GB2284099A

GB2284099A - Electric rocker switch

Info

Publication number: GB2284099A
Application number: GB9323705A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alessandro Belli
Original assignee: Ave SpA
Current assignee: Ave SpA
Priority date: 1993-11-17
Filing date: 1993-11-17
Publication date: 1995-05-24
Also published as: GB9323705D0

Abstract

An electric rocker switch includes a snap element (11) which carries movable contacts 11', 11" cooperable with fixed contacts 14', 15' and which is made up of two elastic elements joined at the ends, and an actuating lever (12) which has in an intermediate part a moving pin (25) with a wedge-shaped part facing and engaging the snap element. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRIC ROCRER SWITCH * * * This invention refers to electric switches, circuit breakers and buttons, particularly toggle switches with a rocking actuating lever for installation in conventional household electric circuits and the like, Known switches of this type are usually comprised of a body housing the electric terminals and a snap action for opening and closing the contacts, and a rocking actuating lever mounted on said body with two or more different positions to control the snap action for opening or closing the contacts.

The known snap action is obtained by means of two elements coupling together: a spring coupling with the actuating lever and a rocker arm holding the moving contacts. In particular, there are two different configurations of toggle switches of this type. In one type the rocker arm is comprised of a metal bar the intermediate point of which acts as fulcrum on the body of the switch or housing, and which has a central raised part engaging in a slot in the spring, which is made up of an elastic clip, and whose ends engage in slots obtained in the actuating lever on the body of the switch. The movement of the lever determines, via the spring, the thrust and oscillation of the rocker arm in two opposite positions corresponding to the opening or closing of the contacts. In the other switch configuration, the rocker arm is comprised of a metal bar bent. in the shape of a V in the intermediate part, acting as a fulcrum on the base. Between the intermediate part of the rocker arm and the actuating lever is a helical compression spring serving to rock the rocker arm when the actuating lever is pressed.

The actuating lever of the switch has a stem or arm extending to engage said spring and cause it, and hence the rocker arm, to snap in the extreme positions of contact opeiing/closing.

In both said configurations, the rocker arm is made of a rigid plate and the actuating lever interacts with the spring by means of the rigid parts.

A switch has been also described as having a snap action and comprising n single semi-elastic element which is bent round to form a ring configurated to define at the same time the contact-holding rocker arm, and a spring part between the rocker arm and the actuating lever. In this case, too, the actuating lever interacts with the spring part by means of a rigid part.

The aim of this invention is to provide an electric switch or lever of said type, but encompassing elements of a new configuration, layout and combination to render it easier and more practical to make and safer and more reliable to operate, by eliminating the risk of the levers and contacts stopping in an intermediate position This aim is achieved by means of a switch, circuit breaker or button with an actuating lever that basically complies with Claim 1.

Further details of this invention will become more evident further on in the description with reference to the annexed diagrams in which: Fig. 1 is an overall lengthwise section of a switch; Fig. 2 is a view of the. switch as indicated by arrows II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the body of the switch; Fig. 4 is a cross-section as indicated by arrows IV-IV in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 and 5a are views of the elastic element or spring; and Fig. 6, 6a, 6b and 6c are various views and sections of the contact-holding element.

The switch, circuit breaker or button presented here is comprised essentially of a body (10), a snap element (11) and an actuating lever (12). The body (10) is made of plastic and has a rear wall (13) bearing the electric terminals (14, 15, 16) preferably of the plate type - see Figs. 1 and 2 - two of which (14, 15) are aligned and hold two fixed contacts (14', 15') and the third one (16) to the side is integral with a knife-type fulcrum (16').

The body (10) delimits a cavity for the snap element (11) defined by the two first opposite walls (17) on which the actuating lever (12) is applied and by two second opposite walls (18) with means (19) for securing the switch to conventional plates or panels.

Each of said first two opposite walls (17) has in the intermediate part a semicrcular area (20) in line with which there is a triangular opening (21) in the wall.

The actuating lever (12), also made of plastic, has two opposite side tabs (22), each with a triangular raised part (23) of smaller dimensions than those of the triangular opening (21) The side walls of the actuating lever have on a level with said tabs (22) semicircular slots (24) corresponding to said semicircular areas (20) in the first opposite walls (17) of te body (10).

Owing to said configuration and the relative elasticity of material used, the actuating lever (12) is thus mounted on the body (10) simply by the raised parts (23) engaging in the openings (21). The semicircular areas (20) of the body (10) engage in the semicirculat slots (24) of the actuating lever (12) by means of the rocking movement of the latter and by the masked coupling of the two components (10, 12) when assembled.

The intermediate part of the actuating lever (12) contains a slot (25a) for a moving pin (25) having a wedged-shaped portion facing and interacting with the snap element (11) holding moving contacts (11',11") to interact with the fixes contacts (14', 15') inside the body (10).

Said snap element 111) is composed of two semi-elastic elements (26, 27), made for example of brass alloy or the like. The first element (26) is in the shape of an are - see Figs. 5 and 5a - with two lobes (28) and a dip (29) in the centre and has tabs (30) at the opposite ends.

The other element (27) - see Figs 6 and 6c - is shaped like a plate with two end slots t31) engaging the end tabs (30) of the first element (26) due to the union of the two elements (16, 27) making up the snap element (11).

The second element (27) also has two side tabs with reinforcing angle (27') and a crosswise drawn piece (27'') and holds the moving contacts (11', 11") which interact with the fixed contacts (14', 15') in the body (10) Furthermore, the crosswise drawn piece (27'') acts as a third electric contact supporting and rocking the element (27), and hence the- snap element (11), on the knife fulcrum (16') on the bottom of the body integral with the terminal (16).

On assembly, the pin (25) of the actuating lever (12) engages the snap element (11) in correspondence with the dip (29) between the two lobes (28) of the are (26), hence the rocking movements of the lever in either direction correspond to the movements of the snap element (11) in the extreme opening/closing positions of the contacts. Said snap element (11) is held in position on the knife fulcrum (16') and hence in the cavity of the body (10) by the pin (25) pressing on the element (26).

Furthermore, to facilitate assembly and positioning of the snap element (11), the lower element (27) of the latter has in line with the crosswise drawn pice (27'') two small tabs (27a) projecting laterally and engaging in the slots (23') in the first two opposite sides (17) of the body (10) in line with the triangular openings (23).

Lastly, it should be noted that the partial elasticity of the snap element (11) holding the moving contacts prevents the contacts from rebounding, which has the advantage of reducing wear. Furthermore, during operation, thanks to the moving pin (25), the snap element (11) accentuates the rocking of the contacts, which increases the opening/closing rate and prevents said element and the lever from stopping in intermediate positions.

The switch described here is principally a circuit breaker, but nothing prevents the same structure from being designed and used merely as a switch or push-button.

Claims

1) An electric switch, circuit breaker or button of the type including a body (10) holding electric terminals and corresponding fixed contacts, a rocking actuating lever (12) mounted on said body and a snap element (11), holding moving contacts to interact with said fixed contacts in the body, and coupled and moved with said actuating body, characterized in that the snap element (1.1) is made of two semi-elastic elements (26, 27) joined at the ends, and that the actuating lever (12) has an intermediate part, a moving pin (25) with a wedged-shaped part facing and engaging with the snap element.

2) An electric switch, circuit breaker or button as per claim 1), in which the snap element (11) includes a first element 126) in the shape of an arc, with two lobes (28) and an intermediate dip (29), with two end tabs (30), and a second element (27) in the shape of a plate having two end slots (31) engaging the end tabs (30) of the first element, said second element (27) also having two side tabs with reinforcing angle (27') and a crosswise drawn piece (27") in the centre which rests on the knife-type fulcrum (16') on the bottom of the body (10), the first element (26) facing the actuating lever (12), the second rocking element on said knife-type fulcrum (16') holding the moving contacts facing the fixed contacts in said body, the moving pin (25) of the actuating lever (12) engaging the intermediate dip (28) in the first element.

3) An electric switch, circuit breaker or button as per claim 2), in which said second element (27) of the snap element (11) also has in line with the crosswise drawn piece (27'') two tabs (27a) projecting laterally to engage the slots (23') on the inner surfaces of the first two opposite walls of the body (10), the rocking actuating lever (12) being mounted on said first two walls, while on the second two opposite walls of said body there being coupling means for securing the Switch to a support.

4) An electric switch, circuit breaker or button, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.