Rotary electrical component

Abstract

To suppress rattling of a spring member during rotation operation.SOLUTION: The rotation stop mechanism includes a lower case, an upper cover attached to an upper side of the lower case so as to cover an opening of the lower case, a housing formed by the lower case and the upper cover and having an accommodation space formed therein, a rotary member at least partially accommodated in the accommodation space and rotatably supported with respect to the housing about an up-down direction as a rotation center, a cam portion continuously formed on the rotary member along an arc-shaped imaginary line surrounding the rotation center, a spring member including a fixed portion provided between the lower case and the upper cover, an elastic deformation portion provided on the fixed portion and an elastic contact portion formed on the cam portion and elastically contacting the elastic deformation portion, and a rotation stop mechanism including a locked portion provided on the spring member and a locking portion provided on the housing and locking the locked portion. A press-fitting mechanism is provided which is composed of a receiving plate part extended downward from the outer peripheral part of the upper cover, and a press-fitting plate part extended from the fixing part of the spring member toward the receiving plate part and press-fitted to the receiving plate part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to rotating electrical components. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for a rotary encoder equipped with a rotatable operating shaft, in which a click spring is sandwiched between the top surface of the case and the mounting bracket, and a rotation prevention mechanism is provided that uses a protrusion to prevent the click spring from rotating. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-170328 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology of Patent Document 1 is insufficient to prevent the click spring from rotating using only the rotation prevention mechanism, and since the click spring has play in the rotational direction, when the operating shaft is rotated, the click spring repeatedly rotates forward and backward, which may result in noise being generated from the rotation prevention mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] a housing consisting of the lower case and the upper cover, and a storage space formed therein; a rotating member at least partially accommodated in the storage space and supported rotatably about a vertical axis relative to the housing; a cam portion consisting of uneven portions continuously formed on the rotating member along an arc-shaped virtual line surrounding the rotation center; a fixed portion sandwiched between the lower case and the upper cover, an elastically deforming portion extending from the fixed portion, a spring member consisting of an elastically contacting portion formed on the elastically deforming portion and elastically contacting the cam portion; a locking portion provided on the fixed portion of the spring member; and a locking portion provided on the housing and locking the locking portion. The rotating electrical component also includes a pressure-contact mechanism consisting of a receiving plate portion extending downward from the outer periphery of the upper cover and a pressure-contact plate portion extending from the fixed portion of the spring member toward the receiving plate portion and pressure-contacting the receiving plate portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the rotary electric component of one embodiment, rattle of the spring member can be suppressed when the rotary member is rotated. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an external appearance of a rotary electrical component according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary electrical component according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a rotary electrical component according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing an engaged state of a hook of a rotary electrical component according to an embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a lower case included in a rotary electric component according to an embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a rotation stop mechanism and a crimping mechanism included in a rotary electrical component according to an embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a rotation stop mechanism and a crimping mechanism included in a rotary electrical component according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary electrical component according to an embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. For convenience, in the following description, the Z-axis direction in the drawings is defined as the up-down direction, the X-axis direction in the drawings as the front-rear direction, and the Y-axis direction in the drawings as the left-right direction. However, the positive Z-axis direction is defined as the up direction, the positive X-axis direction is defined as the front, and the positive Y-axis direction is defined as the right direction.

[0009] (Overview of the rotating electrical component 100) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a rotary electric component 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary electric component 100 is thin in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) and has a substantially square shape when viewed from above (positive Z-axis direction). As shown in FIG. 1, the housing of the rotary electric component 100 includes a lower case 110 and an upper cover 120 that covers the upper part of the lower case 110. A circular opening 120A is formed in the center of the upper cover 120. A rotating member 130 is provided inside the lower case 110 so as to be rotatable about a rotation center line Lz extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). A rotating shaft 132 of the rotating member 130 protrudes upward (positive Z-axis direction) from the opening 120A of the upper cover 120. This allows the rotary electric component 100 to receive a rotation operation of the rotating member 130 from an operator via the rotating shaft 132.

[0010] (Configuration of the rotary electrical component 100) Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary electrical component 100 according to one embodiment. Fig. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the rotary electrical component 100 according to one embodiment.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, rotary electric component 100 includes lower case 110, upper cover 120, rotary member 130, rotary contact member 140, and spring member 150. As shown in FIG.

[0012] The lower case 110 is a container-like member that has a substantially square shape when viewed from above and is open at the top. The lower case 110 has a horizontal, flat bottom 111 and a peripheral wall 112. The peripheral wall 112 extends upward (in the positive direction of the Z-axis) from the periphery of the bottom 111 so as to surround a rotation center line Lz that passes through the center of the bottom 111, and forms an accommodation space 110A inside. The accommodation space 110A accommodates the rotating member 130 and the rotary contact member 140. An opening 112A that is circular when viewed from above (in the positive direction of the Z-axis) is formed at the upper end of the peripheral wall 112. The lower case 110 is formed, for example, by insert molding using a relatively hard insulating material (e.g., hard resin, etc.). A bearing hole 111A is formed in the center of the bottom portion 111, and has a circular shape when viewed from above and penetrates the bottom portion 111 in the up-down direction.

[0013] The upper cover 120 is a horizontal, flat, metallic member having a base 121 that is substantially square when viewed from above (strictly speaking, an octagon with each of the four corners cut diagonally). The upper cover 120 is fixedly attached to the upper surface of the lower case 110, so that the base 121 covers the opening 112A of the peripheral wall 112 of the lower case 110, and the spring member 150 is sandwiched between the base 121 and the upper surface of the lower case 110. In addition, in a plan view from above (positive direction of the Z axis), a circular opening 120A is formed in the center of the base 121 of the upper cover 120, through which the rotation shaft 132 of the rotation member 130 is inserted. The upper cover 120 is formed, for example, by processing a metal plate using a processing method such as press working.

[0014] The rotating member 130 is a resin member that rotates in response to a rotation operation by an operator. The rotating member 130 is disposed in the accommodation space 110A of the lower case 110, and is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the lower case 110 about a rotation center line Lz that extends in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0015] Rotating member 130 has rotating shaft 132 at its center and base 131 around rotating shaft 132. Base 131 is a horizontal, disk-shaped portion that protrudes radially outward from rotating shaft 132. Rotating shaft 132 is a cylindrical portion that extends vertically (in the Z-axis direction) from the center of base 131. An upper portion of rotating shaft 132 passes through opening 120A of upper cover 120 and protrudes upward (in the positive Z-axis direction) beyond upper cover 120, thereby enabling rotation by an operator.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating member 130 is rotatably supported by the lower case 110 by inserting the lower part of the rotating shaft portion 132 into a bearing hole 111A formed in the center of the bottom 111 of the lower case 110.

[0017] A cam portion 133 is formed on the upper surface of the base portion 131 to provide a clicking sensation when rotating the rotating member 130. The cam portion 133 is made up of a continuous uneven portion formed on the upper surface of the base portion 131 along an arc-shaped virtual line that surrounds the rotation center line Lz.

[0018] A through-hole 132A is formed in the center of the rotating shaft 132. The through-hole 132A has a hexagonal shape when viewed from above and passes through the rotating shaft 132 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). This allows the rotating member 130 to receive a shaft (not shown) of an operation knob or the like inserted into the through-hole 132A.

[0019] The rotary contact member 140 is an annular member made of a metal plate. The rotary contact member 140 is fixedly attached to the underside of the base portion 131 of the rotary member 130, and thereby rotates integrally with the rotary member 130. The rotary contact member 140 has a base portion 141 and three contact spring portions 142. The base portion 141 is an annular portion that surrounds the rotary shaft portion 132 of the rotary member 130. The three contact spring portions 142 are provided on the outside of the base portion 141 at equal intervals (i.e., 120° intervals). Each of the three contact spring portions 142 is an elastic arm-shaped portion that extends integrally from the base portion 141 along the outer periphery of the base portion 141 and is elastically deformable in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). Each of the three contact spring portions 142 has a contact portion 142A at its tip that is convex downward (negative Z-axis direction). The contact point portion 142A comes into elastic contact with the upper surface of the bottom portion 111 of the lower case 110.

[0020] As the rotary contact member 140 rotates integrally with the rotary member 130, it switches the electrical connection state of three fixed contact portions 114 (see FIG. 5) provided on the inner bottom surface of the housing space 110A of the lower case 110 (i.e., the upper surface of the bottom portion 111) via three contact spring portions 142, thereby making it possible to detect the rotation direction and rotation angle of the rotary member 130. Note that the base portion 141 of the rotary contact member 140 is provided with three openings 143 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction for fixing the rotary contact member 140 to the lower surface of the base portion 131 of the rotary member 130.

[0021] Spring member 150 is a horizontal, flat member made of a metal plate and provided between upper cover 120 and lower case 110. Spring member 150 has a substantially square outer shape (strictly speaking, an octagonal shape with each of the four corners cut diagonally) when viewed from above (positive direction of the Z axis). When viewed from above (positive direction of the Z axis), spring member 150 has a substantially circular opening 150A formed in its center. Spring member 150 has a fixed portion 151, an elastic deformation portion 152, and an elastic contact portion 153.

[0022] The fixed portion 151 is a frame-shaped portion formed along the outer periphery of the opening 150A and surrounding the opening 150A. The fixed portion 151 is sandwiched between the base portion 121 of the upper cover 120 and the upper surface of the lower case 110. The elastic deformation portion 152 is a portion extending from the fixed portion 151. The elastic contact portion 153 is a portion formed at the end of the elastic deformation portion 152 and elastically contacts the cam portion 133 of the rotating member 130.

[0023] With the spring member 150, the elastic contact portion 153 remains in elastic contact with the cam portion 133 of the rotating member 130, and as the rotating member 130 rotates, the elastic deformation portion 152 elastically deforms and the elastic contact portion 153 moves up and down along the cam portion 133.

[0024] At this time, when the elastic contact portion 153 overcomes the convex portion of the cam portion 133, the spring member 150 increases the rotational load of the rotating member 130, and then accelerates the rotation of the rotating member 130, and further, when the elastic contact portion 153 fits into the concave portion of the cam portion 133, the rotation of the rotating member 130 is suddenly stopped.

[0025] This allows the spring member 150 to provide a clicking sensation at each predetermined rotation angle in response to the rotation operation of the rotation member 130.

[0026] In the present embodiment, as an example, the spring member 150 has a pair of elastically deforming portions 152 arranged inside the opening 150A. Each of the pair of elastically deforming portions 152 has a curved shape (approximately semicircular shape) that follows the inner periphery of the opening 150A, and both ends are connected to the fixed portion 151. An elastic contact portion 153 is provided at the middle of each of the pair of front and rear elastically deforming portions 152, protruding downward. That is, the spring member 150 has a pair of front and rear elastic contact portions 153.

[0027] (Engagement state of hook 122) FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing an engaged state of the hook 122 of the rotary electric component 100 according to one embodiment.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 4, upper cover 120 has downwardly hanging hooks 122 provided on each of the left and right edges of base 121. Hook 122 has a vertical wall shape that is located on the outside of the left and right sides of lower case 110. Hook 122 has a pair of front and rear claws 122A at its lower end. Claws 122A are bent at a right angle inward (toward lower case 110) and are therefore located below the lower surface of lower case 110 (on the negative side of the Z axis).

[0029] The upper cover 120 clamps the lower case 110 from both the left and right sides using a pair of left and right hooks 122. The upper cover 120 also clamps the lower case 110 from both the top and bottom sides using a base 121 and four claws 122A. This allows the upper cover 120 to be fixedly attached to the lower case 110, and also restricts relative movement (misalignment) of the lower case 110 with respect to the upper cover 120 in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction), left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction), and up-down direction (Z-axis direction).

[0030] (Configuration of the inner bottom surface of the accommodation space 110A) 5 is a plan view of a lower case 110 included in a rotary electric component 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, three fixed contact portions 114 made of a metal plate are arranged circumferentially on the same circumference on the inner bottom surface of the accommodation space 110A of the lower case 110 (i.e., the upper surface of the bottom portion 111). Each of the three fixed contact portions 114 has a fan shape so that they form an overall annular shape when viewed from above. Furthermore, two of the three fixed contact portions 114 have a plurality of (four in the example shown in FIG. 5) openings 114A arranged circumferentially. The openings function as "non-conductive portions" that do not establish electrical continuity with the fixed contact portions 114 of the rotary contact member 140.

[0031] Furthermore, each of the three fixed contact portions 114 is connected to each of three external connection terminals 115 provided to protrude outward from the rear side surface (negative side of the X axis) of the lower case 110.

[0032] An annular rotary contact member 140 is disposed above the inner bottom surface of the accommodation space 110A, and each of three contact portions 142A of the rotary contact member 140 is brought into elastic contact with the inner bottom surface of the accommodation space 110A. As the rotary contact member 140 rotates, each of the three contact portions 142A slides circumferentially on the inner bottom surface of the accommodation space 110A. As the rotary contact member 140 rotates, the contact states of the three contact portions 142A with the three fixed contact portions 114 change, and this changes the conduction state of the three fixed contact portions 114 via the rotary contact member 140, thereby enabling the rotary electric component 100 to detect the rotation direction and rotation angle of the rotary member 130.

[0033] (rotation stop mechanism and crimping mechanism) 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating a rotation prevention mechanism and a crimping mechanism provided in rotary electric component 100 according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 shows rotary electric component 100 in a state where upper cover 120 is not attached. FIG. 7 shows rotary electric component 100 in a state where upper cover 120 is attached. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of rotary electric component 100 according to one embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a cross-section taken along a cross-sectional line passing through a first corner and a second corner of lower case 110, which will be described later.

[0034] 6, spring member 150 is provided overlapping the upper surface of lower case 110. Here, spring member 150 has a pair of front and rear latched portions 154 in the form of claws that protrude outward (on the side opposite to lower case 110) on each of the left and right edge portions of fixing portion 151.

[0035] 7, when the upper cover 120 is attached to the lower case 110, each of the pair of left and right hooks 122 of the upper cover 120 fits between a pair of front and rear locked portions 154 of the spring member 150. Here, the distance between the pair of front and rear locked portions 154 is equal to the width of the hook 122 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). Therefore, the hook 122 can fit between the pair of front and rear locked portions 154. Therefore, by fitting between the pair of front and rear locked portions 154, the hook 122 can lock the rotation of the spring member 150 about the rotation center line Lz.

[0036] That is, in this embodiment, a pair of front and rear latching portions 154 provided on the spring member 150 and a hook 122 (an example of a "latching portion") provided on the upper cover 120 form a "rotation stop mechanism" that latches the rotation of the spring member 150.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6, the spring member 150 has a first pressure contact plate portion 155-1 and a second pressure contact plate portion 155-2 extending outward from the outer periphery of the fixed portion 151 (first receiving plate portion 123-1 and second receiving plate portion 123-2, which will be described later).

[0038] Specifically, the first pressure contact plate portion 155-1 has a tongue shape extending outward (diagonally forward right) from the front right corner (the corner on the positive side of the X-axis and the positive side of the Y-axis) on the outer periphery of the fixed portion 151.

[0039] The second pressure contact plate portion 155-2 has a tongue shape extending outward (diagonally rearward left) from the left rear corner (the corner on the X-axis negative side and the Y-axis negative side) on the outer periphery of the fixed portion 151.

[0040] That is, the first pressure contact plate portion 155-1 and the second pressure contact plate portion 155-2 are disposed diagonally across the center of rotation (rotation center line Lz).

[0041] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper cover 120 has a first receiving plate portion 123-1 and a second receiving plate portion 123-2 as an example of a "receiving plate portion" extending downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) from the outer periphery of the base portion 121.

[0042] Specifically, the first receiving plate portion 123-1 has a vertical wall shape extending downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) from the front right corner (the corner on the positive X-axis and positive Y-axis sides) on the outer periphery of the base portion 121.

[0043] The second receiving plate portion 123-2 has a vertical wall shape extending downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) from the left rear corner (the corner on the negative X-axis and negative Y-axis sides) on the outer periphery of the base portion 121.

[0044] That is, the first receiving plate portion 123-1 and the second receiving plate portion 123-2 are disposed diagonally across the rotation center (rotation center line Lz).

[0045] Then, as shown in Figure 8, when the upper cover 120 is attached to the lower case 110, the tip of the first pressure contact plate portion 155-1 is pressed against the inner surface of the first receiving plate portion 123-1, and the tip of the second pressure contact plate portion 155-2 is pressed against the inner surface of the second receiving plate portion 123-2, so that the spring member 150 is sandwiched and pressed between the first receiving plate portion 123-1 and the second receiving plate portion 123-2.

[0046] As a result, the rotary electrical component 100 according to one embodiment can suppress rattle of the spring member 150 when the rotating member 130 is rotated, and therefore can suppress the generation of noise caused by rattle of the spring member 150.

[0047] In addition, the radial length of the first pressure-contact plate portion 155-1 is set so that the position of the tip of the first pressure-contact plate portion 155-1 is slightly radially outward from the inner surface of the first receiving plate portion 123-1 so that the tip of the first pressure-contact plate portion 155-1 can be pressed against the inner surface of the first receiving plate portion 123-1.

[0048] Similarly, the radial length of the second pressure-contact plate portion 155-2 is set so that the position of the tip of the second pressure-contact plate portion 155-2 is slightly radially outward from the inner surface of the second receiving plate portion 123-2 so that the tip of the second pressure-contact plate portion 155-2 can be pressed against the inner surface of the second receiving plate portion 123-2.

[0049] Also, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the lower case 110 has a rectangular shape with four corners when viewed from above, and the first receiving plate portion 123-1 and the first pressure contact plate portion 155-1 are arranged at the first corner (right front corner) of the lower case 110, and the second receiving plate portion 123-2 and the second pressure contact plate portion 155-2 are arranged at the second corner (left rear corner) of the lower case 110.

[0050] As a result, in one embodiment of the rotary electrical component 100, the spring member 150 can be pressed against the first and second corners of the lower case 110, which are diagonally opposite each other, thereby efficiently suppressing rattling of the spring member 150 when the rotating member 130 is rotated.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 6, each of the first pressure contact plate portion 155-1 and the second pressure contact plate portion 155-2 has a slit 155A formed in the radial direction at the tip end, giving it a split tip shape.

[0052] As a result, in one embodiment of the rotary electrical component 100, the first pressure-contact plate portion 155-1 and the second pressure-contact plate portion 155-2 can each be given appropriate elasticity, thereby preventing the pressure-contact stress from being transmitted to the fixed portion 151 via the first pressure-contact plate portion 155-1 and the second pressure-contact plate portion 155-2.

[0053] Also, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the upper cover 120 is made of metal, and each of the first receiving plate portion 123-1 and the second receiving plate portion 123-2 of the upper cover 120 is formed by being bent downward at a right angle at the boundary with the base portion 121.

[0054] As a result, in rotary electric component 100 according to one embodiment, first receiving plate portion 123-1 and second receiving plate portion 123-2 can be formed on upper cover 120 by performing a relatively simple process.

[0055] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0056] For example, in this embodiment, two sets of pressure-contact mechanisms each consisting of a "receiving plate portion" and a "pressure-contact plate portion" are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and one set or three or more sets may be provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 100 Rotating Electrical Parts 110 Lower case 110A Storage Space 111 Bottom 111A Bearing hole 112 Peripheral wall section 114 Fixed contact section 114A opening 115 External connection terminal 120 Upper cover 120A opening 121 Base 122 Hook (locking part) 122A Claw part 123-1 1st receiving plate part 123-2 2nd receiving plate part 130 Rotating member 131 Base 132 Rotating shaft 132A through hole 133 Cam section 140 Rotating contact member 141 Base 142 Contact spring part 142A contact part 143 Opening 150 Spring material 151 Fixed part 152 Elastic deformation part 153 Ballistic contact part 154 Locked part 155-1 First pressure welding plate part 155-2 Second pressure welding plate part Lz rotation center line

Claims

1. a lower case having a bottom, a peripheral wall extending upward from a peripheral edge of the bottom, and an opening formed at an upper end of the peripheral wall; an upper cover attached to the upper side of the lower case so as to cover the opening; a housing including the lower case and the upper cover and defining an internal storage space; a rotating member at least a portion of which is accommodated in the accommodation space and supported rotatably with respect to the housing about a rotation center in the vertical direction; a cam portion consisting of a concave-convex portion continuously formed on the rotating member along an arc-shaped virtual line surrounding the rotation center; a spring member including a fixed portion sandwiched between the lower case and the upper cover, an elastically deformable portion extending from the fixed portion, and an elastic contact portion formed on the elastically deformable portion and elastically contacting the cam portion; a rotation prevention mechanism including a locked portion provided on the fixed portion of the spring member and a locking portion provided on the housing and locking the locked portion; Equipped with The upper cover includes a pressure-contact mechanism including a receiving plate portion extending downward from the outer periphery thereof and a pressure-contact plate portion extending from the fixing portion of the spring member toward the receiving plate portion and pressing against the receiving plate portion. A rotating electrical component characterized by:

2. the receiving plate portion comprises a first receiving plate portion and a second receiving plate portion disposed diagonally across the rotation center, the pressure contact plate portion comprises a first pressure contact plate portion and a second pressure contact plate portion disposed diagonally across the rotation center, the first pressure contact plate portion presses against the first receiving plate portion, and the second pressure contact plate portion presses against the second receiving plate portion, The spring member is sandwiched and pressed between the first receiving plate portion and the second receiving plate portion.

2. The rotary electrical component according to claim 1.

3. The lower case has a rectangular shape in a top view and four corners, The receiving plate portion and the pressure contact plate portion are disposed at one corner.

2. The rotary electrical component according to claim 1.

4. The pressure-welding plate portion has a slit formed along the radial direction, and has a split tip.

2. The rotary electrical component according to claim 1.

5. The upper cover is made of metal, The receiving plate portion is formed by bending.

2. The rotary electrical component according to claim 1.

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