GB2084803A

GB2084803A - Mounting and adjusting a vehicle brake light switch

Info

Publication number: GB2084803A
Application number: GB8112893A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TORRIX ETS
Current assignee: TORRIX ETS
Priority date: 1980-09-22
Filing date: 1981-04-27
Publication date: 1982-04-15
Also published as: ES8202736A1; ES501474A0; GB2084803B; DE8112747U1

Abstract

A vehicle brake light switch (3) of the type having a cylindrical body with a threaded portion (32) and a push actuator (31) is mounted in an aperture (21) in a support plate (2) by means of a holding ring (1) having longitudinally extending resilient tabs (111) provided with inwardly directed thread segments (113) which are engageable with the threaded portion (32) of the switch body. The holding ring (1) is inserted into the aperture (21) until a collar (12), at one end thereof bears against one side of the support plate (2) and tongues (114) abut against the other side, thereby preventing longitudinal displacement. A lug (121) received in a notch (22), in the aperture (21), prevents rotational displacement. Then the switch body (32) is pushed into the holding ring (1) and the brake pedal (5) is depressed thereby operating the push actuator (31) and longitudinally displacing the switch body (32) to the approximate desired position. The switch body (32) which is in threaded engagement with the thread segments (113) may then be finely adjusted manually by angular displacement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of mounting and adjusting vehicle brake light switch and mounting and adjustment device The present invention relates to a method and device for mounting and adjusting a vehicle brake light switch of the type having a push actuator and an externally threaded body adapted to be received in an aperture in a support behind the brake pedal of the vehicle so that the push actuator is operated each time the brake pedal is depressed a predetermined amount.

In a known arrangement for mounting and adjusting the push actuator switch, the switch body is fixed by a threaded part in the support behind the brake pedal while the switch itself is received in the passanger compartment of the vehicle, with the push actuator directed towards the pedal so that the latter engages, in operation, the push actuator when the brake pedal is depressed a predetermined amount. The determination of the initial course prior to the engagement of the push actuator is effected by a nut and a lock nut threadedly engaged with the threaded portion of the switch body so as to adjust the length the threaded portion protrudes behind the brake pedal.

Such an adjustment of the switch position is timeconsuming.

An object of the invention is to overcome this drawback by providing a simple and reliable method and device for mounting such a push actuator switch which permits quick mounting and adjustment.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of mounting and adjusting a vehicle brake light switch in which the switch body is mounted in an aperture in a support plate or wall by means of a holding ring having a collar for abutment against one side of the support plate or wall and at least one tongue for abutment against the other side of the support plate or wall and longitudinally extending resilient tabs having inwardly directed relief portion forming thread segments engageable with the externally threaded portion on the switch body and a push actuator adapted to be arranged in the path of movement of the brake pedal, the said method being characterized by inserting the holding ring in the support plate or wall so that the collar bears against on side of the support plate or wall and the tongue or tongues on the other side of the support plate or wall, inserting the switch body into the holding ring with the push actuator directed toward the brake pedal until it is in abutment relative to the support plate or wall, depressing the brake pedal fully thereby displacing the switch body longitudinally against the action of the resilient tabs to its approximate desired position.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a device for mounting and adjusting a vehicle brake light switch for carrying out the foregoing method.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be described in greater detail in the description which follows of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic overall side elevational view of a mounting and adjustment device embodying the invention arranged in position behind a brake pedal, shown on a smaller scale, before adjustment of its position axially relative to the brake pedal.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 in which the switch is in its adjusted position relative to the mounting and adjustment device.

The mounting and adjustment device according to the invention for mounting and adjusting the position of a vehicle brake light switch, comprises a holding ring 1, of resilient material, e.g., stamped tempered steel. The holding ring 1 comprises a generally cylindrical part 11 defining a skirt with a flange collar 1 2 at one of the ends. The holding ring 1 is a split ring and to this end has a slot 1 3 running its entire length.

Diametrically opposite the slot 1 3 is provided a tab 111 defined between two adjacent longitudinal notches 11 2 formed in the cylindrical part 11 and opening at the end facing away from the collar 1 2. Two other tabs 111 angularly spaced 120 from the first tab 111 are likewise delimited by notches 112.

The three tabs 111 are each provided with a relief portion 113, for example stamped therein, projecting generally radially inwardly.

The three relief portions 11 3 are arranged so that they constitute thread segments along the periphery of the switch body when the latter is received in the mounting and adjustment device. The three tab relief portions 11 3 are accordingly slightly inclined relative to planes perpendicular to the axis of the switch body.

Also, the tab relief portions 11 3 are at different axial locations along their respective tabs 111. Accordingly, the holding ring 1 may be considered a nut for a screw having a screwthread diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the nut and complementary screwthreads.

The cylindrical part 11 of the holding ring 1 also comprises two inclined tongues 11 4 projecting outwardly of the ring and defined by a U-shaped strike 11 5 in the cylindrical part 11. The tongues 11 4 are arranged so that their free ends protruding farthest from the cylindrical part face the collar 12, the distance between the free ends of the tongues and the collar 1 2 can be selected to be substantially, equal to that of the support on which the holding ring 1 is to be fixed.

The collar 1 2 comprises, diametrically opposite the slot 13, a lug 1 21 defined by two lateral notches formed in the collar 1 2. The lug 121 is not bent at 90 relative to the axis of the holding ring 1 as the rest of the collar, but rather at 135 so as to form an angle of about 45 with respect to the skirt 11. The free end of the lug is directed away from the collar 12, and it is several millimetres long.

The ring 1 is adapted to be received in a support and more particularly in support plate or wall 2 behind the brake pedal as shown. A circular cutout or aperture 21 is provided in the support plate 2 including a notch 22 for receiving the lug 121 of the holding ring 1 in order to secure the holding ring in position against rotation. The holding ring 1 is held against translation relative to the support plate 2 on one side by the collar 1 2 and on the other side by means of the tongues 1 14, bearing on the respective sides of the support plate or wall 2.

A switch 3 is secured to the holding ring 1 by its cylindrical threaded portion 32 which is sized to cooperate with the thread segments defined by relief portions 11 3 on tabs 111.

The switch 3 is of the type having a push actuator 31 and a flange 33 at its end remote from the push actuator 31. In its operative position the push actuator 31 is directed towards the brake pedal in association with which it is intended to be employed.

The assembly comprising the holding ring 1 and the switch 2 which has just been described is mounted in the plate support 2 behind the brake pedal and more particularly behind the lever 51 connecting pedal per se 52 to a pivot 53. The switch 3 is connected in the electrical circuit for supplying brake indicator lamps (not shown) of the vehicle.

Thus, in operation, the brake pedal 5 is depressed by the driver or operator into operative engagement with the push actuator 31 to light the brake indicator lights.

To mount the vehicle brake light switch first the mounting and adjustment device is put into position. The holding ring 1 is introduced into the cutout or aperture 21 in the plate or wall support 2, towards the right in the drawings, and is positioned so that the lug 1 21 is inserted into notch 22. The fact that the holding ring 1 is of split construction and made of resilient material enables it to be deformed sufficiently for its tongues 114 not to prevent the passage of the cylindrical portion 11 through the cutout or aperture 21.

Once the tongues 114 have cleared the plate support 2 the holding ring resumes its initial shape and is held against translatory movement owing to its bearing against the opposed sides of the plate support 2, as seen above.

Then, according to a feature of the invention, the threaded portion 32 of the switch 3 is introduced into the holding ring 1 with the push actuator 31 directed forwardly, the switch 3 is pushed as far as possible towards the brake pedal (Fig. 1) until the flange 33 abuts the collar 1 2. The possibility of obtaining this abutment action merely by pushing the switch body is due to the fact that the tabs 111 of the holding ring 1 are not held externally and since they are resiliently deformable they can move out of the way so that successive threads of the threaded portion 32 of the switch body slide past the thread segments of the resilient tabs 111.But when the flange 33 of the switch body abuts against the collar 1 2 of the holding ring 1 the relief portions 11 3 position themselves automatically in a thread of the threaded portion 32 of the switch body.

To adjust the mounting and adjustment device, according to a feature of the invention, the brake pedal is depressed (phantom line position in Fig. 2) so that it operates the actuator 31 and then displaces the switch body until the pedal reaches its fully depressed position thereby obtaining approximate desired position of the threaded portion 32 of the switch body in the holding ring 1 by axial displacement of the switch body.As in the initial mounting of the switch body in the holding ring described above, the translatory movement of the switch body is permitted by means of the resilient tabs 111 on which the relief portions 11 3 are formed which move out of the way to permit the sliding of the threaded portion 32 relative to the relief portions 11 3. This provides an approximate adjustment of the axial position of the switch 3 and accordingly the amount of the pedal must be depressed in order to turn on the brake indicator lights. This adjustment may be made finer by further, manual adjustment, if necessary, by an appropriate rotation of the switch body, thereby advancing or withdrawing the switch body to the precise desired position.

Once the switch body is in the desired position in its mounting and adjustment device the brake lights will be turned on after the predetermined amount of pedal course from its rest position (shown in solid lines in Fig. 2). The tabs 111 are of sufficient rigidity and apply a sufficient spring force to prevent subsequent movement of the switch body 2.

Instead of automatically positioning the switch body by depressing the pedal it may be effected by an axial displacement of an abutment.

The invention is or course not limited to the illustrated and described embodiment but encompasses all modifications and alternatives which will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of mounting and adjusting a vehicle brake light switch in which the switch body is mounted in an aperture in a support plate or wall by means of a holding ring having a collar for abutment against one side of the support plate or wall and at least one tongue for abutment against the other side of the support plate or wall and longitudinally extending resilient tabs having inwardly directed relief portion forming thread segments engageable with the externally threaded portion on the switch body and a push actuator adapted to be arranged in the path of movement of the brake pedal, the said method being characterized by inserting the holding ring in the support plate or wall so that the collar bears against on side of the support plate or wall and the tongue or tongues on the other side of the support plate or wall, inserting the switch body into the holding ring with the push actuator directed toward the brake pedal until it is in abutment relative to the support plate or wall, depressing the brake pedal fully thereby displacing the switch body longitudinally against the action of the resilient tabs to its approximate desired position.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein after reaching its approximate desired position the position of the switch body is finely adjusted by angular displacement of the switch body relative to the holding ring.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding ring has a lug adapted to be received in a radial notch in the aperture in the support plate or wall when the holding ring is fully inserted into the aperture, for maintaining the holding ring against rotational movement in the aperture.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the resilient tabs sufficiently clamp the switch body to prevent inadvertent longitudinal displacement of the switch body after it has been positioned.

5. A device for mounting and adjusting a vehicle brake light switch comprising a holding ring as claimed in any of the preceding Claims.

6. A method for mounting and adjusting a vehicle brake light switch substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A device for mounting and adjusting a vehicle brake light switch substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.