PT86679B - MODULAR STRUCTURE ELECTRIC SWITCH - Google Patents

Abstract

A range of switches is produced from standard elements, in this instance a miniature moulded case (10) comprising four terminal housings, each able to receive a connection terminal. Inside the case (10) is slidably mounted a tray (32) able to carry one or more moving contact bridges (80) cooperating with stationary contacts joined to the terminals. The stationary and moving contacts are laterally offset relative to the mid-plane of the case (10) and, through a judicious arrangement of the moving contact bridges and of the associated stationary contacts, it is possible to produce various types of two- or multi-position switches. <IMAGE>

Description

□ invention relates to a miniature electric switch comprising:

- a narrow molded box having a narrow back face that can be engaged with a simulated knitting rail, a narrow front face with a hand-operated member, two narrow side faces with inlet and outlet switch terminals and two side faces great parallels,

- an isolated sliding rod supporting at least one movable contact bridge coupled to said control member,

- at least a pair of fixed contacts connected to said terminals and arranged in front of said contact bridge to operate with the latter, causing the alternate sliding of the rod to open and close the switch, respectively by separation and application of the contact bridge in said pair of fixed contacts.

An electric switch of the kind mentioned can be included in a low voltage electrical switchboard, especially for domestic distribution, to ensure the control of an output circuit. It is important to have a whole range of switches to ensure the different functions, ranging from the opening and closing of a circuit to the simultaneous control of several circuits. It is possible to make an apparatus adapted to each of the functions, but this embodiment is expensive and requires a large number of different parts. It has already been proposed to design an improved device capable of ensuring different functions and for certain applications to use only part of the possibilities of the device. This reduces the number of types of devices manufactured and stored, but the cost of this improved device is high and in most applications the capacities of the switch are superabundant.

purpose of the present invention is to enable the realization of

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tion of customized electric switches, perfectly adapted to their functions, these switches being more or less made from standard parts, the personalization being done during assembly.

The invention is characterized in that said tie is constituted by an extended bar, which extends and is mounted with sliding in a direction parallel to said large side faces and perpendicular to the anterior face, the bar being guided laterally by the large side faces, which frame it and because the bar has at least one trans-salt opening capable of being crossed by a contact bridge, in the form of a small plate extending perpendicularly to the ei. the longitudinal length of the tie and extending protruding on one side and the other of the tie and because the moving contacts carried by the ends of the contact bridge are displaced laterally in relation to the median plane parallel to said large lateral faces.

lateral displacement of the moving contacts in relation to the median plane of the housing allows corresponding displacement of the associated fixed contacts, as well as of the connecting conductors and corresponding terminals. The symmetrical part is thus displaced by the housing of a second circuit displaced laterally on the opposite side of the median plane. The lateral displacement also causes a self-cleaning effect of the contacts due to a rotation of the contact bridge during closing and opening. contacts. The different types of contact bridges are advantageously made from the same piece of b.a if on which displaced contact pads are fixed, either on one side or the other and oriented on one side or the other of the contact bridge. The contact bridge or bridges are carried by a sliding tie guided by the side walls of the box and actuated either by an oscillating handle or by a pressure button arranged on the front face of the box. The stable link (s) of the tie are defined by the springs or elastic parts chosen during the assembly of the device. The same molded box is used for all versions of the commu

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According to a development of the invention the box can receive four terminals, arranged in pairs. On one side and on the other on the two narrow side faces of the box. The terminals are juxtaposed on one side and the other of the middle plane of the box, being separated and carried by a support piece, constituting an insulating panel interspersed between the two adjacent terminals. This insulating panel takes frames and protrusions for positioning the terminals and the associated conducting leads to the fixed contacts. The support parts also have covers designed to close the openings for access to the terminals established in the box and not used in certain versions. The panel extends in the middle plane and the support part has a symmetry that allows an inverted assembly adapted to the different versions of the switch.

The range of switches can comprise a large number of versions of which only the most current are mentioned below, the others being easily conceivable by a specialist. A simple version is a unipolar switch with two stable opening and closing positions. In this version, the tie only takes a contact bridge cooperating with two fixed contacts connected to the two terminals arranged on the opposite narrow side faces. A neutral passage spring defines the two stable positions, respectively of opening and closing the circuit, the latter being displaced laterally on one side of the median plane. The other side of the box is rendered unusable, with the access holes for the terminal housing being closed by their lids carried by a support piece. □ Push button type unipolar connector is made in the same way, replacing the contact bridge support rod in order to have a possibility of action by simply pressing the push button against a call spring. The space available in this box can be used to house a warning device placed on the front side next to the push button and connected to a second circuit displaced laterally in relation to the first circuit with moving contacts. THE

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-5 leua box in this case four terminals, two of which are associated with the tell-tale.

A bipolar switch is obtained by incorporating into the box of the unipolar switch described above, a second circuit comprising a second contact bridge carried by the tie rod. The apparatus includes four terminals and the second circuit is laterally offset on the side opposite the first circuit. Depending on the position of the tie, the two circuits are either open or closed. The terminal support parts are devoid of covers and all terminal housings are occupied. The contact pads of the two bridges are oriented in the same direction.

An open-closed switch is made by modifying one of the circuits of the bipolar switch and, in this case, by changing the position of one of the mobile contact bridges to orient the passages. on the opposite side. The associated fixed contacts are actually inverted, in such a way that, in one of the tie rod positions one of the circuits is closed and the other open and in the other position of the tie, the opening and closing of the circuits are inverted. In this embodiment, the contact bridges are arranged in the openings at the end of the tie rod and the contact pressure springs request the bridges, one towards the other.

A unipolar switch with two positions differs from the open-closed switch simply by deleting one of the boxes and connecting the other terminal to the two fixed contacts available on the same side. In this case, the support piece will comprise z-plugs for the housing of the unused terminals. It is also possible to make switches with three positions presenting, in addition to the open-closed positions, an opening position of the circuit set. This is achieved by replacing the bistable spring with a coupling spring defining three different positions.

z

Of course, several switches can be combined, for example, to form a three-pole switch from

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-6 a unipolar switch next to a bipolar switch or the realization of a tetrapolar switch from two bipolar switches. □ specialist can easily design other operational combinations.

Other advantages and characteristics will stand out more clearly from the description that will follow of different embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and represented in the attached drawings in which:

- figs. 1 and 2 are schematic elevation views of a bipolar switch represented, respectively, in the open and closed position assuming that the sides of the box have been removed;

- fig. 3 is an exploded view of the switch according to fig. 1;

- fig. 4 is a view similar to that of fig. 3, showing a unipolar switch according to the invention;

- fig. 5 is a cist analogous to that of fig. 3, showing an open-closed switch according to the invention;

- figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to figs. 1 and 2, representing a three position unipolar switch;

- fig. 8 is an exploded view, analogous to that of fig. 3, representing the switch according to fig. 6;

- fig. 9 is a view analogous to that of fig. 1, showing a pushbutton with telltale according to the invention;

- fig. 10 is an exploded view analogous to that of fig. 3, showing the switch with the push button according to fig. 9.

In figs. 1 to 3 a miniature bipolar electric switch comprising a molded box 10, consisting of two lids 12, 14 coupled, having a rear face 16 for engaging a symmetrical profile rail with the help of a brake 18. The falls. The molded cup 10 has an anterior face 20 crossed by a switchgear, in this case an oscillating handle 22, two large parallel side faces 24, 26 and two side faces

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-7streets 28, 30. The gauge of the molded box 10 corresponds to that of the modular range of electrical equipment commercially called MULTINEUF. Inside the box 10, a rod 32 in the form of an elongated bar that is able to move in a direction perpendicular to the front face 20. is mounted with the ribs 34 arranged on the inner parts of the side faces 24, 26, a spur 36 co-operating with a slot 38 of the handle 22 to transform the oscillating movement of the handle 22 into a sliding movement of the tie 32. The tie 32 has three openings

40, 42, 44, each capable of receiving a contact bridge, in the form of a small conductive plate, extending perpendicularly to the tie 32 and protruding laterally on one side and the other of this tie.

A support piece 46, 48, in the form of a panel, is inserted between the two covers 12, 14, extending through the medium plane of the box 10 parallel to the large side faces 24, 26. Each of the pieces 46, 48, is adjacent to the narrow side faces 28, 30, and delimit with the large side faces 24, 26, of the terminal housing 50 arranged on one side and the other of the support piece 46, 48. In each housing 50 there is a terminal 52, 54 ; 56, 58, each consisting of a frame 60, a screw 62 and a blade 64 belonging to a conductor 66, 68, 70, 72, carrying contact pads 74 at the opposite end of the terminal, constituting fixed contacts cooperating with the bridges of mobile contact. The support pieces 46, 48, and the box 10 have frames or grooves 76 for positioning the pins 52 to 58 and connecting conductors 66 to 72. It will be noted that on each narrow side face 28, 30 are two adjacent terminals 52, 54 are arranged; 56, 58, with the box showing 10 openings

78, in this case, two opening openings for the connecting conductors on each of the narrow side faces 28, 30 and two access openings for the screws 62. Referring more particularly to fig. 3 it can be seen that a first contact bridge 80, is inserted in the upper opening 40 of the tie 32 while the intermediate opening 42 is crossed by a second contact bridge 82. A leaf spring is interleaved en67 277

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-8tract the contact bridge 80, 82 and the bottom of the opening 40, 42, to order the contact bridges 80, 82, for the back face 16 of the box 10. The first contact bridge 80 carries two displaced contact pads 86 laterally to the left of fig. 3, in relation to the median plane of the box 10. Similarly, the second contact bridge 82 reads a pair of contact pads 88 laterally displaced on the opposite side. The insert assembly 86, 88 is oriented towards the bottom 16 of the box 10. The first contact bridge 80 cooperates with the fixed contacts made up of the connection parts 68, 72, whereas the second contact bridge 82 cooperates with the contact parts 66, 70. The lateral displacement of the moving contacts 86 carried by the first contact bridge 80, takes these contacts to the laterally displaced plane containing the terminals 54, 58, to constitute a first displaced circuit on one side of the middle plane. Similarly, the second contact port 82 constitutes a second circuit extending in the plane containing the terminals 52, 56, displaced laterally on the opposite side of the middle plane. The connecting conductors 66 to 72 are arranged to place the fixed contacts 74 carried by conductors 66, 70, in front of the moving contacts 88, connected by the second bridge 82 and the fixed contacts 74 of parts 68, 72, in front of the contacts first bridge 80.

A spring 90 cooperates with the mobile equipment consisting of the tie 32 and the handle 22 to define two stable positions of the tie 32, in this case, an opening position of the switch, in which the two circuits are opened, the tie 32 being displaced towards the front face 20. The inverted closing position is achieved by oscillating the handle 22 taking the tie 32 towards the rear face 16. In this closing position, the mobile contact bridges 80, 82, rest on the contact fixed contacts 66 to 72, the contact pressure being provided by the leaf springs 84. The lateral displacement of the contact pads 86, 88, causes a self-cleaning effect due to the articulation of the contact bridges 80, 82, during the contact with the fixed contacts and the movement followed by the tie 32 leading to compression of the leaf springs 84. The same effect of au

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-9to-cleaning results from the inverse articulation of the contact bridges 80, Θ2, during the opening movement of the tie 32.

z

It is easy to see that the terminals 52 to 5Θ are identical, as well as the isolated support pieces 46, 4B, with only the assembly carried out, symmetrically, in the manner shown in fig. 3. The contact bridges B0, 82, and the fixed contacts 66 to 72 can be manufactured from identical base parts, with only the position of the contact pads 74, 86, 88 being different.

In the following figures the same reference numbers are used to indicate parts identical or analogous to those in Figs. 1 to 3. Fig. 4 represents a unipolar switch made with the same basic elements as the switch according to figs. 1 to 3. Only the first circuit constituted by the first contact bridge 80 cooperating with the fixed contacts 68, 72, associated with terminals 54, 58, is preserved, the second circuit of the mobile contact bridge 82 and terminals 52 and 56, withdrawn. The support parts 46, 4B, furthermore, include covers 92 for closing the openings 7Θ, of access to the terminal housing of the second circuit 52, 56. The functioning of this unipolar switch is, of course, identical to that of the mutator bipolar, with only one circuit remaining. The only interesting modification of the support parts 46, 48, can be obtained by modifying the mold or providing for broken parts removed at the time of assembly.

In fig. 5, an open-closed switch is shown, pre-made from the same elements. Box 10 includes the four terminals 52, 54, 56, 58, arranged according to fig. 3 and carried by the support pieces 46, 48. The first circuit with movable contact bridge 80 is identical to that described above and includes connecting conductors 68, 72. The second circuit with movable contact bridge B2, according to fig. 3 has been deleted and replaced by a third circuit consisting of a movable contact bridge 94, inserted in the lower opening 44 of the tie 32. The contact pressure leaf spring 84, cooperating with the third movable contact bridge 94, requests

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-10 the latter in the direction of the front face 20 of the box 10 and the contact pads read by this bridge 94 are oriented in the direction of this front face 20. The connecting conductors, section 96, 98, associated with the terminals 52, 56, are formed to arrange the fixed contacts carried by these conductors in front of the third contact bridge 94 on the side of the front face 20. The assembly is arranged in such a way that in the position of the tie 32 towards the front face 20, the first circuit is open and the third circuit is closed by applying the mobile contact bridge 94 against the fixed contacts of the third circuit. The tilting of the handle 22 moves the shifter 32 towards the rear face 16, opening a third one *

circuit and closing the first circuit. It is useless to remember that customization is involved during the assembly of the switch.

Figs. 6 to Θ represent another example of an embodiment in the case of a three-position unipolar switch. The first circuit with a movable contact point 80 is identical to those described above, with only the connecting conductor 68 having been extended to carry a fixed contact 100, capable of cooperating with the third movable contact bridge 94 of the tie 32 represented by fig. 5. The terminal 52 of the third circuit of fig.

has been suppressed and it is easy to see that according to the position of the tie 32, the terminal 54 is electrically connected to the opposite terminal 58 by the mobile contact bridge 80, forming the first circuit or the other opposite terminal 56 through the third connection bridge. mobile contact 94, cooperating with fixed contact 100. It is possible to provide for a third intermediate position of the tie 32 in which the two circuits are both open. For this purpose, the neutral spring 90 can be replaced by a leaf spring 102 cooperating with fittings 104 of the handle 22 to define the three stable positions of the tie 32. Other positioning devices are, of course, conceivable . The support piece 46 interspersed between terminals 56, 58 is identical to that shown in fig. 3 while the support piece 48 is of the type equipped with covers 92 according to fig. 4. This third position obtained by simply replacing a blade can also be used in the open switch

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-11-closed shown in fig. 5. Other combinations are conceivable by simply changing the position of the mobile contact bridges and the associated fixed contacts or by adding constituents, for example, displays or other auxiliaries. Different switches can also be combined by coupling boxes 10 or by simple coupling, a three-pole switch that can be carried out by combining three unipolar switches or by combining a unipolar switch and a bipolar switch.

Most important modifications can be made, either at the time of assembly or when using specific parts and, for example, in Figs. 9 and 10 a push-button switch and a warning device made from box 10 are shown. with standard terminals and associated support parts 46, 48. The tie 32 has been replaced by a tie

106 ending with a push button 108 protruding from the outer face 20 of the box 10. The tie rod 106 carries a contact bridge similar to the third movable contact bridge shown in fig. 5 and cooperating with fixed contacts carried by connection leads 96, 9B, of terminals 52. A spring 110 requests the push button in the protruding position corresponding to the closing of the connection circuit of terminals 52, 56. The circuit is opened by simple depression of the push button 108. The example shown in figs. 9 and 10, □ button includes yet another tell-tale, this may well be omitted. The tell-tale includes an ampoule 112 inserted in a holder 114, the front face of which is transparent 116 is inserted in an opening 11Θ, arranged in the next face 20 of the box 10 next to the through opening of the push button 108. The box 10 includes two other terminals 54, 58, in the manner described above and the connecting conductors 120, 122 connecting the light bulb 112 to these last two terminals 54, 58, which constitute the tell-tale power terminals.

It stands out from the foregoing that the entire range of mutators can be made from a limited number of standard parts, which considerably reduces manufacturing costs and the number of parts necessary for the realization of this family.

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of switches, making others from the elements

-12 The types of switches or basic switches described above will not be excluded from the scope of this document.

Claims (10)

1 - Miniature electric switch comprising: - a narrow molded box (10) having a back face. or (16) narrow that can be engaged on a symmetrical profiled rail, a front face (20) narrow carrying a hand-operated member (20, 108), two narrow side faces (28, 30) carrying connecting terminals (52-58 ) inlet and salt of the commutator and two large side faces (24, 26) parallel, a sliding tie (32, 106) isolated from a support, e.g. at least, a movable contact bridge (80, 82, 94) coupled to said control member (22, 108). - at least a pair of fixed contacts (66-72) connected to said terminals (52-58) and arranged in front of said contact bridge (80, 82, 94) to cooperate with the latter, causing the alternative sliding of the tie (32, 106) the opening and closing of the switch, respectively by separation and application of the contact bridge over said pair of fixed contacts, characterized in that said tie consists of an elongated bar that extends and is mounted with sliding in a direction parallel to said large side faces (24, 26) and perpendicular to the front face (20), the bar (32, 106) being guided laterally by the large side faces that surround it, since the bar has at least a transverse opening (40, 44) capable of being crossed by a contact bridge in the form of a small plate extending pex pendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tie and extending protruding on one side and the other of the tie and by connecting them movable contacts (86, 88) carried by the ends of the contact bridge (80, 82, 94) are displaced laterally in relation to the median plane parallel to said large lateral faces (24, 26). 2 - Miniature electric switch comprising: - a narrow molded box (10), with a narrow rear face (16) capable of being coupled to a rail per6Ί 277 KERI \ l / kb Sce. Brevets 1572 -14 symmetrical profile, one front face (20) narrow, carrying a manually operated tilting handle (22), two side faces (28, 30) narrow with connection terminals (52, 58) inlet and outlet of the switch and two large side faces (24, 26) parallel, - a sliding tie (32) isolated from the support of at least one movable contact bridge (80, 82, 94) coupled to said handle (22) by a mechanical connection (36) for transforming the oscillating movement of the handle into an alternating movement sliding bolt, - at least one pair of fixed contacts (64, 72) connected to said terminals (52, 5.8) and arranged in front of said contact bridge (80, 82, 94) to cooperate with the latter, causing the alternative sliding of the tie (32) opening and closing the switch, respectively by separating and applying the contact bridge over said pair of fixed contacts, characterized in that said tie is constituted by an elongated bar (32) that extends and is mounted with sliding in a direction parallel to said large side faces (24, 26) and perpendicular to the anterior face (20), the bar (32) being guided laterally by the large side faces that square it, because the bar (32) has three transverse openings (40, 42, 44) staggered along the bar, each opening being capable of being crossed by a contact bridge (80, 82, 94) in the form of a small plate extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tie (32) and prolonging it protruding from one side and the other of the tie, and in that said box (10) comprises four terminal housings (50) adjacent to the two narrow side faces (28, 30), each housing being capable of receiving a terminal, being the two housings adjacent to the same side face arranged side by side. Switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a contact pressure spring (84) is inserted between the bottom of the opening (40, 44) and the contact bridge (80, 82, 94) to request this last in the direction of 67 277 KERN / kb Sce. Brevets 1572 bottom opposite the opening, the contacts being carried by the contact bridge arranged on the face of the bridge opposite the one that cooperates. with the spring (84). Switch according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the intermediate opening (42) is arranged to receive either a contact bridge with contacts facing the front face (20) or a contact bridge with oriented contacts to the posterior face (16). A switch according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the fixed contacts and the terminals (52, 58) are laterally displaced on one side or the other of said median plane parallel to the large lateral faces (24, 26) two terminals (52, 54 and 56, 5B) being able to be arranged side by side in a month. narrow side face and movable contacts (86, 88) as. members are displaced as a result, to cooperate with the displaced fixed contacts. 6 - Switch according to claim 5, characterized in that it includes an insulated piece (46, 48) of terminal support (52, 58) in the form of a panel interspersed between the two large lateral faces (24, 26) at the level of the terminals to delimit, respectively, with one of the large side faces a first housing (50) of a post and with the other large lateral face a second housing (50) of the terminal, with said support piece frames (76) for positioning the terminals and of the conductors (66, 72) associated with the connection of the fixed contacts to the terminals and covers (92) for closing the holes (78) for access to the terminal housing (50), arranged in the box (10). 7 - Bipolar switch according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each side face (28, 30) includes two juxtaposed terminals (52, 54; 56, 58) each connected to one of the fixed contacts (66, 68; 70, 72) of a pair of fixed contacts and because the tie (32) carries two contact bridges (80, 82) oriented in the same direction as the 67 277 KERN / kb Sce. Brevets 1572 -16which each cooperates with one of the pairs of fixed contacts, the rod being able to occupy two stable positions of closing and opening respectively of the contacts. B - Unipolar switch according to any one of claims 1 to 6, with three positions, characterized in that it includes three terminals (54, 56, 5Θ), one terminal (54) being arranged on one (30) of the narrow side faces and connected to the two fixed contacts (68, 100) displaced in relation to each other in the sliding direction of the rod (32) and two terminals (56, 5θ) arranged on the other (28) narrow side face of which each is connected to a fixed contact (70, 72) and because the tie takes two contact bridges (80, 94) oriented in opposite directions, the tie being able to occupy two or three stable positions in case one of the contact pairs is closed while the other is open and inversely and in the remaining case an intermediate position for opening the set of contacts. 9 - Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the control element (10Θ) is a solid pushbutton with the end of the rod (106) and protruding from said front face (20). Switch according to claim 9, characterized in that it includes a luminous luminizer (112) arranged on the front face (20) and connected to said terminals (54, 5θ).