WO2000010184A1

WO2000010184A1 - Pulse rotary switch, in particular for motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2000010184A1
Application number: PCT/FR1999/001859
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulrich Korzeniewski; Eric Stefura
Original assignee: Valeo Electronique
Priority date: 1998-08-12
Filing date: 1999-07-28
Publication date: 2000-02-24
Also published as: FR2782413B1; FR2782413A1; EP1019932A1; DE69932799D1; EP1019932B1; DE69932799T2

Abstract

The invention concerns a rotary switch, in particular for motor vehicle, comprising a body (1) mounted rotating on a front surface (3) and comprising one face (13) oriented towards the front surface, between its centre of rotation and its periphery, retaining means (16) integral with a front end part (11) of an actuating member (10) extended by a rear end part (14) mobile between an inoperative position and a first position wherein it actuates a pulse ignition switch with elastic return (8).

Description

Rotary impulse switch, especially for motor vehicles

The invention relates to the field of electrical switching, and more precisely switches provided with a body placed in front of a facade, for example of a control panel, and intended to be rotated in a plane parallel to this facade of so as to manage at least one function, in particular in a motor vehicle.

Certain switches of this type are intended to control an electrical device in a so-called "impulse" manner. In other words, the user by driving the body in rotation between a rest position and a first angularly offset position "opens" or "closes" an electrical circuit like a switch, or else passes the electrical device concerned from one state to another, the body then spontaneously returning to its rest position.

We already know of such switches capable of providing impulse control by actuation of a rotary button. This is in particular the case of buttons provided with a body integral either with a cam or with brushes or contactors intended to establish contacts with electrically conductive tracks.

In either case, significant friction causes an unpleasant sensation to the user, and makes the use of return springs compulsory, which increases the complexity, the cost and the size of the switch. In addition, these springs play a role only when the body returns from the first position to the rest position, so that friction remains when the user actuates said body.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a rotary switch which does not have all or part of the disadvantages of switches of the prior art. The invention provides for this purpose an electrical switch of the type described above, in which, on the one hand, there is provided an actuating member provided with at least one rear end portion which can be moved between a rest position and a first position in which it actuates an impulse contactor with elastic return of an electrical device fixed on a support, placed behind the facade, and on the other hand, the body comprises on a face oriented towards the facade, between its center of rotation and its periphery, a retaining means which receives a front end portion of the member.

Thus, driving the body in rotation, between its rest position and its first angularly offset position, forces the rear end part to pass from its rest position to its first position, and the elastic return of the impulse contactor, actuated by the rear end part, forces this rear end part, and therefore the body, to resume their respective rest positions. Such an arrangement makes it possible to overcome friction, while offering a particularly simple construction.

The switch may include an actuating member provided with two rear end portions opposite to each other so as to allow actuation of two impulse contactors with elastic return controlling either the same electrical device or two different electrical devices. The drive of the body in rotation in a first direction makes it possible to actuate one of the impulse contactors, while the drive in the opposite direction makes it possible to actuate the other impulse contactor, the body then returning spontaneously to its rest position.

In a first embodiment of the switch, the actuating member is produced in the form of a lever capable of rotating around an axis, real or virtual according to the variants, substantially perpendicular to the axis defining the rotation of the body.

In this first embodiment, the impulse contactor is preferably placed in a position substantially perpendicular to the front, and the rear end part of the actuating member (or lever) extends substantially parallel to this. facade. Thus, when the body rotates, it drives with it the front end portion of the lever, which forces it to rotate about its own axis of rotation and causes the contactor concerned to be pushed in and therefore actuated.

In a first embodiment of the switch, the impulse contactor (s) is (are) placed in a position substantially parallel to the facade. In this case, it is possible to envisage at least two alternative embodiments of the actuating member. In a first variant, the member consists of a substantially axial rod extended substantially perpendicularly by the rear end part, which is therefore placed substantially parallel to the facade, at the level of the contactor. In a second variant, the member only consists of a substantially axial rod (perpendicular to the facade) extending up to the level of the contactor (s), the rear end portions (s) and front being substantially aligned.

Preferably, the body is integral with an axis mounted for rotation and passing through the facade in a substantially perpendicular direction. In this case, the axis can be mounted in a manner allowing its translation between at least two positions, so that the switch can perform at least one other function. However, it is possible to envisage a variant without an axis, in which the body rests substantially on the facade, and is guided in its rotation thereon by retaining guides. Furthermore, the body may include, in a central area, signaling means to allow viewing the operating state of a device, for example that controlled by the switch.

In order to strengthen the elastic return of the body to its rest position, it is also possible to provide elastic return means secured, on the one hand, to an intermediate part of its actuating member which connects its front and rear end parts (s), and on the other hand, to fixed anchoring means.

In the description which follows, given by way of example, reference is made to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a switch according to a first embodiment of the invention, in a perspective view;

- Figure 2 illustrates very schematically a variant of the switch of Figure 1, in a side view;

- Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a switch according to a second embodiment of the invention, in a perspective view; and

- Figure 4 illustrates a variant of the switch of Figure 3.

The electrical switch shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 is part, for example, of a control panel, in particular of a motor vehicle. In this case, it can be used to manage a function, at least, of a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device.

The switch comprises a rotary body (or button) 1 made, for example, of molded plastic. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the body 1 is integral with an axis 2 rotatably mounted. The body 1 is positioned in front of the front 3 of the control unit 4. The axis 2 of the switch crosses the front 3 through an opening (not shown). The direction of extension XX of this axis 2 is substantially perpendicular to the plane materializing the facade 3. Thus, the body 1 (or button) of the switch can be rotated in a plane substantially parallel to the plane which materializes the facade 3.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the function of the switch is to start or stop two electrical devices. This could, for example, be the device for switching on the air conditioning and the lighting device for the control panel 4.

Each of these electrical devices is provided with an impulse switch (or contactor) 5 or 6 installed in a fixed position on a support 7, constituted for example by the bottom of the box of the control panel, or more directly by a circuit board. prints.

Each switch comprises an axial displacement contactor 8 and 9 which each time it is translated, in an impulse manner, activates or deactivates the device in which it is integrated. By way of example, when the air conditioning device is out of operation, the actuation of the impulse contactor 8 will cause the actuation of said device, and the following actuation will result in the deactivation of this same device, and thus right now.

The purpose of the switch according to the invention is therefore to control the electrical switches 5 and 6 using simple rotations of the body 1.

To do this, the switch comprises an actuating member 10 comprising a front end portion 11 secured to the body 1 and a rear end portion 12 arranged so as to allow actuation of the pulse contactors 8 and 9.

Specifically, on the inner face is provided 13 of the body 1 of the retaining ^means' 16, such as an internal shaped clip adapted to that of the front end portion 11 of the body of actuator 10. Of course, d Other methods of fixation (or restraint) can be envisaged.

Furthermore, the rear part 12 comprises, in this example, two terminal extensions 14 and 15 oriented substantially parallel to the plane defining the facade 3, thus, here, than to the plane defining the support 7 on which the electrical switches 5 are installed and 6. The actuating member 10, therefore, has, in this example, an inverted T-shape, the horizontal part of the T, consisting of the rear end parts 14 and 15, used to actuate the impulse contactors 8 and 9, and the vertical bar of said T, having an end consisting of the front end portion 11, being held by the clip 16 which projects from the internal face 13 of the body 1 and serving to transmit the displacements of the body 1 to the rear part 12.

Preferably, the body 1 has at a selected location a conformation 18 allowing a user to drive it in rotation. There is also preferably provided, on the external face 17 of this conformation 18, a marking 19 allowing the user to determine the position in which the body 1 is located.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the body 1 is capable of being driven in rotation between a rest position materialized on the facade 3 by the number "0", as well as by a line opposite the marking 19 of the conformation 18 when the body 1 is at rest, and two positions angularly offset by an angle Θ on either side of the rest position, and materialized on the facade 3, in this example, by the letters "A" and "B". It's clear that the angular shifts between the markings 0 and A and 0 and B are not necessarily equal.

When the user moves the body 1 along the arrow FI, that is to say when he moves said body from the rest position 0 to the position B, this has the consequence of driving the front end portion 11 of the actuating member 10 also according to the arrow FI. As configured in inverted T, the actuating member 10 constitutes, in a way, a lever capable of being driven in rotation about an axis YY substantially perpendicular to the axis XX. Thus, the drive along FI of the front end part 11 of the actuating member 10 has the consequence of tilting the first rear end part 14 downwards, while the second rear end part 15 tilts up.

This has the effect of depressing the impulse contactor 8 of the switch 5 over a height Hl which depends on the lengths of the lever arm, of the position of the retaining clip 16 relative to the axis of rotation XX of the body 1, and the amplitude of the rotation imposed on said body 1. All these parameters can be adjusted as required. Preferably, the retaining clip 16 is placed near the periphery of the body 1, rather than near the axis 2 of which this body is integral.

The depressing of the pulse contactor over a height Hl (or axial translation) causes, for example, the operation of the air conditioning device if it is out of operation before this actuation.

By definition, it is considered that when the body 1 is in its rest position referenced 0, each rear end portion 14 or 15 is also in a rest position (as illustrated in FIG. 1). Similarly, when the body 1 is moved in the direction of the markings A or B, the rear end portion considered (14 or 15) is said to be its first position (which is shown by dashes in Figure 1).

In order to allow the spontaneous return of the body 1 from position A or B to the rest position 0, the impulse contactors are of the so-called elastic return type. Thus, when one of them is actuated, that is to say when it is moved down a height Hl or H2, and provided that the user has released the body 1, it spontaneously rises from said height Hl or H2 (axial translation upwards) thus pushing the rear end part concerned by the same height Hl or H2. By the tilting effect (rotation around the YY axis), the front end portion 11 is then driven in rotation, which brings the body 1 back to its rest position 0 (the marking 19 is then again opposite the marking 0).

The axis of rotation YY must be substantially fixed relative to the support 7. This can be obtained either by using a rigid axis maintained substantially parallel to the support 7, or by conforming the rear end portions 14 and 15 substantially to the shapes of the ends of contactors 8 and 9, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 1.

In this example, the rear end portions 14 and 15 each have an end stop 20 substantially perpendicular to the axis YY. The rear end parts 14 and 15 thus frame, thanks to the two end stops 20 the ends of the contactors 8 and 9, preventing the displacement in translation of the rear part 12 of the actuating member 10, in a direction perpendicular to the YY axis. Any movement of the body 1, and therefore of the front end portion 11, forces the actuating member 10 to pivot in rotation on one side of the YY axis or the other. Here, the YY axis is of virtual type. There is therefore a transformation of the rotation of the body in a first plane, into a rotation of the organ in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane. It is obvious that, due to the presence of the retaining clip 16, the rotation drive of the body 1, is made possible due to the presence of a through passage formed in the facade 3 on the path of said clip of deduction 16.

Furthermore, it can be envisaged that the retaining means (here the clip 16) and the actuating member 10 are made in a single piece. In this case, it is preferable that said actuating member 10 is made of a flexible material.

In order to strengthen the elastic return of the body 1 from a position A or B to the rest position 0, it is possible to envisage using return means, such as springs. Such springs could be, for example, fixed by a first end to the support 7 and by a second end to an intermediate part of the actuating member 10 connecting its front end part 11 to its lower part 12.

The body 1 of the switch can also include, in a central zone, signaling means making it possible to indicate the operating state of a device, for example the one whose operation it manages by means of the electric switch, or another. Such signaling means may be produced in the form of illumination means such as a bulb or an optical fiber. These signaling means may include display means, such as for example a liquid crystal device (LCD).

As illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the actuating member 10 may comprise first 14 'and second 15' rear end portions of respective lengths adapted so as to each allow the actuation of one or more impulse contactors 8 ', 8''and9', 9 '' belonging to different 5 ', 5''and6', 6 '' switches. The shape of each terminal part rear can be adapted to allow 1 actuation, using one of the first or second rear end parts, of a single contactor when the body is placed in a first position corresponding to a first rotation, then that of another contactor when said body is placed in a second position corresponding to a second rotation greater than the first. It may also be advantageous for the first and / or second rear end portions to be made of a flexible and not rigid material.

Furthermore, when the body of the rotary switch is secured to an axis of rotation (as illustrated in the figures), this axis can be adapted so that it can be translated axially between at least two positions. Thus, it is possible to manage one or more other functions than that which is managed by rotation.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 to describe a second embodiment of a switch according to the invention.

This embodiment differs from the first mode described with reference to FIG. 1 at the level of its actuating member and of the orientations of the electrical switches. Consequently, all the elements of FIG. 3 identical to those of FIG. 1 have identical references.

In this second embodiment, the electrical switches 5 and 6 have impulse contactors 8 and 9 placed, substantially perpendicular to their position in the first embodiment, their electrical contactors being substantially facing each other. . In other words, they can be translated axially in a plane substantially parallel to the support 7 and to the plane defining the facade 3, that is to say perpendicular to the axis XX. Each pulse contactor 8 or 9 can therefore translate over a length LI or L2, respectively.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the switching member is produced in the form of a substantially axial bar which extends from the retaining clip 16 to the level of the pulse contactors 8 and 9, at least.

In other words, the actuating member 30 extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axis XX, its front end portion 31 being substantially aligned with its rear end portion 32.

When the body 1 is rotated between its rest position 0 and position A or B, the retaining means 16 also rotates the actuating member 30, which then comes, thanks to its rear end portion 32, press (or activate) one of the impulse contactors.

By definition, the rear end portion 32 of the actuating member 30 is considered to be in its rest position when the body 1 is itself in its rest position and therefore when it is placed between the two impulse contactors, without putting pressure on one of them. Similarly, the rear end portion 32 is considered to be in a first position (on one side or the other) when, on the one hand, the marking 19 of the body 1 is placed opposite the marking defining the position a or B, and on the other hand, that one of the pulse switches 8 or 9 ^is' down, that is to say has undergone a translation amplitude LI or L2.

The switch illustrated in FIG. 4 schematically represents a variant of the switch illustrated in FIG. 3. Here, only the conformation of the actuating member 40 has been substantially modified, and more precisely at its lower part 42. This actuator 40 has an inverted T shape close to that illustrated in FIG. 1. In other words, the lower part 42 of the actuating member 40 comprises a first rear end part 43 and a second rear end part 44 substantially parallel to the support 7 as well as in the plane defining the facade 3. Here, it is the end of each rear end portion 43 or 44 which is used to actuate the impulse contactor 8 or 9.

All the variants described with reference to FIG. 1 can be envisaged for the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and in particular the possibility of using elastic return means of the spring type, or else of making an organ actuation formed in one piece with the retaining means 16, or else to provide signaling means in a central area of the body such as for example display means in particular of the LCD type, or else provide for an axial displacement of the axis integral with the rotary body.

In the embodiments described above, the various rotary switches had the function of managing two electrical switches. Of course, the invention applies to rotary switches which manage only one electric switch. In these embodiments, it is clear that the rear part of the actuating member 10 or 40 need only comprise a single rear end part.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but it encompasses all the variants that a person skilled in the art may develop within the scope of the claims below.

Claims

claims

1. Rotary switch, in particular for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a body (1) placed in front of a facade (3) and suitable for being rotated in a plane parallel to this facade, characterized in that it comprises a member actuator (10; 30; 40) provided with at least one rear end portion (14; 32; 43) adapted to be moved between a rest position and a first position in which it actuates an impulse contactor with elastic return ( 8) an electrical device (5,6) fixed on a support (7), placed behind said facade (3), and in that said body (1) comprises on a face (13) oriented towards said facade (3 ), between its center of rotation and its periphery, a retaining means (16) adapted to receive a front end portion (11) of said member (10; 30; 40), so that the drive in rotation of said body between a rest position and a first angularly offset position constrains said part rear terminal (14; 32; 43) to pass from its rest position to its first position, and that the elastic return of said impulse contactor actuated by said rear part forces this rear end part and said body to return to their respective rest positions.

2. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuating member (10; 40) comprises another rear end portion (15; 44) opposite the first (14; 43) and adapted to be moved between a position of rest and a first position in which it actuates another impulse contactor with elastic return (9) of said electrical device or of another electrical device fixed on said support (7), placed below said facade (3), so that the rotational drive of said body (1) between its rest position and a second position angularly offset, and opposite to its first position, forces said other rear end portion (15; 44) to pass from its rest position to its first position, and that the elastic return of said impulse contactor actuated (9) by said other rear part forces this other rear end part and said body to return to their respective rest positions.

3. Switch according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said actuating member (10) is adapted to be driven in rotation about an axis (XX) substantially perpendicular to the axis defining the rotation of said body (1).

4. Switch according to claim 3, characterized in that said impulse contactor (8,9) is placed in a position substantially perpendicular to said front (3), and in that said rear end portion (14,15) extends substantially parallel to this facade (3).

5. Switch according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said pulse contactor (8,9) is placed in a position substantially parallel to said facade.

6. Switch according to claim 5, characterized in that said rear end portion (32; 43, 44) extends substantially parallel to said front (3), at said contactor (8,9).

7. Switch according to claim 5, characterized in that said actuating member (30,40) extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said facade (3), said rear end portions (s) (32; 43, 44 ) and front (31; 41) being substantially aligned, and said rear end portion extends to the level of said contactor.

8. Switch according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said body (1) is integral with an axis (2) rotatably mounted and passing through said facade (3) in a substantially perpendicular direction.

9. Switch according to claim 8, characterized in that said axis (2) is adapted to be translated between at least two positions.

10. Switch according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said body (1) comprises, in a central area, signaling means capable of indicating an operating state of a device.

11. Switch according to claim 10, characterized in that said signaling means comprise display means, in particular of the liquid crystal device type.

12. Switch according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises elastic return means secured, on the one hand, to an intermediate part of said actuating member, connecting its front and rear end parts ( s), and secondly to fixed anchoring means.