GB2152289A - Electrical switch - Google Patents
Electrical switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2152289A GB2152289A GB08430434A GB8430434A GB2152289A GB 2152289 A GB2152289 A GB 2152289A GB 08430434 A GB08430434 A GB 08430434A GB 8430434 A GB8430434 A GB 8430434A GB 2152289 A GB2152289 A GB 2152289A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- switch
- housing
- ofthe
- printed circuit
- sleeve
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
- B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
- B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
- B60Q1/14—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
- B60Q1/1446—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means controlled by mechanically actuated switches
- B60Q1/1453—Hand actuated switches
- B60Q1/1461—Multifunction switches for dimming headlights and controlling additional devices, e.g. for controlling direction indicating lights
- B60Q1/1469—Multifunction switches for dimming headlights and controlling additional devices, e.g. for controlling direction indicating lights controlled by or attached to a single lever, e.g. steering column stalk switches
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
- Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
Abstract
A switch for controlling electrical control circuits, more especially a switch suitable for mounting on a motor vehicle steering column, having a return mechanism (64) for the direction indicator movement, a direction indicator control circuit, a flasher-type hazard warning light control circuit and a printed circuit board (4), wherein the switching operation is effected by means of two pivotally interconnected levers (9,11) which are pivotable about two spaced-apart pivotal points. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Electrical switch
The present invention relates to an electrical switch for actuating control circuits, more especially a switch mounted on a motorvehiclesteering column, having a resetting mechanism forthe direction indicator switch, a direction indicator light control circuit, a flasher-type hazard warning light control circuit and a printed circuit board, for closing or opening the circuit for actuating the right or left pair of direction indicators, respectively, upon actuation of the switch.
The switching means serves, inter alia, to control the direction indicator light control circuit, the flashertype warning light control circuit and the control circuits forthe headlamps.
With reference to the prior art, German Offenie gungsschrift No. 2 931 903 discloses a direction indicator switch for road vehicles which incorporates a flasher-type warning light switch and wherein the electrical control circuits are controlled by a common printed circuit board. However, the disadvantages of this switch is that its construction is too long and is only builtfor one switching function. Present-day requirements, however,forthe design ofthe operating and switching components, demand that a plurality of control levers each having only one function be combined to form one lever having a plurality of functions, and also demand that the control lever be short in length.However, a shorter construction normally necessitates a smaller pivotal angle, which considerably reducestheswitching movement or necessitates provision of a complex mechanism which is complicated to manufacture and is relatively expensive. It is necessary to avoid too short a switching movement and a complex mechanism for the purpose of achieving satisfactory operability, a good sense ofcontrol, and low manufacturing costs.
Whilst retaining the pivotal point, the switching movements and the switching angles, the present invention seeks to provide a short control lever and to incorporate a plurality offunctions into one control lever, wherein the lever movement should be as large as with a longer control lever.
According to the present invention there is provided a switch for controlling electrical control circuits, suitable for use on a motor vehicle steering column, comprising a housing including a return mechanism for the direction indicator movement, a direction indicator control circuit, and a flasher-type hazard warning light control circuit and a printed circuit board, wherein the switching operation is effected by means of two pivotally interconnected levers which pivot about two spaced-apart pivotal points.
The advantages achieved with the switch according to the invention reside, in particular, in thefactthat a simple and easily assembled mechanism has been provided which comprises a small number ofcompo- nent parts. In addition, the switch according to the invention has a very compact construction and is suitable, therefore, for installation in all current types of vehicles. The simple, overall assembly of the switch is also advantageous.
Preferably, the control lever is provided with a dome-shaped base so thatthere is no need to provide a sealing sleeve for sealing the aperture ofthe housing, whilst a receiving means is preferably provided within the control lever to permit the pivotal leverto be rotatably retained therein in a simple manner, e.g. by a ball and socket connection. Further, the pivotal lever is supported in a sleeve which is rotatable mounted in an intermediate member a simple manner. The arrangementforthe pivotal lever and the sleeve as claimed in claims 5 and 6 permits the housing to have a compact construction and permits the pivotal leverto be rapidly and directly controlled and positioned.Considerably better utilisation of space and easier assembly are achieved when a recess formed in the lower portion of the housing accommodates a guide memberfor control through the pivotal lever according to claim 7, a double-sided printed circuit board according to claim 8, and a guide member for control through the control ring according to claim 12. Provision ofthe intermediate member according to claim 9 permits simple contact-making forthe direction indicator control circuit as well as reliable engagement in the switching positions and rapid return ofthe intermediate member to the neutral position. When the control ring is provided in accordance with claims 10 and 11, the control ring is engaged in the individual switching positions in a space-saving and secure manner.
Afinger is disposed on the control ring according to claims 12 and 13, enabling a direct displacement of the guide memberto be achieved in simple manner. Use of known types of return mechanism as claimed in claim 14 reduces the manufacturing and development costs, and economical manufacture and rapid assembly are permitted when a flasher-type hazard warning light switch is provided in accordance with claims 15, 16 and 17.The features referred to in claims 18to 20 permit accurate positioning and a secure mounting of the switch, whilstthe special form ofthe elastically resilient sleeve disposed between the intermediate member and the control lever, as mentioned in claims 21 to 24, enable the divided steering column shroud- ing, on the one hand, to be easily mounted and the sleeve, on the other hand, to be securely positioned during operation ofthe control lever. Claims 25to 29 describe advantageous types of electrical connections between the printed circuit boards which are disposed at rig htangles to one another.
The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. lisa sectional plan view of a switch according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevational view of the switch;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view ofthe switch, taken along the line I-I of Fig. 2, showing the means for holding the control lever in position, with some of the component parts removed;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view ofthe switch, taken along the line ll-ll of Fig. 1, showing the locking device for the control ring, with some ofthe component parts removed;
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the switch showing the different pivotal angles ofthe control lever and of the pivotal lever during actuation of the switch for indicating direction;;
Fig. 6 is a sectional side view ofthe switch showing the different pivotal angles ofthe control lever and of the pivotal lever during actuation ofthe switch for changing-overthe lights;
Fig. 7 is a front view of a printed circuit board which is vertically disposed in the housing and hasconduc- tor paths forthefunctions "side lights", "main beam" and "neutral position";
Fig. 8 is a rearview ofthe printed circuit board of Fig.
7, provided with the conductor paths for the functions "headlamp flasher", "dipped beam" and "full beam";
Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of the flasher-type warning light switch;
Fig. loins a sectional side view of the flasher-type warning light switch;
Fig. 11 is a general plan view ofthe switch according to the invention;
Fig. 12 is an enlarged, sectional view ofthe switch taken along the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 1;
Fig. 1 2a is an underneath view of a particular detaii ofthe switch shown in Fig. 12;
Fig. 1 2b is an enlarged, sectional view of a particular detail ofthe switch, taken along the line IV of Fig. 1 2a;
Fig. 13 is a general plan view of an alternative embodiment of the switch according to the invention;;
Fig. 1 3a illustrates an alternative embodiment for the mounting ofthe sleeve shown in Fig. 13;
Fig. 1 4a is an enlarged view of the printed circuit boards ofthe switch in Fig. 2, which boards are disposed perpendicularto one another, showing their electrical connection;
Fig. 1 4b illustrates an alternative arrangement for the electrical connection ofthe printed circuit board shown in Fig. 14a; and
Fig. 14cillustrates an additional, alternative arrangementforthe electrical connection between the printed circuit boards of Fig. 14a.
The switching device 3 comprises a housing having an upper portion 2 and a lower portion 1; each of said portions being shaped as an approximate 90" sector, one end of one sector having a control lever 11 disposed thereon and the other end of other sector having a flasher-type warning light switch 47 disposed thereon, as can be seen from Fig. 11. In addition to accommodating the switching device 3, a recess 1 a formed in the lower portion 1 ofthe housing accommodates a guide member 6, a double-sided printed circuit board 5 and an additional guide member 7; the guide member 6 being horizontally displaceable and the guide member7 being vertically displaceable, and said guide members being in contact with the vertically disposed printed circuit board 5.An additional printed circuit board 4, which is associated, inter alia, with the flasher-type warning light switch 47, is substantially horizontally disposed at the end of the switching device 3. As shown in Fig.
14a, the printed circuit boards 4 and 5 are electrically
connected to one another by means of a contact bar 89
riveted to the printed circuit boards 4 and 5. Alterna
tivelythereto, i is also possible to use a contact spring
90 which is riveted to one printed circuit board 5 and
has its free end resiliently abutting againstthe other
printed circuit board 4 by means of initial tension (cf.
Fig. 14b). In order to achieve two contact positions for the contact spring 90 on the printed circuit board 4, the resilient end of this contact spring 90 is slotted. A further alternative for the electrical connection between the printed circuit boards 4 and 5 consists of locating a spring wire contact 91, which is under initial tension, in position in the corner region betweenthe printed circuit boards 4and 5 (cf. Fig. 14c). For the secure positioning and retention of the spring wire contact 91, the bent ends 92 of the angularspring contact 91 suitably engage in suitable recesses 93 formed in the lower portion 1 of the housing. The contact spring 90 and the spring wire contact 91 are preferably made oftin bronze to ensure highly resilient properties.All of the above-mentioned types of electrical connection between the printed circuit boards 4 and 5 ensure a satisfactory flow of current.
The switching device 3 basically comprises an intermediate member8,a pivotal lever 9, a rotatable control ring 10 and a control lever 11, as can best be seen from Figs. 1 and 2. The control lever 11 has a control handle 11 awhich has recessesforease of actuation. A base portion 11 b ofthe control lever 11 is generally dome-shaped and has two pins 12 which are offset one from the other by 180". The pins are guided in two longitudinal grooves 13formed in the intermediate member 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The pivotal lever9 is held in position in the interior of the pivotal lever 11 by means of a ball-shaped end 15 which engages a receiving means 14so asto be rotatable therein.The control lever 11 and the pivotal lever 9 are of different lengths and separately pivot about two spaced-apart pivot points, so that different pivotal angles both in the horizontal plane and in the vertical plane result therefrom, as can be seen from
Figs. and 6. Since the control lever 11 is constrained by the pivotal lever9, via the ball end 15, to follow a part circular path about the pivotal point ofthe pivotal lever 9, the pins 12 move axially in the longitudinal grooves 13.The pivotal lever9 also has two pins 16 which are offset one from the other by 1800, which are pivotally mounted in a sleeve 17, whilst the sleeve 17 is pivotally mounted in the intermediate member 8 also by means of two pins 18, which are offset one from the other by 1800, but which are rotated through 90" relative to the pivotal lever pins 16, in the same plane as pivotal lever pins 16. Aflat arm 20 of the pivotal lever 9 having a rounded head 21, extends through a slot 19 formed in the sleeve 17 into the interior of the housing. The head 21 engages in a horizontally extending guide groove 22 formed in a guide member7,which is guided in a longitudinal groove 24, formed in the lower portion 1 of the housing, by means of a pin 23 which is disposed on the
rear end ofthe guide member 7. In the lower half of the guide member 7, a contact bridge 25 is provided in a
recess and is in contact with the conductor paths on the printed circuit board 5 for changing-overthe lights, i.e. "headlamp flasher", "dipped beam" and
"full beam".
In addition, a rotatable control ring 10 is mounted on the cylindrical, front portion 8a of the intermediate
member 8. Two cylindrical recesses 26 are provided in
the front portion 8a of the intermediate member 8, and
two balls 28 are mounted in said recesses 26, said balls 28 being offset one from the other by 1800and being biased outwardly by means of springs 27.As shown in Fig. 4, three respective V-shaped recesses 29a, 29band 29care provided on the inner surface 10a of the control ring 10on opposite sides, spaced one from the other by 1800. (In a simplified alternative arrangement, three V-shaped recesses 29a, 29b and 29care provided on only one side, and only one spring-loaded ball is disposed in the intermediate member in such a case.) The control ring 10 is held in position by one our a plurality of ribs 30which are wedge-shaped in the slide-in direction and engage either in suitable recesses 318 or behind shoulders 31 b ofthe intermediate member 8, as shown in Fig. 2.
Afinger 10bis also disposed on the control ring 10 and engages in a vertically extending groove Formed in a guide member 6 mounted in the housing and which has a contactor 32 on its rear surface. The contactor 32 is in contact with the printed circuit board Son the side facing towards the switching device 3 and closes or opens circuitsforthe switch positions: "off position"; "side lights"; and "main beam". When the control ring 10 is rotated into its switch position forthe "main beam", eitherthe dipped beam of the full beam is illuminated, according to the position of the control lever 11. A guide rail 33 is provided on the guide member 6 and is horizontally displaceable in a longitudinal groove 33aformed in the lower portion 1 ofthe housing.
Fig. 2 also illustrates a locking deviceforthe control lever in a horizontal direction for actuating direction indicator lights indicating a left or right travel direction. The locking device 35 comprises a spring 36, a sliding member 37 of rectangular cross-section, and a roller 38 rotatably mounted on the front end ofthe sliding member 37. The locking device 35 is guided in a recess 34 formed in the intermediate member 8, whilstthe roller 38 engages in a V-shaped notch 39 disposed in the upper portion 2 ofthe housing. Return ofthe control lever to cancel the indicators is accomplished buy a return mechanism 64 of known type actuated by cams disposed on the steering column.The return mechanism has a lever which transmits powerand engages in a recess 8bformed in the intermediate member 8, this recess 8b having a
V-shaped projection and being trapezoidal in shape.
Contact between the circuits for the direction indicators is made by a contact bridge 41 which is secured to the underside ofthe sleeve 17. The contact bridge 41 is in contact with the conductor paths disposed on the upper surface of a printed circuit board 4.
When the control lever 11 is vertically actuated, the switching device 3 is locked in position by a locking device 42 disposed in a recess 9a ofthe pivotal lever 9.
The locking device 42 comprises a spring 43 and a sliding member 44 having a rectangularcross-section and a wedge-shaped tip, as shown in Fig. 2. The sliding member44hastwo guide railswhich are displaceable in two longitudinal grooves 45 formed in the recess 9a ofthe pivotal lever 9. The wedge-shaped tip of the sliding member44engages in one of two
V-shaped recesses formed in the front portion 17a of the inner surface of the sleeve 17. The two V-shaped recesses provide two switch positions which, in this embodiment, are intended forthe positions "dipped beam" and "full beam".To actuate the switch position for "headlampflasher", wherein the control lever 11 is
pulled towards the steering wheel, the sliding mem ber 44 is moved along the lateral wall of the upper,
V-shaped recess and automatically returns to its neutral position once the control lever 11 has been
released.
Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the partially contactedthrough conductor paths of the printed circuit board 5.
Fig. 7 shows the front surface 5a on which the control circuits for actuating the "side lights" and the "main beam" are provided. Fig. 8 shows the rear surface 5b on which the control circuits for actuating the "headlamp flasher", the "dipped beam" and the "full beam" are provided. As shown in Fig. 1,the printed circuit board 5 is held in position in the recesses lain the lower portion 1 ofthe housing. The printed circuit board 5may be electrically connected by round plugs 68 or by direct contact, wherebythe printed circuit board 5 is outwardly guided through the housing and a suitable multiple-contact plug is pushed onto said printed circuit board.The flasher relay required for actuating the flashing lights is detachably insertable in the flat-type piug sleeves 88 provided on the underside ofthe switch housing.
As can be seen from Figs. 9 to 11,8 recess 46 is provided in the housing portions 1 and 2 and accommodates the flasher-type hazard warning light switch 47. Fig. 9 is a sectional viewoftheflasher-type hazard warning light switch 47 taken from above, and
Fig. is a sectional view of the flasher-type hazard warning light switch 47 taken from the side.
The switch 47 comprises a red-coloured housing 48 and the actual control knob 49 on which the housing 48 is mounted. Guide rails 50 and 52 extend respectively into guide grooves 51 and 53 disposed in the lower portion ofthe housing, provided on opposite sides ofthe control knob 49, and spring 54, which acts on the control knob 49, urges the control knob outwardly. The spring 54 is guided in an aperture 55, formed in the control knob 49, and located on a tapered pin 65 disposed in the housing portion 1. A lamp 56 is disposed on the front end ofthe control knob 49 and has two terminals 66a and 66b on its rear end. Each terminal 668 and 66b is connected to a contact bridge 57 and 58, respectively, via a contact spring 67 and a spring 59.Contacts 57,58 and 58a are provided on the control knob and are pressed outwardly by means of springs 59,60 and 60a, respectively. The control knob 49 is axially retained in the housing portion 1 by means ofthe upper housing portion 2.
The switch 47 is locked by a wire-like locking pawl 61 having arms 69 and 70 which are at a right angle, the two ends 618 and 61 bofthe arms also being inwardly bent at right angles. The arm 69 of the locking pawl 61 is mounted in a self-locking manner between the two housing portions 1 and 2, the end 618 engaging in an associated bore formed in the housing portion 1 to facilitate assembly. The arm 70 ofthe locking pawl 61 is pivotably mounted between the housing portion 1 and the control knob 49, and the end 61 b of said shank engages in an associated locking gate 62 provided in the control knob 49. The arms 69 and 70 and their ends 61 a and 61 bofthe locking pawl 61 are of equal length, so that it is not necessary to have one specific position for installing the locking pawl 61.
Coloured symbols are provided on the control
handle 11 a, on the control ring 10 and on the flasher-type hazard warning light switch 47 and indicate the function and direction of movement. The housing and switching mechanism are made from heavy-duty plastics material. The printed circuit boards maybe made from nylon reinforced with glass fibre.
To ensurethatthe steering column switch is mounted securely and accurately, on the one hand, two screws are provided which extend through suitable bores 71 formed in the upper portion 2 ofthe housing and are connected to a support member 74 retained on the tubular casing of the steering wheel spindle, and on the other hand, a projection 72 is provided which is moulded on the side of the upper portion 2 of the housing opposite the control lever 11 and engages in a suitable recess in the support member74 ofthe tubular casing. To avoid the upper portion 2 of the housing, which is made of plastics material, from being deformed when the screws are tightened, each bore 71 accommodates a metal sleeve 73 which extends over at leastthe entire length ofthe bore 71.The end of each metal sleeve 73, facing towards the support member, protrudes beyond the underside ofthe associated bore71, so thatthis protruding portion of each metal sleeve 73 engages in an associated recess formed in the support member 74, thereby ensuring that the steering column switch is securely positioned in all directions in co-operation with the projection 72. To retain the metal sleeves 73 securely in the bores 71, each metal sleeve 73 is provided with a knurled edge 75 on its outersurface in a predetermined, circumferential region.To compen sateforthe tolerance between the support member 74 and the upper portion 2 of the housing of the steering column switch and to provide a fixed seating, raised portions 76 are provided in a circular manner around the bores 71 on the underside ofthe upper portion 2 of the housing facing towardsthe support member74 and suitable spaces 77 are associated with said raised portions. When the screws are tightened, the plastics material ofthe raised portions 76 becomes deformed both plastically and elastically, thereby causing a constant restoring force to be exerted upon the screw heads via the upper portion 2 ofthe housing.
In an alternative embodiment ofthe steering column switch according to the invention which is shown in Fig. 13, the control ring 10 for actuating the main beam is omitted, and a space is thereby produced between the intermediate member 8 and the control lever 11, through which space particles of dirt may enter the interior of the switch. To prevent thisfrom happening, it is usual practiceto provide an elastically resilient sleeve between the above-mentioned component parts.To facilitate assembly of the sleeve and the steering column shrouding, which is associated with the steering column switch and comprises upper shell 78 and lower shell 79, the sleeve 80 engages atthe switch end in a circumferential groove 81 in the control lever 11, and the sleeve 80
is provided with a circumferential edge 82, which is hentovertheswitch housing, atthe end facing
towards the steering column.The steering column
shrouding 78 and 79 also engages in a circumferential
recess 83 which is provided in the sleeve 80 and is
disposed in front ofthe circumferential edge82.The
spacing between the inner surface 84 of the steering
column shrouding 78 and 79 and thefrontface85 of the housing is preferably selected so that, upon actuation ofthe control lever 11, the portion ofthe sleeve 80 located between the above-mentioned component partscannot slide out of the associated aperture formed in the steering column shrouding 78 and 79. Sothatthe above-mentioned spacing does not
have to be strictly adhered to, it is possible to provide one or a plurality of retaining stoppers 86 on the inner surface of the circumferential edge 82 of the sleeve 80, said stoppers being fitted into suitable bores 87 formed in the housing.
Claims (30)
1. A switch for controlling electrical control circuits, suitable for use on a motorvehicle steering column, comprising a housing including a return mechanism for the direction indicator movement, a direction indicator control circuit, and a flasher-type hazard warning light control circuit and a printed circuit board, wherein the switching operation is effected by means of two pivotally interconnected levers which pivot about two spaced-apart pivotal points.
2. A switch as claimed in claim 1, in which one of the levers is a control lever and has a generally
dome-shaped base provided with two pins which are
moulded with said base and are offset one from the
other by 180q which pins engage in two longitudinal
grooves formed in an intermediate member in the housing.
3. A switch as claimed in claim 2, in which the control leverforms a handle having a hollow structure and hasa receiving meansforthe other pivotal leverin the handle.
4. Aswitch as claimed in claim 3, in which the pivotal lever is rotatably retained in the receiving means by means of a ball head, and the pivotal lever has two pins at its pivotal point, said pins being offset one from the other by 1800 and pivotably retained in two suitably disposed apertures provided in a sleeve.
5. A switch as claimed in claim 4, in which the pivotal lever has a lateral, flat arm which protrudes through a slotformed in the sleeve, said arm extending into the housing above a vertically disposed printed circuit board and engaging in a longitudinal groove provided in a guide member and wherein the pivotal leverhasa locking device which is displaceably retained in a recess provided in the
pivotal lever.
6. A switch as claimed in claim Sin which two pins
are provided on the sleeve and are offset one from the
other by 1800, the pins being disposed in the same
plane asthe pins of the pivotal lever, but rotated through 90" relativethereto, andthe pins on the sleeve
are rotatably retained in suitable aperturesformedin the intermediate member, and wherein two V-shaped
recesses are formed on the innersurfaceofthesleeve in which a sliding member of the locking device is engageable,said sliding member being biased buy a spring.
7. Aswitch as claimed in claims 5 or6, in which the guide member is disposed in a recess formed in a lower portion of the housing in a vertically displaceable mannervia a guide pin and a guide groove formed in the lower portion ofthe housing; and a contactor is provided on the guide member and is in contact with the rear contact surface printed circuit board.
8. A switch as claimed in claim 5,6 or7, in which the vertically disposed printed circuit hoard is held in position in the recess formed in the lower portion of the housing and has a front contact surface and a rear contactsurface, with the control circuits for actuating the "side lights" and "main beam" provided on the front surface and the control circuits for actuating the "headlamp flasher", the "dipped beam" and the "full beam" are provided on the rear surface, the front surface and the rearsurface being at least partly electrically conductively connected.
9. A switch as claimed in one of claims 4to 8, in which a contactor is disposed on the underside ofthe sleeve and is in contact with a horizontally disposed printed circuit board, a locking device is provided on the end face ofthe sleeve and comprises a sliding member,which is biased bya spring, and a rotatable roller, which sliding member engages in a V-shaped notch formed in an upper portion of the housing, and a trapezoidal recess is provided with a V-shaped attachmerit member on an upper end surface of the intermediate member with a known return mechanism engaging therein.
10. Aswitch as claimed in one of claims 2to 9, in which a control ring is rotatably mounted on a front, cylindrical portion ofthe intermediate member by means of a snap-type holder, the inner surface ofthe control ring being provided with successive V-shaped recesses which are disposed on one side ofthe inner surface, and resilient locking means are provided which engage in the recesses, which locking means are guided in an aperture formed in the intermediate member.
11. A switch as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, in which successive recesses are provided on the inner surface of a control ring rotatably mounted on a front cylindrical portion of the intermediate member on each ofthetwo opposite sides and are offset one from the other by an angle of 180 , and locking means are provided, offset one from the other by 180 , in the intermediate member and engage in the recesses.
12. Aswitch as claimed in claims 9 or 10, in which a finger is disposed on the control ring, which finger engages in a longitudinal groove which is provided in a vertically extending guide member.
13. A switch as claimed in claim 12, in which the guide member is horizontally displaceable in a recess guided by means of a guide rail engaging in a longitudinal groove provided in the lower housing portion, and the guide member has a contactor which is in contactwith the front contact surface ofthe printed circuit board.
14. A switch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a return mechanism is disposed in the upper portion of the housing for resetting the control lever.
15. A switch as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, in which the flasher-type hazard warning light switch is directly connected to a printed circuit board by spring-loaded contacts, and the flasher-type hazard warning light switch is horizontally displaceable via lateral guide members in the lower portion of the housing and is biased outwardly by means of a spring.
16. A switch as claimed in claim 15, in which one arm of a rectangular, wire-like locking pawl is mounted in a self-locking manner between the two housing portions and the end of another arm, which is pivotably located between the housing portion and the control knob, engages in a locking gate disposed in the control knob.
17. A switch as claimed in claims 15 and 16, in which the arms of the locking pawl are of equal length and extend at right angles to one another, and the free end of each arm has a bent-over portion.
18. A switch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which bores are provided in the upper portion of the housing for receiving screws which are engageable with a support member retained on the tubular casing of the steering wheel spindle, in use, and a projection is moulded on the end of the upper portion of the housing disposed opposite the control lever and is engageable in a suitable recess formed in the support member ofthe tubular casing.
19. A switch as claimed in claim 18, in which a metal sleeve is inserted into each bore formed in the upper portion ofthe housing and protrudes beyond the underside ofthe associated bore with its end facing towards the support member.
20. A switch as claimed in claims 18 or 19, in which raised portions are provided in the region of the bores on the underside ofthe upper portion of the housing facing towards the support member, and suitable recesses are associated with said raised portions to correspond thereto.
21. A switch as claimed in any of claims 2 to 20, in which the space between the intermediate member and the control lever is covered by an elastically resilient sleeve which engages at the switch end ion a circumferential groove in the control lever and is provided with a circumferential edge, which is bent over the switch housing, atthe end facing towards the steering column.
22. A switch as claimed in claim 21, in which the sleeve has a recess, which is also circumferential, for receiving a steering column shrouding.
23. A switch as claimed in claim 22, in which the spacing between the inner surface ofthe steering column shrouding and the front face of the switch housing is selected so that, upon actuation ofthe control lever, the portion ofthe sleeve located between the above-mentioned component parts does not slide out of the associated aperturesformed in the steering column shrouding.
24. Aswitch as claimed in claim 21 or 22, in which one or a plurality of retaining stoppers are provided on the inner surface of the circumferential edge of the sleeve and are fitted into suitable bores provided on the switch housing.
25. A switch as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, in which the printed circuit boards are electrically interconnected by a contact bay which is riveted thereto.
26. Aswitch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a contact spring is provided for the electrical connection between the printed circuit hoards, said spring being riveted to one printed circuit board while its free end abuts against the other printed circuit board by initial tension.
27. A switch as claimed in claim 26, in which the resilient end ofthe contact spring is slotted.
28. A switch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a spring contactwiresubjectto an initial tension is held in position in the corner region between the printed circuit boards forthe electrical connection of said printed circuit boards.
29. A switch as claimed in claim 28, in which the bent ends ofthe angular spring wire contact engage in suitable recesses formed in the lower portion of the housing.
30. A switch for controlling electrical control circuits substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19833343661 DE3343661A1 (en) | 1983-12-02 | 1983-12-02 | ELECTRIC SWITCH |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8430434D0 GB8430434D0 (en) | 1985-01-09 |
| GB2152289A true GB2152289A (en) | 1985-07-31 |
| GB2152289B GB2152289B (en) | 1987-06-03 |
Family
ID=6215897
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08430434A Expired GB2152289B (en) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-12-03 | Electrical switch |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| BR (1) | BR8406232A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3343661A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8602296A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2560431B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2152289B (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2600815A1 (en) * | 1986-06-26 | 1987-12-31 | Jaeger | SWITCH IN PARTICULAR FOR THE CONTROL OF WINDSCREEN WIPER WASHER |
| EP0399895A2 (en) * | 1989-05-23 | 1990-11-28 | Valeo Electronique | Help panel at vehicle instrument board |
| FR2647397A1 (en) * | 1989-05-23 | 1990-11-30 | Neiman Sa | Utilities mounting plate associated with the dashboard of a motor vehicle |
| GB2247403A (en) * | 1990-08-30 | 1992-03-04 | Andrew Starbuck | Floor covering structure |
| EP0853022A3 (en) * | 1996-12-02 | 1999-05-06 | Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG | Vehicle function module |
| EP0861753A3 (en) * | 1997-02-28 | 1999-08-18 | Yazaki Corporation | Combination switch |
| EP1420425A1 (en) * | 2002-11-12 | 2004-05-19 | Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH | Steering column stalk switch |
| WO2016207259A1 (en) * | 2015-06-25 | 2016-12-29 | Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren Gmbh | Steering column switch for a vehicle |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5691519A (en) * | 1993-03-25 | 1997-11-25 | Eaton Corporation | Electric switch, for use on automotive steering column switch |
| DE19955640B4 (en) * | 1999-11-19 | 2004-07-08 | Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren Gmbh | Electrical switching device |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1786851U (en) * | 1958-01-16 | 1959-04-16 | Busch Jaeger Duerener Metall | BALL JOINT SWITCH. |
| GB2028000B (en) * | 1978-08-08 | 1982-09-29 | Lucas Industries Ltd | Direction indicator switch for a road vehicle |
| DE2931903A1 (en) * | 1978-08-08 | 1980-02-21 | Lucas Industries Ltd | Hazard warning circuit for car - incorporates printed circuit combining direction flasher and hazard flasher control |
| JPS6140043Y2 (en) * | 1979-03-10 | 1986-11-15 | ||
| DE2952298C2 (en) * | 1979-12-24 | 1985-10-03 | SWF Auto-Electric GmbH, 7120 Bietigheim-Bissingen | Electric switches, in particular steering column switches for motor vehicles |
| DE3045159C2 (en) * | 1980-12-01 | 1983-12-15 | Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co KG, 5880 Lüdenscheid | Motor vehicle steering column switch |
-
1983
- 1983-12-02 DE DE19833343661 patent/DE3343661A1/en active Granted
-
1984
- 1984-11-27 ES ES537998A patent/ES8602296A1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-11-30 FR FR8418292A patent/FR2560431B1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-12-03 GB GB08430434A patent/GB2152289B/en not_active Expired
- 1984-12-03 BR BR8406232A patent/BR8406232A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Cited By (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2600815A1 (en) * | 1986-06-26 | 1987-12-31 | Jaeger | SWITCH IN PARTICULAR FOR THE CONTROL OF WINDSCREEN WIPER WASHER |
| EP0252800A1 (en) * | 1986-06-26 | 1988-01-13 | Jaeger | Switch especially for the control of wind screen washers and wipers of motor vehicles |
| EP0399895A2 (en) * | 1989-05-23 | 1990-11-28 | Valeo Electronique | Help panel at vehicle instrument board |
| FR2647397A1 (en) * | 1989-05-23 | 1990-11-30 | Neiman Sa | Utilities mounting plate associated with the dashboard of a motor vehicle |
| EP0399895A3 (en) * | 1989-05-23 | 1991-03-27 | Valeo Electronique | Help panel at vehicle instrument board |
| US5396106A (en) * | 1989-05-23 | 1995-03-07 | Valeo Neiman | Service panel associated with the fascia of a vehicle |
| GB2247403B (en) * | 1990-08-30 | 1994-01-05 | Andrew Starbuck | Floor covering structures |
| GB2247403A (en) * | 1990-08-30 | 1992-03-04 | Andrew Starbuck | Floor covering structure |
| EP0853022A3 (en) * | 1996-12-02 | 1999-05-06 | Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG | Vehicle function module |
| EP0861753A3 (en) * | 1997-02-28 | 1999-08-18 | Yazaki Corporation | Combination switch |
| US6127638A (en) * | 1997-02-28 | 2000-10-03 | Yazaki Corporation | Combination switch |
| EP1420425A1 (en) * | 2002-11-12 | 2004-05-19 | Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH | Steering column stalk switch |
| WO2016207259A1 (en) * | 2015-06-25 | 2016-12-29 | Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren Gmbh | Steering column switch for a vehicle |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8430434D0 (en) | 1985-01-09 |
| FR2560431B1 (en) | 1989-01-06 |
| BR8406232A (en) | 1985-10-01 |
| ES537998A0 (en) | 1985-11-01 |
| FR2560431A1 (en) | 1985-08-30 |
| DE3343661C2 (en) | 1989-02-02 |
| ES8602296A1 (en) | 1985-11-01 |
| GB2152289B (en) | 1987-06-03 |
| DE3343661A1 (en) | 1985-06-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19921203 |