JPH0114651B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a rotary switch device.

For example, vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with various electrical components, and two rotary switches for controlling the operation of these electrical components are arranged coaxially with each other and supported by a single common support rod. Conventionally, rotary switches have been known that improve the operability of each rotary switch and reduce the space occupied by the rotary switches. In such a conventional device, the first and second
If each contact mounting board of the rotary switch is fixed to the support rod and each knob is rotatably fitted and held in the support rod, the parts of the support rod corresponding to each contact mounting board and each knob can be attached to the support rod. It is necessary to pull out the lead wires inserted into the hollow part of the support rod individually through the drilled through hole, which is cumbersome, especially when there are a large number of lead wires to be connected to the contact mounting board. The work becomes more troublesome, and the through hole also needs to be made larger, which causes problems such as a decrease in the strength of the support rod.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a rotary switch device that can solve all of the above problems, particularly regarding the second rotary switch. In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a rotary switch device in which a hollow support rod supports first and second rotary switches coaxially aligned with each other.
The first rotary switch includes a first contact mounting board fixed to the switch base fitted to the tip of the support rod, and a first knob rotatably fitted and held to the tip of the support rod. The switch base is provided with a post that is loosely inserted into the through hole of the knob to allow relative rotation of the first knob with respect to the base, and the second rotary switch is provided with a support post that is loosely inserted into the through hole of the knob to allow relative rotation of the first knob with respect to the base body. The first
a second contact mounting board fixed to the tip of the support column so as to face the knob; and a second contact mounting board protruding from one side of the second contact mounting board opposite to the support rod and on the extension axis of the support rod. a second knob that is rotatably fitted and held on a support shaft extending from the second knob, and a plurality of fixed contacts that cooperate with the movable contacts provided on the second knob are attached to the second contact mounting board. A plurality of terminals connected to these fixed contacts and arranged on the other side of the second contact mounting board have respective ends of a plurality of lead wires inserted into the hollow part of the support rod and drawn out to the intermediate chamber. A spacer that is interposed between the first and second knobs and surrounds the outer periphery of the intermediate chamber is fixed to the support rod, and the spacer and the opposing surface of the second contact mounting board are connected to each other. In between, the second
Concave and convex engaging portions that engage with each other are provided at predetermined positions on the contact mounting board.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a hollow support rod, and one end of the rod includes
A non-rotatable switch base 4, a first rotary switch _R1 with a first knob ₅₁ , a non-rotatable spacer 6 and a second rotary switch _R2 with a second knob 52 are provided _. The other end of the support rod 1 is connected to, for example, a shifter of a turn signal switch.

The second rotary switch _R2 is used to switch between manual and automatic lighting of the headlights and manual lighting of the side lights.The first rotary switch _R1 corresponds to the automatic switching of the second rotary switch _R2 . The automatic lighting timing of the headlights is selected in several stages according to the degree of darkness in the outside world.

The switch base 4 has a substantially hollow truncated cone shape, and its small diameter side opening is fitted into the support rod 1, and the locking protrusion 8 on the inner peripheral surface thereof is fitted into a long groove 9 formed in the generatrix direction of the support rod 1. and is non-rotatably attached to the support rod 1.

The first rotary switch R ₁ includes an annular first contact mounting board 10 (FIG. 4) facing the first knob 5 ₁ , and the contact mounting board 10 has a central through hole 11 fitted into the support rod 1 . At the same time, a locking protrusion 12 protruding from the edge of the through hole 11 is fitted into the long groove 9 and screwed to the switch base 4. 1st knob 5 ₁ is the 5th knob
As shown in the figure, it is formed into a double ring shape, and its inner ring part 13 is rotatably fitted to the support rod 1, and the annular groove 15 of its outer ring part 14 is fitted to the large diameter side opening edge of the switch base 4. Together, they are rotatably assembled to the switch base 4 and the support rod 1. The switch base 4 and the first knob ₅₁ are prevented from coming off from the support rod 1 by a circlip 16 fitted therein.

The first knob ₅₁ has a pair of fan-shaped through holes 17 facing each other between the inner ring part 13 and the outer ring part 14,
A pair of pillars 18 are integrally protruded from the switch base 4 and are loosely inserted into each through hole 17 and also serve to regulate the rotation angle of the knob ₅₁ .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the spacer 6 has a through hole 19 at the center of its bottom that fits into the tip of the support rod 1, and a locking protrusion 2 that projects from the edge of the through hole 19.
0 into the long groove 9 of the support rod 1, and the through hole 19
A pair of insertion holes 21 sandwiching the support rod 18 are inserted into each support rod 18, and the support rod 1 is non-rotatably attached to the support rod 1. A circlip 22 is fitted to the tip of the support rod 1, thereby preventing the spacer 6 from coming off the support rod.

The second rotary switch R ₂ includes a second contact mounting board 23 adjacent to the second knob 5 ₂ , and the contact mounting board 23 is fixed to the tips of both supports 18 with machine screws 24 . The inner surface of the second contact mounting board 23 facing the first knob ₅₁ defines an intermediate chamber C between the spacer 6 and the support rod 1.
The tip is open. One end of a conductive hollow support shaft 7 that also serves as a contact is fitted into the center of the second contact mounting board 23 , and the support shaft 7 is attached to the second contact mounting board 23 .
A second knob ₅₂ is rotatably fitted and supported in a portion protruding from the outer surface of the second knob 52. The axis of the support shaft 7 is disposed on the extension axis of the support rod 1, and the second rotary switch _R2 is attached to the support rod 1 via the support shaft 7, the column 18, and the switch base 4. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, a regulating plate 26 for regulating the rotation angle of the second knob ₅₂ is provided on the support shaft 7.
The center through-hole 27 is fitted into the support shaft 7, and a pair of locking protrusions 28 protruding from the mouth edge of the through-hole 27 are respectively fitted into a pair of long grooves 29 in the support shaft 7, so that the support shaft 7 is non-rotatably mounted. . A circlip 30 is fitted to the support shaft 7, and thereby the second knob 5
₂ and the regulating plate 26 are prevented from coming off. The rotation angle of the second knob 5 ₂ is controlled by a pair of protrusions 31 protruding from opposing positions on the inner circumferential surface of the second knob 5 2 and a pair of protrusions 31 that are opposed to each other by a notch on the outer circumferential surface of the regulating plate 26 and the inner circumferential surface of the knob 5 ₂ . This is done by sliding them into a pair of fan-shaped holes 32, respectively.

A convex portion 6a is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the spacer ₆ , and serves as a reference mark that pairs with a protruding alignment mark M formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second knob 52. The engaging protrusion 2 fits into the recess 6b formed on the inner peripheral surface of the spacer 6.
3a protrudes from the outer periphery of the second contact mounting board 23, and the second contact mounting board 23 is correctly positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the switch base 4 by engagement with the recessed portion 6b and the engaging convex portion 23a. This makes it possible to reliably prevent such misassembly. The recessed portion 6b and the engaging protrusion 23a constitute the uneven engaging portion of the present invention.

The cylindrical body 33 is fitted into the opening of the second knob ₅₂ ,
A push button 34 of a push button switch S for opening and closing the passing circuit is slidably engaged with the cylindrical body 33 so as to be freely retractable. The push button 34 is prevented from coming out by
This is done by the internal flange engaging with the inner end surface of the cylinder 33.

Next, the contact structures of the first and second rotary switches R ₁ and R ₂ and the push button switch S will be explained.

1st contact mounting board 1 of 1st rotary switch R ₁
As shown in Fig. 4, the arc-shaped fixed contact plate f and resistance plate r are fixed on the inside and outside of the 0, and the resistance plate r is located at positions B and C at 30° and 60° from the reference position A.
The resistance value is set to gradually increase at . The first knob 5 ₁ is provided with a movable contact m that slides on a fixed contact plate f and a resistance plate r, and the movable contact m is constantly urged toward the fixed contact plate f and the resistance plate r by a spring 35. ing. The fixed contact plate f and the resistor plate r are connected to a headlight automatic lighting circuit (not shown), and by adjusting the first knob ₅₁ to three levels A to C, the headlight is turned on when the outside world reaches the corresponding darkness. is configured to turn on automatically. In the illustrated example, the lighting time is set so that it gradually becomes darker from position A to position C. Additionally, three square holes 3 are provided between the first knob 5 ₁ and the contact mounting board 10 in order to ensure that the first knob 5 ₁ is stopped at each of the positions A to C.
6, a steel ball 37 that sequentially engages them, and a spring 38 that springs the steel ball 37 is provided.

2nd contact mounting board 2 of 2nd rotary switch R ₂
3, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a semicircular arc-shaped first fixed contact plate f ₁ and a second fixed contact plate f ₂ that is substantially opposed to the first fixed contact plate f 1 .
is fixed, and a third fixed contact plate _f1 is fixed on the outside of the first fixed contact plate f1.
-Sixth fixed contact plates _f3 to _f6 , and a seventh fixed contact plate _f7 is fixed to the outside of the second fixed contact plate _f2 , respectively. The second knob ₅₂ has the first to third movable contacts _m1 to _m3.
are provided at equal intervals on the circumference, and their movable contacts m ₁
~ _m3 are urged toward each fixed contact plate by springs 39 provided correspondingly thereto. Second
When the knob ₅₂ is at the reference position D, each of the movable contacts _m1 to _m3 does not connect any of the fixed contacts, and therefore each circuit is open. At position E, where the second knob ₅₂ is rotated by 30 degrees from the reference position D, the third movable contact _m3 contacts the first fixed contact plate _f1 and the fifth fixed contact plate _f5 , and for example, the side light lighting circuit is activated. Closed. At position F, where the second knob ₅₂ is rotated by 60 degrees from the reference position D, the first and second movable contacts m ₁ , m ₂
are connected between the first and third fixed contact plates f ₁ and f ₃ and the second and seventh fixed contact plates f ₂ and f ₇ , respectively, and are adjusted so that the automatic lighting circuit of the headlight can be operated. Ru. At position G, where the second knob ₅₂ is rotated by 90 degrees from the reference position D, the second and third movable contacts m ₂ and m ₃
connects the first and fourth fixed contact plates f ₁ and f ₄ and the first and sixth fixed contact plates f ₁ and f ₆ , respectively, thereby completing a manual headlight lighting circuit.

In this way, the second knob ₅₂ reciprocates within a range of 90 degrees, but this rotation angle is regulated by the regulation plate 26. Between the second knob ₅₂ and the regulation plate 26,
In order to reliably stop the second knob ₅₂ at each of the positions D to G, four recesses 40, steel balls 41 that sequentially engage with the recesses 40, and a spring 4 that springs the steel balls 41 are provided.
A pair of articulation mechanisms consisting of 2 are provided.

In the push button switch S, the hollow support shaft 7
An insulating hollow cylindrical body 43 is fitted to the tip of the hollow cylinder 43, and a hollow connector 44 is fitted to the tip of the hollow cylindrical body 43. A conductive spring 45 is installed between the connector 44 and the upper bottom surface of the push button 34, and the U-shaped movable contact plate 46 accommodated in the connector 44 and the push button 34 is connected via the spring 45. is connected. The movable contact plate 46 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the hollow cylindrical body 43 to open a passing circuit when the push button 34 is not pushed in, and contacts the outer circumferential surface of the support shaft 7 as a fixed contact when the push button 34 is pushed in. This closes the passing circuit.

1st contact mounting board 1 of 1st rotary switch R ₁
Each lead wire l ₁ extending from 0 is guided into the support rod 1 through a long groove 9. Further, on the inner surface of the second contact mounting board 23 of the second rotary switch _R2 , there are a plurality of terminals t connected to the fixed contact plates _f1 to _f7 .
... are arranged, and a plurality of lead wires _l2 connected to these terminals t and extending into the intermediate chamber C are led into the support rod 1 through a relatively wide opening at the end of the support rod 1. It will be destroyed. Further, the lead wires _L3 extending from the connector 44 of the push button switch S are guided into the support rod 1 through the support shaft 7, the intermediate chamber C, and the opening at the end of the support rod 1, respectively.

In the above configuration, the second rotary switch R ₂
By rotating the second knob ₅₂ in three stages, from the all-circuit open position, side light lighting, automatic headlight lighting, and manual headlight lighting are performed. Also, the second rotary switch R ₂
Rotate the second knob ₅₂ of the headlight automatic lighting position F, and turn the knob ₅₁ of the first rotary switch _R1 .
By rotating the headlight to position A, B or C, the headlight will automatically turn on when the outside world reaches the selected darkness. In this case both rotary switches
The operation of the knobs 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ of R ₁ and R ₂ is performed without error due to the presence of the spacer 6. Further pushing the push button 34 closes the passing circuit.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the rotary switch device in which the first and second rotary switches are coaxially supported by a hollow support rod, the first rotary switch is located at the tip of the support rod. the first fixed to the switch base fitted to the
The switch base includes a contact mounting board and a first knob that is rotatably fitted and held at the tip of the support rod, and the switch base is provided with a contact mounting plate to allow relative rotation of the first knob with respect to the base. A post is provided to protrude loosely into the through hole of the knob, and the second rotary switch is attached to the tip of the post so as to face the first knob with an intermediate chamber in between which the tip of the support rod opens. A fixed second contact mounting board, and a support shaft that protrudes from one side of the second contact mounting board opposite to the support rod and extends on the extension axis of the support rod rotatably fits. a second knob that is held, and a plurality of fixed contacts that cooperate with the movable contacts provided on the second knob are attached to the second contact mounting board, and the second contact is connected to the fixed contacts. Each end of a plurality of lead wires that are inserted into the hollow part of the support rod and drawn out to the intermediate chamber are connected to the plurality of terminals arranged on the other side of the mounting board, so that the second rotary switch All of the plurality of lead wires to be connected to the support rod can be drawn out into the intermediate chamber through the opening at the end of the support rod and connected to the plurality of terminals on the second contact mounting board, respectively. There is no need to specially drill large through holes for the plurality of lead wires for the second rotary switch in the second knob itself, and it is easy to process them. All the multiple lead wires for rotary switches can be connected together, making it possible to perform the wiring work efficiently and intensively.
Moreover, even when the plurality of lead wires are connected together, they can be easily inserted into the support rod through the relatively wide opening at the end of the support rod facing the intermediate chamber. As a result, manufacturing and assembly of the device is easy, which can contribute to cost reduction. In addition, as mentioned above, the second knob and the second contact mounting board, which are difficult to fit and support with the support rod due to the fact that each lead wire is pulled out directly from the opening at the end of the support rod, are is supported on the switch base via the support, and the second
By supporting the knob on the support shaft of the second contact mounting board, the knob can be accurately positioned on the extension axis of the support rod, that is, on the same axis as the first knob. Furthermore, since the above-mentioned support post is loosely inserted into the through hole of the first knob to allow relative rotation of the first knob with respect to the switch base, the special provision of the support support also allows the first knob to rotate relative to the switch base.
There is no risk of interfering with the rotational operation of the knob, and the support can also be used as a regulating means for regulating the relative rotation angle of the first knob with respect to the switch base, contributing to the simplification of the structure.

Further, a spacer is fixed to the support rod, and the spacer is interposed between the first and second knobs and surrounds the outer periphery of the intermediate chamber. Since the concave and convex engaging portions that engage with each other are provided at predetermined positions on the second contact mounting board, the spacer interposed between the first and second knobs effectively prevents erroneous operation of both knobs. Moreover, the uneven engagement portion provided between the spacer and the opposing surfaces of the second contact mounting board can reliably prevent the second contact mounting board from being erroneously assembled to the switch base.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line of FIG. 1, and FIG.
The figure is Fig. 2 - line sectional view, Fig. 4 is Fig. 2 -
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2, Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2, and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2. It is a diagram. C...Intermediate chamber, _R1 , _R2 ...First and second rotary switches, _m1 to _m3 ...Movable contacts, _f1 to _f7 ...Fixed contacts,
l ₂ ... Lead wire, t... Terminal, 1... Support rod, 4... Switch base, 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ ... 1st, 2nd knob, 6... Spacer, 7... Support shaft, 10, 23... 1st, 1st 2 contact mounting board, 17...through hole, 18...post, 6b, 23
a... Concave portions and engaging convex portions that constitute the concavo-convex engaging portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 The hollow support rod has the first
and a rotary switch device supporting a second rotary switch, wherein the first rotary switch has a first contact mounting board fixed to a switch base fitted to the tip of the support rod, and a tip of the support rod. and a first knob rotatably fitted and held in the switch base, and the switch base has a post that is loosely inserted into a through hole of the knob to allow relative rotation of the first knob with respect to the base. and the second rotary switch includes a second contact mounting board fixed to the tip of the support rod so as to face the first knob with an intermediate chamber in between which the tip of the support rod opens; a second knob that is rotatably fitted and held on a support shaft that protrudes from one side of the second contact mounting board opposite to the support rod and extends on the extension axis of the support rod; A plurality of fixed contacts that cooperate with the movable contacts provided on the second knob are attached to the second contact mounting board, and a plurality of fixed contacts arranged on the other side of the second contact mounting board are connected to the fixed contacts. Each end of a plurality of lead wires that are inserted into the hollow part of the support rod and drawn out to the intermediate chamber are connected to the terminal of the support rod. A spacer is fixed to the spacer and surrounds the outer periphery of the intermediate chamber, and between the spacer and the opposing surfaces of the second contact mounting board, there is a concave-convex engaging portion that engages with each other at a predetermined position of the second contact mounting board. A rotary switch device characterized by being provided with.