Snap-action switching element with open or closed contacts

Abstract

The invention relates to a snap-action switch element 100 with opening contacts, comprising a housing 10, a first contact point 61 and a second contact point 62 fixed to the housing, a contact arm 43 that can be moved between a rest position and a switch position, and an actuating element 20 guided in the housing 10 and enabling the contact arm 43 to be moved between the rest position and the switch position. The switch rocker 30 is rotatably arranged at one end about a rocker rotation axis 12 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and a tension spring 70 is hung on a spring suspension part 34 at the other end of the switch rocker 30. The actuating element 20 is guided perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing and is engaged with the switch rocker 30 between its two free ends. A second contact point 62 fixed to the housing constitutes a contact arm rotation axis parallel to the rocker rotation axis 12, against which one end of the contact arm 43 is pressed by a tension spring 70 hung on the contact arm 43, and the other end of the contact arm 43 contacts the first contact point 61 in the rest position. In the case of a closed contact, the first contact point is arranged in a spaced apart manner.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a snap-action switching element according to the preamble of claim 1 . [Background technology]

[0002] Several snap-action switching elements are known from the prior art. WO 2005 / 023363 uses an integral round wire as a snap-action switching element, which can be transferred from one switching position to another switching position via an actuating element guided in the housing of the snap-action switch, whereby this switching position is maintained.

[0003] Another snap-action switching element is known from US Pat. No. 5,399,633, in which an actuating element engages a spring, which actuates a rocker switch. A return spring, located inside the actuating element, returns the actuating element to its starting position.

[0004] US Patent No. 5,393,636 discloses a cascaded snap-action switching element having normally closed or normally open contacts with bistable behavior due to two spring-actuated rockers connected in series, in which by depressing the actuating element, the first spring is pushed through as an actuating spring, which causes the actuating rocker to pivot, which then triggers the second stage.

[0005] US Pat. No. 5,399,633 shows a snap-action switching element having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] A similar system is known from US Pat. No. 5,399,633, in which a plunger as actuating element directly presses against an L-shaped actuating rocker, which acts via a spring on a rocker switch to switch a movable contact between two fixed contacts.

[0007] US Pat. No. 5,399,433 discloses a microswitch with forced disconnection: a button triggers an elastic element and a movable contact part. After the switch has reached the switching position, the opening is forced and a separating part ensures the separation of the normally closed contact from the movable contact.

[0008] No. 5,399,633 shows a changeover switch having a stop for an actuating rocker formed by a threaded screw.

[0009] Current state-of-the-art snap-action switching elements have the drawback that the user does not get an optimal tactile switching experience. In most cases, unpleasant bounce of the switch contacts cannot be eliminated. Once moved into the switching position, automatic and safe opening of the switch to the rest position can usually only be reliably achieved using complex designs and additional elements. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] DE 4316068 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Application No. 3312861 [Patent Document 3] DE 4303589 [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2008-047317 [Patent Document 5] Application No. 60-134245 [Patent Document 6] China Utility Model No. 207542118 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Patent No. 2,509,194 Summary of the Invention

[0011] Based on this state of the art, the invention is based on the object of providing an improved snap-action switching element with normally closed or normally open contacts, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0012] The snap-action switching element with normally closed or normally open contacts according to the invention comprises a housing, a first contact point and a second contact point fixed to the housing, a contact arm movable between a rest position and a switching position, and an actuating member guided in the housing, by which the contact arm can be moved between the rest position and the switching position. The rocker switch is arranged at one end rotatably about a rocker pivot axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and a tension spring is held at the other free end of the rocker switch by a spring holding part. The actuating member is guided perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing and engages with the rocker switch between the two ends. A second contact point fixed to the housing establishes a rotation axis of the contact arm parallel to the rocker rotation axis, against which one free end of the contact arm is pressed by a tension spring suspended on the contact arm, so that the other end of the contact arm is in contact with the first contact point in the rest position in the case of a normally closed contact, and is spaced apart from the first contact point in the rest position in the case of a normally open contact. The actuating member has a rocker bearing opening arranged transversely to its direction of movement, into which a rocker bearing actuating part arranged transversely to the main surface of the rocker switch engages, which allows a compact design of the rocker switch and the actuating member next to each other in the housing. Side-by-side means that the pivoting movement of the rocker switch is realized via substantially horizontally aligned rocker bearing actuating parts, the longitudinal axes of which are perpendicular to the main axis of the actuating element.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the rocker switch has a driver which, when the rocker switch is moved to its switching position before the switching position is reached, in particular in the switch actuation position, engages the contact arm from above and, upon contact of a contact point of the contact arm with the first contact point, causes the contact arm to pivot downwards in an actively guided manner if it does not move between the rest position and the engagement of the actuation member.

[0014] The length of the tension spring, the distance between the latch opening of the contact arm and the contact arm rotation axis, and the distance between the latch portion of the spring and the rocker rotation axis are advantageously preset such that the torque acting on the rocker switch is always directed upwards in the rest position, the switching position and positions between the actuating member and that the actuating member returns to the rest position when not actuated.

[0015] These above mentioned features can be achieved with either normally closed or normally open switching elements. In either case, linear motion of the actuating shaft is transmitted approximately to the center of the rocker switch between its ends. These ends, even if attached, are sometimes referred to as the free ends.

[0016] The function of the normally closed (NC) switching element is ensured in particular if the rocker switch has a driver. This driver can have at least one horn, preferably two horns on the left and right of the contact arm. A continuous bar or bridge may be provided so that the contact arm projects through the passage formed by the bar. This contour then projects from below above the contact arm in the rest position so that when the rocker switch is moved to the switching position before the switching position is reached, in particular when the switching position has already been reached or immediately after it has been reached, it can engage the contact arm from above, and so that the contact arm can pivot downwards in an actively guided manner when the contact point of the contact arm is in contact with the first contact point and does not move between the rest position and the engagement of the actuating element. This ensures switching in both cases, which functionally means a forced disconnection.

[0017] The rocker bearing actuating part may therefore be a transversely disposed bolt inserted into a corresponding receptacle of the rocker switch. It may also be a rocker bearing actuating part integrally connected to the rocker switch, which engages with the actuating member through a rocker bearing opening, in particular through a substantially horizontally aligned slot having two opposing parallel central areas in the actuating member. The bolt may be cylindrical, but may be integrally connected to or fitted with either the rocker or the plunger. There must be sufficient play in the complementary elements to couple the vertical movement of the plunger with the pivoting movement of the rocker.

[0018] An upper rest position stop may then be provided between the rocker bearing actuating part and the spring seat part and / or a support part for the contact arm may be provided between the rocker pivot axis and the rocker bearing actuating part, against which the underside of the contact arm rests, in particular when the switching position is exceeded, thereby preventing mechanical bouncing against the stop.

[0019] Starting at the free end of the contact arm with its axis of rotation, the contact arm may have a rocker switch mounting opening and a separate spring end mounting opening adjacent thereto. Such a central articulation for the contact arm avoids undesirable lateral forces.

[0020] The contact arm may then advantageously have a U-shaped cross section in the longitudinal direction, at least in the area of ​​the rocker switch mounting opening and the spring end mounting opening, so that it is torsionally rigid and can only rotate about the axial groove.

[0021] The rocker switch may have a receiving opening and a rocker bearing actuating portion inserted into the receiving opening such that the actuating member engages the rocker switch between two ends of the rocker switch.

[0022] The rocker switch may also have two transverse upper and lower mounting openings. In this case, the rocker switch actuating part is a bolt or a cylinder, which is inserted into one of the openings, for example the upper opening. This is particularly advantageous when a double switching element is provided, which standardizes as many components as possible. In this case, the other, in this case the lower, mounting opening optionally already has a partition in the middle. This design forms a laterally designed double switching element.

[0023] Such a double-jump switching element is based on a single-jump switching element, in which the side wall of the housing has a housing groove aligned substantially perpendicularly in the area of ​​the lower mounting opening of the rocker switch in the side wall, so that the connecting shaft is inserted into the other, in this case the lower, mounting opening. The aforementioned partition wall is then advantageous, since the connecting shaft cannot move transversely. A further pair of housing-fixed contact points, a further contact arm, a further rocker switch and a further tension spring are then provided in the housing mount, which are respectively arranged behind the side wall in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing parallel to the first housing-fixed contact point, the first contact arm, the first rocker switch and the first tension spring, the movements of the two rocker switches being coordinated by the connecting shaft. Therefore, only one actuating element is required for the safe actuation of the two separate switching circuits.

[0024] There may also be a single receiving opening, and the connecting shaft may then be integrally incorporated into the rocker bearing working part, or the rocker bearing working part and the connecting shaft may be arranged back-to-back to each other within a single receiving opening, as viewed from the side of the working member.

[0025] Further embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0026] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which serve only as illustration and are not intended to be construed as limiting. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view without the front sidewall of a snap-action switching element having normally closed contacts in a rest position according to a first example embodiment. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the snap-action switching element according to FIG. 1 in the switched position. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the snap-action switching element according to FIG. 1 at a switching point. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a snap-action switching element having two sets of contacts according to a second example embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a force-displacement diagram of a switching sequence for a snap-action switching element with NC contacts. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view without the front side wall of a snap-action switching element having normally open contacts according to a third embodiment example, otherwise having the same features as the first embodiment example according to FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a snap-action switching element having two sets of contacts according to an example of the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Figure 1 shows a perspective view without the front side wall of a housing 10 of a snap action switching element having NC contacts 100 (normally closed contacts) in a rest position according to a first example embodiment, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the snap action switching element according to Figure 1 in a switched position, and Figure 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the snap action switching element according to Figures 1 and 2 in a switched position.

[0029] The housing 10 has an upper housing opening 11 at the top and another lower housing opening 11' at the bottom. The openings 11 and 11' are located one above the other and define an actuation axis along which the actuation member 20 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of said axis as an actuation shaft. The actuation shaft 20 has an upper head portion 23 and a lower guide portion 24, between which the rocker bearing opening 22 is located. The rocker bearing opening 22 is specifically an opening in the actuation member 20 in the form of a substantially horizontally aligned slot. The horizontal alignment of the slot allows for a slight transverse pivotal movement of the rocker switch 30 during its movement. Instead of such an elongated hole, the rocker bearing opening 22 may have a different shape that allows horizontal play for the movement of the rocker bearing actuation part 33. The rocker bearing opening 22 may have a vertical height to allow for the movement of the rocker bearing actuation part 33 towards the actuation member 20 during the shifting operation. The upper head part 23 has a working head which is T-shaped in plan view. The sides of the T-shape are widened in the direction of the working axis and are chamfered. The housing 10 has guide ribs for the working element 20, which is not shown in FIG. 1. It also contains a T-shaped upper housing bushing 11 which is designed with play for the working head 21.

[0030] A first conductive contact 41 is arranged in the housing 10. The contact 41 is a flat metal component bent in multiple places and has essentially a C-shape in side view. One free end of the first contact 41 is accessible from outside the housing 10 and is protected between two housing side wall parts 13 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. A cable can be connected between the clamping plate 51 and the first contact 41 via the clamping plate 51, which is pressed against the first contact 41 by a clamping screw 52. The other free end of the first contact 41 is provided with a contact 61 on the side facing away from the inner wall of the housing. The C-shaped contact 41 is held in the position shown in FIG. 1 by a contact support rib 15 and a counter rib 16 in a positive or frictional connection.

[0031] The second conductive contact 42 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the housing 10 opposite the actuating element 20. Here too, the free end of the second contact 42 can be connected to an external cable using a clamping plate 51 and a screw 52. The second conductive contact 42 is also approximately C-shaped with a contact support rib 15 and a counter rib 16 and is inserted into the housing 10 near the inner wall of the housing. However, in the upper area of ​​the opposite second free end in a side view, it has a bearing groove 62. The orientation of the bearing groove 62 is horizontal to the vertically oriented actuating member 20. In other words, the bearing groove 62 is oriented transversely or transversely to the longitudinal direction of the housing 10.

[0032] The switching connection between the first conductive contact 41 and the second conductive contact 42 is established by means of the attached contact arm 43. Like the first-mentioned contacts 41 and 42, the contact arm 43 is a metallic component, but has some further features. The end projecting into the bearing groove 62 may have a tapered section, in particular be rounded. Preferably, this end projecting into the bearing groove 62 is laterally held against lateral displacements by a rib 16 of the housing 10. Adjacent to the end of the contact arm 43 projecting into the bearing groove 62 there is a rocker receiving opening 45, which is bordered by a separate spring receiving opening 44. A contact point 63 of the attached contact arm 43 is provided at the opposite free end and may in particular be designed as a contact bead which is inserted into a further opening.

[0033] The length of the contact arm 43 in the housing is selected so that when one free end engages in the bearing groove 62, the contact point 63 is brought into conductive contact with the first contact point 61. In this rest position shown in Figure 1, the contact arm 43 is arranged at a slight angle, with the area of ​​the free end of the contact point 63 being slightly higher than the free end of the bearing groove 62. This position is maintained up to the switching position shown in Figure 3.

[0034] When viewed in the longitudinal direction of contact arm 43, this contact arm is advantageously U-shaped in the area having openings 44 and 45, for example having lateral wings in its original shape which are folded into this U-shape to reinforce the structure of contact arm 43.

[0035] A transverse rocker switch bearing 12 is provided in the housing 10, which protrudes from the side wall, on which the rocker switch 30 is arranged with a bearing opening 31. Due to the short switching distance, a rocker bearing actuating part 33 on the rocker switch 30 is advantageously provided at approximately the same height as the rocker switch bearing 12. The rocker bearing actuating part 33 is a transversely aligned pin, in particular a cylindrical part, i.e. a cylindrical pin, which is inserted into the rocker bearing opening 22 of the actuating member 20.

[0036] This divides the rocker switch 30 into two portions, a bearing side portion 35 located between the rocker switch bearing 12 and the actuating portion 33, and an opposite spring side portion 36. The bearing side portion 35 is provided with two laterally raised horns 32 which rise above and to the left and right of the contact arm 43 and are spaced above the contact arm 43 as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3.

[0037] The spring side part 36 has a short transverse shaft with a circumferential groove for receiving the spring engagement part 34, in particular the spring end. The spring side part 36 may also have a stop which, in the rest position, rests from below against the inner wall of the housing 10. The spring catch part 34 is sufficiently narrow in the transverse direction to be able to pass through the rocker receiving opening 45, and any stop mentioned above is guided laterally of the contact arm 43, like the horn 32, or even through the opening 45.

[0038] The tension spring 70 is suspended at one free end on the spring suspension portion 34 and at another free end in the spring receiving opening 44 of the contact arm 43, and by its spring force pulls the contact arm 43, with its free end designed as a bearing, into the bearing groove 62 and holds it therein. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the longitudinal axis of the spring 70 is aligned from the lower left to the upper right, thus diametrically opposed to the alignment of the contact arm, which is aligned slightly downwards from the upper left to the lower right.

[0039] The description thus proceeds to a sequence of switching operations in which, in the rest position of Fig. 1, the actuating element 20 is depressed. This causes the rocker bearing opening 22 to move downwards towards the lower housing opening 11', tilting the rocker switch 30 about the axis of rotation defined by the rocker switch bearing 12. In the process, the rocker bearing actuating portion 33 moves downwards and at the same time moves slightly in the longitudinal direction of the housing 10. The rocker switch 30 pulls down on the suspended portion 71 of the spring 70 with its spring engaging portion 34, which causes the spring to rotate about the inner edge of the spring receiving opening 44 until the position of Fig. 2 is reached, where the longitudinal direction of the spring 70 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the contact arm 43.

[0040] When the actuating member 20 is pressed further down in the direction of the switching position according to FIG. 2, the spring bearing portion 34 moves further downwards and generates a torque around the bearing groove 62, whereby the contact point 63 of the contact arm 43 disengages from the contact point 61 of the first contact 41 and the contact arm 43 hooks around the bearing groove 62 and rests with its underside on the contact surface 37 of the bearing rocker 30.

[0041] The stroke triggered by the actuation element 20 for this movement is less than 0.3 millimeters for a standard size snap action switching element 100. This application of force also prevents bounce. Even if contact points 61 and 63 are stuck together, during the downward movement of the rocker switch 30, the horn 32 contacts the contact arm 42 from above and is pulled downwardly, forcing them apart, thereby reliably releasing the stuck contact between contact points 61 and 63.

[0042] In the end position shown in Fig. 3, the torque acting on the rocker switch 30 is still directed upwards, i.e. when the actuating member 20 is released the rocker switch returns to the initial position of the rest position according to Fig. 1. In the initial position of the rest position the tension spring 70 exerts an upwardly directed torque in addition to the connection of the two attached parts, namely the rocker switch 30 and the attached contact arm 43, so that the switched rocker switch 30 abuts from below against the upper wall of the housing at the aforementioned portion 36.

[0043] Fig. 4 shows a partial perspective view of a further snap-action switching element 200 according to a second embodiment example, which is also designed as a normally closed contact. However, similar to Fig. 6, it may also be designed as a double normally open contact. In addition to the contacts 41, 42 and 43 of the first embodiment example, where only a part of the contact arm 43 is shown here, there are corresponding contacts, of which only the contacts 142 and 143 are shown in this Fig. 4. However, it can be clearly seen that in the embodiment example 200 of the snap-action switching element, two identical snap-action switching elements 100 are arranged next to each other, the differences being pointed out in the present description.

[0044] The housing half 10 shown on the left in Fig. 4 is constructed similarly to the snap-action switching element 100 and has an actuating element 20. The housing half 10 is modified in that it has a housing groove 17 on the side opposite the actuating element 20. In addition to the rocker bearing actuating part 33 located in the upper receiving opening 38, the rocker switch 30 also has a lower receiving opening 138 into which the connecting shaft 133 is inserted on the side opposite the actuating element 20.

[0045] 1, it is left open whether rocker bearing actuating portion 33 is integrally formed with the rocker switch or takes the form of a bolt, as in snap action switching element embodiment 200. To simplify component storage, rocker switch 30 may have dual tier receiving openings 38 and 138, as in snap action switching element embodiment 100, but only upper opening 38 is used.

[0046] The upper receiving opening 38 has a shoulder with a narrowed inner diameter as a stop for the rocker bearing actuating part 33. This shoulder can also be replaced by a partition wall as in the lower receiving opening 138, or conversely, the partition wall can be replaced by a corresponding, oppositely aligned shoulder with a narrowed inner diameter. In other embodiments, the top-bottom arrangement is appropriately reversed, so that the connecting shaft is inserted into the upper receiving opening 38 and the substantially vertically aligned housing groove 17 can be correspondingly designed further up or simply larger. In the case of the example embodiment 200 of the snap-action switching element, the connecting shaft 133 protrudes through said housing groove 17 of the housing 10 into the lower receiving opening 138 of the rocker switch 130, which is constructed identically to the rocker switch 30. Advantageously, the lower receiving opening 138 is optionally divided into two blind holes by a centrally located wall, so that the inserted connecting shaft 133 cannot move in the transverse direction. In the case of rocker switch 130, the upper receiving opening 38 remains empty since the switching action is performed by a single actuating member 20 via the rocker bearing actuating portion 33. An equivalent structure around rocker switch 30 or rocker switch 130 will result in a similarly mounted switching action since the spring 70 is suspended in the same position between the contact arm 43 and the spring suspension portion 34 of rocker switch 30 or contact arm 143 of rocker switch 130, whereby the contact arm 43, 143 is located in the bearing groove 62 of the second contact 42, 142.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a force-displacement diagram of the switching sequence for a snap action switching element with normally closed contacts, i.e. for a snap action switching element 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. This diagram also applies to the double snap action switching element with normally closed contacts 200 according to the example embodiment shown in FIG. 4, since the mechanism is identical for this embodiment. The same occurs in conjunction with the description of FIG. 6, which shows an example embodiment 400 with a snap action switching element with normally open contacts. Here, reference 301 indicates the X-axis, which represents the trajectory of the actuation shaft 20 from the rest position, shown at the origin on the left, to being fully depressed at the right end of the diagram. Reference 300 indicates the Y-axis, which represents the force or distance values ​​for each of the various curves.

[0048] The solid line 310 represents the force acting on the rocker switch 30 when the force acts, for example, at the spring seat portion 34 or at the rocker bearing actuating portion 33, i.e., the transversely inserted cylindrical pin. It should be noted that this force always acts in one direction, and the positive values ​​shown here correspond to forces in the direction of the rest position of the actuating shaft 20.

[0049] The rough dashed curve 320 represents the course of the force acting on the contact point 63 of the attached contact arm 43 .

[0050] The light dashed curve 330 represents the path, or distance, from the associated fixed contact point 61 to the supported contact point 63 .

[0051] In the rest position of the actuation shaft 20, a holding force 311 acts and holds the actuation shaft 20 in this rest position. In parallel with this, an initial force 321 acts on the contact point 63 of the attached contact arm 43 and holds this contact arm at the fixed contact point 61 assigned to it. This means that it is positively closed. The distance 331 between the contact point 63 of the supported contact arm 43 and the fixed contact point 61 assigned to it is therefore zero (=0).

[0052] When the actuating shaft 20 is actuated, the force acting on the actuating shaft 20 in the direction opposite to its actuation increases to a relative peak value 312 at the beginning of the opening movement of the switching element. This point is characterized by reaching a value of force 322 equal to zero (=0), i.e. when no more force acts on the contact point 63 of the attached contact arm 43 and is not attracted to the fixed contact point 61. From this point on, the distance between the contact point 63 of the attached contact arm 43 and the fixed contact point 61 assigned to it changes rapidly from zero to an opening value 332 as the rocker switch 30 switches, and in parallel with this, the force acting on the actuating shaft 20 in the direction opposite to its actuation drops to a minimum value 313, which corresponds to the force at the end of the opening movement of the switching element.

[0053] As the actuation shaft 20 is further depressed, the restoring force 314 acting on the rocker switch again monotonically increases. At the same time, the distance 334 of the contact point 63 continues to increase until the free end of the contact arm 43 finally contacts the contact surface 37.

[0054] Figure 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view without the front sidewall of a snap action switching element 400 with normally open contacts according to a third example embodiment, which has the same features as the first example embodiment of the snap action switching element with normally closed contacts according to Figure 1, except that it has normally open contacts. All the same features are labeled with the same reference numbers.

[0055] The snap action switching element 400 is shown in a position with the actuating shaft 20 (not shown) in a rest position. However, it is indirectly shown with respect to its height position with the rocker bearing actuating portion 33 because its cylindrical pin is located in the slotted hole 22 of the actuating shaft 20.

[0056] Even though FIG. 3 does not show the example embodiment 100 of the switching element with normally closed contacts in the rest position of the actuation shaft 20, the kinematic reversal of functions between the exemplary embodiments shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 is immediately evident. In FIG. 6, if the rocker horn 32′ is provided, the rear of the attached contact point 63 rests against the lower surface of such horn. However, it may otherwise abut against the lower surface of the housing. The horn 32′ is an embodiment of a driver. This corresponds to the contact between the front surface of the attached contact point 63 and the fixed contact point 61 in FIG. 3. When the actuation shaft 20 of the snap-action switching element 400 is depressed, as shown in FIG. 5, the force acting on this contact between the horn 32′ and the attached contact point 63 decreases until the switching point is reached, then the attached contact arm 43 folds over and the attached contact point 63 is attracted to the fixed contact point 61′, leading to the second electrical contact being closed. The fixed contact point 61' of the switching element 400 with normally open contacts is arranged in the free space below the horn 32' and can be seen in comparison with the design of the switching element 100 with normally closed contacts on the contact surface 37. The difference with the curve of the switching diagram of Fig. 5 for the switching element 400 with normally open contacts lies in the fact that the curve 330 of the distance from the supported contact point 63 to the fixed contact point 61' is essentially mirrored with a vertical straight line through or near the intersection point 340; in other words, this distance decreases slowly from an initial value (taken in particular along the horn 32') and then drops with a large gradient to zero, which corresponds to the closure of the contacts.

[0057] Fig. 7 shows a partial perspective view of a further snap-action switching element 500 according to a further embodiment example, which also has two sets of contacts, which are designed as normally closed contacts. However, similar to Fig. 6, they may also be designed as double normally open contacts. In addition to the contacts 41, 42 and 43 of the first embodiment example, where only a part of the contact arm 43 is shown here, there are corresponding contacts, of which only the contacts 142 and 143 are shown here in Fig. 4. However, it can be clearly seen that in the embodiment example 500 of the snap-action switching element, two identical snap-action switching elements 100 are arranged next to each other, and in the description here reference is made below to the differences with respect to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 4.

[0058] The housing half 10 shown on the left in FIG. 7 is constructed similarly to the snap-action switching element 100 and has an actuating element 20. The housing half 10 is modified in that it has a housing groove 17 on the side opposite the actuating element 20. In both snap-action switching elements arranged next to each other, on the side opposite the actuating element 20, there is only a single receiving opening 538 into which the double connection shaft 533 is inserted. In a variant, the double connection shaft 533 may be connected integrally to the actuating element 20 (as in the other embodiments of the connecting shaft 133 or the rocker bearing connection part in general), provided that the receiving opening 538 (or the receiving opening 38, etc.) has sufficient play for the horizontal movement required by the pivoting movement of the rocker switch 30.

[0059] In all embodiments, a lower housing opening 11' is provided with side walls 111' in which the actuating part 20 is guided as a plunger. In this case, the lower surface 120 of the actuating part or actuating shaft 20 terminates in the rest position of the actuating shaft 20 between the side walls 111' of the lower housing opening 11'. In parallel with this, the upper surface 110 of the housing 10 is designed to be complementary to the lower surface 110' of the housing 10, which makes it possible to provide a vertically arranged double snap action switching element by placing two versions of the snap action switching element 100, 200, 400, 500 one above the other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10. Housing 10´ Housing section 11 Upper housing feedthrough 11´ Lower housing opening 12 Rocker switch bearing 13 Housing side wall 14 Connection contact guide wall 15 Contact support rib 16 Counter Rib 17 Housing groove 20 Working shaft 21 Working Head 22 Rocker bearing opening 23 Upper head part 24 Lower guide part 30 Rocker Switch 31 Bearing opening 32 Rocker Switch Horn / Web 32´ Rocker Switch Horn / Web 33 Rocker bearing operating part 34 Spring suspension part 35 Bearing side part 36 Spring side part 37 Contact surface 38 Upper opening 41 First conductive contact 42 Second conductive contact 43 Contact arm mounted on bearing 44 Spring receiving opening 45 Locker receiving opening 51 Clamp plate 52 Clamp screw 61 Fixed contact point of the first contact 61´ Fixed contact point of first contact 62 Second contact bearing groove 63 Contact points of attached contact arms 70 Tension Spring 71 Suspension part 100 Snap action switching element 110 Top of housing 110´ Underside of housing 111´ side wall 120 Underside of the operating shaft 130 Dual Module Rocker Switch 133 Connecting shaft 138 Lower receptive opening 142 Second conductive contact of dual module 143 Double module bearing mounted contact arm 200 Snap action switching element 300 Y axis (force or distance) 301 X-axis (movement of working shaft) 310 Force acting on rocker switches (e.g. spring-suspended parts) 311 Forces in Rest Position 312 Force at the start of the opening movement of the switching element 313 Force at the end of the opening movement of the switching element 314 The force that increases when the operating shaft is pushed further down 320 Force acting on contact point 63 of attached contact arm 43 321 Positive initial value of force 322 The power value is zero 330 Distance from fixed contact point 61 to supported contact point 63 331 Distance of closed contacts (=0) 332 Open contact distance after switching operation 334 Distance increased by pushing the actuating shaft further down 340 intersection points (corresponding to the position of the mirror image line) 400 Snap-action switching element 500 Snap action switching element 533 Double Connecting Shaft 538 Receptor opening

Claims

1. A snap-action switching element (100, 200, 400, 500) having a normally closed contact or a normally open contact, comprising a housing (10), a first contact point (61, 61') and a second contact point (62) fixed to the housing, a contact arm (43; 143) movable between a stationary position and a switching position, an actuating member (20) guided within the housing (10) to move the contact arm (43; 143) between the stationary position and the switching position, a rocker switch (30; 130) rotatable at one end about a rocker switch rotation axis (12) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and a tension spring (70) latched at a spring latching portion at the other free end of the rocker switch (30; 130). The actuating member (20) is guided perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing and engages with the rocker switch (30; 130) between two ends of the rocker switch (30; 130). The second contact point (62) fixed to the housing provides a contact arm rotation axis parallel to the rocker switch rotation axis (12). With respect to the second contact point, one end of the contact arm (43; 143) is pressed by the tension spring (70) suspended on the contact arm (43; 143). In the case of a normally closed contact, the other end of the contact arm (43; 143) contacts the first contact point (61) at the stationary position, or in the case of a normally open contact, the other end of the contact arm (43; 143) contacts the first contact point (61) at the normally closed position and is arranged at a distance from the first contact point (61') in the case of a normally open contact. The actuating member (20) has a rocker bearing opening (22) provided transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing and its moving direction. A rocker bearing actuating portion (33) provided transversely to the main surface of the rocker switch (30; 130) engages with the rocker bearing opening (22). The rocker bearing opening (22) has a shape that allows horizontal play for the movement of the rocker bearing actuating portion (33). The snap-action switching element is characterized by this.

2. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 1, wherein the length of the tension spring (70), the distance between the latching opening (44) of the contact arm (43; 143) and the contact arm rotation axis, and the distance between the spring latching portion (34) and the rocker switch rotation axis (12) are such that the torque acting on the rocker switch (30; 130) is always directed opposite to the operating direction of the operating member (20) at the rest position, the switching position, and positions therebetween, and is preset so that when the operating member (20) cannot be actuated, it returns to the rest position. The snap-action switching element is characterized by this.

3. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 500) having a normally closed contact according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rocker switch (30; 130) engages the contact arm (43; 143) from above when the rocker switch (30; 130) is moved to the switching position, especially at the switching position, and since the contact point (63) of the contact arm (43; 143) is in contact with the first contact point (61), when the contact arm (43; 143) does not move between the rest position and engagement of the operating member (20), at the rest position, it is provided with at least one driver (32) protruding downward from above the contact arm (43; 143) so as to pivot downward in an actively guided manner. The snap-action switching element is characterized by this.

4. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 500) having a normally closed contact according to claim 3, wherein the driver (32) comprises at least one horn or bridge. The snap-action switching element is characterized by this.

5. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact arm (43; 143) starts from the end portion (62) having the contact arm rotation axis, and has a rocker switch receiving opening (45) and a separate spring end receiving opening (44) adjacent to the rocker switch receiving opening. The snap-action switching element is characterized by this.

6. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 5, wherein the contact arm (43; 143) has a U-shaped cross-section in the longitudinal direction, and has a U-shaped cross-section at least in the regions of the rocker switch receiving opening (45) and the spring end receiving opening (44) to reinforce the contact arm. The snap-action switching element is characterized by this.

7. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rocker switch (30; 130) has a receiving opening (38) into which the rocker bearing operating portion (33) is inserted, whereby the operating member (20) engages with the rocker switch (30; 130) between the two end portions of the rocker switch (30; 130). The snap-action switching element is characterized by this.

8. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 7, wherein an upper stationary position stopper (36) is provided between the rocker bearing operating portion (33) and the spring latching portion (34). The snap-action switching element is characterized by this.

9. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 500) according to claim 7, wherein in the case of a normally closed contact, a support portion (37) for the contact arm (43; 143) is provided between the rocker switch rotation axis (12) and the rocker bearing operating portion (33), and the lower surface of the contact arm (43, 143) abuts against the support portion after the switching position is exceeded. The snap-action switching element is characterized by this.

10. The snap-action switching element (400) according to claim 7, in the case of a normally open contact, wherein the first contact point (61´) is arranged between the rocker switch rotation axis (12) and the rocker bearing operating part (33), and with respect to the first contact point, the contact point (63) attached to the lower surface of the contact arm (43, 143) abuts after the switching position is exceeded, characterized in that the snap-action switching element.

11. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 7, wherein the side wall of the housing (10) has a housing groove (17) in the area of the receiving opening (38) of the rocker switch (30) in the side wall, A further pair of contact points fixed to the housing, a further contact arm (143), a rocker switch (130) having a further receiving opening, and a further tension spring (70) are provided in an extension of the housing, and these are respectively arranged behind the side wall in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing parallel to the first contact point, the first contact arm (43), the first rocker switch (30), and the first tension spring (70) fixed to the housing, The connection shaft (133) is inserted through the housing groove (17) into the receiving openings (38) of the first rocker switch (30) and the second rocker switch (130), The movement of the two rocker switches (30, 130) is synchronized by the connection shaft (133) characterized in that the snap-action switching element.

12. The snap-action switching element (200) according to claim 11, wherein the connection shaft (133, 533) is integrally incorporated into the rocker bearing operating part (33) or is arranged back to back within the receiving opening (38), characterized in that the snap-action switching element.

13. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 11, wherein the first rocker switch (30) and the second rocker switch (130) have two upper receiving openings (38) and lower receiving openings (138) extending in the transverse direction, the rocker bearing operating part (33) is a bolt inserted into the upper receiving opening or the lower receiving opening, and the connecting shaft (133) is a bolt inserted into the other receiving opening. The snap-action switching element is characterized by the above.

14. The snap-action switching element (200) according to claim 13, wherein one or both of the receiving openings (138) of the rocker switch (30, 130) have a partition wall in the middle for restricting the movement of the connecting shaft (133) and / or the rocker bearing operating part (33). The snap-action switching element is characterized by the above.

15. The snap-action switching element (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rocker bearing opening (22) is an elongated hole horizontally aligned. The snap-action switching element is characterized by the above.

Images