Push Switch Pressing Layout for Higher Load Without Contact Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push switches with side-cut movable contact members face increased stress amplitude and risk of cracking when operational load is increased without corresponding size expansion, leading to potential mechanical failure.
Innovation Solution
A push switch design featuring a movable contact member with a pair of first linear edges and a pushing member with projecting pressing portions on its bottom surface, positioned to avoid overlapping a straight line through the contact member's center, allowing for increased operational load while minimizing stress amplitude on the contact member's sides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the operational load of the movable contact member is increased without increasing its size, then the stress amplitude on both sides of the movable contact member increases, but this leads to cracks occurring on both sides
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force is segmented into multiple pressing portions on the bottom surface of the pushing member. Instead of applying force at a single central point, the force is distributed across multiple discrete pressing portions, which reduces the stress concentration on any single side of the movable contact member while maintaining the total operational load.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing portions are strategically positioned at locations that do not overlap with the straight line passing through the center and intersecting the first linear edges. This creates a non-uniform stress distribution pattern that avoids concentrating stress at the vulnerable side edges, thereby improving crack resistance while maintaining operational load capacity.
2Force
If the size of the movable contact member is increased to handle higher operational load, then the stress amplitude decreases, but the overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of force application location from central to distributed positions. By modifying where and how the force is applied (through multiple pressing portions at specific locations), the stress distribution is optimized to handle higher operational loads without requiring an increase in the overall size of the movable contact member.
3Device complexity
If pressing portions are positioned at the center of the movable contact member, then the structure is simple, but the stress amplitude on both sides increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing portions are positioned asymmetrically relative to the center line that passes through the center and intersects the first linear edges. This asymmetric positioning creates a more favorable stress distribution pattern that reduces stress amplitude on the side edges compared to symmetric central positioning, while adding only minimal complexity to the pressing member structure.
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 design effectively increases operational load on the movable contact member without significantly increasing stress amplitude, thereby reducing the risk of cracking and enhancing the component's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a movable contact member disposed in the housing space configured to deform in response to receiving pressure applied from above, and contacting the fixed contacts upon defoming in response to the received pressure
Implementation Method 2
a pushing member disposed on the movable contact member and configured to transmit the received pressure to the movable contact member
Data Source
AI summary
A push switch contains a case including a housing space having an upper-opening and including fixed-contacts disposed on a bottom of the housing space, a movable contact member disposed in the housing space configured to deform in response to receiving pressure applied from above, and contacting the fixed-contacts upon defoming in response to the received pressure, and a pushing member disposed on the movable contact member and configured to transmit the received pressure to the movable contact member. The movable contact member includes a pair of first-linear edges, wherein the pushing member includes a plurality of projecting-pressing portions disposed on a bottom surface of the pushing member facing the movable contact member, and wherein the plurality of pressing portions is disposed on the bottom surface at positions not overlapping a straight-line that passes through a center of the movable contact member and intersecting each of the pair of first-linear edges.