JP2006147552A - Switch for vehicle and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch for a vehicle, wherein a stable contact can be secured, mainly used for lighting-extinguishing control or the like of a stop lamp of an automobile, and to provide its manufacturing method. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of recessed parts 13A, 14A parts of which overlap on at least one surface of a fixed contact 13 attaching and detaching with vertical movement of an operating part 2 or a movable contact 14 are provided to form a plurality of protruded parts 13B, 14B with sharp tip ends and uneven height in the contact surface. Thus, even if an oxide film etc. generates on the contact surface, the switch for the vehicle securing stable contact by piercing through it can be obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular switch mainly used for controlling the extinction of a stop lamp when operating a brake pedal of an automobile, and a method for manufacturing the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a push-operated vehicle switch is often used for controlling a stop lamp accompanying the operation of a brake pedal, which turns on a stop lamp when depressing the brake pedal and turns it off when released. .

  Such a conventional vehicle switch will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional vehicle push switch. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a case made of a substantially box-shaped insulating resin with an opening on the top surface, 2 is an operating body made of insulating resin, and the case 1 has a bottom surface. A plurality of fixed contacts 3 projecting from the terminal portion 3A are implanted.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a movable contact made of a conductive metal, and the movable contact 4 is elastically contacted to the plurality of fixed contacts 3 from below by a contact pressure spring 5 mounted in a slightly bent state between the bottom of the case 1. The plurality of fixed contacts 3 are electrically connected via the movable contact 4 to form a switch contact.

  Further, 6 is a coiled return spring, 7 is a cover that covers the opening on the upper surface of the case 1, and the return spring 6 is mounted in a slightly bent state between the lower surface of the operating body 2 and the bottom surface of the case 1, The operating body 2 is urged upward.

  Further, the cover 7 is provided with a hollow cylinder portion 7A protruding upward, and the operation shaft 2A of the operating body 2 is inserted into the hollow cylinder portion 7A so as to be movable up and down, and the upper end of the operation shaft 2A is at the hollow cylinder portion 7A. A vehicle switch is configured to protrude upward from the vehicle.

  The vehicular push switch thus configured is generally mounted in front of a brake pedal of an automobile in a state where the operation shaft 2A of the operating body 2 is pressed by an arm or the like, and the terminal portion of the fixed contact 3 3A is connected to a stop lamp by a connector or the like.

  That is, when the brake pedal is not depressed, the operating shaft 2A of the operating body 2 is pressed downward, the contact pressure spring 5 and the return spring 6 are bent, and the movable contact 4 moves downward to move the fixed contact 3. Since the plurality of fixed contacts 3 are electrically disconnected from each other, the stop lamp is turned off.

  When the brake pedal is depressed, the arm is separated from the operation shaft 2A and the pressing force is removed, so that the operating body 2 is moved upward by the elastic return force of the return spring 6, and the movable contact 4 is also moved to the contact pressure spring 5. It is pressed and elastically contacts the fixed contact 3, and the plurality of fixed contacts 3 are electrically connected, and the stop lamp is lit.

  In general, a light bulb, an LED, or the like is used as a stop lamp that is turned off by the vehicle switch. When a light bulb is used, a relatively large voltage current of about DC12V10A is applied. When an LED or the like is used, a relatively small current of about DC 12 V 0.5 A to 1 A is supplied.

  Therefore, as shown in the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, when the surfaces of the movable contact 4 and the fixed contact 3 are smooth and are in contact at one place, they are used for a stop lamp using an LED having a small current. When an oxide film or the like is generated on the surfaces of the fixed contact 3 and the movable contact 4, the contact between the contacts tends to become unstable.

  For this reason, as shown in the partial plan view and the sectional view of FIG. 8, for example, a plurality of concave portions 4A and convex portions 4B are formed on the surface of the movable contact 4, and the oxide film formed on the contact surface by the plurality of convex portions 4B. The surface of the movable contact 4 and the fixed contact 3 is brought into contact at a plurality of locations to stabilize the contact.

As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 2001-297654 A

  However, in the above conventional vehicle switch, even if a plurality of concave portions 4A and convex portions 4B are formed on the contact surface, it is difficult to sharply process the tip of the convex portion 4B as shown in FIG. Since the flat portion 4C is formed, the effect of breaking through the oxide film or the like generated on the contact surface is small, and it is difficult to stabilize the contact with a small current.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle switch capable of obtaining stable contact.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  The invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a plurality of concave portions partially overlapping at least one surface of a fixed contact planted in a case or a movable contact contacting and separating from the fixed contact.・ Since a plurality of concave portions partially overlapped, a plurality of convex portions with sharp and non-uniform heights are formed on the contact surface. Thus, it is possible to obtain a vehicular switch that can provide a more stable contact.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the sizes of the plurality of recesses are different, and the protrusions on the contact surface are made finer and sharper by making the sizes of the recesses different. It has the effect that it can be.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the manufacture of the vehicle switch according to claim 1, wherein the punch provided with a plurality of protrusions is pressed against the movable contact or the fixed contact a plurality of times to form a plurality of recesses on the contact surface. It is a method and has the effect | action that the switch for vehicles with the stable contact can be manufactured easily.

  The invention described in claim 4 is the invention described in claim 3, wherein the shape of the protrusion of the punch is a quadrangular pyramid, and a plurality of convex portions with sharp tips can be formed on the contact surface, and other complicated Compared to a simple shape, the punch can be manufactured relatively easily by cutting or grinding.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an advantageous effect that a vehicle switch with stable contact can be realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part of the structure same as the structure demonstrated in the term of background art, and detailed description is simplified.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a case made of a substantially box-shaped insulating resin with an upper surface opening, and 2 is a substantially cylindrical shape and is also made of an insulating resin. In the operating body, the case 1 is provided with a plurality of fixed contacts 13 having terminal portions 13C protruding from the bottom surface.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a movable contact made of a conductive metal. The movable contact 14 is elastically brought into contact with the plurality of fixed contacts 13 from below by a contact pressure spring 5 mounted in a slightly bent state between the bottom of the case 1. The plurality of fixed contacts 13 are electrically connected via the movable contact 14 to form a switch contact.

  Further, as shown in the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, a plurality of fine portions having a height of about 10 to 300 μm are overlapped on the surfaces of these silver-copper alloy substantially dome-shaped fixed contact 13 and movable contact 14. The fixed contact 13 and the movable contact 14 are in contact with each other at a number of locations by the convex portions 13B and 14B having sharp tips and different heights.

  Further, 6 is a coiled return spring, 7 is a cover that covers the opening on the upper surface of the case 1, and the return spring 6 is mounted in a slightly bent state between the lower surface of the operating body 2 and the bottom surface of the case 1, The operating body 2 is urged upward.

  Further, the cover 7 is provided with a hollow cylinder portion 7A protruding upward, and the operation shaft 2A of the operating body 2 is inserted into the hollow cylinder portion 7A so as to be movable up and down, and the upper end of the operation shaft 2A is at the hollow cylinder portion 7A. A vehicle switch is configured to protrude upward from the vehicle.

  Next, a method of manufacturing the fixed contact 13 and the movable contact 14 of the vehicle switch configured as described above will be described.

  First, the fixed contact 13 and the movable contact 14 are held on a predetermined holding jig with the contact surface facing up, and from above, a plurality of protrusions 17A are provided on the lower surface as shown in the perspective view of FIG. The punch 17 is lowered and the contact surface is pressed to form a plurality of recesses 14A, for example, slightly above and to the left of the surface of the movable contact 14 as shown in the partial plan view and cross-sectional view of FIG.

  The plurality of protrusions 17A on the lower surface of the punch 17 are formed in a shape in which square pyramidal protrusions 17A having a tip angle of approximately 60 ° and a height of approximately 350 μm are arranged in a grid in the XY direction at intervals of approximately 200 μm. By doing so, it becomes possible to manufacture the punch 17 relatively easily by cutting or grinding as compared with other complicated shapes.

  In the state where the contact surface is pressed once by the punch 17, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), a plurality of convex portions arranged in a lattice pattern at intervals of around 200 μm slightly above the surface of the movable contact 14 Although 14B is formed, since it is difficult to sharply process the tip, a flat portion 14D is formed at the tip of the convex portion 14B on the surface of the movable contact 14.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the punch 17 is moved in the lower right direction slightly less or more than 100 μm, which is the center of the interval between the protrusions 17A, and the contact surface is pressed again, the movable contact 14 On the surface, in addition to the plurality of concave portions 14A previously formed, a plurality of concave portions 14E that are slightly displaced in the lower right direction and partially overlap the concave portions 14A are formed. As a result, the surface of the movable contact 14 has a tip. A plurality of convex portions 14B having sharp and uneven heights are formed.

  At this time, if the punch 17 is moved to 100 μm, which is the center of the interval between the protrusions 17A, the tips of the plurality of protrusions 14B can be sharply formed, but cannot be formed at uneven heights. .

  That is, the surface of the movable contact 14 is pressed once with the punch 17 provided with the plurality of protrusions 17A to form the plurality of recesses 14A, and then the punch 17 is moved by a distance equal to or less than the interval between the protrusions 17A. By pressing the contact surface again to form a plurality of recesses 14E partially overlapping the recesses 14A, it is possible to form a plurality of protrusions 14B with sharp tips and uneven height.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), a punch provided with a projection having a shape smaller than that of the projection 17A is used, and the size is different from that of the recesses 14A and 14E and the angle is rotated by 45 degrees. If a plurality of concave portions 14F whose positions are shifted are formed, a plurality of convex portions 14B with sharp tips and non-uniform heights can be formed more finely.

  In addition to moving the punch 17 in a predetermined direction as described above and pressing the contact surface, for example, after pressing the contact surface once, the punch 17 is rotated 30 degrees and pressed again, or the same It is also possible to form a plurality of convex portions 14B with sharp tips and non-uniform heights by rotating the shaped punch 17 by 30 degrees and pressing again.

  The vehicular switch thus configured is generally mounted in front of an automobile brake pedal in a state where the operating shaft 2A of the operating body 2 is pressed by an arm or the like, and the terminal portion 13C of the fixed contact 13 is provided. Is connected to the stop lamp by a connector or the like.

  That is, when the brake pedal is not depressed, the operation shaft 2A of the operating body 2 is pressed downward, the contact pressure spring 5 and the return spring 6 are bent, and the movable contact 14 moves downward to move the fixed contact 13. Since the plurality of fixed contacts 13 are electrically disconnected from each other, the stop lamp is turned off.

  When the brake pedal is depressed, the arm is separated from the operation shaft 2A and the pressing force is removed, so that the operating body 2 is moved upward by the elastic return force of the return spring 6, and the movable contact 14 is also moved to the contact pressure spring 5. As shown in FIG. 1, it is pressed and elastically contacts the fixed contact 13, and the plurality of fixed contacts 13 are electrically connected, and the stop lamp is lit.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the surfaces of the fixed contact 13 and the movable contact 14 are provided with a plurality of concave portions 13A and 14A that are partially overlapped. Since the projections 13B and 14B having sharp and uneven heights are formed so as to come into contact with each other at a large number of locations, even if the contact pressure per location increases and an oxide film or the like is generated on the contact surface, this It is constituted so that a stable contact can be obtained.

  Furthermore, the convex portions 13B and 14B having the uneven height change the contact location each time the switch is operated and the contact is made and separated, and the convex portions 13B and 14B and the concave portions 13A and 14A slide. Since the contact is made while moving, so-called wiping of the contact surface is repeated, the contact is always made on a clean surface.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, at least the fixed contact 13 or the movable contact 14 that contacts and separates as the operating body 2 moves up and down by pressing the punch 17 provided with the plurality of protrusions 17A to the contact a plurality of times. By providing a plurality of concave portions 13A and 14A that partially overlap on one surface, a plurality of convex portions 13B and 14B having sharp and non-uniform heights are formed on the contact surface. Even when an oxide film or the like is generated, a vehicle switch that can break through this and obtain a stable contact, and a method for manufacturing the same can be obtained.

  Further, by making the sizes of the plurality of concave portions 14A and 14E and 14F different, the convex portions 13B and 14B on the contact surface can be made finer and sharper.

  Furthermore, by making the shape of the protrusion 17A of the punch 17 into a quadrangular pyramid, a plurality of convex portions 13B and 14B having sharp tips can be formed on the contact surface, and cutting and grinding are possible as compared with other complicated shapes. The punch can be manufactured relatively easily by processing or the like.

  Further, after pressing the contact surface once with one punch 17, it is moved and pressed again to form a plurality of recesses 14A and 14E, as shown in FIG. By using a plurality of punches having different shapes and intervals of the protrusions 17A and forming a plurality of recesses 14F having sizes and intervals different from those of the recesses 14A and 14E, a plurality of protrusions 14B with sharp tips and uneven heights are formed. Can be formed more finely.

  Furthermore, instead of the quadrangular pyramid-shaped protrusion 17A, a punch having a protrusion formed in a sawtooth shape is used, and a sawtooth shape is formed on the surface of the movable contact 14 as shown in the partial plan view and the sectional view of FIG. The plurality of concave portions 14G and the convex portions 14H are formed, and then the punch is rotated by a predetermined angle and repeatedly pressed to form a plurality of convex portions having sharp edges.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, after forming a plurality of serrated concave portions 14G and convex portions 14H with serrated projections, a plurality of concave portions 14A are formed with quadrangular pyramidal projections 17A. Also, it is possible to form a plurality of convex portions 14B with sharp tips and uneven height.

  In other words, various combinations of protrusions with various shapes and a combination of movements and rotations of the punches, a plurality of various recesses that partially overlap, and a plurality of protrusions with sharp and uneven heights on the contact surface are provided. It is possible to form.

  In contrast to the above description, the punch may be fixed and the fixed contact 13 and the movable contact 14 may be pressed a plurality of times on the fixed punch.

  In addition, the pressing process of the plurality of recesses can be performed in the state of a single contact or in a state of being crimped to a terminal or the like, but when the contact is crimped to a terminal or the like, if the recess is simultaneously processed, The number of processes can be reduced and the working time can be shortened.

  Further, as the contact material of the fixed contact 13 and the movable contact 14, the present invention can be carried out with silver-tin oxide or silver-cadmium oxide other than silver-copper alloy, but these hard and brittle materials are used. A silver-copper alloy in which several percent by weight of nickel, magnesium, tin oxide, indium oxide, or the like is added to 60 to 80% by weight of silver and 20 to 40% by weight of copper is used for direct current voltage contact and separation. It is also suitable for forming recesses that are relatively flexible.

  Furthermore, the heights of the recesses 13A and 14A and the protrusions 13B and 14B are approximately 10 to 300 μm, which makes them uneven, and in the event that relatively small dust enters from the outside, Even when carbides or the like are generated, they move into the recesses 13A and 14A and are difficult to adhere to the surfaces of the projections 13B and 14B, so that stable contact is easily obtained.

  In the above description, the push operation type vehicular switch used mainly for controlling the stop lamp, in which the movable contact 14 contacts and separates from the fixed contact 13 as the operating body 2 moves up and down, has been described. The present invention can also be implemented in a configuration in which contacts are contacted and separated using a spring, a door opening / closing detection switch, a swing operation type vehicle switch for opening / closing a door window, and the like.

  The vehicle switch and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention are useful mainly for operation switches of automobiles and the like because a stable contact can be obtained.

Sectional drawing of the switch for vehicles by one embodiment of this invention Partial sectional view of the same Perspective view of the punch Partial plan view and sectional view Partial plan view and sectional view according to another embodiment Sectional view of a conventional vehicle switch Partial sectional view of the same Partial plan view and sectional view

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Actuator 2A Operation shaft 5 Contact pressure spring 6 Return spring 7 Cover 7A Hollow cylinder part 13 Fixed contact 13A, 14A, 14E, 14F, 14G Concave part 13B, 14B, 14H Convex part 13C Terminal part 14 Movable contact 14D Flat part 17 Punch 17A Protrusion

Claims (4)

A fixed contact planted in the case, an operating body accommodated in the case so as to be movable up and down, and a movable contact facing the fixed contact and coming into contact with and separating from the fixed contact as the operating body moves up and down. And a switch for a vehicle in which a plurality of concave portions partially overlapping each other are provided on at least one surface of the movable contact or the fixed contact. The vehicle switch according to claim 1, wherein the sizes of the plurality of recesses are different. 2. The method for manufacturing a vehicle switch according to claim 1, wherein the punch provided with the plurality of protrusions is pressed against the movable contact or the fixed contact a plurality of times to form a plurality of recesses on the contact surface. The method for manufacturing a vehicle switch according to claim 3, wherein the shape of the protrusion of the punch is a quadrangular pyramid.

Images