CN113892160A

CN113892160A - Electrical installation device

Info

Publication number: CN113892160A
Application number: CN202080039485.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R.安索奇; C.吉伦德-贝克; D.布雷斯拉夫斯基; A.利施克
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2019-04-26
Filing date: 2020-04-16
Publication date: 2022-01-04
Also published as: DE102019110845A1; AU2020263098A1; DK3939062T3; FI3939062T3; WO2020216677A1; EP3939062B1; EP3939062A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical installation device comprising a circuit module for switching and/or regulating the electronics of an electrical consumer, having at least one microswitch (22), having at least one control rocker for actuating the microswitch (22), which control rocker can be moved into one of two switching positions on an actuating path when actuated, wherein the microswitch (22) has a switching path that is a multiple of the actuating path of the control rocker, and comprising a transmission device (18) for transmitting the movement of the control rocker to the microswitch and a latching device (30) for forcing the control rocker into one of the two switching positions.

Description

Electrical installation device

The invention relates to an electrical installation device comprising an electronic circuit module for operating or switching and/or regulating an electrical consumer, said electronic circuit module having at least one microswitch.

Electrical installation devices, such as flush-mounted switches or dimmers, which are provided primarily for switching on and off or controlling corresponding electrical consumers, are sufficiently known. In the simplest case, such mounting devices have switching contacts which can switch electrical consumers, such as lamps, connected thereto. For this purpose, the switches via the switching contacts only open or close the current circuit.

Microswitches are also used for opening or closing the current circuit, the contacts of which are usually spaced apart from one another by a distance of less than 3mm in the open state. Such a microswitch also has a correspondingly small stroke during operation. The stroke is so small that the user experiences little or no tactile feedback when operating the switch. This lack of feedback may be desirable or not disadvantageous in certain applications, such as digital control, and undesirable in other applications, such as classic light switches on walls.

It is also possible for the light switch to be designed as a toggle switch with a control rocker, which can be moved or tilted into two different switching positions. The switch can remain in the respective switched position until it is operated again.

Due to the small described stroke of the microswitch, the mechanical structure for operating the microswitch has to be adapted precisely. The mechanical structure for actuating the microswitch is therefore generally not suitable for additionally holding the control rocker in the respective switching position.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an electrical installation device which, even when using a microswitch, is able to output to the user a haptic feedback when operating the switch, such as a conventional light switch to which the user is accustomed.

This object is achieved by an electrical installation device having the features of independent claim 1. The mounting device comprises in particular at least one control rocker for actuating the microswitch, which control rocker can be moved into one of two switch positions in an actuating stroke when actuated, wherein the microswitch has a switch stroke that is a multiple smaller than the actuating stroke of the control rocker, and a transmission device for transmitting the movement of the control rocker to the microswitch and a latching device for forcing the control rocker into one of the two switch positions. In order to switch the microswitch accurately even in the case of a significantly large operating stroke of the control rocker, a transmission device is provided which transmits the movement of the control rocker to the microswitch and switches it on and off. A large operating stroke of the control rocker is provided, whereby the operator is given tactile feedback when operating the microswitch. Furthermore, the latching device forces the control rocker into its respective switching position during operation, so that the user can feel the inclination of the control rocker when it passes from one of the switching positions to the other. In one design of the switch or button, the latching device also forcibly holds the control rocker in the respective switching position until it is operated again. The detent device is designed such that the user perceives or feels the operation of the control lever as a tactile feedback, for example a "click". The mounting device according to the invention thus makes it possible to utilize the advantages of a microswitch while still maintaining the switching feel of a conventional mechanical light switch.

The catch device and the transmission device can be configured spatially separately from one another or in combination with one another. According to an advantageous first embodiment, the latching means can act directly on the microswitch, for example, wherein the transmission means both transmit the movement of the control rocker to the microswitch and serve to force said control rocker into one of the two switching positions.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the latching device and the transmission device are designed spatially separated from one another. Since the microswitch has a relatively small switching travel, the transmission device must be switched precisely. It may therefore be advantageous for the latching device to be designed spatially separately from the transmission device, so that the two different mechanisms do not interfere with one another and can be designed optimally for their function. The microswitch can be switched on and off, for example, precisely and relatively gently, while the latching device can force the control rocker against the resistance with a corresponding expenditure of force.

According to another embodiment, the latching device has a leaf spring and a slotted guide. The guide device can be formed on the base, for example, by a projection or a depression, a groove, one or more strips or the like. However, it is also conceivable for the guide device to be designed as a series of projections and recesses. The leaf spring can be prestressed against the base, so that the chute guide or at least parts of the chute guide form a resistance force which the leaf spring must overcome. The desired tactile feedback can be achieved by this overcoming of the resistance when the control rocker is operated. The user can feel at which point the leaf spring overcomes a stop, for example the highest point of the projection, and can thus slide from one of the switching positions into the other switching position.

The slot guide can additionally also be designed for the configuration of the switch in such a way that the control rocker remains in the corresponding switch position.

According to an alternative embodiment, the latching device has a helical spring and a slotted guide. The guide groove can likewise be designed as a projection and/or as a depression on the base, as in the previous exemplary embodiments. It is also possible for the slotted guide to have a groove, web or slot in which the helical spring is guided. The function of the helical spring in the snap device is substantially the same as that of the leaf spring.

It is also conceivable to additionally provide a sleeve for the helical spring, which sleeve surrounds the helical spring at least in sections. The sleeve can be designed such that the end of the helical spring facing the slotted guide is arranged within the sleeve, so that the sleeve is guided by the slotted guide when the control rocker is actuated. In particular, the sleeve can also be pressed better against the slotted guide in order to force the control rocker into one of the two switching positions during operation.

One embodiment provides that the transmission device has a resilient arm with a slotted guide. The resilient arm serves as an element for actuating the microswitch, i.e. moves in the direction of the microswitch when the control rocker is actuated, to such an extent that the resilient arm can switch the microswitch on and off. The slot guide can be formed on the elastic arm, and the control rocker can have a projection, a lug, a corner, a pin or the like which is guided along the slot guide when switching takes place and in this way moves the elastic arm out of its rest position.

The slot guide can be designed such that, on the one hand, the spring arm is moved back away from the microswitch after switching and back into the initial position of the spring arm (push-button function). On the other hand, it is also possible to design the slot guide such that the elastic arm presses against the microswitch when it is switched on and off, until the user again actuates the control rocker and the elastic arm is thereby moved away from the microswitch again (switching function).

An alternative embodiment provides that the transmission device has a leaf spring. In this embodiment, the control rocker can also have a projection, lug, corner, pin or the like, in order to move the leaf spring out of its rest position when the control rocker is operated, in order to catch the leaf spring and thus to operate the microswitch.

The transmission device can in this embodiment either be designed such that the leaf spring switches the microswitch on and off each time it is actuated and releases it again, or it can be designed such that the leaf spring actuates the microswitch and remains in the switched position until the control rocker is actuated again.

In a further embodiment, the transmission device has a resilient arm and a leaf spring. The leaf spring can be arranged between the elastic arm and the control rocker, so that the movement of the control rocker is transmitted to the elastic arm via the leaf spring, in order to thereby ultimately actuate the microswitch.

According to another variant, the circuit module can be operated both wirelessly, for example by bluetooth or WLAN, and by a microswitch. This embodiment has proven to be particularly advantageous because of the increasing demand for intelligent or digital solutions for construction equipment. The user can here either operate the light switch classically manually or via a remote control or a mobile phone or a flat panel APP.

The invention is explained in detail below by way of example with reference to the figures according to embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of components of a mounting apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a section taken through the view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A shows an enlarged view of the transfer device of FIG. 2;

fig. 3B shows a transfer device according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the mounting apparatus;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view, partially in section, of components of a mounting apparatus according to another embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view, partially in section, of components of a mounting apparatus according to yet another embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the components of the mounting apparatus shown in FIG. 6, partially cut away;

FIG. 8 shows an exploded view in partial cutaway in accordance with another embodiment of a component of the mounting apparatus; and is

FIG. 9 shows a cross-section taken through the embodiment of FIG. 8;

fig. 1 shows a component 10 of a mounting device. The mounting device comprises an electronic circuit module (not shown) with at least one microswitch 22, a control rocker (not shown) for operating the mounting device, a transmission means 18, a snap means 30 and a housing (not shown). Furthermore, the mounting device has a seesaw element 12, on which the control rocker is arranged, a suspension 11 (see fig. 1) for the seesaw element 12, and a bracket 14. The tilting element 12 is connected in a known manner to the control rocker in such a way that, when the control rocker is actuated, the tilting element 12 moves correspondingly together with the movement of the control rocker. The mounting device is designed such that it can be used in commercially available concealed boxes or in surface-mounted accessories.

The seesaw member 12 is tiltably supported on the holder 14 about the axis A. The holder 14 here has a base 16 for a transfer device 18 or a snap device 30 which will be shown in detail in the subsequent figures. A microswitch 22 (see fig. 5 for this) is also arranged below the seesaw element 12 or the support 14, which microswitch can be switched on and off by actuating a control rocker.

A first embodiment of the transfer device 18 is shown in fig. 2, 3A and 7. In this embodiment, the seesaw member 12 has a protrusion 24 converging to a tip, wherein the tip of the protrusion 24 lies in a plane having the axis A. The bracket 14 has as a counterpart a spring arm 26 which in turn comprises a bulge 28 with two

sides

28a and 28b (see fig. 3A). The spring arm 26 is arranged directly below the projection 24, so that the projection 24 is guided on the spring arm 26 when the seesaw member 12 is operated.

The tip of the projection 24 is moved in the direction of the bulge 28 or along the side 28a, so that the projection 24 presses on the spring arm 26 and thereby moves it downward away from the teetering element 12 until the projection 24 reaches the tip of the bulge 28. Once past this point, which also represents a stop for the movement of the see-saw element 12, the projection 24 can slide down on the opposite side 28b, thereby allowing the spring arm 26 to move back again in the direction of the see-saw element 12. Since the microswitch 22, which is not shown, is arranged directly below the spring arm 26, the microswitch 22 can be operated by an upward and downward movement of the spring arm 26.

Another embodiment of the transfer device 18, which is based on substantially the same principle as the embodiment of fig. 2 and 3A, is shown in fig. 3B. The difference here is the design of the bulge 28. The

flanks

28a and 28b are arranged at an obtuse angle to one another, so that there is no tip on which the projection 24 can slide when the control rocker or seesaw element 12 is actuated. If the control rocker is operated, the projection 24 moves along the side 28a and presses the spring arm 26 downwards in the direction of the microswitch 22. The projection 24 then rests on a side 28b which is formed parallel to the spring arm 26, so that the spring arm 26 remains pressed downward until the seesaw element 12 is actuated again and the projection 24 is again guided via the side 28a next to the projection 28.

The difference between the two embodiments of the transmission device 18 shown in fig. 3A and 3B is that in fig. 3A, each time the control rocker is actuated, the spring arm 26 moves away downward, in order then to return directly back into its initial position, so that the projection 24 is guided from the side 28a past the bulge 28 to the side 28B. When the control rocker is operated again, the projection 24 moves back towards the side 28a, the spring arm 26 thereby performing the same up-and-down movement and thereby operating the microswitch, thereby performing the function of a push button. In the embodiment according to fig. 3B, however, the projection 24 is first located next to the side 28a (as shown). When the control rocker 12 is actuated, the projection 24 moves along the side 28a onto the side 28b and rests on the side 28 b. As long as the projection 24 rests on the side 28, the spring arm 26 also remains pressed downward and thus also holds the microswitch 22 in the switched position. Once the projection 24 is guided down the side 28a again, the spring arm 26 can return into its initial position, releasing the microswitch 22, thereby performing the switching function.

As mentioned in the introduction, a switch travel of less than 3mm without resistance is sufficient for operating the microswitch 22, so that the transmission device 18 gives the user less or even no tactile feedback when operating the control rocker 12. Furthermore, since there is only a small movement path between the projection 24 and the spring arm 26, it cannot always be ensured that the control rocker or the seesaw element 12 is reliably held in the respectively switched switching position. For this reason, a snap-in device 30 according to the invention is provided in the arrangement of the mounting device, which snap-in device will now be explained in detail in connection with fig. 5 to 9.

At least a part of the catch device 30 or the gate guide of the catch device can be formed on the carrier 14 by an elastic component of the transmission device 18 (see, for example, the leaf spring 32 in fig. 5). In the embodiment of the transmission device 18 according to fig. 2 to 3B, it is basically also conceivable for the components of the catch device 30 to be formed on the same carrier 14 as the spring arm 26. The guide device can also be arranged in the mounting device on its own support.

The embodiment of fig. 5 of the transmission device 18 shows a common support 14' and a web 34 for a leaf spring 32, which forms a resilient element of the transmission element 18 (see fig. 5), which serves as a barrier for a spring 36, in particular the leaf spring 36, of the catch device 30. As shown in the exploded view of fig. 5, a bracket 14' may be disposed between the seesaw member 12 and the bracket 14 carrying the spring arms 26.

The variant of the transmission device 18 shown in fig. 5 comprises a projection 24 formed on the seesaw element 12, a leaf spring 32 formed on the support 14', and a spring arm 26 arranged on the support 14. When the control rocker is actuated, the projection 24 can therefore be guided on the leaf spring 32, so that it is pressed downward in the direction of the spring arm 26 and thus presses it away likewise, so that the microswitch 22 is actuated. The projection 24 can be oriented relative to the leaf spring 32 in such a way that the leaf spring 32 snaps back into its initial position after each actuation of the control rocker, or the leaf spring remains pressed downward until the control rocker is actuated again and the leaf spring 32 is released.

In the embodiment according to fig. 5, the latching device 30 consists of a leaf spring 36 which is attached to the rocker element 12 and a web 36 which is formed on the support 14'. The leaf spring 36 is here constructed and arranged similarly to the projection 24 in the transmission device 18 described above, so that it must slide over the web 34 when the control rocker is actuated. This first of all causes the strip 34 to form a resistance, so that effort must be expended in order to move the tensioned leaf spring 36 over the strip 34. Once this force is reached or overcome and the leaf spring passes over the slat 34, this will feel and hear a "click" to the user. The user thus feels that he is now operating the control rocker, similar to the feel of a conventional mechanical light switch. This makes it possible to give the user a good, familiar switching sensation, while nevertheless only the microswitch 22 is required for actually switching the electrical consumer on and off.

The catch means 30 simultaneously also serve to hold the control rocker or teeter-totter element 12 in the respectively switched position. The catch means can only be moved into the respective other position again when the control rocker is actuated by the user. For this purpose, the leaf spring 36 is merely preloaded against the web 34, so that it cannot overcome the web 34 by itself without external force. The strip 34 hereby also serves as a limit between the switch positions.

In fig. 6 and 7, another embodiment of the transmission device using a leaf spring 36 is shown. Since the plate spring 36 is configured the same as the plate spring used in the aforementioned buckle device, the same reference numerals are used. The leaf spring 36 is in turn fastened to the rocker element 12. When the control rocker is actuated, the leaf spring slides, similar to the embodiment of fig. 3B, onto a projection 38 formed on the spring arm 40, so that the spring arm 40 is pressed downward and thus actuates a microswitch (not shown) located below said spring arm.

Fig. 8 and 9 show a further embodiment of a catch device 30, which can be combined with the transfer device 18 shown in fig. 7, for example, in a mounting device. The latching device 30 here comprises a helical spring 42, the front end of which is guided in a sleeve 44. Furthermore, a slotted link guide is provided, which has projections and recesses 48, 46, which can be seen in the section of fig. 9. The coil spring 42 performs substantially the same function as the leaf spring 36 in the embodiment of fig. 6 and 7. That is, the helical spring 42 is prestressed on the carrier 14, which is formed with the projections and recesses 48, 46, in such a way that it forces the control rocker to remain in the respectively shifted position.

In the embodiment of fig. 9, these locations are each located in a recess 46. The helical spring 42 must therefore move past the projection 48 between the recesses 46 when the control rocker is operated. The projection 48, like in the previous example, generates a resistance force which has to be overcome by the helical spring 42, which is heard as a "click" by the user when switching the control rocker.

The sleeve 44 surrounds the helical spring 42 at least on the side facing the projections and recesses 48, 46. The helical spring 42 can thus be guided in the sleeve 44, so that the sleeve 44 acts as a bearing surface between the helical spring 44 and the projections and recesses 48, 46. This has the advantage that the sleeve 44 creates a continuous, relatively smooth surface that can better guide along the protrusions and recesses 48, 46. The sleeve 44 has also proven to be advantageous when the control rocker is fixed in the respective switching position. Due to the larger contact surface of the sleeve 44 compared to the arrangement of only the helical spring 42, the sleeve is better held in the respective recess 46 and thus in the respective switching position. Furthermore, the material of the sleeve 44 or of the surface of said sleeve can be designed accordingly in order to increase the static friction between the sleeve 44 and the projections or recesses 48, 46.

In the embodiment according to fig. 8 and 9, it is basically also possible for the spring arms 26 or leaf springs 32 for the transmission device 18 to be arranged on the same carrier 14 as the projections and recesses 48, 46. Such a spring arm 26 can also be seen from the perspective view of fig. 8.

In principle, it is possible to combine the different embodiments of the transfer device 18 and the snap-in device 30 in any desired manner. When the transmission device 18 and the latching device 30 are configured spatially separated from one another, regardless of the embodiment, neither of these mechanisms can interfere with one another when the control rocker is actuated and can be designed optimally for its function.

A further embodiment of the catch means 30 in the mounting device is shown in fig. 4, wherein in this embodiment the transmission means and the catch means are constructed in one piece. The latching device 30 here comprises a helical spring 42, the front end of which is guided in a sleeve 44. In this exemplary embodiment, the microswitch 22, the upper actuating element of which is designed in an arched manner, serves as a slotted guide for the front end of the sleeve 44, so that when the control rocker 12 is actuated, on the one hand, the microswitch 22 is actuated and, on the other hand, the sleeve 44 is guided over the arched actuating element of the microswitch after actuation of the microswitch 22 and thus produces the desired snap-in movement or the desired tactile feedback. The coil spring 42 is also prestressed in this case at the support 14 or at the microswitch 22 on the plate 23 in such a way that it forces the control rocker to remain in the respectively switched position.

It is also advantageous if the circuit module (not shown) can additionally be controlled via a wireless connection, for example bluetooth or WLAN, so that the installation device can be controlled not only manually but also, for example, via a remote control or a mobile application.

List of reference numerals

10 parts of installation device

11 suspension device

12 seesaw member

14 support

14' rack

16 base

18 transfer device

22 micro-switch

23 plate member

24 projection part

26 spring arm

28 raised part

28A, 28b side

30 fastener device

32 (18) leaf spring

34 lath

36 (30) leaf spring

38 (of 40)

40 spring arm

42 helical spring

44 sleeve

Axis A

Claims

1. An electrical installation apparatus comprising

Circuit module for switching and/or regulating the electronics of an electrical consumer, having at least one microswitch (22),

at least one control rocker for actuating the microswitch (22), which control rocker can be moved into one of two switching positions in an actuating stroke when actuated, wherein the microswitch (22) has a switching stroke that is a multiple smaller than the actuating stroke of the control rocker,

a transmission device (18) for transmitting the movement of the control rocker to the microswitch (22), and

a catch device (30) which forces the control rocker into one of the two switching positions.

2. The electrical installation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the snap-in means (30) and the transfer means (18) are configured spatially separated from each other.

3. The electrical installation device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmission means (18) and/or the catch means (30) are designed such that the transmission means (18) and/or the catch means (18) hold the control rocker in one of the two switching positions until the control rocker is operated again.

4. Electrical installation device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the snap-in means (30) have a leaf spring (36) and a chute guide.

5. Electrical installation device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the snap-in means (30) have a helical spring (42) and a sliding groove guide.

6. Electrical installation device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission means (18) have a resilient arm (26) with a sliding groove guide.

7. Electrical installation device according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein the transmission means (18) have a leaf spring (32).

8. Electrical installation device according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein the transmission means (18) have both a resilient arm (26) and a leaf spring (32).

9. Electrical installation device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit module is operable both wirelessly, for example by bluetooth or WLAN, and by a microswitch.