Housing of a switch status indicator

Abstract

A housing for a switch status indicator includes a housing and a cover plate. The housing has through-hole locking slots on both short axial sides of its inner frame. A locking component is provided on the cover plate. The locking component engages or disengages with the locking slots by rotation. Engaging the locking component prevents the housing and cover plate from separating after assembly, while disengaging allows for separation. The advantages of this invention are that the locking component prevents the housing and cover plate from separating automatically after closing, and the locking component can be locked or unlocked simply by rotation, making operation more convenient and requiring no tools.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of instrumentation technology, and in particular to the housing of a switch status indicator. Background Technology

[0002] A switch status indicator is a device used to display the switching status of electrical equipment, and it is widely used in power systems, industrial automation, and building electrical systems.

[0003] Currently, the housing of the switch status indicator consists of a shell and a front cover. The shell and front cover are held together after assembly by a snap-fit ​​on the front cover and a locking slot on the shell. However, there are drawbacks. The snap-fit ​​swings stiffly when oscillating, resulting in high swing resistance. During snap-fit ​​disassembly, a large external force is required to resist the swing resistance, making disassembly difficult during maintenance. Furthermore, in the confined operating space, auxiliary tools are needed for internal piercing, and both sides need to be pierced internally. This can damage the snap-fit, causing the plastic material to deform or break. As a result, the shell becomes unusable and needs to be replaced, which is quite cumbersome. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention aims to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a housing for a switch status indicator to solve the aforementioned problems.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is as follows: The outer shell of this switch status indicator includes a housing and a cover plate. The inner frame of the housing is provided with through locking slots on both short shaft sides. The cover plate is provided with a locking component. The locking component can be engaged or disengaged with the locking slot by rotation. After engagement, it locks to prevent the housing and cover plate from separating after assembly. After disengagement, it unlocks and the housing and cover plate can be separated.

[0006] Further improvements include a locking assembly comprising a knob, a gear, and two racks with locking tongues. A shaft that rotates simultaneously on the cover plate is provided between the knob and the gear. The knob is located on the outside of the cover plate, and the gear is located on the inside of the cover plate. The racks mesh with the gears and move accordingly. The locking tongues enter or leave the locking socket through the movement of the racks.

[0007] Further improvements include key pins at both ends of the shaft, and connecting sockets on the knob and gear for inserting some shafts and key pins, achieving a transition fit after insertion.

[0008] Further improvements include an extended insert at the end of the rack near the locking socket, a connecting part and a locking part, a slot for inserting the insert into the connecting part, and a transition fit after insertion, and the locking part engaging or disengaging with the locking socket.

[0009] Further improvements include dividing the locking section into a moving section and a locking section along the locking guide, with the locking socket having a clearance fit with the moving section and a transition fit with the locking section.

[0010] Further improvements include the addition of an anti-detachment cover integrally formed during the molding process on the inner side of the cover plate, with a channel inside the anti-detachment cover for the rack to pass through.

[0011] Further improvements include the installation of positioning rods at the four corners of the inner side of the cover plate and positioning posts at the four corners of the inner frame of the housing. When the cover plate is closed on the housing, the positioning rods are inserted into the positioning posts.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0013] This invention utilizes a locking component to prevent the housing and cover from separating automatically after they are closed. The locking component can be locked or unlocked by rotation, making it more convenient to operate and requiring no tools. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of this utility model;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the cover plate of this utility model, used to illustrate the locking components;

[0017] Figure 4 This utility model Figure 3 A magnified view of part A in the diagram. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0019] Referring to the attached diagram: The housing of this switch status indicator includes a housing 1 and a cover plate 2. The inner frame of the housing 1 has through-hole locking slots 11 on both short axial sides. The cover plate 2 has a locking component 3. The locking component 3 engages or disengages with the locking slots 11 by rotation. Engaging prevents the housing 1 and cover plate 2 from separating after assembly, while disengaging allows them to separate. The principle of this invention is to use the locking component 3 to prevent the housing 1 and cover plate 2 from separating automatically after closing, thus ensuring the stability of the closing mechanism. The locking component 3 locks or unlocks by rotation, replacing the snap-fit ​​method. The engagement or disengagement between the locking component 3 and the locking slots 11 is achieved by rotation. Compared to snap-fit ​​methods, which require the use of auxiliary tools for internal insertion (both sides simultaneously), this method is more convenient and avoids snap-fit ​​breakage due to improper force control.

[0020] The locking assembly 3 includes a knob 31, a gear 32, and two racks 33 with locking tongues 34. A shaft 4, which rotates simultaneously on the cover plate 2, is provided between the knob 31 and the gear 32. The knob 31 is located on the outside of the cover plate 2, and the gear 32 is located on the inside of the cover plate 2. The racks 33 mesh with the gears 32 and move accordingly. The locking tongues 34 enter or leave the locking socket 11 through the movement of the racks 33. The knob 31 and the gear 32 are connected by the shaft 4, which is rotatably connected to the cover plate 2. In this way, when the user applies force to the knob 31, the force is transmitted to the user. Gear 32 is used to make gear 32 rotate. Racks 33 are located at the upper and lower ends of gear 32, with the rack 33 at the upper end on the left and the rack 33 at the lower end on the right. All three racks can move in the same direction (inner locking direction or unlocking direction) when gear 32 rotates. Locking tongue 34 is used to cooperate with locking socket 11. That is, after locking tongue 34 enters locking socket 11, locking tongue 34 can interfere in the assembly direction of disassembly and reassembly of housing 1 and cover plate 2, thereby preventing housing 1 and cover plate 2 from separating.

[0021] Both ends of the shaft 4 are provided with key pins 41. The knob 31 and gear 32 are each provided with connecting sockets 5 for inserting parts of the shaft 4 and key pins 41, achieving a transition fit after insertion. This design prevents the shaft 4 from rotating with the knob 31 or gear 32 after assembly. Specifically, the connecting socket 5 consists of a circular hole and a rectangular hole communicating with it. When the shaft 4 is inserted into the circular hole, the key pin 41 is inserted into the rectangular hole, thus interfering with each other's rotation using the key pin 41. When the user applies force to the knob 31, the knob 31, shaft 4, and gear 32 can all rotate simultaneously. During assembly, the knob 31 and shaft 4 are first inserted together, then the shaft 4 is inserted into the insertion hole formed on the cover plate 2, and then the gear 32 is inserted together with the shaft 4. This completes the connection and assembly of this part with the cover plate 2. After insertion, the shell achieves a transition fit. The transition fit can produce a tight connection, but it is not as inseparable as an interference fit. After the assembly is completed, the gear 32 and the knob 31 can fit against the corresponding surfaces of the inner and outer sides of the cover 2, which generates an appropriate clamping force to prevent the components consisting of the knob 31, gear 32, and shaft 4 from shaking during use (this clamping force will not hinder rotation).

[0022] An anti-detachment cover 21, integrally formed during the molding of the cover plate 2, is provided on the inner side of the cover plate 2. The anti-detachment cover 21 has a channel 211 through which the rack 33 passes. This arrangement provides support for the rack 33, allowing it to remain on the cover plate 2 while also being able to move; that is, the toothless part of the rack 33 moves within the channel 211 formed by the anti-detachment cover 21. In this embodiment, the anti-detachment cover 21 is integrally formed during the injection molding of the cover plate 2, so no connecting structure is needed between the anti-detachment cover 21 and the cover plate 2.

[0023] The rack 33 has an extended insert 331 at one end near the locking socket 11. The locking tongue 34 includes a connecting part 341 and a locking part 342. The connecting part 341 is provided with a slot 3411 for the insert 331 to be inserted into, and a transition fit is achieved after insertion. The locking part 342 engages or disengages with the locking socket 11. This arrangement is to facilitate the rack 33 passing through the anti-disengagement cover 21. That is, the rack 33 and the locking tongue 34 are detachably connected. The two are assembled and connected by the insert 331 and the slot 3411. Moreover, the two are in a transition fit, which can produce a tight connection, but it is not as inseparable as an interference fit. It does not increase the assembly difficulty during assembly and can also ensure the stability of both. Thus, when the rack 33 moves, the locking tongue 34 can move with it, so that the locking part 342 enters or leaves the locking socket 11. In this way, during assembly, the toothless part of the rack 33 passes through the anti-disengagement cover 21 first, and then the locking tongue 34 and the rack 33 are assembled. In this embodiment, the connecting part 341 and the locking part 342 are integrally formed and are both rectangular blocks. Moreover, the two have different heights and different extension directions. They are arranged vertically. The connecting part 341 needs to meet the height position of the rack 33 to ensure the insertion and cooperation of its own slot 3411 and the plug 331. On the other hand, it needs to meet the height position of the locking socket 11. No position adjustment is required during the entry stage. After the locking part 342 enters the locking socket 11, it can fill the locking socket 11, so that there will be no shaking during the locking stage.

[0024] The locking part 342 is divided into a moving section 3421 and a locking section 3422 along the locking guide. The locking socket 11 has a clearance fit with the moving section 3421 and a transition fit with the locking section 3422. This arrangement makes the process of the locking part 342 entering the locking socket 11 relatively smooth and can avoid the phenomenon of the locking part 342 getting stuck when entering the locking socket 11. The moving section 3421 uses the chamfering of the upper and lower end faces on the side near the locking socket 11 to reduce the height of this part, while the locking section 3422 is slightly larger than the thickness of the locking socket 11. This creates a certain degree of tightness during movement. This tightness is less than that between the shaft 4 and the knob 31 or the gear 32, and also less than that between the rack 33 and the connecting part 341. In other words, the tightness creates a locking part 342 that will not wobble within the locking socket 11. It can also serve as an anti-rotation structure to prevent the gear 32 from rotating. Moreover, the movement that creates this tightness is only a short distance. That is, when the user operates the gear 32 and feels the rotational resistance, the rack 33 can be driven to continue moving a short distance before stopping, without needing to move it excessively.

[0025] Positioning rods 22 are provided at each of the four corners of the inner side of the cover plate 2, and positioning posts 12 are provided at each of the four corners of the inner frame of the housing 1. When the cover plate 2 is closed on the housing 1, the positioning rods 22 are inserted into the positioning posts 12. After the positioning rods 22 are inserted into the positioning posts 12, the four outer peripheral surfaces of the cover plate 2 and the four outer peripheral surfaces of the inner frame of the housing 1 are kept at the same level, and the locking part 342 and the locking socket 11 are kept at the same level, that is, no position adjustment is required. In this embodiment, the positioning posts 12 have positioning sockets, and the positioning rods 22 are inserted into the positioning sockets.

[0026] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in form and detail are possible within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A housing for a switch status indicator, comprising a housing (1) and a cover plate (2), characterized in that: The inner frame of the housing (1) is provided with through locking slots (11) on both short axis sides. The cover plate (2) is provided with locking components (3). The locking components (3) can be engaged or disengaged from the locking slots (11) by rotation. After engagement, they lock to prevent the housing (1) and the cover plate (2) from separating after assembly. After disengagement, they unlock the housing (1) and the cover plate (2) so that they can be separated.

2. The housing of the switch status indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking assembly (3) includes a knob (31), a gear (32), and two racks (33) with locking tongues (34). A shaft (4) is provided between the knob (31) and the gear (32) and rotates on the cover plate (2). The knob (31) is located on the outside of the cover plate (2), and the gear (32) is located on the inside of the cover plate (2). The rack (33) meshes with the gear (32) and moves. The locking tongues (34) enter or leave the locking socket (11) through the movement of the racks (33).

3. The housing of the switch status indicator according to claim 2, characterized in that: Both ends of the shaft (4) are provided with key pins (41), and the knob (31) and the gear (32) are provided with connecting sockets (5) for inserting part of the shaft (4) and the key pins (41) into them, and a transition fit is achieved after insertion.

4. The housing of the switch status indicator according to claim 2, characterized in that: An anti-detachment cover (21) integrally formed during the molding of the cover plate (2) is provided on the inner side of the cover plate (2), and the anti-detachment cover (21) has a channel (211) through which the rack (33) passes.

5. The housing of the switch status indicator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rack (33) has an extended insert (331) at one end near the locking socket (11). The locking tongue (34) includes a connecting part (341) and a locking part (342). The connecting part (341) is provided with a slot (3411) into which the insert (331) is inserted, and a transition fit is achieved after insertion. The locking part (342) engages with or disengages from the locking socket (11).

6. The housing of the switch status indicator according to claim 5, characterized in that: The locking part (342) is divided into a moving section (3421) and a locking section (3422) along the locking guide. The locking socket (11) is in clearance fit with the moving section (3421) and transition fit with the locking section (3422).

7. The housing of the switch status indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that: Positioning rods (22) are provided at the four corners of the inner side of the cover plate (2), and positioning posts (12) are provided at the four corners of the inner frame of the housing (1). When the cover plate (2) is closed on the housing (1), the positioning rods (22) are inserted into the positioning posts (12).

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