DE1030425B - Electric foot switch - Google Patents

Description

GERMAN

The invention relates to electrical switches and provides an improved form of actuator for a pressure switch.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a switch actuating part which the Switch actuation in a convenient and reliable manner by foot pressure enabled, which in various manifold directions can be exercised. There is already a piston operated switch with an actuator in the form of a ball carried between the switch piston and a fixed seat known, taking a substantial part, but less than half, of the ball, from the seat on that from the Piston remote side protrudes and can be pressed down to operate the switch.

In this construction, however, no guide is provided to prevent the ball from moving laterally limit which hangs between the switch piston and the seat. As a result, a condition becomes at the downward movement of the ball and piston can be achieved "at which when the actuating force is exerted at an angle, the ball can become jammed between the piston and seat.

The creation of a guide surrounding the ball between the seat and the piston enables the Eliminating the risk of the ball jamming between the piston and the seat without restriction the path of the ball and the piston. However, the known guides fit so tightly around the Ball that there the ball cannot respond to pressure in a number of different directions.

These disadvantages are overcome by the invention.

The new electric foot switch with an actuator in the form of a switch between the switch piston and a tight fit supported ball, with a substantial part, but less than half of the ball, protrudes from its seat on the opposite side of the piston and to operate the switch can be pressed down, is characterized in that a guide bushing is provided as the seat of the ball whose inner, larger diameter is larger than the ball diameter and whose smaller Diameter is so small that only a cap of the ball protrudes.

This conical guide bushing preferably has the shape of one extending from the piston to the Seat tapered tubular sleeve. The plane of the seat can be inclined to the piston axis.

The new switch is also particularly suitable for mass production, as it has considerable tolerances allows.

The invention provides a very simple and tough construction which is very stressful

Applicant:

Hoover Limited, Perivale, Greenford,
Middlesex (UK)

Representative: Dr.-Ing. A. van der Werth, patent attorney,
Hamburg-Harburg 1, Wilstorfer Str. 32

Claimed priority:
V. St. v. America November 24, 1951

Melvin Harold Ripple, Canton, Ohio (V. St. Α.),
has been named as the inventor

resists without damage to the switch itself and which allows the switch to pass through an inside force applied over a substantial range in any direction. Accordingly is the invention is particularly advantageous for uses in which the switch is operated by the user's foot is operated, e.g. B. for various forms of portable power tools or on the floor standing electrical devices.

Thus, in one form of the invention, the switch is in an upwardly directed horizontal or inclined surface of an electrical device standing on the floor, e.g. B. a vacuum cleaner or floor broom attached. In this case, the seat preferably forms part of the surface of the device.

A particular embodiment is to be described, for example, with reference to the drawings which represent:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vacuum cleaner with a switch according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a similar view of part of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale with the switch in section, FIG. FIG. 3 shows a section along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

The invention is in its application to a vacuum cleaner carried by the floor with a cast main housing 10 is shown.

As shown in Fig. 2, the rear end of the motor-fan unit 16 terminates before the rear end of the Main housing, so that space is left for the switch according to the invention. The switch contains one with 17 designated contact part, which controls the circuit of the motor. The switch has a right

809 527/361

angular main housing 18j which has a snap switch mechanism known pressure type construction. A threaded sleeve 19 extends upwardly from the top of the housing and carries a piston 20 which reciprocates to open and close the switch can be: The switch is carried by an approach 21.

In Figs. 2 and 3, a portion of the rear and top wall of the housing 10 is cut away.

The cover 25 enables the conical guide bushing 28 'for the switch to be attached actuating ball 30. The inner wall of this guide sleeve is cylindrical at its lower End, while its upper end ends in a partially spherical extension 29, which is the seat for the ball 30 forms. The ball rests on the upper end of the switch piston 20 or is only a little upwards separated from it. About its upper third extends out of the opening of the guide path.

The ball is normally pressed against the seat by a U-shaped leaf spring 31, the lower Leg is fastened to the shoulder 21 by means of a lock nut 23. Your upper leg 32 is slotted, encompassed the piston 20 and presses against the lower side of the actuating ball 30 (Fig. 2). Hence will the ball is always pressed against the slot unless the switch is pressed. This prevents that dirt or foreign matter can enter the guide bushing and contaminate it.

For the purpose of actuation it is only necessary for the user to to put his foot on the protruding part of the actuating ball 30 and press on it. This forces the ball to slide or roll down a wall of the guideway and the Depress piston 20 of the switch. The piston only needs about 5 mm to operate the switch to be depressed. As indicated, when the ball is released, it returns to hers top layer back where it is in engagement with the seat 29 and the opening again against access sealed from dirt.

It should be noted that the force required to actuate the ball covers a wide range can be applied in different directions and yet always effective for actuating the switch will be. For the most part, the movement of the ball consists in rolling, so that the resistance is opposed the movement is small. Compared to a slide actuator for the switch, which is forced to can only move in a certain direction ίο, it is found that the actuation in the present Construction is considerably lighter.

The actuating ball can be made of any suitable material, e.g. B. a synthetic resin exist and has a nice, pleasant appearance.

Claims (3)

Claims 1. Electric foot switch with an actuator in the form of a switch between the switch piston and a tight fit supported ball, being a substantial part but less than half of the Ball, protruding from its seat on the side opposite the piston and for actuation of the switch can be pressed down, characterized in that a guide bushing is used as the seat of the ball (28 ') is provided, the inner, larger diameter of which is greater than the ball diameter and whose smaller diameter sq is small that only a cap of the ball protrudes. 2. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide bushing (28 ') has the shape has a tubular sleeve tapering from the piston (20) to the seat (29). 3. Switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plane of the seat is inclined to the piston axis. Considered publications:
German Patent No. 162,944;
U.S. Patent Nos. 2,314,407, 2,511,217; Swiss patents No. 153 013,
171. 1 sheet of drawings ® »09 527/351 5.5«