DE9001434U1 - Electrical switch for dust and water-proof devices, especially lights - Google Patents

Description

DIpI.-Ing. KLAUS WESTPh/Ü-."· . I '. .* . CUaJdsfras4e 33 Dr. rer. nat BERND MUSSGNUG D-f730Vs-VILUNGEN

Telephone (07721) 56007 Telex 7921573 wemud Fax (07721) 55184

Dr. rer. nat O TT O BUCHNER

PATENT ATTORNEYS European Patent Attorneys

Rossmannstrasse 30a D-8000 MUNICH 60

Telephone (089) 832446 Telex 5213177 webud Fax (089) 8340966

wall63

Herbert Waldmann GmbE £ Co. Peter-Henlein-Strasse 5

7730 VS-Schwennicgen

alekt r'. -rather switch for dust- u»-ü water-protected

or -tight a devices, laab»;;?-r.;'' .re Ir uchten

The invention relates to an electrical switch for dust- and water-proof devices according to the preamble of claim 1.

The switches of many electrical devices must be specially protected against environmental influences, especially against water or dust.

A lamp known from the German utility model DE 80 30 264 Ul has a switch in the form of a toggle switch, in which the toggle lever is covered with a rubber or plastic cover to seal it from the outside. Applying such a cover is relatively complex and still does not guarantee secure sealing in continuous operation, since the cover can easily be damaged from the outside and often does not withstand the long-term influence of aggressive liquids, such as the coolant of machine tools.

Postgiroamt: Karlsruhe 76979-7M :HahKkortM: Dbutfeth« Bank £GVi|lingen (BLZ 694 70039) 146332

■ I11

In addition, so-called damp room switches are also known, in which a rocker switch is sealed from the outside by a soft plastic cover. Such switches also have the disadvantages mentioned above, but in particular there is a risk of damage to the material by sharp objects or frequent switching.

The object of the invention is to improve an electrical switch of the type mentioned at the outset so that a reliable, permanent seal is ensured using simple means.

This object is achieved in a generic switch with the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

In a switch according to the invention, a secure seal is achieved in that the switching element, which is arranged in a protected manner inside the housing, can be switched using an actuating lever on the outside of the housing. A shaft extension is provided on the actuating lever, which is rotatably fixed in a shaft holder of the housing. The sealing of the shaft extension against the shaft holder can be achieved in a particularly simple manner. In addition, a switch according to the invention can be designed more attractively than conventional switches, since the seal is not visible from the outside of the housing.

In an advantageous further development, an O-ring can be provided as a seal, which is located in a cylindrical extension of the shaft holder between the shaft extension and the actuating

O-rings are widely used as sealing elements and are available in a wide variety of designs. Temperature-resistant versions and special versions that are resistant to particularly aggressive liquids or gases are also available.

In a preferred development, a rocker switch is provided as the switching element, which can be switched via a rocker switch, which can be operated via a rocker lever attached to it, which is rigidly connected to the shaft extension. In a further advantageous embodiment, the rocker lever can be positively connected to the shaft extension via a square-shaped extension of the shaft extension.

In an additional development, the square-shaped extension can have spring elements and locking lugs, whereby a secure fixation of the rocker lever is achieved by locking after the square-shaped extension has been inserted.

In another advantageous embodiment, instead of the indirectly operated switching elements», a rotary switch can also be provided, which can be operated directly by turning the shaft extension.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment shown in the drawing. They show:

Figure 1 shows a switch according to the invention with a housing section in a partially sectioned view,

Figure 2 is a view of the switch according to Figure 1 with the housing opened,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the switch according to Figure 1 and

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial view of the switch in a sectional view rotated by 90° compared to Figure 1.

The switch according to Figure 1 is installed in a housing 1, which can be part of a lamp housing. A switching element 2 is provided inside the housing, which is designed as a rocker switch and can be operated via a rocker switch 11. A flat operating lever 3 is arranged on the outside 5 of the housing, which is rigidly connected to a shaft extension 16. A shaft holder 15 in the form of a cylindrical recess is provided in the housing 1, in which the operating lever 3 is rotatably fixed with its shaft extension 16.

As can be seen in more detail in Figure 4, a cylindrical extension 17 is provided at the outer end of the shaft holder 15, in which a G-ring 4 Su is held, which seals with the shaft extension 16 and with the actuating lever 3 on its side facing the housing 1.

A square-shaped extension 9 is provided on the shaft extension 16 for a positive connection with a rocker arm 6, which has a corresponding square-shaped recess. This square-shaped extension 9 is formed by two opposite side surfaces 18, which are resiliently connected to one another by the cut 14 in the connecting surfaces 12. A locking lug 13 is formed on the axial end of each side surface 18.

If the rocker arm 6 with its square recess

pushed onto the square-shaped extension 9, the side surfaces 18 are initially slightly bent together against the spring action of the V-shaped cut connecting surface 12, until the locking lugs 13 engage behind the rocker lever 6 in the end position and lock with it.

The rocker lever 6, which is symmetrical to its longitudinal axis, rests with its outer surface directly on the rocker switch 11 of the switching element 2. A rotation of the actuating lever 3 thus leads to a rocking movement of the rocker lever 6, which is transmitted to the rocker switch 11 to actuate the switching element.

To fasten the switching element 2, a fastening plate 8 is arranged on the inside of the housing 1, to which the switching element 2 is attached in an easily replaceable manner using two lateral snap elements 10. For the electrical connection, two contact plates 7 are provided, which protrude laterally from the switching element 2.

Of course, the switching element 2 can also be designed as a changeover switch with three or more contacts. In addition, in another design not shown, instead of the indirectly actuated switching element, a rotary switch is also advantageous, which can be actuated directly via a rotary movement of the shaft extension 16.

Claims (9)

Di[Ji -Inc), KLAUS WESTPfIAL," . '. '. .' , W^fjsfas^ 33 Telephone (07721) 56007 . . &igr;'<;!ex 79215^3 wemud Dr, rsr. nst, BEHND MUSSGN'Jg '* D-/7-3QV^-VILLINGEN ·;·&Mgr;8* (077Pl) 55164 Or. rer. nat. O &Ggr;&Tgr; O BUCHNER Flossmannstrn 5se 30a l<'Mon (089) 832446 Telex 5213177 web Patent Attorneys _{n nooo} MUNICH 60 Fax (089) 8340966 European Patent &Lgr;&EEgr;&ogr;&ggr;f '".yn wall63 PROTECTION CLAIMS Electrical switch for dust and water-proof devices, in particular lights, with a housing, within which a switching element is provided which is sealed to the outside of the housing and can be operated from the outside of the housing, characterized in that an actuating lever (3) for actuating the switching element (2) is provided on the outside of the housing (5), which is rotatably fixed with a shaft extension (16) in a shaft receptacle (15) of the housing (1), and that between the shaft extension (16) of the actuating lever (3) and the shaft receptacle (15) of the housing (1) a 2. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching element (2) is designed as a rocker switch which can be switched via a rocker switch (11), and that the rocker switch (11) can be actuated via a rocker lever (6) which is attached thereto and is rigidly connected to the shaft extension (16). 3. Switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seal (4) is designed as an O-ring which is held in a cylindrical extension (17) of the shaft holder (15) between the shaft extension (16) and the actuating lever (3). Postgiroamt: Karlsruhe 76979-754 ßankkb'riotTjeutscha Bank'AG i/illingen (BLZ 6947&udigr;&uacgr;&oacgr;_) 146332 4. Switch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaft extension (16) has a square-shaped extension (9) for a positive connection to the rocker lever (6). 5. Switch according to claim 4, characterized in that the square-shaped extension (9) is formed by two opposing side surfaces (18) which are connected to one another via resilient connecting surfaces (12). 6. Switch according to claim 5, characterized in that the square-shaped extension (9) can be locked to the rocker lever (6) via a locking lug (13) at the end of each side surface (18). 7. Switch according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the connecting surfaces 12 each have a V-shaped incision (14) extending from the two locking lugs (13). 8. Switch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fastening plate (8) is provided on the inside of the housing (1), to which the switching element (2) is detachably fastened with two lateral snap elements (10). 9. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching element is designed as a rotary switch whose axis of rotation is rigidly connected to the shaft extension.