Contact switches, safety doors, and elevator systems

The contact switch design with a plate-shaped contact head and elastic member addresses issues of damage and resistance in elevator switches, ensuring stable and reliable operation by using silver and copper materials for improved conductivity and durability.

JP2026116690APending Publication Date: 2026-07-10OTIS ELEVATOR CO
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2025207513
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-12-30
Filing Date
2025-11-28
Publication Date
2026-07-10

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing contact door switches in elevators face issues such as damage from oscillation or installation offset, increased resistance due to dust accumulation, and size limitations that do not meet conventional elevator usage requirements, leading to potential malfunction and safety risks.

Method used

A contact switch design featuring a plug with a plate-shaped contact head and a socket with an elastic member, including a relief portion and restricting portion, which prevents increased resistance by ensuring stable contact and preventing slipping, while using materials like silver and copper for improved conductivity and durability.

Benefits of technology

The solution effectively prevents resistance increases, ensures stable contact, and enhances safety and reliability of the contact switch, reducing the risk of malfunction and extending the switch's service life.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

We provide contact switches, safety doors, and elevator systems. [Solution] The contact switch includes a plug and a socket, the plug includes a contact head configured in a plate shape, the socket includes a housing and an elastic member and contacts disposed within the housing, the elastic member includes a avoidance portion and a free end extending toward the contact head toward the avoidance portion, the contact portion being fixed to the free end and extending toward the contact head toward the free end, and when the plug is inserted into the socket, the contact head contacts the contacts to turn on the contact switch and move away from the avoidance portion. The contact switch according to the embodiment of the present disclosure effectively prevents, in a cost-effective manner, the increase in resistance caused by contact between the contact head and the elastic member when the plug is engaged with the socket.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of switches, and more particularly to contact switches, safety doors, and elevator systems.

Background Art

[0002] This section aims to provide background information regarding an understanding of various technologies described herein. As is suggested by the title of this section, this is a description of related technologies and does not necessarily imply that they are prior art. Thus, it should be understood that any description in this section is not an approval of any prior art and should be interpreted from this perspective.

[0003] Currently, in the elevator industry, contact door switches that electrically verify that the door is in place and the door lock is in the locked state mostly adopt a pin and socket switch structure. Existing pin and socket switches in the prior art mostly adopt the form of 2-pin pins and 2 working holes on the socket. However, since the protection level of IP2X needs to be satisfied, the working holes on the socket are small. After the pin contacts the socket, the sliding space between the two is small. When the oscillation or installation offset is large, the pin may be damaged. Furthermore, when dust accumulates on the surface of the contact, substantial conduction may occur in the switch. Currently, when the sliding space becomes large, the switch usually becomes large in size, and its installation method and usage space may not meet the usage amount of conventional elevators.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The object of the present disclosure is to solve or at least mitigate the problems existing in the prior art.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In one embodiment, a contact switch is provided, the contact switch comprising a plug and a socket, the plug comprising a contact head configured in the shape of a plate, the socket comprising a housing and an elastic member and contacts disposed within the housing, the elastic member comprising a relief portion and a free end extending toward the contact head toward the relief portion, the contacts being fixed to the free end and extending toward the contact head toward the free end, and when the plug is inserted into the socket, the contact head makes contact with the contacts to turn on the contact switch and move away from the relief portion.

[0006] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, an inwardly extending restricting portion is configured within the housing, the restricting portion forming a receiving space, and when the plug is inserted into the socket, the contact head enters the receiving space and is restricted in the thickness direction of the contact head by the restricting portion.

[0007] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the contact head includes a contact head body, a base material disposed on the contact head body, and a contact layer for contacting the contacts, wherein the base material and the contact layer are connected by a thermal compound.

[0008] Optionally, according to embodiments of this disclosure, the contact layer comprises a silver material and the base material comprises a copper material.

[0009] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the groove is provided on the side edge of the contact head body, the base material is configured as a U-shaped structure with a joint portion formed on the side edge, the joint portion engages with the groove, and the side edge and bottom edge of the U-shaped structure are attached to the side edge and end face of the contact head body facing the socket, respectively.

[0010] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the housing is formed with a through-opening and an opening portion, the opening portion communicating with the internal space of the housing and used for the contact head to enter, and the through-opening communicating the internal space of the housing with the outside.

[0011] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a mark is formed on the end face of the contact head along the thickness direction, and in the initial state when the contact switch is not turned on, the mark is visible from the outside, and in the final state when the contact switch is turned on, the mark is at least partially blocked by the socket.

[0012] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the socket includes at least two baffles, the baffles configured on the end faces of the housing facing the plug, and the contact head sequentially contacts the contacts through an intermediate space formed between the baffles and the openings.

[0013] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the socket includes a first screw and a second screw, the first screw being used to secure the housing along the thickness direction of the housing, and the second screw being used for wiring from the outside of the housing, and thus accessible from the outside.

[0014] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the socket includes a nut cooperating with a second screw, and an opening is provided on the end face of the housing along the thickness direction, allowing the nut to be accessed from the outside of the housing through the opening.

[0015] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a contact portion is provided on the inner wall of the housing, a limit column, a guide structure, and a receiving portion for receiving a nut are provided on the bottom surface of the housing along the thickness direction, and the elastic member is clamped to the outer wall of the receiving portion through the limit column and the guide structure, and in the initial state when the contact switch is not turned on, the contact portion abuts against the avoidance portion.

[0016] Optionally, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the housing includes a first sub-housing and a second sub-housing, the elastic members and contacts are located within the first sub-housing, the openings and through-openings are located within the first sub-housing, the second sub-housing is configured with a hook portion, and when the first and second sub-housings are assembled, the hook portion is clamped into the through-opening.

[0017] In another embodiment, a safety door is provided, which comprises a contact switch as described above.

[0018] In yet another embodiment, an elevator system is provided, which includes the safety door described above.

[0019] The contact switch according to the embodiments of the present disclosure effectively prevents, in a cost-effective manner, the increase in resistance caused by contact between the contact head and the elastic member when the plug is engaged with the socket.

[0020] The contents of this disclosure will be more readily understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Furthermore, similar numbering in the drawings is used to indicate similar components. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary elevator system. [Figure 2] This is a three-dimensional view of the socket according to this disclosure. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the relative positions of the plug and socket in their initial state, as disclosed herein. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of the plug and socket in their final state according to this disclosure. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of the plug according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6] A plan view of a contact head body according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7] A three-dimensional view of a base material and a contact layer according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8] A three-dimensional view of a housing according to the present disclosure. [Figure 9] A three-dimensional view of a second sub-housing according to the present disclosure.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elevator system 101 including an elevator car 103, a counterweight 105, a rope 107, a guide rail 109, a traction machine 111, and an elevator system controller 115. The elevator car 103 and the counterweight 105 are connected to each other by a rope 107. The rope 107 may include, for example, a cord, a steel cable and / or a coated steel belt, or may be configured as such. In this embodiment, the rope is configured as a rope belt that integrates a plurality of ropes. The counterweight 105 is configured to balance the load of the elevator car 103 and is configured to facilitate the synchronized opposite movement of the elevator car 103 with respect to the counterweight 105 along the guide rail 109 within the elevator hoistway 117. The rope 107 engages with a traction machine 111 that is part of the overhead structure of the elevator system 101. The traction machine 111 is configured to control the movement between the elevator car 103 and the counterweight 105.

[0023] As shown in the illustration, the elevator system controller 115 is located in the elevator system controller room 121 of the elevator shaft 117 and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system 101 and, in particular, the elevator car 103. For example, the elevator system controller 115 may provide drive signals to the traction machine 111 to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc., of the elevator car 103. When the elevator car 103 moves up or down in the elevator shaft 117 along the guide rail 109, it may stop at one or more landings 125 when controlled by the elevator system controller 115. Although the elevator system controller 115 is shown in the elevator system controller room 121, those skilled in the art will understand that the elevator system controller 115 may be installed and / or configured in other locations or positions within the elevator system 101. The traction machine 111 may include a motor or a similar drive mechanism.

[0024] While rope systems are shown and described, elevator systems that utilize other methods and mechanisms to move the elevator car within the elevator shaft can also implement embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 1 is a non-limiting example presented solely for illustrative and explanatory purposes.

[0025] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional view of the socket according to this disclosure, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the plug and socket in their initial state according to this disclosure.

[0026] This disclosure relates to a contact switch 100, which includes a plug 1 and a socket 2. The plug 1 includes a contact head 11 configured in a plate shape. The socket 2 includes a housing 23 and an elastic member 21 and a contact 22 disposed within the housing 23. The elastic member 21 includes a bypass portion 211 and a free end 212 extending toward the contact head 11 relative to the bypass portion 211. The contact 22 is fixed to the free end 212 and extends toward the contact head 11 relative to the free end 212. When the plug 1 is inserted into the socket 2, the contact head 11 contacts the contact 22 to turn on the contact switch 100 and is separated from the bypass portion 211.

[0027] It should be understood that a contact switch achieves the on / off switching of the entire switch, or the on / off switching of a circuit associated with the switch, by connecting and disconnecting the contact head of the plug and the contacts of the socket. It can be used for circuit control, signal transmission, safety protection, state indication, etc. For example, when a contact switch is applied to the hand door or car door of an elevator system, the contact switch, when switched on, can indicate the closed state of the elevator door, so that the elevator can move up and down normally, but if not switched on, it cannot move up or down. Naturally, in addition to safety door application scenarios such as elevator doors, contact switches can also be used in other scenarios such as access control systems where it is necessary to check whether the relative position or state between two components is in place, for example, whether the door is properly open or closed. In this regard, the plug and socket of the contact switch can be placed on the two moving parts of the door, respectively, to achieve the opening and closing of the door, and the on or off state of the contact switch is triggered by the opening and closing movements of the moving parts. In the off-to-on process, the contact head moves and, in response to contact with the contact, the elastic member undergoes a specific deformation to conform to the shape and position of the contact head, ensuring reliable contact between the contact head and the contact through a reaction force. In the on-to-off process, the contact head moves away from the contact, and the elastic member, using its elasticity, drives the contact back to its initial position to achieve a reset and prepare for the next turn-on process. The socket is sometimes also called the switch body.

[0028] In this technical solution, the contact head is constructed in a plate shape, so the contact head or the entire plug can also be called an insert component. This technical solution also incorporates special designs for the avoidance portion and free end of the elastic member, so that when the contact switch is turned on, the contact head is separated from the avoidance portion of the elastic member. In this way, when the plug and socket are engaged in a cost-effective manner, it is possible to prevent the increase in resistance caused by contact between the contact head and the elastic member, ensure preferential contact between the contact head and the contacts, and improve the safety and stability of the contact switch. It should be understood that when resistance increases, the voltage drops. The effects of voltage drops can be more apparent, especially in actual use, where there may be more than one, or even tens or hundreds, of contact switches operating in series, so that a contact switch may be judged as off even when it is actually on, and consequently affect the normal operation of elevator systems or other equipment that use the contact switch. For example, the elastic member can be constructed in a U-shape, with the avoidance portion corresponding to the bottom edge of the U and the free end corresponding to the end of the side edge of the U. The free end extends toward the plug relative to the avoidance portion, which helps the contact located at the free end to contact the contact head in front of the elastic member, thus avoiding an increase in resistance.

[0029] Furthermore, it can be understood that, as long as a portion of the elastic member generally has a U-shaped bottom edge and side edges, the U-shaped structure described herein is not strictly necessary, and detailed modifications are permissible. For example, a bending structure may exist between the U-shaped bottom edge and side edges to adaptively adjust the position of the free end and contact point according to actual needs.

[0030] The elastic member can be, for example, an elastic component, or it can be made of copper, which has advantages such as good elasticity, excellent corrosion resistance, easy processing and manufacturing, non-magnetic, high strength, and fatigue resistance. Furthermore, this disclosure does not impose any special limitations on the shape of the contact. For example, the contact can be a square contact, a circular contact, or a triangular contact, and since the working surface is an arc surface, it is easy to manufacture, the contact area is increased, and the connection becomes more stable. Also, an arc surface contact can distribute the current more uniformly on the contact surface, reduce contact resistance, avoid burnout or overheating of the contact caused by excessive local current density, reduce heat accumulation caused by excessive resistance, reduce contact wear, and extend the service life of the contact. An arc surface contact can quickly extinguish the electric arc when separated, reduce erosion of the electric arc at the contact, and avoid malfunctions caused by transient voltages. Furthermore, the contact between the arc-shaped surface contact and the strip-shaped plug effectively removes dust from the contact and prevents the contact from effectively turning on due to dust accumulation.

[0031] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the plug and socket in their final state according to this disclosure.

[0032] The inwardly extending restricting portion 231 is provided inside the housing 23, and the restricting portion 231 forms a receiving space SP. When the plug 1 is inserted into the socket 2, the contact head 11 enters the receiving space SP and is restricted in the thickness direction of the contact head 11 by the restricting portion 231.

[0033] The design of the restricting portion and receiving space allows the position of the contact head in the ON state to be restricted as necessary so that the contact head can always make contact with the contact without slipping, thereby ensuring the stability of the turn-on connection and preventing the contact head from getting stuck between the elastic member and the inner wall of the housing. It should be noted that this technical solution can be used in particular in conjunction with contact heads in the shape of insert components. When the contact head is a pin structure, it is difficult to restrict it as it is prone to slipping off the contact due to the small volume or space occupied by the pin structure. In contrast, since the shape of an insert component is relatively large and a continuous structure, the restriction of the two sides of the insert component's shape, i.e., the parts that contact the contact head, can be indirectly achieved by restricting the shape of the insert component (e.g., its middle portion) with the restricting portion to ensure the stability of the connection.

[0034] Specifically, the housing 23 includes a first sub-housing 238 and a second sub-housing 239, and the limiting portion can be formed by joining these two sub-housings, respectively. Viewed from the perspective of Figure 4, the limiting portion is exemplary configured as a plate shape with a narrow top and a wide bottom in the first sub-housing, and as a plate shape with a wide top and a narrow bottom in the second sub-housing, and defines the range of motion of the contact head by mating with each other in the lower region and forming a receiving space in the upper region. Those skilled in the art can flexibly adjust the structure of the limiting portion according to actual needs. The size of the receiving space in the thickness direction may correspond to the corresponding size of the contact, or be slightly larger or smaller, in order to better ensure stable contact between the contact head and the contact. Furthermore, the design of the limiting portions mating with each other in the lower region can also facilitate the assembly process of the two sub-housings.

[0035] Figure 5 is a plan view of the plug according to the present disclosure, Figure 6 is a plan view of the contact head body according to the present disclosure, and Figure 7 is a three-dimensional view of the base material and contact layer according to the present disclosure.

[0036] The contact head 11 includes a contact head body 116, a base material 114 placed on the contact head body 116, and a contact layer 112 for contacting the contact 22, the base material 114 and the contact layer 112 being connected by a thermal compound.

[0037] This technical solution improves the design of the contact head, where the contact layer is used to make contact with the contacts and turn on the contact switch. Here, thermal compound connections can improve the reliability of the connection. Specifically, thermal compound connections usually refer to the close bonding of two or more materials under heating conditions. This connection method ensures that the connection between the base material and the contact layer is both strong and stable by forming strong intermolecular bonding forces, and this stability is crucial for the performance of the contact head during long-term use. The base material and the contact layer each have different functions. By bonding them together with thermal compound connections, they can complement each other in terms of performance, improving the overall performance of the contact head, such as increased conductivity, reduced contact resistance, and extended service life. Regarding the thermal compound itself, thermal compound connections usually have higher production efficiency. It can shorten the manufacturing cycle of the contact head by achieving large-area, high-strength connections in a short time. Furthermore, in some applications, other connection methods such as mechanical fixing, welding, and bonding can also be used.

[0038] On the other hand, base materials and contact layer materials with different properties can also be selected to meet specific application requirements. For example, the base material may focus on mechanical strength and thermal conductivity, while the contact layer may focus more on electrical conductivity, wear resistance, or corrosion resistance. This flexibility in material selection allows contact heads to be optimized for specific applications.

[0039] For example, the contact layer 112 contains silver material, and the base material 114 contains copper material. A thermal compound of these two materials can achieve a suitable compromise and balance between performance and cost. Specifically, using silver material can significantly reduce connection resistance and improve transmission efficiency. Silver also has high corrosion resistance and can withstand chemical reactions and oxidation depending on the environment, while ensuring that the contact layer can operate stably even under harsh conditions, thereby extending the life of the contact head. As a base material, copper can ensure that current flows smoothly inside the contact head and forms a good electrical conduction path with the silver contact layer. By using silver for the contact layer, which functions as a critical contact component, and using low-cost copper as the base material for the support and conductive substrate, it is possible to reduce costs while maintaining excellent conductivity. In the case of thermal compounds, silver and copper are two metals that coexist well. These materials can form a good metallurgical bond during the thermal compound connection process, resulting in increased adhesion between the silver and copper layers, improved reliability and stability of the contact head connection, and reduced electrical malfunctions caused by poor contact. Therefore, this technical solution has special technical advantages not only in the silver and copper materials themselves, but also in their compatibility with the thermal compound.

[0040] Regarding material size, as just one example, the thickness of the silver is 0.3 mm, and the total thickness of the blended silver and copper is 0.8 mm. To achieve a good balance of the above performance, lifespan, and cost, those skilled in the art can flexibly adjust the blended silver layer, base material, and total thickness according to factors such as actual requirements or budget, without departing from the spirit of this solution. Furthermore, although not described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art can also select other materials according to budget and requirements. For example, gold, platinum, nickel, etc., can be used for the contact layer, and aluminum, iron, alloys, etc., can be used for the base material. The optimal combination of base material and contact layer material for a specific application can be selected by comparing factors such as compatibility with the connection method, conductivity, mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, cost, and application environment.

[0041] Furthermore, from Figures 5 to 7, it can be seen that the groove 1161 is provided on the side edge of the contact head body 116, the base material 114 is configured as a U-shaped structure with a joint portion 1141 provided on the side edge, the joint portion 1141 engages with the groove 1161, and the side edge and bottom edge of the U-shaped structure are attached to the side edge and end face of the contact head body 116 that face the socket 2, respectively.

[0042] The technical solution can be summarized as a method of connection between the base material and the contact head body, where the base material is embedded in the contact head body to form a close mechanical connection, improving connection reliability and preventing the base material from coming loose. Furthermore, the design of the grooves and joints allows for a simpler and faster assembly process of the contact head body and base material, improving production efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs. Additionally, the U-shaped base material increases the contact area with the contact head body, promoting heat conduction and dissipation, and providing a certain level of support strength so that the contact head can withstand mechanical stress and impact loads more effectively. Other connection methods, such as screw connections, snap-fit ​​connections, welding, riveting, bonding, and stitching, can also be applied depending on the situation.

[0043] Figure 8 is a three-dimensional view of the housing according to this disclosure.

[0044] The housing 23 is formed by a through-opening 232 and an opening 233. The opening 233 communicates with the internal space of the housing 23 and is used for the contact head 11 to enter, while the through-opening 232 communicates the internal space of the housing 23 with the outside.

[0045] From this technical solution, it can be seen that the opening can be considered a window to the outside of the socket, and the contact head of the plug enters the internal space of the socket housing through the opening to make contact with the contacts. Thus, the opening is exemplary, on the end face of the housing facing the plug. In particular, a larger opening ensures improved fault tolerance of the switch installation by increasing the sliding distance between the plug and the socket, thereby reducing damage to the switch caused by vibration of elevator mechanical parts or other parts for switch installation.

[0046] Furthermore, depending on the design of the opening, impurities such as sand, dust, and water may enter the socket housing through the opening and accumulate over time, potentially hindering the movement of the elastic member and the engagement of the contact head. To this end, a technical solution is to ensure the normal operation of the contact switch by designing through-openings so that these invading impurities can be smoothly discharged to the outside, i.e., outside the contact switch. For example, through-openings are designed to be larger in size to improve discharge capacity and are located in the lower region of the housing to accommodate more impurities. If necessary, more through-openings can also be provided. In addition, the presence of openings also allows for air circulation between the inside and outside of the housing, thereby promoting heat dissipation.

[0047] In conjunction with Figure 3, it can be seen that a mark 113 is constructed on the end face of the contact head 11 along the thickness direction. In the initial state when the contact switch 100 is not turned on, the mark 113 is visible from the outside. In the final state when the contact switch 100 is turned on, the mark 113 is at least partially blocked by the socket 2.

[0048] Therefore, this technical solution shows that when the contact switch is turned on, it is possible to intuitively and easily determine whether the contact head and socket are properly engaged using the mark, thereby achieving visualization of the engagement depth. Here, the engagement depth can be understood as the amount of contact extrusion by the contact head. For example, the mark is T-shaped, with the horizontal line portion parallel to the long side of the plate-shaped contact head and the vertical line portion parallel to the vertical side of the plate-shaped contact head. Thus, in the final state when the contact switch is turned on, the horizontal line of the mark is blocked by the socket, and the vertical line is fully or largely exposed, indicating that the plug has completed engagement with the socket at this point. For maintenance personnel, this intuitive marking method can greatly simplify the troubleshooting and daily maintenance processes. It should be understood that the position of the mark on the contact head body can be designed according to the requirements of the engagement depth. It should be understood that the selection of the engagement depth affects the fatigue life of the elastic member, the degree of wear of the contact head and contact, and the contact reliability between the two. Therefore, an appropriate engagement depth helps maintain low levels of wear while ensuring reliable contact and thus guaranteeing the fatigue life of the elastic member. For example, an engagement depth of 3-6 mm is selected, and the position of the mark is determined based on this. In addition to T-shaped marks, circular, rectangular, triangular, rhombus, polygonal, and even irregular shapes may be considered, as may shapes such as letters or numbers.

[0049] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the socket 2 comprises at least two baffles 24. The baffles 24 are constructed on the end face of the housing 23 facing the plug 1, and the contact head 11 sequentially contacts the contacts 22 through an intermediate space formed between the baffles 24 and the opening portion 233.

[0050] It is understood that the baffle design provides a pre-restricting and movement guide function for the insertion of the contact head into the socket, enabling it to smoothly and reliably enter the opening and the internal space of the socket housing in order to make contact with the contacts and achieve the IP2X protection level requirement. Furthermore, the baffle can be used in conjunction with the aforementioned restricting portion to adjust the position of the contact head in a more comprehensive manner. For this purpose, the spacing between baffles can be set to be greater than or equal to the spacing of the receiving space formed by the restricting portion in the thickness direction of the housing. Additionally, the baffle can also serve to shield to some extent from external impurities such as dust, sand, and water, reducing the possibility of them entering the socket and protecting the normal operation of components such as the plug and elastic members. The baffle is exemplary in that it extends along the length direction of the housing and is aligned with one another to provide a clear engagement path. The design of the baffle in cooperation with the through-opening can better meet the protection level requirements of the contact switch.

[0051] Also, in conjunction with Figure 3, it can be seen that the socket 2 includes a first screw 25 and a second screw 26, the first screw 25 securing the housing 23 along the thickness direction of the housing 23, and the second screw 26 used for wiring from the outside of the housing 23 and is accessible from the outside.

[0052] The screws can be, for example, bolts, screws, studs, or other threaded components used for fastening. Here, the first screw is used to fasten the socket, and the second screw is used for wiring and securing the wire harness. Here, the screw connection can ensure the stability and rigidity of the socket structure, and the socket structure can also be disassembled if necessary. The second screw, such as a nut, may also be accessible from the outside of the housing, so that the resistance can be measured by touching the second screw through an electrical meter such as a multimeter to determine the conduction conditions, without disassembling the socket if necessary, such as during maintenance, thereby improving maintenance efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.

[0053] It can also be seen that the second screw is arranged or extends within a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction. The entire housing can be understood as a fixed configuration. Therefore, during wiring, the second screw can be loosened more completely first to facilitate wiring, and then tightened after the wiring is complete. This facilitates wiring while ensuring the position of the socket to be fixed. For this purpose, it can be seen that the housing is provided with corresponding screw holes for screw connections.

[0054] Furthermore, the socket 2 includes a nut 27 that cooperates with the second screw 26, and an opening is provided on the end face of the housing 23 along the thickness direction, allowing the nut 27 to be accessed from the outside of the housing 23 through the opening.

[0055] Therefore, the nuts may also be accessible from the outside of the housing through the openings, thus improving the convenience and flexibility of maintenance. For example, during maintenance, the nuts can be accessed from the outside of the housing via a multimeter without disassembling the socket, and the resistance can be measured to check the conduction conditions. Specifically, in some installation positions of the socket, the bottom of the socket may be blocked, but nevertheless, the openings on the sides of the housing remain open to the outside, so inspection can still be easily achieved. The openings are, for example, circular holes with a diameter of 2.5 mm, and there are two such openings. Those skilled in the art can appropriately adjust the corresponding features of the openings according to the actual situation, such as the position, number, size and other features of the nuts.

[0056] Also, in conjunction with Figure 3, it can be seen that a contact portion 234 is formed on the inner wall of the housing 23, and a limit column 235, a guide structure 236, and a receiving portion 237 for receiving the nut 27 are formed on the bottom surface of the housing 23 along the thickness direction. The elastic member 21 is clamped onto the outer wall of the receiving portion 237 through the limit column 235 and the guide structure 236. In the initial state when the contact switch 100 is not turned on, the contact portion 234 abuts against the avoidance portion 211.

[0057] This technical solution provides an example of a method for fixing an elastic member. The elastic member is typically fixed or restricted by a contact portion, a limit column, a guide structure, and a receiving portion. Specifically, part of the elastic member is wrapped around the limit column, and the other part of the elastic member is attached to the arc-shaped outer surface of the guide structure. Finally, the end of the elastic member abuts against the side of the receiving portion along its length, and a hook is fastened onto the side of the receiving portion in the width direction, completing the restriction and providing the elastic member with a stable support and clamping point. Here, the limit column may also be used as a positioning element during the assembly of the housing, such as the assembly of the first sub-housing and the second sub-housing, and the guide structure may also be used to fasten the first screw, and the receiving portion is used to receive the nut. Thus, these components have multiple functions, enabling full utilization of the internal space of the housing and components, eliminating wasted space, and improving resource utilization.

[0058] This technical solution also stipulates that, in the initial state when the contact switch is not turned on, the housing plays a pre-compression role on the elastic member, ensuring that the contact portion and the contact head are kept at a certain distance from each other so that resistance cannot be increased by the contact portion contacting the avoidance portion, i.e., the contact head contacting the avoidance portion. Furthermore, this design also stipulates the initial position of the elastic member, including its free end and contacts, to avoid displacement or vibration during use. Thus, the elastic member is stably positioned within the socket housing in the initial state, thereby preventing to some extent the elastic member from moving inadvertently due to external factors (e.g., vibration, impact, etc.), thereby triggering the contact switch and improving product reliability.

[0059] Figure 9 is a three-dimensional view of the second sub-housing according to this disclosure.

[0060] The elastic member 21 and the contact point 22 are located within the first sub-housing 238, the opening 233 and the through-opening 232 are located on the first sub-housing 238, and the second sub-housing 239 has a hook portion 2391. When the first sub-housing 238 and the second sub-housing 239 are assembled, the hook portion 2391 is clamped to the through-opening 232.

[0061] According to this technical solution, on the one hand, the assembly of the two sub-housings is achieved by clamp connections of through-openings and hook portions, and the clamp connection design enables fast, stable, and simple assembly of the two sub-housings without requiring additional fastening parts or complex assembly processes. On the other hand, even after assembly is complete, the through-openings can still maintain their function of discharging impurities by allowing the internal space of the housing to communicate with the outside, ensuring that the contact switch can operate well for a long time even in harsh environments.

[0062] In this regard, the second sub-housing may be provided with multiple hook portions at multiple positions, which can cooperate with various components of the first sub-housing. For example, as described above, the limit column is provided with a hole 2351 for engaging with the hook portion. When a clamp connection is made, the hook portion uses its inclined surface to contact the end face of the hole, and the hook portion can deform to enter and pass through the hole. After passing through the hole, the hook portion is reset by the reaction force formed by the deformation and establishes a clamp fit by catching on the corresponding end face of the hole or a step designed for this purpose. In addition, screw connections, welding, riveting, bonding, magnetic forces, etc., can also be considered.

[0063] The disclosure also relates to a safety door, wherein the safety door comprises either a contact switch 100 as described above or an elevator system 101, and the elevator system 101 comprises the safety door described above.

[0064] Therefore, the safety doors and elevator systems of this disclosure are not repeated here because they integrate various embodiments of contact switches and their corresponding technical effects. However, it should be understood that safety doors include various doors that need to be monitored in both open and closed states, such as hand doors, elevator car doors, or access control system doors.

[0065] The specific embodiments described above in this disclosure are merely for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the principles of this disclosure, and each component is clearly shown or described to facilitate understanding of the principles of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art can readily make various modifications or changes to this disclosure without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that these modifications or changes fall within the scope of the patent protections of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A contact switch (100) comprising a plug (1) and a socket (2), wherein the plug (1) includes a contact head (11) configured in the shape of a plate, and the socket (2) includes a housing (23) and an elastic member (21) and a contact (22) disposed within the housing (23), wherein the elastic member (21) includes a avoidance portion (211) and a free end (212) extending toward the contact head (11) relative to the avoidance portion (211), the contact (22) being fixed to the free end (212) and extending toward the contact head (11) relative to the free end (212), and when the plug (1) is inserted into the socket (2), the contact head (11) contacts the contact (22) to turn on the contact switch (100) and to move away from the avoidance portion (211), the contact switch (100).

2. The inwardly extending restricting portion (231) is configured within the housing (23), the restricting portion (231) forms a receiving space (SP), and when the plug (1) is inserted into the socket (2), the contact head (11) enters the receiving space (SP) and is restricted in the thickness direction of the contact head (11) by the restricting portion (231), as described in claim 1, for the contact switch (100).

3. The contact switch (100) according to claim 1, wherein the contact head (11) includes a contact head body (116), a base material (114) disposed on the contact head body (116), and a contact layer (112) for contacting the contact (22), and the base material (114) and the contact layer (112) are connected by a thermal compound.

4. The contact switch (100) according to claim 3, wherein the contact layer (112) comprises a silver material and the base material (114) comprises a copper material.

5. The contact switch (100) according to claim 3, wherein the groove (1161) is provided on the side edge of the contact head body (116), the base material (114) is configured as a U-shaped structure with a joining portion (1141) formed on the side edge, the joining portion (1141) engages with the groove (1161), and the side edge and bottom edge of the U-shaped structure are attached to the side edge and end face of the contact head body (116) facing the socket (2), respectively.

6. The housing (23) has a through opening (232) and an opening portion (233), the opening portion (233) communicates with the internal space of the housing (23) and is used for the contact head (11) to enter, and the through opening (232) connects the internal space of the housing (23) to the outside, the contact switch (100) according to claim 1.

7. A mark (113) is formed on the end face of the contact head (11) along the thickness direction, and in the initial state when the contact switch (100) is not turned on, the mark (113) is visible from the outside, and in the final state when the contact switch (100) is turned on, the mark (113) is at least partially blocked by the socket (2), the contact switch (100) according to claim 1.

8. The contact switch (100) according to claim 6, wherein the socket (2) includes at least two baffles (24), the baffles (24) being configured on the end face of the housing (23) facing the plug (1), and the contact head (11) sequentially contacts the contacts (22) through an intermediate space formed between the baffles (24) and the opening (233).

9. The contact switch (100) according to claim 1, wherein the socket (2) includes a first screw (25) and a second screw (26), the first screw (25) for securing the housing (23) along the thickness direction of the housing (23), and the second screw (26) for wiring from the outside of the housing (23) and accessible from the outside.

10. The contact switch (100) according to claim 9, wherein the socket (2) includes a nut (27) which cooperates with the second screw (26), and an opening is provided in the end face of the housing (23) along the thickness direction, and the nut (27) is accessible from the outside of the housing (23) through the opening.

11. The contact switch (100) according to claim 10, wherein a contact portion (234) is formed on the inner wall of the housing (23), a limit column (235), a guide structure (236), and a receiving portion (237) for receiving the nut (27) are formed on the bottom surface of the housing (23) along the thickness direction, the elastic member (21) is clamped onto the outer wall of the receiving portion (237) through the limit column (235) and the guide structure (236), and in the initial state in which the contact switch (100) is not turned on, the contact portion (234) abuts against the avoidance portion (211).

12. The housing (23) includes a first sub-housing (238) and a second sub-housing (239), the elastic member (21) and the contact (22) are arranged within the first sub-housing (238), the opening (233) and the through-opening (232) are open on the first sub-housing (238), the second sub-housing (239) has a hook portion (2391), and when the first sub-housing (238) and the second sub-housing (239) are assembled, the hook portion (2391) is clamped to the through-opening (232), the contact switch (100) according to claim 6.

13. A safety door, comprising a contact switch (100) as described in claim 1.

14. An elevator system (101), comprising a safety door as described in claim 13.