JP2009230866A - Thermostat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermostat for controlling the inside temperature of a refrigerator or the like, wherein assembly of a case and a body frame can be achieved without causing cracks and chipping or the like of the case. <P>SOLUTION: A cut-out portion 2 is provided at the side face 1a of a body frame 1 and a tongue portion 3 is provided at part of the cut-out portion 2, and a step portion 7 which contacts the cut-out portion 2 is provided at the side face 5a of the case 5. Then, the tongue portion 3 penetrates into the step portion 7 and a square hole 9 having an outer wall part 8 to contain the tongue portion 3 is provided. Accordingly, the case 5 can be easily inserted along the cut-out portion 2 and the step portion 7 from the opening of the body frame 1, After the tongue portion 3 is inserted into the square hole 9, the tongue portion 3 is bent and fixed to the case 5. Thus, the case 5 can be easily and certainly installed on the body frame 1 without causing cracks and chipping or the like to the case 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermostat that controls the temperature in a refrigerator, a showcase, or the like.

  Conventionally, a thermostat having a configuration suitable for temperature control in a refrigerator, a showcase, or the like is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Hereinafter, the conventional thermostat will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 7 is a side view of a conventional thermostat body.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the thermostat has a sensing unit 101 that senses the temperature of the control unit (measurement point) and causes a pressure change at one opening of a metal frame 102 formed in a U-shape. A resin case 103 that houses a switch (not shown) is attached to the other opening. The two opposite side surfaces 102a of the instrument frame 102 are each provided with a square hole 102b.

  The case 103 is formed with a convex portion 103a that fits into the two square holes 102b of the instrument frame 102, and a part of the convex portion 103a is cut into a triangular shape. A dial 104 for changing the temperature setting protrudes from the casing 102.

  About the thermostat comprised as mentioned above, fixation of the container 102 and the case 103 is demonstrated.

The assembly of the instrument case 102 and the case 103 is performed by expanding the opening of the instrument case 102, fitting the convex portion 103a of the case 103 into the square hole 102b of the instrument case 102, and then the triangular shape of the case convex portion 103a. A method of deforming and caulking a part of the container frame 102 along the notch has been adopted.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-10619

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the case 103 is inserted into the instrument frame 102, the opening of the instrument frame 102 must be expanded by hand, and after the insertion, it is crimped with a dedicated caulking jig or device. Since the process is necessary, workability is poor and inefficiency, and there is a possibility that the case 103 is chipped and cracked during caulking, and when the caulking is performed with the opening of the instrument frame 102 spreading outward There has been a problem that the casing 102 and the case 103 are not fixed securely.

  The present invention solves the conventional problems, has good workability, can easily attach the instrument frame and the case, prevents cracking and chipping during caulking, and realizes secure fixing of the instrument frame and the case. The purpose is to provide a thermostat with stable quality.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the thermostat of the present invention has a container frame formed in a substantially U shape by an upper surface and two opposing side surfaces, and a switch portion accommodated in an opening facing the upper surface of the container frame. In the configuration for attaching the case, a substantially rectangular notch is provided at the opening side end of the two side surfaces of the device frame, and the device frame is provided at a part of the notch portions provided on the side surfaces. Provided with a tongue-shaped portion extending in a direction away from the upper surface of the case, and further, provided with a stepped portion that comes into contact with a notch portion provided in the instrument frame on the two side surface portions of the case, A square hole through which the tongue-like portion provided in the notch passes is provided.

  Accordingly, when the case is fitted into the instrument frame from the opening of the instrument frame, the case can be fitted along the side surface of the instrument frame, and the positioning of the end of the fitting is performed on the side surface of the instrument frame. By contacting the notched portion provided with the stepped portion of the case, and passing the tongue-shaped portion of the container frame through the square hole of the case stepped portion and bending the tip of the tongue-shaped portion The case and the casing can be fixed. At that time, the case can be attached to the container frame without cracking or chipping.

  According to the thermostat of the present invention, the case and the casing can be positioned by inserting the case from the opening of the casing until the notch provided on the side of the casing and the stepped portion provided on the case abut. The case can be made by passing the tongue-shaped portion of the container frame through the rectangular hole of the stepped portion provided in the case, and bending the tip of the tongue-shaped portion in the direction to lock the rectangular hole. The case can be fixed, and it does not apply excessive stress to the case or the case, so there is no cracking or chipping in the case, good workability, and stable quality. The resulting assembly can be performed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a substantially U-shaped container frame having an upper surface and two opposing side surfaces and an opening facing the upper surface of the device frame are fitted and attached between the side surfaces of the instrument frame. A thermostat having a case housing a switch unit and a temperature sensing unit attached to one of two openings other than the opening facing the upper surface of the instrument frame, the openings on the two side surfaces of the instrument frame A substantially rectangular notch that forms a portion approaching the upper surface of the instrument frame is provided at the side tip, and a part of the notch provided on each side surface is separated from the upper surface of the instrument frame. Provided with a tongue-like portion extending in the direction, and further provided with a stepped portion in contact with a notch provided in the instrument frame on the two side surfaces of the case, and the notched portion at the stepped portion. Provided with a square hole through which the tongue-shaped part provided in the The tip of a more protruding tongue, is provided with a bent portion to the peripheral edge and the locking of the angle-shaped hole.

  By adopting such a configuration, the case can be inserted from the opening of the instrument frame, and the case and the instrument frame can be positioned by the contact of the notch provided on the side of the instrument frame and the stepped portion of the case. In addition, since the lateral distance and the case width of the instrument frame have the same dimensions, it is possible to suppress cracking and breakage of the case without excessive stress acting on both the instrument frame and the case.

  In addition, after positioning the case and the case frame, bending of the tip of the tongue-like part that penetrates the square hole can prevent the tongue-like part from coming off from the square hole, thereby fixing the case and the case frame. It can be performed.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide a thermostat that can be assembled with good workability and has a stable quality.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, holes are provided in two side surfaces of the instrument frame, and further fitted in holes in the instrument frame on two side surfaces of the case. The surface which contacts the said side surface in this protrusion part is made into the slope part which inclines so that the said stepped part side may become high.

  With this configuration, when the case is inserted into the instrument frame, the instrument frame can be easily bent and spread along the inclined surface of the projection, so that the case can be easily inserted without giving a strong impact or the like. Further, the bottom surface of the protruding portion comes into contact with and fits into the end surface of the hole portion, thereby preventing the case from coming off more reliably, and the positions of the case and the casing are reliably determined. The casing can be firmly coupled, and malfunctions caused by loose coupling between the two can be suppressed, so that the quality can be further stabilized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a thermostat according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a case constituting the thermostat. FIG. 3 is a front view of the main body of the thermostat. FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing a fixed state to the case by bending of a tongue-shaped portion provided on a container frame in the thermostat.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, for example, the metal casing 1 has a substantially U-shape composed of two side surfaces 1 a positioned at a predetermined interval and an upper surface 1 b connecting one end of the side surface 1 a. Formed and has openings in three directions.

  A substantially rectangular notch 2 is formed at the tip of the opening side facing the top surface 1b of the two side surfaces 1a of the device frame 1 to form a portion that approaches the top surface of the device frame 1 at the tip. In addition, a part of the notch 2 is provided with a tongue-like portion 3 extending in a direction away from the upper surface 1 b of the instrument frame 1. At the tip of the tongue-like portion 3, a bending portion 3a provided with a cut 3b is provided so as to facilitate bending.

  A temperature adjusting dial 4 is provided on the upper surface 1b of the casing 1.

  The case 5 made of synthetic resin is set to have a width dimension approximately equal to the interval between the side surfaces 1 a of the instrument frame 1, and is attached to an opening facing the upper surface 1 b of the instrument frame 1. The case 5 includes two side surface portions 5a facing each other and one bottom surface portion 5b. Each side surface portion 5a is in the width direction so as to abut against the notch portion 2 provided on the side surface 1a of the casing 1 respectively. A stepped portion 7 is provided in a protruding manner.

  Further, the stepped portion 7 is provided with a square hole 9 through which the tongue-like portion 3 of the device frame 1 passes, and an outer wall portion 8 is provided on the outer surface of the square hole 9. The outer wall portion 8 is for concealing the portion of the tongue-like portion 3 except the bent portion 3a and energizing the spread of the tongue-like portion 3, and is formed with a predetermined thickness and a predetermined width.

  Further, a central portion of the case 5 is provided with a switch portion (not shown) having a plurality of contact plates and contacts, and a terminal portion electrically connected to the switch portion on one side surface. 6 protrudes.

  In addition, a capillary 11 extending to the temperature detection unit and a temperature sensing unit 10 including a bellows 12 in which a pressure change occurs due to a temperature change of the capillary 11 are attached to one opening of the casing 1.

  With respect to the thermostat configured as described above, a method of fixing the case 5 to the case 1 will be described below. Since the attachment of the temperature sensing unit 10 and the like and the operation of the thermostat are not directly related to the gist of the present invention, the description of the attachment other than the casing 1 and the case 5 and the operation of the thermostat is omitted here.

  The thermostat is assembled by placing a case 5 between a pair of side surfaces 1a provided on the casing 1 and contacting the side faces 1a and 5a of the casing 1 and case 5 with each other. The case 5 is inserted into the casing 1 until the notched portion 2 and the stepped portion 7 provided on the side surface portion 5a come into contact with each other.

  In other words, the contact between the notch portion 2 provided on the side surface 1a and the stepped portion 7 provided on the side surface portion 5a is in a locking relationship and restricts the case 5 from being inserted into the instrument frame 1 beyond that. Is.

  As described above, as the case 5 is inserted into the casing 1, the tongue 3 provided in the notch 2 passes through the square hole 9 of the case 5, and the notch 2 and the stepped portion 7 come into contact with each other. In this state, the bent portion 3a of the tongue-like portion 3 is exposed.

  In this state, the bent portion 3a of the tongue-like portion 3 is bent by about 90 degrees in the direction of locking with the square hole 9, whereby the state shown in FIG. Separation is regulated.

  Therefore, the case 5 is inserted and removed by contact between the stepped portion 7 and the notch portion 2, penetration of the tongue-shaped portion 3 into the rectangular hole 9, and bending of the bent portion 3 a of the tongue-shaped portion 3. Directional movement is restricted. That is, the case 5 does not rattle with respect to the casing 1 in any direction and is firmly fixed to the casing 1, and the outside of the tongue 3 is extended to the outer wall portion of the casing 5. Therefore, the thermostat can be stably and reliably fixed to the device without spreading to the outside of the main body of the device frame 1.

  Also, when the instrument case 1 and the case 5 are fitted, the side face 1a of the instrument case 1 and the width of the case 5 have the same dimensions, so that excessive stress acts on both the instrument case 1 and the case 5. In addition, the crack and breakage of the case 5 can be suppressed. As a result, cracking or chipping of the case 5 at the time of assembling can be suppressed, the quality can be stabilized, and it can be fixed to a stable device, and the reliability as a thermostat can be improved.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, since the main configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different parts from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the thermostat according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a protrusion provided on the case side surface of the thermostat.

  5 and 6, the difference from the first embodiment is that a rectangular hole 13 is provided in each opposing side surface 1 a of the instrument frame 1, and the instrument case 1 and the case 5 are provided in each side face 5 a of the case 5. In the regular mounting state, a protrusion 15 that fits into the hole 13 of the casing 1 is provided.

  And the protrusion part 15 is a slope part so that the surface which contacts the side surface 1a of the container frame 1 may become a plane (it is flush with the side surface part 5a of the case 5) toward the fitting direction to the case frame 1 of the case 5. 14 And when the maximum protrusion dimension of the projection part 15 considers the bending degree of the side surface 1a provided in the instrument frame 1, about the plate | board thickness dimension of the side surface 1a is preferable.

  Further, the positions of the hole 13 and the protrusion 15 are determined when the fitting of the casing 1 and the case 5 is completed, that is, the contact state of the notch portion 2 provided on the side surface 1a and the stepped portion 7 provided on the side surface portion 5a. , The hole 13 and the protrusion 15 are set at a matching position.

  With this configuration, when the instrument case 1 and the case 5 are fitted, the case 5 is arranged between a pair of side surfaces 1a provided on the instrument case 1 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The case 5 is inserted into the instrument frame 1 with a force sufficient to bring the side surface 1a of the case 5 into contact with the side surface portion 5a.

  In the process, before the notched portion 2 provided on the side surface 1a and the stepped portion 7 provided on the side surface portion 5a come into contact with each other, the contact between the protruding portion 15 and the side surface 1a starts, but by applying a slight force, The side surface 1a of the instrument case 1 is slightly bent, and the insertion of the case 5 into the instrument case 1 can be continued.

  And the notch part 2 provided in the side surface 1a and the stepped part 7 provided in the side surface part 5a come into contact with each other, and at the same time, the projection part 15 fits into the hole part 13, and further insertion of the case 5 is restricted. The fitting of the projection 15 and the hole 13 also restricts the case 5 from coming off.

  In this state, the bending of the bent portion 3a of the tongue-like portion 3 is performed similarly to the first embodiment, whereby the fixing of the case 5 and the casing 1 is completed.

  According to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be expected. In addition, the fitting of the hole 13 and the protrusion 15 can more reliably prevent the case 5 from coming off, and the thermostat. Quality and reliability can be further improved.

  The thermostat according to the present invention can suppress damage to the case in the assembling process, has good assembly workability, and can have a stable quality. Applicable to necessary equipment.

The disassembled perspective view of the thermostat in Embodiment 1 of this invention Bottom view of the case constituting the thermostat Front view of the thermostat body The bottom view which shows the fixed state to the case by the bending of the tongue-shaped part provided in the container frame in the thermostat The disassembled perspective view of the thermostat in Embodiment 2 of this invention Enlarged perspective view of a protrusion provided on the case side of the thermostat Side view of a conventional thermostat body

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Unit frame 1a Side surface 1b Upper surface 2 Notch part 3 Tongue part 3a Bending part 5 Case 5a Side part 5b Bottom part 7 Step part 8 Outer wall part 9 Square hole 10 Temperature sensing part 13 Hole part 14 Slope part 15 Projection part

Claims (2)

  A substantially U-shaped container frame comprising an upper surface and two opposing side surfaces; a case that houses a switch portion that is fitted through an opening facing the upper surface of the device frame and is attached between the side surfaces of the instrument frame; In a thermostat having a temperature sensing part attached to one of two openings other than the opening facing the upper surface of the container frame, the upper surface of the container frame is formed at the opening side end of the two side surfaces of the container frame. Provided with a substantially rectangular notch that forms a part approaching the surface, and a tongue-like part extending in a direction away from the upper surface of the instrument frame in a part of the notch provided on each side surface. In addition, a stepped portion that comes into contact with the cutout portion provided in the instrument frame is provided on the two side surface portions of the case, and the tongue-shaped portion provided in the cutout portion passes through the stepped portion. The tip of the tongue-shaped part which protruded from the said square hole is provided. A thermostat having a peripheral edge and a locking bending portion of the angle-shaped hole.   Holes are provided on the two side surfaces of the instrument frame, and further, a projection part that fits into the hole part of the instrument frame is provided on the two side surfaces of the case, and a surface that contacts the side surface in the projection part, The thermostat according to claim 1, wherein the stepped portion side is inclined so as to be higher.

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