Foot switch and control system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a foot switch and a control system. The foot switch comprises a bottom box, a pedal, a mechanical switch and a reset spring. The pedal is hinged to the bottom box, the mechanical switch is arranged in the bottom box and located in the motion trail of the pedal, and the pedal drives the mechanical switch to change the on-off state after being subjected to external force. The reset spring is arranged in the bottom box, connected with the pedal and used for applying bias pressure to the pedal, and the direction of the bias pressure is opposite to external force. Wherein a support is arranged in the bottom box, the support is fixed to the bottom box or integrally formed with the bottom box, and the hinged position of the pedal and the bottom box and the support are arranged in a spaced mode in the first direction; the reset spring is a torsion spring, a pin shaft is arranged on the support, the torsion spring is sleeved on one end of the pin shaft and abuts against the pedal, and the other end abuts against the support. The installation structure has the advantages of being simple and stable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a foot switch and a control system. Background Art

[0002] A foot switch is a type of control switch, typically used to control the on / off state of a circuit or change the output current by stepping on it. This type of switch is often used in some mechanical equipment fields, such as medical equipment, stamping equipment, and welding equipment.

[0003] For the foot switch in the field of welding equipment, it includes a base box, a pedal, a potentiometer, a micro switch and a reset spring.

[0004] In the field of welding equipment, most foot switches use compression springs as return springs, such as CN205211623U. Of course, a certain number of foot switches also use torsion springs as return springs. However, existing foot switches that use torsion springs as return springs are installed at the hinge axis between the base box and the pedal. This requires that the torsion spring assembly must be considered while the base box and pedal are hinged, which is not conducive to production and assembly.

[0005] Therefore, how to more reasonably design a torsion spring installation structure is undoubtedly a question worth considering. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art and to provide a foot switch and a control system.

[0007] The present application provides: a foot switch, which includes a base box, a pedal, a mechanical switch and a return spring; the pedal and the base box are hinged, the mechanical switch is arranged inside the base box and is in the movement trajectory of the pedal, and the pedal drives the mechanical switch to change the switch state after being acted upon by an external force; the return spring is arranged in the base box and connected to the pedal, and is used to apply a biasing force to the pedal, and the direction of the biasing force is opposite to the external force; wherein, a bracket is provided in the base box, the bracket is fixed on the base box or is integrally formed with the base box, and the hinge between the pedal and the base box and the bracket are spaced apart in the first direction; the return spring is a torsion spring, and a pin is provided on the bracket. The torsion spring is sleeved on the pin, one end of the torsion spring is against the pedal, and the other end is against the bracket.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present application, the bracket includes two side panels spaced apart in the second direction, wherein a mounting hole is provided on one side panel, and a mounting groove is provided on the other side panel, one end of the pin shaft is inserted into the mounting hole, and the other end is in the mounting groove; a snap-fit ​​protrusion is provided on the groove wall of the mounting groove, and the snap-fit ​​protrusion and the pin shaft form a limit to prevent the pin shaft from detaching from the groove of the mounting groove.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present application, the bracket further includes a connecting plate connecting the two side plates, and a lap portion is provided on the connecting plate, and the return spring is abutted against the bracket through the lap portion.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present application, the notch of the mounting slot is tilted upward away from the hinge, and the torsion spring applies a biasing force to the pin, and the direction of the biasing force is away from the notch of the mounting slot.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present application, the bracket includes two side panels and a connecting plate; the two side panels are spaced apart in the second direction and connected by the connecting plate, and the three together form a receiving groove; a sliding potentiometer is arranged in the receiving groove, and the operating member of the sliding potentiometer is connected to the pedal by a connecting member. The position of the operating member of the sliding potentiometer changes by changing the position of the pedal, thereby causing the resistance value of the sliding potentiometer to change.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present application, the pedal includes a footrest portion and an inner lining, the footrest portion and the inner lining are fastened by fasteners or the two are an integral part, the inner lining is hinged to the base box, and the inner lining is connected to the operating part of the sliding potentiometer by a connecting member.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present application, the connecting member is a tension spring, one end of the tension spring is connected to the operating member, and the other end of the tension spring is fixed to the pedal.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present application, the pedal includes a footrest portion and an inner lining, the footrest portion and the inner lining are fastened by fasteners or the two are an integral part; the inner lining is hinged to the bottom box by bolts, and the footrest portion is located outside the inner lining for the user to step on.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present application, the base box includes two wall panels spaced apart in the second direction, the hinge between the pedal and the base box is located on the wall panel, the mechanical switch is arranged on one of the wall panels, and the mechanical switch and the bracket are arranged on both sides of the hinge in the first direction.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present application, the base box includes two wall panels spaced apart in the second direction, the hinge between the pedal and the base box is located on the wall panel, and an electrical interface is provided on one of the wall panels, which is used to connect the foot switch to the circuit.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present application, the pedal is further provided with a pedal buckle, and the pedal buckle is detachably matched with the pedal;

[0018] In some embodiments of the present application, a limiting protrusion is further provided on the pedal.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present application, anti-slip protrusions are also provided on the pedal.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present application, a sealing plate is further included. A disassembly hole is opened at the bottom of the bottom box, and the sealing plate and the bottom box are detachably matched to close the disassembly hole.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present application, the bottom of the bottom box has a foot pad.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present application, a pedal buckle is also provided on the pedal, and the pedal buckle includes a first belt-shaped component and a second belt-shaped component; one end of the first belt-shaped component is connected to one end of the pedal, and the second belt-shaped component is connected to the other end of the pedal; the other end of the first belt-shaped component has a buckling portion, and the other end of the second belt-shaped component has a buckling hole, and the buckling portion and the buckling hole form a buckling connection.

[0023] A control system includes a welding machine and the above-mentioned foot switch, wherein the foot switch is electrically connected to the welding machine and is used to control the welding machine.

[0024] The beneficial effects of this application include:

[0025] In the present application, a torsion spring is arranged on a pin shaft with one end abutting against the pedal and the other end abutting against the bracket, and the bracket and the hinge are spaced apart in the first direction. In this way, the hinge position and the torsion spring installation position are separated, so that the hinge assembly process of the pedal and the base box is independent of the assembly process of the torsion spring, which is beneficial to the design of the product and reduces the difficulty of assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only illustrate certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other relevant drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 A perspective view of a foot switch according to Example 1 of the present application is shown;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a pedal according to Example 1 of the present application is shown;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a foot switch without a foot pedal portion is shown in Example 1 of the present application;

[0030] Figure 4 A side view of the foot switch without the foot pedal portion is shown in Example 1 of the present application;

[0031] Figure 5 It shows a side view of the torsion spring after installation in Example 1 of the present application;

[0032] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the bracket and the bottom box in Example 1 of the present application is shown;

[0033] Figure 7 A schematic diagram and a partial enlarged view of the bracket and the pin shaft of Example 1 of the present application are shown;

[0034] Figure 8 The relationship between the sliding potentiometer, the connector, and the lining in Example 1 of the present application is shown;

[0035] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of a pedal portion according to embodiment 1 of the present application is shown;

[0036] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of a pedal buckle according to Example 1 of the present application is shown;

[0037] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the connection between the foot switch and the welding machine in Example 1 of the present application is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The following describes in detail embodiments of the present application. Examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where identical or similar reference numerals throughout represent identical or similar elements or elements having identical or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are illustrative and intended only to explain the present application and are not to be construed as limiting the present application.

[0039] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present application.

[0040] Furthermore, the terms "primary" and "secondary" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features specified as "primary" or "secondary" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of this application, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0041] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, terms such as "mounted," "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they may refer to internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0042] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, "above" or "below" a main feature may mean that the main feature and the second feature are in direct contact, or that the main feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, "above," "above," and "above" a main feature may mean that the main feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the main feature is higher in level than the second feature. "below," "below," and "below" a main feature may mean that the main feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the main feature is lower in level than the second feature. Example

[0043] like Figures 1-10 As shown, embodiment 1 of the present application provides a foot switch 100, which includes:

[0044] The bottom box 10 is a three-dimensional structure comprising a bottom plate 11 and four wall panels. The four wall panels surround the bottom plate 11 and are sequentially connected to form an open structure. The four wall panels are the left and right wall panels 10a, 10b and the front and rear wall panels. The length direction of the left and right wall panels 10a, 10b is the first direction, and the length direction of the front and rear wall panels is the second direction. Therefore, the left and right wall panels 10a, 10b are spaced apart in the second direction.

[0045] A disassembly hole 12 is formed on the bottom plate 11, and a sealing plate 13 is fixed to the bottom plate 11 to close the disassembly hole 12. The sealing plate 13 is fixed to the bottom plate 11 with screws, but other detachable fixing methods can also be used. The disassembly hole 12 and sealing plate 13 are provided to facilitate the user to install or remove components.

[0046] Foot pads 11 c are provided on the lower surface of the base plate 11. There are four foot pads 11 c, which are distributed at the four corners of the base plate 11. Here, the number and position of the foot pads 11 c can be more or less according to the actual shape of the base plate 11.

[0047] The pedal 20 includes a footrest portion 21 and an inner lining 22. The footrest portion 21 is located outside the inner lining 22 for the user to step on, and the inner lining 22 is used to form a hinge with the base box 10. Here, the footrest portion 21 and the inner lining 22 are separate structures and are fixed by screws. Of course, the two can also be set as an integral part.

[0048] Here, the lining 22 is hinged to the bottom box 10 by bolts, specifically, two sets of bolts (hinged bolts 120) are respectively hinged to the left and right wall panels 10a and 10b. This hinge structure is relatively simple, easy to install, and reduces costs. Of course, in addition to the structure formed by bolts, a hinge shaft can also be used to form a hinge.

[0049] The mechanical switch 30 is a micro switch here, but a travel switch could also be used. The mechanical switch 30 is fixed to the right wall panel 10b, with its triggering portion located within the rotational path of the inner lining 22. When a user steps on the pedal 20, the pedal 20 rotates, thereby changing the triggering relationship between the pedal 20 and the mechanical switch 30. For example, when not stepped on, the mechanical switch 30 is normally open, and when stepped on, the mechanical switch 30 is closed.

[0050] Bracket 40 is secured to base plate 11, specifically by screws, though welding, riveting, and other methods are also possible. Bracket 40 comprises two side panels 41, a connecting plate 42, and a mounting plate 43. The two side panels 41 are spaced apart in the second direction and connected by connecting plate 42. The mounting plate 43 is connected to the connecting plate 42. The mounting plate 43 is secured to base plate 11, while the two side panels 41 are used to secure pins 44.

[0051] The return spring 50 is a torsion spring that is mounted on the pin 44. Its two ends respectively abut against the bracket 40 and the pedal 20 to provide a biasing force. When the user steps on the pedal 20, the return spring 50 deforms to provide a damping force, and when the user is not stepping on the pedal 20, it drives the pedal 20 back to its original position.

[0052] Here, there is a gap between the bracket 40 and the hinge O (the hinge O between the pedal 20 and the bottom box 10, that is, the hinge O on the left and right wall panels 10a and 10b), and the bracket 40 and the mechanical switch 30 are arranged on both sides of the hinge O in the first direction.

[0053] By providing a gap between the bracket 40 and the hinge O, the hinge assembly process of the pedal 20 and the bottom box 10 can be independent of the assembly process of the torsion spring, which is beneficial to product design and reduces assembly difficulty.

[0054] To facilitate assembly of pin 44, a mounting hole 41a is provided on one side panel 41, and a mounting slot 41b is provided on the other side panel 41. One end of pin 44 is inserted into mounting hole 41a, and the other end is positioned within mounting slot 41b. A latching protrusion 41c is provided on the wall of mounting slot 41b. During installation, pin 44 has a certain interference fit with latching protrusion 41c. As pin 44 is pushed in, it passes over latching protrusion 41c and is secured in place. This position of latching protrusion 41c positions pin 44 toward the notch of mounting slot 41b, preventing pin 44 from dislodging from the notch of mounting slot 41b.

[0055] Here, the slot of the mounting slot 41b is designed to be oriented away from the hinge O and tilted upward, so that the torsion spring will give the pin 44 a biasing force (the direction of the biasing force is in the direction away from the slot of the mounting slot 41b), which can make the pin 44 more stable in the mounting slot 41b.

[0056] Here, the connecting plate 42 defines an overlapping portion 42a, into which one end of the return spring 50 extends, forming abutment between the return spring 50 and the bracket 40. Two overlapping portions 42a are provided, but one or more overlapping portions may also be provided. The overlapping portions 42a are grooves, but hooks may also be provided. Regardless of the form or number of overlapping portions 42a, they ensure a stable fit with the return spring 50, ensuring the stability of the abutment between the return spring 50 and the bracket 40.

[0057] The slide potentiometer 60 changes its resistance by moving its operating member 61, thereby changing the output current (resulting in a change in the controlled welding equipment power). The specific circuit connections are well known in the art and will not be described in detail here. Here, the slide potentiometer 60 is positioned within the receiving groove 40a formed by the side plate 41 and the connecting plate 42. The operating member 61 of the slide potentiometer 60 is connected to the inner lining 22 via a connector 70. As the position of the pedal 20 changes, the connector 70 also drives the operating member 61 to move, causing the resistance to change.

[0058] By arranging the potentiometer in the accommodating groove 40 a formed by the bracket 40 , one bracket 40 can be used to mount both the return spring 50 and the potentiometer, making the overall structure more compact.

[0059] The connector 70 can take many forms, including a conventional pull rod or a tension spring. A preferred embodiment employs a tension spring, one end of which is connected to the operating member 61 and the other end is secured to the inner lining 22 via a fastener. The fasteners used here are screws, but riveting, welding, or hooking are also possible alternatives for securing the pedal 20. This tension spring connector 70 provides a certain degree of cushioning between the inner lining 22 and the operating member 61, reducing impact on the slide potentiometer 60.

[0060] The electrical interface 80, also known as a connector or socket, is electrically connected to the potentiometer and microswitch. This electrical connection method is well known in the art and will not be further described here. Thus, the welding equipment can be connected to the electrical interface 80 via wires, thereby integrating the foot switch 100 into the circuit. The electrical interface 80 is located on the left wall panel 10a, but it can also be located on other wall panels.

[0061] The outer side of the pedal portion 21 is provided with anti-skid protrusions 21 a , wherein there are a plurality of anti-skid protrusions 21 a , which can increase the friction when the user steps on the pedal.

[0062] A limiting protrusion 21 b is provided on the outer side of the pedal portion 21 so that the user can find a support point when pedaling, which is convenient for the user to pedal.

[0063] A pedal buckle 90 is also provided on the pedal 20, and the pedal buckle 90 is detachably matched with the pedal 20. The design of the pedal buckle 90 is convenient for the user to utilize his foot and just can move the foot switch 100.

[0064] Here, the pedal buckle 90 includes a first belt-like component 91 and a second belt-like component 92. The first end of the first belt-like component 91 is connected to one end of the pedal 20. Specifically, the pedal portion 21 is also provided with an assembly hole 21c and a limiting hole 21d on one side. The assembly hole 21c is connected to the limiting hole 21d and the aperture of the limiting hole 21d is smaller than that of the assembly hole 21c. The first end of the first belt-like component 91 has a limiting post 93. The limiting post 93 has a first post portion 93a adapted to the assembly hole 21c and a second post portion 93b adapted to the limiting hole 21d. During installation, the limiting post 93 is inserted into the assembly hole 21c, and then the limiting post 93 is pushed to move so that the second post portion 93b is engaged with the limiting hole 21d, thereby completing the installation of the first belt-like component 91 and the pedal portion 21.

[0065] The second end of the second belt-shaped member 92 is connected to the other end of the pedal 20 . The connection method here is the same as that of the first belt-shaped member 91 , and will not be repeated here.

[0066] The second end of the second belt-shaped member 92 is provided with a plurality of buckle holes 92a. The second end of the first belt-shaped member 91 is provided with a buckle portion 91a, which is buckled into any buckle hole 92a to achieve assembly of the pedal buckle 90.

[0067] Such pedal buckles are very easy to install and the tightness is adjustable.

[0068] like Figure 11 As shown, this foot switch 100 only needs to connect the electrical interface 80 to the welding machine 200 through wires to achieve electrical connection between the foot switch 100 and the welding machine 200, so as to form a control system and use the foot switch 100 to control the welding machine 200.

[0069] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in conjunction with that embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, those skilled in the art may combine and integrate different embodiments or examples, and features of different embodiments or examples, described in this specification, unless otherwise inconsistent.

[0070] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and cannot be understood as limitations on the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A foot switch comprising a base housing, a pedal, a mechanical switch, and a return spring; the pedal and base housing are hingedly connected, the mechanical switch is disposed within the base housing and within the pedal's motion path, and when the pedal is acted upon by an external force, the mechanical switch is actuated to change its on / off state; the return spring is disposed within the base housing and connected to the pedal, and is used to bias the pedal in a direction opposite to the external force; and the characteristics are: A bracket is provided in the bottom box, which is fixed on the bottom box or formed integrally with the bottom box. The hinge between the pedal and the bottom box and the bracket are spaced apart in the first direction; the return spring is a torsion spring, and a pin is provided on the bracket. The torsion spring is sleeved on the pin, with one end abutting against the pedal and the other end abutting against the bracket.

2. A foot switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bracket includes two side panels spaced apart in the second direction, one of the side panels is provided with a mounting hole, and the other side panel is provided with a mounting groove, one end of the pin shaft is inserted into the mounting hole, and the other end is located in the mounting groove; a snap-fit ​​protrusion is provided on the groove wall of the mounting groove, and the snap-fit ​​protrusion limits the pin shaft to prevent the pin shaft from detaching from the notch of the mounting groove.

3. A foot switch according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bracket further includes a connecting plate connecting the two side plates, the connecting plate is provided with an overlapping portion, and the return spring abuts against the bracket through the overlapping portion; And / or, the notch of the installation slot is arranged to be tilted upward away from the direction where the hinge is located, and the torsion spring applies a biasing force to the pin, and the direction of the biasing force is away from the direction where the notch of the installation slot is located.

4. A foot switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bracket includes two side plates and a connecting plate; the two side plates are spaced apart in the second direction and connected by the connecting plate, and the three together form a receiving groove; a sliding potentiometer is arranged in the receiving groove, and the operating member of the sliding potentiometer is connected to the pedal by a connecting member. The position of the operating member of the sliding potentiometer changes as the position of the pedal changes, causing the resistance value of the sliding potentiometer to change.

5. A foot switch according to claim 4, characterized in that: The pedal includes a footrest portion and an inner lining, the footrest portion and the inner lining are fastened by fasteners or are an integral part, the inner lining is hinged to the bottom box, and the inner lining is connected to the operating part of the sliding potentiometer by a connecting piece; And / or, the connecting member is a tension spring, one end of the tension spring is connected to the operating member, and the other end of the tension spring is fixed to the pedal.

6. The foot switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pedal includes a footrest portion and an inner lining, the footrest portion and the inner lining are fastened by fasteners or the two are integrated; the inner lining is hinged to the bottom box by bolts, and the footrest portion is located outside the inner lining for users to step on.

7. The foot switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom box includes two wall panels spaced apart in the second direction, a hinge between the pedal and the bottom box is located on the wall panels, a mechanical switch is provided on one of the wall panels, and the mechanical switch and the bracket are provided on both sides of the hinge in the first direction; And / or, the bottom box includes two wall panels spaced apart in the second direction, the hinge between the pedal and the bottom box is located on the wall panels, and an electrical interface is provided on one of the wall panels for connecting the foot switch to the circuit.

8. The foot switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pedal is also provided with a pedal buckle, which is detachably matched with the pedal; And / or, a limiting protrusion is further provided on the pedal; And / or, the pedal is further provided with anti-slip protrusions; And / or, it further includes a sealing plate, a disassembly hole is opened at the bottom of the bottom box, and the sealing plate and the bottom box are detachably matched to close the disassembly hole; And / or, the bottom of the bottom box has a foot pad.

9. The foot switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pedal is also provided with a pedal buckle, which includes a first belt-shaped component and a second belt-shaped component; one end of the first belt-shaped component is connected to one end of the pedal, and the second belt-shaped component is connected to the other end of the pedal; the other end of the first belt-shaped component has a buckling portion, and the other end of the second belt-shaped component has a buckling hole, and the buckling portion and the buckling hole form a buckling connection.

10. A control system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a welding machine and a foot switch as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the foot switch is electrically connected to the welding machine and is used to control the welding machine.

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