JPH09198949A - Elastic switch like rubber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch which has a long stretching shape, in which conductive rubber pieces are dissociated momentarily at the time of being opened even though a load is applied continuously for a long time so that the switching function is restored. SOLUTION: An insulative elastic member 2 of rubber, etc., has one or more hollow (s) 4 continued in the longitudinal direction, and on the inner surface of the hollow 4, at least two conductive elastic members 3 of rubber, etc., are installed in such a positioning as opposing to each other while a certain spacing is reserved in between. Thus an intended switch 1 is completed, wherein the section shape should be such that a gap 7 is generated in the contacting part of the conductive elastic member 3 when the switch is in press contact to generate electric continuity, and the hardness of the conductive elastic member 3 should range between 50 and 90 according to a JIS-A hardness meter.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rubber-like elastic switch, and more particularly to a switch which restores the switch function by instantly separating conductive rubbers from each other when opened even if a load is continuously applied for a long time. The present invention relates to a rubber-like elastic switch of a scale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as to a long rubber-like elastic body switch, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), at least two conductive materials are provided on the inner surface of an insulating rubber-like elastic member 12 having a long hollow portion 14. It is known that the elastic rubber-like elastic member 13 is arranged at a position facing each other with a gap, and is installed on a mounting surface 15 mounted on the end of a door such as a shutter, which is an obstacle. When touched, the switch is compressed and two opposing conductive rubber-like elastic members come into contact with each other, and an electrical signal is input by short-circuiting, avoiding the danger of people being caught in the shutter and the destruction due to over-pressing. There are uses.

[0003]

However, this conventionally known rubber-like elastic switch has a cross section as shown in FIG. 3 (a). The shape of the surface to be contacted is increased in order to increase the contact area in order to improve the conductivity, so it should be a flat surface, or even if unevenness is provided as shown in FIG. That is, they were completely adhered to each other with no gap when pressure contact was conducted [see FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (d)]. For this reason, when the rubber-like elastic switch receives a load 16 continuously for a long time as shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (d), and the two conductive rubber-like elastic members keep contacting each other, for example, in the case of the previous example. If the shutter door is attached to the end of the shutter and the shutter door is closed for a long period of time after the switch circuit is cut off, the adhesiveness of the conductive rubber causes the two conductive rubbers to stick together. -Like elastic member is attached in a pseudo manner, and when the load is released, that is, when the shutter door is opened, it does not dissociate by self-restoring force at the same time, or it does not dissociate unless external force is applied, and the switch function does not restore. There was a fatal defect that it was easy to become. The present invention has solved such drawbacks, and even when it is in a pressure contact state under a continuous load for a long time, it is completely dissociated by the self-restoring force when the switch is opened, and the durability of the switch function of millions of times is achieved. It is intended to provide a rubber-like elastic switch having the same.

[0004]

In order to solve such a drawback, the inventors of the present invention focused on the material and shape of the contact portion of the rubber-like elastic switch, and made improvements and experiments to set various conditions. Established and completed the present invention, the gist thereof is that at least two conductive rubber-like elastic members are provided on the inner surface of the insulating rubber-like elastic member having at least one hollow part continuous in the longitudinal direction. In the rubber-like elastic body switch, which is arranged at a position opposed to each other with a gap, it is characterized in that it has a cross-sectional shape in which a gap is formed in a contact portion of the conductive rubber-like elastic member when the switch is brought into pressure contact conduction. More specifically, the hardness of the conductive rubber-like elastic member is 50 or more and 90 or less (J
IS-A hardness meter) is a rubber-like elastic switch.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The rubber-like elastic switch of the present invention is shown in FIG.
Shown in (a) and Figure 1 (b). FIG. 1 (a) shows a vertical cross section of the rubber-like elastic switch 1 of the present invention when it is opened. Two conductive rubber-like elastic members are provided on the inner surface of the hollow portion 4 of the insulating rubber-like elastic body 2. 3 are arranged at positions facing each other with a gap, and these have a saw-toothed concavo-convex shape different from each other so that they can be mounted on the mounting surface 5. Further, FIG. 1 (b) shows a vertical cross section of the switch when pressure contact is established. Since the relative surfaces of the two conductive rubber-like elastic members 3 are pressed against each other in a large and small sawtooth shape, a large number of gaps 7 are formed. This is an example in which the shape is formed so as not to adhere to each other. The greatest feature of the present invention is that, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the cross sections of the surfaces of the conductive rubber elastic body 3 facing each other have a saw-toothed concavo-convex shape with different mountain heights and mountain pitches. Is to As a result, the contact portion of the conductive rubber-like elastic body 3 does not contact the entire surfaces of the flat surfaces at the time of pressure contact conduction but line contact between the lines, and a large number of voids 7 are set. The adhesive area between the elastic members can be reduced, and the elastic members can be instantly dissociated when the load is released. Furthermore, the hardness of the conductive rubber-like elastic body is 50 (JIS-A
Beyond the (hardness meter), the compression deformation will be small, and the adhesiveness will also be reduced, effectively acting to restore the switch,
When it is less than 90, the conductive property is stable and the moldability is good, so that the range of 50 or more and 90 or less is preferable.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the cross section has a curved shape with a convex central portion, or
As shown in Fig. 2 (b), the central part is convex and saw teeth are formed, and as shown in Fig. 2 (c), one is convex at the central part and the other is linear with saw teeth formed, or Fig. 2 As shown in (d), it may be a curved shape with a concave central portion and convex both ends. Since both have a gap, the same effect as in Fig. 1 (a) can be obtained. it can. In the case of these curved shapes, it is desirable that at least one of the conductive rubber-like elastic bodies has a radius of curvature of 3 mm or more and 250 mm or less. It has been confirmed that there is a danger that they will not conduct (contact) when they do, and that if 250 mm is exceeded, the contact area will become large and the restorability will deteriorate.

The insulating rubber-like elastic member 2 and the conductive rubber-like elastic member 3 may be made of a conventionally known rubber polymer. As the rubber polymer, silicone rubber or acrylic rubber excellent in weather resistance and elasticity is used. , Acrylic silicone rubber, ethylene / propylene / diene polymer
(EPDM) and the like are preferred. As a conductive agent that imparts electrical conductivity, electrical resistance is 1 × 10 ^{-6 to} 1 Ωcm.
Generally, 5 to 100% by weight of carbon, carbon fiber, metal powder, metal fiber, etc. having The conductive rubber-like elastic member 3 obtained by vulcanizing this has a specific resistance of 1 × 10 ⁻¹ to 1 × 10 ³ Ω · cm and satisfies the conductivity as a switch.

The insulating rubber-like elastic member 2 and the conductive rubber-like elastic member 3 are extruded in a long length by a conventionally known method, in particular, an extrusion method having excellent moldability, and are appropriately selected according to the site to be used. It is used by cutting it to length and connecting the ends by a suitable method. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the conductive rubber-like elastic member 3 can be easily obtained continuously by using a die having substantially the same shape during extrusion processing. Also, the shape of the insulating rubber-like elastic member 2 can be appropriately designed depending on the set value of the input load and the structure of the mounting portion, and is not limited to the present invention.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The operation of the present invention is such that the contact portions of two opposing conductive rubber-like elastic members 3 having a switch function are made to have different sawtooth cross sections or curved cross sections or a combination thereof, and the contact area is Since it is made small, it functions as a normal switch when two conductive rubber-like elastic members are continuously contacted by a pressing load for a long time, and when the load is released, the two conductive rubber-like elastic members instantly It is dissociated and the switch function is restored, and unlike the conventional case, it is not difficult to be adhered and dissociated, which is extremely effective as a switch element.

[0010]

EXAMPLES The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. (Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2) Silicone compound KE-3611U [trade name of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., specific resistance value 4.4 Ω · cm] 100 parts by weight of vulcanizing agent HC-101 [Shin-Etsu] Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. product name] 2.7 parts by weight and catalyst CAT-PL2 [Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. product name] 0.1 parts by weight are added, and the conductive unvulcanized composition is obtained by kneading with a two-roll mill. The product A and silicone compound KE-164U [trade name of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.] are added to 2 parts by weight of the vulcanizing agent HC-101 (described above) and kneaded with two rolls. Insulating unvulcanized composition B was put into separate extruders connected at the die part, and extruded by a die designed to have the cross-sectional shape of the switch shown in FIG. 1 (a). After vulcanizing the product by passing it through a vulcanizing furnace at 400 ℃ for 2 minutes, cut it into a specified length,
A rubber-like elastic switch shown in FIG. 1 (a) was manufactured by connecting one end thereof, and this was used as Example 1. Similarly, an extrudate shaped by a die designed to have the cross-sectional shape of the switch shown in Fig. 2 (a) is vulcanized by the same method, cut into a predetermined length, and then one end is connected to rubber. Elastic switch Figure 2
(a) was manufactured and used as Example 2. For comparison, the same material as that of the example was used, and an extrudate shaped by a die designed to have the cross-sectional shape of the switch shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (c) was prepared in the same manner. The rubber-like elastic switch shown in FIG. 3 (a) and FIG. 3 (c) was manufactured by vulcanizing with a rubber and cutting it to a predetermined length, and then connecting one end to Comparative Example 1 respectively.
And Comparative Example 2.

(Switch function test) Next, the rubber-like elastic switch thus obtained is attached and the switch length is set.
Table 1 shows the results of testing the time during which a load of 10 kg per 30 cm was continuously applied and the state of dissociation between the conductive rubber-like elastic bodies when opened.
It was shown to. In Example 1 (FIG. 1 (a)) and Example 2 (FIG. 2 (a)) of the rubber-like elastic switch of the present invention, even after 60 days, the switch instantly dissociated when the load was released. Moreover, in FIG. 3 (a) of the rubber-like elastic body switch in Comparative Example 1, it was confirmed that it did not dissociate instantly from the 7th day, became completely in contact after 30 days, and the switch function was not restored. In Comparative Example 2 (FIG. 3 (c)), it was confirmed that it takes 1 minute or more to restore the switch function after the 30th day.

[0012]

[Table 1]

(Electrical Switch Function Test) Table 2 shows the results of measuring the resistance value of the rubber-like elastic switch having the same material and shape as those used in the switch function test at repeated constant load voltage. -Test conditions: switch length (measurement distance) = 1.5 m, voltage / current = 12 v / 3 mA, load = 200 g, and the cross-sectional areas of the conductive members were approximately the same.・ Judgment: Calculate the number of repeated keystrokes that reach a resistance value of 10 kΩ. Both Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are stable up to 200,000 times, and are 100% from the past test results of this type of switch.
Endurance is expected to be more than 10,000 times and millions of times.

[0014]

[Table 2]

[0015]

The present invention relates to a rubber-like elastic switch, and since a gap is set between the conductive rubber-like elastic members at the time of pressure contact conduction, the contact area becomes extremely small, and even if a load is applied for a long period of time, it will stick. It is a solution to the drawback that it will not dissociate, and its utility value is extremely high in industry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a mounted state of a rubber-like elastic switch of the present invention at the time of opening and pressure contact. (A) Opened, (b) Pressed

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the rubber-like elastic switch of the present invention when opened. (A) Central convex type, (b) Serrated central convex type, (c) Central convex type + serrated central convex type, (d) Central concave type

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventionally known rubber-like elastic switch in a mounted state at the time of opening and pressure contact. (A),
(C) When opened, (b), (d) Pressed

[Explanation of symbols] 1 , 11 rubber-like elastic switch, 2, 12 insulating rubber-like elastic member 3, 13 conductive rubber-like elastic member, 4, 14 hollow part 5, 15 mounting part, 6, 16 pressing load 7 Void

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An insulating rubber-like elastic member having at least one hollow portion which is continuous in the longitudinal direction, and at least two conductive rubber-like elastic members are arranged at positions facing each other with a gap on the inner surface of the hollow portion. A rubber-like elastic switch provided, wherein the switch has a cross-sectional shape in which a gap is formed at a contact portion of the conductive rubber-like elastic member when the switch is brought into press contact conduction. 2. The rubber-like elastic switch according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the conductive rubber-like elastic member is 50 or more and 90 or less (JIS-A hardness meter).