EP1008158B1 - Switch with moving contact makers in the form of spring tongues - Google Patents

Description

In electrical switches for motor vehicles, it is known the movable associated with the actuator Form contact pieces as spring tongues, which from a Contact sheet are punched out. Such a switch is described for example in DE-OS 40 39 984. In which known switch, the actuator is parallel to Level of the fixed contacts shifted through the Shift in the desired order the electrical Connection between the moving and the fixed contacts entry.

A disadvantage of the known switch is that the movable Spring tongues only after the casting of the actuator be attached to the actuator. On Another disadvantage of the known switch is that through the grinding movement the moving contact surfaces both in contact with the embedding the fixed contacts Insulating compound as well as with the fixed contacts get yourself. Furthermore, the transition to contacting or separation of a fixed contact the contact surface comparatively between moving and stationary contact changed more slowly while at the same time Part of the moving contact in connection with the stationary contact surrounding insulating compound. Through it The arc formed in this way becomes the surrounding insulating material warmed and possible contact contamination formed by the insulating compound are burned onto the moving contact.

From US-A-4,436,971 is a snap switch according to the preamble of claim 1 known whose Spring tongues are held in a plastic frame and the plastic socket is locked in the switch housing. The Movable contact pieces are made by a mechanical Control operated. It is considered disadvantageous that the Contact pieces not perpendicular to their direction of extension be moved.

The object of the invention is the switching behavior of a Improve switch of the type mentioned above, so that both load currents and possibly control currents through this Switches can be switched.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with a switch, of the features of claim 1.

In principle, the invention therefore consists in, on the one hand, the Connect spring tongues to each other with a plastic frame and also the plastic frame in the switch housing anchored in place. This will be a pushing Movement parallel to the contact level of the fixed contacts locked out. The change in contact between fixed and mobile contacts happen rather with With the help of a mechanical control by a suitable Actuator is driven. That way it is possible a transition of the moving contacts from fixed Contacts to those surrounding the fixed contacts Avoid insulating material, so that contamination of the Avoiding contacts and a clean separation of the contacts from each other during the switching process.

It is also possible to mold the switch housing to simplify, because the plastic frame with the spring tongues and the housing itself is manufactured in separate casting processes become. The structure of the switch according to the invention still allows contact to be made with the moving contacts before anchoring the plastic frame in the switch housing to be checked step by step, as explained below becomes. The moving contacts contact the Contact tongues due to the movement of an actuator the stationary in a suitable switching sequence. By modification the control curve is therefore possible, even with the same course of movement of the actuator to change the switching sequence.

A particularly simple construction of the movable contacts results themselves through the combination of features listed in claim 2. After that, all become essentially parallel to each other running contact tongues together in one punching process punched out, with each other still mechanically are connected. Then the over bridges with each other connected contact tongues by injecting a common Plastic encapsulation fixed against each other and finally in a third step the spring tongues electrically separated from each other in the desired manner by the connecting webs are cut open subsequently.

The combination of features according to claim 3 describes a particular simple way of connecting the moving contacts with fixed plug connections. In principle, this happens in that the spring tongues are molded in one piece Plug connections open out together with the spring tongues are punched out of the contact plate. It can be recommended that to reinforce the plug connections this as Contact knives are designed, which by folding accordingly Lugs on the spring tongues are formed. Advantageous in the construction according to the characteristics Claim 3 is that by reaching through the plug connections through openings in the switch housing at the same time also anchoring the plug connections in the Switch housing takes place.

The present invention is particularly suitable for actuation the moving contacts by means of an operating lever a steering column switch according to the combination of features according to claim 4. By the movement of the operating lever so act the assigned to the individual spring tongues Control cams on the spring tongues and create so one depending on the position of the operating lever given contact. Should the order of Contacting depending on the given positions the actuating lever can be changed, it is recommended in Further development of the invention, the combination of features Claim 5. After that, it is only necessary to choose the appropriate one Control curves to select one from the position of the operating lever to achieve the desired switching sequence.

By introducing the shape of the operating lever Independent control curve can be the design simplify the operating lever. This measure can be not just apply to a single spring tongue, but also according to the features of claim 6 several or all spring tongues. To equip the plunger To facilitate in the counter is recommended in further training of the invention according to claim 6, the plunger with each other to connect by parallel plastic spring arms that are in turn interconnected. The sum of all Actuating plunger of a switch are therefore in a single component, what the assembly of the switch simplified by the plunger, since only the common cross member anchored in the switch housing must become.

The resulting structure essentially has the appearance a comb, with the plunger at the ends of the comb teeth protrude perpendicular to the ridge plane. Because the switch housing to be equipped with these combs by machines, must be prevented that the comb teeth in the transport container interlock with each other. For this are on the comb teeth corresponding combinations of features according to claim 7 computational approaches, which are in the level of Comb and so the spaces between the comb teeth to complete. In this way, prongs get caught impossible that belong to different combs.

To move the spring tongues together through one step Being able to anchor the switch housing are in advanced training the invention proposed the features of claim 8. As a result, it is only necessary to use the plastic frame by a machine in a first, perpendicular to the Plane level to push in the lying direction into the switch housing and then in a second perpendicular to the plane of the Snap the tongue lying direction with the housing.

To also with this insertion movement of the spring tongues at the same time for the creation of their connecting contacts To take care of the housing is recommended in further training the invention, the combination of features according to claim 9. Der The advantage of such a construction is that with the insertion of the plastic socket into the switch housing at the same time the connection contacts in the corresponding associated openings are threaded so that at the end of Displacement of the spring tongues in the direction mentioned Protruding connection contacts from the switch housing.

The automatic assembly of the to the invention Elements belonging to the switch are considerably simplified by using the features of claim 10. Thereafter the plastic frame and the cross member come from above in the same direction into the open switch housing inserted and are thus by the same machine be fitted.

From the above it follows that with the invention at the same time easy installation of the switch elements mentioned in the switch housing should be possible. Recommend this the process steps mentioned in claim 11, which at the same time to check the moving contacts in their contact position within the switch can be exploited. In principle, it is therefore proceeded in such a way that the with Movable contacts provided plastic socket in the housing is inserted, whereby it is checked whether in this Location still all moving contacts from the associated fixed contacts have distance. This excludes that contact spiders are used in which at least one spring arm in the latter position the associated fixed contact is sufficient.

Then the plastic frame with the individual Spring tongues inserted by a certain amount and it it is then determined whether all movable in this state Contacts rest on the stationary. Should one the spring tongues must be bent so far that in this state contact is not given, so here too entire contact spider not approved for installation. It is the plastic frame in one direction the switch housing snapped into place at the contact pressure of the moving contacts lying on it by a certain amount is increased. After following these steps you are sure that the switches both close properly also open properly depending on the location of the each assigned tappet.

1. Montageschritt 1 (= Einstecken ZUS-Feder (s Kunststofffassung mit Federn) in Grundplatte)
Prüfung anschließend, ob alle Kontakte noch geöffnet sind. Ist ein Kontakt geschlossen, muß ein Federarm nach unten hin verbogen sein.

2. Prüfung auf Kontaktgabe (= Drücken der ZUS-Feder um einen definierten Weg in Verclipsrichtung)
Prüfung anschließend, ob alle Kontakte geschlossen sind. Ist ein Kontakt nicht geschlossen, muß ein Federarm nach oben hin verbogen sein.

3. Montageschritt 2 (= Verclipsen der ZUS-Feder)
Federarme wurden vorgespannt und damit die Kontaktkraft erzeugt.

The procedure is summarized as follows:

1.Installation step 1 (= insert ZUS spring (s plastic socket with springs) in the base plate)
Then check whether all contacts are still open . If a contact is closed, a spring arm must be bent downwards.

2. Check for contact (= pressing the ZUS spring a defined distance in the clipping direction)
Then check whether all contacts are closed . If a contact is not closed, a spring arm must be bent upwards.

3rd assembly step 2 (= clipping the ZUS spring)
Spring arms were preloaded and the contact force was generated.

Fig. 1

eine Vorderansicht der durch eine Kunststoffassung miteinander verbundenen Federzungen, in der die Steckanschlüsse noch nicht gefaltet sind

Fig. 2

eine Rückansicht der Federzungen nach Fig. 1 mit gefalteten Steckanschlüssen

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht der Federzungen nach Fig. 1

Fig. 4

die Ansicht der Federzungen nach Fig. 3 mit abgefalteten Steckanschlüssen, welche senkrecht zur Betrachterebene sich erstrecken

Fig. 5

in vergrößerter Darstellung den Betätigungshebel eines Lenkstockschalters, welcher an einer Steuereinrichtung zur Steuerung der Steuerkurven angreift

Fig. 6

in vergrößerter Darstellung einen Schaltstößel, welcher von der zugehörigen Steuerkurve beaufschlagt wird

Fig. 7,8 und 9

drei Stellungen der Federzungen zur Überprüfung der Kontaktgabe.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

a front view of the spring tongues connected by a plastic socket, in which the plug connections are not yet folded

Fig. 2

a rear view of the spring tongues of FIG. 1 with folded plug connections

Fig. 3

2 shows a side view of the spring tongues according to FIG. 1

Fig. 4

the view of the spring tongues of FIG. 3 with folded plug connections which extend perpendicular to the viewer plane

Fig. 5

in an enlarged view the actuating lever of a steering column switch, which acts on a control device for controlling the control cams

Fig. 6

in an enlarged view a switching plunger, which is acted upon by the associated control cam

7,8 and 9

three positions of the spring tongues for checking the contact.

In Fig. 1, the contact tongues 1,2,3 are shown, which the resilient ends of the movable contacts 4,5,6. The contact tongues are made from a common contact plate 7 punched out and through a plastic socket 8 together connected. The procedure is such that before the extrusion coating the plastic socket 8 the contact tongues over webs are interconnected so that they are easily in the desired Allow layer to be placed in the mold. After this The undesired electrical connections are encapsulated creating connecting bridges.

It is important for the lead frame according to FIG. 1 that contact lugs 9 to 11 are also formed at the same time, which after injection molding with the plastic socket 8 to plug connections 12,13,14 are folded. As by dashed lines Lines indicated within the plastic socket 8 is the Contact tongue 1 with the two plug connections 12, 13 and two spring tongues 2 and 3 with the plug connector 14 electrically connected. 3 shows a side view of FIG. 1.

4 is the area of the connecting lugs 15 in FIG. 1 kinked perpendicular to the viewer plane and at the same time the plug connections 12 to 14 are folded according to FIG. 2.

1, 3 and 4, a locking bar 16 is indicated, through which the plastic socket 8 with the switch housing can be locked.

In Fig. 7 is still the spring tongue 1 with the movable contact 4 can be seen in an enlarged view, the movable contact 4 is opposite a fixed contact 17, which is locked on the switch housing. In the according Fig. 9 shown position of the contact tongue, in which the Locking bar 16 in a corresponding recess 18 in the switch housing is engaged, the movable contact 4 on the fixed contact 17 so that these two contacts connected to each other in the basic position of the switch are.

In order to be able to separate contacts 4 and 17 from each other, it is necessary that the contact-side end 19 of the spring tongue 1 raised against the apparent bias direction becomes. This is done by means of a plunger 20, which with its drive surface 21 on the contact side End 19 of the spring tongue 1 acts.

6, the plunger 20 is in one Through opening 23 of a wall of a switch housing 22 guided. The tappet is controlled by a control curve 24 driven, which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the Ram moved in the direction of the double arrow F past the ram 20. The cam carrier 25 is by the end of a Actuating lever 26 (see Fig. 5) in the direction of the double arrow (F) as shown in FIG. 6 taken by the operating lever 26 around the bearing pin 27 within a driver 28 is tilted in the switch housing of the steering column switch. This tilting movement turns the cam carrier 25 in Moved in the direction of the double arrow F and thus the control curve 24 on the plunger 20 in the intended switching positions brought. The driver 28 is in turn via a bearing bore 29 and a bearing pin 30 pivotable about the axis A, but with the end of the operating lever 26 in the cam carrier 25 is freely movable in the pivoting movement.

The attachment is important for the switch according to the invention the plunger, of which the switch described here three are provided, but of which in FIGS. 7 to 9 only the two plungers 20 and 29 can be seen. The three Tappets 20, 29 are each provided with a spring arm 31 common cross member 32 connected, the cross member 32nd with the three spring arms 31 essentially like a comb looks three prongs, and being from the ridge plane to the individual spring arms (tines) located plunger 20.29 protrude vertically. The plunger is through the in the housing wall guided cam carrier 25 by means of it Control cams 24 driven (see Fig. 6 and 7), wherein in Fig. 7 of the cam carrier 25 perpendicular to the viewer plane is guided in the direction of the double arrow F.

For the switch according to the invention it is conceivable that both the cam carrier 25 and the cross member 32 and the Plastic frame 8 parallel to the plane of movement F from above in corresponding recesses inserted in the switch housing so that all three components are in the same Have the direction populated. Since in this case also Plug connections 14 point in the same direction and by appropriate Openings in the bottom of the switch led no difficulties arise on.

It is particularly important for the invention that this is also ensured is that the contact tongues 1,2,3 are not inadmissible Have deformations. To ensure the correct shape of the spring tongues Checking 1, 2, 3 becomes as in FIGS. 7 to 9 proceeded clearly. Once the plastic frame is 8 in the corresponding opening in the housing wall 22 of the switch housing is inserted by a corresponding Continuity test checks whether the moving contacts 4,5,6 free of contact with the assigned fixed contacts 17 are. If this is the case, it is tested whether the movable contacts also all have an electrical contact to the associated stationary contacts 17 if the plastic frame by a predetermined amount is inserted. If this is the case, you can be sure be that the movable contacts at a corresponding Actuator actuation during operation actually how lift off as desired (see Fig. 7) and otherwise closed are.

Next, the locking bar 16 is shown in FIG. 9 in a corresponding locking groove snapped into place, causing it to moves a predetermined path that leads to a corresponding one Biasing of the movable contacts 4 against the stationary contacts 17 leads. Because here the plug connections 12, 13 in the corresponding passage openings of the Switch housing are held, the spring tongues 1 to 3 bent accordingly, so that you already have one small shift of the locking bar to a significant Spring preload can reach. The main advantage of Invention is that through it one in one plane running (pushing) movement of the actuator in a vertical movement of the contacts to each other implemented is, so that dirt and material wear largely avoided. The switch is still on easy to equip and test automatically. The complexity the mold for the switch housing is made by the invention reduced.

Claims (11)

1. Switch, wherein the movable contact points (4, 56) attached to the spring ends of spring tongues (1, 23) make contact with the respective stationary contact points according to the position of an operating element, wherein the spring tongues (1, 2, 3) are mechanically connected to one another in an area facing away from the tongue ends carrying the contact points (4, 5, 6) by a plastic socket (8), wherein the plastic socket (8) is held in a stationary position in the switch housing (22) by a catch engagement (16), and wherein the movable contact points (4, 5, 6) are activated by a mechanical control (25, 20, 29) which acts due to the movement of an operating element (26), characterized in that the mechanical control (25, 20, 29) has at least one radial cam (24) assigned to the respective spring arms, acting on the spring tongues directly or indirectly by way of the operating driver rods (20, 29).
2. Switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the spring tongues (1, 2, 3) are connected to the plastic socket by injection molding and that the spring tongues (1, 2, 3) are formed by a punched grid, whereupon contact paths which are to be separated from one another electrically are separated after extrusion-coating of the plastic socket (8).
3. Switch according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact paths on the ends facing away from the spring arms (1, 2, 3) develop in one piece into the plug-in connections (12, 13, 14), which protrude through corresponding openings into the switch housing (22).
4. Switch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radial cam (26) is worked directly into the actuating lever of a steering column switch or it is entrained by the actuating lever (26).
5. Switch according to Claim 4, characterized in that the radial cam (24) acts indirectly via a driver rod (20, 29) on the respective spring arm (1), and the movement of the driver rod through a guide opening (23) in a switch wall (22) is limited by a stop (31).
6. Switch according to Claim 5, characterized in that several plastic driver rods (20, 29) that can move across the plane of the spring tongues (1, 2, 3) are provided and are connected to one another by parallel plastic spring arms (31), which open into a common cross piece (32) which is anchored in a guide slot in the switch housing, preferably by insertion.
7. Switch according to Claim 6, characterized in that the plastic arms (31) are provided with parallel rake-like projections parallel to one another, essentially in the plane of the plastic arm.
8. Switch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plastic socket (8) can be inserted into a guide opening in the switch housing (22) parallel to the plane of the spring tongues (1, 2, 3), and it can be locked in a catch groove (18) in the switch housing (22) in this direction by a projection (16) which is perpendicular to the plane of the spring tongues (1, 2, 3) and has undercuts.
9. Switch according to one of Claims 3 through 8, characterized in that the blade-shaped plug-in connections (12, 13, 14) extend in the insertion direction of the plastic socket (8) through the respective switch openings.
10. Switch according to one of Claims 1 through 9 and Claim 6, characterized in that the plastic socket (8) and the cross piece (32) can be inserted into the switch housing (22) in the same assembly direction, or the cross piece is engaged perpendicular to the plane of the plastic socket.
11. Method of assembling a switch according to one of Claims 1 through 10, characterized in that the plastic socket (8) is inserted into the housing (22) until the movable contact points (4, 5, 6) are opposite the stationary contact points in the housing, and then it is tested, preferably electrically, to determine whether contact points belonging to one another are free of contact, that the plastic socket is then inserted further by a predetermined amount by a device and then tested to determine whether the respective contact points make contact with one another in this position, and then finally, the plastic socket (8) is inserted into the housing (22) across the plane of the spring tongues (1, 2, 3) by another predetermined distance and is thus locked in position.

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