COMMAND AND EMERGENCY DEVICE AND ADAPTER FOR A COMMAND AND EMERGENCY DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a command and signaling device having an actuating element such as a push button or key and a contact element such as a microswitch, as well as an adapter for a command and signaling device.

[0002] Command and signaling devices from the applicant's RMQ-Titan ®< series allow combinations of actuating elements with contact elements. For example, RMQ-Titan ®< M22 pushbuttons are designed for corresponding M22 contact elements. These contact elements have predefined switching travels, such as approximately 5.5 mm, and are designed for forces in the range of approximately 5-10 N.

[0003] The use of actuating elements with other contact elements is generally only possible if the contact elements have the specified switching travel and are designed for the specified force range of the corresponding actuating element. For example, it is not possible to simply combine a button from the RMQ-Titan ®< series M22 with a microswitch, as neither the specified switching travel would be sufficient to actuate the microswitch, nor is the specified force range suitable for microswitches.

[0004] A combination of an actuating unit with a microswitch is known from GB 1 233 400 A, which can be used, for example, with a push-button body to actuate one or more microswitches. However, this is a special design that cannot be combined with, for example, a push-button from the RMQ-Titan ®< series M22 without further design modifications.

[0005] US 3 624 330 A describes a switch having a body, a plunger assembly and a contact assembly, the plunger assembly comprising a first plunger, a second plunger, a plunger spring and a divider member, the first plunger being telescopically engaged with the second plunger, the second plunger being engaged with the divider member and being axially movable therein and the plunger spring being engaged between the first plunger and the divider member, the plunger assembly being movably connected to the body, the contact assembly comprising a fixed contact, a movable contact and the divider member having means for engaging the movable contact with the contact assembly.

[0006] DE 102 10984 A1 describes an indicator light for an optical display, comprising a housing with electrical conductor parts, a light-emitting diode in a pressure piece which has a translucent light dome, a hollow rod, in one end region of which the pressure piece is mounted so as to be axially displaceable and the other end part of which is arranged in the housing, and an electrical switch which is arranged in the hollow rod in its longitudinal direction behind the light-emitting diode and can be actuated by axial displacement of the pressure piece.

[0007] DE 10 2017 113 416 B3 describes a microswitch consisting of a cylindrical sleeve in which a piston is mounted for axial movement. Within the piston, a contact pin is mounted for axial movement. The contact pin interacts with two mating contacts fastened at a distance from one another in the base of the sleeve. The movement of the contact pin is supported by two springs. A return spring is arranged between the base of the sleeve and the piston and moves the piston to an initial position when the microswitch is not actuated. A damping spring is arranged between the contact pin and an actuating cap of the piston and ensures that the contact pin makes gentle contact with the mating contacts. In order to dampen the movement of the contact pin only shortly before it makes contact with the mating contacts, the damping spring has a higher spring force than the return spring.

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a command and signaling device.

[0009] The problem is solved by a command and signaling device having the features of independent claim 1.

[0010] A command and signaling device and an adapter for a command and signaling device are described below.

[0011] According to one aspect, a command and signaling device is disclosed which comprises the following: a cylindrically shaped base body with two open ends, an actuating element which is designed for insertion into one of the open ends of the base body and has a switching part which is movable relative to the base body, and a multi-part insert element which is designed for insertion into the base body to bridge at least part of a switching path from the switching part to a contact element arranged at the other of the open ends and has an elastic element which elastically supports a part of the insert element provided for actuating the contact element in such a way that a compressive force of the insert element on the contact element is limited to a predetermined force range.Such a command and signaling device enables the shortening of the switching travel and the pressure force on the contact element, so that a microswitch can also be used as a contact element, which requires a lower contact pressure than a conventional contact element. In particular, a command and signaling device from the applicant's RMQ-Titan® series, which is designed for use with conventional contact elements, can be modified by the insert element and the elastic element such that a microswitch can also be used. Thus, a modular command and signaling device is created that can be used with contact elements that require different switching travels and / or contact pressures.

[0012] According to the invention, the switching part is rotatably movable relative to the base body, wherein the insert element has a central part that is axially movable relative to the base body by a rotation of the switching part in the base body, and a pressure part that forms the part provided for actuating the contact element and is mechanically coupled to the central part such that an axial movement of the central part relative to the base body causes a corresponding axial movement of the pressure part, and wherein the pressure part is pressed against a stop in the direction of the contact element by the elastic element fixed to the central part. The second embodiment is intended in particular for a rotary switch as an actuating element, which is moved rotatably in the base body in order to actuate the contact element.

[0013] In a further development of the invention, the switching part can have a sliding surface with a predetermined angle relative to the rotational axis of the switching part, and the central part can have a corresponding counter-sliding surface. Upon rotation of the switching part, the sliding surface slides on the counter-sliding surface, thereby causing the axial movement of the central part relative to the base body. This allows the rotation of the switching part to be converted into a translation of the central part with relatively few means. Furthermore, the use of pressure contact switches such as microswitches is enabled.

[0014] In a further development of the invention, the switching travel can be approximately 5 mm, and the pressure part, when pressed to the stop, can protrude far beyond the other of the open ends of the base body so that the switching travel is shortened to approximately 1 mm. Such a switching travel is particularly necessary when using an RMQ-Titan®< type M22 button with a microswitch.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, the elastic element can be a leaf spring configured such that its compressive force in the bent state lies approximately within the specified force range. The leaf spring can be made, in particular, of spring steel. A leaf spring can be mounted relatively easily, for example, by being attached at one end to the central part, in particular by being clamped, so that its other end can press against the compression part and exert contact pressure on it.

[0016] According to a further aspect, an adapter for a command and signaling device not according to the invention is disclosed, which has a cylindrical base body with two open ends and an actuating element which is designed to be inserted into one of the open ends of the base body and has a switching part which is movable relative to the base body, wherein the adapter has the following: a multi-part insert element which is designed to be inserted into the base body to bridge at least part of a switching path from the switching part to a contact element arranged at the other of the open ends and has an elastic element which elastically supports a part of the insert element provided for actuating the contact element relative to the switching part in such a way that a compressive force of the insert element on the contact element is limited to a predetermined force range.Such an adapter can be used, for example, to expand the application range of control and signaling devices of the RMQ-Titan ®< series, as it enables use with a wider range of contact elements.

[0017] In a further development, the adapter is provided for a command and signaling device in which the switching part is axially movable relative to the base body. In the first embodiment of the adapter, the insert element has a pin-shaped central part, which forms the part provided for actuating the contact element, and a holder arranged coaxially to the central part, into which holder the elastic element can be inserted so that it is arranged coaxially to the central part and can apply a force to the central part, wherein the holder can be fixed in the switching part and the central part is mounted axially movable in the holder and is pressed against a stop in the direction of the contact element by the elastic element arranged coaxially between the holder and the central part.The first embodiment of the adapter is particularly intended for use in a push button as an actuating element which is moved axially in the base body in order to actuate the contact element.

[0018] In a further development, the adapter is provided for a command and signaling device in which the switching part is rotatably movable relative to the base body. In the second embodiment of the adapter, the insert element has a central part that is axially movable relative to the base body by rotation of the switching part in the base body, and a pressure part that forms the part provided for actuating the contact element and is mechanically coupled to the central part in such a way that an axial movement of the central part relative to the base body causes a corresponding axial movement of the pressure part, and wherein the pressure part is pressed against a stop in the direction of the contact element by the elastic element fixed to the central part. The second embodiment of the adapter is intended in particular for use in a rotary switch as an actuating element that is moved rotatably in the base body to actuate the contact element.

[0019] Further features will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0020] The drawings show in Fig. 1 shows a control and signaling device not according to the invention in different states; Fig. 2 shows a further development of an adapter for a control and signaling device; and Fig. 3 shows a control and signaling device according to the invention in different states.

[0021] In the following description, identical, functionally identical, and functionally related elements may be provided with the same reference symbols. Absolute values are given below only as examples and are not to be understood as limiting.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a control and signaling device 10 from the RMQ-Titan® series configured as a pushbutton, which is arranged above a circuit board 30 with a microswitch 18 mounted thereon as a contact element. The microswitch 18 is surrounded by LEDs (light-emitting diodes) 19 arranged around it on the circuit board 30. If elements of the control and signaling device 10 are transparent to light radiation, the LEDs 19 can, for example, be used by switching personnel of the control and signaling device 10 to signal via the light radiation emerging, in particular, from the top.

[0023] The control and signaling device 10 has a cylindrical base body 12 with an external thread for screwing into a holder 32 for control and signaling devices. An actuating element 14 is inserted at the upper, free end of the base body 12. The actuating element 14 has a switching part 16 that is axially movable relative to the base body 12 and within it, as indicated by the double arrow. On its upper side, the switching part 16 has a touch surface for pressing the switching part 16 into the base body 12. The switching part 16 has a cylindrical central section whose diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the base body 12, so that it is axially movable within the base body 12. Axially movable means a possibility of longitudinal movement along the cylindrical axis of the base body 12.The switching element 16 is held in the base body 12 by a fixing ring 13, which is attached to the upper free end of the base body, for example by screwing, so that it cannot fall or jump out of the base body 12 at the upper end. In the middle drawing of the . Fig. 1 the switching part 16 is shown in the basic position, ie when the microswitch 18 is not activated, while in the left drawing the fig. 1 the switching part 16 is shown in the pressed-in state in which the microswitch 18 is activated.

[0024] Due to its small dimensions, the microswitch 18 is arranged at a distance from the above-described components of the control and signaling device 10 in such a way that activation is not possible without additional measures, since the switching path to be bridged to activate the microswitch 18 is too large and, moreover, the pressure force required for the microswitch 18 cannot be maintained under certain circumstances, i.e. the actuating pressure acting on the switching part 16 is not within the force range specified for the microswitch 18. In order to bridge at least part 240 of the switching path 24 to the microswitch 18 and to limit the pressure force on the microswitch 18 to a force range that is specified in particular for the activation of the microswitch 18, a multi-part insert element is provided for insertion into the base body 12.

[0025] The multi-part insert element has a holder 20 which is inserted in the lower cylindrical section of the switching part 16 and is fixed therein, ie is moved with the switching part 16, as shown in the left and middle drawing in Fig. 1 can be seen. For example, the holder 20 can be clamped into the switching part 16, or screwed or glued in. A pin-shaped central part 22 is arranged axially movable within the holder 20, in such a way that the holder 20 is arranged coaxially to the central part 22. The elastic element 26, in particular in the form of a helical compression spring, is arranged between the holder 20 and the central part 22. In order to prevent the central part 22 from falling out of the holder 20, a stop 28 is provided at the lower end of the holder 20 towards the contact element 28. The elastic element 26 orthe helical compression spring is clamped between a projection of the central part 22 and the upper closed end of the cylindrical section of the switching part 16 and thereby elastically supports the central part 22 such that, in the pressed-down state of the switching part 16, the pressure force acting on the microswitch 18 through the central part 22 is limited to a force range which in particular corresponds to or is encompassed by the force range specified for the microswitch 18.

[0026] As shown in the middle drawing of Fig. 1 As can be seen, the lower part of the middle part 22 protrudes far enough from the switching part 16 that a part 240 of the switching path 24 can be bridged by it. Thus, the control and signaling device 10 can also be used with microswitches 18 with a relatively low overall height. In the drawing on the right, Fig. 1 In the configuration shown, the control and signaling device 10 is arranged at a greater distance from the microswitch 18 than in the configuration shown in the left drawing. In this case, when the switching part 16 is pressed in, the lower part of the middle part 22 protrudes further from the cylindrical lower section of the switching part 16. The helical compression spring 26 ensures that the pressure force acting on the microswitch 18 through the middle part 22 lies within the specified force range. As the left and right drawings of the Fig. 1 show, the command and signaling device 10 can be used flexibly in different constellations, for example at different distances from contact elements and also with contact elements of different heights.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of an insert element with the holder 20, which has a base 200 in the form of a cylindrical section with an opening in its center, through which the pin-shaped central part 22 is passed, so that both ends of the central part 22 protrude from the base 200. Starting from the base 200, finger-shaped holding rods 202 extend approximately parallel to the central part 22 for supporting the helical compression spring 26 coaxially between the central part 22 and the holding rods 202 and for guiding the base 200 in the switching part 16. As shown in the drawing at the top left, the holder 20 with the central part 22 and the helical compression spring 26 can be mounted in an insert part 21, which can be designed for insertion into the base body 12 of the command and signaling device 10.The insert part 21 can be mounted axially movable in the base body 12 and can be moved in the direction of the microswitch 18, for example by pressing the switching part 16 into the base body 12.

[0028] Fig. 3 shows a control and signaling device 10' of the RMQ-Titan ®< series configured as a rotary switch, which is arranged above a circuit board with a microswitch 18' mounted thereon as a contact element. The microswitch 18' can be surrounded by LEDs arranged around it on the circuit board, similar to Fig. 1 shown. If elements of the control and signaling device 10' are transparent to light radiation, the LEDs can, for example, signal switching devices of the control and signaling device 10' via the light radiation emerging, in particular, from the top side.

[0029] The control and signaling device 10' has a cylindrical base body 12' with an external thread for screwing into a holder for control and signaling devices. An actuating element 14' can be inserted into the upper free end of the base body 12', as shown in the right-hand drawing in Fig. 3 is shown. The actuating element 14' has a switching part 16' which is rotatably movable relative to the base body 12' and therein, as indicated by the double arrow. On its upper side, the switching part 16' has a gripping surface for rotating the switching part 16' in the base body 12'. The switching part 16' has a cylindrical central section whose diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the base body 12', so that it is rotatably movable in the base body 12'. Rotatably movable means a possibility of rotation about the cylinder axis of the base body 12'. The switching part 16' is held in the base body 12' by a fixing ring 13', which is fastened, for example, by screwing, to the upper free end of the base body, so that it cannot fall or jump out of the base body 12' at the upper end. In the left and middle drawings of the Fig. 3 the control and signaling device 10' is shown without the actuating element 14', while in the right drawing the Fig. 3 the command and signaling device 10' with the inserted actuating element 14' is shown.

[0030] Due to its small dimensions, the microswitch 18' is arranged at a distance from the above-described components of the control and signaling device 10' such that activation is not possible without additional measures, since the switching path to be bridged to activate the microswitch 18' is too large and, moreover, the pressure force required for the microswitch 18' cannot be maintained under certain circumstances, i.e. the actuating pressure acting on the switching part 16' is not within the force range specified for the microswitch 18'. In order to at least partially bridge the switching path to the microswitch 18' and to limit the pressure force acting on the microswitch 18' to a force range that is specified in particular for the activation of the microswitch 18', a multi-part insert element is provided for insertion into the base body 12'.

[0031] The multi-part insert element has a central part 20', which is axially movable relative to the base body 12' by a rotation of the switching part 16' in the base body 12'. The central part 20' also has a pressure part 22', which forms a part provided for actuating the microswitch 18' and is mechanically coupled to the central part 20' such that an axial movement of the central part 20' relative to the base body 12' causes a corresponding axial movement of the pressure part 22'. The pressure part 22' is pressed against a stop 28' in the direction of the microswitch 18' by an elastic element 26' in the form of a leaf spring fixed to the central part 20'.A rotation of the switching part 16' is converted into the axial movement of the central part 20' and pressure part 22' by the mechanism described below: For this purpose, the switching part 16' has a sliding surface 160' arranged at a first predetermined angle with respect to the rotational axis of the switching part 16'. Likewise, the central part 20' has a corresponding counter-sliding surface 200' arranged at a second predetermined angle with respect to the rotational axis of the switching part 16', which is approximately equal to the first angle, for example, approximately 45°. Upon rotation of the switching part 16', the sliding surface 160' of the switching part 16' slides on the counter-sliding surface 200' of the central part 20'. Since the rotating switching part 16' is not axially movable due to the fixing ring 13', the central part 20' is moved axially downwards by the sliding surfaces 160' and 200' sliding on each other, iein the direction of the contact element 18' relative to the base body 12', namely within the base body 12'. This also moves the pressure part 22' downwards toward the microswitch 18', so that when the central part 20' is moved axially downwards to its maximum, the pressure part 22' presses on the microswitch 18' such that it can be actuated. This presses the pressure part 22' against the leaf spring 26', which is bent upwards. The compressive force of the leaf spring 26' is dimensioned such that it lies approximately within a force range specified for the microswitch 18'.

[0032] As in Fig. 3As can be seen, the lower part of the middle section of the pressure part 26' protrudes far enough from the switching part of the base body 12' that part of the switching path can be bridged by it. This means that the control and signaling device 10' can also be used with microswitches 18' with a relatively low overall height. Depending on the arrangement of the sliding surfaces 160', 200', i.e. depending on the angle selected, the distance the pressure part 26' can be moved out of the base body 12' can be adjusted. For example, if an angle of less than 45° is selected for the sliding surfaces 160', 200' in relation to the axis of the base body 12', a larger switching distance can be bridged than if an angle greater than 45° is selected. This means that the control and signaling device 10' can be used flexibly in different constellations, for example with different distances between contact elements and also with contact elements of different overall heights.

Claims

1. A control and signalling device (10') comprising - a cylindrical main body (12') with two open ends, - an operating element (14') designed for insertion into one of the open ends of the main body and comprising a switching unit (16') being movable relative to the main body, and - a multi-part insert element designed for insertion into the main body (12') for bridging at least one portion (240) of a switching path (24) from the switching unit (16') to a contact element (18') arranged at the other of the open ends and comprising an elastic element (26'), which elastically supports a pressure element (22') of the insert element provided for actuating the contact element (18') in such a way that a pressure force of the pressure element (22') on the contact element (18') is limited to a predetermined force range, characterised in that the switching unit (16') is rotationally movable relative to the main body (12'), and wherein the insert element comprises a central part (20'), which can be moved axially relative to the main body (12') by rotation of the switching unit (16') in the main body (12'), and the pressure element (22'), which forms the part provided for actuating the contact element (18') and is mechanically coupled to the central part (20') in such a way that an axial movement of the central part (20') relative to the main body (12') causes a corresponding axial movement of the pressure element (22'), and wherein the pressure element (22') is pressed against a stop (28') in the direction of the contact element (18') by the elastic element (26') fixed to the central part (20').

2. The control and signalling device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit (16') comprises a sliding surface (160') with a predetermined angle in relation to the axis of rotation of the switching unit (16') and the central part (20') comprises a corresponding mating sliding surface (200'), whereby, when the switching unit (16') is rotated, the sliding surface (160') slides on the mating sliding surface (200') and thereby causes the axial movement of the central part (20') relative to the main body (12').

3. The control and signalling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching path is approximately 5 mm and the pressure element (22'), when pressed up to the stop (28'), protrudes so far beyond the other of the open ends of the main body (12') that the switching path is shortened to approximately 1 mm.

4. The control and signalling device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the elastic element (26') is a leaf spring, which is designed in such a way that its pressure force in the bent state is approximately within the predetermined force range.