Microswitch Push Button With Flexible Bridge for Short Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push buttons from the RMQ-Titan series are not compatible with microswitches due to differences in switching travel and force range, limiting their use with microswitches.
Innovation Solution
A push button design that includes a flexible switch bridge and a suspension element, allowing for a reduced travel distance and restricted side movements, enabling actuation of a microswitch. The switch bridge is made of flexible plastic material and serves as a damper to protect the microswitch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a standard push button guide is used, then the button structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the travel distance is too long for microswitch actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The push button guide is divided into two distinct parts: a first guide portion that provides long guidance for the plunger, and a second guide portion that provides short guidance for the switch bridge. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function - the first portion ensures stable plunger movement with adequate lateral support, while the second portion enables the switch bridge to actuate the microswitch with the required short travel distance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid switch bridge is used, then structural stability is high, but the switching element is vulnerable to high forces
Solution Approach 1:
The switch bridge is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional properties along its length. The portion that contacts the plunger has greater structural stability to receive and transmit actuation forces, while the portion near the switching element has reduced stiffness to provide damping and protect the switching element from high forces. This local variation in structural quality allows the single component to simultaneously provide both stability and protection.
3Force
If the plunger is directly connected to the switching element, then the force transmission is direct and efficient, but side movements cause mechanical tolerance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The switch bridge serves as an intermediary component between the plunger and the switching element. It receives the actuation force from the plunger through its first portion, which is guided by the first guide portion to ensure proper alignment and minimize side movements. The switch bridge then transmits this force through its second portion to actuate the switching element. This intermediary structure decouples the direct connection, allowing the plunger to have adequate guidance length while the switch bridge provides the precise short travel needed for microswitch actuation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The push button design allows safe and effective use of standard microswitches as the main contact element, overcoming mechanical tolerance issues and enabling compatibility with microswitches by reducing the travel distance and restricting side movements.
Implementation Method 1
a suspension element arrangeable between the plunger and the push button guide to push the plunger away from the switching element
Implementation Method 2
the switch bridge may be made from a flexible plastic material so as to form a damper protecting the switching element
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments relate to a push button provided for usage with a microswitch as contact element is disclosed. The push button comprises a push button guide predetermining a predefined travel distance of the push button, a plunger movable inside the push button guide over the predefined travel distance, and a switch bridge actuatable by the plunger and provided for actuating a switching element arranged underneath the switch bridge, wherein the switch bridge is made flexible at least at a portion provided for actuating the switching element