JP7043995B2 - Electrical component - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to electrical components mounted in mounting holes of a panel.

Some electrical components such as switches, indicator lights, switches with indicator lights, instruments, meters, etc. are of the type that can be attached to the mounting holes of the panel. For example, in the operation switch described in Patent Document 1, a tubular portion having a screw portion in the switch body is inserted into a mounting hole of a panel, and a nut is screwed into the screw portion to tighten the switch body. A washer is interposed between the screw portion and the back surface of the panel. When mounting electrical components on a panel, it is desirable to provide anti-sag means to prevent backlash after mounting due to vibration, impact, aging (deterioration of resin), etc.

FIG. 9 shows a conventional panel-mounted operation switch 500. In the operation switch 500, the main body 504 projects from the mounting hole 502a of the panel 502 to the back surface side. The main body 504 is provided with a screw portion 504a, and a nut 506 is screwed into the screw portion 504a. A U-shaped fixture 508 is interposed between the panel 502 and the nut 506. In this operation switch 500, a radial groove portion 508a is provided on the surface of the fixture 508 to which the nut 506 abuts, and the abutting portion 506a is deformed by tightening the nut 506, thereby serving as a means for preventing slackening. The nut 506 is made of resin.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-108537

In the above-mentioned operation switch 500, the depth and shape of the groove 508a must be accurately formed in order to exert an appropriate anti-sag effect. Further, when the nut 506 is repeatedly tightened, the contact portion 506a with respect to the groove portion 508a is repeatedly deformed according to the number of times of mounting, and the amount of deformation increases, so that there is a concern that a stable anti-loosening effect cannot be maintained. there were. Further, the groove portion 508a needs to be made of a high hardness material, and the mating material to be in contact with the groove portion 508a needs to be made of a softer material, and the material is limited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric component capable of obtaining a stable anti-sag effect on a panel regardless of the number of attachments, vibration, impact, and secular variation.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the electric component according to the present invention includes a screw portion that passes through a mounting hole of the panel and protrudes to the back surface side, and an engaging portion that engages with the front surface of the panel. It has a main body, a nut screwed into the screw portion, and a mounting tool provided between the panel and the nut, and the mounting tool has a nut contact that surrounds the screw portion and the nut abuts. It has a plate and a pair of protruding plates protruding from the nut contact plate in the direction of the panel, and the protruding plate has a base portion connected to the nut contact plate and a connection base end between the base portions. It has a lever portion extending from the portion, and the lever portion extends so that the tip thereof is closer to the panel than the connection base end portion in the non-screwed state of the nut, and the engagement thereof is performed. The nut is screwed into the threaded portion in a state where the joint portion is engaged with the front surface of the panel, so that the nut is elastically deformed and the tip is in contact with the back surface of the panel.

A first panel abutting element, which is provided at the tip of the lever portion and is convex toward the panel, may be provided.

A second panel abutting element, which is provided at the connection base end portion and is convex toward the panel, may be provided.

A lever support protrusion provided on one of the base portion or the lever portion and convex toward the other may be provided.

One or two lever portions may be provided for one protrusion plate, and the total total length including the connection base end portion may be set equal to the total length of the protrusion plate.

The lever portion may have a bent portion that is folded back into a U shape.

Two lever portions are provided for one protruding plate, and even if a third panel abutting element convex toward the panel is provided between the two lever portions in the protruding plate. good.

In the electrical component according to the present invention, when the nut is screwed into the threaded portion with the engaging portion engaged with the front surface of the panel, the lever portion is elastically deformed and the tip abuts on the back surface of the panel. ing. As a result, backlash due to the number of mountings, vibration, impact, and aging is suppressed, and a stable anti-sag effect on the panel can be obtained.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a switch according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the switch according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fixture. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state before tightening the nut in the process of attaching the switch to the panel. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the nut is being tightened in the process of attaching the switch to the panel. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fixture according to the first modification of the fixture. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fixture according to the second modification of the fixture. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the fixture according to the third modification of the fixture. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional operation switch.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the electrical components according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a switch 10 which is an embodiment of an electric component according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the switch 10. The switch 10 is attached to the mounting hole 13 of the panel 12, and has a main body 14, a packing 16, a nut 18, and a mounting tool 20. In FIG. 1, the exposed side of the panel 12 is the front surface 12a, and the opposite side is the back surface 12b. Further, the direction of the front surface 12a is set to the front and the direction of the back surface 12b is set to the rear with respect to the panel 12. The mounting hole 13 is rectangular.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 14 has a front operation portion 14a and a rear contact portion 14b. The operation portion 14a has a flange (engagement portion) 14c arranged at the frontmost position, an operation surface 14d of a portion surrounded by the flange 14c, and a box portion 14e projecting rearward from the flange 14c. The flange 14c is a rectangle slightly larger than the mounting hole 13, and is a portion that engages with the surface 12a via the packing 16. The amount of protrusion of the flange 14c from the surface 12a is small. The box portion 14e has a rectangular cross-sectional box shape, is a portion that is inserted into the mounting hole 13 and protrudes rearward, and has a cross-sectional area slightly smaller than that of the mounting hole 13. The box portion 14e is thick enough to secure the pushing movement amount of the operation surface 14d, and is sufficiently thicker than the panel 12. Further, as another embodiment of the electric component, for example, in an indicator lamp (not shown), a light emitting body may be provided in a portion corresponding to the box portion 14e.

The contact portion 14b is provided with a contact internally which is interlocked with the switch operation of the operation surface 14d. The contact portion 14b projects further rearward from the box portion 14e and has a cylindrical shape. The diameter of the contact portion 14b is slightly smaller than the shortest side of the box portion 14e. A screw portion 14f is provided on the peripheral surface of substantially the front half of the contact portion 14b. The screw portion 14f is provided with two cut surfaces 14g. Two terminals 14h are provided at the rearmost part of the contact portion 14b.

The packing 16 is a rectangle that matches the rear surface of the flange 14c, and is formed to be appropriately thin.

The nut 18 is a cylindrical part screwed into the threaded portion 14f. A large number of fine vertical grooves for preventing slipping are provided on the peripheral surface of the nut 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fixture 20 includes a nut abutting plate 22 that surrounds the threaded portion 14f and abuts the nut 18 and a pair of protruding plates 24 that project forward from the nut abutting plate 22. Has. The pair of projecting plates 24 are parallel and face each other at the top and bottom of the nut contact plate 22. The nut contact plate 22 is provided with a hole 22a into which the screw portion 14f is inserted. The hole 22a is provided with a flat portion 22b that matches the cut surface 14g, and the orientation with respect to the main body 14 is defined and is prevented from rotating. The fixture 20 and the nut 18 can be made of a resin material or a metal material, and each has a small limitation on hardness.

Each of the pair of projecting plates 24 has a base portion 26 connected to the nut contact plate 22 and two lever portions 32 connected to the base portion 26 at the central connection base end portion 30. The two lever portions 32 have a symmetrical configuration centered on the connection base end portion 30 and are well-balanced. The lever portion 32 can be elastically deformed by bending with the connection base end portion 30 as a fulcrum. Further, the total total length of the two lever portions 32 including the connection base end portion 30 is equal to the total length of the protruding plate 24, and the lever portion 32 is secured sufficiently long. As a result, the lever portion 32 becomes a leaf spring shape and has a shape suitable for an elastic body. In order to secure a sufficient length, the number of the lever portions 32 may be one or two per one protruding plate 24. A slit 34 is formed between the base portion 26 and the lever portion 32. The lever portion 32 extends from the connection base end portion 30 toward both ends of the projecting plate 24, but the tip of the lever portion 32 is closer to the panel 12 than the connection base end portion 30 in the non-screwed state of the nut 18 before assembly. It is slightly inclined.

The lever portion 32 is inclined toward the panel 12 in the non-screwed state of the nut 18, and the nut 18 is elastically deformed by being screwed into the screw portion 14f to narrow the slit 34.

The tip of the lever portion 32 is provided with a first panel abutting element 36 that is convex toward the panel 12. The connection base end 30 is provided with a second panel abutment 38 that is convex toward the panel 12.

Lever support protrusions 40 that are convex toward the panel 12 are provided at both ends of the base portion 26. The lever support protrusion 40 is arranged so as to face the rear surface of the first panel contactor 36 via the slit 34. As will be described later, the second panel contact element 38 and the lever support protrusion 40 are elastic deformation limiting portions that limit the elastic deformation of the lever portion 32 by a certain amount.

Narrow flat surfaces are provided at the tops of the first panel abutting element 36, the second panel abutting element 38, and the lever support protrusion 40. The flat surface of the second panel abutting element 38 has an area approximately twice that of the flat surface of the first panel abutting element 36 and the lever support protrusion 40.

Next, a step of attaching the switch 10 configured as described above to the panel 12 will be described.

First, the packing 16 is fitted to the rear surface of the flange 14c, and in that state, the contact portion 14b is inserted into the mounting hole 13 and projected rearward (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 4, the flange 14c engages the surface 12a via the packing 16.

Next, the fixture 20 is fitted into the screw portion 14f, and the nut 18 is further fitted into the contact portion 14b. At this time, in the fixture 20, only four first panel abuttors 36 are in contact with the back surface 12b of the panel 12, the second panel abutment 38 is separated from the back surface 12b, and the lever support projection 40 is separated from the back surface 12b. It is separated from the lever portion 32. The pair of projecting plates 24 are arranged so as to cover the two side surfaces of the box portion 14e. The nut contact plate 22 is arranged at a position slightly away from the rear surface of the box portion 14e and does not interfere with the nut contact plate 22. In this way, the space of the box portion 14e is secured by the pair of projecting plates 24.

After that, as shown in FIG. 5, the nut 18 is screwed into the screw portion 14f. The nut 18 is displaced by screwing and pushes the fixture 20 forward. As a result, the four lever portions 32 are elastically deformed with the connection end with the connection base end portion 30 as a fulcrum, and the width of the slit 34 is narrowed.

As shown in FIG. 2, by tightening the nut 18, the lever portion 32 is elastically deformed from the state of the virtual line to the state of the solid line. Then, the second panel contact element 38 comes into contact with the back surface 12b, and the lever support protrusion 40 comes into contact with the end rear surface of the lever portion 32. In this way, the elastic deformation of the lever portion 32 is limited, the fixture 20 is no longer displaced forward, and the tightening of the nut 18 is completed. That is, the second panel contact element 38 and the lever support protrusion 40 act as an elastic deformation limiting portion that limits the elastic deformation of the lever portion 32 by a certain amount.

As described above, in the switch 10, the lever portion 32 is elastically deformed between the back surface 12b of the panel 12 and the base portion 26, so that a spring load is always applied and the influence of vibration, impact and secular variation is suppressed. A slack-preventing effect that prevents backlash can be obtained. The elastic deformation of the lever portion 32 is performed by tightening the nut 18 by screwing, and the assembly process is simple. Since the lever portion 32 is moderately long, the tightening condition of the nut 18 can be visually confirmed by the amount of elastic deformation. Further, the tightening condition of the nut 18 can be easily confirmed by the lever support protrusion 40 coming into contact with the lever portion 32, for example, as shown at the position P. This makes it possible to omit torque management using a torque wrench or the like.

Furthermore, since the anti-sag in the switch 10 is based on the elastic deformation of the lever portion 32 and basically there is no place where it is plastically deformed, the anti-sag effect does not decrease regardless of the number of times it is attached to the panel 12. , A stable anti-sag effect can be obtained.

Since the bending elastic deformation of the lever portion 32 is limited by an appropriate amount by the second panel abutting element 38 and the lever support protrusion 40, and the nut 18 is no longer screwed in, the operator recognizes the end of tightening. Can be done. Further, even when the nut 18 is tightened by an automatic machine, proper tightening can be performed by torque management. However, even after the bending elastic deformation of the lever portion 32 is limited in this way, the nut 18 may be slightly tightened by slightly elastically compressing any portion (for example, the base portion 26). The fixture 20 is stable because it is supported by the second panel contactors 38 at two places and the lever support protrusions 40 at the four corners with respect to the panel 12. The fixture 20 has a simple structure, is low in cost, and is easy to manufacture because it does not require a precision groove.

The mounting tool 20 may be replaced with, for example, the mounting tool 20a shown in FIG. 6, the mounting tool 20b shown in FIG. 7, or the mounting tool 20c shown in FIG. In the fixtures 20a, 20b, 20c, the same components as those of the fixture 20 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. For the elements related to the protrusion 24 and similar to the elements in the fixture 20, a is added to the code in the fixture 20a, b is added to the code in the fixture 20b, and c is added to the code in the fixture 20c. do.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the attachment 20a according to the first modification, each protruding plate 24 has two lever portions 32a. The lever portion 32a is connected to the base portion 26 at the connection base end portions 30a at both ends of the projecting plate 24. The lever portion 32a is elastically deformable. The two lever portions 32a are connected at the central position of the projecting plate 24, and the connecting portion is provided with a first panel abutting element 36a that is convex toward the panel 12. The connection base end portion 30a is provided with a second panel abutting element 38a that is convex toward the panel 12. The two lever portions 32a have a symmetrical configuration centered on the connecting portion and are well-balanced. Further, the total total length of the two lever portions 32a including the connection base end portion 30a is equal to the total length of the projecting plate 24, and the lever portion 32a is secured sufficiently long. A slit 34a is formed between the base portion 26 and the lever portion 32a. The lever portion 32a extends from the connection base end portion 30a toward the center of the projecting plate 24, but the tip thereof is closer to the panel 12 than the connection base end portion 30a in the state before assembly, that is, in the non-screwed state of the nut 18. It is slightly inclined and extended so as to be closer. The lever portion 32a is elastically deformed when the nut 18 is screwed into the screw portion 14f, and the tip thereof comes into contact with the back surface 12b of the panel 12.

Such a mounting tool 20a can be applied to the switch 10 instead of the mounting tool 20 described above. In this case, in the assembly process, the first panel contact element 36a first comes into contact with the back surface 12b. Then, by tightening the nut 18, the four lever portions 32a are slightly compressed and elastically deformed with the connection end with the connection base end portion 30a as a fulcrum, the width of the slit 34a is narrowed, and eventually the second panel contact element 38a is used. Also comes into contact with the back surface 12b, and the tightening of the nut 18 is completed. In the fixture 20a, a lever support protrusion 40a as shown by a virtual line may be provided to support the back side portion of the first panel contactor 36a at the end of tightening of the nut 18.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the attachment 20b according to the second modification, each protruding plate 24 has one lever portion 32b. The lever portion 32b is connected to the base portion 26 by a connection base end portion 30b at one end of each protruding plate 24. The lever portion 32b is elastically deformable. The lever portion 32b extends toward the other end of the projecting plate 24, and the other end is provided with a first panel abutting element 36b that is convex toward the panel 12. The connection base end portion 30b is provided with a second panel abutting element 38b that is convex toward the panel 12. The two lever portions 32b provided by the fixture 20b are a pair of protruding plates 24 that extend in opposite directions to each other and have a good balance. Further, the total total length of one lever portion 32b including the connection base end portion 30b is equal to the total length of the protruding plate 24, and the lever portion 32b is secured sufficiently long. A slit 34b is formed between the base portion 26 and the lever portion 32b. The lever portion 32b extends from the connection base end portion 30b toward the other end, but is slightly inclined toward the panel 12 in the state before assembly.

At the center position of the lever portion 32b, an auxiliary contact element 42 that is convex toward the panel 12 is provided. On the back side of the first panel contactor 36b in the lever portion 32b, a lever support protrusion 40b that is convex toward the base portion 26 is provided. The lever support protrusion 40b may be provided on the side of the base portion 26.

Such a mounting tool 20b can be applied to the switch 10 instead of the mounting tool 20 described above. In this case, in the assembly process, the first panel contact element 36b first comes into contact with the back surface 12b. Then, by tightening the nut 18, the two lever portions 32b are elastically deformed with the connection end with the connection base end portion 30b as a fulcrum, the width of the slit 34b is narrowed, and eventually the second panel contact element 38b is also on the back surface 12b. The nut 18 is abutted and the tightening of the nut 18 is completed. At this time, the lever support protrusion 40b abuts on the end of the base portion 26, and the auxiliary abutment element 42 abuts on the back surface 12b.

In the fixture 20b, the lever portion 32b extends along one of the base portions 26 connected by the connection base end portion 30b, but is perpendicular to the base portion 26 and is set at the other base portion 26. It may extend to the end. In this case, the lever support protrusion 40b comes into contact with the end surface of the other base portion 26.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the attachment 20c according to the third modification, each protruding plate 24 has two lever portions 32c. Each lever portion 32c is connected to the base portion 26 by the connection base end portions 30c at both ends of the projecting plate 24, and the bent portion 43 extending from the connection base end portion 30c toward the center and further folded back in a U shape. The shape is such that it returns to both ends of the protruding plate 24. The tip of the lever portion 32 is provided with a first panel abutting element 36c that is convex toward the panel 12. The lever portion 32c is elastically deformable. The connection base end portion 30c is provided with a lever support protrusion 40c that is convex toward the panel 12. At the center of the projecting plate 24, a third panel abutting element 44 that is convex toward the panel 12 is provided between the two lever portions 32c.

In such a fixture 20c, since the lever portion 32c is formed to be folded back by the bent portion 43, a sufficient length can be secured, and the amount of elastic deformation per unit length can be reduced. Therefore, even if two lever portions 32c are provided, there is a margin in the width direction, and the third panel contact element 44 provided in the central portion can be enlarged. The third panel contact element 44 is large and stably abuts on the panel 12.

According to the fixtures 20a, 20b, 20c, the lever portions 32a, 32b are elastically deformed when the lever portions 32a, 32b are attached to the panel 12, so that the number of attachments, vibration, impact, and backlash due to aging are suppressed. Therefore, a stable anti-sag effect can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be freely changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

10 switches (electrical parts)
12 Panel 12a Front surface 12b Back surface 13 Mounting hole 14 Main body 14f Threaded part 14c Flange (engaging part)
16 Packing 18 Nuts 20, 20a, 20b, 20c Fixture 22 Nut contact plate 24 Protruding plate 26 Base part 30, 30a, 30b, 30c Connection base end part 32, 32a, 32b, 32c Lever part 34, 34a, 34b, 34c Slit 36, 36a, 36b, 36c 1st panel abutment 38, 38a, 38b 2nd panel abutment 40, 40a, 40b Lever support protrusion 42 Auxiliary abutment 43 Bending part 44 3rd panel abutment

Claims (6)

A main body having a screw portion that passes through a mounting hole of the panel and protrudes to the back surface side, and an engaging portion that engages with the front surface of the panel.
The nut to be screwed into the screw part and
A fixture provided between the panel and the nut,
Have,
The fixture is
A nut contact plate that surrounds the threaded portion and is in contact with the nut,
A pair of protruding plates protruding from the nut contact plate in the direction of the panel,
Have,
The protruding plate is
The base part connected to the nut contact plate and
A lever portion extending from the connection base end portion with the base portion and a lever portion
Have,
Provided on one of the base portion or the lever portion and provided with a lever support protrusion protruding toward the other.
The lever portion extends so that the tip thereof is closer to the panel than the connection base end portion in the non-screwed state of the nut, and the engaging portion is engaged with the surface of the panel. An electrical component characterized in that a nut is elastically deformed by being screwed into the threaded portion and the tip is in contact with the back surface of the panel. A main body having a screw portion that passes through a mounting hole of the panel and protrudes to the back surface side, and an engaging portion that engages with the front surface of the panel.
The nut to be screwed into the screw part and
A fixture provided between the panel and the nut,
Have,
The fixture is
A nut contact plate that surrounds the threaded portion and is in contact with the nut,
A pair of protruding plates protruding from the nut contact plate in the direction of the panel,
Have,
The protruding plate is
The base part connected to the nut contact plate and
A lever portion extending from the connection base end portion with the base portion and a lever portion
Have,
The lever portion has a bent portion that is folded back in a U shape, and in a non-screwed state of the nut, the tip extends so as to be closer to the panel than the connection base end portion, and the engaging portion is formed on the panel. An electrical component characterized in that the nut is elastically deformed by being screwed into the screw portion in a state of being engaged with the surface of the panel, and the tip is in contact with the back surface of the panel. In the electrical component according to claim 1 or 2 .
An electrical component provided at the tip of the lever portion and provided with a first panel abutting element that is convex toward the panel. In the electrical component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the electric component
An electrical component provided at the connection base end portion and provided with a second panel abutting element that is convex toward the panel. In the electrical component according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
An electric component characterized in that one or two lever portions are provided for one protrusion plate, and the total total length including the connection base end portion is equal to the total length of the protrusion plate. In the electrical component according to claim 2 ,
Two lever portions are provided for one protruding plate.
An electric component characterized in that a third panel abutting element that is convex toward the panel is provided between the two lever portions of the protruding plate.

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