EP0480131A1 - Tilt switch - Google Patents

Abstract

2.1 In known tilt switches, having a spherical contact element, in the past it was not ensured that, when contact is made by the sphere, approximately equal contact forces act on both contact parts. The object on which the invention is based is thus to specify a tilt switch in which the contact forces are distributed as evenly as possible onto the two contact parts. 2.2 This object is achieved in that the housing inner wall of the tilt switch is of conical shape. In this case, the cone angle ( gamma ) is intended to increase in the direction of the opening of the cone. In one advantageous embodiment, the housing (11, 16, 17) contains a first depression (12) having a cone angle ( gamma ) which merges into a second depression (13) having a cone angle ( delta ). 3. The drawing shows a side view of a tilt switch. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention is based on a tilt switch according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Such an inclination switch is known which operates essentially reliably, but in which the distribution of the contact forces exerted by the ball over the two contact points is not adequately taken into account for the inclination angle at which the inclination switch makes contact.

task

The invention has for its object to develop a tilt switch according to the preamble of claim 1 such that the contact is improved in the inclination range in which the contact is made, and that the contact force distribution in this area should be as even as possible at the two contact points.

solution

This object is achieved in a tilt switch according to the preamble of claim 1 by the features specified in the characterizing part of this claim. The advantage that can be achieved with the invention is, in particular, that the best possible contact pressure distribution can be achieved at the two contact points.

Description of the invention

Fig. 1

eine Schnittansicht eines Neigungsschalters in aufrechter Stellung,

Fig. 2

eine Schnittansicht des Neigungsschalters nach Fig. 1 in etwas gekippter Stellung,

Fig. 3

eine Schnittansicht des Neigungsschalters nach Fig. 1 in einer weiter gekippten Stellung und

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht eines anderen Neigungsschalters in aufrechter Stellung.

Two embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing using several figures and are explained in more detail below.
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Fig. 1

2 shows a sectional view of an inclination switch in an upright position,

Fig. 2

2 shows a sectional view of the tilt switch according to FIG. 1 in a somewhat tilted position,

Fig. 3

a sectional view of the tilt switch of FIG. 1 in a further tilted position and

Fig. 4

a sectional view of another tilt switch in the upright position.

1 to 3, 10 denotes an inclination switch with a housing-shaped first contact element 11 made of an electrically conductive material. The first contact element contains a first conical depression 12 with a cone angle δ, which merges into a second conical depression 13 with a smaller cone angle γ. A ball 14 made of electrically conductive material rests in the second conical depression 13 in the rest position of the tilt switch 10.

A ring 16 made of an electrically insulating material and adapted to the edge 15 on the upper side of the first contact element 11 establishes a mechanical connection between the first contact element 11 and a lid-shaped second contact element 17. The first contact element 11 has a first electrical connection 20 and the second contact element 17 has a second electrical connection 21.

The operation of the tilt switch 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is as follows.

In the rest position (FIG. 1), the ball 14 assumes a stable position in the second conical recess 13. An angle ε, which lies between the gravity axis S and the axis of symmetry of the tilt switch, is zero in the rest position according to FIG. 1 (ε = 0). If the inclination switch is moved out of its rest position according to FIG. 1 so far that the inclination angle ε slightly exceeds an angle α (α = 90 ° - γ / 2), the ball 14 begins to roll (FIG. 2). If the tilt switch 10 is then tilted even further (ε> α), the ball 14 rolls into a position in which it touches the two contact elements 11 and 17. The cone angle δ of the first conical depression 12 is γ + 2β, the angle β determining the distribution of the contact forces between the two contact points X, Y (FIG. 3). The larger the angle β is chosen, the greater the contact force exerted on the contact point X on the second contact element 17. The further the inclination switch 10 is then inclined, the more evenly are the contact forces exerted by the ball 14 on the two contact points X and Y.

A tilt switch 30 according to FIG. 4 has a similar structure to the tilt switch 10. In contrast to the tilt switch 10, the tilt switch 30 has a first housing-shaped contact part 31 which contains a rotationally symmetrical depression 32 in the form of a curve. Starting with an opening angle γ 'at the bottom end 33 of the recess 32, the opening angle of the recess increases upwards, so that there is an effect similar to that of the recesses 12 and 13 according to FIG. 1.

An advantageous application for the tilt switch is a so-called dead man's switch for radio devices to be held in the hand or worn on the body.

Claims (3)

Tilt switch having a housing and a movable therein, spherical contact element, which is located in the rest position in a recess of the housing and the rolling out of a certain inclination of the housing relative to the gravity axis of the recess and electrically connects two mutually electrically insulated housing fixed contact parts, characterized that the housing inner wall is tapered and that the cone angle (γ) is larger toward the opening of the cone. Tilt switch according to claim 1, characterized in that a first cone angle (γ) merges into a second, larger cone angle (δ). Tilt switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the contour of the housing inner wall is curved (Fig. 4).

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