JPH11111105A - Switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove an oxide film formed on a contact due to an arc and enable sure contact by a movable contact being vertically moved in axial direction of a support by a protrusion provided at a case through movement of a push button and being sliding contacted with a fixed contact. SOLUTION: When a push button 9 is pressed in P direction by door, the push button 9 moves straight against a spring 10, and the push button 9 is pushed into a case 1. At this time, a movable contact 7 turns against a resilience of a coil spring 8 around a support 2b by this push button 9. This movable contact 7 abuts on a protrusion provided at a case 1 at its protrusion 7C, and moves over its protrusion. At this time, a contact part 7a of the movable contact 7 vertically moves, the contact part 7a is far away from the contact part of a fixed contact 4 in contact with a contact part 5a of a fixed contact 5, and a fixed contact 6 and the fixed contact 5 are connected 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 switch suitable for use in a refrigerator or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional switch, for example, which operates when a door of a refrigerator is opened and closed, blinks an electric light for illuminating the inside of the refrigerator,
Alternatively, the switch for turning on and off the cooling motor is
As shown in FIG. 10, a case 21 made of a synthetic resin molded product is provided. The case 21 has two fixed contacts 22 and 23 made of a springy metal plate and a springy metal plate. The common movable contact 24 is attached, and the contact portion 24a of the common movable contact 24
Contact portions 22a and 23a, and the contact portion 24a can be brought into contact with and separated from the contact portions 22a and 23a, respectively.

[0003] Further, in the case 21, there is provided a rectangular driving body 25 fitted to a column 21a provided in the case 21, and the driving unit 25 is mounted so as to be rotatable about the column 21a. The movable contact 24 at one end of the driving body 25.
Is to be driven. Also, in case 21,
A push button 26 that is rotatable around a shaft 26a is attached, and a coil spring 27 is provided between the case 21 and the push button 26.
7, the push button 26 is constantly suppressed. The push button 26 is moved by the coil spring 27 to the shaft 2.
The push button 26 is pressed counterclockwise around the fulcrum 6a so that a part of the push button 26 projects outward from the hole 21b of the case 21 and the projection 26b of the push button 26 is locked inside the case 21. Thus, further rotation of the push button 26 is prevented.

[0004] Such a switch is attached to the refrigerator, and the push button 26 is operated by opening and closing the door of the refrigerator. FIG. 10 shows that the door of the refrigerator is opened and a part of the push button 26 is in the case 2.
1 shows a state in which the contact portion 24a of the movable contact 24 protrudes outward from the hole 21b.
In this state, the movable contact 24 and the fixed contact 22 are electrically connected to each other, and the electric lamp in the refrigerator is turned on or the cooling motor is turned off. Then, in this state, when the door of the refrigerator is closed and the push button 26 is pressed by the door in the direction of arrow P, the push button 26 rotates clockwise around the shaft 26a against the coil spring 27,
The push button 26 is pushed into the case 21.

[0005] Then, the driving body 25 is rotated about the column 21a by the push button 26, and the driving body 25 is rotated.
The movable contact 24 moves by the rotation of the contact point, and the contact portion 24a separates from the contact portion 22a and contacts the contact portion 23a of the fixed contact 23. At this time, the contact of the contact portion 24a with the contact portion 23a is
The contact, that is, the battery-type contact state, is established, and the lamp in the refrigerator is turned off or the cooling motor is connected. When the door is opened in this state, the push button 26 is partially protruded outward from the hole 21b by the coil spring 27 as shown in FIG. Then, the driving body 25 is pushed back, and the contact portion 24a separates from the contact portion 23a and comes into contact with the contact portion 22a of the fixed contact 22 in a battery type, and the electric light is turned on or the cooling motor is turned off. State.

[0006]

The conventional switch requires a driving body 25 for driving the movable contact 24, increases the number of parts, increases cost, requires a storage space, and is large in size. There is a problem. In addition, since the movable contact 24 is made of a metal plate having a spring property, not only the material cost is high and the cost is high, but also the contact of the contact portion 24a with the contact portions 22a and 23a is a battery type, and the contact portion 24a Since there is almost no sliding operation between the contact portion 22a and the contact portion 22a, there is a problem that an oxide film of the contact remains due to the arc generated between the contact portion 24a and the contact portions 22a and 23a, causing a contact failure.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems As first means for solving the above problems, a case, a convex portion provided on the case, a fixed contact attached to the case,
A movable contact rotatably supported by a support, and a push button for rotating the movable contact about the support, and when the movable contact is rotated by movement of the push button, the movable contact is The contact portion of the movable contact moves up and down in the axial direction of the support column and comes into sliding contact with the fixed contact in contact with the convex portion. Further, as a second solution, a coil spring is attached to the column, and the movable contact is pressed against the fixed contact by the coil spring, and the movable contact can be moved up and down along the protrusion by the elastic pressure of the coil spring. Was adopted. As a third solution, one end of the coil spring is hooked to the movable contact, and the other end is hooked to the case to resiliently press the movable contact in a rotational direction around the support, and The movable contact is configured to rotate following the movement. As a fourth solution, the upper part of the coil spring is resiliently pressed by a lid part of the case, and the movable contact is repressed by the lower part of the coil spring.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The switch of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the switch of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a mounting state of a push button of the switch of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining the operation of the switch of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for explaining the switching operation of the contacts of the switch of the present invention, and FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the switch of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional plan view of a main part of another embodiment of the switch of the present invention.

An embodiment of the switch of the present invention, for example, a switch which operates when the door of the refrigerator is opened and closed and which is used to blink an electric light for illuminating the inside of the refrigerator or to turn on / off a cooling motor is shown in FIG. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, a case 1 made of a synthetic resin molded product includes a box 2 having a cavity therein, and a lid 3 for closing the cavity of the box 2.
The arm part provided on the lid part 3 is a box body 2
It is combined with the box body 2 by, for example, snapping to the convex portion. Further, the box 2 includes a cylindrical portion 2a, a support 2b provided integrally with the box 2 in the hollow portion, and a convex portion 2c provided at a bottom portion in the hollow portion.

The fixed contacts 4 and 5 made of a metal plate are
It has contact portions 4a, 5a and terminal portions 4b, 5b, and is fixed to the box 2 respectively. In addition, a common fixed contact 6 made of a metal plate and having a terminal portion 6 a
b (see FIG. 3), each is fixed to the box 2. The movable contact 7 made of a metal plate is
A contact portion 7a provided at one end, a hole 6b provided at the other end, and a convex portion 6 provided between the contact portion 6a and the hole 6b.
c, and an arm 6d formed by bending on the side. And such a movable contact 7 is provided with a hole 7b.
The support 2b is inserted through the support 2b and is rotatably supported by the support 2b. When the movable contact 7 rotates, the protrusion 7c abuts on the protrusion 2c of the box body 2 and rides on the protrusion 2c. As a result, the contact portion 7a moves up and down in the axial direction of the column 2b, and the movable contact 7 is always in contact with the common fixed contact 6 while the contact portions 4 of the fixed contacts 4 and 5 are kept in contact with each other.
a, 5a.

The coil-shaped coil spring 8 is attached to the box 2 by inserting a column 2b into the center of the coil-shaped portion 8a, and one end 8b of the coil spring 8 is hooked on an arm 7d of the movable contact 7, and the other. The end 8c is hooked on a part of the box 2. The movable contact 7 is constantly resiliently pressed clockwise around the column 2b by the coil spring 8, and the movable contact 7 is constantly resiliently pressed to the common fixed contact 6 by the coil-shaped portion 8a. Contact 6
Are always in contact with each other. Further, when the cover 3 is attached to the box 2, the coil spring 8 attached to the box 2 resiliently presses the upper part of the coiled portion 8 a with the cover 3 to press the movable contact 7 against the fixed contact 6. And the contact between the two contacts is made more reliable.

A push button 9 made of a synthetic resin molded product is provided with a locking portion 9a formed at one end provided with a split groove.
And a concave portion 9b provided therein. The push button 9 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 2a of the box body 2 and snapped, and is attached movably in the vertical direction with the cylindrical portion 2a as a guide. The locking portion 9a is locked to the box 2 to prevent the push button 9 from falling out of the case 1. One end of the coil-shaped spring 10 is inserted into the concave portion 9b of the push button 9, and the other end is locked to a part of the box body 2. The spring 10 constantly presses the push button 9 upward. The push button 9 is configured such that the arm 7d of the movable contact 7 is always in contact with a part of the push button 9 to prevent the movable contact 7 from rotating any further. Contact 7
Is rotated to switch the contacts.

Such a switch is attached to the refrigerator, and the push button 9 is operated by opening and closing the door of the refrigerator. Next, the operation of the switch of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the door of the refrigerator is opened and a part of the push button 9 projects outward from the cylindrical portion 2bb of the case 1. In the state, the contact portion 7a of the movable contact 7 contacts the contact portion 4a of the fixed contact 4, the common fixed contact 6 and the fixed contact 4 conduct, and the lamp in the refrigerator is turned on or the cooling motor is turned on. It has been cut. Then, in the state of FIG. 2, when the door of the refrigerator is closed and the push button 9 is pressed in the direction of the arrow P with the door, the push button 9 moves linearly against the spring 10 as shown in FIG. The push button 9 is pushed into the case 1.

The push button 9 causes the movable contact 7 to rotate about the support 2b against the resiliency of the coil spring 8. In the movable contact 7, the convex portion 7c abuts the convex portion 2c of the case 1, gets over the convex portion 2c along the convex portion 2c, the contact portion 7a moves up and down, and the contact portion 7a is fixed. The fixed contact 5 is separated from the contact portion 4a of the contact 4
And the fixed contact 6 and the fixed contact 5 are connected to each other. At this time, the light in the refrigerator is turned off,
Alternatively, the cooling motor is connected.

The switching of the contacts between the state shown in FIG. 2 and the state shown in FIG. 6 is performed as follows. First, as shown in FIG. The projection 7c and the projection 2c of the case 1 are separated. Then, when the movable contact 7 rotates about the support 2b, as shown in FIG.
The contact portion 7a rotates while sliding on the contact portion 4a until the contact portion 7a hits the contact portion 7a. Further, when the rotation of the movable contact 7 continues, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7C, the projection 7c rides on the projection 2c, the contact 7a is separated from the contact 4a, and then, as shown in FIG. 2c, the contact portion 7a comes into contact with the contact portion 5a. Further, when the rotation of the movable contact 7 continues, FIG.
As shown in (E), the contact portion 7a moves while sliding on the contact portion 5a, and the convex portion 7c is separated from the convex portion 2c, so that the contact is switched.

When the door is opened in the state shown in FIG.
The push button 9 is operated by a spring 10 as shown in FIG.
A part of the case projects outward from the case 1,
The movable contact 7 is returned by the coil spring 8, whereby
The contact portion 7a separates from the contact portion 5a and comes into contact with the contact portion 4a of the fixed contact 4, so that the fixed contact 6 and the fixed contact 4 are connected to each other, and the electric lamp is turned on or the cooling motor is turned off. . The switching of the contacts during that time is the reverse of the operation described above, that is, from FIG.
The operation of (A) is performed to switch the contacts.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the switch of the present invention. In this embodiment, the shaft 11a of the push button 11 is attached to the case 1, and the push button 11 is pivoted about the shaft 11a. Is rotatably mounted, the movable contact 7 is brought into contact with the push button 11, the spring 12 is attached to the case 1, and the push button 11 is constantly pressed upward at one end of the spring 12. is there. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the push button 11 shown in FIG.
Is pressed in the direction of arrow P, the push button 11
Is rotated around the shaft 11a and pushed into the case 1. Then, the contact is switched by the same operation as in the above-described embodiment,
Here, the description is omitted.

[0020]

According to the switch of the present invention, the movable contact 7 is moved by the projection 2c of the case 1 by the movement of the push button 9.
Since the column 2b moves up and down in the axial direction and slides on the fixed contacts 4 and 5, the oxide film of the contact portions 4a, 5a and 7a due to the arc generated at the time of contact switching can be removed by the sliding operation of the contacts. Can provide a reliable switch of contact. In addition, the direct contact of the push button 9 with the movable contact 7 eliminates the need for the conventional driving body 25, so that an inexpensive and compact switch can be provided. The movable contact 7
Does not need to be made of a metal plate having a spring property as in the prior art, so that an inexpensive switch can be provided. In addition, prop 2
c, the movable contact 7 is pressed against the fixed contact 6 by the coil spring 8 attached to the movable contact 7 and the fixed contact 6.
And a switch with stable connection can be provided. In addition, since the movable contact 7 is resiliently pressed in the rotation direction by the coil spring 8, the coil spring 8 serves both to press the movable contact 7 against the fixed contact 6 and to resiliently press the movable contact 7 in the rotation direction, thereby reducing the number of parts. Inexpensive switches with good productivity can be provided. In addition, since the coil spring 8 is resiliently pressed by the lid 3, the movable contact 7 can be strongly pressed by the fixed contact 6, and a switch with more reliable contact of the contact can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of a main part of the switch of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part showing a mounted state of the switch of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view of a main part for describing the operation of the switch of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a contact switching operation of the switch of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the switch of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional plan view of a main part showing another embodiment of the switch of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional plan view of a main part of a conventional switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Box 2a Tube part 2b Column 2c Convex part 3 Cover part 4 Fixed contact 4a Contact part 4b Terminal part 5 Fixed contact 5a Contact part 5b Terminal part 6 Common fixed contact 6a Terminal part 7 Movable contact 7a Contact part 7b hole 7c convex part 7d arm part 8 coil spring 8a coil-shaped part 8b one end 8c other end 9 push button 9a locking part 9b concave part 10 spring 11 push button 11a shaft 12 spring

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A case, a convex portion provided on the case, a fixed contact attached to the case, a movable contact rotatably supported by a support, and the movable contact centered on the support. A rotating push button, wherein when the movable contact is rotated by the movement of the push button, the movable contact comes into contact with the convex portion, and the contact portion of the movable contact moves up and down in the axial direction of the column. And a sliding contact with the fixed contact. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a coil spring is attached to the support, and the movable contact is pressed against the fixed contact by the coil spring, and the movable contact can be moved up and down along the protrusion by the elastic pressure of the coil spring. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a switch. 3. One end of the coil spring is hooked to the movable contact, and the other end is hooked to the case to resiliently press the movable contact in a rotational direction about the support post, and follow the movement of the push button. 3. The switch according to claim 2, wherein said movable contact is rotated. 4. The switch according to claim 3, wherein an upper portion of the coil spring is resiliently pressed by a lid portion forming a part of the case, and the movable contact is repressed by a lower portion of the coil spring.