EP0313987A1 - Interrupteur électrique pour outil électrique - Google Patents

Interrupteur électrique pour outil électrique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0313987A1
EP0313987A1 EP88117477A EP88117477A EP0313987A1 EP 0313987 A1 EP0313987 A1 EP 0313987A1 EP 88117477 A EP88117477 A EP 88117477A EP 88117477 A EP88117477 A EP 88117477A EP 0313987 A1 EP0313987 A1 EP 0313987A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact pieces
contact
slider
switch
switch casing
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP88117477A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0313987B1 (fr
Inventor
Kunio C/O Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Nagata
Shoji C/O Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Kazusaka
Satoshi C/O Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Nozoe
Takezo C/O Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Sano
Junzo C/O Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Asa
Saburou C/O Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Morita
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Omron Corp
Original Assignee
Omron Tateisi Electronics Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP1987161513U external-priority patent/JPH0164830U/ja
Priority claimed from JP62267457A external-priority patent/JPH01109623A/ja
Priority claimed from JP62269824A external-priority patent/JPH01112622A/ja
Priority claimed from JP5109888U external-priority patent/JPH0622902Y2/ja
Priority claimed from JP5295488U external-priority patent/JPH01155629U/ja
Priority claimed from JP5548488U external-priority patent/JPH01159340U/ja
Priority claimed from JP5575288U external-priority patent/JPH01159329U/ja
Priority to AT88117477T priority Critical patent/ATE91040T1/de
Application filed by Omron Tateisi Electronics Co filed Critical Omron Tateisi Electronics Co
Publication of EP0313987A1 publication Critical patent/EP0313987A1/fr
Publication of EP0313987B1 publication Critical patent/EP0313987B1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
    • H01H9/06—Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner
    • H01H9/061—Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner enclosing a continuously variable impedance
    • 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
    • H01H9/52—Cooling of switch parts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electric switch for use in a power tool, such as electric screw driver, electric power drill, electric saw and so forth, and in particular to an electric switch for a power tool which is easy to assemble and convenient to use.
  • Such an electric switch for a power tool is recently disclosed, for instance, in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 62-22331 (Japanese patent application No. 60-160916) of prior application.
  • This switch internally includes a power transistor for controlling the rotor circuit of the motor, a printed circuit board carrying the control circuit for controlling the torque output of the motor, and a switch mechanism connected to the control circuit.
  • the switch mechanism is provided with first through third moveable contact pieces which, to form a switch contact circuit, depend from a moveable piece which synchronizes with the actuating force of the actuation lever, and as the moveable piece undergoes a sliding motion, the moveable contact pieces are each interposed between the adjacent surfaces of a pair of contact pieces which oppose each other as fixed contact pieces, and a desired contact signal is obtained by the contact pieces at the time of this interposing movement.
  • the adjacent contact pieces are supported in the switch casing so that they can expand and elastically deform in the direction of the contact motion in order to obtain a certain contact pressure.
  • the upper part of the switch casing must define an open cavity for the convenience of installing the switch contact mechanism therein and must be closed thereafter.
  • the structure of the upper part of the switch casing is highly important in simplifying the assembly process thereof and ensuring the reliability of the switch contacts by protecting them from external influences.
  • a primary object of the present invention is to provide an electric switch for a power tool which is improved in the efficiency of the required assembly work by eliminating the need for adjustment after they are assembled.
  • a second object of the present invention is to provide an electric switch for a power tool which is provided with a position for an electromagnetic braking action as well as the positions for the on-off of the motor and is yet compact in structure.
  • a third object of the present invention is to provide an electric switch for a power tool which ensures a favorable contact properties to the switch contacts.
  • a fourth object of the present invention is to provide an electric switch for a power tool which combines a variable resistor with the switch structure in a favorable arrangement.
  • a fifth object of the present invention is to provide an electric switch for a power tool which is easy to assemble but is provided with reliable structures in both the lower and upper parts of the switch casing.
  • a sixth object of the present invention is to provide an electric switch for a power tool which is well protected from the intrusion of moisture and dust but is provided with efficient means for dissipating the heat generated by the electronic component parts of the control circuit.
  • an electric switch for a power tool comprising: a slider slidably received in a switch casing along a longitudinal direction; handle means for manually actuating the slider along the longitudinal direction; a plurality of fixed contact pieces arranged in an internal bottom surface of the switch casing and provided with contact surfaces located substantially in a same plane; and a plurality of moveable contact pieces arranged in the bottom surface of the slider and urged toward the fixed contact pieces by spring means so as to selectively contact at least some of the contact surfaces of the fixed contact pieces.
  • the assembly work consists of arranging the fixed contact pieces on the bottom surface of the switch casing, and arranging contact portions of the moveable contact pieces over the exposed contact portions of the fixed contact pieces in a planar fashion while urging the moveable contact pieces toward the fixed contact pieces by suitable means.
  • the assembly work is simply performed by laying the fixed contact pieces and the moveable contact pieces one over the other, and, in particular, since the arrangement of the contact pieces and the relative motion between the fixed contact pieces and the moveable contact pieces are both planar, not only highly stable states of contact can be assured between various contact pieces but also the dimensions of the internal structure of the switch, in particular its height, can be substantially reduced.
  • the moveable contact pieces consist of a pair of laterally arranged contact pieces
  • the fixed contact pieces comprise a common brake contact piece provided in an longitudinal end of the bottom surface of the switch casing, a pair of laterally spaced power source contact pieces arranged in the other longitudinal end of the bottom surface of the switch casing, and a pair of laterally spaced motor contact pieces each arranged between the brake contact piece and one of the power source contact pieces, each of the moveable contact pieces being adapted to electrically connect one of the motor contact pieces to the brake contact piece or one of the power source contact pieces depending on the longitudinal sliding position of the slider.
  • the moveable contact pieces may be either planar or M-shaped, and the spring means may consist of sheet springs, or coil springs. If coil springs are used, it is preferable to provide retaining means which elastically engage the end portions of the coil springs for the convenience of the assembly work.
  • the springs means are integrally provided in the moveable contact pieces.
  • the spring means may consist of the parts extending between the legs, inclusive of the legs, and the middle parts of the M-shaped moveable contact pieces.
  • the slider is provided with means. for retaining the moveable contact pieces, such as the depending portions of the slider which are elastically interposed between the vertical walls of the moveable contact pieces defining the central depressions of the M-shaped moveable contact pieces.
  • the first and second motor contact pieces are originally connected to each other by way of the brake contact piece, and the member which connects the brake contact piece with one of the first and second motor contact pieces is entirely located externally of the switch casing immediately after the contact pieces are insert molded with the switch casing.
  • the positioning of the contact pieces can be accomplished as the positioning of a single terminal piece.
  • the separate contact pieces can be produced by cutting away the member which connects the brake contact piece with one of the first and second motor contact pieces.
  • a printed circuit board carrying a control circuit mounted on its upper surface and a resistor surface printed on its lower surface is placed on the upper part of the switch casing, and the slider is provided, on its upper surface, with a brush which slides over the printed resistor surface.
  • the variable resistor consisting of the brush and the printed resistor surface can be used as a part of the circuit for controlling the speed or the torque output of the motor.
  • the switch further comprises an inner cover having a depending piece which presses upon a peripheral part of the printed circuit board against a shoulder surface provided in the upper part of the switch casing, and an outer cover which fits onto and securely engages with the outer peripheral surface of the switch casing.
  • a semiconductor device is securely attached to the internal surface of the outer cover and the outer cover consists of highly heat conductive material.
  • the cover can be used as both a heat radiator and a seal cover. An even more favorable result can be achieve if the inner cover is also made of highly heat conductive material and thermally in contact with the semiconductor device.
  • each of the fixed contact pieces is connected to a corresponding terminal which is passed through a wall part of the switch casing located at a longitudinal end thereof, and the terminals are provided with annular and upward projections which are received by corresponding holes provided through printed electroconductive patterns of a printed circuit board carrying a control circuit for the motor of the power tool and secured to the upper end of the switch casing, and leads extending from an external circuit are inserted into the annular projections, each of the annular projections being soldered to the corresponding printed electroconductive pattern of the printed circuit board and the corresponding lead of the external circuit, the electric connections of the various parts of the switch is substantially simplified.
  • the external circuit may consists of a power transistor which may be attached to the cover disposed above the printed circuit board.
  • the present invention can be favorable applied to the power tool structure where the handle means consists of a lever which is passed through a slot defined in a lower part of the switch casing and is pivotally supported with respect to the switch casing, the lever being provided with engagement means for acting upon the slider into causing the longitudinal movement by way of a pivotal movement of the lever and manual actuation surface for manually causing the pivotal movement of the actuation lever.
  • the slot can be favorably sealed from external influences in spite of the movement of the actuation lever if the slot is closed by a fixed elastic strip which defines a central opening for accommodating the pivotal movement of the lever, and a moveable elastic strip which is placed over the fixed elastic strip and is provided with a central engagement hole for receiving the inner end of the lever.
  • the sealing capability may be enhanced by providing a stepped structure in which the switch contacts are placed higher than the slot for admitting the actuation lever into the switch casing, and/or by providing, adjacent to the engagement means at the inner most end of the actuation lever, an arcuate projection extending along the longitudinal direction which is received by the slot in the lower part of the switch casing, and a pair of shoulder surfaces which are located on either side of the arcuate projection and adjoins the lower surface of the switch casing peripheral to the slot.
  • the moveable contact pieces may be omitted from the slider by providing an electric switch for a power tool, comprising: a slider slidably received in a switch casing along a longitudinal direction; handle means for manually actuating the slider along the longitudinal direction; a plurality of contact pieces arranged in an internal bottom surface of the switch casing, the contact pieces including at least one contact surface and at least one elastic piece extending over the contact surface defining a certain gap therebetween in the natural state of the elastic piece; and a cam surface provided in the lower surface of the slider which can press upon the elastic piece into contact with the contact surface depending on the position of the slider along the longitudinal direction.
  • FIGS 1 through 6 generally illustrate the first embodiment of the electric switch for a DC motor powered power tool according to the present invention, and this electric switch comprises a control circuit unit 11 for the DC motor, an actuation lever 12 for controlling the action of the motor, and a switch casing 13 which integrally supports them. These parts are incorporated, for instance, in the grip of the power tool which may consist of, for instance, an electric screw driver.
  • the above described control circuit unit 11 comprises a power transistor 14, upper and lower heat radiation covers 15 and 16 which cover the power transistor 14 from above and below, a printed circuit board 17 carrying the control circuit for the motor, a slider 22 provided with first and second moveable contact pieces 20 and 21, which are urged by a constant biasing force by pressure springs 19 and 19, on its lower surface, a brush 18, provided on the upper surface of the slider 22, which varies a resistive value by sliding over a resistance control surface provided in the lower surface of the printed circuit board 17, and a return spring 23 for biasing this slider 22 in the forward direction.
  • the power transistor 14 is rectangular in shape, and is provided with a crimping hole 24 in its extension extending from its front end. This transistor 14 is attached to the upper heat radiation cover 15, and the three leads 25 projecting from the rear end for output control are bent downward and connected to the printed circuit board 17, as described hereinafter, to achieve the on-off control of the rotor circuit of the DC motor.
  • a power transistor of this type emits a considerable amount of heat and the heat emitted from this transistor is therefore is required to be removed by conducting the heat to the heat radiation covers 15 and 16 covering the transistor 14, from above and below.
  • the upper and lower heat radiation covers 15 and 16 are made of highly heat conductive material such as aluminum alloy.
  • the upper heat radiation cover 15 is shaped as a box having an open bottom, and a depression 15a provided in the upper inner surface of this cover snugly receives the upper part of the power transistor 14.
  • a rivet 26 which also contributes to the heat dissipation of the power transistor 14 is used to securely attach the power transistor 14 to the upper heat radiation cover 15 by being passed through the hole 24 of the transistor 14 and a hole 15b provided in the upper heat radiation cover 15 and by being crimped thereto.
  • the lower heat radiation cover 16 is also shaped as a box with an open bottom, and is provided with a depression 16a on its upper surface for snugly receiving the lower part of the power transistor 14 therein.
  • the side walls depending from the top wall of the lower heat radiation cover 16 are provided with rectangular holes 29 which elastically catch lateral projections 30 provided in the switch casing 13 when the lower heat radiation cover 16 is fitted onto the switch casing 13.
  • the side walls of the upper heat radiation cover 15 are also provided with similar rectangular holes 27 which likewise. elastically catch lateral projections 28 provided in the switch casing 13.
  • the side walls of the switch casing 13 is provided with lower surfaces 13a and higher surfaces 13b; the lower heat radiation cover 16 is thus fitted onto the switch casing 13 by sliding along the lower surfaces 13a, and the external side surfaces of the lower heat radiation cover 16 are flush with the higher surfaces 13b when the lower heat radiation cover 16 is finally fitted onto the switch casing 13 and the lateral projections 30 are caught by the engagement holes 29.
  • the upper heat radiation cover 15 thus slides along the external side surfaces of the lower heat radiation cover 16 and the higher surfaces 13b of the switch casing 13 until the engagement holes 27 thereof catch the lateral projections 28 of the switch casing 13.
  • the printed circuit board 17 is securely held between a shoulder surface 13c provided along the inner part of the upper end of the switch casing 13 and the lower end surface 31 of the lower heat radiation cover 16.
  • the switch casing 13, the printed circuit board 17, the lower heat radiation cover 16, the power transistor 14 and the upper heat radiation cover 15 are combined into an integral structure simply by assembling them one over the other. Since the power transistor 14 is entirely covered by the upper and lower heat radiation covers 15 and 16, the heat generated from the power transistor 14 is favorably dissipated by the heat radiation covers 15 and 16.
  • the upper and lower heat radiation covers 15 and 16 are in mutual contact over such a wide area that the heat generated from the power transistor 14 is favorably directed to the upper heat radiation cover 15 which is relatively exposed to the exterior, and the printed circuit board 17 is protected from the influences of the heat from the power transistor 14.
  • the upper heat radiation cover 15 is provided not only with a large horizontal area but also with a large vertical area for a favorable heat removal. Furthermore, since the switch casing 13, the lower heat radiation cover 16 and the upper heat radiation cover 15 are mutually fitted closely with each other, the interior of the switch casing is extremely well protected from the intrusion of foreign matters such as moisture, dust and so forth.
  • the printed circuit board 17 carries electronic component parts for the control circuit on its upper surface, and has a resistance control surface 17a printed on its lower surface. And, the printed circuit board 17 is fixedly secured with the peripheral portion thereof being pressed downward by the lower heat radiation cover 16 against the switch casing 13 as described above.
  • the rear end portion of the printed circuit board 17 is provided with a plurality of holes (or slots) 32 by a burring process so as to extend therethrough for connecting terminals thereto, and the leads 25 of the power transistor 14, certain parts of the power terminals and the motor terminals are passed through these holes 31, from above and below, to be efficiently soldered thereto as described hereinafter.
  • the holes 32 are defined by an electroconductive material, which is formed into an annular shape by a burring process, in the parts of the printed circuit board 17 where the terminals are to be connected, so that the fringes of these holes may be efficiently connected to various parts of the control circuit carried by this printed circuit board 17.
  • the slider 22 opposes the lower surface of this printed circuit board 17.
  • the slider 22 is shaped as a box which can be accommodated in the switch casing 13, and the base end of the brush 18, shaped liked letter "L", is fitted into a brush mounting slot 34 provided in the front part of the upper surface of the slider 22 and defines a brush opening 33 for receiving the main part of the brush 18.
  • the laterally bifurcated contact pieces 35 and 35 provided in the free end of this brush 18 are upwardly urged by its own spring force against the resistance control surface 17a on the lower surface of the printed circuit board 17 so that the resistive value for controlling the torque output or the speed of the motor may be varied by changing the point of contact between the resistance control surface 17a and the brush 18 which slides integrally with the slider 22.
  • the brush 18 is supported by the slider 22 which is normally biased forwardly by the compression coil spring 23 and the maximum resistive value is produced when the slider 22 is at its front most position while the minimum resistive value is produced when the slider 22 is at its rear most position.
  • the rear end of the lower surface of this slider 22 defines a spring receiving hole 36 for receiving an end of the return spring 23 whose other end is received and supported by another spring receiving hole 37 provided in the rear end of the interior of the switch casing 13 as described hereinafter whereby the slider 22 is normally biased forwardly under the spring force of the return spring 23 which is normally kept in compressed state.
  • the switch casing 13 is formed as a box having an open top as described above, and this upper opening 39 slidably receives the slider 22 along the fore-and-aft direction.
  • the printed circuit board 17 and the power transistor 14 are placed over the upper opening 39 of the switch casing 13 by way of the heat radiation covers 15 and 16.
  • the inner surfaces of the side walls of the switch casing 13 are provided with a pair of shoulder surfaces 46 and 46 for guiding the slider 22 along the fore-and-­aft direction while a central part of the bottom surface of the switch casing is provided with a slot 47 extending along the fore-and-aft direction for passing therethrough an actuation shaft 53 projecting from the upper end of the actuation lever 12.
  • a support piece 48 which is provided with a communication slot 49 which opens out on the front surface of the support piece 48 and communicates with the central slot 47 located thereabove, and a pair of laterally extending pivot pins 50 and 50 provided on either side of the lower end thereof for pivotally supporting the actuation lever 12 as described hereinafter.
  • the actuation lever 12 is provided with a semi-­cylindrical shape, and its cylindrical front surface serves as a depression actuation surface 51.
  • the front part of the lower surface of the slider 22 is provided with an engagement hole 38 for receiving the actuation shaft 53 projecting from the top end of the actuation lever 12, by way of the communication slot 49 and the central slot 47 so that the slider 22 may be moved along the fore-and-aft direction by way of the actuation shaft 53 as the actuation lever 12 is depressed and released manually.
  • the rear wall 40 of the switch casing 13 is provided with a first power source terminal 41 and a second power source terminal 42 press fitted in either outer most end thereof, and a first motor terminal 43 and a second motor terminal 44 are placed between these power source terminals 41 and42 by insert molding them with the switch casing 13.
  • Contact surfaces 41a and 43a of the first power source terminal 41 and the first motor terminal 43 are arranged, with their upper surfaces exposed, one behind the other along one side of the bottom surface of the upper opening 39 while contact surfaces 42a and 44a of the second power source terminal 42 and the second motor terminal 44 are likewise arranged, with their upper surfaces exposed, one behind the other along the other side of the bottom surface of the upper opening 39.
  • a brake contact piece 45 is press fitted into a front part of the bottom surface with its contact surfaces 45a and 45a exposed on either lateral side.
  • contact surfaces 41a through 45a are arranged on a common plane so that the required switching relationship for the motor output control can be accomplished by sliding the first and second moveable contact pieces 20 and 21 which are provided with arcuate contact portions 20a and 20a, and 21a and 21a at their longitudinal end portions of their under surfaces, along the fore-and-aft direction.
  • first and second motor terminals 43 and 44 are used as common contact pieces with their contact surfaces 43a and 44a located at intermediate positions along the fore-and-aft direction, and the first and second moveable contact pieces 20 and 21 are normally placed across the contact surfaces of these common contact pieces and the contact surfaces 45a of the brake contact piece 45 to achieve the stationary state of the motor.
  • the first moveable contact piece 20 moves away from the contact surface 45a for the braking action and comes into contact with the contact surface 41a of the first power source terminal 41 to achieve a conductive state between the contact surfaces 41a and 43a provided on one side while the second moveable contact piece 21, likewise, moves away from the contact surface 45a for the braking action and comes into contact with the contact surface 42a of the second power source terminal 42 to achieve a conductive state between the contact surfaces 42a and 44a provided on the other side.
  • annular connecting pieces 42b, 43b and 44b which can be inserted into the holes 32 provided by a burring process in the printed circuit board 17, from below, and can in turn receive the leads 25 of the power transistor 14, while the assembly process is conducted in sequential manner, without requiring any special efforts.
  • the annular connecting pieces 42b, 43b and 44b are first inserted into the holes 32 of the printed circuit board 17, and the leads 25 of the power transistor 14 are then inserted into the central holes of the annular connecting pieces 42b, 43b and 44b so that they can be soldered together once and for all in a highly efficient manner.
  • the rear ends of the power source terminals 41 and 42 and the motor terminals 43 and 44 are located externally of the switch casing 13, and they are provided with crimping terminal connection portions 41c, 42c, 43c and 44c which are formed so that they may be connected to external lead wires by crimping, instead of soldering, so as to achieve an improvement in production efficiency.
  • the first and second power source terminals 41 and 42 are connected to the corresponding poles of a battery not shown in the drawings while the first and second motor terminals 43 and 44 are connected to the reversion control switch for the motor which is also not shown in the drawings.
  • the communication slot 47 provided in the lower part of the switch casing 13 is closed by a fixed foam material strip 54 and a moveable foam material strip 55 for sealing purpose;
  • the fixed foam material strip 54 is centrally provided with an elongated opening 56 extending over a distance corresponding to the actuation stroke of the actuation shaft 53 for passing the actuation shaft 53 therethrough from below, and the front end portion of its upper surface is fixedly pressed downward by the central part 45b of the brake contact piece 45 against the bottom surface of the upper opening 39.
  • the moveable foam material strip 55 is placed over it, and is provided with a small engagement hole 57 which receives the free end of the actuation shaft 53 therein. The intrusion of dust and other foreign matters from the lower part of the switch casing 13 is thus prevented.
  • foam material strips 54 and 55 are arranged in a central depression 58 provided in the bottom surface of the upper opening 39 so as to form a stepped structure, so that even when a small amount of dust has infiltrated into the switch casing 13, it is prevented from reaching the switch contact portions on account of the sealing action of the central depression 58.
  • the intrusion of dust is prevented by the sealing action of the stepped structure as well as that of the foam material strips 54 and 55.
  • the upper end of the actuation lever 51 is provided with an arcuate projection 60 which extends generally along the fore-and-aft direction and defines a pair of likewise arcuate shoulder surfaces 59 along it ( Figure 5).
  • the arcuate projection 60 is received by the central slot 47 and the shoulder surfaces 59 adjoin the parts of the lower surface of the switch casing 13 which define the central slot 47.
  • this stepped structure of the upper end of the actuation lever 12 is also helpful in preventing the intrusion of foreign matters into the switch casing 13.
  • the electric switch for a DC motor powered power tool of this structure is arranged in the grip of the power tool, and the actuation lever 12 normally protrudes forwardly from the front surface of the grip so as to be ready to be depressed therefrom.
  • the slider 22 which cooperates with this actuation lever 12 moves rearwardly, whereby the first and second moveable contact pieces 20 and 21 are caused to move away from the brake contact piece 45, and the first moveable contact piece 20 comes into contact with both the first power source terminal 41 and the first motor terminal 43 while the second moveable contact piece 21 comes into contact with both the second power source terminal 42 and the second motor terminal 44.
  • electric power is supplied to the motor and the motor starts turning.
  • the torque output of the motor is variably controlled to a desired value which is suitable for the particular application.
  • the actuation lever 12 is pivotally attached to the support piece 48 which depends from the lower surface of the switch casing 13 and the actuation shaft 53 is made to protrude inside the switch casing 13 from the central slot 47.
  • the fixed foam material strip 54 and the moveable foam material strip 55 are placed on top of the actuation shaft 53, and this completes the assembly of the lower part of the switch casing 13.
  • the first power source terminal 41 and the second power source terminal 42 are press fitted into either side end portion of the rear wall 40 of the switch casing 13, and the brake contact piece 45 is press fitted into the front part of the upper surface of the upper opening 39.
  • the contact surfaces 41a, 41b and 45a of these terminals 41 and 42 and the brake contact piece 45, and the contact surfaces 43a and 44a of the first motor terminal 43 and the second motor terminal 44, which are insert molded with the switch casing 13 in advance, are exposed on the same plane in the bottom surface of the upper opening 39.
  • first and second moveable contact pieces 20 and 21 are placed over them by being fitted into the slider 22 with their upper surfaces urged downward by the springs 19 and 19, and these switch component parts are thus assembled one over the other. Thereafter, the printed circuit board 17, the lower heat radiation cover 16, the power transistor 14, and the upper heat radiation cover 15 are assemble one over the other in similar fashion.
  • the assembly work can be completed simply by placing the power source terminals, the brake contact piece, the moveable contact pieces, the pressure springs and so forth one over the other on the bottom surface of the switch casing 13.
  • the power source terminals and motor terminals which correspond to the conventional fixed contact pieces are not required to be provided with the elastic property involving lateral expansion, no adjustment is required after the assembly work, and the assembly work efficiency is thus improved.
  • the states of fit between the various parts in the upper part of the switch casing is desired to be as tight as possible.
  • the convenience of the assembling process may be sacrificed.
  • the printed circuit board could be inadvertently installed in slanted orientation because the printed circuit board could be caught by the upper surface or the inner wall surface of the switch casing during the assembling process.
  • an anti-dust cover 16′ made of synthetic resin material is used in place of the lower heat radiation cover 16 of the first embodiment.
  • This anti-dust cover 16′ which is generally planar and conformal to the rectangular printed circuit board 17, covers the upper surface of this printed circuit board 17. Further, from the periphery of the anti-dust cover 16′ depends a pressure piece 16a′ which corresponds to the peripheral part of the upper surface of the printed circuit board 17.
  • This pressure piece 16a′ is generally planar and vertically extends along the upper inner wall surface of the switch casing 13 so that the capability to prevent the intrusion of dust may be improved by closing the upper opening 39 of the switch casing 13 with this anti-dust cover 16′.
  • the upper heat radiation covers 16 in the preceding embodiments were limited in their volumes and surface areas because of the requirements related to the material cost and the cost for the manufacturing facilities as well as the space requirements. In the modified embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the capability of the upper heat radiation cover to remove the heat generated from the power transistor 14 is improved.
  • the upper heat radiation cover 15 consists of two parts 15′ and 15 ⁇ which are both made of heat conductive material such as aluminum alloy.
  • the lower part 15′ is shaped as a box with an open bottom, and is provided with rectangular holes 27 in its side walls for engagement with the lateral projections 28 provided in the switch casing 13.
  • the lower part 15′ is provided with not only with a horizontal surface but also vertical surfaces, all having substantially large surface areas which are helpful in preventing the intrusion of dust and other foreign matters as well as in removing the heat generated from the power transistor 14.
  • the upper surface of the lower part 15′ is provided with a few elongated slots 70 as well as a rectangular hole 15b′ for receiving the rivet 26 for securing the power transistor 14.
  • the upper part 15 ⁇ is substantially planar and conformal to the upper surface of the lower part 15′, and is provided with depending pieces 71 which are bent downward from the main part of the upper part 15 ⁇ and are adapted to be fitted into the corresponding slots 70 provided in the upper surface of the lower part 15′, as well as a rectangular hole 15b ⁇ for receiving the head of the rivet 26 for securing the power transistor 14. Further, a pair of depending pieces 72 are bent from the main part of the upper part 15 ⁇ adjacent to its rear end and extend adjacent to and along the rear end surface of the lower part 15′.
  • the capability of the upper heat radiation cover 15 to remove heat is improved. Also, by thus combining the two parts 15′ and 15 ⁇ , the overall volume, the thickness of the main (horizontal) part and the overall surface area of the upper heat radiation cover 15 are increased for the given thickness of the material consisting of sheet metal made of aluminum alloy. Further, since the two parts 15′ and 15 ⁇ can be joined by the rivet 26 at the same time as securing the power transistor 14, the assembly work is not made any more costly or time-­consuming than in the cases of the single-piece upper heat radiation covers of the preceding embodiments.
  • each of the moveable contact pieces were provided with a pressure spring consisting of a sheet spring.
  • no pressure springs are used because the moveable contact pieces themselves are provided with the required elastic property.
  • the parts corresponding to those of the preceding embodiments are denoted with like numerals, in some cases, without describing them again.
  • the lower surface of the slider 22 is provided with a pair of M-shaped recesses 22a and 22a on either side thereof for receiving and retaining the first and second moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ therein, respectively.
  • the first and second moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ are each made by bending an electroconductive plate into the shape of letter "M” so as to impart them the elastic biasing property for contact with the contact pieces; the upwardly facing surface of the central depression 20b′ or 21b′ of each of the M-shaped moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ is pressed, from above, by the corresponding depending piece of the M-­shaped recesses 22a provided in the the lower surface of the slider 22, and this depending piece is elastically interposed by the vertical portions of the moveable contact piece on either side of the upwardly facing surface of its central depression 20b′ while the lower ends of the two legs of the M-shaped moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ are curved into arcuate contact portions 20a, 20a, 21a and 21a so that they may be aligned along the sliding direction one behind the other for each of the moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ and slidably engaged with the contact surfaces 41a through 45a, urged downward by the elastic spring forces of the legs of the moveable contact pieces themselves
  • a switch of this type at least some of the terminal pieces are desired to be insert molded with the switch casing to impart a favorable sealing property and obtain a mechanically integral structure.
  • a considerable care is require to accurately position all the fixed contact pieces which are to be inset molded prior to the process of insert molding, and a special skill is required to efficiently conduct this positioning work in short time. This factor contributes to the high cost of the switch.
  • the brake contact piece 45 and the two motor terminals 43 and 44 are built as a single terminal piece having the brake contact piece 45 at its front end and the first and second motor terminals 43 and 44 extending in mutually parallel relationship from the two lateral ends of the brake contact piece 45 located in the front part of this single terminal piece and a base plate 29 extending across the rear ends of the motor terminals 43 and 44, so that these three parts may be insert molded as a single terminal piece.
  • a middle part of the second motor terminal 44 is provided with a removable connecting piece 76 so as to protrude externally from the switch casing 13 so that the motor terminals 43 and 44 and the brake contact piece 45 may be efficiently and simultaneously arranged on the bottom surface of the switch casing 13 by removing the removable connecting piece 30 at the boundaries 77 on the external surface of the switch casing 13 following the process of insert molding.
  • the contact portion 45a of the brake contact piece 45 adjacent to the contact portion 43a of the first motor terminal 43 is left connected to the contact portion 43a of the first motor terminal 43 because the functions of these contact portions are not affected by it as can be readily understood.
  • the removable connecting piece 76 is provided with notches or the like at its base ends or the boundaries 77, the removal of the removable connecting piece 76 following the process of insert molding is simplified.
  • numeral 75a denotes pilot holes for the convenience of positioning the terminal piece prior to the insert molding process.
  • the switch casing 13 by injection molding resin material into a metallic mold for defining the shape of the switch casing, since the first motor terminal 43, the second motor terminal 44 and the brake contact piece 45 are built as a single terminal piece, these three parts may be positioned in highly exact locations in the metallic mold, simply and without requiring complicated positioning jigs, before the insert molding takes place.
  • the brake contact piece 45 and the first and second motor terminals 43 and 44 are arranged in the front part and on either side of the rear part of the bottom surface of the upper opening 39 of the switch casing 13, respectively, while an intermediate part of one of the motor terminals 44 protrudes externally out of the switch casing 13 as the removable connecting piece 76.
  • the mutually separated motor terminals and the brake contact piece can be arranged simultaneously in an efficient manner, and the process of insert molding involving only a single terminal piece results in a plurality of accurately positioned terminal pieces in the end. Therefore, the need for individually positioning a large number of terminal pieces is eliminated, and the manufacturing efficiency of the switch can be improved.
  • the lower surface of the slider 22 is provided with two sets of recesses each set of which comprises a central circular recess 79, and a pair of larger recesses 78 located ahead and behind the central circular recess 79, respectively.
  • the first and second moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ are each made by bending an electroconductive plate into the shape of letter "M"; the upwardly facing surface of the central depression 20b′ or 21b′ of each of the M-shaped moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ is engaged and pressed, from above, by a pair of depending engagement pieces 22a′ projecting from the power surface of the slider 22 while the two lower ends of the legs of the M-shaped moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ are curved into arcuate contact portions 20a′, 20a′, 21a′ and 21a′ so that they may be aligned along the sliding direction one behind the other and slidably engaged with the contact surfaces 41a through 45a in a planar fashion.
  • the required biasing forces are derived from coil springs 82 and 82.
  • the coil springs 82 and 82 are interposed between the bottom surface of the gap between the depending pieces 22a′ of the slider 22 and the upwardly facing surface of the central depressions 20b′ and 21b′ of the moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′, respectively, in compressed state, to urge the moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ downwardly.
  • the moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′ can apply a constant biasing force to the contact surfaces so as to achieve an optimum state of contact by receiving the spring force from the coil springs 82 which are provided with a low spring constant and a favorable biasing force supporting capability.
  • elliptic spring retainers 80 and 81 are provided in the parts of the slider 22 and the parts of the moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′, respectively, which, from above and below, oppose the two ends of the coil springs 82, so as to protrude in an elliptic shape having a major diameter which is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the coil springs 82.
  • each of the coil springs 82 When installing the moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′, one end of each of the coil springs 82 is fitted onto the corresponding elliptic spring retainer 81 provided thereon, and after the coil springs 82 are attached to the moveable contact pieces 20′ and 21′, they can be treated as single component parts, whereby a substantial advantage is gained in the simplification of the handling of the coil springs 82 and the improvement of the assembly work efficiency.
  • the mounting of the moveable contact pieces is a major factor in complicating the assembling process.
  • the embodiment illustrated in Figures 20 through 22 does not require the parts corresponding to the moveable contact pieces used in the preceding embodiments.
  • the lower surface of the slider 22 is provided with first through third cam surfaces 85 through 87 arranged along the fore-and-aft direction, instead of metallic contact pieces.
  • the second cam surface 86 located in the middle protrudes more downwardly than the other cam surfaces 85 and 87 located adjacent thereto.
  • a brake contact piece 95 is provided in the front most part of the bottom surface of the upper opening 39 of the switch casing 13.
  • the brake contact piece 95 consists of a base portion which extends laterally and is press fitted into the suitable recess provided in the bottom surface, and a pair of elastic pieces 95a extending rearwardly from lateral end portions of the base portion.
  • a pair of motor terminals 93 and 94 are insert molded with the switch casing 13 along either side portion of the switch casing 13 in mutually parallel relationship, and their internal ends define contact surfaces 93a and 94a located to the rear of the brake contact piece 95 and serving as common contact pieces as described hereinafter while their outer ends projecting rearwardly from the rear wall 40 of the switch casing 13 are formed as crimping terminal connection portions 93c and 94c for connecting external lead wires thereto by crimping.
  • a pair of power source terminals 91 and 92 are press fitted into the switch casing 13 on either outer side of the motor terminals 93 and 94 also in parallel thereto, and their internal ends are formed as elastic pieces 91a and 92a while their outer ends projecting rearwardly from the rear wall 40 of the switch casing 13 are likewise formed as crimping terminal connection portions 91c and 92c for connecting external lead wires thereto by crimping.
  • the elastic pieces 95a, 91a and 92a are located above the corresponding contact surfaces 93a and 94a defining a certain gap thereto, in their natural conditions.
  • the second cam surface 86 presses upon the elastic pieces 95a of the brake contact piece 95 and brings the elastic pieces 95a into contact with the contact surfaces 93a and 94a, respectively, against the spring forces of the elastic pieces 95a, while the elastic pieces 91a and 92a are spaced from the contact surfaces 93a and 94a, respectively, under their own spring forces. Therefore, the motor terminals 91 and 92 are directly connected to each other by way of the brake contact piece 95, and the stationary state of the motor can be attained.
  • the second cam surface 86 presses upon the elastic pieces 91a and 92a of the first and second power source terminals 91 and 92 and brings the elastic pieces 91a and 92a into contact with the contact surfaces 93a and 94a, respectively, against the spring forces of the elastic pieces 91a and 92a, while the elastic pieces 95a are spaced from the contact surfaces 93a and 94a, respectively, under their own spring forces. Therefore, the motor terminals 91 and 92 are connected to the power source by way of a switch circuit not shown in the drawings and the motor is driven in either direction.
  • the elastic pieces 91a, 92a and 95a serve as both pressure springs and contact pieces.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP19880117477 1987-10-21 1988-10-20 Interrupteur électrique pour outil électrique Expired - Lifetime EP0313987B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT88117477T ATE91040T1 (de) 1987-10-21 1988-10-20 Elektrischer schalter fuer elektrowerkzeug.

Applications Claiming Priority (14)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP161513/87U 1987-10-21
JP1987161513U JPH0164830U (fr) 1987-10-21 1987-10-21
JP62267457A JPH01109623A (ja) 1987-10-21 1987-10-21 電動工具用スイッチ
JP267457/87 1987-10-21
JP269824/87 1987-10-24
JP62269824A JPH01112622A (ja) 1987-10-24 1987-10-24 電動工具用スイッチの防塵装置
JP51098/88U 1988-04-15
JP5109888U JPH0622902Y2 (ja) 1988-04-15 1988-04-15 電動工具用スイッチの防塵装置
JP5295488U JPH01155629U (fr) 1988-04-20 1988-04-20
JP52954/88U 1988-04-20
JP5548488U JPH01159340U (fr) 1988-04-23 1988-04-23
JP55484/88U 1988-04-23
JP5575288U JPH01159329U (fr) 1988-04-25 1988-04-25
JP55752/88U 1988-04-25

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0313987A1 true EP0313987A1 (fr) 1989-05-03
EP0313987B1 EP0313987B1 (fr) 1993-06-23

Family

ID=27564764

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880117477 Expired - Lifetime EP0313987B1 (fr) 1987-10-21 1988-10-20 Interrupteur électrique pour outil électrique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0313987B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3882007T2 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0468622A2 (fr) * 1990-07-27 1992-01-29 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Commutateur à résistance variable
WO1995026589A1 (fr) * 1994-03-25 1995-10-05 Robert Bosch Gmbh Outil a main pourvu d'un potentiometre et procede d'ajustement dudit potentiometre
DE4443797A1 (de) * 1994-12-08 1996-06-13 Kaercher Gmbh & Co Alfred Handstück für ein Dampfreinigungsgerät
EP0957497A2 (fr) * 1998-05-12 1999-11-17 Eaton Corporation Interrupteur de commande d'un outil électrique à courant continu à vitesse variable
EP1482526A2 (fr) * 2003-05-28 2004-12-01 Satori S-Tech Co., Ltd. Interrupteur pour outil électrique.
EP2214188A2 (fr) * 2009-01-28 2010-08-04 Satori S-Tech Co., Ltd. Déclencheur
GB2473716A (en) * 2009-09-16 2011-03-23 Bosch Gmbh Robert Switch-circuit board unit with circuit board rigidly mounted to switch
CN102956385A (zh) * 2011-08-12 2013-03-06 欧姆龙株式会社 开关

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2211027B1 (de) * 1972-03-08 1973-07-26 Swf-Spezialfabrik Fuer Autozubehoer Gustav Rau Gmbh, 7120 Bietigheim Elektrischer Schalter mit mindestens einer Schiebekontaktanordnung, insbesondere für Kraftfahrzeuge
US4179644A (en) * 1978-01-10 1979-12-18 Skil Corporation Power tool switch including speed control
EP0048124A2 (fr) * 1980-09-12 1982-03-24 Skil Nederland B.V. Dispositif de commutateur de contrôle de vitesse
JPS60160916A (ja) 1984-01-31 1985-08-22 株式会社サンコ− マツト
JPS6222331A (ja) 1985-07-19 1987-01-30 株式会社マキタ 直流電動工具用スイツチ

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2211027B1 (de) * 1972-03-08 1973-07-26 Swf-Spezialfabrik Fuer Autozubehoer Gustav Rau Gmbh, 7120 Bietigheim Elektrischer Schalter mit mindestens einer Schiebekontaktanordnung, insbesondere für Kraftfahrzeuge
US4179644A (en) * 1978-01-10 1979-12-18 Skil Corporation Power tool switch including speed control
EP0048124A2 (fr) * 1980-09-12 1982-03-24 Skil Nederland B.V. Dispositif de commutateur de contrôle de vitesse
JPS60160916A (ja) 1984-01-31 1985-08-22 株式会社サンコ− マツト
JPS6222331A (ja) 1985-07-19 1987-01-30 株式会社マキタ 直流電動工具用スイツチ

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0468622A2 (fr) * 1990-07-27 1992-01-29 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Commutateur à résistance variable
EP0468622A3 (en) * 1990-07-27 1992-11-19 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Variable resistance switch
WO1995026589A1 (fr) * 1994-03-25 1995-10-05 Robert Bosch Gmbh Outil a main pourvu d'un potentiometre et procede d'ajustement dudit potentiometre
DE4443797A1 (de) * 1994-12-08 1996-06-13 Kaercher Gmbh & Co Alfred Handstück für ein Dampfreinigungsgerät
EP0957497A2 (fr) * 1998-05-12 1999-11-17 Eaton Corporation Interrupteur de commande d'un outil électrique à courant continu à vitesse variable
EP0957497A3 (fr) * 1998-05-12 2000-08-23 Eaton Corporation Interrupteur de commande d'un outil électrique à courant continu à vitesse variable
EP1482526A2 (fr) * 2003-05-28 2004-12-01 Satori S-Tech Co., Ltd. Interrupteur pour outil électrique.
EP1482526A3 (fr) * 2003-05-28 2006-05-03 Satori S-Tech Co., Ltd. Interrupteur pour outil électrique.
CN100346432C (zh) * 2003-05-28 2007-10-31 佐鸟控制科技有限公司 电动工具用开关
EP2214188A2 (fr) * 2009-01-28 2010-08-04 Satori S-Tech Co., Ltd. Déclencheur
EP2214188A3 (fr) * 2009-01-28 2010-10-20 Satori S-Tech Co., Ltd. Déclencheur
GB2473716A (en) * 2009-09-16 2011-03-23 Bosch Gmbh Robert Switch-circuit board unit with circuit board rigidly mounted to switch
GB2473716B (en) * 2009-09-16 2012-03-21 Bosch Gmbh Robert Hand-held power tool with switch-circuitboard unit
CN102956385A (zh) * 2011-08-12 2013-03-06 欧姆龙株式会社 开关

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3882007T2 (de) 1994-02-17
EP0313987B1 (fr) 1993-06-23
DE3882007D1 (de) 1993-07-29

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