EP0155801A2 - Rotary switch - Google Patents
Rotary switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0155801A2 EP0155801A2 EP85301576A EP85301576A EP0155801A2 EP 0155801 A2 EP0155801 A2 EP 0155801A2 EP 85301576 A EP85301576 A EP 85301576A EP 85301576 A EP85301576 A EP 85301576A EP 0155801 A2 EP0155801 A2 EP 0155801A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- contact member
- rotor
- stationary
- auxiliary
- butting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
- H01H19/54—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions
- H01H19/60—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying no contacts
- H01H19/63—Contacts actuated by axial cams
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H27/00—Switches operated by a removable member, e.g. key, plug or plate; Switches operated by setting members according to a single predetermined combination out of several possible settings
- H01H27/06—Key inserted and then turned to effect operation of the switch
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
- H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
- H01H9/38—Auxiliary contacts on to which the arc is transferred from the main contacts
Definitions
- This invention relates to rotary electric switches, such as those used as ignition switches in motor vehicles.
- the invention relates to a rotary electric switch comprising a rotor carrying a sliding contact member which, on rotation of the rotor, moves between a closed position, in which it bridges a stationary feed contact member and a stationary output contact member, and an open position in which such bridging does not occur.
- a switch will be referred to hereinafter as "a rotary switch of the type described”.
- a rotary switch of the type described When the switch is a vehicle ignition switch there are usually a number of output contact members which are bridged in turn by the sliding contact member.
- the rotary switch is to supply an electronic circuit
- the supply is interrupted for periods which, although very short, may result in the electronic circuits malfunctioning.
- An object of the present invention is to avoid or minimise that malfunctioning in a rotary electric switch of the type described.
- an auxiliary butting contact member is arranged to be operated by rotation of the rotor and to provide a secondary connection, with butting contact, between the stationary contact members.
- the secondary connection is made and broken respectively after and before the connection through the sliding contact member is made and broken, so that the auxiliary contact member never switches the current; the connection through the auxiliary contact member then ensures that no breaking of the circuit occurs during movement of the sliding contact over the stationary contacts.
- the auxiliary contact member is spring-biased towards a closed position in which that contact member makes butting engagement with the stationary contact members
- the rotor has a camform, which is operative on the auxiliary contact member, on rotation of the rotor, to cause movement of the auxiliary contact member between a closed position in which said butting engagement occurs and an open position in which it is out of engagement with at least one of the stationary contact members.
- the vehicle ignition switch shown in the drawing comprises a rotor 1 carrying a sliding contact- member 2, a ..' a base 3 on which the rotor 1 is mounted for rotation about the central axis A.
- Contact member 2 is made of electrically conducting material and has parts 2A which are pressed out of the metal to engage with the stationary contact as required.
- a number of stationary output contact members are mounted in the base 3, but only that for the ignition contact member is shown at 4, while the feed stationary contact member is indicated at 6.
- sliding contact member 2 bridges the feed contact member 6 successively with the stationary contact members. Connection between the feed contact member and the ignition contact member 4 is made over an arc of travel of the rotor 1, so that the ignition circuit is completed between the IGNITION location and the START location.
- the switch has an auxiliary butting contact member 5, which is designed to connect between the feed contact member 6 and the ignition contact member 4 in parallel with the sliding contact member 2.
- Auxiliary contact member 5 is located beneath the feed and ignition contact members and is biased towards them by a spring 7 so that end 8 of the contact member 5 is permanently abutted against the ignition contact member 4 in the IGNITION and START positions.
- contact member 5 has an upwardly turned leg 10 which is biased by spring 7 against a camform 9 on the underside of the rotor 1, and which serves to move the auxiliary contact member 5 between the open position shown in Figure 2 and the closed position of Figure 1, in which contact member 5 additionally engages the feed contact member 6.
- cam 9 retains the auxiliary contact member 5 in the OFF position shown in Figure 2.
- the camform allows the contact member 5 to pivot into the closed position of Figure 1, contact with the feed contact member 6 being made at a small angular position beyond that at which the connection to the ignition contact member 4 is made by the sliding contact member 2.
- the secondary circuit is thus completed by butting contact of auxiliary contact member 5 with contact members 4 and 6.
- auxiliary contact member 5 During subsequent movement of the rotor towards the START position and the return to the IGNITION position, auxiliary contact member 5 remains stationary with the circuit through it uninterrupted. Thus, the supply to the ignition contact member 4 is maintained, regardless of short term interruptions in the connection through the sliding contact member 2. Further, as the connection through the auxiliary contact member is made after that through the sliding contact member 2, and similarly the connection through the former is broken before that through sliding contact member 2 is broken, the auxiliary contact member 5 never switches the current. Should the connection through the sliding contact member 2 fail for any reason, while the auxiliary contact member is closed, and welding of the latter occurs, the camform 9 on the rotor 1 will break the weld on the rotor being returned to the ACCESSORY position.
Landscapes
- Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to rotary electric switches, such as those used as ignition switches in motor vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to a rotary electric switch comprising a rotor carrying a sliding contact member which, on rotation of the rotor, moves between a closed position, in which it bridges a stationary feed contact member and a stationary output contact member, and an open position in which such bridging does not occur. Such a switch will be referred to hereinafter as "a rotary switch of the type described". When the switch is a vehicle ignition switch there are usually a number of output contact members which are bridged in turn by the sliding contact member.
- Where the rotary switch is to supply an electronic circuit, it is important that the supply should be continuous while the sliding contact member is moving over the stationary contact members. In practice it is found that the supply is interrupted for periods which, although very short, may result in the electronic circuits malfunctioning. An object of the present invention is to avoid or minimise that malfunctioning in a rotary electric switch of the type described.
- According to the present invention, an auxiliary butting contact member is arranged to be operated by rotation of the rotor and to provide a secondary connection, with butting contact, between the stationary contact members. Advantageously, the secondary connection is made and broken respectively after and before the connection through the sliding contact member is made and broken, so that the auxiliary contact member never switches the current; the connection through the auxiliary contact member then ensures that no breaking of the circuit occurs during movement of the sliding contact over the stationary contacts.
- Preferably, the auxiliary contact member is spring-biased towards a closed position in which that contact member makes butting engagement with the stationary contact members, and the rotor has a camform, which is operative on the auxiliary contact member, on rotation of the rotor, to cause movement of the auxiliary contact member between a closed position in which said butting engagement occurs and an open position in which it is out of engagement with at least one of the stationary contact members.
- The invention will be more readily understood by way of example from the following description of a rotary electric ignition switch in accordance therewith, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which
- Figures 1 and 2 show the switch in radial section, with the switch contacts closed and open respectively, and
- Figures 3 and 4 show the contact members of the switch in plan view and correspond to Figures 1 and 2 respectively.
- The vehicle ignition switch shown in the drawing comprises a rotor 1 carrying a sliding contact-
member 2, a ..' a base 3 on which the rotor 1 is mounted for rotation about the central axisA. Contact member 2 is made of electrically conducting material and hasparts 2A which are pressed out of the metal to engage with the stationary contact as required. A number of stationary output contact members are mounted in the base 3, but only that for the ignition contact member is shown at 4, while the feed stationary contact member is indicated at 6. As the rotor 1 is turned, slidingcontact member 2 bridges the feed contact member 6 successively with the stationary contact members. Connection between the feed contact member and theignition contact member 4 is made over an arc of travel of the rotor 1, so that the ignition circuit is completed between the IGNITION location and the START location. - During the travel of the sliding
contact member 2 over theignition contact member 4, short term interruptions in the connection may occur due to slight imperfections in the feed contact member 6. Those interruptions are so short that the operation of the ignition is unaffected, but they may affect any electronic circuit supplied through the same contact members and may cause the electronic circuit to malfunction. To avoid that possibility, the switch has an auxiliarybutting contact member 5, which is designed to connect between the feed contact member 6 and theignition contact member 4 in parallel with the slidingcontact member 2.Auxiliary contact member 5 is located beneath the feed and ignition contact members and is biased towards them by a spring 7 so that end 8 of thecontact member 5 is permanently abutted against theignition contact member 4 in the IGNITION and START positions. The other end ofcontact member 5 has an upwardly turnedleg 10 which is biased by spring 7 against acamform 9 on the underside of the rotor 1, and which serves to move theauxiliary contact member 5 between the open position shown in Figure 2 and the closed position of Figure 1, in whichcontact member 5 additionally engages the feed contact member 6. While the rotor 1 is in the OFF position or the ACCESSORY position,cam 9 retains theauxiliary contact member 5 in the OFF position shown in Figure 2. As the rotor is progressively turned to the IGNITION position, the camform allows thecontact member 5 to pivot into the closed position of Figure 1, contact with the feed contact member 6 being made at a small angular position beyond that at which the connection to theignition contact member 4 is made by the slidingcontact member 2. The secondary circuit is thus completed by butting contact ofauxiliary contact member 5 withcontact members 4 and 6. - During subsequent movement of the rotor towards the START position and the return to the IGNITION position,
auxiliary contact member 5 remains stationary with the circuit through it uninterrupted. Thus, the supply to theignition contact member 4 is maintained, regardless of short term interruptions in the connection through the slidingcontact member 2. Further, as the connection through the auxiliary contact member is made after that through the slidingcontact member 2, and similarly the connection through the former is broken before that through slidingcontact member 2 is broken, theauxiliary contact member 5 never switches the current. Should the connection through the slidingcontact member 2 fail for any reason, while the auxiliary contact member is closed, and welding of the latter occurs, thecamform 9 on the rotor 1 will break the weld on the rotor being returned to the ACCESSORY position.
Claims (3)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8406562 | 1984-03-13 | ||
GB848406562A GB8406562D0 (en) | 1984-03-13 | 1984-03-13 | Rotary switch |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0155801A2 true EP0155801A2 (en) | 1985-09-25 |
EP0155801A3 EP0155801A3 (en) | 1986-05-07 |
Family
ID=10558022
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85301576A Withdrawn EP0155801A3 (en) | 1984-03-13 | 1985-03-07 | Rotary switch |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0155801A3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES285721Y (en) |
GB (1) | GB8406562D0 (en) |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3506798A (en) * | 1967-09-11 | 1970-04-14 | Cherry Electrical Prod | Multi-position break-before-make snap-action switch |
DE1962973A1 (en) * | 1969-12-16 | 1971-07-15 | Josef Fritzen | Device for tying up plants, shrubs, vines, etc., especially for viticulture |
-
1984
- 1984-03-13 GB GB848406562A patent/GB8406562D0/en active Pending
-
1985
- 1985-03-07 EP EP85301576A patent/EP0155801A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1985-03-13 ES ES1985285721U patent/ES285721Y/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3506798A (en) * | 1967-09-11 | 1970-04-14 | Cherry Electrical Prod | Multi-position break-before-make snap-action switch |
DE1962973A1 (en) * | 1969-12-16 | 1971-07-15 | Josef Fritzen | Device for tying up plants, shrubs, vines, etc., especially for viticulture |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8406562D0 (en) | 1984-04-18 |
EP0155801A3 (en) | 1986-05-07 |
ES285721U (en) | 1985-11-01 |
ES285721Y (en) | 1986-05-16 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT |
|
PUAL | Search report despatched |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A3 Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT |
|
RHK1 | Main classification (correction) |
Ipc: H01H 19/08 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19861031 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19880624 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19881003 |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: SUTTON, GARY RAYMOND |