switch

Abstract

To provide a switch having a high stability of switching while enabling miniaturization.SOLUTION: A switch includes: a cylinder-shaped case 1; a movable element 2 of which one part is projected to an external part of the case 1, and which is installed slidably in a shaft direction of the case 1; a plate 3 that regulates movement of the movable element 2 in the shaft direction; a fixing terminal 4 that is provided below the plate 3; a shaft 5 that is in contact with the movable element 2 via a penetration hole 31 of the plate 3 on the same shaft, and is slid so as to be synthesized with the movable element 2; a base part 8 that is fitted to the case 1, and has a first energization member 7a energizing the shaft 5 to the movable element 2; a pair of movable contactor pieces 6 and 6 to which one end is supported in a supporting part of the shaft 5, that is extended toward a radial outer side, and in which the other end is rotated; and a second energization member 7b that is arranged at a concave groove part 54 of the shaft 5, and energized in a direction where the pair of movable contactor pieces 6 and 6 come close to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch. [Background technology]

[0002] A switch is known in which a movable contact piece is reversed by the bias of a coil spring to contact a fixed contact (for example, see Patent Document 1). The switch according to Patent Document 1 includes a push button, a coil spring, a movable contact piece, and a rotating member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-084386 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The switch disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the structure is complicated and the stability of switching is low because the fulcrum of rotation of the movable contact piece and the fulcrum of rotation of the rotating member are in different positions. Also, because the switch is switched on only one side of the push button, it lacks stability and tends to be large in the horizontal direction.

[0005] From this perspective, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch that can be made compact and has high switching stability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The switch of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, comprises a cylindrical case, a movable element that protrudes partially outside the case and is arranged to be slidable in the axial direction of the case, a plate that restricts movement of the movable element in the axial direction, a fixed terminal provided under the plate, a shaft that abuts coaxially with the movable element through a through hole of the plate and slides in sync with the movable element, a base portion that is fitted into the case and has a first biasing member that biases the shaft toward the movable element, a pair of movable contact pieces that are supported at one end by a support portion of the shaft, extend radially outward, and rotate at the other end, and Open upwards a second biasing member which is a coil spring disposed in the groove and has the pair of movable contact pieces connected to both ends thereof and biases the pair of movable contact pieces in a direction in which they approach each other, the movable contact piece includes a pair of insertion legs supported by the shaft, a connecting portion connecting the pair of insertion legs, a curved portion rising upward from the connecting portion and presenting a C-shape in a side view, and a contact portion formed continuous with the curved portion, the curved portion is formed with an attachment portion opening in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane including an axial direction of the case and an axial direction of the second biasing member, and the second biasing member is attached by being hooked onto the attachment portion, The present invention is characterized in that, by pressing the movable member, the shaft moves toward the base portion, and at a predetermined turning point, the pair of movable contact pieces reverse around the support portion of the shaft as a fulcrum due to the biasing force of the second biasing member and contact the fixed terminal.

[0007] According to the present invention, the fulcrum of a pair of movable contact pieces is provided on the shaft, and the shaft is arranged coaxially with the movable piece. As a result, the input position of the movable piece and the fulcrum of the movable contact piece are approximately coaxial, so that the reversing operation can be stabilized. In addition, a pair of movable contact pieces are provided on either side of the shaft, and these are connected by a second biasing member, so that the reversing operation can be performed symmetrically and in a well-balanced manner. As a result, the stability of the switching of the switch can be improved. In addition, since the second biasing member is arranged in the recessed groove portion of the shaft, it is possible to achieve a compact size while allowing movement in the height direction of the shaft.

[0008] It is also preferable that the case has a cylindrical portion and an outer flange portion that protrudes radially outward at an end of the cylindrical portion, and that a waterproof cap is attached to cover the outer flange portion and the movable element.

[0009] According to the present invention, the opening of the case can be covered with a waterproof cap, thereby improving waterproofness.

[0010] In addition, it is preferable that the case has a cylindrical portion, a convex portion that protrudes inward on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion, and a concave portion that is concave in the radially outward direction, and the base portion has an elastic portion that is convex outward on its outer circumferential surface, and when the base portion is attached to the case, the elastic portion overcomes the convex portion and engages with the concave portion.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the base portion from falling off the case due to the load when the mover is pressed down, thereby improving durability. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the switch of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size and improve the stability of switching. We can provide it. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a switch according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the switch according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the movable contact piece is attached to the shaft. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the shaft is assembled. [Figure 13] 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing a reversing operation of the switch according to the embodiment.

[0014] First Embodiment The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the switch 100 is a push button type switch, and can be used as a switch for, for example, automotive electrical equipment, amusement equipment, electrical appliances, etc.

[0015] 2, the switch 100 includes a case 1, a movable element 2, a plate 3, a fixed terminal 4, a shaft 5, a movable contact piece 6, a first biasing member 7a, a second biasing member 7b, and a base portion 8. The switch 100 can be assembled by inserting each component from the lower side of the case 1. Furthermore, the switch 100 may have a cover member 9 attached to the lower end of the case 1.

[0016] 1 to 3, the case 1 is made of, for example, a resin material. The case 1 is a member that houses the above-mentioned components. The case 1 includes a cylindrical portion 10, an outer flange portion 11, an inner flange portion 12, and a case leg portion 14.

[0017] The tubular portion 10 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape and opens in the vertical direction. The outer flange portion 11 is a portion that protrudes radially outward around the entire circumference at the upper end of the tubular portion 10. The inner flange portion 12 is a portion that protrudes radially inward around the entire circumference at the upper end of the tubular portion 10. A cap 13 is attached to the outer flange portion 11. The cap 13 is made of a waterproof material such as rubber. As shown in FIG. 3, the cap 13 is attached in close contact with the outer flange portion 11 and the portion of the movable member 2 protruding from the case 1, and is a member that closes the upper opening of the tubular portion 10.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 4, the tube portion 10 has a protrusion 10a formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tube portion 10, protruding in the direction of the central axis. Also, a recess 10b is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tube portion 10, which is continuous with the protrusion 10a above and recessed outward. The protrusion 10a and the recess 10b are portions that engage with the base portion 8, and are formed at a position corresponding to the base portion 8. The case leg portion 14 has an opening hole 14a, and is a portion that engages with the cover member 9. A screw thread for screwing with another component is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tube portion 10, but may be omitted.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the movable element 2 is installed so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the case 1. The movable element 2 includes a pressing portion 21, a protrusion 22, and a leg portion 23. The pressing portion 21 is a cylindrical portion protruding from the upper portion of the case 1 to the outside. The pressing portion 21 can be pressed in by an operator through the cap 13. The protrusion 22 is a portion protruding radially outward at the lower end of the pressing portion 21, and is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the inner flange portion 12. In other words, the inner flange portion 12 and the protrusion 22 come into contact with each other to restrict the upward movement of the movable element 2, so that only the pressing portion 21 is formed to protrude from the upper portion of the case 1. The leg portion 23 is formed at two points downward from the protrusion 22, and is a portion with which the shaft 5 comes into contact. The legs 23, 23 are arranged spaced apart from each other.

[0020] 2 and 3, the plate 3 has a substantially circular shape and is made of, for example, resin. The plate 3 is placed and fixed on the upper part of the base part 8, and is a part that restricts the movement of the mover 2 downward in the axial direction. A through hole 31 that passes through the plate 3 in the up-down direction is formed in the center of the plate 3. The through hole 31 is a part through which the legs 23, 23 of the mover 2 are inserted.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fixed terminal 4 is made of a conductive metal material and is generally L-shaped. Two fixed terminals 4 are provided corresponding to the movable contact pieces 6, 6. The fixed terminal 4 has a fixed portion 4a and a base portion 4b. The fixed portion 4a is a portion that is disposed along the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 10. The base portion 4b is a portion that comes into contact with the movable contact piece 6 and is disposed along the lower surface of the plate 3.

[0022] As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the shaft 5 is a member that comes into contact with the mover 2 and slides vertically in sync with the mover 2. The mover 2 is generally U-shaped and is made of, for example, a resin material. The shaft 5 has a pair of insertion portions 51, 51, a notch portion 52, and a shaft protrusion portion 53. A groove portion 54 that opens upward is formed between the insertion portions 51, 51. A groove bottom portion 55 is formed in the groove portion 54.

[0023] The insertion portion 51 is a portion to be inserted into the leg portion 23 of the movable element 2, and the shaft 5 can be attached to the movable element 2 by inserting the insertion portion 51 into the leg portion 23. The notch portion 52 is a groove having a rectangular shape. The notch portion 52 is formed in each of the pair of insertion portions 51, 51, and is a portion that serves as a "support portion" that supports one end of the movable contact piece 6. In other words, the movable contact piece 6 rotates around the notch portion 52 as a fulcrum. The shaft protrusion portion 53 protrudes downward, and is a portion into which the first biasing member 7a is inserted. The first biasing member 7a is an elastic member such as a coil spring (compression coil spring). The shaft 5 is biased toward the movable element 2 by the biasing force of the first biasing member 7a. In other words, the upper end of the first biasing member 7a abuts against the shaft 5, and the lower end abuts against the base portion 8.

[0024] 3 and 7, the movable contact piece 6 is made of a conductive metal material. The movable contact piece 6 includes a pair of insertion legs 61, a connecting portion 62, a bent portion 63, and a contact portion 64.

[0025] The pair of insertion legs 61, 61 are portions to be inserted into the cutouts 52, 52 of the shaft 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the insertion legs 61 are formed so that their thickness decreases as they move away from the connecting portion 62. When the insertion legs 61, 61 are inserted into the cutouts 52, 52, respectively, the movable contact piece 6 is configured to rotate around the cutouts 52, 52 as a fulcrum. The connecting portion 62 is a portion that connects the pair of insertion legs 61, 61, and has a U-shape. The bent portion 63 rises upward from the connecting portion 62, is a portion that connects the contact portion 64 and the connecting portion 62, and has a C-shape in side view.

[0026] An attachment portion 63a is formed on the curved portion 63. As shown in Fig. 3, a second biasing member 7b is attached between one attachment portion 63a and the opposing attachment portion 63a. The second biasing member 7b is an elastic member such as a coil spring (tension coil spring) and biases the pair of insertion legs 61, 61 in a direction in which they approach each other. The contact portion 64 is a portion that comes into contact with the base portion 4b of the fixed terminal 4 when the pair of movable contact pieces 6, 6 are reversed.

[0027] As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the base part 8 includes a base body 81, a storage part 82, and a terminal insertion part 83. The base body 81 has a circular shape in a plan view. Elastic parts 81a protruding in the outer circumferential direction are formed at two locations on the outer circumferential surface of the base body 81. The elastic parts 81a are provided at positions facing each other with the storage part 82 in between. As shown in Fig. 4, when the base part 8 is inserted from the bottom side of the case 1, the elastic part 81a overcomes the convex part 10a of the tube part 10 and engages with the concave part 10b by elastic restoring force. The base part 8 is fixed to the case 1 by engaging the elastic part 81a with the concave part 10b.

[0028] The accommodating portion 82 is disposed at the center of the base body 81, and is a portion in which the first biasing member 7a is disposed. The terminal insertion portion 83 is a portion in which the fixed portion 4a of the fixed terminal 4 is fixed.

[0029] 2 and 10, the cover member 9 has a cylindrical shape and is attached to the underside of the case 1. The cover member 9 is made of, for example, a resin material, and is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the case 1 with an adhesive or the like to improve waterproofing and dustproofing. The cover member 9 includes a cover main body 90, a case receiving portion 91, and a case engaging portion 92.

[0030] The case receiving portion 91 is a portion that protrudes radially outward from the cover main body portion 90 and is a portion that abuts against the underside of the case 1. The case engaging portion 92 is a portion that protrudes from the cover main body portion 90 and is a portion that engages with the opening hole 14a of the case leg portion 14.

[0031] Next, a structure for attaching the movable contact piece 6 to the shaft 5 will be described. As shown in Fig. 10, the insertion legs 61, 61 of the movable contact piece 6 are inserted into the notch portion 52 of the shaft 5. As a result, one end portion (insertion legs 61, 61) of the movable contact piece 6 is supported by the notch portion 52 of the shaft 5, and the other end portion (contact portion 64) becomes rotatable in the vertical direction.

[0032] Next, assembly of the shaft 5 will be described with reference to Figures 2, 11 and 12. As shown in Figure 11, in a free state where no external force is applied to the shaft 5, the upper end of the second biasing member 7b and the notch 52 are at substantially the same height. If the shaft 5 is inserted from the bottom of the case 1 in this state, the pair of movable contact pieces 6, 6 will rotate both upward and downward, which may cause the vertical positions to become misaligned, making assembly difficult.

[0033] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, the second biasing member 7b is pressed down to a position where the lower end of the second biasing member 7b contacts the groove bottom 55. The second biasing member 7b pulls the movable contact pieces 6, 6 and does not move below the groove bottom 55, so that the posture is stable. By inserting the shaft 5 from the lower side of the case 1 in this state, the shaft 5 can be assembled without the vertical positions of the pair of movable contact pieces 6, 6 becoming distorted. After the assembly is completed, the second biasing member 7b can be raised and returned to the free state (the state of Fig. 11).

[0034] Next, an operation mechanism of the switch 100 will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, in the switch OFF (or ON) state, the shaft 5 and the movable element 2 are urged upward by the urging force of the first urging member 7a, so that the movable contact piece 6 is inclined downward and contacts the base portion 8, and the contact portion 64 and the base portion 4b of the fixed terminal 4 are separated from each other.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 13, by pressing the pressing portion 21 downward, the movable element 2 slides downward. In sync with the movable element 2 sliding downward, the shaft 5 is pressed toward the base portion 8 against the biasing force of the first biasing member 7a. As the shaft 5 moves downward, the insertion legs 61, 61 of the movable contact piece 6 also move downward. When the shaft 5 passes a predetermined turning point, the movable contact pieces 6, 6 are reversed because the second biasing member 7b biases the movable contact pieces 6, 6 in a direction to approach each other, and the contact portions 64, 64 come into contact with the base portions 4b, 4b of the fixed terminals 4, 4, resulting in the switch ON (or OFF) state.

[0036] When the movable element 2 is released from being pressed while the switch is in the ON (or OFF) state, the shaft 5 and the movable element 2 are pushed upward by the first biasing member 7a, and at the same time, due to the biasing force of the second biasing member 7b, the movable contact pieces 6, 6 rotate forward at a predetermined turning point, returning to the state shown in Figure 3.

[0037] The turning point at which the movable contact pieces 6, 6 rotate in the reverse or normal direction can be set appropriately depending on the biasing forces of the first biasing member 7a and the second biasing member 7b, and the shape of the movable contact piece 6 and the like.

[0038] According to the switch 100 of the present embodiment described above, the fulcrum of the pair of movable contact pieces 6 is provided on the shaft 5, and the shaft 5 is arranged coaxially with the movable element 2. As a result, the input position of the movable element 2 and the fulcrum of the movable contact piece 6 are approximately coaxial, so that the reversing operation can be stabilized. In addition, since the pair of movable contact pieces 6 are provided on either side of the shaft 5 and are connected by the second biasing member 7b, the reversing operation can be performed symmetrically and in a well-balanced manner. As a result, the stability of the switching of the switch 100 can be improved. In addition, since the second biasing member 7b is arranged in the recessed groove portion 54 of the shaft 5, the shaft 5 can be made compact while allowing movement in the height direction.

[0039] Moreover, the case 1 has a cylindrical portion 10 and an outer flange portion 11 that protrudes radially outward at the end of the cylindrical portion 10, and is fitted with a waterproof cap 13 that covers the outer flange portion 11 and the movable member 2. This makes it possible to prevent moisture from entering the case 1, thereby improving waterproofness.

[0040] Furthermore, the elastic portion 81a of the base portion 8 overcomes the protrusion 10a that protrudes inward on the inner surface of the tube portion 10 and engages with the recess 10b, thereby fixing the base portion 8 to the case 1. This makes it possible to prevent the base portion 8 from falling off due to the load when the shaft 5 is pressed down, thereby improving durability.

[0041] Also, by attaching the cover member 9 by adhesion, it is possible to improve waterproof and dustproof properties. Also, by engaging the case engaging portion 92 of the cover member 9 with the opening 14a of the case leg 14, the cover member 9 can be attached to the case 1 more firmly, so that it is possible to prevent the base portion 8 from falling off and to further improve durability.

[0042] Furthermore, the switch 100 of this embodiment can be configured using a small number of parts, and therefore can be easily manufactured and the manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0043] Furthermore, the shaft 5 presses the second biasing member 7b downward from the free state, bringing the lower end of the second biasing member 7b into contact with the recessed groove bottom 55. In this state, the shaft 5 is inserted from the underside of the case 1 and assembled. This allows the pair of movable contact pieces 6, 6 to be inserted into the case 1 in a stable state, preventing the pair of movable contact pieces 6, 6 from becoming displaced in the vertical direction during the insertion process, improving ease of assembly.

[0044] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, appropriate design changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 100 Switch 1 case 10 Cylinder part 11 Outer flange 12 Inner flange 13 Cap 2 Mover 3 Plate 31 Through hole 4 Fixed terminal 5 Shaft 54 Groove 6 Movable contact piece 7a First biasing member 7b Second biasing member 8 Base 9 Cover member

Claims

1. A cylindrical case, a mover that is partially protruding outside the case and is slidably disposed in an axial direction of the case; a plate that restricts the movement of the mover in the axial direction; A fixed terminal provided under the plate; a shaft that comes into coaxial contact with the mover through a through hole of the plate and slides in synchronization with the mover; a base portion including a first biasing member that is fitted into the case and biases the shaft toward the movable element; a pair of movable contact pieces each having one end supported by a support portion of the shaft, extending radially outward, and having the other end pivotable; a second biasing member which is a coil spring and which is disposed in a recessed groove portion which opens upward on the shaft, has a pair of the movable contact pieces connected to both ends thereof, and biases the pair of the movable contact pieces in a direction in which they approach each other, the movable contact piece includes a pair of insertion legs supported by the shaft, a connecting portion connecting the pair of insertion legs, a curved portion rising upward from the connecting portion and presenting a C-shape in a side view, and a contact portion formed continuously with the curved portion, an attachment portion is formed in the curved portion, the attachment portion being open in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane including an axial direction of the case and an axial direction of the second biasing member; The second biasing member is attached by being hooked onto the attachment portion, A switch characterized in that, when the movable element is pressed, the shaft moves toward the base portion, and at a predetermined turning point, the pair of movable contact pieces flip around the support portion of the shaft as a fulcrum due to the biasing force of the second biasing member and contact the fixed terminal.

2. The case has a cylindrical portion and an outer flange portion that protrudes radially outward at an end of the cylindrical portion, 2. The switch according to claim 1, further comprising a waterproof cap for covering said outer flange portion and said movable member.

3. The case has a cylindrical portion, a convex portion that protrudes inward on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion, and a concave portion that is concave in a radially outward direction. The base portion has an elastic portion that is convex outward on an outer circumferential surface thereof, 2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein, when the base portion is attached to the case, the elastic portion overcomes the protrusion and engages with the recess.

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