EP1938347B1 - Push-push electric switching device having push-button guiding means - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric switching device comprising, inside a housing (40): a pivoting driver (51) that can pivot between two stable positions for bringing a moving electric contactor into or out of contact with/from a fixed electrical contactor; a push-button (10) accessible to the user; an egg insulator (20) connected to the push-button that can interact with the pivoting driver for making it pivot between the two stable positions, and; means for translationally guiding the push-button inside the housing between a pushed-in position and a position of rest. According to the invention, the translational guiding means comprise two joining members (30A, 30B) joined to one another via a pivot axis while crossing one another and interacting with the housing and the push-button for moving together in a scissor-like manner.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION REFERS

The present invention generally relates to electrical switching devices such as switches and back and forth.

• un entraîneur basculant adapté à pivoter entre deux positions stables pour mettre en contact ou hors contact un contacteur électrique mobile avec un contacteur électrique fixe,
• un bouton-poussoir accessible à l'usager,
• une noix solidaire du bouton-poussoir apte à coopérer avec l'entraîneur basculant pour le faire pivoter entre les deux positions stables, et
• des moyens de guidage en translation du bouton-poussoir dans le boîtier entre une position enfoncée et une position de repos.

It relates more particularly to an electrical switching device comprising in a housing:

• a tilting trainer adapted to pivot between two stable positions to put in contact or out of contact a movable electric switch with a fixed electrical contactor,
• a push button accessible to the user,
• a nut integral with the push button adapted to cooperate with the tilting coach to rotate it between the two stable positions, and
• means for guiding the push-button in the housing between a depressed position and a rest position.

BACKGROUND

Electrical switching devices such as the aforementioned, commonly known as switch or push-push, are already known, in which each translation of the push-button makes it possible to bear the nut on one side or the other of the trainer to tilt it into an electrical switching position.

In such devices already known, the guide in translation of the push button is simply achieved by the sliding of its side wall on the edge of the opening of the trim plate which receives it. In these devices, there is provided a return spring compressed between the push button and an inner portion of the housing to return the push button to its rest position projecting from the housing. Generally, this return spring acts on the central part of the push button in the direction of translation of the latter.

The main disadvantage of such devices is that the guide means in translation of the push button are not sufficient to maintain its support surface always perpendicular to the direction of translation of the push button regardless of the support point of the push button. user on the support surface.

Indeed, it may happen that the user, by pressing the pushbutton eccentrically relative to the central portion on which the return spring acts, causes the tilting of the push button thus causing a bad cooperation of the nut with the trainer or even a blockage of said push button in the opening that receives it.

The document US 6,680,449 describes a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the aforementioned drawback of the state of the art, the present invention proposes an electrical switching device in which the translational guidance of the pushbutton in the housing is improved.

More particularly, the invention proposes an electrical switching device as defined in the introduction, in which the translational guiding means comprise two link arms connected to each other by a pivot axis while crossing each other and cooperating with the housing and the push button to move together in the manner of scissors.

Thus, these two arms link the push button to the housing by supporting each of these two parts in several distinct points and moving together. They therefore form a lifting table which ensures the correct positioning of the push button during its translation regardless of the size of the push button and whatever the point of support of the effort exerted by the user on this button. In addition, the connecting arms give the device rigidity and robustness essential to its frequent and durable use.

According to a first advantageous characteristic of the device according to the invention, on the one hand, one of the connecting arms comprises a low end connected to the casing by a pivot connection and an upper end connected to the pushbutton by a slide connection. sliding axis parallel to the plane of the support surface of the push button, and, secondly, the other of the connecting arm comprises a low end connected to the housing by a sliding connection of axis parallel to said axis of sliding and a high end connected to the push button by a pivot connection.

Thus, the combination of pivot links and slide links allows the push button to descend to its depressed position along the side faces of the housing in a simple translation without transverse shift. The side faces of the push button can therefore be precisely adjusted against the edge of the opening of the housing accommodating the push button in order to obtain an aesthetic and dust-tight device.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, each connecting arm has a U-shape with two lateral branches connected to one another by a transverse branch.

This U-shaped configuration of the connecting arms makes it possible to release the central space of the housing reserved for the electrical switching mechanism.

Advantageously then, the free ends of the lateral branches of each connecting arm form a low end and the transverse branch of each connecting arm forms a high end.

Thus, the link arms have four points of contact with the housing and four points of contact with the push button, thus ensuring the push button a correct seat on the housing.

Preferably, the lower ends of the connecting arms carrying cylindrical tenons, the tenons of an arm fit into a housing of the housing while its upper end is inserted into a sliding groove of the push button, and the pins of the other arm fit into a sliding groove of the housing while its upper end snaps into a snap groove of the push button.

Advantageously, the transverse branch of each connecting arm carries a rib provided with two notches adapted to maintain laterally each connecting arm relative to the push button.

Thus, the lateral faces of the notches of the rib of each connecting arm bear on either side of the sliding grooves and snap of the push button, thereby blocking in translation the connecting arms along the axis of their transverse branch.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the device comprises elastic means for returning the push button in the rest position which act on the link arms in a direction transverse to the direction of translation of the push button.

Thus, when no effort is exerted on the push button, the latter is placed automatically and quickly in the rest position so that it is always ready to be actuated to cause the electrical switching of the switching mechanism.

Preferably, said elastic return means are compression springs arranged between a side wall of the housing and the free ends lateral branches of a connecting arm which slide in the sliding groove provided in the housing.

Thus, the space in the center of the device reserved for the switching mechanism is left free. In the device according to the invention, it takes advantage indeed that the lower ends of a connecting arm move in the housing orthogonal to the axis of the translation of the push button to arrange the return springs orthogonally to this axis of translation in a space does not interfere with the establishment of the electrical switching mechanism.

According to an alternative embodiment, the elastic return means are compression springs disposed between a side wall of the push button and the upper end of the link arm which slides in the sliding groove provided on the push button.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, there is provided abutment means limiting the deployment of the connecting arms to maintain the push button in the rest position.

Advantageously, said stop means of the push button comprise a bulge disposed at the mouth of the sliding groove provided on the housing or on the push button and which cooperates with a low end or a high end of a link arm .

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the nut being able to take two tilting positions corresponding to the two stable positions of the tilting coach, there is provided means for returning the nut in a centered position between these two tilting positions. .

Thus, when the push button is in the rest position, the nut is automatically returned to the initial position to be able to cooperate properly with the tilting coach at the next descent of the push button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention is and how it can be achieved.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective éclatée d'un dispositif de commutation selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective de moyens de guidage du bouton-poussoir du dispositif de commutation de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique en perspective des moyens de guidage de la figure 2 assemblés avec le bouton-poussoir du dispositif de la figure 1 ; et
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon le plan A-A de la figure 3.

In the accompanying drawings:

• the figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective exploded view of a switching device according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of means for guiding the pushbutton of the switching device of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the guide means of the figure 2 assembled with the push button of the device of the figure 1 ; and
• the figure 4 is a sectional view according to the plane AA of the figure 3 .

On the figure 1 schematically shows an electrical switching device. It can be a simple switch or a back and forth depending on the type of switching mechanism 50 associated with it.

In all cases, this device comprises a housing 40 having four side walls which border a bottom wall open at its center by an opening 41 accommodating a rocker arm 51 pivotally mounted on the base of the switching mechanism 50.

In a manner known per se, the tilting driver 51 is adapted to pivot between two stable positions to put in contact or out of contact a movable electric contactor with a fixed electrical contactor (not shown).

The electrical switching device further comprises a pushbutton 10 accessible to the user and which closes the front face of the housing 40. This pushbutton 10 is adapted to translate between a rest position and a depressed position by sliding the along the side walls of the casing 40.

In order to cooperate with the tilting driver 51, the pushbutton 10 carries in the center of its rear face a nut 20 adapted to cooperate with the tilting driver 51 to rotate it between its stable positions.

The nut 20 has on two of its lateral faces an attachment pin 21 intended to be inserted into a latching groove projecting from the rear face of the push button 10. It is thus adapted to pivot relative to the button. push 10 during the translation of the latter to take two tilting positions corresponding inversely to the two stable positions of the tilting driver 51.

The tilting coach 51 is in the form of a U-shaped cradle with two parallel branches which internally comprise a sidewalk 52; the nut 20 has on its back side two shoulders 22 intended to bear alternately on the sidewalks 52 of the two branches of the tilting trainer 51 to tilt it to one or other of its stable positions.

Advantageously, there is provided return means 70 of the nut 20 in a centered position between its two tilting positions.

These return means consist of a rod 70 elastically deformable, fixed at each of its ends to the pushbutton 10 and adapted to deform towards the rear face of the pushbutton 10.

This rod 70 is in contact with the front face of the nut 20 at a central flat 23 so that when the nut 20 pivots, the rod 70 exerts a return torque of the nut 20 to its centered position.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the electrical switching device according to the invention, it comprises means for translational movement of the pushbutton 10 in the housing 40 which comprise two connecting arms 30A, 30B (a first arm 30A and a second arm 30B), here identical, connected to each other by a pivot axis by crossing and cooperating with the housing 40 and the push button 10 to move together in the manner of scissors.

As shown more particularly by Figures 2 and 3 here, each connecting arm 30A, 30B has a U-shape with two lateral branches 31A, 31B connected to each other by a transverse branch 32A, 32B.

To achieve the pivotal connection of the two link arms 30A, 30B U, one of the two lateral branches 31A, 31B of each link arm is pierced laterally at its center with a bore 39'A, 39'B and the other of the two lateral branches 31A, 31B bears on its outer face, at its center, a pin 39A, 39B.

The two connecting arms 30A, 30B are staggered relative to each other so that the pin 39A, 39B of each connecting arm 30A, 30B fits into the bore 39'A, 39 ' B of the other connecting arm 30A, 30B, so that the two connecting arms 30A, 30B can move relative to each other in the manner of scissors.

On the one hand, one of the link arms 30B has a bottom end 33B connected to the casing 40 by a pivot connection 34B, 43 and a top end 32B connected to the push button 10 by a slide link 36B, 12 of axis slide W parallel to the plane of the support surface of the push button 10.

On the other hand, the other connecting arm 30A has a low end 33A connected to the housing 40 by a slide connection 34A, 42 of axis W 'parallel to said sliding axis W and a high end 32A connected to the push button 10 by a pivot connection 36A, 11.

The free ends of the lateral branches 31A, 31B of each connecting arm 30A, 30B form its lower end 33A, 33B and the transverse branch 32A, 32B of each connecting arm 30A, 30B forms its high end 32A, 32B.

The transverse branches 32A, 32B of the connecting arms 30A, 30B have a circular section and are straight. They are each lined by a longitudinal rib 37A, 37B having two notches 38A, 38B.

The free ends of the lateral branches 31A, 31B of each connecting arm 30A, 30B each carry a foot 35A wedge-shaped. They also each carry a pin 34A, 34B turned laterally outwardly of the lateral branches 31A, 31B.

Advantageously, each connecting arm 30A, 30B is formed in one piece by molding a plastic material so that each pin 39A, 39B of pivoting, each foot 35A, 35B, each tenon 34A, 34B.et each rib 37A , 37B are formed with said connecting arm 30A, 30B corresponding.

As shown more particularly in figure 4 , the rear face of the pushbutton 10 carries two ribs 13,14 parallel and identical in each of which is formed, at one end, a latching groove 11 open rearwardly by a mouth 11A, intended to accommodate the portion 36A the upper end 32A of the first connecting arm 30A located at one of the notches 38A of the rib 37A. Advantageously, the first connecting arm 30A can pivot in this latching groove 11 without moving laterally, the lateral faces of the notches 38A bearing on either side of the two ribs 13,14.

The two ribs 13, 14 each form at their other end a sliding groove 12 open laterally and intended to receive the portion 36B of the upper end 32B of the second connecting arm 30B located at one of the notches 38B of the rib 37B. Advantageously, the second connecting arm 30B can slide in this sliding groove 12 without moving laterally, the lateral faces of the notches 38B bearing on either side of the two ribs 13,14 and sliding on them.

Moreover, as shown more particularly by figure 1 , there is formed in the bottom of the housing 40, on the one hand, two housings 43 in which the tenons 34B of the second connecting arm 30B can be inserted and pivoted, and, on the other hand, two sliding grooves 42 open laterally in which the pins 34A of the first connecting arm 30A are adapted to slide.

When the connecting arms 30A, 30B are mounted in the housing 40, the outer lateral faces of the legs 35A, 35B bear against the inner faces of the side walls of the housing 40, so that the two connecting arms 30A, 30B are maintained. laterally in the housing 40.

For the automatic reset of the pushbutton 10 in the rest position when it has been moved to its depressed position, the electrical switching device comprises elastic return means 60 of the pushbutton 10 which act on the link arms 30A, 30B in a direction transverse to the direction of translation of the pushbutton 10.

More specifically, said elastic return means are compression springs 60 disposed between a side wall of the housing 40 and the corners formed by the feet 35A, 35B of the free ends of the lateral branches 31A of the first connecting arm 30A which slide in the groove slide 42 provided in the housing 40.

Of course, alternatively, it could be provided that the compression springs are arranged between a side wall of the push button and the upper end of the second connecting arm which slides in the sliding groove provided on the push button.

Furthermore, advantageously, the electrical switching device shown comprises stop means 42A limiting the deployment of the connecting arms 30A, 30B to maintain the push button 10 in the rest position.

More particularly, said abutment means 42A of the pushbutton 10 comprise a bulge 42A disposed at the mouth of the sliding groove 42 provided on the housing 40 which cooperates with the lower end 33A of the first connecting arm 30A. Thus, the pins 34A of the first connecting arm 30A are intended to come into contact with the bulges 42A to stop the push button 10 in the rest position.

In operation, when the user exerts pressure on any location on the front face of the pushbutton 10, the latter descends to its depressed position. During this descent and thanks to the link arm system 30A, 30B whose scissor movement allows the upper ends 32A, 32B connecting arms 30A, 30B to go down together, the push button 10 does not tilt. During this descent, the lower end 33A of the first connecting arm 30A and the upper end 32B of the second connecting arm 30B slide in their sliding groove 12,42 along the axes W, W ', consequently putting pressure the return springs 60.

During this descent, one of the shoulders 22 provided on the nut 20 bears against the sidewalk 52 of the U-shaped cradle of the tilting coach 51 closest to the push button 10. Under the effect of the the effort exerted by the user, the tilting coach 51 begins to switch from one stable position to the other. The initiation of this tilting causes the pivoting of the nut 20 in the opposite direction of the driver, so that the other shoulder 22 of the nut 20 is inserted between the branches of the tilting driver 51 without coming into contact. with him. Thus, during the tilting of the driver from one stable position to the other, the nut 20 bears only on one branch of the tilting coach 51 so that it can completely rotate to its other stable position so perform the switching function of the device.

The translation of the pushbutton 10 is stopped when the tenons 35A of the first connecting arm 30A bear against the bottom of the sliding grooves 42 of the housing 40.

When the user releases the push-button 10, the return springs 60 bearing against the legs 35A of the lateral branches 31A of the first connecting arm 30A push this connecting arm 30A along the axis W ', so that the two link arm 30A, 30B, in a scissor movement, drive the pushbutton 10 in the rest position. The movement of the first connecting arm 30A stops when the tenons 34A of the first connecting arm 30A come into contact with the bulges 42A of the sliding grooves 42 of the casing 40. The stiffness of the two return springs 60 is in fact intended to causing the pushbutton 10 to rise to its rest position while preventing said pins 34A from passing beyond the bulges 42A.

Claims (12)

1. An electric switch device comprising, in a box (40):

   · a rocking driver (51) adapted to pivot between two stable positions for making or breaking contact between a movable electrical contact and a stationary electrical contact;

   · a user-accessible pushbutton (10);

   · a rocker (20) secured to the pushbutton (10) and suitable for co-operating with the rocking driver (51) to cause it to pivot between the two stable positions; and

   · guide means for guiding the pushbutton (10) in translation in the box (40) between a pushed-in position and a rest position;

   the device being characterized in that the guide means comprise two crossed connection arms (30A, 30B) that are connected together about a pivot axis and that co-operate with the box (40) and the pushbutton (10) to move together like scissors.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that firstly one of the connection arms (30B) has a low end (33B) connected to the box (40) via a pivot connection (34B, 43) and a high end (32B) connected to the pushbutton (10) via a sliding connection (36B, 12) of sliding axis (W) parallel to the plane of the bearing surface of the pushbutton (10), and secondly the other connection arm (30A) has a low end (33A) connected to the box (40) via a sliding connection (34A, 42) of axis (W') parallel to said sliding axis (W), and a high end (32A) connected to the pushbutton (10) via a pivot connection (36A, 11).
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that each connection arm (30A, 30B) is U-shaped with two side branches (31A, 31B) connected together via a transverse branch (32A, 32B).
4. A device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the free ends of the side branches (31A, 31B) of each connection arm (30A, 30B) form a low end (33A, 33B), and the transverse branch (32A, 32B) of each connection arm (30A, 30B) forms a high end (32A, 32B).
5. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the low ends (33A, 33B) of the connection arms (30A, 30B) carry cylindrical tenons (34A, 34B), the tenons (34B) of one arm (30B) becoming inserted in a housing (32) of the box (40) while the high end (33B) of the arm becomes inserted in a sliding groove (12) of the pushbutton (10), and the tenons (34A) of the other arm (30A) becoming inserted in a sliding groove (42) of the box (40) while the high end (33A) of the arm snaps in a snap-fastening groove (11) of the pushbutton (10).
6. A device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the transverse branch (32A, 32B) of each connection arm (30A, 30B) carries a rib (37A, 37B) with two notches (38A, 38B) adapted to hold each connection arm (30A, 30B) laterally relative to the pushbutton (10).
7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it includes resilient return means (60) for returning the pushbutton (10) towards the rest position, which means act on the connection arms (30A, 30B) in a direction that extends transversely relative to the direction in which the pushbutton (10) moves in translation.
8. A device according to claims 4, 5, and 7, characterized in that said resilient return means are compression springs (60) disposed between a side wall of the box (40) and the free ends of the lateral branches (31A) of one of the connection arms (30A), which ends slide in the sliding groove (42) provided in the box (40).
9. A device according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that said resilient return means are compression springs disposed between the side wall of the pushbutton and the high end of the connection arm, which end slides in the sliding groove provided in the pushbutton.
10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that abutment means (42A) are provided that limit the deployment of the connection arms (30A, 30B) so as to hold the pushbutton (10) in the rest position.
11. A device according to claims 5 and 10, characterized in that said abutment means (42A) for the pushbutton (10) comprise an enlargement (42A) located at the mouth of the sliding groove (42) provided in the box (40) or on the pushbutton, and co-operating with a low end (33A) or a high end of a connection arm (30A).
12. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the rocker is suitable for taking up two rocking positions that correspond to the two stable positions of the rocking driver (51), and return means (70) are provided for returning the rocker (20) to a centered position between said two rocking positions.

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