JPH02158025A - Enclosable push-button - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable a pushbutton device to be sealed by providing the device with a sealing cap which comprises a rigid support frame and an expandable diaphragm fitting over the outer edge of the support frame and which can be inserted into a guide sleeve, and causing the support frame to surround and guide an operating rod. CONSTITUTION: A pushbutton device has a sealing cap which comprises a diaphragm 19 made of a flexible material and a rigid support frame 20 and which can be fitted in. The diaphragm 19 is fitted over the outer edge of the support frame, and a groove is provided in the cylindrical outer surface of the support frame 20 in such a way that it is complemented by enclosing the raised edge 23 and tightening section 22 of the diaphragm, resulting in a cylindrical outer surface as a whole. The support frame 20 is accurately fitted into the upper section of the inner shape of a guide sleeve 1 by use of slight clearance, and the outer edge of the support frame 20 is sealed coplanar with the end face 24 of the sleeve. The tightening section 22 of the diaphragm 19 projects slightly from a tightened part and changes into an enlarging section 21. Therefore, great motion is obtained when the diaphragm 19 is operated by a finger-shaped part 25.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention mainly comprises a guide sleeve and an actuating rod that moves inside the guide sleeve and is actuated by pushing into the guide sleeve from a fixed position against a spring force. The present invention relates to a sealable pushbutton device for a switch.

[Prior art]

Pushbutton devices of this type serve as complete command pushbuttons as operating elements of all types of machines.

On the pushbutton device 1 It is incorporated in the outer skin of the machine housing or on the switch board and is protected against a certain degree of aggressive working media, dust, and foreign substances between the actuating rod and the guide sleeve. shall be sealed to prevent entry through the movement slit into the interior of such housing and from interfering with the movement of the actuating rod.

Externally invisible sealing rings are known which act like a piston backing surrounding the actuating rod or like a sealing device similar to a roll diaphragm. There is a disadvantage that foreign matter accumulates in the outer groove in front of the sealing device, and if it is, for example, cement particles, it immediately causes sheathing.

Flexible caps are also known which completely cover the outside of the push-button device and are clamped between the support collar of the guide sleeve and the switchboard when the guide sleeve is fixed. However, such caps require a larger installation area for the push-button device, are relatively easy to damage, mainly because they are not protected on the sides, and the installation depth of the push-button device depends on whether the cap is installed or not. The disadvantage is that they are different.

Flexible sealing foils are also known which are simply stretched over the actuating rod head and are fastened to the edge by means of a union threaded ring. This sealing device is then laterally protected by a screw ring. However, there is a possibility that foreign matter may settle inside the groove that is essential to the tightening edge of the screw ring, so it should not be used, for example, in devices that require the utmost care for hygiene. The screw ring is a considerable expense. The threaded ring can loosen naturally or be removed by an outsider. Also, many prefer a square design: after all, the threaded ring determines the large shape of the actuating rod.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an external sealing device that does not break due to lateral movement, has no foreign material deposit grooves, is removable without destruction, is inexpensive, and is applicable to pushbutton devices of all designs. .

[Technical means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a sealable device mainly for switches, which is equipped with a guide sleeve 1 and a movable actuating rod 7 that is actuated from a fixed position into the guide sleeve 1 by pushing against a spring force. a push-button device comprising a rigid support frame 20 and an expandable diaphragm 19 fitted over the outer edge of the support frame 20 and having a sealing cap insertable into the guide sleeve 1; The gist is a sealable push button device mainly for switches, characterized in that the support frame 20 surrounds and guides the actuating rod head 10.13.

[Effect]

Since the sealing cap is held in the guide sleeve, the diaphragm protrudes only slightly and there is no risk of side damage to the diaphragm. The support frame precisely matches the inner shape of the outer section of the guide sleeve and warps a radial diaphragm between the support frame and the guide sleeve. This renders all foreign matter deposition grooves useless. Furthermore, the protected and sealed pushbutton device has a flat end surface that is easy to clean. Sealing cap 1
In the event of damage or external intentional destruction of the diaphragm, it can be removed and replaced with a new sealing cap. This sealing cap does not require any auxiliary fixing parts, just push it on.

For this reason, the sealing cap can be round or square or have other random contours. This is independent of either the internal cross-section or the external shape of the guide sleeve.

In the case of conventional push-button devices, the outer part of the guide sleeve has a cylindrical inner shape, so to speak in a random cross-section in the mathematical sense, so a sealing cap with a cross-section that matches the already installed push-button device is provided. It can be installed later. Only an actuating rod with a smaller head is needed to make room for the support frame.

Of course, it would be advantageous if the actuating rod, which is known per se, could be replaced from the front. Since the outer edge of the actuating rod head is guided on the inner surface of the support frame during movement of the actuating rod, the diaphragm itself is protected from wear by the actuating rod.

Another advantage of the above-mentioned sealing cap is that it can also be used with known push-button devices which are provided with a sealing ring surrounding the inner part of the actuating rod. When using known cover caps, the double sealing device often fails due to the so-called suction effect, which is caused by the deformation of the cap compressing a relatively large volume of air, some of which is trapped inside. This is because the water erupts through the sealing ring.

In this case, the cover cap is no longer fully recovered, so that the return stroke of the actuating rod is also blocked. In contrast, the sealing cap of the invention is designed in such a way that the internal sealing ring can be used as an additional safety element, since very little high air pressure occurs during movement of the actuating rod.

A particularly advantageous shape of the diaphragm and the associated support frame is specified in claim 2. The diaphragm can be made from a soft rubber-like flexible material, which can be colored or transparent to allow viewing of indicia affixed to the actuation cap. The support frame is sealed substantially flush with the end surface of the guide sleeve. The clamping section of the diaphragm projects substantially longitudinally somewhat beyond the support frame, and the deformation of this projection allows a greater movement of the extended section of the diaphragm and a full stroke of the actuating rod. Primarily if the touch surface is flat, the extended section of the diaphragm is effectively located on the touch surface of the actuating rod head.

The diaphragm is affixed to the support frame during installation.

This creates a complete sealed cap that is easy to handle. In order to achieve the best possible tightening and sealing between the guide sleeve and the support frame, the outer surface of the tightening section of the diaphragm,
It is proposed that mainly the raised edges be provided with circumferential projections. The outer surface may also be formed with one or more sealing lips or circumferential grooves of various cross-sections for the same purpose.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 show outer section 2 and inner section 3.
The guide sleeve 1 is shown divided into two parts.

When the pushbutton device is built into a switch board or housing wall, the inner section 3 passes through the switch board or housing wall (not shown), and the stepped surface 4 of the outer section 2 is in contact with the display surface of the switch board. . Fastening is achieved, for example, by a threaded ring surrounding the inner section 3 and abutting the switchboard from the inside. By means of an intervening sealing ring, also not shown,
The attachment of the switchboard to the guide sleeve 1 allows the holes to be completely sealed.

The inner shape of the guide sleeve 1 has substantially different dimensions 3
It is classified as a section. The upper section located at the largest part of the outer section 2 has the largest diameter. This section is used to guide the actuating rod cap in known pushbutton devices.

The intermediate section carrying the return spring 5 has a smaller diameter and is used as a sliding surface for the sealing ring of the actuating rod. and the inner section has the smallest diameter. A return spring is supported on a step formed between the intermediate section and the inner section.

A plurality of locking/stopping protrusions 6 protruding inward are arranged around the stepped region, only one example of which is shown.

The operating rod 7 is housed in the guide sleeve 1. The lower end of the operating rod operates a switching device (not shown).The operating rod is hollow to accommodate a light source, and the outside may be shaped for visual purposes. It is sealed by an end wall 9. Further, a flange-shaped joint edge 10 on which a mark 11111 is mounted is continuous to the peripheral edge of the end face. It is also optionally covered with a transparent cover plate 12,
Its cover plate 12 is clipped to the joining edge 10. For this purpose, recesses are provided at various local locations on the joining edge 10, which locations are held in place by locking fingers 13 extending downwards from the cover plate 12. The sloped surface of the locking fingers 13 allows the cover plate 12 to be easily locked and removed. One of the fixing points with a locking finger 13 is indicated on the left side of the figure.

Furthermore, the actuating rod 7 has an outer collar 14 on which the return spring 5 is supported and has a circumferential groove into which a sealing lip ring 15 is inserted. The sealing lip ring 15 seals against the intermediate section of the inner profile of the guide sleeve 1 . Move the operating rod 7 to the guide sleeve 1
In order to provide internal support and define its stroke area, a thin tongue-like portion 16 is partitioned at the inner end by a plurality of longitudinal grooves that open toward the periphery. This results in an actuating rod 7
The outer longitudinal groove 17 is the locking/stopping protrusion 6 of the guide sleeve.
, the idling of the actuating rod 7 can also be maintained. Each end of the tongue-shaped portion 16 has a protrusion 1 projecting outward in the radial direction.
8 is formed and cooperates with an associated locking/stopping projection 6 . That is, the actuating rod 7 must be pushed in with some force from the outside and then pulled out again. In this case, the protrusion 18 is snapped by the corresponding locking/stopping protrusion 6.

Other known push-button devices have a snap-fitting sealing cap for additional or sole sealing: 1, consisting of a diaphragm 19 of flexible material and a rigid support frame 20; The diaphragm 19 has a flat expansion section 21;
This embodiment has a continuous cylindrical tightening section 22 and radially inwardly directed raised edges 23 at the end edges of the tightening section 22. This diaphragm 19 is placed over the outer edge of the support frame or indicator frame, in which case it is placed on the cylindrical outer surface of the support frame 20 (upper edge 23 of the diaphragm).
and a tightening section 22, which are complemented by a groove to form an overall cylindrical outer surface. The support frame 20 has a slight clearance that allows it to fit precisely inside the upper section of the inner shape of the guide sleeve 1, so that the outer edge of the support frame 20 is aligned with the end face 24 of the guide sleeve.
Sealed on the same side as the Similarly, the cylindrical inner surface 1tl of the support frame 20 guides the actuating rod 7 so that radial movement of the joining edge 10 and cover plate 12 is prevented. The tightening section 22 of the diaphragm 19 still protrudes somewhat beyond the tightening point, and then the expansion section 2
It is moving to 1. When the diaphragm 19 is actuated by the fingers 25, the diaphragm 19 now has greater freedom of movement so that it can better deform around the circumference as shown in FIG.

In order to improve the sealing effect and to better control unavoidable manufacturing tolerances, the clamping section 22' of the diaphragm 19 can be provided with a circumferential projection 26, as shown in FIG. 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to provide a plurality of circumferential grooves 27 instead of the circumferential protrusion 26, and for example, a wave shape or a trapezoid shape (not shown) is also possible. Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the sawtooth shape, in which the protrusion acts as a sealing lip, which not only makes it easier to push the sealing cap, but also prevents foreign matter from entering and undamaged sealing cap from the guide sleeve 1. Prevent the removal of children.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the push button device in the stereotaxic state;
FIG. 2 shows the same longitudinal section of the upper part of the pushbutton device during operation, and FIGS. 3 to 5 show enlarged partial longitudinal sections of the cylindrical section of the diaphragm having various contours. 1... Sleeve 7... Actuation rod 10.13... Actuation rod head 19... Diaphragm 20... Support frame 22.22°... Tightening section 23... Raised edge 26...・Peripheral protrusion 27...peripheral groove

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Mainly for a switch comprising a guide sleeve (1) and a movable actuating rod (7) that is actuated from a fixed position into the guide sleeve (1) by pushing against a spring force. a sealable pushbutton device comprising: a rigid support frame (20);
and an expandable diaphragm (19) fitted over the outer edge of the support frame (20) and having a sealing cap insertable into the guide sleeve (1); A sealable push-button device, mainly for switches, characterized in that the actuating rod head (10, 13) is surrounded and guided. 2. The diaphragm (19) has a flat expansion section (21) located perpendicular to the axis of the actuating rod (7) and a rigid section (2) continuous to the edge of the expansion section and curved.
2) and a raised edge (23) projecting inwardly;
Push-button device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a portion of the clamping section (22) and the raised edge (23) are accommodated in corresponding grooves in the outer surface of the support frame (20). 3. End surface (2) of support frame (20) and guide sleeve (1)
Claim 1 characterized in that 4) and are sealed on the same surface.
Push button device as described. 4. Push button device according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening section (22) of the diaphragm (19) projects somewhat beyond the support frame (20) in the longitudinal direction. 5. Push-button device 6, diaphragm (19) and support frame according to claim 2, characterized in that the extended section (21) of the diaphragm (19) rests on the touch surface (12) of the actuating rod head. (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening section (22') of the diaphragm (19) is affixed to the push-button device (7).
3. Push button device according to claim 2, characterized in that it has a circumferential projection (26) on its outer surface. 8. Tightening section (22') of diaphragm (19)
Claim 2 characterized in that the outer surface has a sealing lip.
Push button device as described. 9. Tightening section (22') of diaphragm (19)
Claim 2 characterized in that the outer surface has a circumferential groove (27).
Push button device as described.