EP0746004A1 - Lampenhalterung für an einer Wand befestigte Schalteinrichtung und ensprechende Schalteinrichtung - Google Patents

Lampenhalterung für an einer Wand befestigte Schalteinrichtung und ensprechende Schalteinrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0746004A1
EP0746004A1 EP96201439A EP96201439A EP0746004A1 EP 0746004 A1 EP0746004 A1 EP 0746004A1 EP 96201439 A EP96201439 A EP 96201439A EP 96201439 A EP96201439 A EP 96201439A EP 0746004 A1 EP0746004 A1 EP 0746004A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pair
tenons
contact
insulating
terminal
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
EP96201439A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0746004B1 (de
Inventor
Fabrizio Fabrizi
Roberto Peano
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.)
BTicino SpA
Original Assignee
BTicino SpA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BTicino SpA filed Critical BTicino SpA
Publication of EP0746004A1 publication Critical patent/EP0746004A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0746004B1 publication Critical patent/EP0746004B1/de
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
    • H01H23/025—Light-emitting indicators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/16—Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
    • H01H9/161—Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off" comprising light emitting elements
    • H01H9/162—Means to facilitate removal or replacement of light-emitting elements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a lamp holder for a wall-mounted switch assembly and the related switch assembly.
  • switches are often provided with a housing for a lamp for indicating the open or closed state of the switch, the lamp being located beneath a rocker key (transparent or provided with a transparent window) which operates the switch.
  • the indicator light which is preferably a neon lamp, enables the location of the switch to be seen even in the dark and thus is energised and hence switched on when the switch is open and is off when the switch is closed.
  • the closed state of the switch may be made visible by the corresponding switching on of the lamp.
  • switches which control remote light sources for example external lights, operated from the interior, or electrical apparatus other than light sources such as fans, heating elements, air conditioners and the like.
  • lamps or illuminating systems including load-stabilising resistances provided with cables which connect them to the clamping terminals of the switch assembly or at least to voltage supplies controlled by the switch.
  • switch is in fact intended electrical apparatus of essentially two types:
  • the lamp In the case of an indicator lamp associated with a switch which is lit when the switch is closed to supply an electrical load, the lamp must be connected in parallel with the load, that is, its terminals must be connected respectively to a terminal of the switch from which the load receives its supply and to the return wire to the mains supply.
  • modular switches may be provided with an auxiliary terminal which is insulated electrically from the switch contacts and which allows the mechanical fixing of a mains return wire to a lamp terminal and their electrical connection.
  • the locator lamp In the case of a two-way switch, the locator lamp must be connected between the two terminals corresponding to the switched terminals.
  • the present invention remedies this problem by providing a lamp holder for electrical switch assemblies which can be connected electrically in the appropriate manner to electrical switch assemblies with different functions, by simple mechanical coupling without the possibility of error and in a very reliable manner.
  • the present invention also provides a family of functionally different pieces of electrical equipment which can couple with the lamp holder and are constituted by a plurality of common structural elements, the different functions resulting from very small modifications during assembly which do not affect the mass production of the individual components and their combinations.
  • a lamp holder in which a generally rectangular-box-shaped insulating block acts as a lamp support and as a housing for rheophores for the electrical connection of the lamp to a plurality of electrical pressure-contacts, preferably three, projecting from a pair of opposite sides of the block which, on tight fitting of the block between two insulating tenons formed by the insulating body of a switch assembly, contact clamping electrical terminals housed in the insulating tenons of the body of the assembly by passing through corresponding slots which are formed in the insulating tenons and extend in the direction of fitting of the block.
  • the selective presence or absence of one of three slots in the tenons of the electrical assembly enables its function as a one or two-way switch to be determined.
  • the assembly comprises a box-shaped insulating housing formed by two shells 1, 2 moulded from plastics material and joined together by glueing or heat-sealing.
  • the shell 1 constitutes a prismatic frame having internal ribs 3 and eyes 4.
  • the eyes 4 support a front rocker key 5 operable by the user and provided with a hollow rod 6 housing and guiding an operating pin 7 which is urged by a compression spring 8 to act on a rocker arm 9 of conductive material.
  • the internal ribs 3 form a suitable seat for a transparent plastics block 10 with a high refractive index which acts as a reflector for a light source housed in a cavity 11 in the reflector.
  • the internal ribs 3 also form a suitable guide housing for the rocker arm 9.
  • the shell 2 closes the rear end of the frame 1 and consists essentially of a flat element with a pair of hollow box-shaped elements 12, 13 projecting from the rear face of the shell 2.
  • the box element 12 is formed with two prismatic housings which are separated and insulated from each other by an insulating partition, not visible, for receiving first and second electrical clamp terminals 14, 15 respectively.
  • a third terminal 16 may be housed in the box element 13.
  • each terminal 14, 15, 16 is conventional and, with reference to the terminal 16, includes a fixed metal clamp member 17 formed by bending a flat element into a C-shape or right-angled annulus, and a nut element 18 with a threaded seat housed between the arms 18A, 19 of the fixed clamp member.
  • a hole 20 is formed in the fixed clamp member for the passage of a screw 21 which engages the nut element 18 and acts as a movable clamp member.
  • the ends of electrical wires may be inserted through apertures 22, 23 in an end wall of the box element 13 and between the clamp members to be clamped thereby.
  • the clamping screw 21 of the terminal 16 is rotated through an aperture 24 formed in one face of the box element 13.
  • the structure of the terminals 14, 15 is entirely similar and their clamping screws 25, 26 can be rotated through apertures (not visible in Figure 1) while apertures 27, 28 are provided for the insertion of the wires.
  • the structure of the terminals 15, 16, 17 is completed by a conductive wing member which differs according the function to be acchieved.
  • each fixed clamp member has an extended wing member 29, 30 respectively which supports a contact boss intended to be contacted by a corresponding boss 31, 32 on one of the two ends of the rocker arm 9.
  • the fixed clamp member has an extended wing member 33 which terminates in a transverse support blade 34 for sliding contact with the central portion of the rocker arm 9.
  • the rocker arm 9 slides and pivots on the blade 34 so as to form an electrical connection between the clamp member 14 and the clamp member 15 or between the clamp member 14 and the clamp member 16 in a mutually exclusive manner.
  • An aperture 35 in the shell 2 enables a light source to be introduced into the cavity in the reflector 10.
  • the switch assembly described may fulfil the function either of a two-way switch or of a simple switch and may be equipped with a switch locator lamp.
  • the terminal 16 is superfluous and, for reasons of economy, is not fitted in the casing of the assembly which is sold as a different product from the two-way switch.
  • the terminal 14 is connected to a mains supply wire (generally the live wire) and the terminal 15 is connected to a terminal of the load L, the second terminal whereof is connected to a second mains supply wire (generally the neutral wire).
  • a mains supply wire generally the live wire
  • the terminal 15 is connected to a terminal of the load L, the second terminal whereof is connected to a second mains supply wire (generally the neutral wire).
  • the locator lamp must be connected between the terminal 14 and the terminal 15.
  • the terminal 16 is superfluous and, if present, may cause further errors in the cabling.
  • the terminal 14 is connected to a mains supply wire and the terminals 15 and 16 are connected to two switching lines which are connected to a load L through a second two-way switch.
  • the locator lamp must be connected between the terminals 15 and 16.
  • Figure 5 shows several simple structural modifications to the switch assembly of Figure 1 which allow it to operate together with a lamp holder, also shown in Figure 5, with the different interconnections required for each type of operation being formed automatically, in a reliable manner, without difficulty or risk of error and with few complications in production.
  • the two box elements 12, 13 of the shell 2 because of their box-shape, form two tenons between which an insulating block 40 of right angled box-shape can be fitted tightly, the block having a generally L-shaped section in a plane parallel to the closure plate of the shell 2.
  • the two elements 12, 13 will be called tenons below.
  • the insulating block 40 which is hollow and has ribs only partially shown, forms a housing for a plurality of electrical conductors or rheophores which are located within the block by the internal ribs.
  • the block is closed by a cover 41, preferably on that face of the block 40 which, when the block is engaged between the tenons 12, 13, lies against the closure plate of the shell 2.
  • the cover 41 may be fixed to the block 40 by heat sealing or by screws or resiliently-snap-engageable teeth.
  • the cover 41 carries a cylindrical collar 42 which partly houses and locates a small neon bulb 43, the rheophores 44, 45 of which projecting into the block 40.
  • the two opposite parallel walls 46, 47 of the block 40 which contact the mutually-facing parallel walls 48, 49 of the tenons 12, 13 have apertures for the passage of three electrical pressure contacts 50, 51, 52 which are conveniently, but not necessarily, formed by the ends of rheophores anchored within the block so as to form resilient, projecting supports for the contacts 50, 51, 52.
  • the contacts 50 and 51 are conveniently arranged in the wall 47 so that the fitting of the block between the tenons 12, 13 causes the contacts 50, 51 to be inserted in corresponding slots 53, 54 which are elongate in the direction of fitting of the block and through which the contacts 50 and 51 respectively contact the fixed clamp members of the terminals 15 and 14.
  • the contact 52 is located in the wall 46 so that the fitting of the block between the tenons 12, 13 causes the contact 52 to be inserted in a slot 55 so that it comes into contact with the fixed clamp member of a terminal housed in the tenon 13.
  • the contact 51 is connected by a rheophore to a contact clamp 57 which engages a lamp terminal 44 and, through a rheophore 58, to the contact 52.
  • the contact 50 is connected by a rheophore 59 to one terminal of a load limiting and stabilising resistance 60, the other terminal of which is connected through a rheophore 61 to a contact clamp 62 which engages the terminal 45 of the lamp 43.
  • a photo-emitting diode or other light source may be used instead of a neon lamp which is preferred because of the low power it uses.
  • the load-limiting resistance 60 may be superfluous.
  • the lamp holder described is a universal, optional module which can be fitted to any switch assembly whatever its specific function as a one-way or two-way switch or a switch with a state indicator.
  • the switch assembly can be adapted to the various requirements with extremely small changes during production, as illustrated in Figure 6, 7, 8 which show a shell 2 of a switch assembly manufactured specifically to act as a simple switch, a two-way switch and a switch with closed-state indication respectively.
  • any locator light must be connected (Figure 2) between the terminals 14 and 15, in Figure 6 the tenon 12 is provided with two slots 53, 54 for the connection, between the terminals 14, 15, of the series circuit formed by the contact 50, the rheophore 59, the resistor 60, the rheophore 61, the clamp 62, the lamp 43, the clamp 57, the rheophore 56 and the rod 51 ( Figure 5).
  • the slot 55 is superfluous and, for reasons of economy and to avoid errors in connection, the tenon 13 preferably does not have a terminal.
  • the shell 2 differs from that of Figure 6 in that it is provided specifically for a two-way electrical switch assembly and must not have the slot 54 but must, necessarily, have the slots 53, 55.
  • the lamp holder with a selector which disconnects one or other of the contacts 51 and 52 from the internal rheophores.

Landscapes

  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
  • Fastening Of Light Sources Or Lamp Holders (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Connecting Device With Holders (AREA)
EP96201439A 1995-05-29 1996-05-23 Lampenhalterung für an einer Wand befestigte Schalteinrichtung und ensprechende Schalteinrichtung Expired - Lifetime EP0746004B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT95MI001109A IT1276348B1 (it) 1995-05-29 1995-05-29 Blocco portalampada per apparecchio interruttore da parete e relativo apparecchio interruttore
ITMI951109 1995-05-29

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0746004A1 true EP0746004A1 (de) 1996-12-04
EP0746004B1 EP0746004B1 (de) 2000-11-22

Family

ID=11371697

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96201439A Expired - Lifetime EP0746004B1 (de) 1995-05-29 1996-05-23 Lampenhalterung für an einer Wand befestigte Schalteinrichtung und ensprechende Schalteinrichtung

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0746004B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69611005T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2153933T3 (de)
IT (1) IT1276348B1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110364379A (zh) * 2019-06-28 2019-10-22 温州天球电器有限公司 气压开关装配机

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1735704U (de) * 1956-04-21 1956-12-13 Siemens Ag Elektrisches installationsgeraet insbesondere schalter mit glimmlampe.
DE1921571A1 (de) * 1969-04-28 1970-11-05 Kopp Fa Heinrich Beleuchtete Schalterausfuehrungen
DE1790264A1 (de) * 1968-04-02 1972-04-13 Merten Geb Schalter,insbesondere Unterputzschalter
DE2107737A1 (de) * 1971-02-18 1972-04-27
DE2648657A1 (de) * 1976-10-27 1978-05-03 Giersiepen Eltech Ind Elektrisches installationsgeraet, wie schalter, taster o.dgl.
DE3023088A1 (de) * 1980-06-20 1982-01-07 Gebrüder Merten GmbH & Co KG, 5270 Gummersbach Elektrisches installationsgeraet, insbesondere schalter oder helligkeitssteller

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1735704U (de) * 1956-04-21 1956-12-13 Siemens Ag Elektrisches installationsgeraet insbesondere schalter mit glimmlampe.
DE1790264A1 (de) * 1968-04-02 1972-04-13 Merten Geb Schalter,insbesondere Unterputzschalter
DE1921571A1 (de) * 1969-04-28 1970-11-05 Kopp Fa Heinrich Beleuchtete Schalterausfuehrungen
DE2107737A1 (de) * 1971-02-18 1972-04-27
DE2648657A1 (de) * 1976-10-27 1978-05-03 Giersiepen Eltech Ind Elektrisches installationsgeraet, wie schalter, taster o.dgl.
DE3023088A1 (de) * 1980-06-20 1982-01-07 Gebrüder Merten GmbH & Co KG, 5270 Gummersbach Elektrisches installationsgeraet, insbesondere schalter oder helligkeitssteller

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110364379A (zh) * 2019-06-28 2019-10-22 温州天球电器有限公司 气压开关装配机
CN110364379B (zh) * 2019-06-28 2024-04-26 温州天球电器有限公司 气压开关装配机

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0746004B1 (de) 2000-11-22
ES2153933T3 (es) 2001-03-16
ITMI951109A0 (it) 1995-05-29
ITMI951109A1 (it) 1996-11-29
DE69611005D1 (de) 2000-12-28
IT1276348B1 (it) 1997-10-30
DE69611005T2 (de) 2001-06-21

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