DE3216471A1 - LOCKING DEVICE FOR ACTUATING PRESSURE BUTTON SWITCHES - Google Patents

Description

Locking device for actuating push button switches

The invention relates generally to rotating locking devices, Pushbutton operated rotary step switches using such devices and in particular such switches, which are equipped with a spring as an actuating pawl, which is between the push rod of the Switch and actuated by the spring pawl according to the invention is arranged. The spring latch according to the invention is designed so that there is continuous contact with the toothed disc rotating during the actuation function maintains, and the spring properties of the actuating pawl compensate for any wear on the mating surfaces between the two parts, creating a permanent secure engagement of the parts is produced during the entire service life of the switch.

Previously, the drive pawl in push-button switches was the type described a fixed part that was spaced from the push rod and a spring-loaded action to attack the had to be turned toothed disc. That's why the dimensions were

the parts causing the action of the switch are extremely critical and this is especially true for small-sized push-button switches. The effectiveness of the drive pawl depends on the 'interference ¹ '"dimension of the pulley tooth on which the drive pawl engages. This'interference" is very small and can be 0.254 mm, for example. Therefore, even a slight change in the surface dimensions of the driven tooth of the toothed disk or of the ratchet tooth acting on it, caused by inaccurate installation or tooth wear, causes the engagement between the two parts to fail, which in turn causes the toothed disk to come to a standstill so that the switch is not in the desired right way works. If, on the other hand, the "interference" is a larger amount, which can be the case with a larger switch, and for example in the range of about 1.016 mm, this excess causes the pawl to pivot further outwards as it moves backwards against a higher push rod spring force. During the backward stroke, this can result in the ratchet tooth jamming on the pulley tooth or, alternatively, in excessive wear of the meshing teeth.

Dimensional deviations between the adjacent surfaces easily arise with such push-button switches of various factors that contribute to dimensional deviations, such as pushrod-centered distances, drive " pawl dimensions, locking spring centering, tooth lock washer tooth concentricity, tooth lock washer arrangement and the dimensional changes mentioned due to wear and tear. Since the dimensions mentioned can only be kept at an acceptable level of accuracy from an economic point of view can change the "interference" level over an undesirably wide range.

Another disadvantage of wear and tear when using a

fixed spring-loaded latch is the creation of dust particles. These can interfere with the connection of the switch and cause contamination of the connections in contact with the circuit board Brush springs cause failure.

Other problems with the current pressure switch actuation mechanisms are that of achieving one Stroke to achieve a reliable advancement of the toothed disc for the desired correct adjustment of the switch. If the toothed disk has few teeth / e.g. eight, the stroke during the push rod stroke must be the toothed disk move 1/8 turn. This requirement can be greater than that in the desired direction of movement in use the push rod stroke caused by the mechanism in question.

Another problem with push button switches of the type described Art lies in the fact that the stroke length is not fully used to turn the toothed disk from one position to the next will. A part of the stroke is required as a travel clearance, which is required when the toothed pulley is rotating in the direction of rotation e.g. reversed by a bidirectional switch. In addition, part of the stroke of the switch is used to overcome the To avoid these stroke limits, some switches have used the locking spring, which holds the toothed pulley in its fixed position from one point to the next in order to complete the pulley rotation. In this arrangement, the locking spring supports the circulation and it must replace the manual force that usually initially to operate the push button switch is expended. The locking spring must therefore be significantly easier to use in order to produce a dioso hand pressure force Apply part of the advancement of the toothed washer, and they therefore understandably causes greater wear

the pulley teeth.

According to another attempt made in the past to overcome the stroke limitation problem, is the toothed washer partly on the "inward" stroke movement and partly on the "outward" stroke movement of the push button advanced. This attempt is unacceptable for switches to be used in the military, for example because the tooth

Disc movement must be carried out completely during the forward movement of the push button, with the thought that in an emergency only a single movement to operate the switch is possible, and that someone only can simply press the button, but is unable to move the button backwards.

The invention provides a remedy. A locking device for a rotating push-button switch is created, which has a durable wear-compensating actuator in the form of a preloaded spring that always is acted upon radially in order to remain in contact with the detected pulley tooth. Regardless of the change the tooth size during use and wear and tear of the switch therefore creates the preload property a wear compensation. The actuating pawl for capturing the teeth of the toothed disk is in the form of a spring, which works as a flexible single-tooth rack to engage with the teeth of the toothed disk. Although the actuating pawl is continuously biased to act on the teeth of the To attack actuated toothed disk, the pretensioning force is so low that only a slight pressure against the toothed disk occurs and there is little wear and tear during use. Through continuous and automatic compensation of wear is the locking device according to the invention Much more reliable in so far as safe contact with the toothed disk for safe movement towards the rear

Steep detected pulley tooth is guaranteed. the The spring pawl reduces the length of the push rod path, since it is out of engagement at the end of each stroke under the action of the spring swings out.

An additional essential feature of this invention is that the arrangement allows "creep" of the spring action during the initial actuation essentially excludes. This is due to the fact that the toothed disc during the initial movement of the push button is not partially activated and that the toothed disc, only after the end of the Moving the advance of the push rod.

The spring action of the pawl stores energy during the initial movement of the push rod and then transmits it mohr odor wonlger rapid or precise movement of the Pawl to move the pulley from one position to the next. This reduces the tendency of known push-button switches to get stuck, and only partially Touching the brushes and contacts, which can be harmful if a functional contact is activated immediately of the switch is required is avoided.

Although as a preferred material for the invention Spring pawl is made of stainless steel and polycarbonate for the toothed lock washer, other materials can also be used if they meet the requirement of generating the correct spring action for a secure engagement between the spring pawl and the toothed washer are sufficient. For example, materials such as beryllium copper can be used and spring steel can be used for the spring latch, and materials such as polyester and nylon can be used for the toothed lock washer.

The material for the toothed disk can preferably contain additives for reducing the friction of the toothed disk.

The invention and its advantages are explained in more detail with the aid of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing explained. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an actuating mechanism for a push-button switch in the form of a reversible rotating step switch that can be actuated by two push-buttons and

FIGS. 2 to 7 are sectional views similar to FIG. 1, the show various parts of the mechanism of Figure 1 in a series of movements corresponding to the successive Combination of parts illustrated.

In the drawings, like reference numerals are used for corresponding ones Parts used in all views. Figure 1 shows a reversible push button switch 10 with push buttons 12 and 12 'to operate the switch in both Directions. In this description, only the push button 12 and the parts associated with it are explained in detail. The push button 12 is attached to one end of a push rod 14 which is in a socket 16 of the push button switch housing 11 can be pushed back and forth. The push rod 14 moves in spaced apart Holes 17, 20 on opposite sides of the inner chamber 27 of the push-button switch 10. As on the left As can be seen on the side of FIG. 1, the push rod 14 protrudes through the housing wall 5 9 and is pulled out to the right (FIG. 1) by a fixed stop 52 which is attached to the push rod 14.

The push rod 14 is pressed by a spring 18 in the position according to Figure 1, wherein the spring 18 is between a Housing wall extension 19 and a head piece 2 2 which is provided on the push rod 14. The head piece 22 moves yourself with the push rod; 14 with and serves as a holding

tion for the spring latch 24 according to the invention. Figure 1 shows that the spring pawl 24 is designed essentially U-shaped and a straight one protruding through the head piece 22 Has part and a stepped part 36. The stepped part 36 of the spring pawl 24 engages with individual teeth 28 the toothed disk 26, which is rotatably mounted in the housing 11 on a pin 60. In addition, the spring pawl has 24 an inclined sliding surface 25, which during the return movement of the spring pawl 24 on the individual teeth of the toothed disk 26 slides along.

When moving the push button 12 together with its push rod 14 in Figure 1 to the left against the action of Spring 18 therefore engages the stepped part 36 of the spring pawl 24 one after the other with the individual teeth 28 of the toothed disk 26, as set out in detail below.

As mentioned, the switch shown in FIG. 1 is designed as a reversible switch with two push buttons 12 and 12 '. However, it is also possible to use a single acting switch with a single push button and a single spring latch 24 to use the actuation of the toothed disk 26 in only one direction.

According to Figure 1, a locking spring 30 is used to hold the toothed disk 26 during its rotation, wherein it a forward rotation of the toothed disc 26 during the forward stroke of the push rod 14 allows, but its reverse rotation prevented during the backward stroke of the push rod 14. The lower end of the locking spring 30 is attached to the wall attachment 19 of the housing 11 (FIG. 1).

The second push button 12 * is designed in the same way as that Push button 12 and it's the same parts in reverse

Sequence for determining the toothed washer 26 in the opposite Direction provided. The at. Parts that are identical to the push button 12 'are given the same reference number with the addition marked by a line. For example, the push button 12 "is attached to one end of the push rod 14 ', which can be moved back and forth in a socket 16 'which is fixedly attached in the front wall 15 of the housing 11. aside from that the push rod moves 14 * in distant from each other Bores 17 ', 20' in the housing 11 in the same way as the push rod 14.

The expert is understandable that this is to clarify details of the construction of the invention Push-button operating mechanism essential parts of the push-button switch have been omitted. So did the tooth lock washer 26, a numerical display wheel similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,190,749, issued February 26, 1980; all of which is included in this registration. Refer to this patent for details Reference is made to some features of the switch mechanism that are not included in this description. So is how A numerical display wheel similar to that shown in U.S. Patent 4,190,749 is attached to the toothed disk 26. at Rotation of the toothed disk 26 therefore also rotates the indicator wheel. There are numbers on the surface of the display wheel etched to be translucent or translucent.

Furthermore, the tooth lock washer 26 with brush sets is similar to that according to US-PS 4 190 74 9 equipped with protruding contacts or brushes, which are connected to a common base are. The brushes protrude elastically from the surface of the toothed washer 26 in order to create circuits provided in the chamber 27 to be connected, which are part of a conventionally arranged circuit board. The elastic and protruding Breasts firmly grip the circuit board and stand

depending on the position of the toothed washer 26 actuated by the push buttons 12 and / or 12 ', electrical contact with ladders. The housing 11 can have a diode, which sends light through the translucent parts of the built-in display wheel, making the light available to viewers the individual markings on the openings of the wheel are illuminated, which in turn depends on the position of the toothed lock washer 26 is dependent.

With reference to the successive positions of parts according to FIGS. 2 to 7, the sequence of movements clarifies the actuation of the push button 12 rather than the push button 12 '. In the sequence of movements according to FIGS. 2-7, the push button 12 'remains in an unchanged position, the spring 24' being withdrawn to rest against the inner surface 21 of the chamber 17. This system causes the spring action of the spring clip 24 'to move the stepped tooth engagement part 36' out of the way of the teeth 28 of the toothed washer 26
keeps out. In this connection, the push rod 14 'causes, under the influence of the spring 18', a constant pressing of the spring 24 'against the inner surface 21, as the arrow 42 in FIG. 2 shows.

The initial movement of the push rod 14 in Figure 2, which by the arrow 44 indicated and directed against the action of the spring causes the simultaneous movement of the

the spring 24 holding the head piece 22 to the left. This causes the spring pawl 24 to be removed from the wall 21 and its upward movement according to arrow 40 for the abutment of the stepped part 36 against the tooth in station 1 of the toothed disc 26. During this movement, the locking spring 30

pressed constantly in the direction of arrow 38 against the toothed disk 26, which is secured in this way against movement will. The locking spring 30 engages in the area between the teeth at stations 6 and 7 of the toothed disk 26.

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With subsequent further movement of the push rod 14 in the direction of arrow 44 (FIG. 3), the stepped part 36 presses the tooth of the toothed disk 26 which it grips to the left. During the period between the positions according to FIGS. 1 and 3, energy is temporarily stored in the spring pawl 24 until the force of the left movement causes the spring pawl 24 to release this energy and the combined To overcome forces of the spring 18 and the locking spring 30,

to immediately move the pulley 26 step by step from one position to the next. With this instantaneous movement a creep effect is essentially avoided, as a result of which the tendency of known toothed pulley devices to decelerate for push-button switches during the short period between the initial action of the push-button and the actual one Movement of the pulley from one position to the next is reduced. Therefore there is no brush contact in the electrical connections to produce an indefinite short-term partial connection when the push button is pressed 12 until with a single precise movement of the toothed disc 26 a complete connection is made.

From the movement shown in Figure 3 it can be seen that the engagement and movement of the toothed disk 26, the locking spring 30 slide over the tooth at station 7, the locking spring 30 in the direction of arrow 38 to the right presses. The subsequent movement of the locking spring 30 causes, according to FIG. 4, its automatic storage between two teeth of the toothed disk 26, in this case between the teeth at the stations 7 and 8 of the toothed disk 26. In the Continuation of the function shown in Figure 4, the push rod 14 is still moving in the direction of arrow 44 to the left, wherein the toothed disk 26 assumes an end position and the stepped part 36 of the spring pawl 24 finally qoqon touches the tooth at station 1.

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In the next step in the sequence of movements of the parts, according to FIG. 5, the push rod 14 is in the starting position to move backwards to the right in its basic position and the push button 12 has been released. Because of This release of the push button 12, the spring 18 pushes the push rod 14 in the direction of arrow 44 to the right. As a result, the head piece attached to the push rod 14 22 and the spring pawl 24 also moved to the right. As

5 shows, this movement to the right causes the sliding surface 25 to slide over the tooth at station 2 on the toothed disk 26 and causes a downward movement of the left part of the spring pawl 24 in the direction of the arrow 50 in FIG.

The sequence of steps shown in Figure 6 illustrates a further movement of the push rod 14 to the right under the effect the spring 18. At this moment of movement to the right, the spring pawl 24 has moved far enough to the right, around their stepped portion 36 behind the tooth at station 2 respectively. This results in a brief movement of the upper part of the spring pawl 24 in the direction of the arrow 40 in Figure 6 upwards. During this movement, the locking spring pressed in the direction of arrow 38 to the right remains 30 further in engagement with the toothed disk 26 and holds it independently of any residual contact between the toothed disk 26 and spring pawl 24 fixed in their position during the backward movement.

Figure 7 shows that the push button 12 with its push rod 14 has been moved to a position of rest in which any further movement to the right of the one on the left End of the push rod 14 attached stop 52 is prevented. In this position, the spring pawl 24 is against the Inner surface 21 of the housing 11 and it is a through the

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Arrow 54 indicated small moment of force on the spring pawl 24 exercised. As a result, the left end of the spring pawl 24 is out of engagement with the teeth 28 of the toothed disk 26 separates. If the operator so desires, the push button 12 'can then then to the left be moved to rotate the toothed disc in the opposite direction from one station to the next, which is the case with the Operation of a connected to the push-button switch described Device may be required.

In this way, there is an effective toothed lock washer mechanism for push button switches in which essentially each Creep effect is avoided, so that there is an immediate secure contact when the switch is out of position is shifted into the other. In addition, the arrangement of the toothed pulley mechanism is simple and inexpensive from conventional ones Materials built up and durable. The facility overcomes the problems of dimensional changes that Cause activation difficulties through automatic adjustment to wear and tear during operation interlocking different parts. The inventive Construction always ensures safe interaction between the interlocking one causing the actuation of a switch Share. The operating mechanism of the push button switch is a "forgiving" construction that is simply assembled from simple parts. You diminish Maintenance and inspection requirements and reduce scrap during assembly. The cost is considerably lower, and while a switch using the mechanism is in use, the durability is much greater in comparison to known switch actuation devices that work with rigid spring-pawl-actuated contact surfaces. The device is particularly suitable for military operations because the only actuation of the push button in one

Direction causes all movements required to switch the switch from one position to the next, what would be necessary if someone fell against the switch who is unable to make a reciprocating motion to operate the switch.

Although the operation and design of the device described represent preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not restricted to this, and modifications are possible without affecting what is stated in the claims Is left within the scope of the invention. For example, the toothed pulley mechanism according to the invention can be equipped with a push-button switch Can be used with a single push button to rotate in only one direction.

Claims (7)

EXPECTATIONS Locking device for actuating push button switches (10) with a) a housing (11) / b) a toothed disk (26) rotatably mounted in the housing (11), c) a locking spring housed in the housing (11) (30) for continuous, elastic engagement with the toothed washer (26),
c) at least one push rod (14) in the housing (11) between a forward hold position and a Return holding position can be moved back and forth along an axis lying in the plane of the toothed disk (26) is and with
e) elastic means (18) which press the push rod (14) into the return stop position, characterized by one carried by the push rod (14) and movable to and fro with it Spring pawl (24) which is pretensioned and, when the push rod (14) moves forward, against a tooth (28) of the toothed disk (26) presses and by a stepped portion (36) of the spring pawl (24) for sequential drive engagement with individual teeth (28) the toothed disc (26), whereby the toothed disk (26) is indexed in one direction of rotation when the push rod (14) moves forward, and the The spring pawl (24) is pretensioned when the push rod (14) moves backwards and is partially pivoted out of the way the pulley teeth (26) causes. -γ- 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that two push rods (14, 14 ") are accommodated in the housing (11) and reciprocable along axes which are in the plane of the toothed disc (28) on its opposite Pages lie, that each push rod (14, 14 ') can be moved back and forth with it Spring pawl (24,24 ') ensures that each spring pawl (24,24') is biased and moving forward their respective push rod (14, 14 ') presses against a tooth (28) of the toothed disk (26) and that the opposing spring pawls (24,24 ') engage against a tooth (28) of the toothed disk (26) / around these successively rotate in opposite directions. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end of each push rod (14,14 ') on the return side the wall (15) of the housing (11) protrudes and one each Has push button (12,12 '). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spring pawl (24,24 ') is designed essentially U-shaped and that one of its legs is essentially rectangular bent to the axis of the U and connected to the push rod (14, 14 '), while its second leg is a stepped Part (3.6; 36 ') has. 5. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the second leg of the spring pawl (24,24 ') next to the stepped Part (36,36 ') has an inclined surface (25), which at Return movement of the push rod (14; 14 ') on a tooth (28) the toothed disk (26) slides along. 6. Device according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the U-shaped part of the spring pawl (.24,24 *) is long enough is to at the end of the return stroke of the push rod (14, 14 ') to rest against the housing wall (15), whereby the pretensioned spring pawl (24,24 ') out of the rotational path of the teeth (26) of the toothed disc (28) is pivoted out. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a head piece (22; 22 ') on each push rod (14, 14 *) is attached, which receives the spring pawl (24,24 ') and which determines the return stop position.