EP2469558A1 - Electrical switch with compensating feature - Google Patents

Electrical switch with compensating feature Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2469558A1
EP2469558A1 EP10197092A EP10197092A EP2469558A1 EP 2469558 A1 EP2469558 A1 EP 2469558A1 EP 10197092 A EP10197092 A EP 10197092A EP 10197092 A EP10197092 A EP 10197092A EP 2469558 A1 EP2469558 A1 EP 2469558A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
frame
switch
rocker
insert
adapter
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10197092A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mehmet Sayman
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.)
Schneider Elektrik Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Original Assignee
Schneider Elektrik Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Schneider Elektrik Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS filed Critical Schneider Elektrik Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Priority to EP10197092A priority Critical patent/EP2469558A1/en
Priority to CN2011104350335A priority patent/CN102543508A/zh
Priority to RU2011152470/07A priority patent/RU2011152470A/ru
Publication of EP2469558A1 publication Critical patent/EP2469558A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H01H23/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H23/14—Tumblers
    • H01H23/143—Tumblers having a generally flat elongated shape

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an electrical switch for residential and commercial applications.
  • the invention particularly relates to an electrical switch design which allows the surface components of the electrical switch comprising a rocker, a frame and a rocker adapter, to make compensation to misaligned and off-centre switch inserts in gang-frame applications. Furthermore, the design also allows switches to be installed on uneven wall surfaces.
  • switch boxes (32) Electrical switches for homes and businesses are commonly installed into flush mounted switch boxes (32) in the wall. During the wall installation of the boxes, first the electrical wires (33) are carried into each switch box (32) from inside the wall. In multi-switch gang-frame applications ( Fig. 2c ), the boxes (32) are joined together by snapfits (35) on mating members (36). The switch boxes are placed into an opening in the wall slightly larger than the boxes. Then they are made flush with the wall surface and fixed in place with plaster ( Fig. 2a ). A single or more than one switch can be installed in one location on the wall. In multi-switch installations, switch boxes (32) need to be spaced 71 mm apart ( Fig. 2c ) and placed in line either horizontally or vertically.
  • insert fixing screws (24) In wall installations it is more common see inserts being fixed by using the insert fixing screws (24) rather than the insert fixing claws (25), When the inserts are fixed using insert fixing screws (24), the insert is centred to the box; therefore, 71 mm spacing requirement of the boxes is more critical because the spacing of the inserts are dependant on the centre spacing of the boxes.
  • the gang-frame (26) can have 2 to 6 openings.
  • the insert centres have to be 71 mm apart just like the switch boxes (32) to line-up with the gang-frame opening centres.
  • the surface components of the switch comprising the gang-frame (26), rockers (30) and rocker adapters (21) are assembled over the inserts. This final step completes the installation of switches.
  • gang-frame installations It was observed that it was difficult and time-consuming the perfectly align the inserts at 71 mm centres. This was due to several factors:
  • the inserts were mostly off centre by 1mm to 2mm or more in the horizontal direction (x-axis), vertical direction (y axis) or in the direction normal to the wall (z-axis).
  • the inserts were sometimes rotated around the z-axis ( Fig. 4 ).
  • the switch box edge protruded above the wall surface.
  • the frame and rockers are designed for easy installation, requiring no screws. Almost all of the switches that are used in prior art allow the frame and rockers to move about the insert in z, zx and zy axis, giving it a movement in total of 3 axis. This is useful for single-insert assemblies in uneven wall surface applications; but, as mentioned above, these designs have certain disadvantages in single switch applications. In the application of multi-switch assemblies, the disadvantages become more apparent. In multiple-switch gang-frame applications all of the competitor's products require each switch insert to be spaced and aligned precisely to the gang-frame opening centres. This careful spacing and alignment of the inserts makes the installation difficult and time-consuming for the installer.
  • the gang-frame may not install properly over the multi-switch inserts, an interference may appear between the rocker and the frame, or worse, one or more of the switches may malfunction from failure to open and close the electrical circuit due to improper installation.
  • the invention aims to solve the existing problems mentioned above.
  • the invention relates to an electrical switch design which allows the surface components, comprising a rocker, a frame and a rocker adapter, to make compensation to misaligned and off-centre switch inserts in gang-frame applications. Furthermore, the design also allows switches to be installed on uneven wall surfaces.
  • the new switch design solves these problems by making compensation for off-centred and misaligned inserts and by making compensation for uneven wall surfaces.
  • the installer is now more free to install the inserts without paying too much attention to precise positioning and alignment of the inserts.
  • the insert mechanism can tolerate inserts to be installed off-centre by 1.5mm (a total of 3mm offset), and tolerate misalignment or rotation about the z-axis by 2 degrees (a total of 4 degrees of rotation).
  • the frame with rockers can be installed over these inserts and the switch will function without any problems.
  • the design will tolerate uneven walls, in other words, allow a gradual concave or convex surface on the wall up to 4mm and the switch insert design will eliminate any gaps between the frame and the wall. whether it be a single frame or a gang-frame application.
  • the invention uses the slide-fit method shown in Fig. 2c , with frame flanges sliding over flexible tabs on the insert adapter but with some exceptions:
  • a rocker adapter is used to assemble the rocker to the single frame or gang-frame. This way the rocker pivots along the x-axis of the adapter pins and is always centred and symmetric to the frame opening and moves with the frame.
  • the primary tabs act like plastic springs by continuously exerting a pressure on the rocker and frame in the x-axis direction as shown in Figure 3a and 3b and hold the frame or gang-frame against the wall while exerting a pressure on the frame flanges in the x-axis direction to centre the frame.
  • the four vertically acting flexible tabs on the insert adapter, the secondary tabs, on the other hand exert a pressure on the rocker adapter in the y-axis direction to centre the frame.
  • the rocker arm When the switch is turned “ON” or “OFF”, the movement of the rocker is transmitted to the insert switching mechanism by the rocker arm. During switching, the rocker arms push on the switch paddle on the insert, which in turn opens and closes the electrical circuit inside the contact housing.
  • the rocker pivot centre at the pin snap fit changes in the x, yand z-axis directions.
  • the switch paddle design is part of the compensating feature of the switch. Like the rocker, the switch paddle pivots 6 degrees each way on pins that slide inside oval grooves in the contact housing cover. In order for the rocker to transmit motion to the switch paddle and consequently to the switching contacts properly:
  • the openings in the switch paddle where the rocker arms fit has clearances on either side of the rocker arms. This feature allows the rocker movement in the x-axis direction a total of 3mm.
  • the switch paddle In the y-axis direction the switch paddle is free to move by a total of 3 millimetres. This is provided by the oval shaped slotted holes for switch paddle pins.
  • rocker In the z-axis direction the rocker is free to move also.
  • the rocker arms slide over the actuating arm of the switch paddle without creating any slack or play between the rocker arms and the switch paddle.
  • switch mechanism has an additional 3 axis movement in the x, y and rotation along the z axis, thereby allowing the frame and rockers to move in a total of 6 axis.
  • the state-of-the-art has a maximum of 3 axis movement in the z axis, z-x axis and the z-y axis.
  • This switch design has a total of 6 axis of movement in the x, y, z, z-x, z-y axis and rotation on z axis.
  • the additional 3 axis of movement built into the design allows more tolerance for misaligned and off-centre inserts, and also allows the frame and rockers to make compensation for uneven wall surfaces, thereby making gang-frames with multi-switch installations easy, trouble-free and time-saving.
  • the invention particularly relates to an electrical switch design which allows the frame or gang-frame (20) to make compensation for misaligned and off-centre switch inserts in gang-frame applications. Furthermore, the design also allows the frame or gang-frame (20) to align itself to uneven wall surfaces (40) and thereby eliminate any separation between the frame or gang-frame (20, 26) and uneven wall surface (40).
  • the invention is about an electrical switch with an adjustable frame (20) and rocker (30), in other words, a switch frame (20) and rockers (30) with 6-axis of movement.
  • the invention relates to an electrical switch for residential and commercial applications. It is comprised of a switch insert (10) and a frame and rocker (20,30) sub-assembly comprising a frame or gang-frame (20,26) and rocker(s) (30).
  • a rocker adapter (21) is snap-fit onto the centre of the frame (20).
  • Rocker (30) or double rockers (30) are assembled with snap-fit pin (31) onto the rocker adapter pins (22) on the rocker adapter (21), thereby allowing the rocker (30) to centre itself to the frame (20) opening and rock back and forth on the adapter (21) pin (22) axis.
  • the frame (20) and rocker (30) sub-assembly When the frame (20) and rocker (30) sub-assembly is assembled on the switch insert (10), the flanges of the frame (23) and the rocker adapter tabs (41) slide over the primary tabs (14) and secondary tabs (37) on the insert adapter (15) of the switch insert (10).
  • the frame (20) and rocker (30) sub-assembly is capable of movement in 6 axis over the switch insert(s) (10). This feature allows the frame (20) and rockers (30) to align itself to uneven wall surfaces (40) and thereby eliminate any separation between the frame (20) and the wall on uneven wall surfaces (40).
  • the additional 3 axis of movement allows the spacing and orientation between the inserts (10) to be less perfect, thereby making such installations easy, trouble-free and time-saving.
  • the invention is an electrical switch with compensating feature, which is used in gang-frame (26) applications and uneven wall surfaces (40), and it is characterized in that it comprises a switch insert (10) which has a fixing plate (11), a switch paddle (12), an insert cover (13), an insert adapter (15) primary tabs (14) and secondary tabs (37) which are positioned on said insert adapter (15), a frame (20) which has a rocker adapter (21) that is snap-fit onto the centre of said frame (20), pins (22) and flanges (23) of the frame (20) which slide over the flexible primary tabs (14) and secondary tabs (37) on the insert adapter (15), rockers (30) which are assembled with snap-fit means (31) onto the pins (22) on the rocker adapter (21). ( Fig. 1 )
  • the rocker adapter (21) which is snap-fit onto the centre of said frame (20), thereby allowing the rocker (30) to centre itself to the frame (20) opening and rock back and forth on the adapter (21) pin (22) axis.
  • the frame and rocker (20,30) sub-assembly is assembled on the switch insert (10), the flanges of the frame (23) slide over the primary tabs (14) and secondary tabs (37) on the insert adapter (15) of the switch insert (10).
  • the frame and rocker (20,30) sub-assembly is capable of movement in 6 axis over the switch insert (10).
  • the frame and rocker (20,30) sub-assembly can move in the z axis when an uneven wall surface (40) is encountered.
  • the electrical switch in our invention allows for x, y, z, xz, yz and rotation on the z-axis as mentioned above.
  • the invention functions as we had expected on very uneven walls (40) and with misaligned and off centre switch inserts (10). Despite all of the offsets and misalignments, the 4 hole gang-frame (26) for example, and the rockers (30) seated without any problems. There was no asymmetry on the surface (40) and all of the switches functioned.
  • switch inserts (10) installed to the wall (40).
  • the middle one (10) is fixed 2 milimetres above from the others in the y-axis.
  • Any of the switch inserts (10) can be fixed eccentric or unaligned within the limits of 2 milimetres to each other (B).
  • fixing plates (11) can be overlapped over one another (C). This situation does not cause any malfunctioning.
  • the invention can compensate for rotational misaligments.
  • the switch insert (10) can be mounted on the wall rotated up to 2 degrees and the switch(es) will function flawlessly.
  • the invention's other advantage over the state-of-art is the flexibility it has in the z-axis.
  • FIG 5a and 5b there is 5 milimetres of space between the frame (20) or gang-frame (26) and wall surface (40). The mechanism is not effected by the space between the wall surface (40) and the frame or gang-frame (20, 26).

Landscapes

  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP10197092A 2010-12-27 2010-12-27 Electrical switch with compensating feature Withdrawn EP2469558A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10197092A EP2469558A1 (en) 2010-12-27 2010-12-27 Electrical switch with compensating feature
CN2011104350335A CN102543508A (zh) 2010-12-27 2011-12-22 用于补偿未对准和偏离中心的开关插头的电开关
RU2011152470/07A RU2011152470A (ru) 2010-12-27 2011-12-22 Электрический переключатель, компенсирующий невыровненные и смещенные относительно центра вставки переключателей

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10197092A EP2469558A1 (en) 2010-12-27 2010-12-27 Electrical switch with compensating feature

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2469558A1 true EP2469558A1 (en) 2012-06-27

Family

ID=43828403

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10197092A Withdrawn EP2469558A1 (en) 2010-12-27 2010-12-27 Electrical switch with compensating feature

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2469558A1 (zh)
CN (1) CN102543508A (zh)
RU (1) RU2011152470A (zh)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103745846A (zh) * 2013-11-20 2014-04-23 无锡通明科技有限公司 一种家用开关
DE102016100979B3 (de) * 2016-01-21 2017-04-13 Albrecht Jung Gmbh & Co. Kg Elektrischer Wippenschalter

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107248464B (zh) * 2017-05-24 2020-01-10 宁波公牛电器有限公司 一种按键开关
ES2866124T3 (es) * 2018-11-16 2021-10-19 Giersiepen Gira Gmbh Conmutador eléctrico

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29618606U1 (de) * 1996-10-25 1997-01-30 Albrecht Jung GmbH & Co KG, 58579 Schalksmühle Versatzausgleich für eine Installationsgerätekombination
DE19745019A1 (de) * 1997-10-11 1999-04-15 Merten Gmbh & Co Kg Geb Elektrisches Installationsgerät wie Schalter oder Taster
DE29901710U1 (de) * 1999-02-01 2000-03-09 Popp GmbH + Co KG, 95460 Bad Berneck Installationsgerät zur Elektroinstallation
DE102004033462B3 (de) * 2004-07-10 2005-10-20 Berker Gmbh & Co Kg Versatzausgleich

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN2452186Y (zh) * 2000-11-16 2001-10-03 李楚林 墙壁开关接线暗盒
CN2882054Y (zh) * 2006-02-18 2007-03-21 李小青 多功能暗线盒

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29618606U1 (de) * 1996-10-25 1997-01-30 Albrecht Jung GmbH & Co KG, 58579 Schalksmühle Versatzausgleich für eine Installationsgerätekombination
DE19745019A1 (de) * 1997-10-11 1999-04-15 Merten Gmbh & Co Kg Geb Elektrisches Installationsgerät wie Schalter oder Taster
DE29901710U1 (de) * 1999-02-01 2000-03-09 Popp GmbH + Co KG, 95460 Bad Berneck Installationsgerät zur Elektroinstallation
DE102004033462B3 (de) * 2004-07-10 2005-10-20 Berker Gmbh & Co Kg Versatzausgleich

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103745846A (zh) * 2013-11-20 2014-04-23 无锡通明科技有限公司 一种家用开关
DE102016100979B3 (de) * 2016-01-21 2017-04-13 Albrecht Jung Gmbh & Co. Kg Elektrischer Wippenschalter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN102543508A (zh) 2012-07-04
RU2011152470A (ru) 2013-06-27

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