JP3584350B2 - Push button switch - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a push button switch, and particularly to a push button switch that controls conduction and non-conduction between contacts by movement of a piston.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In many cases, a push button switch controls conduction and non-conduction between contacts by pushing and pushing back a piston which serves as a push button. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a conventional typical example (first example) of such a push button switch.
The push button switch includes a housing 10 formed of an insulating material in a cylindrical container shape including a cylindrical side wall 11 and a bottom 12, and a longitudinal direction on the inner surface of the side wall 11 of the housing 10. A fixed contact 20 held and fixed so as to be parallel to the axis and connected to the contact terminal 21 through the bottom 12, and one end held and fixed to the bottom 12 of the housing 10 and the other end elastically contacted with the fixed contact And a cantilevered spring contact 30x connected to the contact terminal 31x through the bottom 12 of the housing 10 and a cylindrical side wall 41x and a top plate 42, formed of an insulating material into a cap shape, and The outer surface is in contact with the inner surface of the side wall 11 of the housing 10, and the side wall 41x is formed between the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x. Is moved in the direction of the center axis of the cylinder in the housing 10 so as to be sandwiched between the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x. When the piston 40x is inserted between the piston 40x that has been opened (the opening 43x) and the bottom 12 of the housing 10 and the piston 40x, and the piston 40x is pushed into the housing 10, the piston 40x moves from the inside of the housing 10 to the outside. The structure and structure include a spring 60 for applying a pushing force (a force for pushing back), a lamp 70 and a lamp terminal 80 held and fixed to the bottom 12 of the housing 10.
[0003]
In this push button switch, when the piston 40x is not pushed into the housing 10, the side wall 41x of the piston 40x is inserted between the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x, and these are electrically insulated from each other. However, when the piston 40x is pushed into the housing 10, the opening 43x of the side wall 41x of the piston 40x moves to the elastic contact portion between the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x, and the fixed contact 20 The holding spring contact 30x is electrically connected.
The sliding portion of the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x of the side wall 41x of the piston 40x has a groove structure so that the sliding can be performed smoothly. The lamp 70 is provided to indicate whether the connection between the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x is in a connected (conductive) state or a non-connected (non-conductive) state.
[0004]
FIGS. 5A and 5B are partial cross-sectional side views showing a state before and after the piston is pushed in a second example of the conventional push button switch (for example, FIG. No. 45124).
The push button switch of the second example includes a holder 90 formed of an insulating material including a cylindrical side wall 91 and a bottom 92, and one end fixed to the bottom 92 of the holder 90, respectively. elastic contact each other within the central portion, and a bottom 92 through the contact terminals 31y, 31z on the corresponding connection to the cantilever spring contact 30y, and 30z, the cylindrical wall 44, and a cap-like with an insulating material includes a top plate 42 y A piston 40y which is formed and moves with its cylindrical central axis aligned with the central axis of the holder 90, and a cantilevered spring contact 30y extending from the top plate 42y of the piston 40y when the piston 40y is not pushed into the holder 90. , 30z inserted in the elastic contact portion to electrically insulate these cantilever spring contacts 30y, 30z, Is inserted between the holder 90 and the piston 40y, and between the holder 90 and the piston 40y, an operation piece 45 made of an insulating material for making the cantilever spring contacts 30y and 30z elastically contact with each other and electrically connecting the cantilever spring contacts 30y and 30z. When the yoke 40y is pushed into the holder 90, the spring 60y applies a force to push the piston 40y from the inside of the holder 90 to the outside.
A groove 93 into which the cylindrical wall 44 of the piston 40y is inserted and moved is formed in the side wall 91 of the holder 90, and a spring 60y is inserted into the groove 93 to give a force for pushing out the piston 40y. .
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the first example, the above-described conventional push button switch is arranged and fixed so that the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x are in contact with the housing 10 and the tip of the cantilever spring contact 30x is in elastic contact with the fixed contact 20. , The side wall 41x of the piston 40x provided with the opening 43x is sandwiched between the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x, and the piston 40x is pushed into the housing 10 and pushed out by the force of the spring 60. The fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x are electrically connected to each other by moving the aperture 43x to a portion where the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30x elastically contact, and electrically insulated at the other portions. It can be used in places with a lot of dust, etc. When dust adheres to the elastic contact surface of the spring contact 30x, not only does the rubbing of dust from each other (wiping) occur, but also the elastic contact surface is moved by the movement of the side wall 41x of the piston 40x. Although the dust may be removed by rubbing, there is a problem that the side wall 41x is rather shaved off and adheres to the elastic contact surface, so that poor conduction is liable to occur. There is no wiping between the spring contacts 30y and 30z, and the operation piece 45 is rather scraped off by the cantilever spring contacts 30y and 30z by the movement of the operation piece 45 and adheres to the elastic contact surface, so that poor conduction is likely to occur. There is a problem.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide a push-button switch in which the elastic contact surface of a contact is wiped with metal to prevent poor connection even when used in a dusty place, thereby improving connection reliability. is there.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The pushbutton switch according to the present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object.
(B) A container-shaped housing formed of an insulating material and having a side wall and a bottom. (B) An inner surface of the side wall of the housing such that its longitudinal direction is parallel to a central axis passing through the bottom of the housing. A metal fixed contact held and fixed (c) One end of the metal fixed contact is held and fixed to the bottom of the housing, and the other end is a metal cantilever spring contact arranged close to the fixed contact. , Formed in a cap shape having a side wall and a top plate, the side wall of which is arranged along the inner surface of the side wall of the housing, and is sandwiched between the fixed contact and the cantilever spring contact. (E) a piston which moves inside the housing in the direction of its central axis, and has a portion exposed outside the side wall of the piston and a portion exposed inside the side wall of the piston. The portion that is held and fixed and the portion exposed to the outside of the side wall of the piston is always in elastic contact with the fixed contact, and the portion exposed to the inside of the side wall of the piston is a predetermined range of the entire movement range of the piston. A metal slide contact that slides in accordance with the movement of the piston while elastically contacting the cantilever spring contact (f) is inserted between the housing and the piston, and the piston is pushed into the housing. A spring for applying a force to push back the piston when the piston is moved
In addition, a portion of the side wall of the piston corresponding to the elastic contact range between the cantilever spring contact and the slide contact is opened, and the elastic contact between the slide contact and the cantilever spring contact is made in the opening. The portion is configured such that its surface is exposed and arranged such that the surface thereof is flush with the contact surface with the cantilever spring contact inside the side wall of the piston.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention is a housing formed of an insulating material in a container shape including a side wall and a bottom, and an inner surface of the side wall of the housing whose longitudinal direction is parallel to a central axis passing through the bottom of the housing. Contact fixedly arranged as described above, a cantilever spring contact having one end held and fixed at the bottom of the housing and the other end positioned close to the fixed contact, and insulated in a cap shape including a side wall and a top plate. Formed in a material, the side wall of which moves along the center axis of the housing such that its outer surface is along the inner surface of the side wall of the housing and is sandwiched between the fixed contact and the cantilever spring contact. a piston, and a side wall exposed to the outer portion and the portion exposed to the inner side of the side wall of the piston is held fixed to the side wall of the piston, the piston While exposed portion on the side wall outside the emissions are always elastically contact with the fixed contact, and the exposed portion on the side wall inside the piston, have the pieces in a predetermined range of the total range of movement of the piston spring A slide contact that slides in accordance with the movement of the piston while being in elastic contact with the contact, and is inserted between the housing and the piston, and when the piston is pushed into the housing, attempts to push the piston back. And a spring for applying force.
[0010]
With such a configuration and structure, the piston is pushed in, pushed back and moved, so that the fixed contact and the slide contact slide, and the dust adhering to these contacts can be scraped off (wiping) each other. On the other hand, the cantilever spring contact and the slide contact slide, and dust adhered to these contacts is scraped off by the cantilever spring contact sliding along the side wall of the piston, including dust adhering thereto. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of conduction failure between these contacts, and it is possible to improve connection reliability.
[0011]
【Example】
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 (a) and 1 (b) are sectional views showing a state before and after a piston is pushed in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof.
This embodiment has a housing 10 and a fixed contact 20 similar to those of the conventional push button switch (first example) shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one end of which is held and fixed to the bottom 12 of the housing 10, and the other end. A cantilever spring contact 30 disposed adjacent to the fixed contact 20 and penetrating through the bottom 12 of the housing 10 and connecting to the contact terminal 31, substantially the same as the conventional pushbutton switch shown in FIGS. In a similar structure, the side wall 41, the top plate 42, and the opening 43 formed in the side wall 41 are formed into a cap shape by an insulating material, and the outer surface of the side wall 41 is made to follow the inner surface of the side wall 11 of the housing 10. Piston 40 that moves in the housing 10 in the direction of its central axis so as to sandwich the side wall 41 between the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30 , And a side wall 41 portion exposed to the outside and the side wall 41 is exposed to the inner portion of the piston 40 is held fixed to the side wall 41 of the piston 40, the exposed portion outside the side wall 41 is always stationary contact 20 The portion exposed to the inside of the side wall 41 while elastically contacting , slides in accordance with the movement of the piston 40 while elastically contacting the cantilever spring contact 30 within a predetermined range of the entire movement range of the piston 40. The configuration and structure include a slide contact 50, a spring 60, a lamp 70, and a lamp terminal 80 that perform the same functions as those of the conventional push button switch shown in FIGS.
[0012]
In this embodiment, when the piston 40 is not pushed into the housing 10 (FIG. 1A), the fixed contact 20 and the slide contact 50 are in elastic contact with each other. Is in contact with the inner surface of the inner side wall 41 of the piston 40, so that the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30 are in a non-conductive state. When the piston 40 is pushed into the housing 10, the fixed contact 20 and the slide contact 50 continue to maintain elastic contact with each other, and the tip of the cantilever spring contact 30 makes elastic contact with the slide contact 50. Via the contact 50, the fixed contact 20 and the cantilever spring contact 30 are brought into conduction.
[0013]
In addition, the movement of the piston 40 causes the metals to slide and rub against each other between the fixed contact 20 and the slide contact 50, and between the cantilever spring contact 30 and the slide contact 50, thereby making elastic contact. Even if dust is adhered to the elastic contact surface when used in a place with a lot of dust, or even when the cantilever spring contact 30 slides on the side wall 41 and the shavings adhere to the elastic contact surface, These are scraped off from each other, so that poor contact and poor conduction can be eliminated, so that connection reliability can be improved.
[0014]
In this embodiment, a portion of the side wall 41 of the piston 40 corresponding to the elastic contact range between the cantilever spring contact 30 and the slide contact 50 is opened (opening portion 43). A structure in which the elastic contact portion of the slide contact 50 with the cantilever spring contact 30 is exposed and arranged so that the surface thereof is flush with the contact surface with the cantilever spring contact 30 inside the side wall 41 of the piston 40. ing. It is not necessary to adopt such a structure (for example, it is not necessary to provide the opening 43). However, with such a structure, the slide contact 50 can be easily attached to the piston 40. There is an advantage that sliding of the holding spring contact 30 with respect to the side wall 41 and the slide contact 50 becomes smooth.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
Although the present invention is as described, is held fixed to the side wall of the piston, while constantly elastically contacts the exposed portion to the side wall outside the fixed contacts, and the exposed portions to the side wall inwardly, full range of movement of the piston Of the fixed contact and the slide contact by the movement of the piston by providing a slide contact that slides with the cantilever spring contact while elastically contacting the cantilever spring contact within a predetermined range. Since the metal slides (rubs) against the cantilever spring contact and the slide contact and makes elastic contact with each other, even if dust is attached to the elastic contact surface when used in a dusty place, Also, even if shavings on the piston side wall adhere to the elastic contact surface of the cantilever spring contact, they are scraped off. , Contact failure may conduction defect can be prevented from occurring, there is an effect that can increase the connection reliability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before and after pushing a piston according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state before and after the piston of the first example of the conventional push button switch is pushed.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the push button switch shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state before and after the piston of the second example of the conventional push button switch is pushed.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing 11 Side wall 12 Bottom 20 Contact 30, 30x-30z Cantilever spring contact 40, 40x, 40y Piston 41, 41x Side wall 42, 42x Top plate 43, 43x Opening part 44 Cylindrical wall 45 Operation piece 50 Slide contact 60, 60y Spring 90 Holder 91 Side wall 92 Bottom 93 Groove

Claims (2)

A push button switch having the following configurations.
(B) A container-shaped housing formed of an insulating material and having a side wall and a bottom. (B) An inner surface of the side wall of the housing such that its longitudinal direction is parallel to a central axis passing through the bottom of the housing. A metal fixed contact held and fixed (c) One end of the metal fixed contact is held and fixed to the bottom of the housing, and the other end is a metal cantilever spring contact arranged close to the fixed contact. , Formed in a cap shape having a side wall and a top plate, the side wall of which is arranged along the inner surface of the side wall of the housing, and is sandwiched between the fixed contact and the cantilever spring contact. (E) a piston which moves inside the housing in the direction of its central axis, and has a portion exposed outside the side wall of the piston and a portion exposed inside the side wall of the piston. The portion that is held and fixed and the portion exposed to the outside of the side wall of the piston is always in elastic contact with the fixed contact, and the portion exposed to the inside of the side wall of the piston is a predetermined range of the entire movement range of the piston. A metal slide contact that slides in accordance with the movement of the piston while elastically contacting the cantilever spring contact (f) is inserted between the housing and the piston, and the piston is pushed into the housing. A spring that applies a force to push the piston back when it is A portion of the side wall of the piston corresponding to an elastic contact range between the cantilever spring contact and the slide contact is opened, and an elastic contact portion of the slide contact with the cantilever spring contact is formed in the opening. 2. The push-button switch according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the push button switch is exposed so as to be flush with a contact surface of the piston with the cantilever spring contact inside the side wall of the piston.

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