FR2623010A1 - SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING OPERATING POSITIONS OF ELECTRIC SWITCHES - Google Patents

Abstract

System for displaying the operating position of one or more associated electrical switches, characterized in that it comprises at least one support 4, an operating lever 5, and a sign element 6 formed by self-locking parts by mechanical interlocking.

Description

SYSTEM FOR VIEWING POSITIONS OF

  ELECTRIC SWITCHING OPERATION

  The present invention relates to a display system for

  electric switch operating positions.

  An industrial or household electrical appliance such as a washing machine

  laundry, a dishwasher usually includes one or more operation control switches. A visualization of the position of engagement or tripping of this or these

  switches make it easier to check that the appliance is working properly

  reil and helps to ensure safety in the use of it.

  Known systems for displaying operating positions

  of electrical switches are often systems with indi-

  cations such as On-Off, systems with a light signaling device or systems with colored signage.

  Known systems for displaying functional positions

  of electrical switches, especially those with colored signage often have a complicated structure and cost

  relatively high workmanship.

  The object of the present invention is to avoid these inconveniences.

  nients, makes it possible to produce an economical display system for operating positions of an electrical switch, which has a simple, solid structure, formed of component parts which are easy to manufacture and assemble without mechanical means independent of

fixing or holding.

  According to the invention, a position display system of

  operation of one or more associated electrical switches

  cidés, is characterized in that it comprises at least one support, an operating lever, and a descriptive element constituted by

  self-locking parts by mechanical interlinking.

  To make the invention easier to understand, a certain number of embodiments thereof are described below, illustrated by the appended drawings, in which - Figure I represents a schematic exploded view, in perspective, of an embodiment of rl ' invention of a system for displaying the operating positions of electrical switches of the push-button type with locking engagement; - Figure 2 shows a partial bottom view of the assembled system of Figure 1; - Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view along the plane III-III of the system of Figure 2, showing this system in a

  idle state indicating a trigger position of a commu-

  associated electric driver; - Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view along the plane 111-111 of the system of Figure 2, showing this system in an active state indicating an engagement position of an associated electrical switch; - Figure 5 shows a schematic partial view from above of the system of Figure 1, showing this system associated with

  three electrical switches, two of which are in the ON position

  and one is in the release position; - Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a variant of

  embodiment of the invention, showing it in a state of indi-

  as a trigger position of an associated electrical switch and - Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the system of Figure 6, showing this system in an active state indicating a

  position of engagement of an associated electrical switch.

  The invention is applicable to position display systems of one or more associated electrical switches of a known type with push-button with locking engagement fitted

  industrial or household electrical appliances such as washing machines

  laundry, dishwashers, etc. The electrical switches of the known type with push-button with locking engagement 1 schematically and partially represented in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are switches

  usually having a push button type control axis 2.

  In these electrical switches 1, their engagement is obtained by axially pushing their axis 2 from its rest position

  towards the inside of these switches to its position

  chement o it is mechanically retained in place. When these switches are triggered, their axis 2 is pushed axially inwards of these switches beyond its latching position to cause its release and its automatic return to its initial rest position towards the outside of these

  switches, by a known device with return spring.

  According to the invention, a system for displaying position of

  operation of one or more associated electrical switches

  ciés of the push button type with interlocking retainer comprises at least one support, an operating lever and a descriptive element constituted by self-locking parts by mechanical interlinking, in other words the maintenance of their assembly

  does not require independent mechanical fixing means.

  The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 represents a system 3 for viewing the operating positions of three

  associated electrical switches 1.

  The position display system 3 comprises three identical operating levers 5 and three descriptive elements

  identical 6, assembled side by side in a support 4.

  The operating lever 5 which is a pivoting perforated part

  having a substantially rectangular shape (Figures I to 4) compre-

  nant two parallel lateral arms 8, 9 interconnected at one of their ends by a cylindrical spacer 10 serving as a pivot axis, at the other of their ends by a projection II serving

  in their central area on the side of the cylinder spacer

  drique 10, by arms of an elastic blade 14 in T and in their central zone on the side of the projection 11, by a cam 16 in two

  Parallel rectilinear active cam surfaces 17, 18.

  The descriptive element 6 is a pivoting part having a V-shaped profile, the first of the branches of the V comprising two parallel spaced rods 20, 21 connected at their outer ends by

  a transverse bar 26 carrying a chosen color of signal

  sation and the second of the branches of the V is formed by two spaced parallel elastic rods 22, 23 which extend the two rods, 21 and are provided at their outer lateral surfaces with two aligned pins 24, 25 serving as axis of rotation.

  A support 4 comprises a frame 27 preferably sensitive

  completely rectangular having at least at one of its ends a gutter 28 and two spaced support arms 30 and 31, parallel to each other and to the side walls of the frame 27, and in the central zone a spacer 32 serving as a stop for the lever 5 and dividing the space of this area of the frame, into an opening 33 for receiving the projection It serving as a lever lever 5 and an exposure window 34 of

the identification element 6.

  In the support 4, the parallel support arms 30, 31 comprise

  on the one hand, in their free ends, two aligned holes 36, 37 intended to receive the two aligned pins 24, 25 of the element

  sign 6 and on the other hand a distance A less than the distance

  tement B of the lateral arms 8, 9 of the operating lever 5 so that, when the display system 3 is assembled, the arms 8, 9

  of the lever 5 surround the support arms 30, 31 of the support 4.

  In the support 4, the gutter 28 receives the cylindrical spacer

  drique 10 of lever 5 and serves as a pivot bearing for the latter.

  During assembly of the display system 3, first the operating lever 5 is, by its half provided with pivot axis 10, threaded on the support arms 30, 31 of the support 4 and pulled in the direction of the gutter 28 until this pivot axis 10 exceeds the latter, before pushing this lever 5 against the support 4 against the elastic blade 14 of this lever 5 and engaging the pivot axis 10 in this gutter 28. The elastic blade 14 resting on the support 4 retains the pivot axis 10 of the lever 5 in this gutter 28. The lever 5 which is guided laterally by the carrying arms 30, 31, can then pivot in this gutter 28 around its axis 10, between two limits at the level of its cam 16, one formed by the stop 32 of the support 4 and the other defined by

  the free ends of these carrying arms 30, 31.

  Two ribs 39, 40 are formed in the central zone of the internal faces of its lateral arms 8, 9 to facilitate the sliding of these arms 8, 9 on the support arms 30, 31 of the support 4 and the pivoting of this lever 5. Then the descriptive element 6 is mounted through the exposure window 34 and the free space 42 located between the lateral arms 8, 9 of the lever 5, in the support arms 30, 31 so as to engage by elasticity of its rods 22, 23, its pins aligned 24, 25 in the holes 36, 37 of the support arms 30, 31 and to apply the hollow of its profile

in V against the cam 16 of the lever 5.

  The lever 5, the descriptive element 6 and the support 4 are thus self-locked by their mechanical connection. The lever 5 framing the support arms 30, 31 of the support 4 and locked P from a side by the descriptive element 6 from the side opposite by the gutter 28 of the

  support 4, cannot be moved laterally or longitudinally

  slowly, and can only pivot about its axis 10 between a first stop constituted by the spacer 32 of the support 4 and a second stop constituted by the free ends of the arms

carriers 30, 31 of this support 4.

  During a disassembly of the display system 3, first the descriptive element 6 is removed from the holes 36, 37 of the support arms, 31 by pinching its elastic rods 22, 23 to release its aligned lugs 24, 25, then the operating lever 5 is moved longitudinally to extend its axis 10 from the gutter 28 before being pushed longitudinally in the opposite direction to be released

  free ends of the support arms 30, 31 of the support 4.

  In the example illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5, the projection 11 of the operating lever 5 is capped with a cap-cover 42 and the support 4 is covered with a transparent plate 43 coated in its internal face with a opaque paint layer 44 which leaves only a transparent window 45 just above the exposure window 34 of the support 4. This transparent window 45 makes it possible to observe a presence or an absence of the colored bar 26 of the pivoting signal element 6 and simultaneously the absence or presence of an exposed part of the operating lever 5 that at the level of the cam 16 of this lever being located just below this transparent window 45, since this exposed part of the lever 5 is hidden or left uncovered by this descriptive element 6. The color worn by this part of lever 5 is

  chosen as a second signal color.

  The descriptive element 6 can either be constituted by a material which has a color chosen as the first signal color, this color being different from the color of the exposed part of the lever 5 which is located just below the exposure window 34 of the support 4 and of the transparent window 45 of the plate 43, or provided with a transverse bar 26 coated on its outer surface with a layer of paint having a color chosen as the first signaling color, this color

  being different from that of the exposed part of the lever 5.

  The exposed part of the operating lever 5 visible through the exposure window 34 and the transparent window 45 may have a color chosen as the second signaling color identical to that of this operating lever or may be coated with a layer of paint. having a color chosen as the second signaling color but different from the color of this lever

operation 5.

  In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the projection II of the operating lever 5 is provided in its internal face with a protuberance 46 intended to be in bearing contact on the free end of the axis of control 2 of the associated electrical switch 1

  of the push button type with latching retention.

  In the rest position, the operating lever S is elastic.

  only pushed by the control rod 2 of the switch I against the stop 32 of the support 4 (FIG. 3) and the colored bar 26 of the descriptive element 6 is retracted and is not visible through

the transparent window 45.

  When the switch 1 is engaged, the lever 5 is pivoted, by a thrust applied to the cap 42 covering the projection 11, to push the axis 2 into the switch I until it

  latching position where axis 2 is retained there. During the pivo-

  tement of the operating lever 5, the first active surface 17 of its cam 16 pushes the free ends of the rods 22, 23 of the pivoting descriptive element 6 and makes it pivot around its lugs 24, 25 so that it appears at the end of the switching path of switch 1, the colored bar 26 under the transparent window while the second active surface 18 of its cam 16 serves to support this colored bar 26 in its sliding during this pivoting of the descriptive element 6 (Figure 4). The color of the colored bar 26 appeared under the transparent window 45

  then indicates the position in which the lever 5 is engaged.

  When a switch 1 is triggered, the lever 5 is pivoted by a push applied to the cap 42 to push the axis 2 into the switch I to its trigger position where the axis 2 is released and returned to its rest position (figure 3)

  by a known spring system not shown. During the pivo-

  tement of the operating lever 5, the second active surface 18 of the cam 16 slides on the internal face of the colored bar 26 and rotates the descriptive element 6 to a retracting position o

  this colored bar 26 is no longer visible from the transparent window

  annuity 45 (Figure 3) while the first active surface 17 of the cam 16 serves to support the rods 22, 23 in their sliding during

  pivoting of the identification element 6.

  During this time, the exposed part of the lever 5, that situated at the level of its cam 16, which has a color different from that of this colored bar 26 of the descriptive element 6, appears under the transparent window 45. The color of this part exposed lever 5 appeared visible under the transparent window 45, which is a second signaling color, then indicates the rest position

of this lever 5.

  In this example, two colors thus ensure the display of two respective operating positions of the associated electrical switch 1: the color of the colored bar 26 appearing under the transparent window 45 indicates the position in which this switch 1 is engaged by the lever 5, and the color of the exposed part of this last lever, visible under the transparent window 45 indicates the triggering position of 'this switch I by this

same lever 5.

  In the example illustrated in Figure 5, the visualization system

  sation 3 includes a support 4, three levers - for maneuver iden-

  ticks 5, only their cap-covers 42 being visible, and three

  identical signs 6, two of these signs-

  ticks 6 being visible by their colored bars 26 through the

  common transparent window 45 and the third element indicated-

  tick 6 in the retracted position being invisible through this window

transparent 45.

  When the colored bars 26 are visible through the transparent window 45, the switches I associated with the operating levers 5 are activated. When one or more colored bars 26 are invisible through the visible window 45, the switch or switches 1 associated with the operating levers having this or these colored bars 26, are triggered. As a result, the system 3 faithfully displays the switching on and off positions.

  triggering of the associated switches.

  In an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the display system 50 for operating positions of one or more associated electrical switches of the push-button type with locking engagement comprises a support 51, a lever for maneuver 52 and one element

signage 53.

  The operating lever 52 is a pivoting part comprising

  two spaced parallel side arms 54, 55 connected by spacers

  rods 56 and carrying at one of their ends aligned trunnions 57, 58 serving as a pivot axis, at the other of their ends a projection 60 serving as a key and in its central zone two aligned pins 62, 63 projecting laterally outwards intended for

  order the descriptive element 53.

  The identifying element 53 is a sliding part having an inverted U cross section comprising on the one hand in its two side walls two parallel inclined slots open towards the outside 66, 67 intended to receive the two aligned pins 62, 63

  of the operating lever 52 and two lateral sliding ribs

  68, 69 formed at the bottom of the U projecting outwards and on the other hand, on a transverse half 70 of the outer surface of the bottom of the inverted U and in alignment with the

  inclined slots 66, 67, a selected signaling color.

  According to another alternative embodiment, in the element indicated-

  tick 53, a transverse half 70 of the outer surface of the bottom of the inverted U and in alignment with the inclined slots 66, 67, bears a first chosen signal color and the other transverse half remaining of this outer surface of the bottom of the U

  inverted carries a second chosen signaling color.

  The support 51 includes a frame 71 preferably sensitive

  completely rectangular, provided at one end with an opening 72 for receiving the projection 60 serving as a button for the operating lever 52, at the other end, in its side walls, with two holes 73, 74 for receiving the pins aligned 57, 58, and in the central area, cd'an exposure window 76 and two parallel sliding ramps 78, 79 and a stopper 80, arranged below this window 76. The ramps 78, 79 are intended to receive the lateral sliding ribs 68, 69 of the element

signage 53.

  The support 51 can be covered with a transparent plate 82 and the projection 60 of the operating lever 52 can be provided with a

cover cap 83.

  In an assembly of the display system 50, first of all the descriptive element 53 is mounted and slid, in the sliding ramps 78, 79 from the support 51 to the stop 80 and then the lever 52 is mounted in the support 51 by engaging its projection 60 in the opening 72 of the support 51 and its aligned lugs 62, 63 in the inclined slots of the descriptive element 53 before elastically pinching the ends of the lateral arms 54, 55 to engage the aligned pins 57, 58 in the holes 73, 74 of the support 51. The operating lever 52 engaged in the pivoting holes 73, 74 of the support 51 and the inclined slots of the descriptive element 53

  can then pivot around its pins 57, 58.

  When the switch I associated with the display system 50 is engaged, the lever 52 is pivoted by a thrust applied to the cap 83 to push the axis 2 into the switch 1

  up to its latching position (Figure 7) where axis 2 is retained there.

  During this pivoting of the lever 52, its aligned lugs 62, 63 push the inclined walls of the slots 66, 67 and cause the descriptive element 53 to slide on the sliding ramps 78, 79 so as to make appear at the end of the engaging stroke of the iS5 associated switch 1, the signaling color of its part 70, under the exposure window 76 of the support 51. The appearance of the signaling color of this part 70 indicates the position

  switch i is engaged by lever 52.

  When a switch 1 is triggered, the lever 52 is pivoted by a push applied to the cap 83 to push the axis 2 into the switch I to its trigger position where the axis 2 is released and returned to its rest position (figure 6)

  by a known spring system not shown. During this pivo-

  tement of the lever 52, its aligned lugs 62, 63 push the inclined walls of the slots 66, 67 and cause the descriptive element 53 to slide in the opposite direction on the sliding ramps 78, 79 so as to

  make the display color 76 disappear from the exposure window

  sation of part 70 of this descriptive element 53. The absence of the signal color of this part 70 indicates the position of

  trigger of switch I by lever 52.

  In the case where the descriptive element 53 carries two colors of

  signaling, during the pivoting of the lever 52 during a triggering

  The associated switch 1, the aligned pins 62, 63 of this lever push the inclined walls of the slots 66, 67 and make it slide the descriptive element 53 on the sliding ramps 78, 79 so as to make the window disappear. exposure 76, the first signaling color worn by the part 70, that is to say one of the transverse halves of the descriptive element 53, and simultaneously making this exposure window 76 appear, the

  second signaling color carried by the other half

  dirty of this sign 53. In this sign with two signal colors, the presence of the first color of

  signaling to the exposure window 76 indicates the position cd

  the associated switch! and the appearance of the second.

  signaling color at this exposure window 76 indicates the

  trigger position of this associated switch 1.

  Like the system in the example in Figures 3 to 5, the system

  faithfully displays the switch-on and switch-off positions

  setting associated switches 1.

  The supports 4, lever 5 and descriptive element 6 of the display system 3 such as the support 51, lever 52 and descriptive element 53 of the display system 50 are held together by their mechanical connection. They are on the one hand easy to manufacture and assemble therefore economical and on the other hand

  share solid, efficient and faithful in their operation.

Claims (16)

  1. System for displaying the operating position of one or more associated electrical switches, characterized in that it comprises at least one support (4, 51), an operating lever (5, 52), and a descriptive element (6 , 53) constituted by self-locking parts by mechanical interlinking. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating lever (5) is a pivoting part comprising two parallel lateral arms (8, 9) connected to one of their   ends by a cylindrical spacer serving as a pivot axis   tement (10), at the other of their ends by a projection (11) serving   in their central area on the side of the cylinder spacer   drique (10), by arms of an elastic T-shaped blade (14), and in their central zone on the side of the projection (11), by a cam (16) with two   active, parallel, rectilinear surfaces (17, 18).   3. System according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in   that the identifying element (6) is a pivoting part having a V-shaped profile, the first of the branches of the V comprising two parallel spaced rods (20, 21) connected at their outer ends by a transverse bar (26) bearing a color chosen signaling, and the second of the branches of the V is formed by two spaced parallel elastic rods (22, 23) extending the two rods (20, 21) of the first branch of the V and provided at their outer lateral surfaces with two pins aligned as axis of rotation (24, 25).   4. System according to one of claims I to 3, characterized in   that the support (4) comprises a frame (27) having at least at one of its ends, a gutter (28) serving as a bearing for a pivot axis (10) of the operating lever (5) and two arms parallel spaced carriers (30, 31) holding the descriptive element (6) and serving as the first stop for the operating lever (5) and in the central zone a spacer (32) serving as the second stop for this operating lever (5) and delimiting the space of the frame in one   exposure window (34) of the descriptive element (6) and an opening   receiving structure (33) of a projection serving as a key (11), of the lever operating (5).   5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that in the support (4), the support arms (30, 31) comprise in their free ends, two aligned holes (36, 37) intended to receive the   two aligned pins (24, 25) of the identification element (6).   6. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the descriptive element (6) consists of a material having a   color chosen as signal color.   7. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the descriptive element (6) comprises a strip (26) coated on its outer surface with a layer of paint having a color   chosen as signaling color.   8. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating lever (52) is a pivoting part comprising two spaced lateral arms (54, 55) connected by spacers (56) and carrying at one of their ends of the aligned pins (57, 58) serving as a pivot axis, at the other of their ends a projection (60) serving as a key, and in the central area two lateral pins   aligned (62, 63) for controlling the descriptive element (53).   9. System according to one of claims 1 and 8, characterized in   that the descriptive element (53) is a sliding part having a cross section in inverted U comprising on the one hand in its   side walls two parallel inclined slots open to the outside   laugher (66, 67) intended to receive aligned pins (62, 63) of the operating lever (52), and two lateral sliding ribs (68, 69) projecting outwards, at the bottom of the inverted U , and on the other hand on a transverse half (70) of the outer surface of this bottom of the inverted U and in alignment with these inclined slots   (66, 67), a chosen signal color.   10. System according to one of claims 1, 8 and 9, character-   laughed in that the support (51) comprises a frame (71) provided at one end with an opening (72) for receiving a projection serving as a button (60) of the operating lever (52), at the other end in its side walls, of two holes (73, 74) for receiving aligned pins (57, 58) of this lever (52), and in the central area, of an exposure window (76 ) and two parallel sliding ramps (78, 79) and a stopper (80) arranged below this exposure window (76), intended to receive   sliding ribs (68, 69) of the sign (53).   11. System according to one of claims 2 and 8, characterized   in that the operating lever (5, 52) comprises a cap-   cover (42, 83) covering its projection (1 1, 60) serving as a key.   12. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating lever (5) comprises in the central area of the faces   internal of its two lateral arms (8, 9) two ribs (39, 40).   13. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the operating lever (5) comprises an exposed part which, visible through the exposure window (34), has a chosen signaling color. 14. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the exposed part of the operating lever (5) has a color identical to that of this lever (5).   15. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the exposed part of the operating lever (5) is coated with a layer   of paint with a chosen signal color.   16. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the descriptive element (53) comprises on rune (70) transverse halves of its outer surface of the bottom of the inverted U of its cross section, a first chosen signal color, and on the other of these transverse halves of this surface, a   second chosen signal color.