JP2556118Y2 - Headlight selector switch for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a vehicular headlamp changeover switch for turning on / off a headlamp of a vehicle based on a swing operation of an operation lever.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional vehicle headlamp changeover switch includes:
For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-168931 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.
According to the technique disclosed in each of the publications of No. 842, switching between turning on and off a main lamp and a dimmer lamp of a headlight is generally performed. In these techniques, a leaf spring-shaped movable contact piece having one end fixed is displaced by a movable member by swinging a pivotally supported lever to a main position, a dimmer position, and a passing position. It is configured by a so-called touch contact that comes into contact with the fixed contact. Such a conventional configuration is suitable for switching a high-current load such as a headlight of a vehicle, but the configuration is complicated and it is difficult to reduce the size. Therefore, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No.
No. 5 proposes a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5 (1994). This is a configuration of a so-called sliding switch in which a movable contact formed of a plate material slides on a base surface and is electrically connected to a fixed contact provided on the base surface by swinging an operation lever.

[0003]

However, in the configuration of the sliding switch, the contact capacity is small, and the durability is inferior for switching a large current load such as a headlight of a vehicle. . The operation of turning on the headlight of the vehicle is the most important operation in traffic safety, and durability of the switch is an important issue. The present invention has been devised in view of the above problems, and provides a small-sized vehicle headlight switch with a simple configuration while improving the durability of a contact point in switching on and off a headlight of a vehicle. With the goal.

[0004]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a movable contact piece is slid to a main position, a dimmer position and a passing position on a base, based on a swing operation of an operation lever. A vehicle headlamp changeover switch for turning on / off the headlamp of the vehicle,
The fixed contact row of the row is arranged side by side, and the middle row in the fixed contact row is a main power contact connected to a power supply, and a sub power contact connected to the main power contact during night driving, this row, One of the left and right rows in the fixed contact row is arranged in series in substantially the same direction, and the main lamp signal contact and the passing signal contact are arranged in series in substantially the same direction as this row. The other row is constituted by dimmer lamp signal contacts, and the movable contact piece is provided with three contacts that are individually slid in contact with each row of the fixed contact row at triangular point positions. And a vehicle headlamp changeover switch.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a case, which is disposed near the outer peripheral surface of the steering shaft 2. On the lower side of the case 1, a direction indicating switch device 3, a main dimmer switch device 4 as a headlight switch, and a light switch device 5 are incorporated. On the upper side of Case 1,
The lid 6 is attached.

[0006] A support shaft 7a is pivotally supported between the case 1 and the lid 6 in order to mount the operation panel 7 swingably in the left-right direction about the first axis V. A first operating rod 7b for operating the direction indicating switch device 3 by sliding left and right is protruded from a lower surface at a distal end of the operating panel 7. In the operation panel 7, a shaft portion 8a is pivotally supported so that the hollow operation lever 8 can be vertically swingably mounted about a second axis W substantially orthogonal to the first axis V. On the lower surface of the operation lever 8, a second operating rod 8b for operating the main dimmer switch device 4 by sliding back and forth is projected. An operating shaft 9 is rotatably inserted into the hollow of the operating lever 8, and a third operating rod 10 is inserted into one end of the operating shaft 9 and is engaged and fixed to an elastic engaging piece 10a. The third operating rod 10 operates the light switch device 5 by sliding left and right. The other end of the operation shaft 9 has a knob 37
Is fixed.

On the upper surface of the operation panel 7, a recess 7c is formed near the tip. In the concave portion 7c, a triangular guide protrusion 7d having the vertex in the direction of the support shaft 7a is formed on the axis S connecting the operation panel 7 and the steering shaft 2. A long hole 6a extending in the direction of the axis S is formed in the cover 6 so as to face the guide protrusion 7d.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a cancel cam extending in the direction of the axis S. The cancel cam 11 integrally forms one guide shaft 11a, one slide shaft 11b, an engaging portion 11c, and a pressing portion 11d. The guide shaft 11a is provided on the upper surface of the cancel cam 11, and the cancel cam 1
1 is supported by an elongated hole 6a so as to be mounted on the cover 6 so as to be swingable and movable in the direction of the axis S. Sliding shaft 11
b is disposed concentrically with the guide shaft 11a on the lower surface of the cancel cam 11, is locked by the guide protrusion 7d, and is slidably supported on the slope. The engaging portion 11c protrudes toward the steering shaft 2 and can engage with the cancel pin 2a that rotates together with the steering shaft 2. The pressing portion 11 d protrudes toward the support shaft 7 a of the operation panel 7, that is, toward the movable element 13 described later, and presses the contact surfaces 13 a and 13 b of the movable element 13. This pressing portion 11d
Is formed in a substantially curved shape such as a circular shape based on a center point at a predetermined distance from the guide shaft 11a.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a leaf spring. Both ends of the leaf spring are locked by a spring supporting portion 6b formed on the back surface of the lid 6, and the center of the leaf spring 12 engages with the cancel cam 11, whereby The cancel cam 11 is urged toward the steering shaft 2.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a mover, which is interposed between the operation panel 7 and the cancel cam 11 on the axis S. The movable element 13 has engagement portions 13c and 13d at both ends extending in a direction orthogonal to the axis S, and are engaged and supported by respective support portions 7e projecting from the upper surface of the operation panel 7. Thus, the mover 13 can swing freely within a predetermined angle range allowed in the operation panel 7 with the one support portion 7e as a fulcrum. Further, the mover 13 is urged toward the steering shaft 2 by the coil spring 14 on the axis S. One end of the coil spring 14 is inserted into a tapered hole 13 e formed in the mover 13, and the other end is supported by a spring receiving portion 7 f formed on the operation panel 7. The mover 13 is formed on the axis S with substantially C-shaped opposed contact surfaces 13a and 13b that expand toward the steering shaft 2 and is pressed by the pressing portion 11d of the cancel cam 11. . A locking projection 13 is provided on each of the contact surfaces 13a and 13b.
f, 13g protrude to restrict the cancel cam 11 from moving in the direction of the support shaft 7a of the operation panel 7 during the pressing operation of the pressing portion 11d.

A pair of hollow arms 7g is provided on the side wall of the operation panel 7.
And a moderation pin 16 urged by a coil spring 15 is inserted therein. The moderation pin 16 engages with a moderation groove 1 a formed in the inner wall of the case 1, and forms a moderation mechanism in the swing direction of the operation panel 7.

The operation lever 8 has a hole 8c formed at the end substantially in the axial direction, and a ball 17 and a coil spring 1 which form a moderation mechanism in cooperation with a moderation groove 7h formed on the inner surface of the operation panel 7.
8 is inserted. Thus, the operation lever 8 is temporarily locked at each swing position and is urged substantially in the axial direction.

Next, the configuration of each of the switch devices 3 to 5 will be described. In case 1, as shown in FIG. 2, an electrically insulating base 19 is fitted in the lower opening. The first mover 20 in the direction indicating switch device 3 is engaged with the first operating rod 7b, and moves right and left on the surface of the base 19, that is, as shown in FIG.
Is slid in the L0 direction and the R0 direction indicated by. Base 1
On the nine surfaces, three fixed contacts 23N, 23 are provided to switch the two sets of left and right direction indicators 21L, 21R.
Two sets of L and 23R are arranged in series. The neutral contact 23N disposed at the center is connected to a flasher circuit 22 for blinking each of the direction indicators 21L and 21R. A left turn signal contact 23L adjacent to the neutral contact 23N is connected to the left turn direction indicator light 21L, and a right turn signal contact 23R is connected to the right turn direction indicator light 21R. The first movable element 20 is fitted with two sets of movable contact pieces 24 that slide on the surface of the base 19, and switches between the fixed contacts 23N, 23L, 23R.

In the main dimmer switch device 4,
The second movable element 25 is slid in the front-rear direction on the surface of the base 19, that is, in the F direction and the Re direction shown in FIGS. On the base 19 surface, the main lamp 26 of the two sets of headlights
To switch between M and dimmer lamp 26D, 5
Fixed contacts 27M, 27S, 27H, 27P, 27D
Are arranged in two sets. The main power supply contact 27M is connected to the positive electrode + V of the DC power supply. The sub power contact 27S is turned on by the light switch device 5 during night driving, and the main power contact 2
7M. The main lamp signal contact 27H and the passing signal contact 27P are connected to the main lamp 26M. The dimmer lamp signal contact 27D is connected to the dimmer lamp 2
Connect with 6D. The main lamp signal contact 27H and the passing signal contact 27P are connected to the connection line 27 shown in FIG.
It is desirable that the base 19 be connected by L.

The base 19 has five fixed contacts 2
By 7M, 27S, 27H, 27P, and 27D, three fixed contact rows extending in the F direction and the Re direction are arranged in parallel. That is, the sub power contact 27S and the main power contact 27M are arranged in series in substantially the same direction as the row in the central first row. A main lamp signal contact 27H and a passing contact 27P are arranged in series in substantially the same direction as this row in either the left or right second row. The other third column on the left and right sides is configured with a dimmer lamp signal contact 27D.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second movable element 25 is fitted with two sets of movable contact pieces 28, 28 which slide on the surface of the base 19 by engaging the engaging projections 25b with the engaging holes 28d. ing.
The movable contact piece 28 is formed by bending a conductive plate material. On the bottom surface, three contacts 28a to 28c that are in sliding contact with the respective fixed contact rows individually are projected at triangular points. I have. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, each of the contacts 28 a to 28 c has a substantially quadrangular flat surface in contact with the base 19 to secure a contact area. The movable contact piece 28 is a compression spring 2
9 biases the base 19 side. Thus, the movable contact piece 28 includes a sub power supply contact 27S and a main power supply contact 27M in which the first contact 28a at the vertex on the Re direction side is the first row.
The second contact 28b corresponds to the main lamp signal contact 27H and the passing signal contact 27P in the second column, and the third contact 28c corresponds to the dimmer lamp signal contact 27D in the third column. Switch switching functions are respectively distributed.

In the light switch device 5, the third movable element 30 is engaged with the third operating rod 10 and the engagement groove 30a.
It slides on the surface of the base 19 in the left-right direction, that is, in the L0 direction and the R0 direction shown in FIGS. On the surface of the base 19, as shown in FIG. 5, two fixed contacts 32M and 32S for switching the small lamp 31 are provided.
In order to apply a power supply voltage to the sub power supply contact 27S of the dimmer switch device 4, two fixed contacts 33M and 33S are respectively provided.
Are arranged in two sets. Each main power contact 32M and 33M
Is connected to the positive electrode + V of the DC power supply. The small lamp signal contact 32S is connected to a small lamp 31 such as a vehicle width lamp. The secondary contact 33S is connected to the sub power contact 27S.

The third movable element 30 is fitted with a small lamp switching movable contact piece 34 which slides on the surface of the base 19 and two sets of sub-power supply switching movable contact pieces 35, 35. Each of the movable contact pieces 34 and 35 is formed by bending a conductive plate material, and a contact surface that is in contact with the base 19 is formed on the bottom surface in a substantially square planar shape to secure a contact area. Further, the movable contact pieces 34 and 35 are urged by the compression spring 36 toward the surface of the base 19. Thus, the small lamp switching movable contact 34 switches between the fixed contacts 32M and 32S, and the sub power source switching contact 35 switches between the fixed contacts 33M and 33S. Note that all the fixed contacts 23L,
23N, 23R, 27M, 27S, 27H, 27P, 2
7D, 32M, 32S, 33M and 33S are formed of a conductive plate material, and are integrally formed so as to have the same flat surface as the surface of the base 19 as shown in FIG. 28, 34 and 35 contact points
By protruding toward the surface of the base 19, manufacturing is facilitated and dimensional accuracy of both is improved. Also,
On the surface of the base 19, the movable contact pieces 24, 28, 34 and 3
The fixed contacts 23L, 23N, 23R, and 27 that come into contact with and separate from 5
M, 27S, 27H, 27P, 27D, 32M, 32
S, 33M, and 33S contact and separate from each other, for example, as shown in FIG.
The air gap 19a is formed as shown in FIG. 3 to prevent the occurrence of a short circuit phenomenon between the contacts due to abrasion powder or the like.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the operation lever 8 is in the neutral position N shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 7 is aligned with the axis S as shown in FIG. 1, and the direction indicating switch device 3 is in the OFF state. That is, the movable contact piece 24 is located on the neutral contact 23N at the neutral position N 'shown in FIG.
R is off. Further, the sliding shaft 11b of the cancel cam 11 is supported at the vertex of the guide projection 7d.

When the operator swings the operation lever 8 to the right turn position R shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 7 swings in the right turn position R direction, and the moderation pins 16 engage with the moderation grooves 1a. Locked in this position. At this time, the operation panel 7 is
The direction indicating switch device 3 is slid by b. Thus, the movable contact piece 24 moves to the right-turn position R 'shown in FIG. . At the same time, the operation panel 7
Is shifted from the axis S, so that the cancel cam 11 is urged by the leaf spring 12 so that the sliding shaft 11b slides down on the slope of the guide projection 7d. Thus, the engagement portion 11c of the cancel cam 11 moves within the rotation locus 2b of the cancel pin 2a that rotates together with the steering handle 2.

In this state, the pressing portion 11d of the cancel cam 11 is in contact with one contact surface 13a of the mover 13 and the locking projection 13f. Here, when the cancel pin 2a rotates in the X direction, that is, in the right direction, the cancel cam 11 swings in the opposite direction only when the engaging portion 11c hits the cancel pin 2a. Thus, the mover 13 and the operation panel 7 do not return to the neutral position N.

Next, when the cancel pin 2a rotates in the Y direction, that is, in the left direction, the cancel cam 11 swings in a direction opposite to the direction in which the engaging portion 11c hits the cancel pin 2a. Thus, the pressing portion 1 of the cancel cam 11
1d is oscillatingly displaced, and one contact surface 13a in the contact state
Press. Further, the movement of the cancel cam 11 in the direction of the support shaft 7a is restricted by the locking projection 13f of the mover 13, so that the cancel cam 11 alone does not move. Accordingly, the mover 13 is provided with the locking portion 13d on the other side.
The support portion 7e swings about a contact portion between the support portion 7e and the engagement portion 13c on one side and presses the operation panel 7. With this pressing force, the engagement between the moderation pin 16 and the moderation groove 1a is switched, the operation panel 7 returns to the neutral position N shown in FIG. 1, and the direction indicating switch device 3 is turned off. That is, the movable contact piece 24 returns to the neutral position N ′, and turns off the right turn direction indicator lamp 21R. In the above description, the case where the operation lever 8 is swung to the right turn position R has been described. However, the same operation is performed when the operation lever 8 is swung to the left turn position L, and the left turn direction indicator light 21L
Flashes.

Next, when the knob 37 is twisted, the operation shaft 9 is turned off, the I-stage position and the II position as shown in FIG.
The third operating rod 10 rotates the light switch device 5 in the left-right direction, that is, the L0 direction and the R0 direction.
Slide in the direction to switch the switch. More specifically, when the operation shaft 9 is in the OFF position, each movable contact piece 3
4 and 35 are in the OFF 'position shown in FIG. 5, and all of them are in the switch OFF state. When the operation shaft 9 is turned to the I-stage position in a state where the outside of the vehicle is dim, the movable contact pieces 34 and 35 are slid to the I 'position. At this time, the small lamp switching movable contact piece 34 turns on the small lamp 31 by conducting between the main power supply contact 32M and the small lamp signal contact 32S. In this state, the auxiliary contact switching movable contact piece 35 is in the OFF state.

When the operating shaft 9 is turned to the II position at night or the like, the movable contact pieces 34 and 35 are slid and displaced to the II 'position. In this state, the small lamp switching movable contact piece 34 holds the small lamp 31 in the lighting state as in the state at the position I ′. The movable contact piece 35 for switching the sub power supply applies a power supply voltage to the sub power contact 27S of the main dimmer switch device 4 by conducting between the main power contact 33M and the secondary contact 33S.

Next, when the operation lever 8 is swung up and down, as shown in FIG.
And the passing position P, and the second operating rod 8b slides the main dimmer switch device 4 in the front-rear direction, that is, in the F direction and the Re direction, and switches. Thus, when the operation shaft 9 of the light switch device 5 is in the position II, the operation lever 8 is moved to the main position M.
, The main lamp 26M is turned on, and at the dimmer position D, the dimmer lamp 26D is turned on. The operation lever 8
In the passing position P, the main lamp 26M can be turned on regardless of the operation of the light switch device 5.
The ball 17 inserted into the operation lever 8 and the moderation mountain 7h constitute a moderation mechanism so that the operation lever 8 is automatically returned from the passing position P to the dimmer position D. It is easy to operate from the dimmer position D to the passing position P. Therefore, the main lamp 26M and the dimmer lamp 26D can be alternately turned on at night, and the main lamp 26M can be flickered during the day.

The operation of the main dimmer switch device 4 will be described in further detail with reference to a time chart in which the horizontal axis shown in FIG. 6 is time t (sec). When the operating shaft 9 is in the II position and the operating lever 8 is in the main position M, the movable contact piece 28 of the main dimmer switch device 4
Is at the position M 'shown in FIG. In this state, the first contact 28a contacts the sub power contact 27S to which the power supply voltage is applied, and the second contact 28b contacts the main lamp signal contact 27H.
And the third contact 28c is in an OFF state in which it does not contact any fixed contact. Thus, the main lamp 26M is turned on.

Next, when the operation lever 8 is swung to the dimmer position D, the movable contact piece 28 is slid from the M 'position to the D' position. At this time, the first contact 28a is
Maintain contact with S. Further, the third contact 28c comes into contact with the dimmer lamp signal contact 27D, and thereafter, after a slight delay time t1, the second contact 28b is slid and displaced into an OFF state where it does not contact any contact. Thus, Dima Lamp 26
D turns on, and the main lamp 26M turns off after a delay time t1. Thereafter, when the operation lever 8 is returned to the main position M, the movable contact piece 28 returns to the M 'position from the D' position, so that the main lamp 26M is turned on and the dimmer lamp 26D is turned off after a slight delay time t1. . The delay time t1 is set in order to improve traffic safety by eliminating a state in which both the main lamp 26M and the dimmer lamp 26D are turned off during the night driving of the vehicle, that is, a so-called non-lighting driving state. Considering the timing at which 28b switches between the main lamp signal contact 27H and the OFF state and the timing at which the third contact 28c switches between the dimmer signal contact 27D and the OFF state, each of these contacts 27H, 27D, 28b and 28c The layout and dimensions have been set.

Next, when the operation lever 8 is swung from the dimmer position D to the passing position P, the movable contact piece 28 becomes D '.
From the position to the P 'position. At this time, the second contact 2
8b slides and contacts the passing signal contact 27P from the OFF state, and thereafter, after a slight delay time t2, the first contact 28a is separated from the sub power contact 27S and comes into contact with the main power contact 27M. Further, the third contact 28c is separated from the dimmer lamp signal contact 27D after a delay time t3 shorter than the delay time t2, and slides to the OFF state. Here, each contact arrangement and dimensions are set such that there is a timing at which the first contact 28a simultaneously contacts the sub-power supply contact 27S and the main power supply contact 27M during the displacement. Thus, the main lamp 26M is turned on, and the delay time t
After 3, the dimmer lamp 26D turns off.

Thereafter, when the operating force for the passing operation of the operating lever 8 is released, the operating lever 8 automatically returns from the passing position P to the dimmer position D. Therefore, the movable contact piece 28 automatically returns to the D 'position from the P' position. At this time, the first contact 28a is separated from the main power contact 27M and comes into contact with the sub power contact 27S. The second contact 28b slides to the OFF state after a slight delay time t2, and the third contact 28c is the dimmer lamp signal contact 27.
Contact with D. Thus, the main lamp 26M turns off after the dimmer lamp 26D turns on. Therefore, when the operation lever 8 is subjected to the passing operation, the movable contact 28 reciprocates at the P 'position and the D' position, and the main lamp 26M and the dimmer lamp 26D alternately blink.

On the other hand, when the operation shaft 9 is in the OFF position or the I-stage position, no power supply voltage is applied to the sub power supply contact 27S of the main dimmer switch device 4.
Therefore, the main lamp 26M blinks only when the operation lever 8 is subjected to the passing operation.

Incidentally, the main dimmer switch device 4
Are the fixed contacts 27M, 27S, 27H, 27P, 27D
In order to improve the durability of the contacts 28a to 28c of the movable contact piece 28, the switch switching function is distributed. When the operating shaft 9 is at the II position, the movable contact 2
No. 8 is displaced to any of the M 'position, D' position and P 'position, the second contact 28b switches on and off the main lamp 26, and the third contact 28c switches the dimmer lamp 26D.
Switch on and off. The first contact 28a is always in contact with each of the power contacts 27M and 27S to which the power supply voltage is applied, and does not switch. Therefore, there is no wear due to arcing or the like at the time of switching.

On the other hand, when the operating shaft 9 is in the OFF position and the I-stage position, no power supply voltage is applied to the sub power contact 27S, and the movable contact piece 28 is displaced between the D 'position and the P' position. Accordingly, only the first contact 28a is connected to the main lamp 26.
M is turned on and off. At this time, the contact / separation timing between the second contact 28b and the main lamp signal contact 27H is shifted by a delay time t2 from the contact / separation timing between the first contact 28a and the main power contact 27M as shown in FIG. Therefore, there is no wear due to arc generation or the like due to contact and separation of the contacts. Further, the third contact 28c is not worn since the dimmer lamp 26D is not switched on and off.
As described above, since the main dimmer switch device 4 has a distributed switch switching function, the wear of each contact is made substantially uniform, and the durability is high despite being a contact sliding switch.

[0033]

As described in detail above, according to the structure of the present invention, three fixed contact rows of a power supply line, a main lamp load line, and a dimmer lamp load line are juxtaposed on a base, and each of the fixed contact rows is provided. The durability of the contacts is improved and the contact slide type switch is configured by arranging three contacts, which are individually in sliding contact with the rows, at triangular points and provided on the movable contact piece. With such a configuration, a small vehicle headlamp changeover switch can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an assembled state in which a lid is omitted in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a main part of a second movable element and a movable contact piece having the configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing a configuration of a base in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the main dimmer switch device of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 Case 3 Direction switch device 4 Main dimmer switch device 5 Light switch device 8 Operation lever 9 Operation shaft 19 Base 25 Second mover 26D Dimmer lamp 26M Main lamp 27D Dimmer lamp signal contact 27H Main lamp signal contact 27M Main power contact 27P Passing signal contact 27S Sub power contact 28 Movable contact 28a First contact 28b Second contact 28c Third contact

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A vehicle headlight switch for slidably displacing a movable contact piece to a main position, a dimmer position, and a passing position on a base based on a swing operation of an operation lever, and switching a headlight of a vehicle on and off. In the switch, three fixed contact rows are arranged in parallel on the base, and a central row of the fixed contact rows is connected to a main power contact connected to a power supply and the main power contact during night driving. The auxiliary power contacts are arranged in series in substantially the same direction as this row, and one of the left and right rows in the fixed contact row has main lamp signal contacts and passing signal contacts arranged in series in substantially the same direction as this row. The other of the left and right columns of the fixed contact row is formed of dimmer lamp signal contacts, and the movable contact piece is formed of three contacts that individually slide in contact with each row of the fixed contact row by a triangular point. At the location Headlight changeover switch before the vehicle, characterized in that.