JPH06243756A - Dimmer passing switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a thinned dimmer passing switch at reduced cost for use in vehicle combination switches. CONSTITUTION:A dimmer passing switch comprises a first plate spring armature 18 provided with contact portions 19, 20 ; a second plate spring armature 21 provided with a contact portion 23; a push rod 33 for driving the first and second plate spring armatures 18, 21; and first, second and third fixed armatures which are pushed into and out of contact with the respective contact portions 19, 20, 23 by the push rod. Thereby the number of plate spring armatures is reduced, and also, a stopper portion 46 provided to a cover 38 regulates the contact portion 19 of the first plate spring armature 18 from moving upwards, thus permitting the first and second plate spring armatures 18, 21 to be stably pushed into and out of contact with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dimmer / passing switch having the functions of a dimmer switch for switching a main / sub headlight of a vehicle and a passing switch for issuing an overtaking light signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the dimmer passing switch, and FIGS. 8 to 10 are side sectional views for explaining the operation of the dimmer passing switch.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a push rod which is operated in three steps up and down. The combination switch is mounted directly below the steering wheel of a vehicle and is operated by a lever (not shown) for operating a dimmer passing switch of a combination switch (not shown). It operates in three stages, up and down, guided by the main body. Reference numeral 2 is a first leaf spring contact piece, 3 is a second leaf spring contact piece, and 4 is a third leaf spring contact piece. It is fixed to the fixed plate 5. 6 is a first fixed contact piece, 7 is a second fixed contact piece, the first fixed contact piece 6 is below the third leaf spring contact piece 4, and the second fixed contact piece 7 is the second leaf spring. A contact portion is arranged below the contact piece 3. Reference numerals 8 and 9 denote guides for fixing the first to third leaf spring contact pieces 2, 3 and 4,
Reference numeral 10 is a fixing rivet. Although not entirely shown, they are configured in a combination switch.

Next, the operation of the above conventional example will be described.
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view when the push rod 1 is in the first step position due to the operation of the lever of the combination switch, and the first leaf spring contact piece 2 is moved upward by the flange upper surface 11 of the push rod 1. While being pulled up, the tip of the second leaf spring contact piece 3 is restrained from moving upward by the stopper 12 of the fixed plate 5, and the first leaf spring contact piece 2 and the second leaf spring contact piece 3 are not in contact with each other. Due to the spring pressure of the third leaf spring contact piece 4, the second leaf spring contact piece 3 and the third leaf spring contact piece 4 are in contact with each other.

Next, FIG. 9 is a side sectional view when the push rod 1 is in the second step position. The first leaf spring contact piece 2 pushed up to the upper surface 11 of the flange portion of the push rod 1 becomes free. , The second leaf spring contact piece is brought into contact with the second leaf spring contact piece due to the spring pressure, and the tip portion 13 of the push rod 1 further pushes down the third leaf spring contact piece 4 so that the second leaf spring contact piece 3 does not come into contact with the first leaf spring contact piece 3. The leaf spring contact piece 2 and the second leaf spring contact piece 3 are in contact with each other.

Further, in FIG. 10, the push rod 1 is the third.
FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view when in a stepped position, in which the third leaf spring contact piece 4 is further pushed down by the tip portion 13 of the push rod 1, contacts the first fixed contact piece 6, and the second leaf spring contact piece. Three
Is pushed down by the lower surface 14 of the flange portion of the push rod 1 and comes into contact with the second fixed contact piece 7. The L-shaped tip 16 of the first leaf spring contact piece 2 contacts the stopper 15 of the fixed plate 5, the downward movement is stopped, and the contact with the second leaf spring contact piece 3 is separated. In this way, at the third step position, the second leaf spring contact piece 3 and the second fixed contact piece 7, and the third leaf spring contact piece 4 and the first fixed contact piece 6 are in contact with each other. Further, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the second plate spring contact piece 3 and the first fixed contact piece 6 are directly connected on the fixed plate 5 and are always in a conductive state.

In the dimmer / passing switch, the second leaf spring contact piece 3 and the first fixed contact piece 6 are connected to the earth line ED, and the first leaf spring contact piece 2 is set to the low (LO) beam signal H.
L, the third leaf spring contact piece 4 to the high (HI) beam signal HV,
Since the second fixed contact piece 7 is used for the passing signal HF, ED-H is set at the first stage position of the push rod 1.
Contact between V, HI beam state, ED-HL contact at 2nd stage position, LO beam state, ED-HV-HF contact at 3rd stage position, passing (HI beam) It is a state.

[0008]

However, since the above-mentioned conventional dimmer / passing switch is constructed by using three leaf spring contact pieces, the thickness cannot be reduced, and the assembling process is complicated. It was a lot of things.

With respect to the thickness, in recent years, many functions have been provided around the steering wheel, and it has been strongly desired to reduce the thickness of the combination switch.

Further, since the push rod and the switch portion are not integrated in the structure, there is a problem that the dimmer passing switch cannot be evaluated unless the entire combination switch is assembled.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an excellent dimmer / passing switch which is thin and which is integrated with a push rod and can be realized as a unit.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, a dimmer / passing switch of the present invention includes a first leaf spring contact piece having one end fixed and two contact portions provided on the free end side.
A second leaf spring contact piece having one end fixed and one contact portion on the free end side, a push rod for driving the first and second leaf spring contact pieces, and the first leaf spring contact piece by the push rod. The first fixed contact piece that one of the contact portions contacts when moving upward, the second fixed contact piece that this contact portion contacts when moving downward, and the other contact portion contacts when moving upward. It is composed of a stopper means for preventing the above-mentioned upward movement and a third fixed contact piece with which the other contact portion comes into contact when it is moved downward.

[0013]

According to the above construction, the first leaf spring contact piece is provided with two contact portions, the second leaf spring contact piece is provided with one contact portion, and the corresponding first to third fixed contact pieces are provided. With this configuration, it is possible to make the device thinner, and at the same position where one of the contact portions is moved upward by the stopper means to come into contact with the first fixed contact piece, the upward movement of the other contact portion is also restricted. This is to stabilize the timing of contact and separation with the leaf spring contact piece.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the dimmer / passing switch of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Referring to FIG. 1, 17 is a housing of the dimmer passing switch, and 18 is a first plate having one end inserted into the end of the housing 17 and two contact portions 19 and 20 provided at the tip of the free end. Reference numeral 21 denotes a spring contact piece, and 21 is a second leaf spring having one contact portion 23 provided on the free end side, which is fixed by a rivet 24 above the first leaf spring contact piece 18 through a fixing guide 22. It is a contact piece. Rivet 2
Reference numeral 4 is for fixing the first plate spring contact piece 18 and the second plate spring contact piece 21 in the housing 17. Reference numeral 25 is a first fixed contact piece, and 27 is a second fixed contact piece so that the contact surface 26 corresponds to above the contact portion 20 of the first leaf spring contact piece 18.
Reference numeral 29 is a third fixed contact piece, so that the contact surface 28 corresponds to the lower side of the contact portion 20 of the leaf spring contact piece 18.
The contact parts 19 and the contact surfaces 30 of the eight parts are planted in the housing 17 at predetermined intervals.
In addition, a cylindrical protrusion 31 is provided at the substantially central portion of the housing 17.
The projection 31 is inserted through the return spring 32 into the hole of the operation push rod 33. The lower surface 34 of the flange of the push rod 33 corresponds to the substantially central hole 35 of the first leaf spring contact piece 18, and the upper surface 36 of the flange 36.
Corresponds to the substantially central hole 37 of the second leaf spring contact piece 21. 38 is a cover that covers the housing 17,
The hole 39 at the substantially central portion corresponds to the push rod 33 and serves as a guide when the push rod 33 operates.
A claw portion 40 provided on the outer periphery of the cover 38 corresponds to the outer peripheral protrusion 41 of the housing 17, and the cover 38 is fitted and fixed in the housing 17.

The dimmer / passing switch configured as described above is attached to the main body 42 of the combination switch arranged immediately below the handle as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 43 is a lever that is operated in the vertical direction about a lever fulcrum 44.
3, the ball 46, the spring 47 and the moderating plate 4 incorporated in
5 is carried out step by step. This lever 4
The push rod 33 can also be set up and down in three steps by three steps.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows the first step position of the push rod 33, and the second leaf spring contact piece 21 is the upper surface 3 of the flange portion of the push rod 33.
It is pushed up by 6 and separated from the first leaf spring contact piece 18.

The contact portion 20 of the first leaf spring contact piece 18 is in contact with the contact surface 26 of the first fixed contact piece 25 due to the spring pressure. Therefore, at the first step position of the push rod 33, the contact between the first plate spring contact piece 18 and the first fixed contact piece 25 can be obtained.

At this time, the other contact portion 19 of the first leaf spring contact piece 18 is restricted from moving upward by the stopper portion 46 protruding from the cover 38.

This is because the first leaf spring contact piece 18 forms a contact portion with the free end side as a cover, so that the contact portion 20 of the first leaf spring contact piece 18 has the first fixed contact piece 25. Contact surface 2
6 and the upward movement of the first leaf spring contact piece 18 is stopped, the deflection of the first leaf spring contact piece 18 tries to move only the other contact portion 19 upward, and the second leaf spring This is for preventing the timing of contact and separation with the contact piece 21 from being shifted or the separation being impossible.

The stopper portion 46 is the first leaf spring contact piece 18
After the contact portion 20 and the contact surface 26 of the first fixed contact piece 25 are contacted with each other, they are in contact with the contact surface 47 of the contact portion 19.

FIG. 3 shows the second step position of the push rod 33. The first leaf spring contact piece 18 is pushed down by a predetermined amount on the lower surface 34 of the flange portion of the push rod 33, and the first leaf spring contact piece 1 is shown.
The contact portion 20 of No. 8 is separated from the contact surface 26 of the first fixed contact piece 25. The second leaf spring contact piece 21 is released from the upper surface 36 of the flange portion of the push rod 33, and the contact portion 23 comes into contact with the contact portion 19 of the first leaf spring contact piece 18 due to the spring pressure. Therefore, in the second stage position of the push rod 33,
The contact between the leaf spring contact piece 18 and the second leaf spring contact piece 21 is obtained. At this time, the contact portion 19 is moved by the stopper portion 46 described above.
Since the upper moving position is restricted, the contact with the contact portion 23 is performed at a stable fixed position.

FIG. 4 shows the third stage position of the push rod 33, and the first leaf spring contact piece 18 is pushed further downward by the lower surface 34 of the flange portion of the push rod 33, and the contact portion 2
0 contacts the contact surface 28 of the second fixed contact piece 27, and the contact portion 19 contacts the contact surface 30 of the third fixed contact piece 29. In addition, the second leaf spring contact piece 21 is stopped in the downward movement by the tip 49 contacting the stopper wall 48 provided in the housing 17 during the downward movement, so that the second leaf spring contact piece 21 is prevented from moving downward. The contact portion 23 and the contact portion 19 of the first leaf spring contact piece 18 are separated from each other. Therefore, at the third step position of the push rod 33, the first plate spring contact piece 18, the second fixed contact piece 27, and the third fixed contact piece 2
9 contacts are obtained.

Since the first fixed contact piece and the second fixed contact piece are connected to each other inside the housing or outside the housing and are always in a conductive state, even if they are formed as an integral part, there is no problem with them.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a dimmer passing circuit using the dimmer passing switch of the present invention.
The dimmer / passing switch of FIG. 1 will be described based on this circuit diagram. The first leaf spring contact piece 18 is connected to the earth line E.
D, the second leaf spring contact piece 21 to the low (LO) beam signal H
L, the first fixed contact piece 25, and the second fixed contact piece 27 are high (H
I) The beam signal HV and the third fixed contact piece 29 are used as the passing signal HF.

The structure of this circuit diagram will be described together with the operation. When the light switch 50 is turned on, the headlamp relay 51 is turned on, and in the first stage position of the push rod 33, the ground line ED and the high beam signal HV are supplied. First leaf spring contact piece 18, second fixed contact piece 27, first fixed contact piece 2
5, the high beam lamp 52 is turned on.

Next, at the third stage position of the push rod 33, the ground line ED and the first for low beam signal HL are provided.
The leaf spring contact piece 18 and the second leaf spring contact piece 21 contact each other, and the low beam lamp 53 is turned on.

Next, at the third stage position of the push rod 33, the earth line ED, the first leaf spring contact piece 18, the first fixed contact piece 25, and the second fixed contact piece 18 for the high beam signal HV and the passing signal HF. 27 and third fixed contact piece 29
Contact each other, the high beam lamp 48 is turned on, and a passing state is established. In the third position when the light switch 50 is off, the headlamp relay 51 is turned on by the first leaf spring contact piece 18 for the passing signal HF, and the high beam lamp 52 is turned on to bring it into the passing state. is there.

As described above, the dimmer / passing switch of the present invention has the role of the dimmer / passing switch at the first and second stages of the push rod 33 and the role of the dimmer / passing switch at the third stage. Is to have.

Reference numeral 54 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 designates a spring, which is formed in the recess 55 in the substantially central portion of the housing 17 and the first portion.
It is housed between the leaf spring contact pieces 18 and is always the first leaf spring contact piece 1
A force that urges 8 upward is generated.

This is because the first leaf spring contact piece 18 is repeatedly operated under severe conditions, and therefore its life characteristics (the first fixed contact piece 25 or the first fixed contact piece 25 due to the settling of the first leaf spring contact piece 18 during repeated operation, This is a means for maintaining the occurrence of defective conduction with the second leaf spring contact piece 21. Naturally, depending on the design conditions of the first leaf spring contact piece 18 and the material selection, this spring 5
4 may be omitted, but in that case, the first plate spring contact piece 18 is designed in order to keep the repeated stress low.
It is necessary to increase the distance between the operating point and the fulcrum, or to widen the width of the fulcrum portion, resulting in an increase in the size of the switch.

Further, when considering the material selection, a material having a high allowable stress is required, and an expensive material such as beryllium copper must be used.

Therefore, by using the spring 54, it is possible to construct a switch in a small size and to use an inexpensive material (for example, phosphor bronze), which is an advantage.

Further, since the dimmer / passing switch of the present invention is constructed as a switch unit by housing the spring contact piece, the fixed contact piece, the push rod 33, etc. in the housing 17, the dimmer / passing switch alone is a completed product. The reliability that can be checked and the assemblability can be improved.

[0035]

As described above, the first leaf spring contact piece is provided with the two contact portions, and the second leaf spring contact piece is provided with the one contact portion. 2 fixed contacts, 3rd
The first plate spring contact piece and the second plate spring contact piece are constituted by the fixed contact piece and the stopper portion for restricting the movement amount of the first plate spring contact piece is provided.
It is possible to provide a thin and miniaturized dimmer / passing switch that stabilizes the contact / separation of leaf spring contact pieces.

In the case where a spring for urging the first leaf spring contact piece upward is further provided, the life of the first leaf spring contact piece can be extended and an inexpensive material is used. It is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a dimmer / passing switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view for explaining the same operating state.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view for explaining the same operating state.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view for explaining the same operating state.

FIG. 5 is a partial side sectional view for explaining a mounting state of the dimmer / passing switch of the present invention to the combination switch.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the dimmer / passing switch of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional dimmer / passing switch.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view for explaining the same operating state.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view for explaining the same operating state.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view for explaining the same operating state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 18 1st leaf spring contact piece 19 Contact part 20 Contact part 21 2nd leaf spring contact piece 23 Contact part 25 1st fixed contact piece 27 2nd fixed contact piece 29 3rd fixed contact piece 33 Push rod 46 Stopper part 54 Spring

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first leaf spring contact piece having one end fixed and two contact portions on the free end side, and one end fixed at a vertical interval so as to correspond to the first leaf spring contact piece. A second leaf spring contact piece having one contact portion on the free end side;
The first and second upper and lower surfaces of one contact portion of the leaf spring contact piece
A second fixed contact piece, a third fixed contact piece corresponding to the lower surface of the other contact portion of the first plate spring contact piece, and an upward movement of the other contact portion of the first plate spring contact piece are restricted. And a stopper part that is formed below the push rod that linearly moves in three vertical steps, the lower surface of the flange is the upper surface of the first plate spring contact piece, and the upper surface of the flange is the second plate spring contact piece. At the first step position of the push rod, the contact portion between the first leaf spring contact piece and the second leaf spring contact piece is separated, and the first leaf spring contact piece and the first fixing portion are separated from each other. The contact pieces are brought into contact with each other, and at the second step position, the first plate spring contact piece and the first fixed contact piece are separated from each other and the first plate spring contact piece and the second plate spring contact piece are brought into contact with each other, and at the third step position. The first leaf spring contact piece and the second leaf spring contact piece are separated from each other, and the first leaf spring contact piece and the second leaf spring contact piece are separated from each other.
Dima passing switch configured so that the third fixed contact piece contacts. 2. The dimmer / passing switch according to claim 1, wherein a spring is arranged substantially at the center of the lower surface of the first plate spring contact piece so that the first plate spring contact piece is always urged upward.