JP3471179B2 - Clicking device for electrical parts - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a variable resistor or
The present invention relates to a click device for an electric component such as a switch, and particularly to a click mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional click device for an electric component, for example, a variable resistor is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No.
-37299. This conventional click device will be described with reference to the explanatory views shown in FIGS. Figure 8
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a conventional variable resistor, FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a conventional click device, FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part showing a conventional click device, and FIG. 11 is a conventional variable resistor. It is a top view of a spacer.

In the figure, a bearing 11 is made of zinc die casting, and a front plate 12 is provided on the bearing 11. Inside the front plate 12, there is arranged a click plate 13 formed of a die-cast material having a plurality of teeth 14 provided over the entire circumference thereof. The click plate 13 has a rotary shaft 1 at the center thereof.
An oval hole 16 into which the oval portion 5 is fitted is provided. A first recess 17 into which the click plate 13 is rotatably fitted is provided inside the front plate 12.
Then, the second concave portion 18 is provided continuously to the first concave portion 17.
And the second recess 18 is formed to hold the leaf spring 19. A bridge portion 20 is provided between the first recess 17 and the second recess 18. A pair of ball restraining protrusions 22, 22 are formed on the bridging portion 20 so as to project inward of the second recess 18. Furthermore, on both upper sides of the second recess 18,
A pair of locking portions 23, 23 for locking the leaf spring 19 are provided. In addition, the pair of ball holding protrusions 2
A ball 21 having a diameter slightly smaller than the interval is arranged between the two and 22. A variable resistor 25 is arranged at the subsequent stage of the bearing 11 via a spacer 24. The spacer 24 holds the ball 21 arranged between the pair of ball holding protrusions 22, 22.

Next, the operation of the conventional variable resistor click device will be described. When the resistance value of the variable resistor 25 is adjusted, when the rotary shaft 15 is rotated right or left, the click plate 13 having the oval hole 16 is also rotated. By this rotation, the ball 21 elastically repeats engagement and disengagement with the plurality of teeth 14 of the click plate 13, and a slider (not shown) of the variable resistor 25 rotates while giving a click torque. Then, a desired resistance value is obtained.

[0005]

However, in the above-described click device, the ball 21 pressed by the leaf spring 19 is in contact with the recess of the tooth 14 of the click plate 13, so that, for example, 300 gf. It is possible to generate click torque in and out of cm, but for example, 500
In order to generate a heavy click torque of gf · cm or more, it is conceivable to increase the thickness of the leaf spring, but it becomes difficult to assemble the ball, or it is easy to scrape when rotated and the sliding life is increased. There was a problem that it could not be made long, and for these reasons, it was not possible to make a very heavy torque. Further, there is also known a structure in which a metallic leaf spring such as phosphor bronze is attached to the rotary shaft 15 and a pressing force is applied from one direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary shaft to generate a click torque. However, in order to generate a heavy torque, it is conceivable to increase the thickness of the leaf spring, but due to the spring limit value of the metal spring, the pressing force on the rotating shaft 15 is limited, and the click torque is reduced. There is a limit to make it heavy. Further, there is a problem that it is easily scraped because a load is partially applied.

[0006]

An operating shaft Means for Solving the Problems], it holds the manipulation axis, a bearing having a plurality of uneven portions, to rotate together with the operating shaft, and, movable in the axial direction of the operating shaft In a state where the driving body is provided with a plurality of concave and convex portions that are elastically contacted with the concave and convex portions of the bearing, and a biasing member for elastically contacting the concave and convex portions of the driver with the concave and convex portions of the bearing. And a through hole provided in the driving body,
When the operation shaft is inserted and the operation shaft is rotated, the uneven portion of the driving body and the uneven portion of the bearing engage and disengage with each other, and the driving body operates the operation with the engagement and disengagement. is that which is adapted to move in the axial direction of the shaft.

That is, the driving body is formed of a bevel gear having a truncated cone shape.

The urging means is a coil spring, and the coil spring is inserted through the operating shaft.

An annular step is provided on the uneven portion of the bearing and / or the uneven portion of the driving body.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a sectional view showing a click device for a variable resistor as an electric component of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a bearing of an electric component of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the same bearing. 4 is a bottom view showing a bearing, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a driving body of an electric component of the present invention,
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the same driving body, and FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing the same driving body.

2 to 4, the bearing 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape.
Is formed by molding an insulating material such as glass-containing PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), and the bearing 1 has a shaft portion 1a and a through hole 1a 'formed by the shaft portion 1a. A plurality of, for example, 30 ridges and valleys 1b, which are peaks and valleys, are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft which is coaxially opened like an umbrella and has an inclination angle of 45 degrees. And the said uneven | corrugated part 1b is the 1st uneven | corrugated part 1b-1 of the inner side and the 2nd uneven | corrugated part 1b- of the outer side continuously provided in the said shaft part 1a.
2, the first uneven portion 1b-1 and the second uneven portion 1b-2
And a stepped portion 1b-3 having a substantially concave shape that connects the two with each other. The annular stepped portion 1b-3 functions as a grease reservoir described later. Further, around the outer periphery of the shaft portion 1a, a circular step portion 1c, a circular concave portion 1d, and a circular collar portion 1 which are also circular.
e is provided. A hollow / circular cylindrical portion 1h is continuously provided below the uneven portion 1b. The tube 1
The outer wall of h has four symmetrically arranged square holes 1i and 6
A book slit 1j is provided.

In FIG. 1, the operating shaft 2 is made of an insulating material and is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape.
An operating portion 2a that penetrates the through hole 1a of the bearing 1 and projects outward is provided, and a slider receiving portion 2b that is substantially disc-shaped is integrally provided at the rear end portion. A slider 2b 'made of a conductive material such as a metal plate is fixed to the lower surface of the slider receiving portion 2b, and a holding plane for holding a coil spring 4 which is an urging means described later on the upper surface. Part 2
c is formed. In addition, the holding flat surface portion 2c and the operation portion 2
Four protrusions 2d arranged in a cross shape are provided in the axial direction of the operation shaft 2 in a portion where the lower end portion of a is connected to the lower end portion. Further, a circular groove 2e is provided at an intermediate portion of the axial length of the operation shaft 2.

5 to 7, the driving body 3 is made of an insulating material such as polyacetal and is formed into a substantially truncated cone shape. At the center of the driving body 3, there is provided a through hole 3a having a cross shape, and the width of a pair of opposing square holes is wider than the width of the other pair of square holes. The inclined portion of the driving body 3 is formed with an inclination of 45 degrees, and is composed of a plurality of, for example, 30 peaks and valleys, and is provided with a bevel gear-shaped convex / concave portion 3b. . Note that the number of the convex / concave portions 3b is not limited to the 30 peaks / valleys of the present embodiment, and may be any number. Also, a circular hole 3c is formed continuously with the cross-shaped through hole 3a.
Are integrally formed. Further, the convex / concave portion 3b is not limited to the present embodiment, and like the convex / concave portion 1b of the bearing 1, the first convex / concave portion and the second convex / concave portion (both are not shown in the figure) sandwiching the annular step portion. No.) and may be configured.

In FIG. 1, a coil spring 4 is an embodiment of a biasing means, and the compression type coil spring 4 is composed of a piano wire, and its specification is, for example, a wire diameter:
0.8φ, spring constant: 350 gf / cm, load: compression height H = 4, load P = 1580 gf. Further, it goes without saying that the above-mentioned specifications are one embodiment and can be arbitrarily selected in order to obtain a desired torque value.

The resistance substrate 5 is made of, for example, an insulating substrate made of a phenol resin material or the like, and an arc-shaped resistor 5a formed by printing carbon ink or the like is provided on one surface thereof. In addition, eyelets 5b are provided on both ends of the resistor 5a.
The terminal 5c is fixed by. In this embodiment, the resistance substrate 5 provided with the resistor 5a is described above, but the switch substrate is not limited to this and may be a switch substrate.

The holding member 6 holds the resistance substrate 5 and terminals 8 described later, and is made of an insulating material such as glass-filled PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), and is formed by molding. The holding member 6
A substrate holding portion 6a having a substantially cylindrical shape is provided at an upper end portion thereof, and a terminal holding portion 6b having a substantially square tube shape is provided at a lower end portion thereof. The board holding portion 6a and the terminal holding portion 6b are connected and integrally formed. One end portion of the substrate holding portion 6a is an open end portion 6a 'and is constituted by a circular wall portion 6c. The wall portion 6c is provided with four claw portions 6e serving as snap-in engaging portions at symmetrical positions. In addition, the terminal holding portion 6b has three terminals 8 made of a metal material and connected to the terminals 5c of the resistance substrate 5, respectively.
However, they are integrally provided by insert molding or the like. Further, three columnar protrusions 6f are provided on the outer wall of the terminal holding portion 6b.

Next, the assembly of the variable resistor click device as an electric component according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the slider 2b 'is attached to the slider receiving portion 2b of the operation shaft 2.
Is fixed by heat caulking. Next, the resistor 5a connects the end portion of the terminal 5c of the printed resistance substrate 5 to the terminal 8 of the holding member 6 by press fitting or the like, and the resistance substrate 5 to which the terminal 5c is connected is formed on the holding member 6 substantially. Circular open end 6a '
Place on.

Next, for example, a coil spring 4 as a biasing means is inserted from the tip of the operating portion 2a of the operating shaft 2 and the coil spring 4 is placed on the holding flat surface portion 2c of the operating shaft 2 and the coil spring The driving body 3 is also inserted on top of 4 from the tip of the operating portion 2a. At this time, the concavo-convex portion 3b of the driving body 3 is arranged so as to face upward, and the end portion of the coil spring 4 is arranged so as to be housed in the circular hole 3c. further,
The four protrusions 2d arranged in a cross shape of the operation shaft 2 are inserted into the cross-shaped through holes 3a of the drive body 3, whereby the rotation of the drive body 3 is interlocked with the rotation of the operation shaft 2. Is configured to.

Next, grease (not shown) as a lubricant is applied to the concave and convex portion 1b of the bearing 1, and then the operation shaft 2 having the coil spring 4 and the driving body 3 inserted therethrough is inserted into the through hole of the bearing 1. 1 a ′, the groove 2 e in the middle of the operating shaft 2
Fit and fix the E-ring 7 on. The operation shaft 2 does not come off from the bearing 1 by the fixing by the E ring 7. At this time, the concave and convex portions 1b and 3 of the bearing 1 and the driving body 3
The two b's are arranged in contact with each other by the pressing force of the coil spring 4. Next, the holding member 6 on which the resistance substrate 5 is placed is inserted from the open lower surface of the bearing 1. When the holding member 6 is inserted, the four square holes 1i of the bearing 1 are inserted.
Then, the four claw portions 6e of the holding member 6 are so-called snap-in engaged, so that the bearing 1 and the holding member 6 are engaged and fitted. At this time, the slider 2b ′ fixed to the slider receiving portion 2b is arranged so as to slide on the resistor 5a of the resistor substrate 5. This completes the assembly of the electrical component of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the electric component of the present invention will be described. When an operation knob (not shown) is engaged with the operation portion 2a of the operation shaft 2 protruding from the through hole 1a of the bearing 1 and the operation knob is rotated right or left, the operation shaft 2
Since the convex portion 2d provided in a cross shape and the cross-shaped through hole 3a of the driving body 3 are engaged with each other, the driving body 3 is also rotated rightward or leftward. At this time, the concavo-convex portion 3b of the driving body 3 is supported by the coil spring 4 which is a biasing means.
Since it is pressed (biased) to the concave-convex portion 1b and is engaged like a so-called bevel gear, the concave-convex portion 1b and the concave-convex portion 3
With b, the operating shaft 2 is turned over the mutual peaks and troughs.
Further, in the present embodiment, the driving body 3 has a truncated cone shape and is brought into contact with the uneven portion 3b having an inclined surface of 45 degrees. The click torque T of the click device in this embodiment is 800 to 900 gf · cm, which is a heavy torque.

By this rotation, the slider 2b 'fixed to the slider receiving portion 2b of the operation shaft 2 becomes the resistance substrate 5
The desired resistance value is output from the terminal 8 by sliding on the resistor 5a. Therefore, the rotation of the driving body 3 is caused by the coil spring 4
A desired heavy click torque (800 to 900 gf · cm) can be generated by the pressing force of and the engagement and disengagement of the uneven portions. This torque can be comparatively obtained by selecting the load of the coil spring 4 and the heights and depths of the peaks and valleys of the concave and convex portions 1b of the bearing 1 and the concave and convex portions 3b of the driving body 3, the shape and the contact area. A desired torque can be selected from a light torque to a very heavy torque, and in any case, it is possible to prolong the life at the time of rotation. However, the configuration of the present invention is generally suitable for obtaining a heavy click torque. Is. Further, when it is necessary to reduce the thickness in the thickness direction, the bevel gear can be configured with a flat surface without providing an inclination.

[0022]

The operation shaft, the bearing that holds the operation shaft and is provided with a plurality of concave and convex portions, and is attached to the operation shaft,
A plurality of concave and convex portions, each of which includes a driving body provided with a plurality of concave and convex portions elastically contacting the concave and convex portions of the bearing, and biasing means for elastically contacting the concave and convex portions of the driving body with the concave and convex portions of the bearing. Since it is possible to increase the number of places where click torque is generated by providing, the click torque is set to be heavy.
Alternatively, the life can be extended by distributing the load.

Since the driving body is formed of a bevel gear having a truncated cone shape, the contact surface of the uneven portion can be widened by the inclined surface, and a plurality of uneven portions are provided on the inclined surface. In addition, it is possible to allow all of the concavo-convex portion to escape in the axial direction, reduce the size in the radial direction of the shaft, and set the click torque to be heavy or to disperse the load to prolong the service life.

Since the biasing means is a coil spring, and the coil spring is inserted through the operating shaft, it is possible to apply a biasing force in the axial direction to the operating shaft inserted through the bearing. Since it is possible to uniformly bias the concave and convex portions of the bearing without tilting, there is an effect that not only the click feeling is uniform, but also a long-life click device can be provided.

By providing an annular step portion on the concave and convex portion of the bearing and / or the driving body and applying a lubricant such as grease to the step portion, it is possible to keep the life of the click device long.

[0026]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a click device for an electric component of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a bearing of an electric component of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a bearing of an electric component of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the bearing of the electric component of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a driving body of an electric component of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a driving body of an electric component of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing a driving body of the electric component of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a variable resistor as a conventional electric component.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a conventional click device for a variable resistor as an electric component.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part showing a conventional click device for a variable resistor as an electric component.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a spacer of a variable resistor as a conventional electric component.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 bearing 1b, 3b uneven portion 2 operation axes 2a Operation part 2b Slider receiving part 3 driver 3a through hole 4 coil spring 5 resistor board 6 holding member 8 terminals

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A control shaft, holds the manipulation axis, a bearing having a plurality of uneven portions, to rotate together with the operating shaft, and wherein in a movable state in the axial direction of the operating shaft The drive body is provided with a plurality of concave and convex portions attached to the operating shaft and elastically contacting the concave and convex portions of the bearing, and biasing means for elastically contacting the concave and convex portions of the driving body with the concave and convex portions of the bearing. The operation shaft is provided in a through hole provided in the driving body.
When the operation shaft is inserted and rotated, the uneven portion of the driving body and the uneven portion of the bearing engage and disengage from each other,
Along with this engagement and disengagement, click device for the electric parts, wherein the drive member is to move in the axial direction of the operating shaft. 2. The click device for an electric component according to claim 1, wherein the driving body is formed of a frustoconical bevel gear. 3. The biasing means is a coil spring,
The click device for an electric component according to claim 2, wherein the coil spring is inserted through the operation shaft. 4. The electrical component according to claim 1, wherein an annular step is provided on the uneven portion of the bearing and / or the uneven portion of the driving body. Click device.