JPS6013132Y2 - power switch - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a power switch that opens and closes in a snap action manner using a reversing mechanism using a spring.

Since a power switch needs to open and close a circuit through which a relatively large current flows, a relatively large current flows between its terminals.

For this reason, in order to prevent poor contact between terminals and welding between terminals, etc., switches of the type that open and close terminals with a snap action are widely used as power switches.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional power switch of this type, which is made up of a main body 11 with a U-shaped cross section, and a side plate 12 assembled to cover the open surface of the main body 11. A rectangular parallelepiped case 13 is formed.

Both the main body 11 and the side plates 12 are made of an insulating material, for example, by molding synthetic resin.

A rod-shaped contact body 14 made of synthetic resin, for example, is accommodated in the case 13 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, and a movable contact piece 15 made of a conductive material and approximately round rod-shaped parallel to the side plate 12 is housed in the contact body 1.4. -11.15-21 and 15-12.1
5-22 are attached so as to protrude from the opposing sides, one at a time.

On the other hand, fixed contact pieces 16-11 to 16-13 and 16 are provided on the bottom plate 11a of the main body 11 facing the side plate 12 in a direction perpendicular to the surface.
-21 to 16-23 are planted protruding inside and out.

These fixed contact pieces 16-11 to 16-13 and 16-2
1 to 16-23 are from the bottom plate 11a of the main body 11 to the case 13
It is extended inside, passes through the side plate 12, and is taken out to the outside of the case 13.

These fixed contact pieces 16-11 to 16-13 and 16-21
~16-23 correspond to contact body 14
The contact body 14 is arranged to sandwich the fixed contact piece 16-11.16-21.1 correspondingly arranged within the case 13.
6-12, 16-22 and 16-13, and 16-23 so as to be slidable along a guide groove formed in the case 13 (not shown).

An insertion port 17 is formed in one end surface in the longitudinal direction of the main body 11, and the drive body 18 is inserted into the case 13 through the insertion port 17.
is inserted movably in the longitudinal direction of the case 13.

An operator 19 is provided at the end of the drive body 18 located outside the case 13, and by operating the operator 19, the drive body 18 can be pushed into the case 13.

A frame 20 that protrudes in the width direction of the case 13 is provided at the side end of the insertion port 17 of the main body 11, and a frame 21 that protrudes in the width direction of the drive body 18 is provided at the end of the drive body 18 on the operator 19 side. provided.

A spring 22 is stretched between both frames 20 and 21, and the biasing force of this spring 22 causes the drive body 18 to move toward the case 1.
A force is being applied in the direction of protrusion from 3.

A part of the surface of the end of the contact body 14 on the insertion port 17 side opposite to the side plate 12 is shaved off parallel to the side plate 12 to form a recess 23, while the end of the drive body 18 inside the case 13 is cut away parallel to the side plate 12. A part of the surface located on the side plate 12 side is cut away parallel to the side plate 12 to form a recess 24.

Therefore, when the contact body 14 and the drive body 18 move toward each other, the recesses 23 and 24 do not come into contact with each other, but overlap, and a portion of the body is fitted into each other. It becomes.

Recess 23 of contact body 14 and recess 24 of drive body 18
Both ends of the reversing spring 25 are fixed respectively to the reversing spring 25, and the reversing spring 25 is stretched between the contact body 14 and the drive body 18.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the state in which the operator 19 is not operated, and the drive body 18 is biased toward the case 13 by the biasing force of the spring 22.
Force is being applied in the direction of protrusion from the

The contact body 14, which is connected to this drive body 18 by a reversing spring 25, maintains its stable position by means of the reversing spring 25.

At this position, the movable contact pieces 15-11 and 1 of the contact body 14
5-21 are fixed contact pieces 16-11 and 16-21, respectively.
The movable contact pieces 15-12 and 15-22 are pressed against the fixed contact pieces 16-12 and 16-22, respectively, by the biasing force in the axial direction of the case 13 provided by the spring 22 and the reversing spring 25.

From this state, when the operating element 19 is operated to push the drive body 18 into the case 13 against the biasing force of the spring 22, the reversal spring 25 is reversed at a predetermined position to take another moving position.

The contact body 14 is strongly driven toward the insertion port 17 in the longitudinal direction of the case 13 by the reversing force generated when the reversing spring 25 is reversed.

During this driving, the recess 23 of the contact body 14 and the recess 24 of the drive body 18 are fitted into each other so as to overlap with each other.

In this state, the movable contact pieces 15-11 and 1 of the contact body 14
5-21 are fixed contact pieces 16-12 and 16-22, respectively.
Furthermore, the movable contact pieces 15-12 and 15-22 are impulsively pressed against the fixed contact pieces 16-13 and 16-23, respectively.

In this way, the switching operation of the switch is performed by contact switching between the fixed contact pieces 16-11 to 16-23 and the movable contact pieces 15-11 to 15-22.

In this conventional power switch, when attempting to assemble the drive body 18 and the contact body 14 in a state where they are connected by the reversing spring 25, the spring force of the reversing spring 25 causes the contact body 14 to move upwards in the paper of FIG. Powered by
If it comes off the guide groove (not shown), it will be difficult to assemble it.

Therefore, in the conventional power switch, the drive body 1 is initially placed inside the case 13 without the reversing spring 25 connected.
8 and the contact body 14, and the reversing spring 25 is inserted through the opening 26 provided on the side of the main body 11 where the reversing spring 25 is located.
was inserted to connect the drive body 18 and contact body 14.

Since the opening 26 exists, in the conventional type, this opening 26
There is a risk that dust and other ash particles may enter the case 13, resulting in poor contact between the contact pieces.

Furthermore, when used in a flammable gas atmosphere, for example, there is a risk that a flame may be generated by the sparks generated during the snap action.

Further, although the maximum standard value for the area of this opening 26 is determined by the UL standard, if an attempt is made to provide a sufficient opening area necessary for assembly, the UL standard value is often exceeded.

Furthermore, if a conductive material is used to finish the surface of the operator 19 used for manual operation, and the surface of the operator 19 is coated with this, the distance between the operator 19 and the nearest conductive member (for example, the spring 22) In order to satisfy the UL standard that 3.2 or more must be maintained, the operating element 19 must be designed to be spaced apart from the spring 22, resulting in an increase in size.

This idea solves the various problems with conventional power switches, and provides a power switch that can be easily assembled without providing an opening in the case, and that can be made smaller while satisfying the Japanese standards. The purpose is to

According to this invention, a contact body to which a movable contact piece is attached is housed in a case consisting of a main body and a side plate that closes the opening of the main body, and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the case. A drive body movable parallel to the contact body is attached to the case, and the contact body and the drive body are connected to each other by reversible spring means.

Furthermore, a fixed contact piece is attached to the case, and the movable contact piece is pressed into contact with the movable contact piece at one moving position of the contact body that moves by snap action when operated from outside the case.

This invention further includes means for engaging the contact body with the main body of the case so that the contact body can be held connected to the drive body by the reversing spring means when the side plate is removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The power switch of this invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments thereof with reference to the drawings.

The main body 11, which has a U-shaped cross section with an open surface at the - side, is formed by molding a synthetic resin material, for example.

Side plate 12 that fits with this main body 11 to form case 13
is likewise made of, for example, a synthetic resin material.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, convex portions 27-11 to 27-22 are formed on both side edges of the main body 11, and notches 2B-11 to 28 are provided at corresponding positions on the side plate 12. −
The side plate 12 is configured to be able to be assembled to the main body 11 so that the side plates 22 fit thereto and close the opening surface of the main body 11.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, B and 4A, the contact body 14, to which movable contact pieces 15-11 and 15-21 are attached, moves in the longitudinal direction of the main body 11 constituting the case 13. Can be accommodated freely.

That is, a long groove 29 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the contact body 14 near one end of the rectangular parallelepiped rod-shaped contact body 14 and on one side thereof.
is formed.

A plate-shaped movable contact piece 15-11, 15-2 is provided on the end surface of the long groove 29 on the inside side of the main body 11, and extends almost perpendicularly to the opening surface of the main body 11.
1 are provided to protrude from both sides of the contact body 14 in the movement width direction.

The embodiment has a structure in which the circuit is turned on and off, and the movable contact pieces 15-11 and 15-21 are integrally arranged and electrically connected to each other.

This movable contact piece 15-11. A spring 30 is stretched between an end face in the long groove 29 where the grooves 15-21 are disposed and an end face opposite thereto.

A guide piece 32-1, 32-2 is integrally formed at the end of the bottom surface 31 on the side of the end surface 33 where the end of the contact body 14 of the main body 11 is located, protruding inward from the case 13 perpendicularly to the bottom surface 31; The width of one end of the contact body 14 is equal to the width of this guide piece 32.
The contact body 14 is sandwiched and guided by the guide pieces 32-1, 32-2, and is arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction within the main body 11. will be established.

End face 33 of case 13 composed of main body 11 and side plate 12
A rectangular opening 34 having a width equal to the width between the guide pieces 32-1 and 32-2 is formed on the main body 11 side of the contact body 1.
4, the end face portion of the contact body 14 is inserted into this opening 34.

In addition, the main body 1 of the part of the contact body 14 located on the opening 34 side
The opening surface side of the contact body 14 is shaved, and a small chamber 35 is formed between the end surface portion of the contact body 14 and the end surface 33 of the case 13, with the end surface portion of the contact body 14 inserted into the opening 34.

A second spring 36 is stretched between the end face 33 and the contact body 14 in this small chamber 35 .

A drive body 18 is attached to the case 13, which is movable within the case 13 in parallel to the contact body 14 by an operation from outside the case 13.

That is, an opening 37 is formed in the end face opposite to the opening 34 of the case 13 formed by fitting the main body 11 and the side plate 12 together.

The cross section of the drive body 18 in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped rod forms this opening 37.
The drive body 18 is inserted into the case 13 through this opening 37.

Support pieces 38-1 and 38-2 that protrude inward of the case 13 are formed on the main body 11 and the side plate 12 at positions closer to the opening 37 inside the case 13.

A space is provided in a portion surrounded by the support pieces 38-1 and 38-2 in which the drive body 1B is fitted and can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the case 13.

These support pieces 3B-1, 38-2 and the opening 37 of the case 13
A first spring 40 is stretched between a frame 42 attached to the drive body 18 near the side inner end surface 39 .

An operator 19 is attached to the end of the drive body 18 located outside the case 13, and by operating the operator 19, the drive body 18 can be moved in the longitudinal direction within the case 13.

A frame 41 used for mounting the switch is attached to the opening 37 side of the case 13 as necessary.

A part of the end of the drive body 18 on the inside side of the case 13 on the side of the opening surface of the main body 11 is cut off parallel to S to the opening surface to form a recess 48 .

Each end of a reversing spring 25 is attached to this recess 48 of the drive body 18 and the end of the contact body 14 on the opening 37 side, and the driving body 18 and the contact body 14 are connected by the reversing spring 25 means. .

Normally, the biasing force of the spring 40 causes the drive body 18 to take a position protruding from the case 13, and in this state, the first engagement point of the drive body 18 and the second engagement point of the contact body 14 are respectively connected to the reversal spring 25. Reversing spring 2 engaged at both ends
Both bodies are connected via 5, and the reversing spring 25 is in a stable position.

At this time, the first engagement point is at the first position closer to the operator 19 than the second engagement point.

In this connected state, the spring force of the reversing spring 25 applies force to the contact body 14 in a direction parallel to the opening surface of the case 13 toward the side of the main body 11 where the reversing spring 25 is located.

However, since the ends of the contact body 14 are held between the guide pieces 32-1 and 32-2 from both sides in the spring force direction, the ends of the contact body 14 do not engage with the guide pieces 32-2. The contact body 14 will not come off.

A plate-shaped fixed contact piece 16-1 is attached to the side plate 12 that is fitted to the main body 11.
1.16-21 are installed facing each other and penetrate through the side plate 12, and when the main body 11 and the side plate 12 are fitted, the tip thereof is a cut groove 43-1.43 provided in the bottom surface 31 of the main body 11. -2, and the fixed contact piece 16-11.16-21 is inserted into the case 13.
mounted on.

When the operator 19 is moved from this position in the direction of being pushed into the case 13, the drive body 18 is moved in the direction of being pushed into the case 13 against the biasing force of the spring 40.

This movement biases the reversing spring 25 against a biasing force in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of its drive body 18.

This deflection causes spring energy to be stored in the reversing spring 25, and as the drive body 18 moves beyond a predetermined value, the arrangement of the first and second engagement points on the operating line is reversed and the second
The reversing spring 25 suddenly reverses.

This reversal of the reversing spring 25 applies a sudden force to the contact body 14 in the direction of the opening 37 of the case 13, and the contact body 14 rapidly moves within the case 13 in the direction of the opening 37.

Due to this movement by the snap action, the tip portion of the contact body 14 on the opening 37 side moves into the recess 4 of the drive body 18.
8, the movable contact pieces 15-11, 15-21 impactfully abut on the fixed contact pieces 16-11, 16-21, respectively.

During this contact, the spring 30 causes the movable contact piece 15-11.15 to
-21 is prevented from being applied with unnecessary force by contacting with the fixed contact pieces 16-11 and 16-21.

Furthermore, the impact noise generated during this contact can be reduced.

Furthermore, the second spring 36 reduces the impact noise generated when the contact body 14 returns to its original position when the force pushing the drive body 18 into the case 13 from the operator 19 is removed.

In this invention, even if a force acting parallel to the opening surface of the main body 11 of the case 13 is generated on the contact body 14 connected to the drive body 18 by the reversing spring 25 during assembly with the side plate 12 removed, the contact body 14 The contact body 14 is held by guide pieces 32-1 and 32-2 provided on the main body 11.
Never comes off.

In this way, in this invention, the contact body 14 and the drive body 1 are
Means is provided for engaging the contact body 14 with the main body 11 of the case 13 so that the contact body 8 can maintain its connected state.

Because this means exists, the drive body 18 and the contact body 14 are mounted inside the main body 11 while being connected by the reversing spring 25 with the side plate 12 removed, and the spring 36 is disposed in the small chamber 35 to close the side plate 12. The switch can be assembled by fitting the parts into the main body 11 and mounting and enclosing the parts in the case 13.

In this way, the contact body 14 and the drive body 1 are connected within the main body 11.
8 remains connected with the reversing spring 25, and the side plate 12 is fitted so as to close the opening surface of the main body 11 to assemble the switch. Therefore, the switch assembly process is extremely easy and does not require any skill. It is simplified and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

When using it as a normal power switch, use the operator 1.
A well-known locking mechanism 44 that holds the drive body 18 pushed into the case 13 by operating the drive body 1
8 and the main body 11.

Since this locking mechanism 44 is well known, its explanation will be omitted, but this locking mechanism 44 keeps the drive body 18 pushed into the case 13 until the operator 19 is pushed into the case 13 again. Hold.

As explained in detail above, the power switch of this invention can be assembled into a main body having an opening surface with the drive body and contact body connected by the reversing spring means, and can be easily installed inside. can.

After this installation work is completed, the side plate can be assembled to close the opening of the main body and the parts can be enclosed in the case, making it possible to easily assemble and manufacture the switch and greatly reduce the number of manufacturing steps.

Unlike conventional switches, there is no need to provide an opening for installing the reversing spring on the side of the main body of the case, so this aspect also reduces the
It satisfies the standards, and since there are no openings, no foreign substances can enter the case, and it can be used safely even in flammable gas atmospheres.

Furthermore, it is possible to significantly reduce the impact noise between the contacts that occurs when the switch is operated with a snap action operation to switch the contacts.

Furthermore, since there is no conductive part on the outside of the case on the control side, even if the surface of the control is coated with a conductive material, it is possible to shorten the distance between the case and the control and still meet the specifications. Can be downsized.

[Brief explanation of the drawings] Figures 1A and B are diagrams showing the structure of a conventionally used power switch.A is a front view thereof, B is a top view with the top cut away, and Figures 2A and B are respectively A top cutaway view and a front cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the power switch of this invention, No. 3
Figures A, B, C, and D are assembly diagrams showing the configuration of an embodiment of the power switch of this invention, where A is a side view, B is a bottom view, C is a front view, D is a rear view, and Figure 4A, B is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the power switch of this invention, A is a view showing the main body, and B is a view showing a side plate. 11...Main body, 12...Side plate, 13.
...Case, 15-11.15-12.15-2
1.15-22...Movable contact piece, 16-11~1
6-13゜16-21~16-23... Fixed contact piece, 14... Contact body, 18... Drive body, 25... Reversing spring , 32-1.32
-2... Information piece.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The case is composed of a main body and a side plate that closes an opening surface of the main body, and a contact body to which a movable contact piece is attached is housed within the case so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the case, and an operator located protruding from the outside of the case. A drive body that is movable within the case parallel to the direction of movement of the contact body is installed in the case, and a first spring that biases the drive body to protrude from the case is attached to the case. A reversing spring is attached to the mounting end plate side of the drive body, and between opposite ends of the contact body on the mounting end plate side of the contact body and the case opposite to the mounting end plate of the drive body are attached to both ends of the reversing spring. When engaged, the reversing spring is disposed on a plane parallel to the opening surface, and in a state in which the operator protrudes, the first engagement point of the drive body with the reversing spring is at the contact point of the contact body. When the operator is pushed into the case for a predetermined length by taking a first position located closer to the mounting end plate than the second engagement point with the reversal spring, the second engagement point is moved by the reversal spring to the first position. The fixed contact piece is configured to take a second position located closer to the mounting end plate than the first engagement point, and the fixed contact piece is pressed against the movable contact piece in one of the first and second positions. a second plate attached to a case between an end of the contact body opposite to the mounting end plate and an end plate of the case opposite to this end;
A spring is disposed on the inner surface of the end plate of the main body opposite to the mounting end plate, and a guide piece is disposed close to the contact body so as to sandwich the contact body from both sides perpendicular to the opening surface. The power switch is configured such that when the side plate is removed, the contact body is held by the guide piece and maintained connected to the drive body by the reversal spring.