JPH0241848B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a fixing element having a first fixed contact connected to a power supply source and a plurality of second fixed contacts, and wherein the second fixed contact is connected to the first fixed contact. and a sliding element having a plurality of movable contacts which can be connected to fixed contacts of the electric switch, for example for motor vehicles. Electric switches of this type are used, for example, as ignition switches in steering wheel locking systems of motor vehicles.

Traditionally, most of the ignition switches used in steering wheel lock devices are
rotary switches, i.e. in these switches the movable contacts are not fixed to the sliding element;
According to the invention, it is attached to a rotating element.

An electrical switch of this type according to the invention, i.e. a switch comprising sliding elements for establishing different connections between a second fixed contact and a first fixed contact, is disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2054965. has been done. The switch according to this British patent application comprises four movable electrically conductive cylinders capable of connecting four second fixed contacts to a first fixed contact of the switch according to a predetermined sequence of four. It is equipped with

The switch disclosed in the above-mentioned UK patent application is
Due to its limited size, it has the disadvantage that only four electrical circuits can be closed or opened. A second difficulty consists in the fact that the conductive cylinder rotates about its longitudinal axis as it passes different stationary contacts. That is, this type of switch does not have a self-cleaning effect upon contact, and the movable contact does not slide over the fixed contact as in the present invention.

A first object of the invention is therefore to provide an electrical switch of the type in which the movable contacts slide over the fixed contacts, thereby providing a self-cleaning effect for all contacts. This can provide greater and longer term reliability during use.

The second object of the present invention is, for example, the above-mentioned British patent application No.
Instead of opening and closing four circuits as disclosed in No. 2054965, it is possible to open and close more electrical circuits, for example six in total, and for example in the steering wheel locking device in which this switch is to be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric switch which can be placed without any problem even within a dimension. In order to achieve these objectives, the electric switch according to the present invention has the following features:
the sliding element substantially sliding in a groove having two levels of the fixed element, and the groove comprising a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact in each of these two levels; , and that the sliding elements are provided with movable contacts at each corresponding level.

Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that the first fixed contact is divided into a plurality of branches, each branch being adapted to be contacted by one or more of the movable contacts.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a steering wheel locking device 1 for a motor vehicle. This well-known steering wheel lock device includes a housing 3, a lock cylinder 4 operated by an ignition key (not shown), and a corresponding lock cylinder 4 formed in the steering shaft (not shown) of the motor vehicle. The latch 5, which enters the notch and receives the spring force of the spring 7, transmits the rotation of the lock cylinder 4 to the lower part of the steering wheel lock device, and the ignition key is moved from the stop position to the running position. a first rotating part 6 for removing said latch from the steering shaft recess when actuated, and a second rotating part 8 for operating a rotary electric ignition switch in known steering wheel locking devices. It is equipped with

On most steering wheel lock devices, the ignition key is
It should be noted that the ignition key can be placed in each of the running and starting positions, and that each of the above positions of the ignition key corresponds to a fixed position of the movable contact with respect to the fixed contact of the electric switch. Should. In other words, the electrical circuit that is closed at a given time depends on the position of the ignition key at that time.

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 show cross sections of different parts of the electric switch 2 according to the invention. The important parts of this switch 2 are two parts 11 and 11a and fixed contacts W, Q, Z, Y, R, T, which are rigidly fixed to the fixed elements 11 and 11a.
X and movable contacts 21, 22, 23, 26, 27
(see FIGS. 9 and 13) a sliding element,
The cap 10 also has a rectangular opening 15 on its top surface through which a stud 12a provided on the top surface of the sliding element 12 passes.

The electric switch 2 is connected to the steering wheel locking device 1 in such a way that the stud 12a of the sliding element 12 fits into a notch 9 provided in the bottom surface of the rotating part 8 of the steering wheel locking device 1.
It is attached to the lower part (see FIGS. 1 and 2) by attachment means 13, 14. Actually, the cutout 9 is shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.
As shown in the figure, the groove has a shape that is substantially a part of a spiral. Stud 12a and groove 9
The interaction between will be explained below. It should be noted that the groove 9 may also be oval or circular.

A total of seven standard fixed contacts (see FIG. 4) are provided on the outside of the electric switch 2. That is, the seven fixed contacts are a first fixed contact Q connected to a power supply source, and six second fixed contacts W, Z, Y, connected to a total of six different electric circuits.
They are R, T, and X. On the other hand, inside the switch 2, that is, in FIG. 8, a total of nine fixed contacts (see FIG. 5) are provided at the level of the fixed element 11a. In fact, the first fixed contact Q is
A total of three branches Q′, Q″,
It is divided into Q at the above level. Therefore, the movable contacts 21, 22, 23,
26, 27 (see Figs. 9 and 13) are fixed contacts that can contact the three branches Q',
Q'', Q and a total of six second fixed contacts W, Z, Y,
They are R, T, and X.

The sliding element 12 is provided with movable contacts at two different levels. In FIG. 9, the movable contact 21 is located at the upper level and the two movable contacts 22, 23 are located at the lower level of the sliding element 12. In a manner similar to that described above, the groove 19 (see FIG. 9) is such that the sliding element 12 can slide when a suitable force is applied to its stud, and has two different levels. . And fixed contacts W, Q', Z, Y, Q'', R,
T (see FIG. 6) extends only as far as the lower level of the sliding element 12, and the fixed contacts Q and X extend as far as the upper level of the sliding element 12.

Since the different connections between the movable and fixed contacts should be established depending on the position of the ignition key of the steering wheel locking device 1 (garage, stop, run, start), the sliding element 12 is such that it can respectively assume a corresponding position in the groove 19 in which it slides in a rectangular movement. The four corresponding positions are determined by a sliding element regulated by a spiral-shaped groove 9 of the rotating part 8 of the steering wheel locking device.

The shape of the groove 9 is such that it allows a rectangular movement of the sliding element and the stud and, depending on the respective position of the ignition key, to move the sliding element to its responsive position. There is. In other words, an electric circuit corresponding to each predetermined position of the ignition key is connected to the movable contacts 21, 22, 2.
3, 26, 27, the sliding element 12 is positioned so as to be closed by the openings 3, 26, 27.

In FIG. 10, the ignition key of the steering wheel locking mechanism 1 and thus the groove 9 of the rotating part 8 and the stud 12 of the sliding element 12 are shown.
A is located in the garage. In FIG. 11, the same parts are in the start position, and in FIG. 12, these parts are in a position intermediate between the garage position and the start position.

13, 14, 15 and 16 show in more detail the configuration of the sliding element 12 and the movable contacts supported by the sliding element. A total of five movable contacts associated with the sliding element 12 are shown in FIG. That is, the movable contact 21 located at the upper level of the sliding element 12 and the sliding element 1
There are a total of four movable contacts 22, 26 and 23, 27 located on each side of the lower level of 2, respectively.
Each movable contact has a substantially relatively flat U-shape, the two flange portions of which fit into a notch 35 provided in the side wall of the sliding element 12, and the outer surface of the upper portion. are pressed outward, ie towards the surface corresponding to the fixed contact.

The movable contact 21 is connected to a coil spring 3 located in a notch 32 provided in the sliding element 12.
1 to the surfaces corresponding to the fixed contacts Q and X. The movable contacts 22 and 26 have respective notches 33
Coil spring 24 located within a, 33b
a and 24b toward the surfaces corresponding to the fixed contacts W, Q', and Z, respectively. The movable contacts 23 and 27 are provided with the same notches 3 as above.
3a, 33b, the fixed contacts Y, Q'',
It is pressed toward the surfaces corresponding to R and T. These notches or seats 33a, 33
Coil springs 24a, 24b are installed inside b.
are supported on the sides of shoulders provided on the small cylinders 30a and 30b, respectively.

When the sliding element 12 slides in the groove of the fixed elements 11, 11a, the sliding element 12 slides on the surfaces 12b, 12c (first
4) and fixed contacts W, Q', Z; Y, Q'',
R, T; Q, X (see Figures 9 and 17)
Movable contacts 22, 26; 23, 27; 2
1 and laterally guided by surface 12
d, 12c, 17, 18 (see Figure 4). Furthermore, the hooks 20a, 20
b, 20c, 20d are fixed elements 11, 11a
(see FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9) to prevent upward displacement of the sliding element 12.

17, 18, 19 and 20, different electric circuits are shown in which the ignition key of the steering wheel locking device 1 is rotated, so that, as explained above, the rotating part 8 is connected to the sliding element. 12
and closed when causing the movable contacts 21, 22, 23, 26, 27 to perform rectangular movement,
Or it shows how it is opened.

Figure 17 corresponds to the garage position of the ignition key. In this position of the ignition key, only one electrical circuit is closed or closed, which is one electrical circuit Q''-23-R, which can be, for example, the electrical circuit for parking and, if necessary, operating the headlights of the vehicle. It's getting wet.

FIG. 18 corresponds to the stop position of the ignition key. In this position of the ignition key, no electrical circuit is closed or intended to be closed (of course it is connected to the power supply, but the electric switch 2 of the steering wheel locking device are not bonded).

FIG. 19 corresponds to the running position of the ignition key. In this ignition key position, a total of four electrical circuits are closed or can be closed; -Circuit Q', which is the circuit that operates a number of electrical accessories, such as the dashboard light, for example; 22-W, - circuit Q″-2, which can be, for example, a circuit for activating winking and warning lights of a vehicle;
3-Y, - circuit Q-21-X, which may be for example a circuit for operating a ventilator; - circuit R-27-T, which may be for example a circuit for operating another electrical device.

However, this last circuit is connected to the fixed contact Q' of the electric switch 2 of the steering wheel locking device 1,
It should be noted that it is not connected to the power supply through one of the switches Q'', Q, but through another switch connected to the power supply.

FIG. 20 corresponds to the starting position of the ignition key. In this position of the ignition key, a total of four circuits are closed or can be closed, as described above. That is,
Total of three circuits Q'-22-W, Q''-23-Y, R
-27-T is as described above, and the circuit
Q'-26-Z is a circuit that operates the electric motor for starting the vehicle.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. That is, for example,
The electric switch according to the invention is not limited to mounting at the bottom of the steering wheel locking device or to the rotating part of the mechanism regulating the rectangular movement of the sliding element. In fact, an electric switch can also be mounted next to the mechanism. That is, it is actually a similar mechanism, but can be installed with slight modifications. In this case, it is necessary to provide a spiral groove in the rotating part that adjusts the rectangular movement of the sliding element.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention can achieve the intended purpose.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a known steering wheel locking device, FIG. 2 is a side view of an electric switch according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a clockwise view.
Figure 4 is a bottom view of the switch in Figure 2 rotated 90 degrees clockwise, Figure 5 is a bottom view of the switch in Figure 2 rotated 90 degrees clockwise. 6 is a plan view of the switch of FIG. 3 with the top wall of the electric switch cut off and the sliding element removed, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the switch of FIG. 3 with the sliding element attached. 8 is a sectional view of the electric switch shown in FIG. 7 along the - line direction, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the switch corresponding to the figure.
A cross-sectional view of the switch of FIG. 7 rotated by 90 degrees, FIGS. Each plan view similar to FIG. 3 showing how it is operated by the
Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional plan view of a sliding element of a switch according to the present invention, and Fig. 14 is an enlarged plan view of a sliding element of a switch according to the present invention, and Fig. 14 is an enlarged plan view of a sliding element of a switch according to the present invention.
A side view in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 13 rotated 90° to the left, Fig. 15 showing the first contact not showing the movable contact.
16 is a side view in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3, FIG. 16 is a side view in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 13 rotated by 90 degrees clockwise without showing the movable contact, FIGS.
19 and 20 schematically show a total of four different positions that the movable contact of the sliding element can assume with respect to the first and second fixed contacts, respectively. 2... Electric switch, Q... First fixed contact,
W, Z, Y, R, T, X...Second fixed contact, 1
1, 11a...Fixed element, 21, 22, 23, 2
6, 27...Movable contact, 12...Sliding element, 9...
...groove, Q', Q'', Q...branch, 12a...stud.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A fixing element comprising a first fixed contact connected to a power supply source and a plurality of second fixed contacts, the fixing element being slidable in a groove of the fixing element and having a plurality of second fixed contacts. An electrical switch for a motor vehicle, comprising a sliding element comprising a plurality of movable contacts connectable to the first fixed contact in a predetermined order, comprising: (a) a fixed element; The groove 19 of 11, 11a is this groove 19
The steps are cut in such a way that they define two successive heights within the groove, and the sliding element 12 defines two successive heights corresponding to the two successive heights of the groove 19 of the fixing element 11, 11a. The groove 19 of the fixing element 11, 11a is
(b) The first fixed contact Q has multiple branches Q′, Q″,
Q, at least one of these branches Q is arranged in one of the two successive heights, and the remaining branches Q', Q'' are located in the two said grooves 19 of the fixing elements 11, 11a. (c) at least one of the second fixed contacts is located at one of the two successive heights;
The other fixed contacts W, Z, Y, R, T are arranged at the other of the two successive heights of the groove 19 of the fixed contacts 11, 11a, (d) at least one of the movable contacts 21 An electrical switch arranged at one of the two successive heights and the other movable contact 22, 23, 26, 27 being arranged at the other of the two successive heights of the sliding element 12. 2. In the area where the movable contacts 21, 22, 23, 26, 27 can be contacted, the second fixed contacts W, Z,
Branch of Y, R, T, X and first fixed contact Q
The electric switch according to claim 1, wherein Q', Q'', and Q have flat blade shapes. 3. The movable contacts 21, 22, 23, 26, 27.
has a flat U-shape, and the outer surface of the web is connected to the branches of the second fixed contacts W, Z, Y, R, T, X and the first fixed contact Q by springs 24a, 24b, 31. The electric switch according to claim 2, which is pressed toward Q', Q'', Q. 4. The electric switch in which the first fixed contact Q has three branches Q', Q'',
Q, while six second fixed contacts W, Z, Y, R, T, X and five movable contacts 21,
22, 23, 26, 27. The electric switch according to claim 1, comprising: 22, 23, 26, 27. 5. A fixing element comprising a first fixed contact connected to a power supply source and a plurality of second fixed contacts, the fixing element being slidable in a groove of the fixing element and arranged in a predetermined order. An electric switch for an automobile including a sliding element comprising a plurality of movable contacts capable of connecting the second fixed contact to the first fixed contact, the switch comprising: (a) a groove 19 of the fixed element 11, 11a; This groove 19
The steps are cut in such a way that they define two successive heights within the groove, and the sliding element 12 defines two successive heights corresponding to the two successive heights of the groove 19 of the fixing element 11, 11a. The groove 19 of the fixing element 11, 11a is
(b) The first fixed contact Q has multiple branches Q′, Q″,
Q, at least one of these branches Q is arranged in one of the two successive heights, and the remaining branches Q', Q'' are located in the two said grooves 19 of the fixing elements 11, 11a. (c) at least one of the second fixed contacts is located at one of the two successive heights;
The other fixed contacts W, Z, Y, R, T are arranged at the other of the two successive heights of the groove 19 of the fixed contacts 11, 11a, (d) at least one of the movable contacts 21 arranged on one of the successive heights and the other movable contact 22, 23, 26, 27 arranged on the other of said two successive heights of the sliding element 12, (e) actuated by a key to rotate; A stud 18a comprising a steering wheel locking mechanism 1 comprising a rotating part, the sliding element 12 being activated by engaging with an engaging part 8 provided on one of the rotating parts 8 of the steering wheel locking mechanism 1.
including electric switches. 6 The engaging part of the rotating part 8 for actuating the stud 12a of the sliding element 12 has substantially the shape of a portion of a spiral and the groove 9 into which the stud 12a of the sliding element 12 projects. An electric switch according to claim 5. 7 The engaging portion of the rotating part 8 for actuating the stud 12a of the sliding element 12 has a substantially oval or circular form and
6. An electric switch according to claim 5, wherein the second stud 12a is a groove projecting therein. 8. Claim in which the engaging portion of the rotating part 8 for actuating the switch 12a of the sliding element 12 has a substantially helical shape and is a groove into which the stud 12a of the sliding element 12 projects. The electrical switch according to item 5.