JPH0721876A - Power switch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] It is thin and can open and close a large current, the pressing stroke of the operating body is long, a stable contact state of the contacts, an appropriate contact pressure and a good operating feel can be obtained.
Eliminates the risk of damage to the contact mechanism. [Composition] A contact mechanism B is built in a switch case A, and the contact mechanism is opened and closed by an operating body C movably fitted to the switch case, and the operating body is pushed at a pushing position of the operating body C. An alternation mechanism D for holding the lock is provided, and the contact mechanism disposes the movable contact piece 29 substantially parallel to the moving direction of the operating body, and
The movable contact piece was held by the fixed terminal piece 26 via the snap-action mechanism F and the rotator 28.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power switch having a snap action function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of power switch, one shown in FIG. 5 has been known. As shown in the figure, a pair of fixed terminal pieces 2 and 3 are fixed to the switch case 1 substantially in parallel at a predetermined interval, and one fixed terminal piece 2 is bent into an approximately L shape. The base end portion 4a of the substantially L-shaped rotator 4 is rotatably supported by the inner end portion 2a. The base end portion 5a of the movable contact piece 5 is rotatably locked to the tip end portion of the rotator 4, and the movable contact point 6 provided at the tip end portion 5b of the movable contact piece 5 is arranged inside the other fixed terminal piece 3. The fixed contact 7 provided on the end portion 3a is arranged so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the fixed contact 7.

The movable contact piece 5 is provided with a compression spring 8 for snap action. One end of the compression spring 8 is locked to the movable contact piece 5 and the other end thereof is the fixed terminal. The movable contact 6 is locked to the tip portion 2a of the piece 2 and constantly applies a spring force to the movable contact 6 in the opening direction of the fixed contact 7. An operating body 9 for opening and closing the movable contact piece 5 is slidably fitted to the switch case 1 so as to be substantially orthogonal to the pair of fixed terminal pieces 2 and 3. The operating body 9 is composed of an operating body 9a, a plunger portion 9b integrally formed with the operating body 9a, and a push button portion 9c protruding from the tip of the plunger portion 9b.

A compression spring 10 is housed in the plunger portion 9b, and a spring force is constantly applied to the operating body 9 in a direction in which the push button portion 9c projects to the outside of the case 1. Further, the operating body 9 is provided with an alternation mechanism 11. That is, the alternation mechanism 11 includes the base end portion 1 of the connecting member 12 that is bent in a U shape.
2b is rotatably fitted to the switch case 1, a heart-shaped cam portion 13 (see FIG. 6) is formed on the operating body 9, and an annular groove 14 formed on the outer periphery of the cam portion 13 is formed. The tip portion 12a of the connecting member 12 is configured to slide along.

In the above structure, when the push button portion 9c is pushed in against the spring force of the compression spring 10, the operation body 9a is pushed.
The base end portion 5a of the movable contact piece 5 is pressed by the stepped portion 9d, the movable contact piece 5 instantaneously operates by the snap action action of the compression spring 8, and the movable contact point 6 provided at the tip end portion 5b thereof. It contacts the fixed contact 7. On the other hand, the push button section 9
In the process of pushing in c, the tip portion 12a of the connecting member 12 constituting the alternating mechanism 11 slides in the direction of arrow a along the annular groove 14 shown in FIG. When the push button portion 9c is released from being pushed in when it reaches the vicinity, the operation body 9 is reversely moved by the spring force of the compression spring 10, and the tip portion 12a is moved to the engaging recess 13a as shown by an imaginary line. The operating body 9 is locked at the pushing position of the push button portion 9c.

Therefore, even if the pressing of the push button portion 9c is released, the movable contact 6 of the movable contact piece 5 is kept in contact with the fixed contact 7. Next, when the push button portion 9c locked at the push-in position is pressed again, the tip portion 12a of the connecting member 12 locked in the locking recess 13a of the cam portion 13 is moved along the annular groove 14 along the arrow b. Sliding in the direction, the tip portion 12a returns to the initial position shown by the solid line, and the operating body 9 is unlocked.

[0007]

However, according to the above configuration, since the movable contact piece 5 housed in the switch case 1 is provided substantially orthogonal to the sliding direction of the operating body 9, Since the height dimension H of the switch case 1 is increased, it is unsuitable as a power switch adapted to an electric device which is required to be thin in recent years.

If the height dimension H of the case 1 is to be kept as low as possible, the rotator 4 and the movable contact piece 5 will be described.
Must be formed in a short size, and its turning radius is small, so that the pushing stroke of the push button portion 9c becomes short.

Therefore, when the push button portion 9c is slightly pushed in, the movable contact piece 5 immediately reverses, so that the contact operation of both contacts 6 and 7 is unstable and an appropriate contact pressure cannot be obtained. In addition, the operation feeling generated when the both contacts 6 and 7 are contacted is not transmitted to the operator via the plunger portion 9b, and a good operation feeling cannot be obtained.

Further, as described above, since the turning radii of the rotator 4 and the movable contact piece 5 are small, the amount by which the movable contact 6 moves in the direction of arrow c from the point of contact between the two contacts 6, 7. , That is, because there is less wiping of the contact,
The contact surfaces of the contacts 6, 7 become rough, and when a large current flows, the contacts may be welded due to poor contact. As a result, high current switching cannot be achieved. Moreover, since a good operation feeling cannot be obtained, there is a possibility that the push button portion 9c is pushed too much and the contact mechanism including the rotator 4 and the movable contact piece 5 is damaged.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is possible to reduce the thickness and open and close a large current.
To provide a power switch that has a long pressing stroke of the operating body for opening and closing the contact mechanism, provides a stable contact state of the contacts, an appropriate contact pressure and a good operation feeling, and that does not damage the contact mechanism. To aim.

[0012]

In a power switch according to the present invention, a contact mechanism is built in a switch case, and the contact mechanism is opened and closed by an operating body movably fitted in the switch case, and the push-in operation is performed. An alternate mechanism for locking and holding the operating body at a position is provided, and the contact mechanism disposes the movable contact piece substantially parallel to the moving direction of the operating body, and the movable contact piece is rotated by the snap action mechanism and the rotation. It is characterized in that it is held by a fixed terminal piece through a child.

[0013]

According to the above construction, since the movable contact piece housed in the switch case is provided substantially parallel to the sliding direction of the operating body, the height of the case is reduced and the thin electric device is used. Most suitable as a power switch in equipment.
Further, since the case has a structure in which the height dimension is low, the rotator can be formed to be long and the turning radius can be increased. Therefore, the stroke of the operating body when the movable contact piece is reversed becomes long, and the pressing stroke of the operating body becomes long. Therefore, the distance from the pushing of the operating body to the reversing operation of the movable contact piece can be made longer than that of the conventional one, and the contact state of the movable contact piece can be stabilized to provide an appropriate contact pressure. Obtainable.

Further, since the pressing stroke from the pushing of the operating body to the reversing operation of the movable contact piece is long, the operation feeling generated when the movable contact piece comes into contact in the pressing process is as described above. It is effectively transmitted to the operator via the operation body, and a good operation feeling can be obtained. Moreover, due to such a good feeling of operation, there is no possibility of pushing the operating body too much and damaging the contact mechanism.

Further, since the turning radius of the rotator is large, the wiping of the contacts is large, so that the contact surface of the movable contact piece is always polished and smoothed, and thus good contact property is obtained. You can Therefore, when a large current flows, opening and closing of the large current is achieved without welding the contacts.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a power switch according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch. As shown in the figure, the power switch is roughly divided into a switch case A, a contact mechanism B, an operating body C, an alternate mechanism D and a cover E.

The switch case A has a rectangular case body 21 made of, for example, a synthetic resin, and a pair of recesses 21a defined on both sides by a central partition wall 21b extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. A contact mechanism B as shown in FIG. 2 is housed in each of the recesses 21a.

For simplicity of illustration, only one set of contact mechanisms B will be described below, and the contact mechanism B housed in one recess 21a will be described. A pair of terminal holes 22 and 23 are formed at the bottom of the recess 21a, and
An insertion hole 24 through which the plunger portion 32b of the operating body C is inserted is formed at one end of the central partition wall 21b, and a projection 25 protruding outwardly corresponding to the insertion hole 24 is integrally provided. ing. The terminal portion 26a of the two-forked common fixed terminal piece 26 is inserted into the one terminal hole 22, and the terminal portion 27a of the normally open fixed terminal piece 27 is inserted into the other terminal hole 23. Each is fixed to the case body 21. The fixed contact 40 is fixed to the inner end of the normally open fixed terminal piece 27.

The common fixed terminal piece 26 has bifurcated branch ends 26b and 26c, a locking groove 26d is formed at the inner end of one branch end 26b, and the other branch end is formed. 26
A locking groove 26e is formed at the inner end of c. The rotator 28 has a base portion 28a in which a through hole 28b is formed in the central portion.
And a pair of turning operation pieces 28c, which are provided on both sides of the base end portion of the base portion 28a at predetermined intervals and are opposed to each other and project integrally.
And the base portion 28a located between the rotation operation pieces 28c.
And a pair of locking portions 28e that are integrally projected at predetermined intervals on both sides of the tip of the base portion 28a.

The movable contact piece 29 has a base portion 29a having a through hole 29b formed in the central portion thereof, and a tip portion 29 of the base portion 29a.
The movable contact 30 fixed to the central portion of c.
The compression spring 31 constituting the snap action mechanism F is formed in an inverted U shape, and the locking portions 31a, 31 are provided at both ends thereof.
b is formed. One branch end portion 26b of the common fixed terminal piece 26 penetrates through the through holes 28b, 29b of the rotator 28 and the movable contact piece 29, and a compression spring is formed in a locking groove 26d formed at the inner end portion thereof. One end locking portion 31 of 31
A is locked and held.

The other branch end portion 26c has a locking groove 26e formed in its inner end portion, and a locking projection 2 of the rotator 28 is provided in the locking groove 26e.
8d is rotatably locked and retained, and the base end portion 29d of the movable contact piece 29 is locked by the locking portion 28e of the rotator 28.
And the other end locking portion 3 of the compression spring 31.
1b is locked to the tip portion 29c of the movable contact piece 29. The contact mechanism B is assembled with the above configuration.

The operating body C is constructed by integrally forming a plunger portion 32b and a push button portion 32c extending in the longitudinal direction on a rectangular operation body 32a made of synthetic resin, for example. The plunger portion 32b includes
An alternate mechanism D that is substantially the same as the alternate mechanism 11 described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 is provided. That is, in this alternation mechanism D, the base end portion 12b of the connecting member 12 bent in a U-shape is projectingly provided on the case body 21 through the through hole 32d formed in the plunger portion 32b of the operation body C. The protrusion 25 is rotatably fitted in the insertion hole 25a, the heart-shaped cam portion 13 is formed on the plunger portion 32b, and the connecting member is formed in the annular groove 14 formed on the outer periphery of the cam portion 13. 12 of the tip 12a
It is configured by inserting.

Also, the recess 32 of the plunger portion 32b.
A compression spring 10 is housed in e, and one end 1
0a is supported by the protrusion 25, and the other end 10
b is locked to a protrusion 32f projecting from the other end wall of the recess 32e, and the plunger portion 32b slidably fitted in the insertion hole 24 of the case body 21 is moved outward (arrow d).
Direction) is always biased with spring force. The operation body 32
As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of recesses 32e is formed in a, and a guide groove 32f of the central partition wall 21b is formed between the recesses 32e. A pair of flat pressing projections 32g, 32h are provided on both side walls of each recess 32e at predetermined intervals, and a gap 32 between the projections 32g, 32h is formed.
The tip of the turning operation piece 28c of the rotator 28 is fitted to i.

After the operating body C is axially movably fitted to the switch case A in which the contact mechanism B is set, the cover E is fitted to the switch case A so that the power switch as shown in FIG. It is configured.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. Now, when the push button portion 32c is pushed from the state shown in FIG. 1, the operating body C is pushed inward of the switch case A, and in the pushing sliding process, the tip of the pushing protrusion 32g rotates the rotator 28. The moving operation piece 28c is pressed, and the rotator 28 rotates counterclockwise about the locking projection piece 28d locked in the locking groove 26e as a fulcrum, while moving the movable contact piece 2c.
The base end portion 29d of 9 is moved to the bottom side of the case A.

When the movable contact piece 29 exceeds the one end locking portion 31a of the compression spring 31, the movable contact piece 29 reverses as shown by the solid line from the state shown by the phantom line in FIG. The 30 is brought into contact with the fixed contact 40. At this time, in the process of pushing the push button portion 32c, even if the pushing force is released by the operation of the alternation mechanism D, the operating body C is locked and the movable contact 30 is kept in contact with the fixed contact 40. To do. Next, when the push button portion 32c locked at the pushing position is pressed again, the operating body C is unlocked.

According to the above construction, since the movable contact piece 29 accommodated in the switch case A is provided substantially parallel to the sliding direction of the operating body C, the height dimension H of the case A is low. Therefore, it is most suitable as a power switch for thin electric devices. Further, since the case A has a structure in which the height dimension H is low, the rotator 28 is formed in a long size,
The turning radius can be increased. Therefore, the stroke of the operating body C when the movable contact piece 29 is reversed becomes longer, and the pressing stroke of the push button portion 32c becomes longer. Therefore, after pushing in the operating body C,
The distance until the movable contact piece 29 reverses can be made longer than that of the conventional one, and the contact state of both contacts 30, 40 can be stabilized to obtain an appropriate contact pressure.

Further, since the pressing stroke from the pushing of the operating body C to the reversing operation of the movable contact piece 29 is long, the operation feeling generated when the contact points 30 and 40 come into contact with each other in the pressing process. Is the plunger portion 32b
It is effectively transmitted to the operator via the, and a good operation feeling can be obtained. Moreover, due to such a good feeling of operation, there is no possibility that the operation body C is pushed too much and the contact mechanism B is damaged.

Further, since the turning radius of the rotator 28 is large, the moving amount of the movable contact 30 in the direction of arrow c from the contact point of the both contacts 30, 40, that is, the wiping of the contacts becomes large. In addition, the contact surfaces of the contact points 30 and 40 are constantly polished and smoothed, so that good contact properties can be obtained. Therefore, when a large current flows,
Opening and closing of a large current is achieved without welding both contacts 30, 40.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is thin and can open and close a large current, the pressing stroke of the push button portion is long, the contact state is stable, the contact pressure is appropriate and the contact pressure is good. It is possible to provide a power switch that provides a feeling of operation and that does not damage the contact mechanism.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a power switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the switch.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same switch for explaining the operation. Two

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional power switch.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part of the same switch for explaining the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Switch case B Contact mechanism C Operating body D Alternate mechanism F Snap action mechanism (compression spring) 26 Fixed terminal piece 26b One branch end 26c The other branch end 28 Rotator 28b Rotor through hole 28c Rotation Operation piece 28d Rotating element base end locking projection piece 28e Rotating element tip end locking portion 29 Movable contact piece 29b Movable contact piece through hole 29c Movable contact piece tip portion 29d Movable contact piece base end portion 31 Compression Spring 31a One end locking part of compression spring 31b Other end locking part of compression spring 32g Projecting part of operating body

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An alternation mechanism in which a contact mechanism is built in a switch case, the contact mechanism is opened and closed by an operating body movably fitted in the switch case, and the operating body is locked and held at the pushing position. Equipped with
In the contact mechanism, the movable contact piece is arranged substantially parallel to the moving direction of the operating body, and the movable contact piece is held by the fixed terminal piece via the snap action mechanism and the rotator. And power switch. 2. The fixed terminal piece is provided with a bifurcated branch end,
One branch end holds and holds one end locking part of the compression spring that gives a snap action to the movable contact piece, and
The other branch end rotatably holds and holds the base end locking projection of the rotator, and the base end of the movable contact piece is locked to the tip locking part of the rotator. The other end locking portion of the compression spring is locked to the tip end portion of the movable contact piece to form a contact mechanism, and the rotary operation piece protruding from the base end portion of the rotator is projected to the operating body. The power switch according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is configured to be pressed by a provided protrusion.