EP0716437A1 - Tumbler switch with modular casing - Google Patents

Tumbler switch with modular casing Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0716437A1
EP0716437A1 EP95402738A EP95402738A EP0716437A1 EP 0716437 A1 EP0716437 A1 EP 0716437A1 EP 95402738 A EP95402738 A EP 95402738A EP 95402738 A EP95402738 A EP 95402738A EP 0716437 A1 EP0716437 A1 EP 0716437A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
slide
switch according
lever
rocker 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.)
Granted
Application number
EP95402738A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0716437B1 (en
Inventor
Larbi Hammoud
Nicolas Giron
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.)
Legrand SA
Legrand SNC
Original Assignee
Legrand SA
Legrand SNC
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 Legrand SA, Legrand SNC filed Critical Legrand SA
Publication of EP0716437A1 publication Critical patent/EP0716437A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0716437B1 publication Critical patent/EP0716437B1/en
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
    • H01H23/00—Tumbler or rocker switches, i.e. switches characterised by being operated by rocking an operating member in the form of a rocker button
    • H01H23/02—Details
    • H01H23/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H23/16—Driving mechanisms
    • H01H23/164—Driving mechanisms with rectilinearly movable member carrying the contacts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to modular electrical devices intended to be coupled, generally on a rail, to participate in the control of an electrical circuit, for example domestic distribution. It relates more particularly to rocker switches with modular housing.
  • the modular housings in question here are in particular those which, having a generally parallelepiped shape, have a small thickness.
  • the base of such a housing is generally shaped so that it can be mounted on a profile forming a rail.
  • the housing is then oriented so that its large lateral faces extend perpendicular to said rail.
  • several boxes can be installed joined by their large side faces on the same rail.
  • the front face of such a box generally comprises a nose carrying the control member of the electrical device that contains said box.
  • a modular box is generally small, and therefore the mechanism of the device it contains should be as compact as possible.
  • a rocker switch comprises, in a modular housing, at least one pair of connection terminals installed in respective housings located at the level of one and the other small side faces of the housing. Each of these terminals is connected by a respective connection to a fixed contact.
  • Each pair of fixed contacts is associated with a mobile contact suitable for connecting said fixed contacts, said mobile contact being carried by a slide moving in translation parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing, under the control of a pivoting lever.
  • a single slide carries all of the movable contacts of the switch.
  • Each pair of terminals forms, with the corresponding connections, fixed contacts and movable contact, a circuit extending parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing. If the switch contains several circuits, they are arranged next to each other according to the thickness of the housing.
  • the present invention relates to a device making it possible in particular to solve the problems which have just been mentioned.
  • the invention proposes a rocker switch containing, in a modular box of generally parallelepiped shape, one or more circuits extending parallel to the large lateral faces of the box, each of said circuits comprising two terminals, operating at the level of the one and the other small side faces of the housing, two corresponding fixed contacts and a movable contact adapted to connect the latter, all the movable contacts being carried by a slide, adapted to move in translation parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing, under the control of a pivoting lever acting at the front part of the housing, said switch being characterized in that said slide moves in translation in a direction inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
  • this arrangement of the slider makes it possible to couple the latter to the lever in a simple and effective manner.
  • the oblique movement of the slide makes it possible to give the latter a greater length, and, as a result, to separate the different pairs of fixed contacts from each other.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 the mechanism of a rocker switch constituting an embodiment of the present invention is enclosed in a modular housing 1.
  • such a modular housing is generally rectangular in shape, thin and wider than it is long.
  • the base of this housing is shaped so that it can be mounted on a profile forming a rail, and its front face has a nose 3 at the level of which a pivoting lever 4 for controlling the switch is installed. rocking.
  • the modular housing 1 comprises a hollow shell 2, advantageously molded and provided on its inner surface with moldings and recesses forming means for positioning and / or holding the switch mechanism.
  • a flange (not shown) is adapted to be assembled on said shell 2 in order to close the housing 1, said flange forming one of the large lateral faces of the latter.
  • this flange also includes moldings which complement those of the shell 2 to form means for positioning and / or holding the switch mechanism.
  • the housing 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is adapted to enclose two circuits extending parallel to the large side faces of the housing and arranged one next to the other depending on the thickness of the housing. In other words, one of these circuits extends against the large lateral side formed by the housing closing flange, and the other against the large opposite lateral side.
  • Each of these circuits extends between two terminals 20 and 21 operating in respective housings 10 located at the level of one and the other small side faces of the housing, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the housings 10 are delimited by partitions 11, coming from molding with the shell 2, and extending perpendicular to the large lateral faces of the housing 1.
  • Respective intermediate pieces 12 are adapted to be installed in the housings 10.
  • Each of these pieces includes, in addition to partitions extending perpendicular to the large side faces of the housing 1 and intended to complement those of the housing 10, a partition extending parallel to these large side faces, in a median plane.
  • the latter is adapted to isolate from one another the two terminals, participating respectively in one and the other circuit of the rocker switch, which are located on the same small lateral side of the housing 1. De this fact, we see, in FIGS. 1 and 2, only the terminals 20 and 21 corresponding to the circuit extending against the closing flange of the housing 1.
  • the terminals 20 and 21 can be any known terminals usually used for switches with modular housing. These are terminals comprising a fixed connection and a cage 22 adapted to slide longitudinally in the housing 10 under the control of a screw 23, in order to grip the stripped end of the corresponding connection wire between said connection and said cage.
  • the terminal 20 is shown in the open position, that is to say that its cage 22 is located opposite a corresponding opening 24 made in the housing 1.
  • the terminal 21 is shown in the maximum clamped position, its cage 22 being offset relative to the corresponding opening 25. When they are both in the same position, these terminals are of course located opposite one another.
  • terminals of the circuit extending against the closing flange of the housing 1 are offset longitudinally relative to those of the other circuit, the latter being closer to the front part of the housing. More precisely, the cage 22 of each of the latter, when they are in the open position, is located substantially at that of the corresponding terminal of the other circuit when the latter is in the maximum clamped position.
  • each terminal is associated with a connection. This one, crossing the cage 22 of the terminal, connects the latter to a corresponding fixed contact.
  • Each of these connections is made up of a metal strip bent several times and fixedly mounted in the housing 1.
  • One end of this metal strip, passing through the cage 22 of the corresponding terminal, is adapted to be in contact with the stripped end of an electric wire clamped between said connection and the lower part of said cage 22.
  • these connections engaged by one of their ends with respective grooves formed on the small side faces of the housing 1, are furthermore held fixed in the latter by holding means , formed in the moldings of the shell 2 and of the closure flange of the housing 1, as well as in the intermediate parts 12, said holding means acting in different places along the length of said connections.
  • connection 30, corresponding to terminal 20 of the circuit which extends against the large lateral face of the shell 2 is bent five times, without counting a small portion of end bent in S
  • a first and a second part being in the housing 10 and, therefore, invisible in the figures, extend one, along the width of the housing 1, towards the interior of the latter, and the other , longitudinally, towards the front part of said housing, the first passing through the cage 22 of the terminal.
  • a third part 30A again extends along the width of the housing, towards the interior of the latter. It is extended by a part 30B inclined towards the front part of said housing, then by a part 30C extending like part 30A.
  • a part 30D is inclined towards the rear part of the housing 1.
  • the latter carries on its face turned towards the rear of the housing a pad 30E forming a fixed contact of this connection 30.
  • a first and a second part, being in the housing 10 extend one, along the width of the housing 1, towards the interior of the latter and the other, longitudinally, towards the front part of said housing.
  • a third part 31A extends like the first part.
  • the following parts 31B and 31C, still extending towards the inside of the housing 1, are inclined, the first towards the front part, and the second towards the rear part of the latter.
  • Part 31B extends substantially parallel to part 30B of connection 30.
  • Part 31C is aligned with part 30D of this connection 30.
  • the side facing the rear part of the housing of part 31C of this connection carries a pad 31D forming fixed contact of the latter.
  • connection 32 corresponding to terminal 20 of the circuit which extends against the closing flange of the housing 1, is bent four times, without counting a small portion of bent end in S.
  • a first part of this connection extends along the width of the housing, through the cage 22 of the terminal. It is extended by a part 32A extending longitudinally towards the front part of the housing 1, in the corresponding housing 10. Leaving the housing 10, a following part 32B extends along the width of the housing 1 towards the interior of the latter. Finally, still extending in the same general direction, the parts 32C and 32D are inclined, one towards the front part of the housing and the other towards its rear part, substantially parallel to the parts 31B and 31C respectively of the connection 31.
  • the face of the connection 32 facing the rear part of the housing 1 carries a pad 32E forming the corresponding fixed contact.
  • connection 33 corresponding to terminal 21 of the circuit, which extends against the closure flange of the housing 1 is bent once, without counting a small portion of bent end in S.
  • a long first part 33A extends along the width of the housing 1 towards the interior of the latter. It is extended by a part 33B which, while extending in the same direction, is inclined towards the front part of the housing 1. This part 33B is in alignment with the part 32D of the connection 32.
  • connection 33 facing the rear part of the housing 1 carries a pad 33C forming corresponding fixed contact.
  • connection 31 is particularly true if we compare the connection 31 to the connection 33. While the first occurs in a front part of the housing 1, the second generally remains in a rear part of the latter. This is due in particular to the fact that the connection 31 has, inside the housing insulating the corresponding terminal, a portion extending longitudinally towards the front part of the housing 1. On the other hand, the connection 33 does not have, in the housing of the corresponding terminal, a portion extending along the width of the housing 1. Thus, at the outlet of the housing 10, the connections 31 and 33 are greatly offset longitudinally.
  • connections 30 and 32 if they remain relatively close at the level of the parts 32B and 32C of the connection 32, they are then much more distant due to the greater length of the part 30B of the connection 30 relative to that of part 32C of connection 32, to which is added the presence of part 30C of connection 30 which further increases the distance between these connections.
  • connection 30 and 32 it then becomes very simple, if desired, to isolate these connections 30 and 32 at the place where they are closest, that is to say between the parts 30A and 30B of the connection 30 and the parts 32B and 32C of the connection 32.
  • a molding such as the molding 15 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which serves to maintain these connections, can moreover take the place of insulation between the said connections.
  • Each pair of fixed contacts, 30E and 31D on the one hand and 32E and 33C on the other, is associated with a movable contact, respectively 34 and 35, adapted to connect said fixed contacts.
  • Such a movable contact is constituted by a metal strip, of the same section as that of the metal strips forming the connections, and adapted to constitute a bridge between fixed contacts.
  • This blade is provided for this, at each of its ends, pellets adapted to come into contact with the pellets forming fixed contacts.
  • the movable contacts 34 and 35 of the two circuits of the switch are carried by the same slide 40 moving in translation parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing.
  • the slide 40 has a generally parallelepiped shape hollowed out symmetrically on its upper part and on its lower part.
  • the recess on the upper part of the slide 40 shows two longitudinal walls 41 and 42, between which are delimited two compartments 43 and 44, open upwards, and separated one on the other by a transverse partition 45. These two compartments are of substantially equal size.
  • the compartment 44 is closed longitudinally by a transverse wall 46.
  • the recess on the lower part of the slide 40 shows two longitudinal walls 51 and 52, between which two compartments 53 and 54 are delimited, open at the top, and separated by the one from the other by a transverse partition 55. These compartments are of substantially equal size.
  • the compartment 54 is closed longitudinally by a transverse wall 56.
  • the compartments 44 and 54 are provided with side windows, respectively 47 and 57, by means of which the movable contacts 35 and 34 can be installed transversely in, respectively, one and the other of these compartments, projecting laterally on either side of the slide 40, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • a spring 48 intervenes between the wall 46 and the movable contact 35 so as to urge the latter towards the front of the compartment 44, against the edges of the windows 47 closest to the partition 45.
  • the movable contact 35 As for the movable contact 35, two notches 36 are formed on the movable contact 34. This movable contact is therefore also slidably mounted longitudinally on the slide 40, engaged by its notches 36 with the portions of the walls 51 and 52 forming upper limits windows 57.
  • a spring 58 intervenes between the partition 55 and the movable contact 34 so as to urge the latter towards the front of the compartment 54, against the edges of the windows 57 closest to the wall 56.
  • the two movable contacts 34 and 35 are therefore offset longitudinally by a length corresponding substantially to half that of the slide 40 and to one third that of the housing 1, nose 3 excluded.
  • the slider 40 moves in translation in a direction inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. In the example shown, this inclination is 45 °.
  • the slide extends substantially parallel to the direction in which the part 30B of the connection 30 extends, the part 31B of the connection 31 and the part 32C of the connection 32, and substantially perpendicular to the direction in which extend part 30D of connection 30, part 31C of connection 31, part 32D of connection 32 and part 33B of connection 33.
  • This slide is guided in translation in the housing 1 by moldings 60 forming sliding rails.
  • Two of these sliding rails 60 which can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, formed on the shell 2 of the housing, are adapted to penetrate into the compartment 53 of the slide 40, their spacing corresponding to the width of this compartment.
  • Two other sliding rails, not shown, formed on the closing flange of the housing 1, are adapted to penetrate into the compartment 43 of the slide 40, their spacing also corresponding to the width of this compartment.
  • two grooves 61 are formed in the shell 2 of the housing 1, in the extension of the rails 60, said grooves being adapted to receive lugs 80 extending the ends of the walls 51 and 52 of the slide 40.
  • the slide 40 struggles between two extreme positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively.
  • the rear end of the slide 40 is located near the rear face of the housing 1 and almost touches a wall of the terminal housing 20.
  • the front end of this slide is located substantially at the vertical of the pivot axis of the lever 4.
  • the movable contacts are distant from the corresponding fixed contacts by a distance corresponding substantially to a quarter of the length of the housing, nose 3 excluded.
  • the front end of the slide 40 is located substantially at the limit between the body and the nose 3 of the housing 1.
  • the movable contacts 34 and 35 touch the corresponding fixed contacts, the springs 58 and 48 ensuring a certain contact pressure.
  • the slide 40 moves in translation under the control of the pivoting lever 4.
  • this slide is extended on its front part by a flange 70, extending parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing 1. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, this flange 70 intervenes substantially at mid-height of the compartment 43 of the slide 40, which means that it is located in the part of the housing reserved for the circuit extending against the closing flange of the housing 1.
  • the flange 70 has a triangular shape and carries at the level of a free vertex a stud 71 extending perpendicular to said flange, in the direction of the flange closing the housing 1.
  • this pin 71 is offset transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the slide 40, so as to be in the longitudinal axis of the housing 1 when said slide is in the open position shown in Figure 1.
  • the slide 40 is directly engaged, by its pin 71 with an oblong housing 72, open at one of its ends, and which extends radially of the lever 4.
  • the oblong housing 72 advantageously comes from molding with the lever 4.
  • the oblong housing 72 extends in the longitudinal axis of the housing 1. As can be seen in FIG. 1, this position corresponds to an extreme position of the joystick 4.
  • the oblong housing 72 extends along the width of the housing 1, as seen in FIG. 2 .
  • an elastic means cooperates with the lever 4 in order to make it a bistable system whose stability positions correspond to the open and closed positions of the slide 40.
  • this elastic means comprises, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hollow housing 73, of generally parallelepiped shape. Inside this housing 73 there is a housing 74 open from the side facing the lateral face of the shell 2.
  • a light whose end is circular in shape is formed on the face of this housing facing the closing flange of the housing 1. This light opens at the end of this face and then extends on the small rear face, corresponding to this end, of the housing 73.
  • a finger 75 is engaged with the circular end of this light, this finger 75 coming from molding on the large lateral face of the housing 1, with respect to which it extends perpendicularly.
  • the finger 75 is housed in the circular end of the light with a certain clearance.
  • the housing 73 is generally pivotable around the finger 75, with, in addition, by compared to the latter, a limited displacement allowed in a plane parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing 1.
  • the housing 73 extends entirely in the part of the housing 1 reserved for the circuit extending against the large lateral face of the shell 2 of the housing 1. In this way, it can pass under the flange 70 of the slide 40 which s extends into the other half of the case, as seen in Figure 2.
  • a spring 76 is installed in the housing 74, one of its ends bearing against the front face of the housing 73, the other bearing against the finger 75 which passes through the rear end of the housing 74.
  • this flange 77 From the front face of the housing 73 leaves a flange 77 extending parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing 1. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, this flange 77 has a triangular shape and carries at the level of a free vertex a stud extending perpendicular to said flange, on either side of the latter.
  • This stud is engaged with an oblong housing, open at one of its ends, and which extends radially from the lever 4.
  • This housing advantageously coming from molding with the lever, has in practice the same shape as the housing oblong 72 under which it is located.
  • the position for which the stud of the flange 77 is in the plane common to the pivot axis of the lever 4 and to the finger 75 corresponds substantially to the intermediate position of the lever between its extreme positions.
  • This position is the unstable equilibrium position of the lever, the stable equilibrium positions being the extreme positions of said lever.
  • the elastic means formed by the housing 73 and the spring 76 tends to urge the handle 4 either towards one or towards the other of its extreme positions, depending on whether said handle is on one side or the other from its unstable equilibrium position.
  • the inclined stroke of the slide 40 makes it much more effective to control it by a pivoting lever. Indeed, the amplitude of the displacement of the oblong housing 72 is transmitted optimally to the slide 40, without it being necessary to have rods or the like between the lever and the slide. This is due in particular to the fact that the displacement of this slider takes place parallel to the rope connecting the two extreme positions of the oblong housing 72 forming the anchoring location of said slider on the lever 4.
  • a 90 ° movement of the lever 4 allows the slide 40 to travel a distance slightly greater than a quarter of the total length of this housing, and a third of this nose length 3 excluded.
  • the switch which has just been described is a bipolar switch making it possible to close and open two circuits simultaneously.
  • the present invention can be applied to other types of switches.
  • the slider will only carry one movable contact, while in the second case, it will carry as many movable contacts as there are circuits.
  • the invention can also be applied to a bipolar switch of the reciprocating type, that is to say adapted to open a circuit when the other is closed and vice versa. You just have to modify the connection path of one of the circuits.
  • the circuit extending against the large lateral face of the shell 2 being unchanged, the geometries of the connections 32 and 33 of the other circuit are modified by so that the fixed contacts are located substantially at the level of the movable contact 35 when the slide 40 is in the open position of FIG. 1.
  • the pads materializing these fixed contacts are no longer turned backwards but forwards of the housing 1.
  • the corresponding pads of the movable contact they are, of course, facing the rear of the housing.
  • the spring 48 acting between the slide 40 and the movable contact no longer bears on the wall 46 but on the partition 45 urging said movable contact towards the rear of the housing 44.
  • this movable contact is in abutment against the corresponding fixed contacts while the other is in the open position and vice versa.
  • the longitudinal axis of the housing is assumed to be an axis which, as indicated, is perpendicular to the rear and front faces of the housing, which are considered to be generally parallel to each other, the rear face being that by which the housing can be attached to a support, in this case a profile forming a rail, and the front face that on which intervenes the lever available to the user.
  • the longitudinal axis of the housing is therefore orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the lever, passing for example through the middle zone of the latter.

Abstract

The rocker switch is housed in the modular box (1) which is moulded and has enclosed wire connectors (20,21) at each end. There is a central sliding section (40) inclined at an angle to the box wall. The slider has moving contacts (34,35). There are fixed contacts (30E,31D), making contact with the sliding contacts. A manual switch (4) is housed in the top of the modular unit, and attached to the sliding unit by a block (7), to move the slider up and down and make contact.

Description

La présente invention concerne les appareils électriques modulaires destinés à être accouplés, généralement sur un rail, pour participer à la commande d'un circuit électrique, par exemple de distribution domestique. Elle vise plus particulièrement les interrupteurs à bascule à boîtier modulaire.The present invention relates to modular electrical devices intended to be coupled, generally on a rail, to participate in the control of an electrical circuit, for example domestic distribution. It relates more particularly to rocker switches with modular housing.

Les boîtiers modulaires dont il est question ici sont notamment ceux qui, de forme globalement parallélépipédique, ont une faible épaisseur.The modular housings in question here are in particular those which, having a generally parallelepiped shape, have a small thickness.

La base d'un tel boîtier est généralement conformée de manière à pouvoir être montée sur un profilé formant rail. Le boîtier est alors orienté de telle sorte que ses grandes faces latérales s'étendent perpendiculairement audit rail. Ainsi, plusieurs boîtiers peuvent être installés accolés par leurs grandes faces latérales sur un même rail.The base of such a housing is generally shaped so that it can be mounted on a profile forming a rail. The housing is then oriented so that its large lateral faces extend perpendicular to said rail. Thus, several boxes can be installed joined by their large side faces on the same rail.

La face frontale d'un tel boîtier comporte généralement un nez portant l'organe de commande de l'appareil électrique que renferme ledit boîtier.The front face of such a box generally comprises a nose carrying the control member of the electrical device that contains said box.

Un boîtier modulaire est généralement de petite taille et, par conséquent, le mécanisme de l'appareil qu'il renferme doit être le plus compact possible.A modular box is generally small, and therefore the mechanism of the device it contains should be as compact as possible.

Un interrupteur à bascule comprend, dans un boîtier modulaire, au moins une paire de bornes de raccordement installées dans des logements respectifs se trouvant au niveau de l'une et l'autre petites faces latérales du boîtier. Chacune de ces bornes est reliée par une connexion respective à un contact fixe.A rocker switch comprises, in a modular housing, at least one pair of connection terminals installed in respective housings located at the level of one and the other small side faces of the housing. Each of these terminals is connected by a respective connection to a fixed contact.

A chaque paire de contacts fixes est associé un contact mobile adapté à relier lesdits contacts fixes, ledit contact mobile étant porté par un coulisseau se déplaçant en translation parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier, sous la commande d'une manette pivotante. Généralement, un seul coulisseau porte l'ensemble des contacts mobiles de l'interrupteur.Each pair of fixed contacts is associated with a mobile contact suitable for connecting said fixed contacts, said mobile contact being carried by a slide moving in translation parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing, under the control of a pivoting lever. Generally, a single slide carries all of the movable contacts of the switch.

Chaque paire de bornes forme, avec les connexions, les contacts fixes et le contact mobile correspondants, un circuit s'étendant parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier. Si l'interrupteur contient plusieurs circuits, ils sont disposés les uns à côté des autres suivant l'épaisseur du boîtier.Each pair of terminals forms, with the corresponding connections, fixed contacts and movable contact, a circuit extending parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing. If the switch contains several circuits, they are arranged next to each other according to the thickness of the housing.

Dans les interrupteurs connus à l'heure actuelle, par exemple ceux divulgués par les demandes de brevets DE 28 46 213, EP 576 259 ou EP 278 850, le coulisseau se déplace en translation selon l'axe longitudinal du boîtier, c'est-à-dire perpendiculairement à la face arrière de ce dernier.In switches known at present, for example those disclosed by patent applications DE 28 46 213, EP 576 259 or EP 278 850, the slide moves in translation along the longitudinal axis of the housing, that is to say ie perpendicular to the rear face of the latter.

Dans ces conditions, la liaison entre la manette pivotante et le coulisseau pose problème. Soit, comme dans DE 28 46 213, elle se fait par une biellette, ce qui oblige à disposer une pièce supplémentaire, soit, comme dans EP 576 259, elle se fait par le biais d'une surface de came, au détriment du déplacement du coulisseau par rapport à l'effort exercé sur la manette, soit, enfin, elle se fait, comme dans EP 278 850, par décalage latéral de la manette de commande par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du boîtier, alors qu'un tel décalage ne respecte pas la forme habituelle des boîtiers modulaires.Under these conditions, the connection between the pivoting lever and the slide poses a problem. Either, as in DE 28 46 213, it is done by a link, which requires an additional part, or, as in EP 576 259, it is done through a cam surface, to the detriment of displacement of the slide with respect to the force exerted on the handle, that is to say, finally, it is done, as in EP 278 850, by lateral offset of the control handle relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing, while such offset does not respect the usual form of modular housings.

En outre, lorsque la longueur du boîtier est faible, ce qui, on l'a dit, est souvent le cas pour les boîtiers modulaires, la course du coulisseau est insuffisante pour assurer une bonne distance de coupure entre les contacts fixes et le contact mobile.In addition, when the length of the housing is small, which, as we have said, is often the case for modular housings, the slide stroke is insufficient to ensure a good breaking distance between the fixed contacts and the movable contact .

La présente invention vise un dispositif permettant notamment de résoudre les problèmes qui viennent d'être évoqués.The present invention relates to a device making it possible in particular to solve the problems which have just been mentioned.

A cet effet, l'invention propose un interrupteur à bascule renfermant, dans un boîtier modulaire de forme globalement parallélépipédique, un ou plusieurs circuits s'étendant parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier, chacun desdits circuits comprenant deux bornes, intervenant au niveau de l'une et l'autre petites faces latérales du boîtier, deux contacts fixes correspondants et un contact mobile adapté à relier ces derniers, tous les contacts mobiles étant portés par un coulisseau, adapté à se déplacer en translation parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier, sous la commande d'une manette pivotante intervenant au niveau de la partie frontale du boîtier, ledit interrupteur étant caractérisé en ce que ledit coulisseau se déplace en translation selon une direction inclinée par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du boîtier.To this end, the invention proposes a rocker switch containing, in a modular box of generally parallelepiped shape, one or more circuits extending parallel to the large lateral faces of the box, each of said circuits comprising two terminals, operating at the level of the one and the other small side faces of the housing, two corresponding fixed contacts and a movable contact adapted to connect the latter, all the movable contacts being carried by a slide, adapted to move in translation parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing, under the control of a pivoting lever acting at the front part of the housing, said switch being characterized in that said slide moves in translation in a direction inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Ainsi qu'on le comprendra mieux avec l'exemple de réalisation qui va être décrit, cette disposition du coulisseau permet d'atteler ce dernier à la manette de manière simple et efficace.As will be better understood with the embodiment which will be described, this arrangement of the slider makes it possible to couple the latter to the lever in a simple and effective manner.

En outre, le coulisseau se débattant obliquement dans le boîtier et non plus selon la longueur de ce dernier, sa course peut être beaucoup plus importante. Ainsi, la distance de coupure entre chaque paire de contacts fixes et le contact mobile correspondant peut être sensiblement accrue.In addition, the slider struggling obliquely in the housing and no longer along the length of the latter, its stroke can be much greater. Thus, the cut-off distance between each pair of fixed contacts and the corresponding movable contact can be significantly increased.

De façon similaire, le débattement oblique du coulisseau permet de donner une longueur plus importante à ce dernier, et, de ce fait, d'éloigner les différentes paires de contacts fixes les unes des autres.Similarly, the oblique movement of the slide makes it possible to give the latter a greater length, and, as a result, to separate the different pairs of fixed contacts from each other.

Les caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention ressortiront d'ailleurs de la description qui va suivre, en référence aux dessins annexés parmi lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en plan d'un interrupteur selon la présente invention, un flasque formant capot de boîtier ayant été retiré, et ledit interrupteur se trouvant en position ouverte ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1, ledit interrupteur se trouvant en position fermée ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée montrant des éléments du mécanisme de l'interrupteur selon la présente invention, et notamment son coulisseau ;
  • la figure 4 est une vue du coulisseau de la figure 3 dans une autre perspective.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, among which:
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch according to the present invention, a flange forming a housing cover having been removed, and said switch being in the open position;
  • Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, said switch being in the closed position;
  • Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing elements of the switch mechanism according to the present invention, and in particular its slide;
  • Figure 4 is a view of the slide of Figure 3 from another perspective.

Comme on le voit bien sur les figures 1 et 2, le mécanisme d'un interrupteur à bascule constituant une forme de réalisation de la présente invention est renfermé dans un boîtier modulaire 1.As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mechanism of a rocker switch constituting an embodiment of the present invention is enclosed in a modular housing 1.

Comme il est bien connu, un tel boîtier modulaire est de forme globalement parallélépipédique, de faible épaisseur et plus large que long.As is well known, such a modular housing is generally rectangular in shape, thin and wider than it is long.

De manière également connue en soi, la base de ce boîtier est conformée de manière à pouvoir être montée sur un profilé formant rail, et sa face frontale comporte un nez 3 au niveau duquel est installée une manette pivotante 4 de commande de l'interrupteur à bascule.In a manner also known per se, the base of this housing is shaped so that it can be mounted on a profile forming a rail, and its front face has a nose 3 at the level of which a pivoting lever 4 for controlling the switch is installed. rocking.

Toujours de manière connue, le boîtier modulaire 1 comprend une coque creuse 2, avantageusement moulée et pourvue sur sa surface intérieure de moulures et d'évidements formant moyens de positionnement et/ou de maintien du mécanisme de l'interrupteur.Still in known manner, the modular housing 1 comprises a hollow shell 2, advantageously molded and provided on its inner surface with moldings and recesses forming means for positioning and / or holding the switch mechanism.

Un flasque (non représenté) est adapté à être assemblé sur ladite coque 2 afin de clore le boîtier 1, ledit flasque formant l'une des grandes faces latérales de ce dernier. Avantageusement, ce flasque comporte également des moulures qui complètent celles de la coque 2 pour former des moyens de positionnement et/ou de maintien du mécanisme de l'interrupteur.A flange (not shown) is adapted to be assembled on said shell 2 in order to close the housing 1, said flange forming one of the large lateral faces of the latter. Advantageously, this flange also includes moldings which complement those of the shell 2 to form means for positioning and / or holding the switch mechanism.

Le boîtier 1 représenté sur les figures 1 et 2 est adapté à renfermer deux circuits s'étendant parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier et disposés l'un à côté de l'autre suivant l'épaisseur du boîtier. Autrement dit, l'un de ces circuits s'étend contre le grand côté latéral formé par le flasque de fermeture du boîtier, et l'autre contre le grand côté latéral opposé.The housing 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is adapted to enclose two circuits extending parallel to the large side faces of the housing and arranged one next to the other depending on the thickness of the housing. In other words, one of these circuits extends against the large lateral side formed by the housing closing flange, and the other against the large opposite lateral side.

Chacun de ces circuits s'étend entre deux bornes 20 et 21 intervenant dans des logements respectifs 10 se trouvant au niveau de l'une et l'autre petites faces latérales du boîtier, comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2.Each of these circuits extends between two terminals 20 and 21 operating in respective housings 10 located at the level of one and the other small side faces of the housing, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Les logements 10 sont délimités par des cloisons 11, venant de moulage avec la coque 2, et s'étendant perpendiculairement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier 1.The housings 10 are delimited by partitions 11, coming from molding with the shell 2, and extending perpendicular to the large lateral faces of the housing 1.

Des pièces intermédiaires 12 respectives sont adaptées à être installées dans les logements 10. Chacune de ces pièces, comprend, outre des cloisons s'étendant perpendiculairement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier 1 et destinées à compléter celles du logement 10, une cloison s'étendant parallèlement à ces grandes faces latérales, dans un plan médian. Cette dernière est adaptée à isoler l'une de l'autre les deux bornes, participant respectivement à l'un et l'autre circuit de l'interrupteur à bascule, qui se trouvent d'un même petit côté latéral du boîtier 1. De ce fait, on ne voit, sur les figures 1 et 2, que les bornes 20 et 21 correspondant au circuit s'étendant contre le flasque de fermeture du boîtier 1.Respective intermediate pieces 12 are adapted to be installed in the housings 10. Each of these pieces includes, in addition to partitions extending perpendicular to the large side faces of the housing 1 and intended to complement those of the housing 10, a partition extending parallel to these large side faces, in a median plane. The latter is adapted to isolate from one another the two terminals, participating respectively in one and the other circuit of the rocker switch, which are located on the same small lateral side of the housing 1. De this fact, we see, in FIGS. 1 and 2, only the terminals 20 and 21 corresponding to the circuit extending against the closing flange of the housing 1.

Les bornes 20 et 21 peuvent être toutes bornes connues habituellement utilisées pour des interrupteurs à boîtier modulaire. Il s'agit ici de bornes comportant une connexion fixe et une cage 22 adaptée à coulisser longitudinalement dans le logement 10 sous la commande d'une vis 23, afin d'enserrer l'extrémité dénudée du fil de raccordement correspondant entre ladite connexion et ladite cage.The terminals 20 and 21 can be any known terminals usually used for switches with modular housing. These are terminals comprising a fixed connection and a cage 22 adapted to slide longitudinally in the housing 10 under the control of a screw 23, in order to grip the stripped end of the corresponding connection wire between said connection and said cage.

Dans les figures 1 et 2, la borne 20 est représentée en position ouverte, c'est-à-dire que sa cage 22 se trouve en regard d'une ouverture 24 correspondante ménagée dans le boîtier 1. Au contraire, la borne 21 est représentée en position serrée maximum, sa cage 22 se trouvant décalée par rapport à l'ouverture 25 correspondante. Lorsqu'elles sont toutes deux en même position, ces bornes se trouvent bien entendu l'une en regard de l'autre.In FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal 20 is shown in the open position, that is to say that its cage 22 is located opposite a corresponding opening 24 made in the housing 1. On the contrary, the terminal 21 is shown in the maximum clamped position, its cage 22 being offset relative to the corresponding opening 25. When they are both in the same position, these terminals are of course located opposite one another.

Il convient de noter que les bornes du circuit s'étendant contre le flasque de fermeture du boîtier 1 sont décalées longitudinalement par rapport à celles de l'autre circuit, ces dernières se trouvant plus proches de la partie frontale du boîtier. Plus précisément, la cage 22 de chacune de ces dernières, lorsqu'elles sont en position ouverte, se trouve sensiblement au niveau de celle de la borne correspondante de l'autre circuit lorsque cette dernière est en position serrée maximum.It should be noted that the terminals of the circuit extending against the closing flange of the housing 1 are offset longitudinally relative to those of the other circuit, the latter being closer to the front part of the housing. More precisely, the cage 22 of each of the latter, when they are in the open position, is located substantially at that of the corresponding terminal of the other circuit when the latter is in the maximum clamped position.

Comme on l'a dit précédemment, à chaque borne est associée une connexion. Celle ci, traversant la cage 22 de la borne, relie cette dernière à un contact fixe correspondant.As mentioned above, each terminal is associated with a connection. This one, crossing the cage 22 of the terminal, connects the latter to a corresponding fixed contact.

Chacune de ces connexions est constituée par une bande métallique plusieurs fois coudée et montée fixe dans le boîtier 1.Each of these connections is made up of a metal strip bent several times and fixedly mounted in the housing 1.

Une extrémité de cette bande métallique, traversant la cage 22 de la borne correspondante, est adaptée à être en contact avec l'extrémité dénudée d'un fil électrique serré entre ladite connexion et la partie inférieure de ladite cage 22.One end of this metal strip, passing through the cage 22 of the corresponding terminal, is adapted to be in contact with the stripped end of an electric wire clamped between said connection and the lower part of said cage 22.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2, ces connexions, en prise par l'une de leurs extrémités avec des rainures respectives ménagées sur les petites faces latérales du boîtier 1, sont en outre maintenues fixes dans ce dernier par des moyens de maintien, ménagés dans les moulures de la coque 2 et du flasque de fermeture du boîtier 1, ainsi que dans les pièces intermédiaires 12, lesdits moyens de maintien intervenant en différents endroits sur la longueur desdites connexions.As seen in Figures 1 and 2, these connections, engaged by one of their ends with respective grooves formed on the small side faces of the housing 1, are furthermore held fixed in the latter by holding means , formed in the moldings of the shell 2 and of the closure flange of the housing 1, as well as in the intermediate parts 12, said holding means acting in different places along the length of said connections.

Comme on le voit sur la figure 1, une connexion 30, correspondant à la borne 20 du circuit qui s'étend contre la grande face latérale de la coque 2, est coudée cinq fois, sans compter une petite portion d'extrémité coudée en S. Une première et une seconde parties, se trouvant dans le logement 10 et, par conséquent, invisibles sur les figures, s'étendent l'une, suivant la largeur du boîtier 1, vers l'intérieur de ce dernier, et l'autre, longitudinalement, vers la partie frontale dudit boîtier, la première traversant la cage 22 de la borne. Une troisième partie 30A s'étend à nouveau suivant la largeur du boîtier, vers l'intérieur de ce dernier. Elle est prolongée par une partie 30B inclinée vers la partie frontale dudit boîtier, puis par une partie 30C s'étendant comme la partie 30A. Enfin une partie 30D est inclinée vers la partie arrière du boîtier 1. Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 3, cette dernière porte sur sa face tournée vers l'arrière du boîtier une pastille 30E formant contact fixe de cette connexion 30.As can be seen in FIG. 1, a connection 30, corresponding to terminal 20 of the circuit which extends against the large lateral face of the shell 2, is bent five times, without counting a small portion of end bent in S A first and a second part, being in the housing 10 and, therefore, invisible in the figures, extend one, along the width of the housing 1, towards the interior of the latter, and the other , longitudinally, towards the front part of said housing, the first passing through the cage 22 of the terminal. A third part 30A again extends along the width of the housing, towards the interior of the latter. It is extended by a part 30B inclined towards the front part of said housing, then by a part 30C extending like part 30A. Finally, a part 30D is inclined towards the rear part of the housing 1. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the latter carries on its face turned towards the rear of the housing a pad 30E forming a fixed contact of this connection 30.

Comme on le voit sur la figure 1, une connexion 31, correspondant à la borne 21 du circuit qui s'étend contre la grande face latérale de la coque 2, est coudée quatre fois, sans compter une petite portion d'extrémité coudée en S. Comme précédemment, une première et une seconde parties, se trouvant dans le logement 10, s'étendent l'une, suivant la largeur du boîtier 1, vers l'intérieur de ce dernier et l'autre, longitudinalement, vers la partie frontale dudit boîtier. Une troisième partie 31A s'étend comme la première partie. Les parties suivantes 31B et 31C, s'étendant toujours vers l'intérieur du boîtier 1, sont inclinées, la première vers la partie frontale, et la seconde vers la partie arrière de ce dernier.As can be seen in FIG. 1, a connection 31, corresponding to terminal 21 of the circuit which extends against the large lateral face of the shell 2, is bent four times, without counting a small bent end portion in S. As before, a first and a second part, being in the housing 10, extend one, along the width of the housing 1, towards the interior of the latter and the other, longitudinally, towards the front part of said housing. A third part 31A extends like the first part. The following parts 31B and 31C, still extending towards the inside of the housing 1, are inclined, the first towards the front part, and the second towards the rear part of the latter.

La partie 31B s'étend sensiblement parallèlement à la partie 30B de la connexion 30. La partie 31C, elle, est alignée avec la partie 30D de cette connexion 30.Part 31B extends substantially parallel to part 30B of connection 30. Part 31C is aligned with part 30D of this connection 30.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 3, la face tournée vers la partie arrière du boîtier de la partie 31C de cette connexion porte une pastille 31D formant contact fixe de cette dernière.As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the side facing the rear part of the housing of part 31C of this connection carries a pad 31D forming fixed contact of the latter.

Comme on le voit sur la figure 2, une connexion 32, correspondant à la borne 20 du circuit qui s'étend contre le flasque de fermeture du boîtier 1, est coudée quatre fois, sans compter une petite portion d'extrémité coudée en S.As can be seen in FIG. 2, a connection 32, corresponding to terminal 20 of the circuit which extends against the closing flange of the housing 1, is bent four times, without counting a small portion of bent end in S.

Une première partie de cette connexion s'étend suivant la largeur du boîtier, à travers la cage 22 de la borne. Elle est prolongée par une partie 32A s'étendant longitudinalement vers la partie frontale du boîtier 1, dans le logement 10 correspondant. Sortant du logement 10, une partie suivante 32B s'étend suivant la largeur du boîtier 1 vers l'intérieur de ce dernier. Enfin, s'étendant toujours dans la même direction générale, les parties 32C et 32D sont inclinées l'une vers la partie frontale du boîtier et l'autre vers sa partie arrière, sensiblement parallèlement aux parties respectivement 31B et 31C de la connexion 31.A first part of this connection extends along the width of the housing, through the cage 22 of the terminal. It is extended by a part 32A extending longitudinally towards the front part of the housing 1, in the corresponding housing 10. Leaving the housing 10, a following part 32B extends along the width of the housing 1 towards the interior of the latter. Finally, still extending in the same general direction, the parts 32C and 32D are inclined, one towards the front part of the housing and the other towards its rear part, substantially parallel to the parts 31B and 31C respectively of the connection 31.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 2 et 3, la face de la connexion 32 tournée vers la partie arrière du boîtier 1 porte une pastille 32E formant contact fixe correspondant.As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the face of the connection 32 facing the rear part of the housing 1 carries a pad 32E forming the corresponding fixed contact.

Enfin, comme on le voit sur la figure 2, une connexion 33 correspondant à la borne 21 du circuit, qui s'étend contre le flasque de fermeture du boîtier 1, est coudée une fois, sans compter une petite portion d'extrémité coudée en S.Finally, as seen in FIG. 2, a connection 33 corresponding to terminal 21 of the circuit, which extends against the closure flange of the housing 1 is bent once, without counting a small portion of bent end in S.

Une longue première partie 33A, dont l'extrémité traverse la cage 22 de la borne, s'étend suivant la largeur du boîtier 1 vers l'intérieur de ce dernier. Elle est prolongée par une partie 33B qui, tout en s'étendant dans la même direction, est inclinée vers la partie frontale du boîtier 1. Cette partie 33B se trouve dans l'alignement de la partie 32D de la connexion 32.A long first part 33A, the end of which crosses the cage 22 of the terminal, extends along the width of the housing 1 towards the interior of the latter. It is extended by a part 33B which, while extending in the same direction, is inclined towards the front part of the housing 1. This part 33B is in alignment with the part 32D of the connection 32.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 2 et 3, la face de la connexion 33 tournée vers la partie arrière du boîtier 1 porte une pastille 33C formant contact fixe correspondant.As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the face of the connection 33 facing the rear part of the housing 1 carries a pad 33C forming corresponding fixed contact.

Il convient de noter, comme on le voit bien sur les figures 1 et 2, que l'agencement des deux circuits dans le boîtier 1 est tel que les quatre connexions 30, 31, 32 et 33 occupent des espaces bien distincts de ce boîtier. Autrement dit, tous les éléments fixes de ces circuits sont bien séparés les uns des autres, que l'on considère les deux éléments fixes d'un même circuit ou que l'on considère les éléments fixes d'un circuit par rapport à ceux de l'autre.It should be noted, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, that the arrangement of the two circuits in the housing 1 is such that the four connections 30, 31, 32 and 33 occupy very distinct spaces in this housing. In other words, all the fixed elements of these circuits are well separated from each other, whether we consider the two fixed elements of the same circuit or whether we consider the fixed elements of a circuit in relation to those of the other.

La séparation des circuits entre eux est due, pour une part, au décalage longitudinal de leurs bornes respectives.The separation of the circuits between them is partly due to the longitudinal offset of their respective terminals.

Elle est surtout due au fait que les trajets respectifs des connexions correspondantes de ces deux circuits ont été volontairement rendus dissemblables les uns des autres.It is mainly due to the fact that the respective paths of the corresponding connections of these two circuits have been deliberately made dissimilar from each other.

Cela est particulièrement vrai si l'on compare la connexion 31 à la connexion 33. Alors que la première intervient dans une partie frontale du boîtier 1, la seconde reste globalement dans une partie arrière de ce dernier. Cela est dû notamment au fait que la connexion 31 présente, à l'intérieur du logement isolant la borne correspondante, une portion s'étendant longitudinalement vers la partie frontale du boîtier 1. En revanche, la connexion 33 ne présente, dans le logement de la borne correspondante, qu'une portion s'étendant suivant la largeur du boîtier 1. Ainsi, à la sortie du logement 10, les connexions 31 et 33 se trouvent fortement décalées longitudinalement.This is particularly true if we compare the connection 31 to the connection 33. While the first occurs in a front part of the housing 1, the second generally remains in a rear part of the latter. This is due in particular to the fact that the connection 31 has, inside the housing insulating the corresponding terminal, a portion extending longitudinally towards the front part of the housing 1. On the other hand, the connection 33 does not have, in the housing of the corresponding terminal, a portion extending along the width of the housing 1. Thus, at the outlet of the housing 10, the connections 31 and 33 are greatly offset longitudinally.

Quant aux connexions 30 et 32, si elles restent relativement proches au niveau des parties 32B et 32C de la connexion 32, elles sont ensuite beaucoup plus distantes du fait de la plus grande longueur de la partie 30B de la connexion 30 par rapport à celle de la partie 32C de la connexion 32, ce à quoi s'ajoute la présence de la partie 30C de la connexion 30 qui augmente encore la distance entre ces connexions.As for the connections 30 and 32, if they remain relatively close at the level of the parts 32B and 32C of the connection 32, they are then much more distant due to the greater length of the part 30B of the connection 30 relative to that of part 32C of connection 32, to which is added the presence of part 30C of connection 30 which further increases the distance between these connections.

Il devient alors très simple, si on le désire, d'isoler ces connexions 30 et 32 à l'endroit où elles sont les plus proches, c'est à dire entre les parties 30A et 30B de la connexion 30 et les parties 32B et 32C de la connexion 32. Par exemple, une moulure telle que la moulure 15 représentée aux figures 1 et 2, qui sert au maintien de ces connexions, peut de surcroît tenir lieu d'isolant entre lesdites connexions.It then becomes very simple, if desired, to isolate these connections 30 and 32 at the place where they are closest, that is to say between the parts 30A and 30B of the connection 30 and the parts 32B and 32C of the connection 32. For example, a molding such as the molding 15 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which serves to maintain these connections, can moreover take the place of insulation between the said connections.

A chaque paire de contacts fixes, 30E et 31D d'une part et 32E et 33C de l'autre, est associé un contact mobile, respectivement 34 et 35, adapté à relier lesdits contacts fixes.Each pair of fixed contacts, 30E and 31D on the one hand and 32E and 33C on the other, is associated with a movable contact, respectively 34 and 35, adapted to connect said fixed contacts.

Un tel contact mobile est constitué par une lame métallique, de même section que celle des bandes métalliques formant les connexions, et adaptée à constituer un pont entre contacts fixes. Cette lame est pourvue pour cela, à chacune de ses extrémités, de pastilles adaptées à entrer en contact avec les pastilles formant contacts fixes.Such a movable contact is constituted by a metal strip, of the same section as that of the metal strips forming the connections, and adapted to constitute a bridge between fixed contacts. This blade is provided for this, at each of its ends, pellets adapted to come into contact with the pellets forming fixed contacts.

Les contacts mobiles 34 et 35 des deux circuits de l'interrupteur sont portés par un même coulisseau 40 se déplaçant en translation parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier.The movable contacts 34 and 35 of the two circuits of the switch are carried by the same slide 40 moving in translation parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 3 et 4, le coulisseau 40 a une forme globalement parallélépipédique évidée de manière symétrique sur sa partie supérieure et sur sa partie inférieure.As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the slide 40 has a generally parallelepiped shape hollowed out symmetrically on its upper part and on its lower part.

Comme on le voit sur la figure 3, l'évidement sur la partie supérieure du coulisseau 40 fait apparaître deux parois longitudinales 41 et 42, entre lesquelles sont délimités deux compartiments 43 et 44, ouverts vers le haut, et séparés l'un de l'autre par une cloison transversale 45. Ces deux compartiments sont de tailles sensiblement égales. Le compartiment 44 est fermé longitudinalement par une paroi transversale 46.As seen in Figure 3, the recess on the upper part of the slide 40 shows two longitudinal walls 41 and 42, between which are delimited two compartments 43 and 44, open upwards, and separated one on the other by a transverse partition 45. These two compartments are of substantially equal size. The compartment 44 is closed longitudinally by a transverse wall 46.

Symétriquement, et comme on le voit sur la figure 4, l'évidement sur la partie inférieure du coulisseau 40 fait apparaître deux parois longitudinales 51 et 52, entre lesquelles sont délimités deux compartiments 53 et 54, ouverts vers le haut, et séparés l'un de l'autre par une cloison transversale 55. Ces compartiments sont de tailles sensiblement égales. Le compartiment 54 est fermé longitudinalement par une paroi transversale 56.Symmetrically, and as can be seen in FIG. 4, the recess on the lower part of the slide 40 shows two longitudinal walls 51 and 52, between which two compartments 53 and 54 are delimited, open at the top, and separated by the one from the other by a transverse partition 55. These compartments are of substantially equal size. The compartment 54 is closed longitudinally by a transverse wall 56.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 3 et 4, les compartiments 44 et 54 sont pourvus de fenêtres latérales, respectivement 47 et 57, grâce auxquelles les contacts mobiles 35 et 34 peuvent être installés transversalement dans, respectivement, l'un et l'autre de ces compartiments, en faisant saillie latéralement de part et d'autre du coulisseau 40, comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2.As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the compartments 44 and 54 are provided with side windows, respectively 47 and 57, by means of which the movable contacts 35 and 34 can be installed transversely in, respectively, one and the other of these compartments, projecting laterally on either side of the slide 40, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Comme on le voit sur la figure 3, sur le contact mobile 35 sont ménagées deux encoches 36 adaptées aux dimensions des parois 41 et 42, l'écartement entre ces encoches correspondant à la distance séparant ces parois. Ainsi, comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2, ce contact mobile se trouve monté coulissant longitudinalement sur le coulisseau 40, en prise par ses encoches 36 avec les portions des parois 41 et 42 formant limites inférieures des fenêtres 47.As seen in Figure 3, on the movable contact 35 are formed two notches 36 adapted to the dimensions of the walls 41 and 42, the spacing between these notches corresponding to the distance between these walls. Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, this movable contact is found sliding longitudinally sliding on the slide 40, engaged by its notches 36 with the portions of the walls 41 and 42 forming lower limits of the windows 47.

Un ressort 48, de pression de contact, intervient entre la paroi 46 et le contact mobile 35 de manière à solliciter ce dernier vers l'avant du compartiment 44, contre les bords des fenêtres 47 les plus proches de la cloison 45.A spring 48, of contact pressure, intervenes between the wall 46 and the movable contact 35 so as to urge the latter towards the front of the compartment 44, against the edges of the windows 47 closest to the partition 45.

Comme pour le contact mobile 35, deux encoches 36 sont ménagées sur le contact mobile 34. Ce contact mobile se trouve donc également monté coulissant longitudinalement sur le coulisseau 40, en prise par ses encoches 36 avec les portions des parois 51 et 52 formant limites supérieures des fenêtres 57.As for the movable contact 35, two notches 36 are formed on the movable contact 34. This movable contact is therefore also slidably mounted longitudinally on the slide 40, engaged by its notches 36 with the portions of the walls 51 and 52 forming upper limits windows 57.

Un ressort 58, de pression de contact, intervient entre la cloison 55 et le contact mobile 34 de manière à solliciter ce dernier vers l'avant du compartiment 54, contre les bords des fenêtres 57 les plus proches de la paroi 56.A spring 58, of contact pressure, intervenes between the partition 55 and the movable contact 34 so as to urge the latter towards the front of the compartment 54, against the edges of the windows 57 closest to the wall 56.

Les deux contacts mobiles 34 et 35 se trouvent donc décalés longitudinalement d'une longueur correspondant sensiblement à la moitié de celle du coulisseau 40 et au tiers de celle du boîtier 1, nez 3 exclu.The two movable contacts 34 and 35 are therefore offset longitudinally by a length corresponding substantially to half that of the slide 40 and to one third that of the housing 1, nose 3 excluded.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2, le coulisseau 40 se déplace en translation selon une direction inclinée par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du boîtier. Dans l'exemple représenté, cette inclinaison est de 45°. Le coulisseau s'étend sensiblement parallèlement à la direction selon laquelle s'étendent la partie 30B de la connexion 30, la partie 31B de la connexion 31 et la partie 32C de la connexion 32, et sensiblement perpendiculairement à la direction selon laquelle s'étendent la partie 30D de la connexion 30, la partie 31C de la connexion 31, la partie 32D de la connexion 32 et la partie 33B de la connexion 33.As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the slider 40 moves in translation in a direction inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. In the example shown, this inclination is 45 °. The slide extends substantially parallel to the direction in which the part 30B of the connection 30 extends, the part 31B of the connection 31 and the part 32C of the connection 32, and substantially perpendicular to the direction in which extend part 30D of connection 30, part 31C of connection 31, part 32D of connection 32 and part 33B of connection 33.

Ce coulisseau est guidé en translation dans le boîtier 1 par des moulures 60 formant rails de coulissement.This slide is guided in translation in the housing 1 by moldings 60 forming sliding rails.

Deux de ces rails de coulissement 60, que l'on voit aux figures 2 et 3, formés sur la coque 2 du boîtier, sont adaptés à pénétrer dans le compartiment 53 du coulisseau 40, leur écartement correspondant à la largeur de ce compartiment.Two of these sliding rails 60, which can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, formed on the shell 2 of the housing, are adapted to penetrate into the compartment 53 of the slide 40, their spacing corresponding to the width of this compartment.

Deux autres rails de coulissement, non représentés, formés sur le flasque de fermeture du boîtier 1, sont adaptés à pénétrer dans le compartiment 43 du coulisseau 40, leur écartement correspondant également à la largeur de ce compartiment.Two other sliding rails, not shown, formed on the closing flange of the housing 1, are adapted to penetrate into the compartment 43 of the slide 40, their spacing also corresponding to the width of this compartment.

En outre, deux rainures 61 sont ménagées dans la coque 2 du boîtier 1, dans le prolongement des rails 60, lesdites rainures étant adaptées à recevoir des ergots 80 prolongeant les extrémités des parois 51 et 52 du coulisseau 40.In addition, two grooves 61 are formed in the shell 2 of the housing 1, in the extension of the rails 60, said grooves being adapted to receive lugs 80 extending the ends of the walls 51 and 52 of the slide 40.

Le coulisseau 40 se débat entre deux positions extrêmes représentées respectivement aux figures 1 et 2.The slide 40 struggles between two extreme positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively.

En position ouverte, représentée à la figure 1, l'extrémité arrière du coulisseau 40 se trouve à proximité de la face arrière du boîtier 1 et touche presque une paroi du logement des bornes 20. L'extrémité avant de ce coulisseau se trouve sensiblement à la verticale de l'axe de pivotement de la manette 4.In the open position, shown in FIG. 1, the rear end of the slide 40 is located near the rear face of the housing 1 and almost touches a wall of the terminal housing 20. The front end of this slide is located substantially at the vertical of the pivot axis of the lever 4.

Dans cette position, les contacts mobiles se trouvent éloignés des contacts fixes correspondants d'une distance correspondant sensiblement au quart de la longueur du boîtier, nez 3 exclu.In this position, the movable contacts are distant from the corresponding fixed contacts by a distance corresponding substantially to a quarter of the length of the housing, nose 3 excluded.

En position fermée, représentée à la figure 2, l'extrémité avant du coulisseau 40 se trouve sensiblement à la limite entre le corps et le nez 3 du boîtier 1. Dans cette position, les contacts mobiles 34 et 35 touchent les contacts fixes correspondants, les ressorts 58 et 48 assurant une certaine pression de contact.In the closed position, shown in FIG. 2, the front end of the slide 40 is located substantially at the limit between the body and the nose 3 of the housing 1. In this position, the movable contacts 34 and 35 touch the corresponding fixed contacts, the springs 58 and 48 ensuring a certain contact pressure.

Le coulisseau 40 se déplace en translation sous la commande de la manette pivotante 4.The slide 40 moves in translation under the control of the pivoting lever 4.

Pour cela, ce coulisseau est prolongé sur sa partie avant par un flasque 70, s'étendant parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier 1. Comme on le voit sur les figures 3 et 4, ce flasque 70 intervient sensiblement à mi-hauteur du compartiment 43 du coulisseau 40, ce qui fait qu'il se trouve dans la partie du boîtier réservée au circuit s'étendant contre le flasque de fermeture du boîtier 1.For this, this slide is extended on its front part by a flange 70, extending parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing 1. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, this flange 70 intervenes substantially at mid-height of the compartment 43 of the slide 40, which means that it is located in the part of the housing reserved for the circuit extending against the closing flange of the housing 1.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 à 4, le flasque 70 a une forme triangulaire et porte au niveau d'un sommet libre un téton 71 s'étendant perpendiculairement audit flasque, en direction du flasque de fermeture du boîtier 1.As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, the flange 70 has a triangular shape and carries at the level of a free vertex a stud 71 extending perpendicular to said flange, in the direction of the flange closing the housing 1.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2, ce téton 71 est décalé transversalement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du coulisseau 40, de manière à se trouver dans l'axe longitudinal du boîtier 1 lorsque ledit coulisseau est dans la position ouverte représentée à la figure 1.As seen in Figures 1 and 2, this pin 71 is offset transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the slide 40, so as to be in the longitudinal axis of the housing 1 when said slide is in the open position shown in Figure 1.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2, le coulisseau 40 est directement en prise, par son téton 71 avec un logement oblong 72, ouvert à l'une de ses extrémités, et qui s'étend radialement de la manette 4. Bien entendu, le logement oblong 72 vient avantageusement de moulage avec la manette 4.As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the slide 40 is directly engaged, by its pin 71 with an oblong housing 72, open at one of its ends, and which extends radially of the lever 4. Of course, the oblong housing 72 advantageously comes from molding with the lever 4.

En position d'ouverture des contacts mobiles 34, 35 portés par le coulisseau 40, le logement oblong 72 s'étend dans l'axe longitudinal du boîtier 1. Comme on le voit sur la figure 1, cette position correspond à une position extrême de la manette 4.In the open position of the movable contacts 34, 35 carried by the slide 40, the oblong housing 72 extends in the longitudinal axis of the housing 1. As can be seen in FIG. 1, this position corresponds to an extreme position of the joystick 4.

En position de fermeture des contacts mobiles 34, 35 portés par le coulisseau 40, correspondant à l'autre position extrême de la manette 4, le logement oblong 72 s'étend suivant la largeur du boîtier 1, comme on le voit sur la figure 2.In the closed position of the movable contacts 34, 35 carried by the slide 40, corresponding to the other extreme position of the lever 4, the oblong housing 72 extends along the width of the housing 1, as seen in FIG. 2 .

Avantageusement, un moyen élastique coopère avec la manette 4 afin d'en faire un système bistable dont les positions de stabilité correspondent aux positions ouverte et fermée du coulisseau 40.Advantageously, an elastic means cooperates with the lever 4 in order to make it a bistable system whose stability positions correspond to the open and closed positions of the slide 40.

Dans l'exemple représenté, ce moyen élastique comprend, comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2, un boîtier creux 73, de forme globalement parallélépipédique. A l'intérieur de ce boîtier 73 se trouve un logement 74 ouvert du côté tourné vers la face latérale de la coque 2.In the example shown, this elastic means comprises, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hollow housing 73, of generally parallelepiped shape. Inside this housing 73 there is a housing 74 open from the side facing the lateral face of the shell 2.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2, une lumière dont l'extrémité est de forme circulaire est ménagée sur la face de ce boîtier tournée vers le flasque de fermeture du boîtier 1. Cette lumière débouche à l'extrémité de cette face puis se prolonge sur la petite face arrière, correspondante à cette extrémité, du boîtier 73.As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a light whose end is circular in shape is formed on the face of this housing facing the closing flange of the housing 1. This light opens at the end of this face and then extends on the small rear face, corresponding to this end, of the housing 73.

Un doigt 75 est en prise avec l'extrémité circulaire de cette lumière, ce doigt 75 venant de moulage sur la grande face latérale du boîtier 1, par rapport à laquelle il s'étend perpendiculairement.A finger 75 is engaged with the circular end of this light, this finger 75 coming from molding on the large lateral face of the housing 1, with respect to which it extends perpendicularly.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2, le doigt 75 se loge dans l'extrémité circulaire de la lumière avec un certain jeu. De la sorte, le boîtier 73 est globalement pivotant autour du doigt 75, avec, en outre, par rapport à ce dernier, un déplacement limité permis dans un plan parallèle aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier 1.As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the finger 75 is housed in the circular end of the light with a certain clearance. In this way, the housing 73 is generally pivotable around the finger 75, with, in addition, by compared to the latter, a limited displacement allowed in a plane parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing 1.

Le boîtier 73 s'étend tout entier dans la partie du boîtier 1 réservée au circuit s'étendant contre la grande face latérale de la coque 2 du boîtier 1. De la sorte, il peut passer sous le flasque 70 du coulisseau 40 qui s'étend dans l'autre moitié du boîtier, comme on le voit sur la figure 2.The housing 73 extends entirely in the part of the housing 1 reserved for the circuit extending against the large lateral face of the shell 2 of the housing 1. In this way, it can pass under the flange 70 of the slide 40 which s extends into the other half of the case, as seen in Figure 2.

Un ressort 76 est installé dans le logement 74, l'une de ses extrémités portant contre la face avant du boîtier 73, l'autre portant contre le doigt 75 qui traverse l'extrémité arrière du logement 74.A spring 76 is installed in the housing 74, one of its ends bearing against the front face of the housing 73, the other bearing against the finger 75 which passes through the rear end of the housing 74.

De la face avant du boîtier 73 part un flasque 77 s'étendant parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier 1. Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 et 2, ce flasque 77 a une forme triangulaire et porte au niveau d'un sommet libre un téton s'étendant perpendiculairement audit flasque, de part et d'autre de ce dernier.From the front face of the housing 73 leaves a flange 77 extending parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing 1. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, this flange 77 has a triangular shape and carries at the level of a free vertex a stud extending perpendicular to said flange, on either side of the latter.

Ce téton est en prise avec un logement oblong, ouvert à l'une de ses extrémités, et qui s'étend radialement de la manette 4. Ce logement, venant avantageusement de moulage avec la manette, a en pratique la même forme que le logement oblong 72 sous lequel il se trouve.This stud is engaged with an oblong housing, open at one of its ends, and which extends radially from the lever 4. This housing, advantageously coming from molding with the lever, has in practice the same shape as the housing oblong 72 under which it is located.

La position pour laquelle le téton du flasque 77 se trouve dans le plan commun à l'axe de pivotement de la manette 4 et au doigt 75 correspond sensiblement à la position intermédiaire de la manette entre ses positions extrêmes. Cette position est la position d'équilibre instable de la manette, les positions d'équilibre stable étant les positions extrêmes de ladite manette.The position for which the stud of the flange 77 is in the plane common to the pivot axis of the lever 4 and to the finger 75 corresponds substantially to the intermediate position of the lever between its extreme positions. This position is the unstable equilibrium position of the lever, the stable equilibrium positions being the extreme positions of said lever.

Autrement dit, le moyen élastique formé par le boîtier 73 et le ressort 76 a tendance à solliciter la manette 4 soit vers l'une soit vers l'autre de ses positions extrêmes, selon que ladite manette se trouve d'un côté ou de l'autre de sa position d'équilibre instable.In other words, the elastic means formed by the housing 73 and the spring 76 tends to urge the handle 4 either towards one or towards the other of its extreme positions, depending on whether said handle is on one side or the other from its unstable equilibrium position.

Quoi qu'il en soit, le pivotement de la manette 4 de sa position extrême, représentée figure 1, à son autre position extrême, représentée figure 2, va entraîner le coulisseau 40 en glissement de la position ouverte vers la position fermée, dans laquelle les contacts mobiles 34 et 35 ferment les deux circuits de l'interrupteur.Anyway, the pivoting of the lever 4 from its extreme position, shown in Figure 1, to its other extreme position, shown in Figure 2, will cause the slide 40 to slide from the open position to the closed position, in which the movable contacts 34 and 35 close both switch circuits.

Le retour de la manette 4 vers sa position représentée à la figure 1 va faire retourner le coulisseau 40 en position ouverte.The return of the lever 4 to its position shown in Figure 1 will return the slide 40 in the open position.

La course inclinée du coulisseau 40 rend beaucoup plus efficace sa commande par une manette pivotante. En effet, l'amplitude du déplacement du logement oblong 72 est transmise de manière optimale au coulisseau 40, sans qu'il ne soit besoin de disposer des biellettes ou équivalents entre la manette et le coulisseau. Ceci est dû notamment au fait que le déplacement de ce coulisseau se fait parallèlement à la corde reliant les deux positions extrêmes du logement oblong 72 formant emplacement d'ancrage dudit coulisseau sur la manette 4.The inclined stroke of the slide 40 makes it much more effective to control it by a pivoting lever. Indeed, the amplitude of the displacement of the oblong housing 72 is transmitted optimally to the slide 40, without it being necessary to have rods or the like between the lever and the slide. This is due in particular to the fact that the displacement of this slider takes place parallel to the rope connecting the two extreme positions of the oblong housing 72 forming the anchoring location of said slider on the lever 4.

Dans l'exemple représenté, un débattement de 90° de la manette 4 permet au coulisseau 40 de parcourir une distance légèrement supérieure au quart de la longueur totale de ce boîtier, et au tiers de cette longueur nez 3 exclu.In the example shown, a 90 ° movement of the lever 4 allows the slide 40 to travel a distance slightly greater than a quarter of the total length of this housing, and a third of this nose length 3 excluded.

Bien entendu, la présente invention ne se limite pas à l'exemple de réalisation qui vient d'être décrit, d'autres formes de réalisation pouvant être envisagées.Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described, other embodiments being able to be envisaged.

Ainsi, l'interrupteur qui vient d'être décrit est un interrupteur bipolaire permettant de fermer et d'ouvrir simultanément deux circuits. Or, la présente invention peut s'appliquer à d'autres types d'interrupteurs.Thus, the switch which has just been described is a bipolar switch making it possible to close and open two circuits simultaneously. However, the present invention can be applied to other types of switches.

Elle peut s'appliquer, bien entendu, à un interrupteur unipolaire, mais, également, à un interrupteur possédant plus de deux circuits disposés en parallèle dans le boîtier. Dans le premier cas, le coulisseau ne portera qu'un contact mobile, tandis que dans le second cas, il portera autant de contacts mobiles qu'il y a de circuits.It can apply, of course, to a unipolar switch, but also to a switch having more than two circuits arranged in parallel in the housing. In the first case, the slider will only carry one movable contact, while in the second case, it will carry as many movable contacts as there are circuits.

L'invention peut aussi s'appliquer à un interrupteur bipolaire de type va-et-vient, c'est à dire adapté à ouvrir un circuit quand l'autre est fermé et vice-versa. Il suffit pour cela de modifier le chemin des connexions de l'un des circuits.The invention can also be applied to a bipolar switch of the reciprocating type, that is to say adapted to open a circuit when the other is closed and vice versa. You just have to modify the connection path of one of the circuits.

Par exemple, le circuit s'étendant contre la grande face latérale de la coque 2 étant inchangé, les géométries des connexions 32 et 33 de l'autre circuit sont modifiées de manière à ce que les contacts fixes se trouvent sensiblement au niveau du contact mobile 35 lorsque le coulisseau 40 est dans la position ouverte de la figure 1. Les pastilles matérialisant ces contacts fixes sont tournées non plus vers l'arrière mais vers l'avant du boîtier 1. Quant aux pastilles correspondantes du contact mobile, elles sont, elles, bien entendu, tournées vers l'arrière du boîtier. Finalement, le ressort 48 intervenant entre le coulisseau 40 et le contact mobile prend appui non plus sur la paroi 46 mais sur la cloison 45 sollicitant ledit contact mobile vers l'arrière du logement 44.For example, the circuit extending against the large lateral face of the shell 2 being unchanged, the geometries of the connections 32 and 33 of the other circuit are modified by so that the fixed contacts are located substantially at the level of the movable contact 35 when the slide 40 is in the open position of FIG. 1. The pads materializing these fixed contacts are no longer turned backwards but forwards of the housing 1. As for the corresponding pads of the movable contact, they are, of course, facing the rear of the housing. Finally, the spring 48 acting between the slide 40 and the movable contact no longer bears on the wall 46 but on the partition 45 urging said movable contact towards the rear of the housing 44.

De la sorte, ce contact mobile se trouve en appui contre les contacts fixes correspondants alors que l'autre est en position ouverte et vice-versa.In this way, this movable contact is in abutment against the corresponding fixed contacts while the other is in the open position and vice versa.

Dans ce qui précède, l'axe longitudinal du boîtier est supposé être un axe qui, comme indiqué, est perpendiculaire aux faces arrière et frontale du boîtier, considérées, elles, comme globalement parallèles l'une à l'autre, la face arrière étant celle par laquelle le boîtier peut être rapporté sur un support, en l'espèce un profilé formant rail, et la face avant celle sur laquelle intervient la manette à la disposition de l'usager.In the foregoing, the longitudinal axis of the housing is assumed to be an axis which, as indicated, is perpendicular to the rear and front faces of the housing, which are considered to be generally parallel to each other, the rear face being that by which the housing can be attached to a support, in this case a profile forming a rail, and the front face that on which intervenes the lever available to the user.

L'axe longitudinal du boîtier est donc orthogonal à l'axe de rotation de la manette, en passant par exemple par la zone médiane de ce dernier.The longitudinal axis of the housing is therefore orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the lever, passing for example through the middle zone of the latter.

Il est en outre parallèle tant aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier qu'à ses petites faces latérales, ces dernières étant en pratique parallèles entre elles en étant l'une et l'autre perpendiculaires à la face arrière et à la face frontale.It is also parallel both to the large lateral faces of the housing and to its small lateral faces, the latter being in practice parallel to each other, being both perpendicular to the rear face and to the front face.

Claims (10)

Interrupteur à bascule renfermant, dans un boîtier modulaire (1), de forme globalement parallélépipédique, un ou plusieurs circuits s'étendant parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier, chacun desdits circuits comprenant deux bornes (20,21), intervenant au niveau de l'une et l'autre petites faces latérales du boîtier, deux contacts fixes correspondants (30E,31D;32E,33C) et un contact mobile (34;35) adapté à relier ces derniers, tous les contacts mobiles étant portés par un même coulisseau (40), adapté à se déplacer en translation parallèlement aux grandes faces latérales du boîtier, sous la commande d'une manette (4) pivotante intervenant au niveau de la partie frontale du boîtier, ledit interrupteur étant caractérisé en ce que ledit coulisseau (40) se déplace en translation selon une direction inclinée par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du boîtier.Toggle switch containing, in a modular housing (1), of generally parallelepiped shape, one or more circuits extending parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing, each of said circuits comprising two terminals (20,21), operating at the level of the '' and the other small side faces of the housing, two corresponding fixed contacts (30E, 31D; 32E, 33C) and a movable contact (34; 35) adapted to connect the latter, all the movable contacts being carried by the same slide (40), adapted to move in translation parallel to the large lateral faces of the housing, under the control of a pivoting lever (4) acting at the front part of the housing, said switch being characterized in that said slide (40 ) moves in translation in a direction inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. Interrupteur à bascule selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le coulisseau (40) est directement en prise avec un logement oblong (72) ménagé sur la périphérie de la manette (4).Rocker switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide (40) is directly engaged with an oblong housing (72) formed on the periphery of the lever (4). Interrupteur à bascule selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit coulisseau est pourvu d'un téton (71) d'attelage avec la manette (4), en prise avec un logement oblong (72) ménagé sur la périphérie de cette dernière et s'étendant radialement.Rocker switch according to claim 2, characterized in that said slide is provided with a stud (71) for coupling with the lever (4), in engagement with an oblong housing (72) formed on the periphery of the latter and extending radially. Interrupteur à bascule selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le téton (71) est décalé transversalement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du coulisseau (40)Rocker switch according to claim 3, characterized in that the stud (71) is offset transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the slide (40) Interrupteur à bascule selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, caractérisé en ce que la direction de translation du coulisseau (40) est parallèle à la corde reliant les deux positions extrêmes du logement oblong (72).Rocker switch according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the direction of translation of the slide (40) is parallel to the rope connecting the two extreme positions of the oblong housing (72). Interrupteur à bascule selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que l'inclinaison du coulisseau (40) par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du boîtier (1) est sensiblement de 45°.Rocker switch according to claim 5, characterized in that the inclination of the slide (40) relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing (1) is substantially 45 °. Interrupteur à bascule selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'un moyen élastique (73,76) coopère avec la manette (4) afin de solliciter cette dernière, selon qu'elle se trouve d'un côté ou de l'autre d'une position intermédiaire, soit vers l'une, soit vers l'autre, de ses positions extrêmes.Rocker switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an elastic means (73,76) cooperates with the lever (4) in order to urge the latter, depending on whether it is on one side or the other from an intermediate position, either towards one or towards the other, of its extreme positions. Interrupteur à bascule selon les revendications 3 et 7 prises conjointement, caractérisé en ce que le flasque (70) du coulisseau (40) portant le téton (71) d'attelage avec la manette (4) et le moyen élastique (73,76) s'étendent dans deux moitiés distinctes du boîtier (1).Rocker switch according to claims 3 and 7 taken together, characterized in that the flange (70) of the slide (40) carrying the pin (71) for coupling with the lever (4) and the elastic means (73,76) extend into two separate halves of the housing (1). Interrupteur à bascule selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte deux circuits, les bornes d'un circuit étant décalées longitudinalement par rapport à celles de l'autre.Toggle switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two circuits, the terminals of one circuit being offset longitudinally with respect to those of the other. Interrupteur à bascule selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que, au niveau de l'un des petits côtés latéraux du boîtier (1), la connexion (31) correspondant à la borne la plus proche de la face frontale dudit boîtier (1) comporte, à l'intérieur d'un logement (10) dans lequel les bornes sont isolées l'une de l'autre, une portion s'étendant longitudinalement vers ladite face frontale du boîtier (1), alors que la connexion (33) correspondant à l'autre borne ne présente qu'une portion s'étendant suivant la largeur du boîtier (1).Rocker switch according to claim 9, characterized in that, at one of the small lateral sides of the housing (1), the connection (31) corresponding to the terminal closest to the front face of said housing (1) comprises, inside a housing (10) in which the terminals are isolated from each other, a portion extending longitudinally towards said front face of the housing (1), while the connection (33) corresponding to the other terminal has only a portion extending along the width of the housing (1).
EP19950402738 1994-12-06 1995-12-05 Tumbler switch with modular casing Expired - Lifetime EP0716437B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9414635A FR2727786A1 (en) 1994-12-06 1994-12-06 ROCKER SWITCH WITH MODULAR HOUSING
FR9414635 1994-12-06

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EP0716437A1 true EP0716437A1 (en) 1996-06-12
EP0716437B1 EP0716437B1 (en) 1999-03-10

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EP19950402738 Expired - Lifetime EP0716437B1 (en) 1994-12-06 1995-12-05 Tumbler switch with modular casing

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EP (1) EP0716437B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69508199T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2128680T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2727786A1 (en)
GR (1) GR3030313T3 (en)

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DE102008062549B3 (en) * 2008-12-16 2010-02-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Switching device for indirect closing or separation of contacts of movable contact bridge and fixed contact bearing, has guide rail between another rail and coupling element end, and switch rod with end supported in rail of switching device
DE102008062548B3 (en) * 2008-12-16 2010-01-07 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Contactor for closing or separating contacts of movable and fixed contact carriers, has coupling element with guide rail for retaining guiding element of carrier, and switching rod hinged at coupling and operating elements

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DE1206053B (en) * 1962-10-26 1965-12-02 Berker Geb Multi-pole electrical switch of slim design
DE2846213A1 (en) 1978-10-24 1980-05-08 Geyer Gmbh & Co Christian Narrow fitting electrical switch of built-in type - consists of two halves separated by insulating partition, with set of contacts in each half, operated by common element
EP0278850A1 (en) 1987-02-03 1988-08-17 Merlin Gerin Electrical switch with a modular structure
EP0310885A2 (en) * 1987-09-29 1989-04-12 Asea Brown Boveri Aktiengesellschaft Electric switch gear
EP0576259A2 (en) 1992-06-24 1993-12-29 Crabtree Electrical Industries Limited Electric switches

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GR3030313T3 (en) 1999-09-30
FR2727786A1 (en) 1996-06-07
DE69508199T2 (en) 1999-06-24
ES2128680T3 (en) 1999-05-16
EP0716437B1 (en) 1999-03-10
FR2727786B1 (en) 1997-02-14
DE69508199D1 (en) 1999-04-15

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