JP2003297169A - Operation switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To electrically monitor lock failure such as forgetting a lock, an imperfect lock and the like and to prevent a lock of a contact portion from being released even though some sort of external force affects a lock mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: When the lock mechanism (such as a lock lever 5) is located in a lock releasing position the lock mechanism prevents a socket 3 from attaching to the contact portion 2. When the lock failure takes place, the socket 3 is disapproved to electrically connect to the contact portion 2 but is approved to attach to (electrically connect to) the contact portion 2 only in an occasion. The contact portion 2 is certainly locked to an operation portion 1 by providing a preventing material 7, which permits the socket 3 to attach to the contact portion 2 only when the lock mechanism is located in a locking position in the socket 3. A motion of the lock mechanism is also controlled by the preventing material 7 in a state wherein the socket 3 is attached to a fixed position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a contact portion to which a socket is mounted, and an operation portion for opening and closing the contact of the contact portion. The present invention relates to a separation-type operation switch that is used in a state where it is connected and fixed to a contact portion. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a separation type operation switch for connecting an operation portion and a contact portion and fixing them to each other by operating a lock mechanism. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, for example, the separation type operation switch includes an operation section 201 having a push button 213 and the like, and a contact section 202 to which a socket 203 is detachably mounted. Mounting panel 10
1 into the mounting hole (not shown) from the panel surface side,
The operation unit 201 is fixed to the mounting panel 101 from the back side of the mounting panel 101 using a lock nut 204, and then the lock mechanism is operated to the lock position with the contact unit 202 inserted into the operation unit 201, thereby making contact points Part 20
2 is fixed to the operation unit 201. In a separation type operation switch, a lock mechanism for fixing an operation portion and a contact portion to each other has been conventionally used.
As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, when a lock lever 205 provided on the contact portion 202 is rotated to the lock position, the lock ring 206 is rotated, and the lock ring 206 is provided on the lock ring 206. The locking claw 261 is located on the operation unit 20.
The contact portion 202 is fixed to the operation portion 201 by being fitted into the first lock groove 211d (see FIG. 10) (lock).
There is a mechanism to do. [0005] As shown in FIG.
There is a mechanism in which the locking claw 261 is similarly fitted into a lock groove of the operation unit by rotating itself with respect to an operation unit (not shown), thereby fixing the contact unit 202 to the operation unit. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, a lock piece 321 having a locking claw 322 at the tip is provided on the contact part 302 side, while a locking concave part 311 is provided on the operation part 301 side, and the contact part 302 is provided. There is a mechanism (one-touch method) for fixing the contact portion 302 to the operation portion 301 by hooking the locking claw 322 of the lock piece 321 to the locking concave portion 311 of the operation portion 301 when fitted into the operation portion 301. However, according to the lock mechanism shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, there remains a problem that it is difficult to secure reliability in locking the contact portion to the operation portion. Have been. That is, in the lock mechanism shown in FIG.
At the time of mounting the operation switch, there is a possibility that the operator forgets to operate the lock lever 205 (forgets to lock) due to an operator's mistake. Further, since the lock mechanism shown in FIG. 13 is a one-touch type, the mounting operation may be completed while the lock is in an incomplete state, and the lock mechanism in FIG. 14 may be in an incomplete lock state. . Further, according to the lock mechanisms shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, after the completion of the mounting operation (after the completion of the lock),
Lock lever 205, contact portion 202 or lock piece 3
There is a possibility that the lock is released by some external force acting on 21, for example, a force due to a hook of a wiring or the like. When the lock is forgotten, the lock is incompletely locked, or the lock is unlocked after the operation is completed, for example, as shown in FIG. There is a problem that 203 comes off. In particular, in an emergency stop switch using a B contact (normally closed) for the contact portion 202, a contact that should be opened by an emergency operation is not opened.
Very dangerous. As a countermeasure to solve the above-mentioned problems, a lock lever or the like of the lock mechanism is formed into a shape or structure that makes it easy to confirm the locked state, or the lock release of the lock mechanism is prevented after the lock is completed. There is a method of adding a part that has a function to confirm that it is locked and a function to confirm that it is securely locked.However, since these methods depend on the will of the worker, It is not enough in terms of safe measures. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when there is a lock failure such as forgetting to lock or an incomplete lock, the socket and the contact portion can be electrically connected. Moreover, even if some external force acts on the lock mechanism, the lock of the contact portion is not released.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly safe separation type operation switch. An operation switch according to the present invention includes a contact portion having a contact, an operation portion for opening and closing the contact of the contact portion, and a lock mechanism provided on the contact portion or the operation portion. And a socket having a socket terminal detachably mounted on the contact portion and electrically connected to the contact portion in the mounted state, and unlocking the lock mechanism in a state where the operating portion and the contact portion are connected. In the separation type operation switch for mutually fixing the operation unit and the contact unit by operating from the position to the lock position, when the lock mechanism is at the unlock position, the mounting of the socket to the contact unit is prevented, A blocking member that permits mounting of the socket to the contact portion only when the lock mechanism is at the lock position, and that restricts the movement of the lock mechanism in the mounted state. Is provided in the socket. According to the operation switch of the present invention, the socket can be mounted (electrically connected) to the contact portion only when the lock mechanism is set to the lock position. If a lock failure such as forgetting or incomplete locking has occurred, the insertion of the socket is prevented by the blocking member, so the socket cannot be mounted in the fixed position of the contact, and the contact The electrical connection with the socket cannot be made. Therefore, it is possible to confirm the safety in advance by the electric monitor after the completion of the mounting operation. Further, in a normal socket mounting state, the movement of the lock mechanism is restricted by the blocking member, so that even if any external force acts on the lock mechanism, for example, a force due to a hook of a wiring or the like, the lock of the contact portion is released. Not even. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a separate emergency stop switch (push lock turn reset type push button switch) to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. The emergency stop switch shown in FIG. 1 includes an operation section 1, a contact section 2, a socket 3, and a lock nut 4. The operation unit 1 includes a cylindrical operation unit main body 11,
An operation shaft (not shown) having an operation plate 12;
The operation shaft is slidably fitted in the operation section main body 11. The operation shaft is urged forward by a return spring (not shown), and a push button 13 is attached to the front end of the operation shaft.
Is provided. A flange 11a and a male thread 11b are formed in the operation section main body 11, and the flange 11a is formed.
A rubber washer (not shown) is provided on the rear end surface of the “a”. At the time of mounting, the operating portion 1 is inserted into the mounting hole 102 of the mounting panel 101 from the front side (front side in the drawing), and the rear end face (rubber washer) of the flange portion 11 a of the operating portion main body 11 is attached to the surface of the mounting panel 101. In this state, the lock nut 4 is screwed into the male screw portion 11b from the back side of the mounting panel 101 and tightened, so that the lock nut 4 is fixed to the mounting panel 101. Male thread part 1 of operation part body 11
On the rear side of 1b, a plurality of fixed guide grooves 11c and a lock groove 11d communicating with the fixed guide grooves 11c and extending in the circumferential direction are formed. The contact portion 2 has a cylindrical connecting unit 21.
And a rectangular box-shaped contact unit 22. A plurality of projections 21a... 21a fitted into the fixed guide groove 11c of the operation unit 1 inside the connection unit 21,
Lock ring 6 that can rotate around the unit central axis
Is provided. The connecting unit 2 is attached to the lock ring 6.
A lock lever 5 protruding to the outside is integrally formed. Locking claws 61... 6 that can be fitted into the lock grooves 11 d of the operation unit 1 are provided on the inner peripheral portion of the lock ring 6.
1 are integrally formed. The locking claws 61 are provided in a number and a positional relationship corresponding to the projections 21a inside the connecting unit 21, and the locking lever 5 is unlocked at a lock releasing position (a position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). When each of the locking claws 61
Correspond to the corresponding protrusions 21a, and when the lock lever 5 is rotated to the lock position, as shown in FIG. 2, the lock lever 5 moves to a position shifted in the rotational direction with respect to the protrusions 21a. The lock lever 5 has an operation hole 5a. For example, when there is not enough space in the vicinity of the lock lever 5 to operate the lock lever 5 with a finger at the time of attachment, a tool such as a screwdriver is inserted into the operation hole 5a so that the operation hole 5a is inserted into the operation hole 5a. Is to be rotated. As shown in FIG. 5, the contact unit 22 includes a B contact 23 and the like. The rear ends of the terminals 8,... Such as the B contacts 23, protrude rearward of the contact unit 22. The tip (not shown) of a holder (actuator for opening and closing contacts) 24 of the B contact 23 is disposed at a position corresponding to the operation plate 12 of the operation unit 1, and connects and fixes the contact unit 2 to the operation unit 1. Holder 24
Is opposed to or abuts the operation plate 12. Therefore, when the push button 13 of the operation unit 1 is pressed while the contact unit 2 is fixed to the operation unit 1, the operation plate 12 of the operation axis is pressed.
The holder 24 of the contact portion 2 is pushed by the
The B contact 23 built in 2 is opened and turned off. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of socket terminals 9 are arranged in the socket 3 in a positional relationship corresponding to the terminals 8 of the contact unit 22. The rear end of each socket terminal 9 protrudes rearward of the socket body 30. The socket body 30 includes a contact unit 22
The socket 3 is processed in a fixed position, that is, the bottom surface 3 of the fitting recess 31 in a state where the contact unit 22 is aligned with the fitting recess 31.
1a until the contact unit 22 comes into contact with the socket unit 9 of the socket 3 and the contact unit 2
2 terminals 8 are electrically connected. Further, by pulling out the socket 3 from the contact unit 22 to the rear side in such a mounted state, the socket terminal 9 is disengaged from the terminal 8 of the contact unit 22, and the electrical connection between these terminals 8 and the socket terminal 9 is established. Be separated. Next, the characteristic portions of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the socket body 30
A blocking member 7 protruding forward is integrally formed at the tip of the. The blocking member 7 is a protruding piece formed in an arc shape. The radius of curvature of the inner surface (inner surface) of the blocking member 7 substantially matches the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the connection unit 21 of the contact portion 2, and the socket 3 is fitted into the contact unit 22 and mounted in a fixed position. Thus, the inner surface of the blocking member 7 extends along the outer peripheral surface of the connection unit 21. At a substantially central portion of the blocking member 7, there is provided a lock recess 71 into which the lock lever 5 can be fitted. The lock recess 71 is provided at a position corresponding to the lock lever 5 at the lock position, and as shown in FIG. 7A, when the socket 3 is inserted into the contact unit 22, the lock lever 5 is in a normal state. Only when the lock lever 5 is at the lock position (complete lock position), the lock lever 5 is fitted into the lock recess 71, and the socket 3 can be securely mounted to the fixed position. The socket terminal 9 is electrically connected. On the other hand, when the lock lever 5 is not in the lock position, for example, when a lock failure such as forgetting to lock or an incomplete lock occurs, as shown in FIG. During the insertion process, the tip of the blocking member 7 hits the lock lever 5 to prevent the insertion of the socket 3, so that the socket 3 cannot be inserted to a fixed position, and the socket terminal 9 of the socket 3 is connected to the contact unit 2.
2 does not contact the terminal 8. The positional relationship between the lock recess 71 of the blocking member 7 and the lock lever 5 is such that when the socket 3 is shifted in the pulling direction with respect to the contact unit 22 from the mounted state of FIG. When the lever 5 is disengaged from the lock concave portion 71 of the blocking member 7, that is, when the restriction of the lock lever 5 is released, the socket terminal 9 of the socket 3
Are set so as to be completely separated from the terminal 8 of the contact unit 22 (opened state). The blocking member 7 may be separate from the socket body. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the operating part 1 is fitted into the mounting hole 102 of the mounting panel 101 from the front side of the mounting panel 101, and the lock nut 4 is screwed into the male screw part 11b from the rear side of the mounting panel 101, so that the operating part 1 is mounted on the mounting panel 101. Fixed to. Next, the contact portion 2 in which the lock lever 5 is disposed at the unlock position is disposed on the back side of the mounting panel 101, and the projection 21a of the connecting unit 21 is positioned in the fixed guide groove 11c of the operation portion 1. In the state where the contact portion 2 is inserted into the operation portion main body 11 and the contact portion 2 is connected to the operation portion 1 while being slid, the lock lever 5 at the unlock position is rotated toward the lock position. The locking pawl 61 of the lock ring 6 is rotated by the rotation operation of the lock lever 5.
Is fitted into the lock groove 11d of the operation unit 1, and the contact unit 2 is fixed (locked) to the operation unit 1. After the above-mentioned mounting of the contact portion 2 is completed, the socket 3 is arranged on the rear side of the contact unit 22 of the contact portion 2, and the fitting recess 31 of the socket 3 is aligned with the contact unit 22. The socket 3 is inserted into the contact unit 22 to a fixed position, and the socket terminal 9 of the socket 3 is electrically connected to the terminal 8 of the contact unit 22 to complete the mounting operation. As described above, in the present embodiment, only when the lock lever 5 is at the normal lock position (complete lock position), the lock lever 5 is fitted into the lock recess 71 to place the socket 3 in the fixed position. 7, the terminal 8 of the contact unit 22 and the socket terminal 9 of the socket 3 can be electrically connected (FIG. 7).
(A)). On the other hand, when the lock lever 5 is not in the lock position, for example, when a lock failure such as forgetting to lock or an incomplete lock occurs, as shown in FIG. During the insertion process, the tip of the blocking member 7 hits the lock lever 5 and the insertion of the socket 3 is prevented, so that the socket terminal 9 of the socket 3 and the terminal 8 of the contact unit 22 do not make electrical contact. Therefore,
It is possible to electrically check for a lock failure at the time of operation confirmation or the like after completion of the mounting work and the wiring work. In a normal socket mounting state as shown in FIG. 7A, the rotation of the lock lever 5 is stopped by the blocking member 7.
Therefore, even if some external force acts on the lock lever 5, for example, a force due to catching of a wiring or the like,
The lock lever 5 does not move, and the lock of the contact portion 2 does not come off. Furthermore, even when the electric wire connected to the socket 3 is pulled, as shown in FIG. 8, before the lock lever 5 moves to the lock release position, the socket 3 must be pulled out of the contact unit 22 without fail. Slippage,
Since the socket terminal 9 of the socket 3 is disconnected from the terminal 8 of the contact unit 22 and the electrical connection is cut off, there is no problem in terms of safety. In the above embodiment, an example of an operation switch to which a lock mechanism having a lock lever is applied has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, FIG.
The present invention is also applied to an operation switch having various lock mechanisms generally used for this type of separation-type operation switch, such as a lock mechanism shown in FIG. 14 or a lock mechanism using a slide plate. Can be applied. For example, in the case of the lock mechanism shown in FIG.
A blocking member (without a lock recess) protruding forward from the socket is provided in the same manner as in the structure of FIG. 6, and when the lock mechanism is in a lock failure state, the blocking member hits the operating portion to prevent insertion of the socket to a fixed position. What is necessary is just to comprise. The lock piece 321 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the lock mechanism includes the lock piece 321 in the locked state, that is, when the locking claw 322 at the tip of the lock piece 321 is fitted into the locking recess 311 on the operation unit 301 side. Locking claw 3
Blocking member 3 for preventing slipping out of locking recess 311
07 may be integrally formed with the socket 303. Here, in the above embodiment, the lock mechanism is provided on the contact portion side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to an operation switch provided with a lock mechanism on the operation portion side. is there. The present invention is applicable to various types of separate operation switches such as an illuminated push button switch and a selector switch, in addition to a push lock turn reset type push button switch used for emergency stop. As described above, according to the present invention,
In a separation type operation switch having an operation part and a contact part, a lock mechanism for fixing the contact part to the operation part, and a socket detachably attached to the contact part, when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked position, the socket Mounting the socket to the contact portion only when the lock mechanism is in the locked position, and a blocking member for restricting the movement of the lock mechanism in the mounted state. In the event that a lock failure has occurred, for example, forgetting to lock or an incomplete lock, the socket cannot be installed, and the contacts are securely locked to the operation unit. In this case, the socket can be attached to the contact portion, and the socket terminal of the socket can be electrically connected to the contact portion. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the danger caused by the lock failure and to enhance the safety. Further, it is possible to electrically check for a lock failure at the time of operation confirmation or the like after completion of the mounting work and the wiring work. Further, in a normal socket mounting state, the movement of the lock mechanism is regulated by the blocking member, so that even if any external force acts on the lock mechanism, for example, a force due to a hook of a wiring or the like, the lock of the contact portion is released. Therefore, safety can be further improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a separation type emergency stop switch to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a front view of a contact portion constituting the emergency stop switch of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the embodiment of the present invention in use. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of a contact portion used in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a socket used in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view of the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a main part structure of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a separation type operation switch (with a socket). 11 is a side view showing the operation switch of FIG. 10 in a mounted state. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a lock mechanism of a separation-type operation switch. FIG. 13 is a view schematically showing another example of the lock mechanism of the separation-type operation switch. FIG. 14 is a view schematically showing another example of the lock mechanism of the separation-type operation switch. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a problem of the separation type operation switch. [Description of Signs] 1 Operating part 11 Operating part main body 11c Fixed guide groove 11d Lock groove 12 Operating plate 13 Push button 2 Contact part 21 Connecting unit 21a Projection 22 Contact unit 23 B contact 24 Holder 3 Socket 30 Socket main body 31 Fitting recess 4 Lock nut 5 lock lever 6 lock ring 61 locking claw 7 blocking member 71 lock recess 8 terminal 9 socket terminal 101 mounting panel 102 mounting hole

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Shoji Fujimoto             Izumi, 1-37-1 Nishinomiyahara, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi             Inside Electric Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5G006 HB02 HB07 LB01 NB01                 5G052 AA27 BB01 HA02 HA21 HB04                       HC01

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A contact portion having a contact, an operation portion for opening and closing the contact of the contact portion, a lock mechanism provided on the contact portion or the operation portion, and a detachable / removable attachment / detachment device. A socket having a socket terminal which is mounted and electrically connected to the contact portion in the mounted state, and wherein the lock mechanism is operated from the unlocked position to the locked position in a state where the operating portion and the contact portion are connected. A detachable operation switch for fixing the operation portion and the contact portion to each other with the lock mechanism in the lock release position, wherein the socket is prevented from being mounted on the contact portion, and the lock mechanism is in the lock position. The socket is provided with a blocking member that allows the socket to be mounted on the contact portion only occasionally and that restricts the movement of the lock mechanism in the mounted state. Operation switch to the butterflies.