Rubber Contact Switch with Trapping Chamber for Foreign Matter
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switch devices with rubber contacts face the challenge of foreign matter, such as dust or water droplets, entering and reaching the contact areas due to shape changes during operation, which can lead to contact failures and electrical issues.
Innovation Solution
A switch device design featuring a substrate with through-holes and a rubber contact system that includes moving sections, a flow path, and chamber sections with a larger space than the flow path, configured to trap foreign matter and maintain shape, preventing it from reaching the contact areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rubber dome is pressed and approaches the fixed contact, then the switching function is achieved, but foreign matter can erroneously enter and reach the contact
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber contact is divided into multiple sections: a moving section with moving contacts for switching, and a chamber section with larger space that acts as a trap for foreign matter. This segmentation prevents foreign matter from reaching the contact area while maintaining switching functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber section serves as an intermediary space between the flow path and the contact area. It captures foreign matter that enters through the flow path, preventing it from reaching the moving and fixed contacts.
2Ease of operation
If the rubber contact is made flexible for elastic deformation, then switching operation is enabled, but shape stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber contact is segmented into a moving section that deforms elastically for switching and a chamber section that maintains a stable shape to trap foreign matter. This allows flexibility where needed while maintaining stability where required.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the rubber contact have different functional qualities: the moving section is designed for elastic deformation to enable switching, while the chamber section is designed with larger space and stability to capture and retain foreign matter.
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 solution effectively suppresses the ingress of foreign matter, reducing contact failures and ensuring reliable operation by trapping dust, water droplets, and even insects within the chamber sections, thus maintaining contact integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the moving section elastically deforming such that moving contacts corresponding to the respective fixed contacts are capable of contacting/separating
Implementation Method 2
at least one chamber section having a space larger than a space occupying along representative length of the flow path section on a portion of the flow path section, and having strength such that a shape of the space is maintained
Data Source
AI summary
A switch device includes a substrate having at least one fixed contact and an inflow/outflow section provided with at least one through-hole, and a rubber contact to cover the substrate. The rubber contact includes at least one moving section disposed facing the respective at least one fixed contact, the moving section elastically deforming such that moving contacts corresponding to the respective fixed contacts are capable of contacting/separating, an in/out section disposed facing the inflow/outflow section and configured to form a space with the inflow/outflow section, a flow path section configured to form a flow path to connect the in/out section and the at least one moving section, and at least one chamber section having a space larger than a space occupying along representative length of the flow path section on a portion of the flow path section, and having strength such that a shape of the space is maintained.