JP2000090781A - Lever switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent overstroke by constituting a device so that a tip part may press an operation piece part of a contact plate along an oblique surface part of a panel, an operator of a corresponding tact switch may be pressed via a through hole of the panel and the tact switch may be turned on, when an operating lever is operated by prescribed quantity or more. SOLUTION: Tact switches 23a to 23d are arranged in a cross shape on a substrate 22 and are stored in a panel 25 provided with through holes 25a to 25d corresponding to the arrangement. On the panel 25, a recessed part having an oblique surface part 28 with a center part 27 as a center is formed, a metallic contact plate of a prescribed shape is arranged along this recessed part, and the edge part is made substantially horizontal and is located on upper sides of through holes 26a to 26d. When an operating knob 51 is operated in an x-axis direction, a tip of a shaft is moved, pressing the oblique surface part 28. When an operating angle of the knob 51 exceeds 15 deg., a tip part of the contact plate 30 presses operators of the tact switch 23a to 23d beyond a moderating crest part 28a and turns on the tact switches 23a to 23d.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lever switch device provided with an operation lever configured to be operable in a plurality of directions around a predetermined position as a fulcrum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a combine, which is an agricultural machine, a cross lever switch is used to control the direction of an unloader for discharging paddy and the horizontal control of a machine body.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional configuration example of such a cross lever switch. The fixed contact 2a of the switch 2 is arranged on the substrate 1, and the movable contact 2c attached to the lower end of the operation element 2b is arranged above the fixed contact 2a so as to face the fixed contact 2a.

An operator 2b of the switch 2 is housed together with a biasing spring 4 in a housing 3a formed on a base 3 mounted on the substrate 1. The upper end of the operating element 2b is in contact with the bottom surface 6a of the substantially hemispherical indenter 6 attached to the lower end of the operating lever 5.

The operating lever 5 is pushed upward through a spring 7 and a ball 8 housed in a housing 3b formed at the center of the base 3, and the spherical portion 6b of the indenter 6 is pushed upward. Is in contact with the inner surface of a case 10 attached to the base 3 via an O-ring 9.

When the operator grips the operation knob 11 provided at the upper end of the operation lever 5 and tilts the operation lever 5 toward one of the X-axis and Y-axis directions, the indenter 6
The spherical portion 6b slides in contact with the inner surface of the case 10, and the bottom portion 6a inclines from the horizontal plane shown in FIG. Then, the operator 2b of the switch 2 is pushed down, and when the operation of the operation lever 5 reaches a predetermined amount,
The movable contact 2c contacts the fixed contact 2a, and the switch 2 is turned on.

[0006]

However, the switch 2 used in the above is a special structure for forming a cross lever switch together with the base 3,
All parts constituting the switch 2 are dedicated parts. Therefore, there is a problem that the cost increases.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lever switch device that can be configured at lower cost.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lever switch device comprising: a board on which a plurality of tact switches are mounted at a predetermined interval from a predetermined center position; A plurality of through holes provided so as to cover the plurality of tact switches, and a slope formed from a side of the plurality of through holes toward a central portion corresponding to the center position. A contact plate comprising: a panel comprising: a central portion disposed at the central portion of the panel; and a plate-shaped operating piece portion extending from the central portion toward each of the plurality of through holes. An operating lever configured to be operable in a plurality of axial directions around a predetermined position as a fulcrum in a state where the tip presses the contact plate; And a case that supports the operation lever, and when the operation lever is operated in a predetermined amount or more in any of the plurality of axial directions, the tip portion causes the operation piece of the contact plate to be inclined on the slope of the panel. By pressing along the part, the tip of the operation piece part presses the operation element of the corresponding tact switch among the plurality of through the through hole of the panel to turn on the tact switch. It is characterized by having been done.

With this configuration, when the operating lever is operated in a desired direction among a plurality of axial directions by a predetermined amount or more, the tip of the operating lever presses the operating piece of the contact plate along the slope of the panel. I do. Then, the distal end of the operation piece presses the operation element through the through hole of the panel,
Turn on the corresponding tact switch.

Therefore, it is possible to use a general-purpose tact switch. Further, when the tact switch is turned on, the tip of the operation piece acts on the operator while the operation piece of the contact plate is in contact with the slope of the panel. That is, since the operation force applied to the operation lever does not directly act on the tact switch, overstroke can be reliably prevented, and even if a tact switch having relatively low strength is used, no destruction occurs.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the operation lever is operated on a slope of the panel by a predetermined amount or more in an arbitrary direction among the plurality of axial directions, a sense of moderation is provided. Is preferably provided. With such a configuration, a sense of moderation at the time of operating the operation lever can be easily provided.

Further, as described in claim 3, a seal member covering a joint portion between the substrate and the panel, a rubber cover covering each of the plurality of tact switches, and a joint portion between the panel and the case. It is preferable to include a rubber boot that covers between the O-ring inserted into the case and an operation knob attached to the case and the operation end side of the operation lever. With such a configuration, it is possible to ensure the waterproofing of each tact switch even when the tact switch is used for outdoor use such as an agricultural machine.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a cross lever switch for performing unloader control of a combine will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view of a cross lever switch (lever switch device) 21, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view.

In FIG. 1, the horizontal direction is defined as the x-axis, the depth direction is defined as the y-axis, and the vertical direction is defined as the z-axis direction. Substrate 22
, Four tact switches 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d are arranged so as to form a cross with a certain interval from a predetermined center position. These four tact switches 23a to 23d are provided with a waterproof rubber cover 24a.
To 24d.

On the substrate 22, a tact switch 23a
A panel 25 accommodating the first through third panels 23d is arranged. The panel 25 is provided with four through holes 26 a to 26 d corresponding to the four tact switches 23 a to 23 d on the substrate 22. The panel 25 has a slope 28 formed so as to descend from these four through-holes 26a to 26d toward a concave portion (central portion) 27 corresponding to the center position thereof. A moderate mountain 28a is formed in the middle of each slope 28 so as to be slightly convex upward.

When the panel 25 is mounted on the substrate 22, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the pressing portion 29 of the panel 25 extending downward is pressed by the tact switch 2
By pressing the hem portions 24aa to 24da of the rubber covers 24a to 24d covering the 3a to 23d, the tact switches 23a to 23d by the rubber covers 24a to 24d are pressed.
The sealing degree of d is increased. Panel 2
Four screw holes 25a are provided between the five four through holes 26a to 26d.

The panel 25 includes a contact plate 30
Are arranged. Contact plate 3
0 is a central portion 300 which is arranged in the concave portion 27 of the panel 25.
And each of the through holes 26a to 26d from the central portion 300.
Plate-shaped operation pieces 30A to 30D extending toward
And is formed of a metal plate.

Hereinafter, the shape of the contact plate 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 which is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. Operation piece 30A
Is the slope 28 in front of the moderation mountain 28a from the center 30O.
Extend obliquely upward at an angle along (30Aa and 30A
After b), it rises substantially vertically thereafter (30Ac), and bends substantially horizontally toward the outer periphery beyond the horizontal plane of the panel 25 (30Ad).

That is, the portion 30Ab of the operation piece 30A is
It is in a state of being separated without contact with the slope portion 28b after the moderate mountain 28a. The distal end portions 30Ae to 30De of the operation pieces 30A to 30D are connected to the through holes 26a to 26De.
d, it is located above the head of the rubber covers 24a to 24d.

The contact plate 30 has an indenter (tip) attached via a spring 33 to a tip of a shaft 32 constituting an operation lever 31 disposed above.
34. Indenter 34
Has a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape with a slightly smaller diameter at its forward (lower) end and an open rear (upper) end face.
The indenter 34 is arranged inside and is urged downward by a spring 33.
When the operation position of 1 is in neutral (neutral),
The tip portion is set in the center portion 300 of the contact plate 30.

The panel 25 has grooves 3 formed circumferentially so as to surround the through holes 26a to 26d.
5 is provided, and an O-ring 36 for waterproofing is arranged in the groove 35. In this state, the lower case 37 is screwed to the panel 25 via an upper case 45 described later.

The lower case 37 has a flared skirt portion 38, and the peripheral edge of the skirt portion 38 has a size corresponding to the groove 35 of the panel 25.
Further, a flat portion 39 formed flat at the upper portion of the skirt portion 38, and a raised portion 40 formed substantially in a cylindrical shape from the flat portion 39 are provided.
A recess 40a is formed at the center of the raised portion 40, and a through hole 40 through which the shaft 32 passes is formed at the center of the recess 40a.
b is provided.

A substantially spherical bush 41 is formed on the shaft 32 at an intermediate position.
The lower end of the spring 3
A storage part 42 for storing the indenter 34 and the indenter 34 is formed. The bush 41 of the shaft 32 and the shaft main body 32a located above the bush 41 are provided with insertion holes 44a and 44b for inserting pins 43a and 43b, respectively. A storage section 40c for receiving the pin 43a inserted into the insertion hole 44a is formed.

The storage section 40c is formed so that the inclination becomes deeper in the ± x direction from the center. Pin 43
a is a rotation stopper of the shaft 32, and the operation lever 31
Is prevented from rotating about the z-axis. Further, through holes 40d for screwing are formed at four locations on the outer periphery of the raised portion 40 so that the semicircular portions protrude.

The upper case 45 is attached to the lower case 37 with the shaft 32 disposed. The upper case 45 includes a disc-shaped base 4.
At the center of the base 46 is a dome-shaped raised portion 47. Also, a mountain portion 4 that rises in a mountain shape from four locations on the outer periphery of the raised portion 47 to the outer periphery of the base portion 46.
8 are formed so as to form a cross. The diameter of the base 46 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the raised portion 40 of the lower case 37.

At the center of the raised portion 47, a through hole 47a through which the shaft 32 passes is formed.
Four screw holes 46a are formed between the two peaks 48. The inner peripheral end surface 47b of the through hole 47a is formed so as to form an inclined surface extending upward, and locks the shaft 32 so as to regulate the operation range of the operation lever 31. As shown in FIG. 1, the storage unit 4 of the lower case 37 is also provided on the upper case 45 side.
A storage portion 45a having a shape inverted from 0c is formed. The upper case 45 is screwed to the panel 25 via the lower case 37 by screws 49.

In this state, a lower end portion 50b of a rubber boot 50 which has a substantially cylindrical shape and has a bellows portion 50a on the upper side.
The base 46 of the upper case 45 and the lower case 37
And a flat portion 39 of the second member. The operation knob 51 has a substantially quadrangular prism-shaped head 52.
have. The head 52 has a smaller dimension below the part gripped by the user, and
An engagement step 52a for engaging the upper end 50c of the rubber boot 50 is formed.

The shaft 3 is provided inside the head 52.
2 is formed, and a short cylindrical portion 53 is formed at the entrance of the through hole 52b. In the side surface of the cylindrical portion 53, insertion holes 53a, 53a for inserting the pins 43b are provided.
Is provided.

The operation knob 51 is connected to the rubber boot 50.
The shaft 32 is inserted through the insertion hole 52b in a state where the bellows 50a is compressed, and the pins 43b are inserted into the insertion holes 53a, 53a while the positions of the insertion holes 42b of the shaft main body 32a are aligned. As a result, the operation knob 51 is attached to the shaft 32 to constitute the operation lever 31. Then, the upper end 52c of the rubber boot 52 is engaged with the engaging step 52a of the head 52. In addition, a resin (seal member) 54 for waterproofing is arranged at a joint portion between the substrate 22 and the panel 25 by potting.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
A case will be described in which the user grips the head 52 of the operation knob 51 and operates in the + x direction (right direction in FIG. 1) from the neutral position. In this case, the indenter 34 at the tip of the shaft 32 is rotated about an intersection point between the center of the shaft 32 and the center of the pin 41a.
Is moved while pressing the operation piece 30A from the center portion 300 along the inclined surface 28 in the −x direction of the panel 25.

When the operation angle of the operation knob 51 exceeds 15 degrees, the indenter 34 exceeds the moderation peak 28a of the slope 28 (at this time, the user operates the operation lever 3).
A moderation feeling can be obtained through 1). At this time, the portion 30Ab of the operation piece 30A after the detent peak 28a is
Pressed by the indenter 34, it bends and comes into full contact with the slope 28. Then, the tip portion 30Ae is attached to the rubber cover 24.
The operator presses the operator of the tact switch 23a via a to turn on the tact switch 23a.

When the tact switch 23a is turned on, an ON signal is output to an actuator (not shown), and the discharge port side of the unloader is turned in a predetermined direction according to the ON time. Further, as described above, the operation range of the operation lever 31 is restricted by the shaft 32 being in contact with the inner peripheral end surface 47b of the upper case 45.
The same applies to the case where the operation lever 31 is operated in the -x direction and the ± y direction, and the tact switches 23b, 23c, and 23d are turned on in accordance with each operation direction, and
The discharge port side of the unloader is turned in response to the turned on switch.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the cross lever switch 21 can be configured at lower cost by using the general-purpose tact switches 23a to 23d. Also, the tact switches 23a to 23d
Is turned on, the operation piece 30 of the contact plate 30 is
A to 30D are applied to the respective operating elements via the elastic portions of the rubber covers 24a to 24d in a state of being in contact with the slope 28 of the panel 25, so that the operating force applied to the operating lever 31 is directly applied to the tact switches 23a to 23d. The overstroke can be reliably prevented without acting.
Even if the tact switches 23a to 23d having relatively small strength are used, no damage is caused, and the life can be extended.

In addition, by using the general-purpose tact switches 23a to 23d, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration. Further, since the moderation peak 28a is provided on the slope portion 28 of the panel 25, a moderation feeling at the time of operating the operation lever 31 can be easily given, and the user can obtain a good operation feeling.

For a switch device used outdoors such as an agricultural machine, waterproof measures are indispensable. For example, in a cross lever switch having a conventional configuration shown in FIG. 4, a rubber boot is provided between the operation knob 11 and the case 10. It is only taking waterproof measures by covering with 12, for example,
When moisture enters at one end from the engagement portion between the operation knob 11 and the rubber boot 12, the switches 2 are very easily affected by the moisture, and there is a high possibility that poor contact will occur.

On the other hand, according to the cross lever switch 21 of the present embodiment, the switches are formed using the tact switches 23a to 23d, so that each switch is
It became possible to cover with 4a to 24d. Then, a resin 54 is arranged at the joint between the substrate 22 and the panel 25,
An O-ring 36 is arranged at the joint between the panel 25 and the lower case 37 to form upper and lower cases 45 and 37.
The rubber boot 52 covers the space between the control knob 51 and the operation knob 51. Therefore, even if moisture enters from the engagement portion between the operation knob 51 and the rubber boot 52, the rubber cover 24
The switches a to d can be reliably waterproofed by the switches a to d.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and the following modifications or extensions are possible. It is possible to operate from neutral to three or more axis directions by appropriately changing the number and arrangement of tact switches and the shape of the contact plate without being limited to the cross lever switch 21 which can be operated in two x and y axis directions. It may be applied to a lever switch. For example, the tactile switches 23a and 23c, 23b and 23d, 23c and 2c can be operated in four axial directions by appropriately changing the shapes of the panel and the contact plate while keeping the tact switches 23a to 23d as they are.
3b, 23a, and 23d may be configured to be simultaneously turned on at the same time, and an operation target such as an unloader may be operated in four axial directions. The moderation peak 28a on the slope 28 of the panel 25 may be provided as needed. Also,
The rubber covers 24a to 24d may be appropriately provided according to the usage environment of the lever switch device. The present invention is not limited to agricultural machines such as combine harvesters, and may be applied to other vehicles and devices other than vehicles. It goes without saying that it is not limited to those used outdoors.

[0038]

Since the present invention is as described above,
The following effects are obtained. According to the lever switch device of the first aspect, when the operation lever is operated in an arbitrary direction among a plurality of axial directions by a predetermined amount or more, the distal end of the operation lever moves the operation piece of the contact plate along the slope of the panel. And press. Then, the tip of the operation piece presses the operator through the through hole of the panel to turn on the corresponding tact switch, so that a general-purpose tact switch can be used. When the tact switch is turned on, the tip of the operation piece acts on the operator while the operation piece of the contact plate is in contact with the slope of the panel, so that the operation force applied to the operation lever is directly applied to the tact switch. No overstroke can be reliably prevented without acting.

According to the lever switch device of the second aspect, a moderation peak is provided on the slope of the panel to give a sense of moderation when the operation lever is operated by a predetermined amount or more in any of a plurality of axial directions. Is provided, it is possible to easily give a sense of moderation when operating the operation lever.

According to the lever switch device of the third aspect, the plurality of tact switches are each covered with the rubber cover. Therefore, even when the tact switches are used outdoors, such as an agricultural machine, each tact switch can be used. The switch can be reliably waterproofed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a cross lever switch, wherein FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembled state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of the panel and a shape of a contact plate.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 is a cross lever switch (lever switch device), 2
2 is a substrate, 23a to 23d are tact switches, 24a
To 24d are rubber covers, 25 is a panel, 26a to 2
6d is a through hole, 27 is a concave portion (center portion), 28 is a slope portion,
28a is a moderation mountain, 30 is a contact plate, 30O is a center portion, 30A to 30D are operation pieces, 30Ae to 30
De is a tip, 31 is an operation lever, 34 is an indenter (tip), 36 is an O-ring, 37 is a lower case, 45 is an upper case, 50 is a rubber boot, 51 is an operation knob, 5
Reference numeral 4 denotes a resin (seal member).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A board on which a plurality of tact switches are mounted at a predetermined interval from a predetermined center position, and a plurality of tact switches arranged to cover the board and provided corresponding to portions of the plurality of tact switches. A panel comprising: a through-hole; and a slope portion formed from the plurality of through-holes toward a central portion corresponding to the central position; and a central portion disposed at the central portion of the panel; A contact plate having a plate-shaped operating piece extending from the center toward each of the plurality of through holes; and a plurality of shafts having a predetermined position as a fulcrum, with a tip portion pressing the contact plate. An operation lever configured to be operable in a direction, and a case that is attached to the panel, accommodates the contact plate, and supports the operation lever. When a predetermined amount or more is operated in an arbitrary direction among several axis directions, the tip presses the operation piece of the contact plate along the slope of the panel, so that the tip of the operation piece is the A lever switch device, wherein a switch of a corresponding one of the plurality of tact switches is pressed through a through hole of a panel to turn on the tact switch. 2. A moderation peak is provided on a slope portion of the panel to give a sense of moderation when the operation lever is operated by a predetermined amount or more in an arbitrary direction among the plurality of axial directions. The lever switch device according to claim 1, wherein A sealing member covering a joint between the substrate and the panel; a rubber cover covering each of the plurality of tact switches; an O-ring inserted into a joint between the panel and the case; 3. The lever switch device according to claim 1, further comprising a rubber boot that covers between a case and an operation knob attached to an operation end of the operation lever.