GB2261551A

GB2261551A - Push button control switch

Info

Publication number: GB2261551A
Application number: GB9124274A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chin Kuei Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-15
Filing date: 1991-11-15
Publication date: 1993-05-19
Also published as: GB9124274D0

Abstract

A push button control switch comprises first and second pairs of fixed connectors 311-314 mounted at opposite ends and on opposite sides of a body 3 with each connector extending into the body. A single control button 4 carries a movable contact 41 which is movable between the two pairs of connectors to interconnect contacts of one connector pair when the control button is pushed inwardly of the body 3 and to interconnect contacts of the other pair of connectors when the control button is moved outwardly of the body. Each connector has hook shaped projections 361 which interengage with projections on the body 3 to fix the connector to the switch. <IMAGE>

Description

BUTTON TYPE CONTROL SWITCH This invention relates to an improved button type control switch in which there may be two control circuits installed inside the switch body to simplify the control in use and therefore provide a more convenient method of control of manufacturer, providing a lower manufacturing cost and excellent quality.

In conventional manufacture of switches a processing machine and molding machine have complicated control steps that are inconvenient to an operator and accidents easily occur. In the dangerous machines such as punching presses, forge presses etc., the punching tool must not press downward when material is charged in, otherwise the mold and material may be destroyed, and the operator's well being may be seriously threatened. However, operators on the spot often need to work long hours and both body and mind of the operator can be exhausted giving rise to an increased chance of accidents occurring by carelessness or neglect. No doubt the complicated control methods are a contributory factor, on the other hand, a more complicated control operation is likely to increase the accident rates.Of course only one such accident will stop production on an entire production line, and the damage is inestimable.

The conventional control switch generally comprises two single-circuit controllers as shown in Fig. 1 (a), such controllers can be fitted to each other by dovetail grooves 12. The switches operate so that when a control button is pushed down as illustrated in Fig. 1 (b) switch G2 becomes a closed circuit and switch G1 an open circuit. When the other control button is pushed down G2 becomes an open circuit and switch G1 a closed circuit as shown in Fig. 1 (c). Therefore, two operative steps are inevitable and thus operational difficulties will be experienced in operating a processing machine and raise manufacturing costs which is contrary to the principle of convenience and high economic efficiency.

Accordingly, a simplified and multi-functional control switch which can be operated conveniently and can provide operators with credible safety is necessary in the present manufacturing techniques.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved button-type control switch which can simplify both control and manufacturing procedures so as to lower manufacturing costs and provide simple operative techniques.

According to the present invention there is provided a button type control switch having a hollow body, a single control button movable back and forth in the hollow body, a first pair of independent electrical connectors fixedly mountable at one end of the body relative to the direction of movement of the control button and projecting into the hollow within the body, a second pair of independent electrical connectors fixedly mountable at the opposite end of the body and projecting into the hollow in the body, a movable electrical contact mounted on the control button within the body and being movable between the two pairs of connectors to interconnect contacts of one or the other pair of connectors, each fixed electrical connector including hook-shaped flanges which interengage with corresponding flanges on the body of the switch to fix the connector to the switch.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided support means for supporting each electrical connector on the said body, each support means including corresponding hook-shaped flanges.

Preferably, the control button is of an elongate rectangular shape and includes an aperture therein in which the movable contact is located.

The switch preferably also includes a spring located in the aperture for biasing the movable contact into a preset condition. Conveniently, the control button is of a general L-shaped configuration.

Preferably, the hollow within the body has a cruciform-shaped cross-section in direction transverse to the direction of movement of the control button.

An embodiment of the button-type control switch according to the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 (a) is a perspective view of a prior art button-type control switch.

Figs. 1 (b) and (c) illustrate schematically a circuit diagram and operation of the prior art switch.

Fig. 2 (a) is a perspective view of a switch according to the present invention.

Figs. 2 (b) and (c) illustrate schematically a circuit diagram and operation of the switch of Fig. 2 (a).

Fig. 3 (a) is an exploded perspective view of a switch according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 (b) illustrates the attachment of conductive plates of the switch of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the improved switch shown in Fig. 3, there is illustrated a switch having a hollow body 3, a control button 4 mounted centrally within the body 3, a movable conductor plate 41 located on the control button, and fixed conductor plates 311-314 mounted on the body 3. The body 3 has four support brackets 351 two on either of the opposite sides of the body for supporting respectively the four fixed conductor plates 311-314. Each bracket 351-354 has hook-shape flanges 371-374 onto which can be fitted corresponding hook-shape flanges 361-364 of the conductor plates 311314, Fig. 3 (b).

The body 3 has a plurality of locating apertures 341-344, each one of which is situated in the wall of the body 3 adjacent a respective one of the support brackets 351. The conductive plates 311-314 each have an elongate tongue which when the plates are mounted on the support brackets project through respective ones of the apertures 341-344 into the holoow body. The conductor plates 311314 are each mounted on the respective bracket by scarfing the hook-shape flanges 361-371-374. Each of the conductor plates has in the center thereof a thread hole for receiving a screw 331 therein so that electrical wire connections can be made to the fixed conductor plates 311314 via supporting plates 321-324 also secured by the screw 331-334.

The fixed conductor plates 311,312 are located on the middle to lower portion of the body 3 and the tongue extends into the interior of the body 3. The fixed conductor plates 313, 314 are located on the upper part of the opposite side of the body 3 and similarly their tongues extend through the locating apertures into the interior of the body 3. Thus there is a spacing between fixed conductor plates 311, 312 and conductor plates 313, 314 in which is located the movable conductor plate 41 mounted on the control button 4. The control button 4 which when installed inside the body 3 can be moved up and down in guide grooves.

The control button 4 has a rectangular hole 43 therein, in which the movable conductor plate 41 can be located to project outwardly from opposite sides of the button 4 and biased in a specific situation, by a spring 42.

When an operator pushes the control button 4, the movable conductor plate 41 will move downwardly in the Figures and contact the fixed conductor plates 311, 312.

Therefore, H1 becomes a closed circuit and H2 becomes an open circuit. When the control button 4 is moved upwardly the movable conductor plate 43 moves upwardly by the spring 42 and engages fixed conductor plates 313, 314. Therefore H1 becomes an open circuit and H2 becomes a closed circuit.

Accordingly, button-type control switches in accordance with the present invention not only have a simplified structure but improve the inconvenient and unsafe disadvantages of conventional control switches.

Therefore, there has been described in accordance with the present invention an improved button-type control switch comprising: a switch body with four brackets and locating holes at its two sides, inside the switch body having a cruciform groove; L-shaped control button which can be movable up and down inside the switch body within cruciform groove, having a rectangular hole therein; a movable conductor plate with a convex contact point at each of its two ends, which is supported in the rectangular hole of the L-shape control button, a spring which can be installed inside the L-shaped control button to bias the movable conductor plate to a specific condition; four fixed conductor plates with hook-shape flanges at their bottom parts, the upper parts of these fixing conductor plates extending through locating holes into the interior of the switch body, the bottom parts of these fixed conductor plates having hook-shape flanges which can be fixed on the brackets by scarfing with corresponding hook-shape flanges of the brackets; thus when pushing the control button inwardly, the movable conductor plate moves downward and the convex points at its two ends contact the fixed conductor plates which are located on the middle of the bottom of the switch body, so the upper circuit is an open circuit and the middle of circuit is a closed circuit; when the control button moves in an opposite direction, the convex contactor at the two ends of the movable conductor plate contact the fixed conductor plates located on upper part of switch body, so the upper circuit is a closed circuit and the middle or bottom circuit is an open circuit.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A button type control switch having a hollow body, a single control button movable back and forth in the hollow body, a first pair of independent electrical connectors fixedly mountable at one end of the body relative to the direction of movement of the control button and projecting into the hollow within the body, a second pair of independent electrical connectors fixedly mountable at the opt site end of the body and projecting into the hollow in the body, a movable electrical contact mounted on the control button within the body and being movable between the two pairs of connectors to interconnect contacts of one pair of connectors, each fixed electrical connector including hook-shaped flanges which inter engage with corresponding flanges on the body of the switch to fix the connector to the switch.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1, comprising support mans for supporting each electrical connector on the said body, each support means including corresponding hook-shaped flanges.

3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the control button is of an elongate rectangular shape and includes an aperture therein in which the movable contact is located.

4. A switch as claimed in claim 3, including a spring located in the aperture for biasing the movable contact into a preset condition.

5. A switch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control button is of a general Lshaped configuration.

6. A switch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow body has a cruciform-shaped cross-section in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the control button.

7. A button type control switch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figs. 2 (a), 2 (b), 2 (c), 3 (a) and 3 (b) of the accompanying drawings.