EP1467445B1 - System of switching devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Contacts have plug-in terminal lugs (20) pointing outwards, onto which multiple plugs connect. The plug-in terminal lugs can each be formed as a single piece with a connecting bridge (22) running between switches (12a,12b) or can be produced from the same piece of material.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement of at least two switching devices according to the preamble of claim 1. Such switching devices are in particular device switches for a household appliance, such as clocking energy regulator for a hob.

For example, in hobs with four burners accordingly four energy controllers are provided as switching devices. You can, for example, from the EP 977 224 A is known to be mounted side by side behind a front panel. To the connections of the energy regulator so-called connector are attached, which usually combine several contacts in a connector housing. On the one hand, the provision of the various plugs means a certain amount of effort. Furthermore, it is attempted to save space by ever smaller switching devices or contact distances and the effort to minimize. However, one encounters certain technical limits.

EP-A-0860846 discloses an arrangement of two appliance switches for a domestic appliance, each trap having a plurality of contacts to be switched, the contacts being connected to separate and outgoing terminals, one terminal of each of the two switching devices being connected to each other by a connecting bridge between the switching devices, and wherein the terminals and the connecting bridge are integrally formed with each other.

Task and solution

The invention has for its object to provide an aforementioned arrangement, with which the disadvantages of the prior art can be avoided, in particular to improve the connection options for such arrangements of switching devices.

This object is achieved by an arrangement with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of further claims and are explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is incorporated herein by express reference.

A terminal of a switching device is connected to a terminal of one or the other switching device, by means of a connecting bridge. This means that the connecting bridge extends from one switching device or one connection to the other switching device or to the other connection. The two connections are made in one piece with the connection bridge and also form an electrically conductive connection. This makes it possible, for example, to contact only one connection with an external plug connection and thus simultaneously the other connection. Thus, the connection costs are reduced, especially with regard to plug connections.

According to the invention, a connecting bridge is bent in its course. Such bends, which may even form heels or loops, are provided to give the connecting bridge a certain course or to position it at a specific location. This is particularly advantageous if a connection is provided on a connection bridge and this should fit into a specific connection pattern.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible to provide in each case a plurality of connecting bridges between the switching devices, if in each case a plurality of connections are present. These connections can be, for example, ground connections or mains phase connections.

Furthermore, it is possible to achieve with a connection bridge between two switching devices also multiple connections in each case a switching device.

The one-piece connection between terminals and connecting bridge should be as well as possible electrically conductive and advantageously also mechanically stable. The connections can form a structural unit with the connection bridge. Furthermore, it is possible to form the connecting bridge with their terminals in one piece, so to mold from a single piece of material. For this purpose, for example, offers a molding of a metal plate, from the connecting bridge and connectors punched accordingly or can be cut out by laser. It can also be used in particular a metal plate made of a metal strip. Possibilities of mass production, possibly with easy adaptation of different forms, can be used here.

The connecting bridge is band-shaped as a particularly advantageous embodiment, wherein it has a sufficient conductor cross-section with correspondingly large electrical powers. It is advantageously between two adjacent and spaced apart having switching devices. The connections can protrude in the vertical direction from the longitudinal direction of the connecting bridge. For an advantageous connection possibility of the switching devices, most, in particular all, connections of the switching devices should point in the same direction. Parallel connections can be easily made with a single connector or a single movement for multiple connectors electrical connection.

Furthermore, it is possible to project a connection from the connecting bridge itself in a region between the switching devices to let. This connection should advantageously be designed in the same way as the other connections, in particular as a plug connection lug. Thus, for example, for network connections, additional space, namely between the switching devices, be used for plug-in connections. This allows, for example, a further reduction of the space for the switching devices from which protrude the terminals.

A connecting bridge can be designed to be flexible, wherein it is advantageously bendable in a plane of movement. For this purpose, a strip of flat material can be used, which has just this flexibility in a plane of movement. Although the connecting bridge can also be bent, but essentially intrinsically stiff. So it can form a stable assembly of the switching devices.

It is possible in particular with multiple connection bridges between two switching devices to move them slightly against each other. However, they should not be rotated against each other, which is a great advantage when assembling, for example. Preferably, the connection bridges between nearest or mutually facing sides of the switching devices, ie on the shortest path.

Furthermore, it can take place at always the same connection bridges by S-shaped folding or paragraph a shortening of the connecting bridge. Thus, finished arrangements of switching devices at different distances from each other, and thus different Knebelabstände the rotary knob for operation to be set. This reduces tool costs and storage costs.

Furthermore, it is possible to isolate a particular metallic connecting bridge at least partially, in particular completely up to protruding connections. For this purpose, plastic jacketing can be provided, which can also be applied subsequently liquid or spreadable.

An assembly of connecting bridge with terminals can be installed in a housing of the switching devices. The unit should sit firmly in the switching devices. For this purpose, injection into a plastic housing for the switching devices has proved to be advantageous. Furthermore, it is possible for a structural unit to have not just one connecting bridge and two connections projecting therefrom, but a plurality of connecting bridges with a plurality of connections protruding therefrom. These can be installed together in housing of switching devices, for example by the aforementioned injection. Subsequently, webs can be separated between the connecting bridges for electrical separation and separation. The webs can be punched through, for example, in the finished housings of the switching devices, in particular by the material of the housing itself through. For example, with different basic designs of switching devices, configuration is possible by means of different punching through and thus disconnection of connecting bridges or connections.

Preferably, such switching devices are used which have a single actuator for all contacts. The actuating movement can each be the same, for example, a rotation. However, in each case a different contact is closed in different rotational positions.

These and other features are apparent from the claims but also from the description and the drawings.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in more detail below. It shows Fig. 1 a schematic view of an arrangement or a construction of two device switches with connecting bridges in between.

Detailed description of the embodiment

In Fig. 1 an arrangement 11 according to the invention is shown. Two device switches 12a and 12b are shown in bottom view. They each have a housing 14a and 14b. Of these housings 14, the bottom bottoms 15a and 15b can be seen in each case.

To illustrate the illustrated device switch 12, the control rollers 17a and 17b are shown, which extend inside the device switch 12. On the control rollers 17 cams 18 are arranged in a known manner. With these switching operations between contacts of the device switch 12 can be triggered. This is for example from the EP 977 224 A known.

The contacts, not shown, inside the device switch 12 are connected in a known manner to plug-in lugs 20 and attached thereto. The plug-in lugs 20 project respectively over the bottom bottoms 15a and 15a and protrude into Fig. 1 out of the drawing plane. As can be seen, all plug connection lugs 20 are parallel to one another. In particular, they are arranged in a certain pitch. This allows predetermined distances or connection diagrams of the device switches.

Between the two device switches 12a and 12b run four connection bridges 22. Thus, each contact and / or plug connection lugs 20 of the device switch can be connected. Thus, for example, connects the connecting bridge 22 on the far left, each arranged on the leftmost pair of Steckanschlussfahnen 20, which in Fig. 1 left upper side of the device switch 12a and lower left on the device switch 12b sits. The connection bridges may generally be flat either parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

While three of the connecting bridges 22 are rectilinear, the second connecting bridge has bends 24 from the left. These bends 24 are formed such that a longer connecting bridge 22 is designed for shorter distance.

Furthermore, the bends 24 are arranged on both sides of a plug connection lug 26, which sits on the connecting bridge 22. For this purpose, the plug connection lug 26 can either be formed in one piece with the connecting bridge, for example, out of a single metal plate. Alternatively, it may be connected to the connecting bridge 22, for example by spot welding. It is noticeable and important that the plug connection lug 26 on the one hand points in the same direction as the remaining plug connection lugs 20. Thus, with a single direction of movement for the plug connections a connection can be made. Furthermore, the plug connection lug 26 runs parallel to the remaining plug connection lugs 20.

The plug connection lug 26 or the connecting bridge 22 carrying it can be, for example, a ground connection for the device switches 12a and 12b. Furthermore, it could serve to tap a switching signal, which can be triggered simultaneously or dependent on the device switches.

The plug-in lugs 20 may, under certain circumstances with connecting bridges 22 fastened thereto, be installed by injection into the housing 14 or base bottom 15 in so-called insert technology. It can by using boards with bent sections or the like, as for example from the EP 977 224 A are known, several or all plug connection lugs 20 on one side of the control roller 17 of a device switch 12 to be interconnected. This can be, for example, a central connection.

Claims (13)

1. System (11) of at least two switching devices, in particular appliance switches (12) for a domestic appliance, where each switching device has a housing (14a; 14b) and a plurality of contacts to be operated, where the contacts are connected to separate terminals (20) leading to the outside, where the terminals (20) of each of the at least two switching devices are connected to one another by a connecting bridge (22) between the switching devices, where the terminals (20) and the connecting bridge (22) are designed in one piece with each other, and where the connecting bridge (22) is bent and has along its course bends (24) or loops for altering or reducing its length and the distance between the housings (14a; 14b) of the switching devices (12).
2. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connecting bridge (22) is designed in one piece with the two terminals (20), preferably from the same metal plate.
3. System according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting bridge (22) is strip-like, preferably running substantially vertical to the longitudinal direction of the terminals (20).
4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all terminals (20) of the switching devices (12), in particular also a terminal projecting from the connecting bridge (22), face in the same direction and/or are parallel to one another.
5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting bridge (22) is flexible in at least one movement plane, the connecting bridge (22) being preferably a flat material and elastically bendable in a plane vertical to its flat side.
6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting bridge (22) is folded in one area (24) into an approximate S shape, in particular pressed together and bent such that it runs approximately straight overall.
7. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting bridge (22) is at least partially insulated from the outside, in particular by a plastic sheathing.
8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a terminal (26) protrudes from the connecting bridge (22) between the two switching devices (12), in particular a terminal similarly designed to the other terminals (20) on the connecting bridge (22) in the switching devices (12).
9. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the terminals are plug-in terminal lugs (20, 26).
10. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the terminals (20, 26) and at least part of the connecting bridge (22) are permanently arranged or mounted inside a housing (14) of the switching devices (12), preferably injection-moulded into a plastic housing.
11. System according to Claim 10, characterized in that the connecting bridge (22) consists of a part of a metal plate from which other connections run inside a housing (14) of the switching devices (12), the connecting bridge (22) being separated from the other connections by cutting through, in particular by punching through a housing (14) of the switching devices (12).
12. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching devices (12) have an actuating device (17, 18) for the contacts, the actuating device being actuatable by a single actuation movement and in particular the switching devices (12) being similarly designed.
13. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching devices (12) are arranged precisely parallel to one another and the connecting bridge (22) runs in this direction.

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