JP5186305B2 - Waterproof structure of switch device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof structure for a switch device mounted in a vehicle compartment of an automobile or the like.

  Conventionally, a switch device such as a heater controller is attached to a dashboard or the like in a vehicle interior of an automobile. The switch device has a basic configuration of a box-shaped switch case and a rotation operation member (including an operation knob) that is rotatable with respect to the switch case.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 07-16212

  By the way, when applied as a heater controller for construction machines, agricultural machines, open cars, etc., a switch device such as a heater controller arranged on a dashboard or the like in a vehicle compartment is exposed to the outside of the vehicle as compared to a passenger car. Therefore, it is easily affected by rain and wind. Therefore, even in a switch device arranged in a cabin such as a cabin, there is a possibility that a problem such as a short circuit of electronic components may occur when water enters the switch device.

  Therefore, the switch device installed in such a vehicle has a waterproof structure. In particular, in a switch device having a conventional rotating shaft as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, which is employed as a switch device for a vehicle heater controller, a ring-shaped waterproof rubber is inserted into the rotary knob, and the waterproof rubber ring The protrusions are in close contact with the annular waterproof wall of the panel so that water can be prevented from entering from the outside. In such a structure in which a ring-shaped waterproof rubber is disposed between the rotation operation member of the switch device and the switch case, water can be prevented from entering the switch device, but the entire waterproof rubber is bent. The sliding resistance between the operating member and the switch case is increased, resulting in a disadvantage that the operation is heavy and the operational feeling is deteriorated. In addition, when a general O-ring is used, the contact area is the same on the switch case side and the rotation operation member side. Therefore, when the rotation operation member is dropped, the O-ring is also separated from the switch case and dropped off. As a result, the O-ring is lost.

  The objective of this invention is improving the waterproofness of a switch apparatus, without deteriorating the operation feeling of a rotation operation member.

Waterproof structure of the switch device of the present invention includes a switch case to place the control devices therein to form a design surface on one side, and the opening provided on one surface of the switch case which forms the design surface, the a guide rib cylindrical formed to project around the opening, through a groove provided in a circular shape along the outer periphery of the guide rib, the opening to the control equipment located inside the switch case connected And a rotation operation member that is part of the rotation operation member and that is connected to a control device disposed inside the switch case and enters the groove portion in a non-contact manner and covers the outer periphery of the guide rib a cylindrical edge, has a cross-sectional shape to form a V-shaped groove is bent in mountain fold, is arranged between the guide rib and the edge of the V-shaped groove toward the groove side, said edge Part A ring-shaped waterproof member having flexibility to abut with the small contact area of the outer peripheral surface of the guide ribs to the circumferential surface, in another aspect to be connected to one side of the switch case which forms the design surface A drainage opening that opens, a drainage part that is formed inside one surface of the switch case that forms the design surface and communicates the drainage opening and the groove part, and the outside through the groove part into which the guide rib enters. A passage communicating with the V-shaped groove of the waterproof member .

  According to the present invention, since the waterproof member has a cross-sectional shape that is bent into a mountain fold to form a groove, one side that contacts the rotary operation member bends with the bent portion as a fulcrum, so that the waterproof member has sufficient flexibility. Can do. Further, the contact area with the edge of the rotation operation member is configured to be smaller than the contact area with the guide rib of the switch case. Therefore, the sliding resistance between the rotation operation member and the switch case is small, and the rotation operation force of the rotation operation member can be reduced. And the waterproof structure of the switch apparatus in which water does not penetrate | invade in the inside of a switch case is achieved by arrange | positioning a waterproof member with the groove | channel formed in a bending part facing a groove part. Thus, the waterproofness of the switch device can be improved without deteriorating the operational feeling of the rotary operation member.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an application example to the switch device 101 as a heater controller of a construction machine or an agricultural machine.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the switch device 101. The switch device 101 is mainly composed of a switch case 111. The switch case 111 has a rectangular parallelepiped housing 111a fitted in a dashboard or the like. On the one surface side of the housing 111a in the switch case 111, an operation panel 112 having an edge protruding outward is provided. The operation panel 112 is exposed to the outside when the housing 111a is fitted into the dashboard. A design surface 113 is formed on the upper surface of the operation panel 112. A waterproof film (not shown) is attached to the design surface 113. An air conditioner switch 114 is provided at the center position of the design surface 113. An operation knob 152 for temperature adjustment and an operation knob 192 for fan adjustment are arranged on both sides of the air conditioner switch 114.

  The operation knob 152 is a part of the rotation operation member 151 included in the switch device 101. The rotation operation member 151 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the switch case 111. The fan adjustment operation knob 192 is also a part of the fan adjustment rotation operation member 191 that is rotatable with respect to the switch case 111. Hereinafter, only the configuration of the rotation operation member 151 will be described. However, the fan adjusting rotary operation member 191 has the same configuration.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the switch device 101 in a state where the rotation operation member 151 is removed from the switch case 111. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the switch device 101 in a state where the rotation operation member 151 is attached to the switch case 111. 2 and 3, a part of the switch device 101 is cut away.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rotation operation member 151 has a base portion 153 disposed inside the switch case 111 in addition to the operation knob 152. A circular opening 116 for inserting the base portion 153 is formed in the design surface 113. The base portion 153 inserted from the opening portion 116 reaches the inside of the switch case 111. A volume switch 117 as a control device is rotatably provided at a position where the base portion 153 reaches the inside of the switch case 111. The base portion 153 is formed with a fitting portion 154 having a shape into which the tip of the rod-shaped volume switch 117 is fitted. When the volume switch 117 is press-fitted into the fitting portion 154 of the base portion 153, the rotation operation member 151 is connected to the volume switch 117, and the rotation operation member 151 is inserted into the switch case 111 as shown in FIG. It will be attached. Here, the volume switch 117 is rotatably provided. Therefore, in this state, the rotation operation member 151 is rotatable with respect to the switch case 111.

  2 and 3, the rotation operation member 151 is provided with a click member 155 for giving a click feeling when the operation knob 152 is rotated. The click member 155 is fitted into a side hole 156 formed in the side portion of the base portion 153 via a compression spring 157. A plurality of recesses 120 a and protrusions 120 b are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the guide rib 118. When the rotation operation member 151 is rotated, the click member 155 pressed by the compression spring 157 is positioned by engaging with the recess 120a. Then, the click feeling is given by overcoming the protrusion 120b from the recess 120a and engaging with the adjacent recess 120a.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 2, a cylindrical guide rib 118 is formed on the operation panel 112 so as to protrude. The guide rib 118 protrudes higher than the design surface 113. The opening 116 is formed on the inner periphery of the guide rib 118. A circular groove 119 is formed on the outer periphery of the guide rib 118 along the shape of the guide rib 118. The groove part 119 is recessed lower than the design surface 113.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the rotation operation member 151 is connected to the volume switch 117, a part on the back side of the operation knob 152 enters the groove portion 119. A part of the rotation operation member 151 that enters the groove portion 119 is hereinafter referred to as an edge portion 161. The edge portion 161 is formed in a circular shape like the groove portion 119. The edge 161 that has entered the groove 119 covers the outer periphery of the guide rib 118. In the present embodiment, a waterproof member 171 that is a ring-shaped member is disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the guide rib 118 and the inner peripheral surface of the edge portion 161.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the waterproof member 171. The waterproof member 171 which is a ring-shaped member is bent in a V-shaped cross section so as to form a groove concentric with the waterproof member 171. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the waterproof member 171 has a bent portion 171a on one surface side and a V-shaped groove 171b that is a groove having a V-shaped cross section on the other surface side. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner peripheral surface 171c of the waterproof member 171 is not inclined but has a constant diameter. On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface 171d of the waterproof member 171 is inclined so as to expand as the distance from the bent portion 171a increases. And the edge part 171e which protruded spherically toward the outer periphery is formed in the front-end | tip part of outer peripheral surface 171d, and the thickness of the part which forms outer peripheral surface 171d except the end part 171e forms the inner peripheral surface 171c. It is thinner than the thickness of the part. With respect to the waterproof member 171 having such a configuration, when an external force is applied in such a direction that the end 171e, which is the tip of the outer peripheral surface 171d, is pressed against the inner peripheral surface 171c, the V-shaped groove 171b bends and closes. That is, since the outer peripheral surface 171d is configured to bend with the bent portion 171a as a fulcrum in contrast to the conventional O-ring configured to be bent in the radial direction, the deflection load can be reduced. it can.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the switch device 101. In FIG. 5, a part of the switch device 101 is cut away. The waterproof member 171 is first arranged with the V-shaped groove 171b facing the groove 119 and the inner peripheral surface 171c contacting the guide rib 118. At this time, the waterproof member 171 has the bent portion 171a facing the operation knob 152 (see FIG. 2 and the like). Since the outer peripheral surface 171d of the arranged waterproof member 171 is configured to spread outward from the bent portion 171a, the end portion 171e protrudes to the upper region of the groove portion 119. When the base portion 153 of the rotation operation member 151 is connected to the volume switch 117 (see FIG. 2 and the like) and the edge portion 161 enters the groove portion 119, the end portion 171e of the waterproof member 171 reaches the upper region of the groove portion 119. Since it protrudes, the edge 161 presses the end 171e of the waterproof member 171. Since the waterproof member 171 has flexibility as described above, the waterproof member 171 is bent so as to close the V-shaped groove 171b by the pressing of the edge portion 161.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the waterproof member 171 is disposed with its inner peripheral surface 171 c in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the guide rib 118 and its end 171 e in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the edge 161. That is, the waterproof member 171 has the inner peripheral surface 171 c in surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the guide rib 118, while the end portion 171 e is in line contact with the inner peripheral surface of the edge portion 161. Therefore, the contact area with respect to the waterproof member 171 is smaller for the rotation operation member 151 than for the switch case 111. Thereby, even if the rotation operation member 151 is dropped from the switch case 111 due to vibration or the like, the waterproof member 171 is held by the switch case 111 and is not dropped. Therefore, there is no possibility of losing the waterproof member 171, and if the rotation operation member 151 is assembled to the switch case 111, the original state can be easily restored. Further, since the outer peripheral surface 171d of the waterproof member 171 is attached so as to bend with respect to the assembly direction of the rotation operation member 151, the assembly operation of the rotation operation member 151 is good with a small assembly load.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the sliding resistance between the rotary operation member 151 and the switch case 111 is reduced, the rotational torque is low, and it can be turned lightly. At this time, since the waterproof member 171 has a V-shaped cross section, as described above, the outer peripheral surface 171d of the waterproof member 171 is more easily bent than the O ring, the X ring, or the like. Therefore, the sliding resistance applied to the rotation operation member 151 is also reduced and can be turned lightly. In addition, the rotational operation member 151 and the switch case 111 are made of resin such as plastic, and thus have large dimensional variations. However, according to the present embodiment, since the waterproof member 171 includes the outer peripheral surface 171d that spreads outward so as to have flexibility, it is possible to absorb variations in dimensions when the rotation operation member 151 is assembled. it can.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 5, in a state where the edge portion 161 enters the groove portion 119, the edge portion 161 is in contact only with the waterproof member 171 and is not in contact with the inner wall of the groove portion 119. That is, a gap is provided between the edge portion 161 and the groove portion 119. If it sees in detail, between the rotation operation member 151 and the switch case 111, the channel | path 181 which connects the exterior and the V-shaped groove 171b of the waterproof member 171 will be formed by such a clearance gap. For this reason, in this embodiment, the edge 161 of the rotation operation member 151 enters the groove 119 so that a step is formed in the passage 181 so that water does not easily enter. Then, by providing a flexible waterproof member 171 between the outer peripheral surface of the guide rib 118 and the inner peripheral surface of the edge portion 161, the waterproof structure of the switch device 101 in which water does not enter the inside of the switch case 111. Has been achieved.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the switch case 111. In FIG. 6, a part of the switch case 111 is cut away. A drainage opening 122 is formed on a side surface 121 that is one surface that is the bottom surface side of the switch case 111. The drainage opening 122 is provided on the back side of the edge of the operation panel 112. The drainage opening 122 communicates with the groove 119. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, a passage-shaped drainage portion 123 that connects the drainage opening 122 and the groove portion 119 is provided at a position on the back side of the design surface 113 of the operation panel 112.

  In such a configuration, a case where a water droplet is applied to the design surface 113 on which the operation knob 152 or the like is not disposed will be described. In this case, since the waterproof film is stuck on the design surface 113, the design surface 113 repels water droplets, and the water drops flow down on the design surface 113.

  Next, a case where water droplets are applied to the rotation operation member 151 including the operation knob 152 will be described. In this case, as indicated by a black arrow in FIG. 5, water droplets may enter the groove portion 119 from the outside via the passage 181. Then, as shown by the black arrows in FIG. 6, the water droplets flow toward the bottom surface along the groove 119, pass through the drainage portion 123 formed on the bottom surface side of the switch case 111, and exit from the drainage opening 122 to the outside. Discharged. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the water accumulated in the groove portion 119 can be quickly discharged to the outside of the switch device 101 through the drainage portion 123.

  Next, a case where water with water pressure is applied to the rotary operation member 151 including the operation knob 152 by a high-pressure car wash machine or the like will be described. Also in this case, as indicated by a black arrow in FIG. 5, water may enter the groove portion 119 from the outside via the passage 181. However, since there is water pressure, the water travels through the passage 181 as it is and reaches the V-shaped groove 171b of the waterproof member 171. The water reaching the V-shaped groove 171b tends to push and widen the V-shaped groove 171b by the water pressure as shown by the white arrow in FIG. As a result, the waterproof member 171 acts so as to be in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the guide rib 118 and the inner peripheral surface of the edge portion 161, so that the waterproof performance can be further enhanced. The water is repelled by the restoring force of the waterproof member 171, and the repelled water falls into the groove portion 119, passes through the drainage portion 123, and is discharged from the drainage opening 122 to the outside.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the waterproof performance of the switch device 101 can be improved without deteriorating the operational feeling of the rotary operation member 151.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows a switch apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the switch apparatus of the state from which the rotation operation member was removed from the switch case. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the switch apparatus of the state in which the rotation operation member was attached to the switch case. It is a schematic diagram which shows a waterproof member. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a part of switch apparatus. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a part of switch case.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Switch apparatus 111 ... Switch case 113 ... Design surface 116 ... Opening part 117 ... Volume switch (control apparatus)
118 ... Guide rib 119 ... Groove part 121 ... Side 122 ... Drainage opening 123 ... Drainage part 151 ... Rotation operation member 161 ... Rim 171 ... Waterproof member 171b ... V-shaped groove (groove)
171c ... Inner peripheral surface 171e ... End

Claims (2)

A switch case in which a design surface is formed on one side and a control device is arranged inside;
An opening provided on one surface of the switch case on which the design surface is formed ;
A cylindrical guide rib formed to protrude around the opening;
A groove provided in a circular shape along the outer periphery of the guide ribs,
A rotation operation member connected to the control device disposed inside the switch case via the opening;
A cylindrical edge portion that is a part of the rotation operation member and enters the groove portion in a non-contact manner and covers the outer periphery of the guide rib in a state in which the rotation operation member is connected to a control device disposed inside the switch case. ,
Sectional shape to form a bent has been V-shaped groove in the mountain fold, it is arranged between the guide rib and the edge of the V-shaped groove toward the groove side, the inner peripheral surface of the rim with respect to A ring-shaped waterproof member having flexibility to contact with a smaller contact area than the outer peripheral surface of the guide rib,
A drainage opening that opens to another surface connected to one surface of the switch case that forms the design surface,
A drainage portion formed inside one surface of the switch case that forms the design surface and communicating the drainage opening and the groove portion;
A passage communicating the outside with the V-shaped groove of the waterproof member through the groove portion into which the guide rib has entered;
Waterproof structure of the switch device comprising: The waterproof member has an end in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the edge portion and the inner peripheral surface in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the front Symbol guide ribs,
The waterproof structure of the switch device according to claim 1.

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