (80b), and wherein the first movable contact (70a) is separated from the first fixed contact (80 a); -a central angled position in which the movable contact (70a, 70b) is separated from the respective fixed contact (80a, 80 b). The second end portion (62) of the rocking switching member (60) rests on the support bracket (90).

Description

Change-over switch

Technical Field

The present description relates to the technical field of electrical installations, and more particularly, to a transfer switch having a rocking control member.

Background

As is well known, the use of modular electrical devices, such as modular switches or modular sockets, each designed to perform a predetermined function, is widespread in modern electrical systems, such as household electrical appliance systems. By combining such modular devices with each other conveniently, relatively complex assemblies can be obtained, such assemblies making available a sum of different functions.

The so-called change-over switch is one of the different types of modular switches possible.

A transfer switch 1 of the known art is shown in fig. 1 and 2, fig. 1 showing a side view of the transfer switch 1 and fig. 2 showing an exploded perspective view of the transfer switch 1.

The diverter switch 1 comprises a support structure 2 or casing 2 made of insulating material, having a box-like shape and defining an internal compartment for housing and supporting the electromechanical components belonging to the diverter switch 1. The diverter switch 1 also comprises two

sliding buttons

3a, 3b, each under a

respective cover member

4a, 4b which is mechanically coupled, for example snap-coupled, with the associated sliding

button

3a, 3b so as to slide together with the sliding button. The

sliding buttons

3a, 3b are adapted and configured to slide along respective sliding axes with respect to the housing 2. In particular, the sliding button 3a is adapted to slide along the axis A-A, while the sliding button 3B is adapted to slide along the axis B-B.

The changeover switch 1 comprises two

movable contacts

7a, 7b and two

fixed contacts

8a, 8 b. The

movable contacts

7a, 7b are arranged on two opposite ends of an electrically conductive rocking switching member 6, which is included in the changeover switch 1 and has a central portion 6c resting on an electrically conductive support bracket (fulcrum, a member providing a fulcrum, a fulcrum bone) 9. The support bracket 9 is made according to the teaching of european patent EP2304749B 1.

The user can slide the

actuation buttons

3a, 3b by applying manual pressure thereon to rotate the rocking switching member 6, thereby operating the change-over switch 1 by means of the

actuation buttons

3a, 3 b. The rocking switching member has three stable angular positions:

a first angled end of stroke (end of stroke) position, wherein the movable contact 7a is in contact with the fixed contact 8a, and wherein the movable contact 7b is separated from the fixed contact 8 b.

A second angled end-of-stroke position, in which the movable contact piece 7b is in contact with the fixed contact piece 8b, and in which the movable contact piece 7a is separated from the fixed contact piece 8 a.

A central angular position in which the two

movable contacts

7a, 7b are separated from the respective

fixed contacts

8a, 8 b.

The diverter switch 1 also comprises a rocking control member 5 operatively coupled to both the

push buttons

3a, 3b and in particular articulated, and movable, in particular rotatable, by means of the

aforementioned push buttons

3a, 3b, so that the rocking switching member 6 selectively assumes one of three stable angular positions. In the change-over switch 1 there is also included a support frame 10 made of electrically insulating material, which is inserted in the casing 2 to support the

push buttons

3a, 3b and the rocking control member 5. From a functional point of view, the supporting frame 10 can be considered as a part of the casing 2, since it also performs a housing and supporting function for certain components of the diverter switch 1.

Heretofore, the change-over switch 1 of the above-described type has been widely used, for example, for generating an electric control signal for raising or lowering a roller blind or an automatic blind associated with a door or a window in a residential or commercial building.

Despite its widespread use, a diverter switch of the above-mentioned type, similar in some respects to the switch described in patent US 4,166,935, has certain drawbacks.

A first disadvantage is given by the fact that the change-over switch 1 has a relatively high axial volume.

The second drawback is given by the fact that: the manual pressure exerted on one of the two

push buttons

3a, 3b to cause it to be pushed towards the housing 2 automatically slides the other of the two push buttons in a direction moving away from the housing 2, whereby when the rocking switching member 6 is in one of the angular end-of-stroke positions, one push button is lowered and the other push button is raised, resulting in an unpleasant appearance due to the misalignment between the

push buttons

3a, 3 b. In addition to the drawback of this appearance-related nature, the fact that the movement of one of the two buttons also causes the movement of the other button increases even more the overall inertia of the kinematic mechanism perceived by the user when the user manually operates the change-over switch 1.

A third drawback is given by the fact that: starting from the situation in which the rocking switching member 6 is in one of the two angular end-of-stroke positions, if it is desired to bring said rocking member 6 into the central angular position, it is necessary to exert manual pressure on the push-button that is higher than the other push-button. If the manual pressure applied to the push button is not controlled sufficiently accurately, the central angled position may be exceeded and the rocking switching member 6 may be undesirably brought into the other of the two angled end-of-travel positions.

It is therefore desirable to make a diverter switch with a rocking control member that is able to overcome, completely or partially, the drawbacks of the above-mentioned diverter switches of the known art.

It is an object of the present description to provide a diverter switch, which is such that: which meets the above-mentioned needs.

Such object is achieved by means of a change-over switch with a rocking control member as generally defined in claim 1. Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the above-described diverter switch are defined in the appended dependent claims.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example and therefore non-limiting with respect to the drawings described briefly in the following paragraphs.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side plan view of a transfer switch of the known art.

Fig. 2 is an exploded three-dimensional view of the transfer switch of fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of an embodiment of a diverter switch including a cover and an actuating member.

Fig. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the transfer switch of fig. 3 from which the cover and actuating member has been removed.

Fig. 5 is an exploded three-dimensional view of the portion of the transfer switch shown in fig. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a portion of the transfer switch of FIG. 3 showing two side buttons, a swing control member, and a center button.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the portion of the diverter switch of fig. 6 from which the center button has been removed.

Fig. 8 is a three-dimensional view of one of the two side buttons of the diverter switch in fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a three-dimensional view of the portion of the transfer switch in fig. 3, showing three connection terminals and a rocking switching member.

Fig. 10 is a three-dimensional view of the mounting frame of the transfer switch of fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a three-dimensional view of the swing control member of the transfer switch of fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a three-dimensional view of the center button of the switch of fig. 3.

Fig. 13 is a three-dimensional view of the cover and actuating member of fig. 3.

Detailed Description

A specific non-limiting embodiment of the transfer switch 100 will now be described with reference to fig. 3-13. Such a transfer switch 100 is, for example, a modular electrical device. For the purposes of the present description, modular electrical device means an electrical device intended to be mounted in a wall-mounted frame, which is generally placed side by side with other electrical devices of the same type or other modular electrical devices, such as one or more electrical sockets of other electrical control devices, for controlling and distributing the electricity.

The diverter switch 100 may be manually operated by a user and may be used, for example, but not limited in any way to: controlling an electromechanical device, such as a roller blind or an automatic shutter or curtain, electrically connected to the switch; or to control an optical signaling device, such as one adapted to assume three different signal states.

The changeover switch 100 includes: a housing 20 made of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic; a first side button 30 a; and a second side button 30b, both of which slide relative to the housing 20. Both side buttons 30a, 30B are preferably constrained, directly or indirectly, to the housing 20 so as to slide relative to the housing along respective sliding axes a-A, B-B between an initial rearward (back) position and a final forward (forward) position. For the purposes of this description, "final forward position" refers to the mid-travel end position where the

side buttons

30a, 30b are close to the housing 20, while "rearward position" refers to the mid-travel end position where the

side buttons

30a, 30b are away from the housing 20. Thus, it will be apparent that the terms "forward" and "rearward" refer to the position of the

side buttons

30a, 30b relative to the housing 20. According to an advantageous embodiment, the side buttons 30a, 30B are independent from each other in translation along the respective sliding axes a-A, B-B, in particular they are mechanically coupled, directly or indirectly, to the casing 20, so as to be independent from each other in translation.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first side button 30a and the second side button 30B are adapted and configured to translate independently of each other along respective sliding axes a-A, B-B with respect to the casing 20.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the switch 100 comprises at least one

elastic return element

32a, 32b for each of the two

side buttons

30a, 30b, configured to push the

respective side button

30a, 30b into an initial backward position. According to a preferred embodiment, such initial rearward position is the only stable position of the

side buttons

30a, 30 b. In the non-limiting embodiment depicted in the figures, the switch 100 comprises in particular two

helical springs

32a, 32b, each of which pushes a respective

lateral button

30a, 30b to a final backward position.

The

side buttons

30a, 30b are preferably made of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic.

The housing 20 of the switch 100 includes a tubular side wall 22 and a bottom wall 23 joined to the side wall 22. The housing 20 includes an open side 24 opposite the bottom wall 23. The tubular side wall 22 and the bottom wall 23 delimit an internal compartment suitable for housing the electromechanical components of the diverter switch 100 and at least three

electrical connection terminals

73a, 73b, 73c, for example three screw-operated clamps.

The diverter switch 1 further comprises a rocker control member 50 adapted to be rotated in two opposite directions by the first side button 30a and the second side button 30b, respectively. According to one embodiment, the

side buttons

30a, 30b are independent of the rocking control member 50, e.g. the diverter switch 1 does not have any direct mechanical constraint between the

side buttons

30a, 30b and the rocking control member.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the

side buttons

30a, 30b are not interposed in abutment with the rocking control member 50 in their initial backward position, said

side buttons

30a, 30b being adapted and configured to come into contact with the rocking control member 50 starting from a certain point along their sliding from their initial backward position to their final forward position.

According to an advantageous embodiment, each of the

side buttons

30a, 30b comprises at least one respective pressure-transmitting

element

31a, 31b adapted to abut the swing control member 50 starting from a certain point along a sliding movement from an initial backward position to a final forward position. The

pressure transmission elements

31a, 31b allow manual pressure applied to the

side buttons

30a, 30b to be transmitted to the swing control member 50, thereby rotating the swing control member. The swing control member 50 has three stable angular positions, and in particular one central angular position and two lateral angular end-of-travel positions.

The

pressure transmitting elements

31a, 31b preferably each comprise at least one wing projecting from the

side buttons

30a, 30b towards the swing control member 50. According to an advantageous embodiment, each

lateral button

30a, 30b comprises two pressure-transmitting elements spaced apart from each other, in particular two wings projecting from the

lateral button

30a, 30b towards the rocking control member 50.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the rocking control member 50 comprises a central body 51c from which two

lateral abutment portions

51a, 51b project, each projecting towards a

respective lateral button

30a, 30 b. Such

side abutment portions

51a, 51b are respectively in contact with the corresponding side buttons during sliding of the

side buttons

30a, 30b from the rearward position to the forward position. In the particular embodiment depicted in the figures,

such side portions

51a, 51b are two brackets, preferably flat brackets, projecting from opposite sides with respect to the central body 51c and adapted to come into contact with the projecting

wings

31a, 31b of the

side buttons

30a, 30b during the sliding of the

side buttons

30a, 30b from the initial rearward position to the final forward position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rocking control member 50 is arranged between the two

side buttons

30a, 30b in a central position with respect to said

side buttons

30a, 30 b.

The transfer switch 100 further includes a rocking switching member 60 having a first end portion 61 and a second end portion 62 opposite the first end portion 61. The rocking switching member 60 preferably comprises a plate-like body made of an electrically conductive material, such as copper. The rocking switch member 60 is made of, for example, cut metal plate material.

The changeover switch 100 further includes a first movable contact 70a and a second movable contact 70b that are arranged on the rocking switching member 60. Thus, the rocking switching member 60 is a movable contact holding support, in particular a rotatable contact holding. The first movable contact 70a and the second movable contact 70b are preferably arranged on the first end portion 61 of the swing switching member 60 on opposite sides of the swing switching member 60.

The diverter switch 100 also comprises a first fixed contact 80a and a second fixed contact 80b and an electrically conductive support bracket 90 on which the rocking switching member 60 rests. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the support bracket 90 is fastened to the bottom wall 23 of the casing 20 by means of a coupling system made according to the teaching of patent application No. wo2017141093a1 entitled "Modular circuit breaker with a coupling system for the supporting bracket".

For example, the support bracket 90 is made of a bent and cut metal plate material.

The support bracket 90 preferably includes a support and contact portion 91 that is shaped to define a groove, such as a groove having a V-shaped cross-section. The support bracket 90 further preferably includes a connection portion 93 that forms a part of the connection terminal 73c of the changeover switch 100.

The second end portion 62 of the rocking switching member 60 rests on the support bracket 90, in particular on the support and contact portion 91.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the rocking switching member 60 is an L-shaped plate having a large base resting on the support bracket 90 and an arm narrower than the base and to which the

movable contacts

70a, 70b are fastened.

The

movable contacts

70a, 70b are, for example, two opposite pads, made of an electrically conductive material, for example, made of a silver alloy, fastened, for example, welded, at opposite sides of the first end portion 61 of the rocking switching member 60.

The swing control member 50 is adapted and configured to rotate the swing switching member 60 between the following three stable angular positions:

a first angled end-of-stroke position, in which the movable contact 70a is in contact with the fixed contact 80a, and in which the movable contact 70b is separated from the fixed contact 80 b;

a second angled end-of-stroke position, in which the movable contact 70b is in contact with the fixed contact 80b, and in which the movable contact 70a is separated from the fixed contact 80 a;

a central angular position, in which both

movable contacts

70a, 70b are separated from the respective fixed

contacts

80a, 80 b.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fixed

contacts

80a, 80b are fastened, for example welded, to respective conductive contact-holding

supports

83a, 83b, for example made of copper, fastened to the

respective connection terminals

73a, 73b or integrated in the respective connection terminals. The fixed

contacts

80a, 80b are two opposing pads made of, for example, a conductive material, for example, a silver alloy.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the first movable contact 70a and the second movable contact 70b are adapted and configured to move in a space defined between the first fixed contact 80a and the second fixed contact 80 b. In such an embodiment, the first and second

fixed contacts

80a and 80b are preferably spaced apart and face each other.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the diverter switch 100 comprises a supporting frame 21 inserted in the housing 20, to which a given number of components of the diverter switch 100 are fastened, such as for example the

side buttons

30a, 30b and the rocking actuator 50. The support frame 21 is, for example, snap-fitted in the housing 20. The support frame 21 is preferably made of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic. From a functional point of view, the support frame 21 may be considered as a part of the housing 20, since it also performs the function of housing and supporting certain components of the diverter switch 100. Thus, it is correct to confirm that the housing 20 includes the support frame 21.

The support frame 21 includes one or

more side walls

25, 26 and a bottom wall 27.

An opening 28 adapted to be passed through by the fixed

contacts

80a, 80b and the

movable contacts

70a, 70b is preferably defined in the bottom wall 27. The above-described opening 27 is preferably penetrated by the rocking switch member 60 and the contact holding supports 83a, 83b of the fixed

contacts

80a, 80b so that the fixed

contacts

80a, 80b and the

movable contacts

70a, 70b are arranged in the support frame 21.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the

elastic return elements

32a, 32b have end portions that rest against the bottom wall 27 of the support frame 21 and preferably rest thereon. It is worth noting that the

elastic return elements

32a, 32b in the present embodiment are operatively interposed between the support frame 21 and the

side buttons

30a, 30 b.

The provision of the support frame 21 has the following advantages: simplifying the assembly of the diverter switch 100 and allowing to optimize the use of the available space in the housing 20. In practice, such a support frame 21 causes a division of the space in the housing 20 and is therefore also referred to as a partition frame or partition. Although it is advantageous to provide the support frame 21 in the housing 20, the support frame 21 may be omitted in alternative embodiments. However, without any limitation from now on, reference will be made to the case where the diverter switch 100 and in particular the housing 20 comprise a support frame 21. Therefore, when it is described that certain components of the transfer switch 100 are fastened to the support frame 21, it is understood that if the support frame 21 is not provided, the components may be directly fastened to the housing 20.

According to one embodiment, the swing control member 50 comprises two opposite coupling elements allowing the swing control member 50 to be rotatably coupled to the housing 20, in particular to two opposite side walls 25 of the support frame 21. In the particular embodiment depicted in the figures, the above-mentioned counter-coupling elements comprise two counter-pins 59, which project in opposite directions from the central body 51 c. Such opposite pins 59 engage, for example, respective through holes or recesses 29 defined in two opposite side walls 25 of the support frame 21.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the opposite pin 59 has a cross-sectional shape resembling the letter T. The through-hole or recess 29 in such an embodiment preferably has a trapezoidal shape, in particular an isosceles trapezoidal shape.

According to one embodiment, the central body 51c of the swing control member 50 comprises an internal hollow seat 52 suitable to receive an elastic element, for example a helical spring 32c, operatively interposed between the swing control member 50 and the swing switching member 60. The rocking switching member 60 comprises for this purpose, for example, a projecting appendix 72c arranged on the first end portion 61 and engaging with an end of the helical spring 32 c. The aforementioned inner hollow seat 52 is preferably surrounded by a collar having a recess 56, even more preferably a pair of diametrically opposed recesses 56, which is adapted to engage with the first end portion 61 of the rocking switching member 60.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the switch 100 comprises snap-

fit elements

33, 233, such that they slidingly constrain the

side buttons

30a, 30b to the casing 20, and in particular to the support frame 21 (if provided). Such snap-

fit elements

33, 233 comprise complementary snap-fit elements provided on the support frame 21 and on the

side buttons

30a, 30b, for example. The complementary snap-

fit elements

33, 233 described above are shaped so as to cause a forced insertion of the

side buttons

30a, 30b into the support frame 21 during the step of assembling the side button mounting frame assembly, and once beyond the snap-in position they are shaped so as to achieve a snap-coupling between the

side buttons

30a, 30b and the support frame 21, according to which the

side buttons

30a, 30b are slidingly constrained to the support frame 21.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the above-mentioned complementary snap-

fit elements

33, 233 comprise a plurality of teeth 33 projecting from the lateral push-

buttons

30a, 30b towards the support frame 21, and a plurality of recesses or elongated slots 233 defined in the support frame 21, each adapted to house a respective tooth 33, so that the teeth 33 are engaged in the recesses or elongated slots 233, so as to be able to slide therein.

If the support frame 21 is not provided, the complementary snap-

fit elements

33, 233 described above can be provided on the

side buttons

30a, 30b and on the housing 20.

The diverter switch 1 preferably comprises a spatially distributed guide system adapted to guide the sliding of the side buttons 30a, 30B with respect to the housing 20 or, if provided, the support frame 21 along respective sliding axes a-A, B-B. The spatially distributed guiding system comprises the complementary snap-

fit elements

33, 233 described above and further guides arranged between the

side buttons

30a, 30b and the casing 20 or the support frame 21 (if provided), comprising for

example guiding seats

240a, 240b and slides 34a, 34b adapted to slide in said guiding

seats

240a, 240 b. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the spatial distribution guide system is made according to the teaching of patent application WO2017141089a 1.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the switch 100 comprises a central push-button 30c sliding with respect to the casing 20 and operable to bring the rocking switching member 60 from a first angled end-of-travel position and from a second angled end-of-travel position into a central angled position. The central button 30C is preferably constrained, directly or indirectly, to the casing 20 so as to slide with respect to the latter along a sliding axis C-C between an initial backward position and a final forward position.

The central button 30c is preferably slidingly constrained to the casing 20 and in particular to the support frame 21 (if provided). To this end, the switch 100 comprises snap-

fit elements

33c, 233c adapted to slidingly constrain the central push-button 30c to the casing 20, and in particular to the support frame 21 (if provided).

Said snap-

fit elements

33c, 233c comprise complementary snap-fit elements, for example provided on the support frame 21 and on the central button 30 c. The complementary snap-fit elements described above are shaped so as to cause a forced insertion of the central push-button 30c into the support frame 21 during the assembly step, and once the snap position is crossed, they are shaped so as to achieve a snap coupling between the central push-button 30c and the support frame 21, according to which the central push-button 30c is slidingly constrained to the support frame 21.

fit elements

33c, 233c comprise a plurality of teeth 33c projecting from the central push-button 30c towards the support frame 21, and a plurality of recesses or elongated slots 233c defined in the support frame 21, each adapted to house a respective tooth 33c, so that the teeth 33c engage in the recesses or elongated slots 233c, so as to be able to slide therein.

If the support frame 21 is not provided, the complementary snap-

fit elements

33c, 233c described above can be provided on the central button 30c and on the housing 20.

The diverter switch 1 preferably comprises a spatially distributed guiding system adapted to guide the sliding of the central push-button 30C along the sliding axis C-C with respect to the housing 20 or, if provided, the mounting frame 21. In addition to the complementary snap-

fit elements

33c, 233c described above, the spatially distributed guiding system comprises further guiding

elements

34c, 240c, for example, arranged between the central button 30c and the housing 20 or the support frame 21 (if provided). Said further guide elements comprise, for example, projections 34c projecting from the central button 30c towards the mounting frame 21, and projecting wings 240c interposed between said projections 34 c. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the spatial distribution guide system is also made according to the teaching of patent application WO2017141089a 1.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the central button 30c is placed above the swing control member 50 between the two

side buttons

30a, 30 b.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the central push-button 30C, in its initial backward position without intervening in abutment with the swing control member 50, is adapted and configured to come into contact with the swing control member 50 starting from a certain point along the sliding axis C-C along which it slides from its initial backward position to its final forward position.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the initial backward position is the only stable position of the central button 30 c. The

side buttons

30a, 30b are preferably adapted and configured to urge the center button 30c to an initial rearward position. The

side buttons

30a, 30b exert a pushing force on the central button 30c, for example by means of projecting

wings

31a, 31 b. Such thrust is preferably the result of the action of thrust exerted on the lateral push-

buttons

30a, 30b by the

elastic return elements

32a, 32 b.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the change-over switch 100 comprises centring

elements

37c, 57c, 38c provided on the central button 30c and on the rocking control member 50, the centring elements being such as to return the rocking control member 50 and therefore the rocking switching member 60 to its stable central position during the sliding of the central button 30c towards the forward position. Such elements comprise, for example, a centering appendage 57c, provided on the swing control member 50, adapted to be received in a coupling centering seat 37c provided on the central button 30 c. Additionally or alternatively, such centering elements comprise a plurality of abutment elements 38c provided on the central button 30c, which are adapted to abut with the swing control member 50, e.g. with the

side abutment portions

51a, 51b, during the sliding of the central button 30c from the initial rearward position to the final forward position.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the switch 100 also comprises a covering and actuating member 40 which can be manually operated to slide both the first 30a and the second 30b push buttons independently of each other. With particular reference to fig. 3, a single one of the two

side buttons

30a, 30b, for example the left button 30a, can be made to slide by applying manual pressure to said element 40 to one of the two end portions of the covering and actuating member 40, for example the left end portion in fig. 3, whereas only the other one of the two

side buttons

30a, 30b, for example the right button 30b, can be made to slide by applying manual pressure to the other one of the two end portions, for example the right end portion in fig. 3.

In another advantageous embodiment, the covering and actuating member 40 comprises a through opening allowing access to the central button 30c for actuating said central button 30 c. In such an embodiment, the central button 30c preferably has a projecting portion 39c that passes through the opening to project from an opposite portion with respect to the housing 20 with respect to the cover and actuating member 40.

In a particularly advantageous and non-limiting embodiment, the switch 100 comprises a first and a second rotatable

pressure transmitting member

41a, 41b operatively interposed between the covering and actuating member 40 and the first 30a and the second 30b side buttons, respectively. Such rotatable

pressure transmitting members

41a, 41b allow to transmit the pressure applied to the covering and actuating member 40 to the

side buttons

30a, 30b, respectively.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, which allows to reduce the stroke required by the covering and actuating member 40 to slide the lateral push-buttons up to the final forward position, the above-mentioned rotatable

pressure transmission members

41a, 41b each comprise at least one respective

stroke multiplication lever

42a, 42 b. Such

stroke multiplying levers

42a, 42b are for example pivoted to the covering and actuating member 20 and have a

first end portion

43a, 43b adapted to abut against a

respective side button

30a, 30b and an

opposite end portion

44a, 44b adapted to abut against an external support operatively interposed between the switch 100 and the covering and actuating member 40, such as for example a cover or a frame for wall mounting the switch 100.

The proposed diverter switch 100 allows to fully achieve the preset aims in overcoming the drawbacks of the switches of the known art. In fact, a significant reduction of the axial volume is obtained, due to the fact that the rocking switching member 60 rests with its end portion on the supporting bracket 90, since the angle of rotation of such member can be more limited with respect to the known art, while successfully ensuring the provision of three stable angular positions of such rocking member 60.

Furthermore, due to the fact that the two

side buttons

30a, 30b can move independently of each other, they can always remain perfectly aligned, regardless of which stable angular position the rocking switching member 60 is in. Further, inertia decreases during movement of the

side buttons

30a, 30 b.

Furthermore, the presence of the central button 30c allows the rocking switch member 60 to be accurately in a stable central angular position.

Transfer switches 100 of the type described above may be used, for example, but without limitation, in hotels for controlling signaling devices intended to inform hotel attendants of "do not disturb" requirements and "please clean my room" requirements. For example, pressing the side button 30a may implement a signal that issues a "do not disturb" request, for example. Continued depression of the center button 30c causes the switch 100 to be brought to a neutral position, which in effect resets the signal. Pressing the side button 30b signals a "please sort my room" request and continued pressing the center button 30c causes the switch 100 to be brought to the neutral position, which in effect causes the signal to reset. Furthermore, the central button 30c may be manufactured such that it can transmit optical radiation therein, for example by manufacturing it through a transparent material. By associating the change-over switch 100 here with a multicolour LED (or several single-colour LEDs), the user can be informed of the state of the change-over switch 100 and thus of the signal state associated with the change-over switch 100.

Understanding that the principles of the invention, the embodiments and manufacturing details may be varied widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A diverter switch (100) comprising:

-a housing (20) made of an electrically insulating material, a first side button (30a) and a second side button (30B), both sliding with respect to the housing (20) along respective sliding axes (a-A, B-B) between an initial rearward position and a final forward position;

-a rocking control member (50) adapted to be rotated in two opposite directions by said first side button (30a) and said second side button (30b), respectively;

-a rocking switching member (60) having a first end portion (61) and a second end portion (62) opposite to the first end portion (61);

-a first movable contact (70a) and a second movable contact (70b) arranged on the swing switching member (60);

-a first fixed contact (80a) and a second fixed contact (80 b);

-an electrically conductive support bracket (90) on which the rocking switching member (60) rests;

wherein the swing control member (50) is adapted and configured to rotate the swing switching member (60) between three stable angular positions:

-a first angled end-of-stroke position, wherein the first movable contact (70a) is in contact with the first fixed contact (80a), and wherein the second movable contact (70b) is separated from the second fixed contact (80 b);

-a second angled end-of-stroke position, wherein the second movable contact (70b) is in contact with the second fixed contact (80b), and wherein the first movable contact (70a) is separated from the first fixed contact (80 a);

-a central angled position, wherein the movable contact (70a, 70b) is separated from the respective fixed contact (80a, 80 b);

wherein:

the second end portion (62) of the rocking switching member (60) rests on the support bracket (90).

2. The diverter switch (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first movable contact (70a) and the second movable contact (70b) are arranged on the first end portion (61) of the rocking switching member (60) on opposite sides of the rocking switching member (60).

3. The diverter switch (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first movable contact (70a) and the second movable contact (70b) are adapted and configured to move in a space defined between the first fixed contact (80a) and the second fixed contact (80 b).

4. The diverter switch (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second side buttons (30a, 30B) are adapted and configured to translate independently of each other along respective sliding axes (a-A, B-B) with respect to the housing (20).

5. The diverter switch (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side push-button (30a, 30b) is not interposed in abutment with the rocker control member (50) in the initial backward position, the side push-button (30a, 30b) being adapted and configured to come into contact with the rocker control member (50) starting from a certain point along its sliding from the initial backward position to the final forward position.

6. The diverter switch (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the initial rearward position is the only stable position of the side button (30a, 30 b).

7. The diverter switch (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a central button (30c) that slides with respect to the housing (20) between an initial rearward position and a final forward position and that is operable to bring the rocking switching member (60) from the first and second angled end-of-travel positions into the central angled position.

8. The diverter switch (100) according to claim 7, wherein the central button (30c) is placed above the rocking control member (50) between two side buttons (30a, 30 b).

9. The diverter switch (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the central button (30c) is not interposed in abutment with the rocking control member (50) in the initial backward position, the central button (30c) being adapted and configured to come into contact with the rocking control member (50) starting from a certain point along its sliding movement from the initial backward position to the final forward position.

10. The diverter switch (100) according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the initial backward position is the only stable position of the center button (30 c).

11. The diverter switch (100) according to claim 10, wherein the side buttons (30a, 30b) are adapted and configured to urge the center button (30c) to its initial rearward position.

12. The diverter switch (100) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a cover and actuation member (40) manually operable to slide both the first button (30a) and the second button (30b) independently of each other.

13. The diverter switch (100) according to claim 12 and any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the covering and actuating member (40) comprises a through opening allowing access to the central button (30c) for actuating the central button (30 c).

14. The transfer switch (100) of claim 13, wherein the central button (30c) has a protruding portion (39c) that passes through the opening to protrude from an opposite portion with respect to the housing (20) with respect to the cover member (40).

15. The diverter switch (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the swing control member (50) comprises two opposite coupling elements allowing the swing control member (50) to be rotatably coupled to the housing (20), wherein the coupling elements comprise two opposite pins (59) having a cross section shaped as a letter T.

16. The diverter switch (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first side button (30a) and the second side button (30B) are independent of each other in translation along the respective sliding axis (a-A, B-B).

17. The diverter switch (100) according to claim 16, wherein the side buttons (30a, 30B) are mechanically coupled, directly or indirectly, to the housing (20) so as to be independent of each other in translation along the respective sliding axis (a-A, B-B).

18. The diverter switch (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the side buttons (30a, 30b) are free from the rocker control member (50).