Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
  • H01H19/02—Details
  • H01H19/10—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
  • H01H19/14—Operating parts, e.g. turn knob
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
  • H01H19/02—Details
  • H01H19/025—Light-emitting indicators
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
  • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
  • H01H3/08—Turn knobs

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a light rotating knob for an electric circuit, comprising a handle pivotally mounted about an axis for actuating at least one switchgear and illuminated by a light source substantially disposed along the axis, the lever comprising a cap forming a disc and a protruding lug projecting in a diametral plane.
• the handle passes light from a central light source and is provided with control members for switching the electric blocks.
• the color of the light emitted by the button can be chosen by the user, for example according to the function assigned to the button.
• the tightness of the rotating part of such a rotating knob is provided by a lip seal which induces a resistant force.
• US 2003/0150701 discloses a rotating knob having a luminous index.
• the object of the invention is to provide a luminous turning knob whose handle presents a brightness on the thin slices and on the lateral faces of the ear.
• the operating and sealing conditions of the luminous turning knob are improved.
• the cap is translucent or transparent material capable of letting the light out to the outside, the gripping ear being hollow and. covers a mechanical base, opaque material and mechanically resistant.
• the button comprises, in the handle, a light guide leading the light of the light source from the bottom of the base to the hollow space of the ear.
• the mechanical base of generally annular shape has on the underside at least one actuating member cooperating with a mechanism.
• the light guide has a light entry face, passes through the annular base through a central orifice aligned with the axis and has a light emitter in the inner hollow space of the ear of way to diffuse the light on the sides.
• the light emitter housed in the hollow space of the ear has a prism shape and receives light from a light input block attached to the bottom of the handle.
• Figure 1 is a diagram, in side view, of the luminous turning knob according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective an embodiment of the knob handle
• Figure 4 illustrates, in perspective, the light guide incorporated in the light button
• Figure 5 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the light button head
• Figure 6 is a section on VI-VI of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is an exploded view of Figures 5 and 6;
• Figure 8 is an axial section of an embodiment of the seal incorporated in the button.
• the luminous turning knob illustrated in the figures comprises a head 10 having substantially a shape of revolution about an axis X and being mounted on a base fixing device 11 as described in EP 889 564.
• the head 10 is mounted in a hole in a mounting plane Q (FIG. 1), by means of a seal 13, and so that the handle 20 is accessible manually and visually above this plane Q.
• each block 12 to the base 1 being effected by hooking means such as those described in WO 97/2855 .
• the head is equipped with a handle 20 which is pivotable about the axis of rotation X so as to take at least two functional positions maintained or fugitive.
• the rotation of the joystick to predetermined positions causes switching of the electric switch units 12 and the implementation of an electrical circuit to which these blocks are connected.
• the rotating handle 20 externally has an outer cap 22 forming a disc 22B and a gripping lug 22A which projects, in a dia- meter plane.
• the lug 22 A has a hollow internal space 23 and forms side faces 22C, 22D illuminated by a light source S.
• the outer cap 22 is made of transparent or translucent plastic material which allows the light flux emitted by the light source S.
• the hollow internal space 23 of the grasping ear may have a shape which, when viewed in elevation, is substantially rectangular or trapezoidal.
• the light source S is part of a light unit which is mounted like the electric blocks 12 on the base 11, in the center, so that the source is centered on the axis X.
• the cap 22 covers, forming a one-piece assembly, a mechanical base 21 in the form of a ring centered on X.
• the lever 20 has, towards the bottom, a collar 22E centered on the axis X and made of the same material as that of the cap 22 and a peripheral edge 22F inserted into a collar 80. Between the dropped edge 23 and the tubular collar central 22 is formed an annular chamber 24.
• the collar 22E has a generally tubular shape and houses inside a rotary control actuator 50 by being assembled in particular by snapping 56, the two parts 20 and 50 thus being integral in rotation and translation.
• the translucent or transparent plastics material of the outer shell 22 may be colorless.
• the light source S emits a neutral or colored flux, the correlation between the light emission color and the visual appearance offered by the button being provided by the base.
• the color of the light emitted by the source S and transmitted to the gripping lug 22 is correlated with that of the material of the base 21.
• the translucent plastics material of the outer envelope 22 may be colored, so as to allow the colored or neutral flow (white light) emitted by the source S to pass out towards the faces 22C, 22D.
• the mechanical base 21 is made of colored and mechanically resistant opaque plastic material so as to ensure the transmission of the forces - and to withstand the resulting wear - towards a control mechanism 40 housed under the handle in the annular space provided in the Flange 80.
• the mechanical base 21 has on the underside at least one cam or drive or actuating finger 25 cooperating with the mechanism 40 to mark the positions of the joystick.
• the base may comprise two fingers 25.
• the mechanical base 21 in addition to its mechanical function has a visual function.
• the mechanical base 21 shown alone in FIG. 3 has a generally annular shape and has a central through hole 26 centered on the axis X and adapted to the passage of the light guide 30 which extends into the internal hollow space 23.
• the source illuminant S illuminant the button is arranged along the X axis below the level of the mechanical base 21.
• the lever 20 is advantageously made by bi-injection of the material of the mechanical mechanical base 21 (and of the index 27) and the material of the outer gripping cap 22.
• the button houses a light guide 30 centered on the axis of rotation X and which, facing the source S, an input face 37 of light forming part of a block 34, passes through the opaque mechanical base 21 through the central opening 26 and presents a light emitter 31 housed, on the high side, in the inner hollow space 23 of the ear so as to diffuse the light on the sides.
• the light emitter 31 has a prism or bevel shape delimited by two lateral faces 32 extending between two beads 33.
• the lateral faces 32 are inclined relative to the axis X, the spacing decreasing in the direction of propagation light.
• the transmitter is bordered between the two faces 32 by a thin face 39.
• the diffusing side faces 32 refract the light and are preferably frosted to diffuse the light on both sides of the ear.
• the transmitter or diffuser receives light from the generally cylindrical input block 34 intended to be housed and fixed at the bottom of the handle, at the top of the tubular actuator 50 and in it.
• the block 34 On the source S side, the block 34 has the input face 37 between which the light is then driven axially towards the ear so as to constitute a concentrator and light diffuser.
• the light exits through the lateral faces 32, the front face 38 and the thin face 39.
• the light guide 30 is fixed by snapping or latching and sealingly in the actuator 50 itself fixed to the handle, the light emitter 31 itself being housed in a sealed manner in the hollow space of the housing. 'hear.
• the guide or light diffuser 30 is made of a material capable of transmitting light. It is bordered on its periphery by a sealing bead 35.
• the block 34 also has and at least one attachment and sealing bead 36.
• the material constituting the light diffuser 30 may be an elastomer.
• the handle has in the ear 22A, embedded therein, a display index 27, for the purpose of identifying the angular position of the handle and having a sliced color relative to that of the ear.
• this index 27 is made of the same material as the mechanical base 21 and is molded therewith.
• the index 27 has at least one branch flush with the outer surface of the ear. It has an L shape with two branches 27a, 27b matching the shape of the edge of the gripping ear and flush with the edges of the two sides of the ear, which sides, substantially horizontal and vertical respectively, border the internal space 23 of the ear.
• the position display index 27 which is made of the same material as the base 21 has the same color as this one. The index highlights the correlation between the color of the light source and the visual appearance offered by the button. The base and the index attached to it can therefore be invariant regardless of the expected color for the light emission of the button and their color can thus remain the same for the whole of a range of buttons of various colors.
• the head comprises a flange 80 of generally cylindrical shape which has a cylindrical portion 81 in which is housed the handle 20. This portion 81 is connected by a shoulder to a lower portion 82 which comprises rectilinear guides for guiding translational sliders 71 , 72, parallel to the axis X, in response to the rotation of the handle and the actuator 50.
• the sliders 71, 72 are used to actuate the electric blocks 12.
• the outer cylindrical collar 80 provides an annular housing 84 forming a bowl.
• the lever 20 is secured to a tubular rotary actuator 50 whose central bore passes the light beam from the source S and which is provided with cam shapes 52 acting on at least one slider 71, 72 for controlling the electric block .
• the tubular rotary actuator 50 has a cylindrical tubular portion 51 which is snapped near one end on a central flange 22E of the handle 20 and has at the other end cam shapes 52 for moving the sliders. Between the cylindrical portion 51 and the cam shapes 52, it comprises a shoulder 54 applicable against a bearing surface 85 - transverse to the axis X - of the collar.
• the tubular portion 51 forms a cylindrical surface that cooperates with the seal 60 housed at the bottom of a bowl formed in the flange 80 housing itself the handle.
• the lip seal 60 illustrated in detail in FIG. 8 has a sealing lip 61 directed towards the X axis and in contact with the cylindrical portion 51, a flange 64 which fits against a lateral surface of the bowl 84, side faces 62 and 65 and a frame 63 which serves to stiffen it.
• the light guide 30 could provide in space 23 another suitable form.

Landscapes

• Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
• Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
• Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
• Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=34796775

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (20)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2004
  • 2004-12-16 AT AT04804895T patent/ATE360256T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-12-16 US US10/582,941 patent/US7780325B2/en active Active
  • 2004-12-16 AU AU2004314083A patent/AU2004314083B2/en active Active
  • 2004-12-16 ES ES04804895T patent/ES2285555T3/es active Active
  • 2004-12-16 EP EP04804895A patent/EP1697953B2/de active Active
  • 2004-12-16 MX MXPA06006643A patent/MXPA06006643A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2004-12-16 BR BRPI0417701-0A patent/BRPI0417701B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2004-12-16 WO PCT/EP2004/053549 patent/WO2005069326A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2004-12-16 DE DE602004006022T patent/DE602004006022T2/de active Active
  • 2004-12-16 PL PL04804895T patent/PL1697953T3/pl unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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