FR2545979A1 - ELECTRIC LEVER SWITCHING GROUP FOR VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN - Google Patents

Abstract

THE GROUP INCLUDES A 10 BOX; 10 FIXED TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND AN OPERATING LEVER 12; 12 CENTER IN THE BOX AROUND TWO AXES WHICH ARE ORTHOGONAL TO ONE OF THEM, ONE HORIZONTAL AND THE OTHER VERTICAL IN RELATION TO THE VEHICLE'S RUNNING DIRECTION. THIS LEVER INCLUDES A LARGE ARM WHOSE FREE END IS ACCESSIBLE ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND A SMALL ARM LOCATED IN THE BOX AND TO WHICH ARE ASSOCIATED MOBILE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS OF THE SELF-CLEANING KNIFE TYPE, CAPABLE OF COOPERATING WITH FIXES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS INSIDE THE HOUSING WHEN THE LEVER OSCILLATES AROUND THE TWO AXES DESCRIBED. THE SMALL ARM AND THE BOX ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MEANS FOR DETERMINING THE STABLE AND / OR UNSTABLE ANGULAR POSITIONS OF THE LEVER.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical switching group

  applicable laterally to the steering column and in front of the steering wheel of a vehicle for the

  driving functions, this group includes

  nant a casing fixed to the column and an operating lever centered in the casing around two orthogonal axes between

  one being practically horizontal and the other practical-

  ment vertical to the direction of travel of the vehicle, this lever comprising a long arm whose free end is accessible on the periphery of the steering wheel and a small arm located in the housing and with which are associated movable electrical contacts capable of cooperating with fixed electrical contacts located inside the housing when the lever must oscillate around the two aforementioned axes, means for determining the stable and / or unstable angular positions of the lever, being associated with the small arm and

to the housing.

  By practically horizontal axis is meant, for a

  simplification of expression, a practically parallel axis

  related to the direction of the steering column By practically vertical axis means, for simplification of the expression, an axis practically parallel to the general plane of the steering wheel and which rests on a practically vertical plane

  and parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

  Groups of this kind are normally used

  in pairs on both sides of the steering column.

  According to a widely used system, the group on the left is used to control the direction indicators by means of an upward and downward rotation of the large lever arm and to control the lights by means of a rotation of the arm forward and at the rear Next also a fairly system

  widespread, the group on the right is used to control the wipers

  front windows by means of an up and down rotation of the large lever arm and to control the rear wiper and also the front and rear wipers by means

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  an arm rotation forward and backward.

  In these known groups, sliding contacts are generally used to control the functions linked to the rotation of the lever arm up and down, while front contacts are used to control the functions linked to the rotation of the arms of the lever. lever in front and back.

  Frontal contacts, by their very nature, present

  have the double disadvantage of not being self-cleaning and of achieving, even under clean conditions, a

doubtful electrical continuity.

  A poor electrical continuity corresponds to a localized electrical resistance. This does not matter much if the current which passes through the front contacts is weak as in the case of the current absorbed by the electropump of a windshield washer Si, on the contrary, the front contacts connect an element with high current absorption, for example the code or dipped beam headlights and high beam or the wiper motor, the localized resistance constitutes a source of overheating by the Joule effect The housings and other insulating parts of the control groups are made of plastic and overheating can even lead to softening and melting of these parts, causing them to be put out of use

of the group.

  In the case of main beam and code lights, poor electrical continuity inevitably causes

  a reduction in light intensity due to the lowering

  supply voltage.

  The object of this invention is to provide a switching group of the type under consideration which does not have these drawbacks and which can be carried out in a manner

simple and economical.

  According to the present invention, this object is achieved by means of a switching group of the type mentioned at the start,

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  characterized in that at least one of the movable contacts

  is of the knife type, is movable in a practical direction

  only parallel to the direction of the vehicle, is able to cooperate in a sliding manner with at least one fixed contact inside the housing and is mechanically linked

  lie on the lever arm so that they oscillate

  tions thereof forward and backward around said axis which is practically vertical, produce the desired cooperation, regardless of the angular position of the lever

  around said axis which is practically horizontal.

  Thanks to this solution and as will be explained better below, it is possible to produce a control group incorporating sliding contacts at least to supply the points which have a high absorption of

  current, with all the advantages that derive from it.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the

  detailed description which follows with reference to

  attached drawings, which illustrate an embodiment thereof

  preferred, given purely by way of nonlimiting illustration.

  In the drawings fig 1 is a perspective view of a double

  switching group according to the invention, in condition.

  installed on a vehicle; Fig 2 is a section of the double group along II-II of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a section along III-III of Fig 2; Figs 4 to 7 are sections of the left groups along IVIV, V-V, VI-VI and VII-VII of Fig 2; Fig 8 is an exploded perspective view of the left switching group; Fig 9 is a perspective view of only the contacts of the group on the left; Figs 10, 11, and 12 are schematic representations, in three different positions, of the contacts controlled by the up and down rotation of the lever of the left group; Figs 13, 14 and 15 are schematic representations, in three different positions, of the contacts controlled by the movements in front and behind the lever of the left group; Figs 16 and 17 are sections of the right switching group, according to XVI-XVI and XVII-XVII of the

fig 2.

  Fig 18 is an exploded perspective view of the right switching group; FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the only contacts of the group on the right; figs 20 to 23 are schematic views, in four different positions, of the contacts controlled by the up and down movements of the lever of the right group, and figs 24 to 27 are schematic views, in four different positions , contacts ordered by

  movements in front and rear of the right group lever.

  Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that W designates the steering wheel of a vehicle, C designates the steering column, that is to say the envelope which surrounds the steering wheel bar W On the envelope C there is, at the end adjacent to the hub of the steering wheel W, a support plate P. The steering column C is associated with a double electrical switching group, which includes a group

left AL and a right group AR.

  Each group AL, AR includes its own box or body in the form of a boot 10 L'10 R The two booters 10 L'1 OR are fixed by engagement on the support plate P in the immediate vicinity of the steering wheel W and on the two opposite sides from column C. From each shoemaker 10 The 1 OR leaves a long arm 12 The 12 R which is also a lever for operation Each of these arms

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  or levers, which is located in front of the steering wheel W, has a free end accessible to the driver's hands on

the periphery of the steering wheel.

  To simplify, during this description

  the term "lever" will be used to designate each of these long arms 12 L 12 R 'The left switching group AL, according to the embodiment shown, is used to control the direction indicators, the position lights and of

code and headlights.

  The right switching group AR, according to the embodiment shown, is used to control the front wipers, the rear wiper as well as

front and rear window washers.

  We will first describe the structure and function

  AL switch group left This description

  will be made with reference to fig 2 to 15.

  With particular reference to FIGS. 2 to 7, it can be seen that the housing 10 L comprises a hollow or box-shaped body 14 of plastic material, the bottom wall 15 of which is fitted with profiled parts which allow it to be fixed by snap-fastening. to the support plate P (fig 1) The body 14 is closed by a front cover 16, also

made of plastic.

  In the case 10 L 'there is an oscillating block 18, also made of plastic The block 18 has a

  couple of opposite pivots which define an XL axis of oscil-

  lation of the same block with respect to the housing 14 The XL axis is practically horizontal or better, practically parallel to the direction of the column C. The lever 12 L is in turn mounted in oscillating position in the block 18 by means of a pivot 22 The pivot 22 defines an axis ZL of oscillation of the lever 12 L 'which is placed crosswise with respect to the axis XL and is practically

  parallel to the general plane of the steering wheel W (fig 1).

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  The lever 12 L is equipped with a small arm 24 located beyond the pivot 22 and which extends inside

of the housing 14.

  The rotation of the lever 12 L and of the block 18 around the axis XL serves to control the direction indicators. On its side facing the steering column C, the housing 14 has, inside, a profiled surface or cam which comprises a seat or central notch 26 a

  and lateral ramps 26 b and 26 c.

  The oscillating block 18 is equipped with a sliding cleat 28 which is pushed by a helical spring 30 against, as the case may be, the bottom of the seat 26 a or the ramps

  26 b, 26 c This is the so-called "benchmark" system.

  When no direction indicator is in movement, the cleat 28 is positioned at the bottom of the notch or seat 26 a, as shown in fig 10 and the oscillating block

  18 and the lever 12 L are held in an angular position

central neutral area.

  To turn on the direction indicator

  right, the driver moves the 12 L lever up

  (arrow F 1) and the cleat 28 engages on the ramp 26 b (fig 11).

  To turn on the direction indicator

  left, the driver lowers the lever'12 L (arrow F 2, fig 1) and the cleat 28 engages on the ramp 26 c, (see

illustration in fig 12).

  The positions of figs 11 and 12 are stable as long as the steering wheel has not straightened after turning

  in the direction corresponding to the selected indication.

  The oscillating block 18 is equipped, on its side facing the cover 16, with a mechanism, generally designated by 32, to obtain the return of the block even to the

  neutral position when the steering wheel is straightened This mechanism

  me, which will not be described in detail, comprises inter alia a pawl 34 with which is associated a helical spring

  pull 36 which tends to recall the pawl even outside

  laugh of the 10 L shoemaker and towards the steering shaft S (fig 3)

or direction.

  When the oscillating block 18 is in the neutral position, two stops 38 a, 38 b mounted on the cover.

  key 16 prevents the ratchet 34 from coming out.

  When the block is actuated towards one or the other

  be of the positions of FIGS. 11 and 12, one or other of the stops 38 has left the pawl 34 free to advance up to

the position indicated in fig 3.

  The shaft S is equipped with a couple of teeth

radial T (fig 3).

  When the steering wheel has straightened after braking

  one or the other of the teeth T engages the pawl 34, a rear crosspiece 40 of which engages, as the case may be, one or the other of a pair of oscillating arms 42 a, 42 b recalled one towards the other by a tension spring 44 With the aid of the pawl 34 and its corresponding arm 42 a, the tooth T which engages the pawl 34 gives all the oscillating block 18 a rotation which brings it back to the corresponding neutral position in fig 10 At the same time, the pawl 34 retrograde and it

  is retained in the downshifted position by the stops 38 a, 38 b.

  In the bottom wall 15 of the 1% box,

  ie the wall adjacent to the support plate P (fig 1),

  are embedded two series of three fixed linear contacts.

  The contacts of one of the series are indicated by 46 a, 46 b,

  46 c and those of the other series by 48 a, 48 b 48 c.

  These fixed contacts consist of lamellae

  embedded through said back wall and which outside

  of it have appendages or extensions

  which serve as electrical connection sockets.

  The two series of contacts are placed in arcs of a circle concentric with the axis of oscillation XL- On the seats of the oscillating block 18 turned towards the bottom wall of the housing 10 L are mounted contact bridges 52 and 54 sliding, one corresponds to the series

contacts 48 c.

  The movable contacts constituted by contact bridges 52 and 54 are pushed against the respective fixed contacts by the helical springs 56 and 58 placed at the rear. The central fixed contacts 46 a and 48 a are current arrival contacts and one of them (for example the contact 46 a) is normally kept energized in order to

  the implementation of direction indicators.

  The central contact of the other series (for example contact 48 a) can be switched on, using a switch located on the dashboard of the vehicle to replace the central contact of the previous series in order to the ignition of the right or left position lights. When the lever 12 and the oscillating block 18 -L are in the neutral position (fig 10) the two bridges 52 and 54 bear against the only central fixed contacts 46 a and 48 a, this is why the current is transmitted, according to the

  case, to the direction indicator system or the fuel system

position lights.

  When the lever 12 L is lifted according to the arrow F 1 of FIG. 1, the two bridges 52 and 54 become integral

  fixed contacts 46 b, 48 b (fig 11) while maintaining the engagement

  management with central contacts 46 a, 46 b In this way the supply of the flashing lights is established, as the case may be

  right or right position lights.

  In the same way, when the lever 12 L is lowered according to the arrow F 2 of fig 1, the bridges 52, 54 establish the connection of the contacts 46 a, 46 b with the fixed contacts 46 c, 48 c (fig 12) In this way we supply, as appropriate, the left flashing lights and the lights

left position.

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  As can be understood, the supply of flashing lights and position lights is advantageously carried out by means of sliding contacts, kept in secure engagement by the springs 56 and 58 The use of sliding contacts, as already said at the beginning, is advantageous since these contacts are self-cleaning and their

  ohmic resistance is quite negligible.

  The minor arm 24 of the lever 12 L has, at its end remote from the pivot 22, a cylindrical seat 60 in which accommodates a positioning sphere 62 pushed outwardly by a helical spring 64 placed in the

seat itself.

  On one of its sides facing the arm 24,

  the oscillating block 18 has a profiled surface, function-

  like a cam, which includes, among other things, two notches 66 a and 66 b, as well as a ramp 66 c This cam and the sphere 62 constitute a device called "with reference points" for determining two stable angular positions and a position

  unstable angularity of lever 12 L around axis ZL.

  The stable positions are those where the sphere 62 is located in the notch 66 (fig 13) and in the notch or hollow 66 b (fig 14) The unstable position is that where the sphere 62 is located against the ramp 66 c (fig 15 ) In this unstable position the spring 64 tends to bring the sphere back

62 at the bottom of the notch 66 a.

  On the bottom wall 15 of the housing 10 L are embedded two pass conductors 68 a, 68 b in the form of strips which, outside the housing, have appendages or extensions 70 which serve as sockets for

the arrival of electric current.

  The parts of the conductors 68 a, 68 b located inside the housing have respective notches

V-shaped, 72 a, 72 b.

  The conductors 68 a, 68 b are associated with the respective movable contacts in the form of knives 74 a, 74 b

  which extend parallel upwards.

  These knives are made up of elements

  sheet metal obtained by shearing and bending.

  At its lower end, each knife 74 a, 74 b has a V-shaped notch, respectively 76 a, 76 b which is engaged in a cross arrangement in the corresponding notch 72 a, 72 b of the corresponding conductor

68 a, 68 b in the form of a lamella.

  The respective engagement of the V-shaped notches described ensures for each knife 74 a, 74 b a pivot which allows it to oscillate forward and backward (relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle). The play of the pivots allows plus some transverse oscillation of the knives

  74 a, 74 b for the purpose to be explained below.

  At its upper end, each knife 74 a, 74 b is profiled in the form of a plate for sliding contact. These plates are indicated by 78 a and 78 b respectively. The contact surfaces of the plates are

those who are outside.

  Through the bottom wall 15 of the housing 10 L are flush-fitted, the root parts of two conductors 80 and 82 in the form of lamellae Each of these conductors has, outside the bottom wall of the shoemaker, respectively , an appendix 84 and 86 which

serves as a connection socket.

  The conductor 80 is straight and its end

  mity 88 a located inside the case is engaging with a sliding contact of the external surface of the

brochure 78 a.

  The other conductor 82 is profiled so as to represent an end 88 b in the form of a strip, situated on the same plane as the fixed contact 88 a and constituting

another fixed contact.

  In alignment with its appendix 86, the conduc-

  tor 82 has, still inside the housing 10, there 25-45979 a flat contact part 88 c which can be engaged with a sliding contact on the outside of the wafer 78 b.

  Between the two plates 78 a, 78 b is inter-

  placed a helical compression spring 90 which tends to

  discard them to achieve correct engagement of the pads-

  with the fixed contacts 88 a, 88 b and on the other side, with the fixed contact 88 c The spring 90 acts on the plate

  78 b via an insulating washer 92.

  The possibility of spacing the pads is possible thanks to the games of said pivots constituted by the V-shaped notches.

  As will be explained in more detail, the plac-

  quette 78 a can come in engagement or alternating contact

  with the single contact 88 a and the single contact 88 b.

  The space between these contacts is less than the width of the plate 78 a, this is why in the passage of a contact

  fixed to the other, the force of spring 90 is always counter

  square by one of the contacts or by the two sets and

  the knife 74 a is guided in its oscillation.

  With regard to the knife 74 b, its plate 78 b is guided, against the force of the spring 90, by the fixed contact 88 c when the knife 74 b is moved all the way forward For the remainder of the oscillation stroke of the knife 74 b, this is directed by an appendix 94 in the form of a bar, which is an integral part of the wall of the bottom of the housing 10 L or is fixed to this wall The appendix 94 extends parallel to the contact 88 c From the plate 78 b takes out a small upper wing 96 whose outer side (that on the left in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9) engages the guide 94 to counteract the force of the spring 90 when the plate

78 b does not initiate contact 88 c.

  The pads 78 a, 78 b are fitted with jaws

  res 98 to encourage entry into sliding engagement

with the respective fixed contacts.

12 2545979-

  Each knife 74 a, 74 b is associated with a helical repulsion spring 100 a, l O Ob which is arranged between the knife itself and the bottom wall of the housing 10 L The repulsion springs l O Qa, îO Ob tend to repel the knives 74 a, 74 b angularly at the rear relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle, that is to say towards the small arm 24 of the lever 12 L 'Between the small arm 24 and the knives 74 a, 74 b

  a cursor is inserted, indicated overall by 102.

  The slider 102 is constituted by a piece of plastic material with a low coefficient of friction. It comprises, inter alia, a pair of conductive rods 104 and 106 which are sliding and which correspond to the holes 108 and 110 of the bottom wall 15 of the housing De in this way, the cursor 102 is guided practically in the direction of movement of the movable contacts or knives 74 a, 74 b whose direction is practically parallel to that of column C of

direction as well as to the XL axis.

  The slider 102 is formed as two cross shoes, indicated by 112 and 114 The shoe 112 has the shape of a small block elongated in a transverse direction relative to the small arm 24 of the lever 12 L and bears against it.

  arms by means of a rounded surface.

  The shoe 114 has the shape of a small block elongated in a transverse direction relative to the knives 74 a, 74 b and has a rounded surface, like the previous one, which engages the respective dorsal edges 116 a, 116 b of the knives. * The repulsion springs 100 a, 100 b keep the two pads 112, 114 of the slider 102 enclosed between the

  small arm 24 and the knives 74 a, 74 b.

  As will be understood, the small arm 24 of the lever 12 L remains engaged with the shoe 112 independently of the angular position of the arm itself and of the oscillating block 18 around

of the XL axis.

  Also, shoe 114 remains constantly engaged

  with the back edges 116 a, 116 b.

  Likewise it will be understood that angular movements

  leires of the lever 12 L in front (arrow F 3, fig 1) and back (arrow P 4 (fig 1) cause the corresponding corresponding movements (back and forward) of the knives

74 a, 74 b.

  When the sphere 62 is located in the notches 66 a (fig 13), the movable contact 78 b does not work and the movable contact 78 a is normally engaged with the

fixed contact 88 a.

  This condition corresponds to the supply of code lights, supply which has been predisposed by the operation of a corresponding switch "pilot lights"

  on the vehicle dashboard.

  When the lever 12 L is moved forward, the sphere 62 is carried in the notch 66 b (fig 14) and the movable contact 78 a engages against the fixed contact 88 b It is

  as well as the high beams are continuously supplied.

  When the motorist drives "in code" and he wishes to signal his presence by the flashing of the code lights, he moves the lever 12 L backwards The sphere 62 then leaves the bottom of the notch 66 a and gets on the ramp 66 c (fig 15) The movable contact 78 b then comes into engagement with the fixed contact 88 c and establishes the supply of the code lights, while the main beam remains powered by the contacts 78 a, 88 a This situation arises holds as long as the driver keeps the lever 12 L pulled towards him When the driver releases the lever 12 L 'the cam action between the sphere 62 and the ramp 66 has, under the force of the

  spring 64, brings the system back to the arrangement shown

  tee in fig 12, that is to say in the condition of power

tation of code lights.

  As can be seen, all the contacts who

  feed the main beam and the code lights, i.e.

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  say points with high current absorption, are of the sliding and self-cleaning type, whose ohmic resistance is

  negligible, with all the advantages outlined at the start.

  Now we will describe the structure and function

  operation of the right switching group AR We will do this

  description with reference to figs 2, 3 and'16 to 27.

  With particular reference to Figs 2,3 and 16 to 19, the housing 10 comprises a hollow body or in the form of a housing 214 made of plastic, with a bottom wall 215 provided with profiled parts which allow it

  snap-fastening on the support plate P (fig 1).

  The body 214 is closed by a front cover 216, it

also in plastic.

  In the case 10 R there is an oscillating block 218, also made of plastic. The block 218 has a couple of opposite pivots 220 which define an axis XR.

  of oscillation of the same block relative to the shoemaker 214.

  The lever 12 is in turn mounted oscillating R in the block 218 by means of a pivot or articulation axis 222 The pivot 222 defines an axis ZR of oscillation of the lever 12 R 'which is arranged in a cross with respect to the axis XR and it is practically parallel to the general plane of the steering wheel W

(fig 1).

  The lever 12 R is provided with a small arm 224 situated beyond the pivot 222 and which extends in the case R l R. The rotation of the lever 12 R and of the block 218 around the axis XR is used to control the front windshield wipers.

  On its side facing the C column of direc-

  tion, the housing 10 R has a surface inside

  profile or cam which includes a lateral or upper ramp

  upper 226 a and a couple of notches, 226 b and 226 c The limit of the ramp 226 a, on the side of the notch 226 b is defined by

a ridge 226 d.

  Oscillating block 218 has a sliding tooth

  health 228 which is pushed back by a helical spring 230 against, as the case may be, the ramp 226 a and the bottom of the notches 226 b, 226 c This is also in this case the so-called "benchmark" system. When the front wipers are not in motion, the tooth 218 is towards the "lower" limit (the upper limit in fig 20) of the ramp 226 a - and the oscillating block 218 and the lever 12 R are maintained in a practically horizontal position This position is stable since the spring 230 tends to cause the tooth 228 to "descend" along the ramp 226 a (that is to say to make it

mount on fig 19).

  In the bottom wall of the housing 10 R,

  i.e. the wall adjacent to the support plate P (fig 1)

  various fixed contacts are embedded.

  A first series of contacts comprises three linear contacts 246 a, 246 b and 246 d, arranged in an arc of a circle concentric with the axis of oscillation XR The same series also includes a transverse contact 246 c, which

  is also part of a second series.

  The second series of contacts includes a contact

  linear 248 and part of the same transverse contact 246 c.

  All the fixed contacts described consist of variously profiled lamellae which include a root part embedded through said bottom wall 215 Outside this wall the root parts have respective appendages or extensions 250

  which serve as an electrical connection socket.

  Sliding contact bridges 252 and 254 are mounted in the oscillating block seats 218 facing the bottom wall of the housing 10 R. The bridge 252 corresponds to the series of contacts 246 a, 246 b, 246 c, 246 d and the bridge.

  254 corresponds to the series of contacts 248 a, 248 b, 246 c.

  The movable contacts constituted by the bridges 252 and 254 are pushed towards the respective fixed contacts

  by the coil springs 256 and 258 placed behind.

  Fixed contact 246 c is a current arrival contact and is permanently energized. Fixed contact 246 a is connected to the associated circuit

  to the front wiper motor to stop the operation

  end of stroke operation This fixed contact 246 a is located

  therefore energized during the last wiper cycle

* front windows.

  The fixed contact 246 b is connected to the low speed winding of the front wiper motor. The fixed contact 246 a is therefore energized during the

  last cycle of the front wipers.

  Fixed contact 246 b is connected to the low speed winding of the front wiper motor Fixed contact 246 d is connected to the high speed winding of the same motor Even fixed contact 248 is connected to the winding of

  low speed of the front wiper motor.

  When the lever 12 R is lifted according to the arrow F 5 of fig 1, until the tooth 228 reaches the end of the ramp 226 a and against the crest 276 d (fig 21), the bridge 254 connects the contact 246 c on contact 248 Wipers

  anterior are thus set in motion as long as the conduc-

  Keep the lever raised When the driver releases the lever the system returns to the position in fig 20, so that the bridge 252 returns to connect the contacts 246 a and 246 b and the wipers stop at the end of 'one or

of several successive cycles.

  When the lever 12 R is lifted later according to the arrow F 5 of FIG. 1, until the tooth 228 comes into the notch 226 c, the bridge 252 comes into engagement with the fixed contacts 246 c and 246 d (fig 23), which makes

  the front wipers are operated at high speed.

  Even in this case, the bridge 254 which is engaged with the

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  fixed contact 246 c has no effect and the only function of fixed contact 246 c is to keep it against the

spring force 258.

  When the driver wants to stop the wipers

  windows, it lowers the lever 12 R according to arrow F 6 of the

  fig 1 until tooth 228 comes on ramp 226 a.

  Once the tooth 228 has arrived at the start of the ramp 226 a, beyond the crest 226 c, it is the same spring 230 which returns the oscillating block 218 and the lever 12 R to the rest position corresponding to the fig 20 In this position of fig 20, the bridge 252 supplies the front wiper motor at low speed, from the fixed contact 246 a, until the wipers stop at the end of the journey. As will be understood, the power supply to the motor of the front wipers is advantageously carried out by means of the sliding contacts, kept in secure engagement by

  spring 256 (and even spring 258 in the case of ac-

  intermittent operation) The use of sliding contacts, as already mentioned at the beginning, is advantageous because these contacts are self-cleaning and their resistance

  ohmic is completely negligible.

  The small arm 224 of the lever 12 R has, at its end of the pivot 222, a cylindrical seat 260 in which is housed a positioning sphere 262 pushed outwards by a helical spring 264 housed in the seat itself. On one of its sides facing the arm 224, the oscillating block 218 has a profiled surface which serves as a cam and which comprises, inter alia, successively (fig 2) a ramp 266 a, two successive notches 266 b and 266 c and a

ramp 266 d.

  The two opposite ramps 266 a, 266 d constitute

  the more "outer" sides of the notches 266 d and 266 c.

  This cam and the sphere 262 even constitute in

  in this case a so-called "benchmark" device for determining

  mine two stable angular positions and two opposite unstable angular positions of the lever 12 R around the axis ZR. The stable positions are those in which the sphere 262 is in the notch 266 b (fig 24) and in the notch 266 c (fig 26) The unstable positions are those in which the sphere 262 is engaged with the ramps 266 a ( fig 25) and 266 d (fig 27) In these unstable positions, the spring 264 tends to return the sphere 262,

  as the case may be, at the bottom of notch 266 b or notch 266 c.

  On the bottom wall of the housing 10 R is embedded a through conductor 268 in the form of a lamella which outside the housing has an appendage or extension

  270 which serves as an outlet for the arrival of electric current.

  The part of the conductor 268 located inside

  of the housing has a V-shaped notch 272.

  The conductor 268 is associated with a movable contact in the form of a knife 274 which extends upwards.

  knife consists of a sheet metal element obtained by shears-

and folding.

  At its lower end the knife 274 has a V-shaped notch, indicated by 276, which is engaged

  according to a cross arrangement in notch 272 of the conduc-

268 lamellar shape.

  The reciprocal engagement of the V-shaped notches described provides the knife 274 with a pivot which allows it to oscillate forward and backward (relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle). The play of the pivot also allows a certain transverse oscillation. knife 274, the

goal will be specified later.

  At its upper end the knife 274 is profiled so as to form a plate for sliding contact, indicated by 278 The contact side of the plate

  is the one located on the right in figs 16, 18 and 19.

  Through the bottom wall of the housing 10 R are passively embedded the parts of the roots of two conductors 280 and 282 in the form of strips Each of these conductors has, outside the bottom wall of the housing 215, an appendage 284 and 286 respectively, which

serves as a connection socket.

  The conductor 280 is straight and its part

  end 288 a located inside the housing is engaged

  geable with a sliding contact on the corresponding side of

booklet 278.

  The other conductor, 282, is profiled so as to present an end 288 b in the form of a strip, which is on the same plane as the fixed contact 288 a and

is another fixed contact.

  The fixed contact 248 formed part of a profiled conductor 289 in the form of a strip, which extends above the knife 274 and which has an end 288 c situated towards the cover 216 of the housing 10 R The end 288 c constitutes

  a rear fixed contact connected to contact 248 a.

  Plate 278 is requested alternative-

  against the contacts 288 a and 288 b by a helical spring

  compression coil 290, which in turn bears against a

organ which will be described later.

  The possibility of transverse oscillation of the plate 274 offered by the pivot made up of V-shaped notches, allows to obtain a good electrical contact thanks to

at spring 290.

  As will be explained further below, the plac-

  quette 278 can alternately engage the single contact 288 a and the only contact 288 b The space between these two contacts is less than the width of the plate 278, so that when switching from one fixed contact to the other, the force of the spring 290 is always counteracted by one of the contacts or by the two contacts together and the knife 274 is

directed in its oscillation.

  From the bottom wall 215 of the housing 10 extends R

  a bar-shaped appendage 294, which forms an integral part

  grantee of this back wall and which is attached to it The appen-

  dice 294 extends parallel to the fixed contacts 288 a and 288 b From the plate 278 comes out a small upper wing 296 whose outer side (the one on the right in figs 16, 18 and 19) engages the guide 294 to counteract the force of the spring 290 when the plate does not engage either

  the other of contacts 288 a and 288 b.

  The small wing 296 therefore constitutes a movable contact capable of engaging the fixed contact 288 c for the purpose which

will be explained later.

  The plate 278 is provided with jaws 298 to facilitate entry into sliding engagement with the

  respective fixed contacts 288 a and 288 b.

  With the knife 274 is associated a helical repulsion spring 300 which is disposed between the knife itself and the wall of the bottom of the housing 10 R The repulsion spring 100 tends to push the knife 274 angularly rearward relative to the direction of travel. of the vehicle, i.e.

  towards the small arm 224 of the lever 12.

  Between the small arm 224 and the knife 274 is interposed a cursor, indicated overall by 302 The cursor 302 consists of a plastic part with low coefficient of friction It comprises, among other things, a pair of conductive rods 304 and 306 which slide in the corresponding holes 308 and 310 of the bottom wall

of the housing 10.

  In this way, the cursor 302 is directed practically

  only in the direction of movement of the movable contact or knife 274, a direction which is practically parallel to

  that of the steering column C as well as the XR axis.

  The slider 302 has the shape of two cross skids, indicated by 312 and 314 The slider 312 has the shape of a small block elongated in a transverse direction by

21 2545979

  compared to the small arm 224 of the lever 12 R and engages this arm at

with a rounded surface.

  The shoe 314 has the shape of a small block elongated in a transverse direction relative to the knife 274 and it has a rounded surface, like the previous one, which bears against the dorsal edge 316 of the knife The repulsion spring 300 holds the two shoes 312, 314 of the cursor 302 clamped between the small arm 224 and the knife 274. As will be understood, the small arm 224 of the lever 12 R remains engaged with the shoe 312 independently of the angular position of the arm itself and of the oscillating block

218 around the XR axis.

  Likewise, shoe 314 remains constantly engaged

with dorsal edge 316.

  From the cursor 302 comes an appendix 315 which has the role of counteracting the pressure spring 290 Although the cursor 302 performs a rectilinear movement and the plate 278 makes an arc movement, the radius of this arc is small enough so that can consider the trajectory of the plate 276 rectilinear and parallel to the trajectory of the appendix 315 The distortions of the spring

290 are therefore negligible.

  As will be understood, the angular movements

  leires of lever 12 R in front (arrow F 8, fig 1) and in

  rear (arrow F 8, fig 1) cause corresponding movements

  reverse layers (back and front) of knife 274.

  When the sphere 262 is in the notch

  266 b (fig 24) the movable contact 278 does not work.

  When the lever 12 R is moved back, the sphere 262 moves along the ramp 266 a (fig 25) and the movable contact 278 comes to bear against the fixed contact 288 a,

  which is connected to the electric pump of the front windscreen washer.

  This situation remains as long as the driver keeps the lever 12 R pulled towards him When the driver releases the

22 2545979

  lever 12 R 'the cam action, between the sphere 262 and the ramp 266 a, under the force of the spring 264, causes the

  system to the situation shown in fig 24, that is

say in neutral condition.

  When the conductor, from the arrangement shown in fig 24 moves the lever 12 R forward according to arrow F 8, the sphere 262 is placed in the notch 266 c and the movable contact 278 comes to bear against the fixed contact 288 b (fig 26) In this situation, the rear wiper motor is permanently powered

from fixed contact 288 b.

  If, subsequently, the driver pushes the lever 12 R in the direction of arrow F 8, the small wing 296 of the movable contact 278 comes to bear against the fixed contact 288 c (fig 27) from which the electropump of

the rear wiper.

  The sphere 262 then comes on the ramp 266 d.

  The situation shown in fig 27 remains as long as the driver keeps the lever 12 R pushed forward When the driver releases the lever 12 R, the cam action between the sphere 262 and the ramp 266 d, under the force of the spring 264 , returns the system to the situation shown in fig 26 and the rear wiper

continues to operate.

  Even in the case of the straight group AR the presence of the knife 274 makes it possible to obtain sliding contacts, in particular for supplying the motor of the rear wiper. The only front contact is that which is established between the small wing 296 and the end 288 c of the conductor 289, but this contact feeds a point at low

current absorption.

  As will be noted, in the switching groups according to this invention, the pressure of the contacts is entrusted to springs rather than to the elasticity of the

  contact material This is why it is possible to use

  read for all the elements in the form of strips which

  are mobile and fixed contacts, a costly material

  relatively low, with the resulting economic advantage.

Claims (7)

  1 Electrical switching group applicable lateral-   ment to the steering column and in front of the steering wheel of a vehicle, for the control of functions related to driving, this group comprising a box (10 L 9 'OR) fixed to the column and an operating lever (12 L, 12 R) centered in the housing around two axes orthogonal to each other, one practically horizontal and the other practically vertical with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle, this lever comprising a large arm whose free end is accessible on the periphery of the steering wheel and a small arm (24) located inside the housing and with which are associated movable electrical contacts capable of cooperating with fixed electrical contacts inside the case, when the lever begins to oscillate around the two aforementioned axes , means for determining stable and / or unstable angular positions of the lever 'being associated with the small arm of the lever and with the housing, characterized in that at least one of the movable contacts is of the knife type (74 a, 74 b ; 274 ), is movable in a direction practically parallel to the running direction of the vehicle, is able to cooperate in a sliding manner with at least one fixed contact (88 a, 88 b, 88 c; 288 a, 288 b) inside the case and is mechanically connected to the small arm (24; 224) of the lever (12 L, 12 R) so that the oscillations of the latter forward and backward around said axis (ZL, ZR) practically vertical produce this cooperation independently of the angular position of the lever around said axis (XL, XR) practically horizontal. 2 switching group according to claim 1, characterized in that the knife or each of the knives (74 a, 74 b; 274) has a dorsal edge (116 a, 116 b; 316) facing the small arm (24 ; 224) of the lever (12 L, 12 R) and that in the housing (10 L, 10 R) is mounted a   cursor (54; 254) which slides in the direction of movement   knives (74 a, 74 b; 274) being interposed between   the knives themselves and the small lever arm which pre-   has two cross skids, one (114; 314) of these skates extending transversely with respect to the dorsal edge (116 a, 116 b; 316) of the knife or of each of the knives and being in sliding engagement with the other (112; 3121 of said skids extending transversely with respect to the small arm (24; 224) of the lever with which it is engaged, and by the fact that with the knife or each of the knives (74 a, 74 b; 274) is associated with a repulsion spring (l O Oa, O Ob;   300) to maintain said sliding engagements.   3 switching group according to claim 2, characterized in that each knife (74 a, 74 b; 274)   is of the oscillating type and is pivotable on one of its ends   mites in the case (1 OL at 10 R) to be able to oscillate in a direction practically parallel to the steering column (C), while its other end is in the form of a contact plate (78 a, 78 b; 278 ), elastic lateral pressure means (90; 290) being present to keep the wafer in engagement under compression with the fixed contact or with each of the corresponding fixed contacts (88 a, 88 b 88 c; 288 a, 288 b), this   fixed contact in the form of a strip.   4 switching group according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises two parallel oscillating knives (74 a, 74 b) whose plates of the lateral surfaces can come into engagement with their respective fixed contacts (88 a, 88 b, 88 c), and that between the two plates (78 a, 78 b) is interposed a lateral pressure spring, each knife being centered with a clearance which allows lateral oscillation in the direction of thrust pressure spring.   Switching group according to claim   3, characterized in that it comprises an oscil- knife   lant (274): a lateral side of the plate (278) of this knife can come into engagement with fixed contacts (288 a, 288 b): the cursor (302) has, in correspondence with the plate (278), a appendage (315) forming an obstacle   and located next to the plate (278), and between this appen-   dice and the plate is interposed a pressure spring (290) constituting said elastic lateral pressure means, the knife (274) being centered with a clearance which allows a lateral oscillation in the direction of thrust pressure spring.   6 switching group according to claim 5, characterized in that the centered end of the knife or each of the knives (74 a, 74 b; 274) in the form of a strip, has a V-shaped notch (76 a 76 b; 276)   engaged in a cross arrangement in a corresponding notch   laying in the form of a V (72 a, 72 b; 272) of a conductor (68 a, 68 b; 268) fixed in the form of a strip that includes the shoemaker, this mutual engagement being maintained by the   repulsion spring (l Oa, l O Ob; 300).   7 Switching group according to any one   Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the knife   or one of the knives (74 b; 274) can occupy at least one position in which its plate (78 b; 278) does not engage any fixed contact, and this plate (78 b, 278) has a small conductive wing ( 96; 296) at the free end of the knife and by the fact that an insulating rod (94; 294) is attached to the housing (1 OL'10 R) by which the small wing is held in sliding engagement in this inactive position .   8 Switching group according to claim-   tion 7, characterized in that the small wing (296) is associated with a fixed rear contact (288 c) with which the small wing cooperates, in an end-of-travel position,   by means of one of its lateral edges.   9 Switching group according to one of the   conch previous claims, characterized by the fact   that in the housing (10 L; the OR) is mounted at least one series of fixed contacts (46 a, 46 b, 46 c, 48 a, 48 b, 48 c; 246 a, 246 b, 246 d, 248) located on a plane practically parallel to the general plane of the steering wheel (V) and arranged in an arc of a circle concentric with said axis (XL; XR) practically horizontal of oscillation of the lever (12 L; '2 R), and with the small arm (24 ; 224) of the lever is associated an oscillating block (18; 218) in which is mounted at least one contact bridge (52, 54; 252, 254) sliding relative to the oscillating block in a direction normal to said plane of the series of fixed contacts and pushed so as to come into sliding engagement with said fixed contacts by a pressure spring (56, 58, 256,258)   interposed between the swinging block and the bridge itself.   Switching device for control   functions related to driving a vehicle, including   nant two switching groups (AL, AR), each according to   any one of the preceding claims, characterized   by the fact that said groups are arranged on opposite sides of the steering column (C) and that, for mounting these said groups (AL, AR), there is provided a single support element (P) capable of be united   of the steering column (C) and by the fact that the gearboxes   third (1, L 1 OR) of the two groups (AL, AR) have   profiled parts which allow snap-on mounting   tage on said single support element (P).