EP0559922A1 - Snap action switch - Google Patents

Snap action switch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0559922A1
EP0559922A1 EP92103650A EP92103650A EP0559922A1 EP 0559922 A1 EP0559922 A1 EP 0559922A1 EP 92103650 A EP92103650 A EP 92103650A EP 92103650 A EP92103650 A EP 92103650A EP 0559922 A1 EP0559922 A1 EP 0559922A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
leaf spring
snap
switch according
housing
snap switch
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Withdrawn
Application number
EP92103650A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Wilhelm Tilse
Stefan Grosskopf
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.)
Inovan Stroebe KG
Inovan GmbH and Co KG Metalle und Bauelemente
Original Assignee
Inovan Stroebe KG
Inovan GmbH and Co KG Metalle und Bauelemente
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
Application filed by Inovan Stroebe KG, Inovan GmbH and Co KG Metalle und Bauelemente filed Critical Inovan Stroebe KG
Priority to EP92103650A priority Critical patent/EP0559922A1/en
Publication of EP0559922A1 publication Critical patent/EP0559922A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/26—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members
    • H01H13/48—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members using buckling of disc springs
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/26—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members
    • H01H13/36—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members using flexing of blade springs

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a snap switch housed in an insulating material housing, formed from a cantilevered leaf spring clamped on one side and carrying a contact piece at the free end, which suddenly jumps from a stable rest position into an unstable working position due to pressure on the curved section.
  • Such a snap switch with a transversely curved leaf spring is described for example in DE-PS 32 10 033. Switches of this type allow the switching on, off and switching over of relatively high currents due to the sudden switching that is independent of their actuation. Since the type of switching also means that there is little wear on the contacts and there is only extremely little mechanical wear and tear on the materials used, such snap switches also have a very long service life with a few million switching cycles.
  • snap-action switches of this type which, instead of a curved leaf spring, have a leaf spring which also carries a contact piece, from which two tongues are cut out and are arranged offset in height on a leaf spring carrier.
  • a leaf spring which also carries a contact piece, from which two tongues are cut out and are arranged offset in height on a leaf spring carrier.
  • the relatively difficult adjustment of the leaf spring or the actuators is perceived as a disadvantage, as is the generally difficult manufacture.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to provide a snap switch of this type which is free from these disadvantages and which therefore allows economical production with uncritical assembly of the individual switch components. This is achieved in the manner according to the invention in that the previously transversely or longitudinally curved portion of the leaf spring as a spherically shaped snap disk, which is supported approximately centrally on an abutment, and that the leaf spring is extended as an actuating spring beyond the contact piece.
  • this snap switch can now be built with the simplest means, the leaf spring according to the invention which can be attached to a contact pin leading out of the housing, this contact pin with one leg up to the snap disk, where it can form the abutment, and a mating contact to be attached to a further contact pin .
  • the leaf spring which is extended to an actuation spring, can either protrude through an opening in the housing or inside the housing be bent back into the area of an actuating pressure piece.
  • the actuation by means of the same leaf spring carrying the contact piece also has the advantage that a very large overlap is available for switching the contacts, so that the actuating elements which act on the leaf spring do not have to be resilient again.
  • the snap switch according to the invention has the same advantages as the previously known snap switches, but that it is significantly cheaper to manufacture and also allows unproblematic operation.
  • FIG. 1 shows the switch in the rest position and FIG. 2 in the actuated position.
  • a fixed contact pin (2) with a mating contact (3) is attached in an insulating material housing (1).
  • a leaf spring (5) which carries a contact piece (7) is riveted (6) to a further contact pin (4).
  • the leaf spring (5) is formed between its clamping by the rivet (6) and the contact piece (7) as a spherically shaped snap disk (8), which is supported approximately centrally on one leg (9) of the contact pin (4).
  • the leaf spring (5) is extended (10) beyond the contact piece (7) and, in this representation as an actuating spring, is bent back into the area of a pressure piece (11).
  • another contact pin (12) is visible, which carries a changeover contact (13).
  • the extension (10) or the actuation spring formed thereby is stretched until the snap disc (8) springs over and the contact piece (7) suddenly changes from its rest position on the counter contact (3) to the changeover contact ( 13) is performed.
  • the snap disk (8) bulges out slightly, but the snap disk effect is still retained, so that after the pressure piece (11) is released, the contact springs back into its rest position.

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  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Abstract

Snap-action switches have a very long life with several millions of switching operations and are thus used to an increasing extent. The, to some extent very large, number of moving parts which are arranged in such switches makes it harder to adjust them with respect to one another and greatly increases the cost of their production. A snap-action switch is specified which can be produced easily and in which the operating element is a snap-action disc (8) which interacts with an operating spring (10). <IMAGE>

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen in einem Isolierstoffgehäuse untergebrachten Schnappschalter, gebildet aus einer einseitig eingespannten, am freien Ende ein Kontaktstück tragenden, gewölbten Blattfeder, die durch Druck auf den gewölbten Abschnitt schlagartig von einer stabilen Ruhestellung in eine instabile Arbeitsstellung umspringt.The invention relates to a snap switch housed in an insulating material housing, formed from a cantilevered leaf spring clamped on one side and carrying a contact piece at the free end, which suddenly jumps from a stable rest position into an unstable working position due to pressure on the curved section.

Ein derartiger Schnappschalter mit einer quer gewölbten Blattfeder ist beispielsweise in der DE-PS 32 10 033 beschrieben. Schalter dieser Art lassen durch das von ihrer Betätigung unabhängige, schlagartige Schalten das Ein-, Aus- und Umschalten auch verhältnismäßig hoher Ströme zu. Da durch die Schaltart auch nur geringer Abbrand der Kontakte zu befürchten ist und auch nur eine äußerst geringe mechanische Abnutzung beziehungsweise Ermüdung der verwendeten Materialien stattfindet, weisen derartige Schnappschalter zudem eine sehr hohe Standzeit bei einigen Millionen Schaltspielen auf.Such a snap switch with a transversely curved leaf spring is described for example in DE-PS 32 10 033. Switches of this type allow the switching on, off and switching over of relatively high currents due to the sudden switching that is independent of their actuation. Since the type of switching also means that there is little wear on the contacts and there is only extremely little mechanical wear and tear on the materials used, such snap switches also have a very long service life with a few million switching cycles.

Weiter bekannt sind auch derartige Schnappschalter, die statt einer gewölbten Blattfeder eine ebenfalls ein Kontaktstück tragende Blattfeder aufweisen, von der zwei Zungen ausgeschnitten sind, die höhenmäßig versetzt an einem Blattfederträger angeordnet sind. Bei Druck auf die Blattfeder springt auch sie schlagartig von einer Ruhestellung in eine instabile Arbeitsstellung, wobei sich die Zungen jeweils geringfügig, in diesem Falle allerdings in Längsrichtung der Blattfeder, durchbiegen.Also known are snap-action switches of this type which, instead of a curved leaf spring, have a leaf spring which also carries a contact piece, from which two tongues are cut out and are arranged offset in height on a leaf spring carrier. When pressure is applied to the leaf spring, it also jumps suddenly from a rest position into an unstable working position, the tongues each bending slightly, in this case, however, in the longitudinal direction of the leaf spring.

Sowohl bei dieser, wie bei der erstgenannten Ausführung wird als Nachteil die verhältnismäßig schwierige Justage der Blattfeder beziehungsweise der Betätigungsorgane empfunden, wie auch die allgemein schwierige Herstellung. Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es daher, einen derartigen Schnappschalter anzugeben, der frei von diesen Nachteilen ist, der also eine wirtschaftliche Herstellung bei unkritischer Montage der einzelnen Schalter-Bestandteile zuläßt. Erreicht wird dies in erfindungsgemäßer Weise dadurch, daß der bisher quer oder längs gewölbte Abschnitt der Blattfeder als sphärisch geformte Schnappscheibe, die sich etwa zentrisch auf einem Widerlager abstützt, ausgebildet ist und daß die Blattfeder als Betätigungsfeder über das Kontaktstück hinaus verlängert ist.Both in this and in the first-mentioned embodiment, the relatively difficult adjustment of the leaf spring or the actuators is perceived as a disadvantage, as is the generally difficult manufacture. The object of the invention is therefore to provide a snap switch of this type which is free from these disadvantages and which therefore allows economical production with uncritical assembly of the individual switch components. This is achieved in the manner according to the invention in that the previously transversely or longitudinally curved portion of the leaf spring as a spherically shaped snap disk, which is supported approximately centrally on an abutment, and that the leaf spring is extended as an actuating spring beyond the contact piece.

Nicht mehr also wie bisher wird lediglich eine quer oder längs gewölbte Blattfeder eingesetzt, deren Justierung wie auch die Justierung der zugehörigen Betätigungsorgane sehr schwierig und zeitaufwendig ist oder werden Zungen aus der Blattfeder ausgeschnitten, die ebenfalls schwierig zu justieren sind, sondern es wird eine sphärische Schnappscheibe mit nichtlinearer Federkennlinie in die Blattfeder geformt, die in Zusammenarbeit mit der Federkraft der Betätigungsfeder die eine lineare Federkennlinie aufweist, ohne jegliche Justierarbeit stets wie gewünscht schlagartig umspringt und die Blattfeder und damit auch das Kontaktstück schlagartig betätigt. Durch diese erfinderische Gestaltung der Blattfeder werden also sämtliche bisher notwendigen, aufwendigen und zu Ausschuß führenden Justierarbeiten vermieden beziehungsweise wird es ermöglicht, den Schnappschalter nach der Erfindung deutlich wirtschaftlicher herzustellen. Tatsächlich kann dieser Schnappschalter nunmehr mit einfachsten Mitteln gebaut werden, der erfindungsgemäßen Blattfeder die an einem aus dem Gehäuse führenden Kontaktstift angebracht sein kann, wobei dieser Kontaktstift mit einem Schenkel bis zur Schnappscheibe, dort das Widerlager bildend führen kann sowie einem an einem weiterem Kontaktstift anzubringenden Gegenkontakt. Zur Betätigung kann die zu einer Betätigungsfeder weitergeführte Blattfeder entweder durch einen Durchbruch des Gehäuses ragen oder innerhalb des Gehäuses in den Bereich eines Betätigungsdruckstückes zurückgebogen sein. Die Betätigung mittels der gleichen, das Kontaktstück tragenden Blattfeder hat zudem den Vorteil, daß ein sehr großer Überweg für das Schalten der Kontakte zur Verfügung steht, daß also die Betätigungsorgane die an der Blattfeder angreifen nicht nochmals federnd sein müssen.No longer, as before, only a transversely or longitudinally arched leaf spring is used, the adjustment of which, as well as the adjustment of the associated actuators, is very difficult and time-consuming, or tongues are cut out of the leaf spring, which are also difficult to adjust, but it becomes a spherical snap disk formed with a non-linear spring characteristic in the leaf spring, which, in cooperation with the spring force of the actuating spring, has a linear spring characteristic, suddenly jumps around as desired without any adjustment work and actuates the leaf spring and thus the contact piece suddenly. This inventive design of the leaf spring thus avoids all the previously necessary, complex and rejecting adjustment work, or it enables the snap switch according to the invention to be manufactured significantly more economically. In fact, this snap switch can now be built with the simplest means, the leaf spring according to the invention which can be attached to a contact pin leading out of the housing, this contact pin with one leg up to the snap disk, where it can form the abutment, and a mating contact to be attached to a further contact pin . For actuation, the leaf spring, which is extended to an actuation spring, can either protrude through an opening in the housing or inside the housing be bent back into the area of an actuating pressure piece. The actuation by means of the same leaf spring carrying the contact piece also has the advantage that a very large overlap is available for switching the contacts, so that the actuating elements which act on the leaf spring do not have to be resilient again.

Zusammengefaßt kann gesagt werden, daß der Schnappschalter nach der Erfindung die gleichen Vorteile aufweist wie die bisher bekannten Schnappschalter, daß er jedoch deutlich preiswerter herzustellen ist und außerdem eine unproblematische Betätigung zuläßt.In summary, it can be said that the snap switch according to the invention has the same advantages as the previously known snap switches, but that it is significantly cheaper to manufacture and also allows unproblematic operation.

Auf den Zeichnungen sind Ausführungsbeispiele des Erfindungsgegenstandes schematisch dargestellt und zwar zeigen Fig. 1 den Schalter in Ruhestellung und Fig. 2 in betätigter Lage.In the drawings, exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are shown schematically, namely that FIG. 1 shows the switch in the rest position and FIG. 2 in the actuated position.

In einem Isolierstoffgehäuse (1) ist ein fester Kontaktstift (2) mit einem Gegenkontakt (3) angebracht. An einem weiteren Kontaktstift (4) ist eine Blattfeder (5) angenietet (6), die ein Kontaktstück (7) trägt. Die Blattfeder (5) ist zwischen ihrer Einspannung durch die Niete (6) und dem Kontaktstück (7) als sphärisch geformte Schnappscheibe (8) ausgebildet, die sich auf einem Schenkel (9) des Kontaktstiftes (4) etwa zentrisch abstützt. Die Blattfeder (5) ist über das Kontaktstück (7) hinaus verlängert (10) und bei dieser Darstellung als Betätigungsfeder in den Bereich eines Druckstückes (11) zurückgebogen. Ersichtlich ist bei dieser Darstellung noch ein weiterer Kontaktstift (12) der einen Umschaltkontakt (13) trägt.A fixed contact pin (2) with a mating contact (3) is attached in an insulating material housing (1). A leaf spring (5) which carries a contact piece (7) is riveted (6) to a further contact pin (4). The leaf spring (5) is formed between its clamping by the rivet (6) and the contact piece (7) as a spherically shaped snap disk (8), which is supported approximately centrally on one leg (9) of the contact pin (4). The leaf spring (5) is extended (10) beyond the contact piece (7) and, in this representation as an actuating spring, is bent back into the area of a pressure piece (11). In this illustration, another contact pin (12) is visible, which carries a changeover contact (13).

Durch Betätigen des Druckstückes (11) wird die Verlängerung (10) beziehungsweise die dadurch gebildete Betätigungsfeder so lange gespannt, bis die Schnappscheibe (8) umspringt und damit schlagartig das Kontaktstück (7) von seiner Ruhelage auf dem Gegenkontakt (3) auf den Umschaltkontakt (13) geführt wird. Hierbei beult sich, wie aus dieser Darstellung ersichtlich ist, die Schnappscheibe (8) geringfügig aus, jedoch bleibt der Schnappscheibeneffekt nach wie vor erhalten, sodaß nach Loslassen des Druckstückes (11) der Kontakt wieder in seine Ruhelage zurückspringt.By actuating the pressure piece (11), the extension (10) or the actuation spring formed thereby is stretched until the snap disc (8) springs over and the contact piece (7) suddenly changes from its rest position on the counter contact (3) to the changeover contact ( 13) is performed. Here, as can be seen from this illustration, the snap disk (8) bulges out slightly, but the snap disk effect is still retained, so that after the pressure piece (11) is released, the contact springs back into its rest position.

Bereits aus dieser Darstellung ist der einfache Aufbau des Schnappschalters nach der Erfindung ersichtlich, der als einzige bewegliche Teile lediglich das Druckstück (11) und die Blattfeder (5) mit der Schnappscheibe (8) vorsieht.Already from this illustration, the simple structure of the snap switch according to the invention can be seen, which only provides the pressure piece (11) and the leaf spring (5) with the snap disk (8) as the only moving parts.

Claims (5)

In einem Isolierstoffgehäuse untergebrachter Schnappschalter, gebildet aus einer einseitig eingespannten, am freien Ende ein Kontaktstück tragenden, gewölbten Blattfeder, die durch Druck auf den gewölbten Abschnitt schlagartig von einer stabilen Ruhestellung in eine instabile Arbeitsstellung umspringt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der gewölbte Abschnitt der Blattfeder als sphärisch geformte Schnappscheibe (8), die sich etwa zentrisch auf einem Widerlager (Schenkel 9) abstützt, ausgebildet ist und daß die Blattfeder (5) als Betätigungsfeder (10) über das Kontaktstück (7) hinaus verlängert ist.Snap-action switch housed in an insulating material housing, formed from a cambered leaf spring clamped on one side and carrying a contact piece at the free end, which suddenly changes from a stable rest position to an unstable working position due to pressure on the curved section,
characterized,
that the curved section of the leaf spring is designed as a spherically shaped snap disk (8), which is supported approximately centrally on an abutment (leg 9), and that the leaf spring (5) as an actuating spring (10) is extended beyond the contact piece (7) . Schnappschalter nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Einspannpunkt der Blattfeder (5) an einem, aus dem Gehäuse (1) hinausführenden Kontaktstift (4) angeordnet ist.Snap switch according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the clamping point of the leaf spring (5) is arranged on a contact pin (4) leading out of the housing (1). Schnappschalter nach Anspruch 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Kontaktstift einen sich entlang der Blattfeder (5) über deren Einspannpunkt (Niet 6) erstreckenden, das Widerlager bildenden Schenkel (9) aufweist.Snap switch according to claim 2,
characterized,
that the contact pin has a leg (9) extending along the leaf spring (5) over its clamping point (rivet 6) and forming the abutment. Schnappschalter nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Verlängerung (10) bis in den Bereich eines, das Gehäuse (1) durchquerenden Druckstücks (11) reicht.Snap switch according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the extension (10) extends into the area of a pressure piece (11) crossing the housing (1). Schnappschalter nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Verlängerung (10) zurückgebogen ist.Snap switch according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the extension (10) is bent back.
EP92103650A 1992-03-03 1992-03-03 Snap action switch Withdrawn EP0559922A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP92103650A EP0559922A1 (en) 1992-03-03 1992-03-03 Snap action switch

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP92103650A EP0559922A1 (en) 1992-03-03 1992-03-03 Snap action switch

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0559922A1 true EP0559922A1 (en) 1993-09-15

Family

ID=8209395

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92103650A Withdrawn EP0559922A1 (en) 1992-03-03 1992-03-03 Snap action switch

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0559922A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1440235A1 (en) * 1960-07-05 1968-10-17 Texas Instruments Inc Electric switch
US3548131A (en) * 1969-01-30 1970-12-15 Cutler Hammer Inc Snap switch with unitary insulating enclosure
DE2513011B2 (en) * 1975-03-25 1977-01-27 Danfoss A/S, Nordborg (Dänemark) ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCHES, IN PARTICULAR SMALL SWITCHES
DE3210033A1 (en) * 1982-03-19 1983-09-22 Eckerfeld, Erika, 5628 Heiligenhaus Microswitch

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1440235A1 (en) * 1960-07-05 1968-10-17 Texas Instruments Inc Electric switch
US3548131A (en) * 1969-01-30 1970-12-15 Cutler Hammer Inc Snap switch with unitary insulating enclosure
DE2513011B2 (en) * 1975-03-25 1977-01-27 Danfoss A/S, Nordborg (Dänemark) ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCHES, IN PARTICULAR SMALL SWITCHES
DE3210033A1 (en) * 1982-03-19 1983-09-22 Eckerfeld, Erika, 5628 Heiligenhaus Microswitch

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