FI58230B - STYRSTROEMSTAELLARE - Google Patents

Description

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Patent- och registrerttyrelson 'Anaokan uti * gd och utUkrHtm pubiicend 29.08.80 ^ (32) (33) (31) Pyydetty etuoikeu * —Begird prlorltet 13.0U. 72 USA (US) 2U3678 (71) AMP Incorporated, Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA (72) Joseph LaRue Lockard, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA (7U) Oy Kolster Ab (5U) Control switch - Styrströmställare This invention relates to a type of switch having a pivotable guide that can be used to engage and open a switch connection between a pair of flexible contacts.

Such a switch, which forms part of the timing mechanism, is known from - U.S. Pat. No. 2,847 · 525 · The guide plate is arranged to be rotatable by means of a synchronous plate and equipped with ite tension directed towards the guide. This guide has a notch which, in a certain rotational position of this guide, receives a notch compatible with it from the first contact so that this contact moves away from this contact tip under the influence of its bias voltage. In this case, the latter contact starts to follow the movement of the first contact, but is prevented from coming into contact with the first-mentioned contact tip again because the latter contact comes into contact with the controller.

The switch described is only suitable for inclusion in the automatic timer.

2 58230

According to the present invention, there is an electrical switch comprising a housing made of electrically insulating material, a pivotable guide mounted on the housing having a finger gripping protruding portion from the housing, and first and second shoulders that can contact the first and second housings of the housing to determine first and second positions. , and first and second resilient contact members superimposed on the housing, the guide having a protrusion which, in the first position, is located in the recess of the first contact member and holds the first contact member in contact with the second contact member with both contact members resiliently deflected toward the guide; that the guide has a second protrusion which contacts the second contact member as the guide moves from its first position to the second and forcibly forces the second contact member away from the first contact the member and the guide while the resilience of the first contact member continues to hold the first contact member in contact with the guide.

The present invention not only eliminates or alleviates the oscillation switching failure of the contacts, but also utilizes the inherent flexibility of these contacts to provide a positive holding force to both the cut and switch positions.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple switch assembly including a plurality of switches made in accordance with the present invention with an apertured printed circuit board mounted in this switch arrangement; is an exploded perspective view of the multiple switch assembly of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1 illustrating by way of example a rotary switch in its open position, Fig. 1+ is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the switch just before is in its fully closed position, Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the switch in its fully closed position.

The multiple switching apparatus 1 comprises a base part 2 made of electrically insulating material, which is associated with a pair of parallel, spaced-apart partitions U, two of which are shown in Fig. 2. Each of these partitions k is provided with corresponding wedge-shaped latches 6 located along each of the lateral edges 8 and 8 'of this bottom 58230. A pair of partitions 4 and 12 of flexible couplers 10 and 12 are assembled between the partitions 4 of each adjacent pair. These contacts are generally L-shaped in construction and may have been extruded and shaped from a metal strip. The first of these switches 10 includes a recess holder 14 at its other end. · The other end portion of this contact is electrically formed as a conductor 16. Next to this conductor, this switch is provided with a pair of opposite arcuate recesses 1Θ. When assembled between a pair of partitions 4, these recesses 18 receive corresponding arcuate protrusions 20 from the edge portion 8 of this base portion 8. These protrusions 20 thus positively position the switch 10 in the desired position on the base portion 8 with the conductor 16 downwardly from this base portion and the recess portion 14 between. The second contact portion 12 is formed by providing it with an electrical conductor portion 22 and recess portions 24 adjacent to the conductor portion 22, respectively. These recessed portions 24 also receive protruding portions (not shown) from the edges 8f of this body portion similar to the protrusions 20. One of the contacts 12 is thus positively positioned in this base portion stretched between the other end c and the conductor portion 22 facing downwards. the bottom portion.

Referring further to Figure 2, the partitions are provided with aligned recesses, i.e., notches 26, adapted to receive and support the shaft 28. A rotating ohmic plate 30 made of insulating material includes a central bore portion 32 to which the shaft 28 fits freely, thus allowing the guide 30 to be free rotatable mounted on this shaft 28. Assembled, this rotating guide 30 is placed between a pair of partition walls 4 on top of each other compared to these contacts 10 and 12.

To complete this construction, a recessed cover or housing part made of an insulating material and generally indicated by reference numeral 34 is placed between a pair of partitions 4. Each of the side walls 36 is provided with a pair of wedge-shaped recesses 38. When the cover part is placed on the partitions 4, the locking portions 6 are latched in corresponding recesses 38 so that they lock into the bottom part 8 of the cover 34 and the structure of the coquets 10 and 12 is covered and also the rotating guide 30 and the shaft 28. In addition the side walls 36 of this cover downwardly directed conductor portions 16 and 22 of these contacts against edge portions 8 and 8 'in the base portion 2. Thus, each switch of the bottom edge 8 or 8' is prevented from moving as the protrusions 20 are inserted into the recesses 18 and 24 in these contacts and the side walls 36 of the cover plate. 16 and 22 are securely in place downwards from the base body 8. It is important that the conductors 16 and 22 be held in the desired alignment to make it easier to connect to the respective openings 40 and 42 provided on the printed circuit board 44 · 4,58230

Referring now to Figure 2 shown in connection with Figures 3, 4 and 3, a cover 34 with a generally rectangular slot 36 located above the partially rotating guide plate 30 is shown. This slot 46 not only correctly leaves the guide 30 with respect to its free rotation. between the partitions 4 but also allows the user to access the controller 30 for manual rotation. Adjacent this groove 46 is a cover provided with a pair of side walls 48 which are adapted to be located on the respective partitions 4. In particular, each of the side walls 48 is formed by a pair of inverted sloping side walls 50 which intersect each other directly on the notch portion 26 from the corresponding partition wall 4.

Also, each of these notch portions 26 is limited to oblique side walls. Thus, the shaft 28 is positively centered on the notch portions 26 by the shape of these beveled side walls in this notch portion and by the engagement obtained from the beveled surface structure 50 in the cover plate portions 48 when located on the partitions 4. The shallow shape of each switch allows the partitions 4 to be located close to each other, as a result of which it is possible that a number of similar switches are located next to each other at suitable distances when installed in a multiple switch assembly 1. Conductors 16 and 22 from each of these assemblies are spaced the distances normally associated with other microelectronic circuit components, thus clearly illustrating the mini-sizing that can be accomplished with the rotary switch of the present invention. Each of these switches in the multiple switch design is available separately.

For a description of other details of this rotary guide 30 and also of the operation of this switch, reference will now be made to Figures 3, 4 and 5. The guide 30 is located in one of the grooves 46 and protrudes partially from the cover 34 * This guide is provided with intersecting planar surfaces 52 and 54 in that part of this guide which protrudes partially from the knob plate 34 * This guide is further provided with a one-piece abutment abutment portion 58 in the beam setting. · The second circumferential surface of this abutment is generally arcuate and terminates in the shoulder. 60 at one end and generally diagonally to a smaller arcuate protrusion or support surface 62 at one end. Immediately adjacent the protruding portion 62 is provided with a downwardly notched portion 64 · Immediately adjacent to this downwardly notched portion 64 is provided a second arcuate portion, i.e. a bearing surface 66, for the circumferential portion of this guide 30. The arcuate surface of this protrusion 66 is intentionally continuous with the surface so as to form a smooth transition surface. The outer edge line of this guide 30 is provided with a second protruding stop 68 provided at one end with a shoulder 70. · In operation, this structure 1 is mounted on a printed circuit board 44 using conductors 16 and 22 connected to respective printed circuit board units. 40 and 42. Typically, these conductors are soldered into place so as to provide electrical contact with the circuits of the printed circuit illustrated at 72 and 74. The notch portion 14 of this contact 10 is located on the latter contact 12. When the contacts 10 and 12 are mechanically engaged with each other, the pliers path through the circuit portion 72 through the contact 10 enters the contact 12 and then through the portion of the printed circuit path 74. As shown in Fig. 3 *, when it is desired to interrupt this circuit, the user manually rotates this guide 30 clockwise by applying pressure to the planar surface 52, causing this guide to rotate clockwise until the surface 52 is substantially flush with the top surface 56 of the housing 34. in such a desired position, the protrusion 62 engages and flexibly bends, biasing the contact 12 in a generally counterclockwise direction. In addition, the surface 70 of the protruding shoulder stop 68 engages a stop stop formed by the lower surface 79 of the upper wall 56 therefrom in the cover 34 * so as to prevent excessive clockwise rotation of the guide 34 by the user. The contact 10 is also at least partially retracted and is engaging the surface of the notched portion 64 from below. The surface of this notched portion partially flexibly bends the contact like a cantilever beam. Thus, as a result, the controller is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the contacts 10 and 12 being resiliently under the effect of biasing away from the contacts with each other so that the described circuit is cut off. In addition, this guide engages both contacts and provides them with a flexible bias like a cantilever beam, thus storing spring energy in these contacts to resist the biasing guide. This stored spring energy thus ensures that the contact is positively held in the desired position by means of this guide in order to prevent the vibration interruption of these contacts and possible contact between them when this equipment is exposed to vibration or magnetic fields. In addition, this stored spring energy in the contacts 10 definitely forces this guide in a clockwise direction, which forces the shoulder 70 to positively stop or seam against the top wall 56 of this housing 34, thus preventing the guide from being accidentally actuated. Of course, the stored energy from the contacts 12 tends to resist this clockwise movement, but it should now be clear from the following discussion of Figure 3 that the force line from this contact 10 through the protrusion 66 is radially oblique to the shaft 28 at a distance greater than the force direction. from the contact 12 through the protrusion 62. Thus, the net result is a clockwise rotation about the axis 28. When the shoulder 70 «58230 is positively compressed in its position depending on the net amount of spring energy stored in these two contacts, a post-oblique stationary phenomenon is produced indicating to the user that the controller has been rotated sufficiently to a certain position one another.

In Fig. 5, the guide is shown rotated counterclockwise from its position in Fig. 3 to another desired position, whereby the current path is re-established because contact is made between the resilient spring contacts 10 and 12. In operation, the user manually applies pressure to the surface 54 by rotating the guide until the surface 54 is generally flush with the upper surface 56 from the housing 34 · This rotates the protrusions 62 away from contact with the spring contact 12. When the guide is in this position, the surface 60 is positively in place against the lower surface 56 of the upper wall 56 of this cover in the cover 34 · In addition, the protrusion 66 moves in an arcuate path along the center line of the shaft 28. This protrusion engages the spring contact 10 and, as a result, compresses it to prestress, i.e. bends it flexibly clockwise like a cantilever beam, and resists the stored spring energy therein. This protrusion 66 also bends the spring contact 10 so that it comes into contact with the contact 12 so as to provide an electrical circuit between them. After the contact between the rails 10 and 12 has been carried out, the bending in the direction of the arc of the protrusion is continued in order to forcibly bend both spring contacts 10 and 12 in the same way as the cantilever beam. At the extreme end of its transition path, the protrusion 66 enters the recess 14 from the contact 10. Since this contact 10 is resiliently bent by the protrusion 66, a positive holding force is provided when this protrusion comes into contact with the recess 14. This informs the user that sufficient counterclockwise rotation of the controller has been performed to close the electrical circuit because electrical connection is provided between the spring-loaded contacts 10 and 12. When the protrusion 66 is aligned with the recess portion 14, both contacts 10 and 12 are resiliently biased by this guide when tensioned like a cantilever beam. The flexible spring energy is thus stored in the contacts 10 and 12, which ensures the development of a spring pressure between them, which then improves the electrical conductivity at the point of contact between these contacts. In addition to this, this spring energy holds both contacts positively resiliently opposite the guide, preventing the jumping movement of these contacts when this structure is exposed to filling or magnetic fields. As another feature, this resilient stored energy in the contacts 10 and 12 displaces radially away radially with respect to the shaft 28, which tends to force the guide counterclockwise so that the shoulder 60 positively abuts the seat abutment formed from the lower surface 56 of the upper wall 56 of the housing 34. movement from its desired position, 7 58230 as shown in Fig. 5 · This time the spring force in the contact 12 assists the corresponding force of the contact 10 because then a common force line acts through this protrusion 66. The smooth transition of the surface from the notched portion 64 to the protrusion 66 ensures relatively smooth frictional movement in the guide over the switch 10, allowing smooth rotation of the guide and smooth operation of this switch.

With respect to another aspect of the present invention, reference will now be made to Figure 4 · As shown in this figure, the guide 30 is located in a certain intermediate position during its counterclockwise rotation from its position shown in Figure 3 to its position shown in Figure 5. The protrusion _ 66 engages the contact at this intermediate point along its arcuate transition path about the centerline of the shaft 28. As shown, the knob engages and causes the contact 10 to bend so that it engages the contact 12. In addition, both contacts 10 and 12 bend to a certain amount of their relative maximum deflection with the protrusion 66 at the point shown in Fig. 4 * Thus, this protrusion engages the contact 10 at a given intermediate point along the transition groove resiliently biasing the contact to positively engage the second contact so as to close the electrical circuit therebetween. This protrusion remains in contact with the contact until this protrusion is further moved along its arcuate transition path to a certain end point where the protrusion enters a certain recess in this contact so as to provide a positive holding effect. In addition, in both of these contacts, the displacement of the protruding path along its arcuate path from its point to its endpoint deliberately causes the relatively greatest relative deflection to each contact against the force of their spring energy, followed by partial cantilever this protrusion undergoes a protrusion in the part 14, thus providing a sweeping effect between these gripped contacts, which improves the electrical conductivity between them.

Most preferably, the recess portion 14 forms a protruding line of contact between the contacts 10 and 12. As a further feature, an opening 76 may be provided in the guide adjacent to each of these surfaces 32 and 34 so that when a plurality of guides are located in the multiple clutch assembly, the respective openings 76 are aligned with the respective guides, allowing wire to be inserted through them to lock them. Of course, when these guides are to be repositioned, this wire can be removed from these openings to allow the guides to rotate individually about a common axis 2Θ · In another variation, each of the recesses in the cover portion 38 may include an expanded notched portion 39 # can be detached from the structure itself.

Claims (1)

An electrical switch comprising a housing (3U) made of electrically insulating material, a pivotable guide (30) mounted on the housing, having a finger gripping protruding portion from the housing, and first and second shoulders (60, TO) operable to contact the first and second a second stop (79, 80) for determining the first and second positions of the guide, and first and second resilient contact members (10, 12) superimposed on the housing (3 * +), the guide having a protrusion (66) which, when the guide is in its first position is located in the recess (11 +) of the first contact member and holds the first contact member (10) in contact with the second contact member (12) with both contact members flexibly toward the guide so that the guide (30) remains in its first position, characterized in that the guide (30) has a second a protrusion (62) which contacts the second contact member (12) as the guide (30) moves from its first position (Fig. 5) to the second en (Fig. 3) and forcibly forces the second contact member (12) away from the first contact member (10) and the guide (30) while the resilience of the first contact member (10) continues to hold the first contact member (10) in contact with the guide (30).