JP4096463B2 - switch - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a switch, and more particularly to a switch capable of selectively assembling a two-pole switch and a four-way switch by sharing many components.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a switch that can assemble a two-pole switch and a four-way switch by using many parts in common has been put into practical use. Therefore, before describing such switches, schematic configurations of two-pole switches and four-way switches and examples of their use will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0003]
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration and a usage example of the four-way switch. The four-way switch 101 has a pair of common terminals 102a and 102b and a pair of load terminals 103a and 103b, and a common terminal 102a-load terminal 103a and a common terminal 102b-load terminal according to a switching operation of a switch handle (not shown). In a first connection state 103b (shown by a solid line in FIG. 7) and a second connection state (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 7) of the common terminal 102a-load terminal 103b and the common terminal 102b-load terminal 103a. It has a structure for performing a contact switching operation (not shown).
[0004]
Such a four-way switch 101 is used together with a simple changeover switch 104, for example. As a specific example, the circuit shown in FIG. 7 is used for a lighting fixture installed in a hallway. In other words, as a switching system for a lighting fixture 106 that is attached to a corridor (not shown) and is driven by a commercial AC power supply 105, a selector switch 104a is disposed at one entrance of the corridor, and another selector switch at the other entrance. 104b is arranged, and the four-way switch 101 is arranged at an intermediate position in the hallway. And under the connection state as shown in FIG. 7, the switching operation of the luminaire 106 can be performed by any of the switches 101, 104a, 104b. For example, if the contacts (not shown) of all the switches 101, 104a, 104b are switched as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 7, the switch is turned on and power is supplied from the commercial AC power source 105 to the lighting fixture 106. In any switch 101, 104a, 104b, the contact point is switched as indicated by a dotted line to turn off the switch. Further, if the contacts of all the switches 101, 104a, 104b are switched as indicated by dotted lines, the switch is turned off and the power supply from the commercial AC power source 105 to the lighting fixture 106 is cut off. Even in the case of 104a and 104b, the contacts are switched on as shown by the solid lines.
[0005]
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration and a usage example of the two-pole switch. The two-pole switch 111 has a pair of common terminals 112a and 112b and a pair of load terminals 113a and 113b, and a common terminal 112a-load terminal 113a set and a common terminal 112b- In this structure, the set of load terminals 113b is intermittently connected. In such a two-pole switch 111, in consideration of safety, a certain amount of insulation distance is required between the common terminal 112a-load terminal 113a set and the common terminal 112b-load terminal 113b set. Therefore, a separator 114 is required between the terminals constituting these sets.
[0006]
Such a two-pole switch 111 is used, for example, for an application in which power supply from the commercial AC power supply 116 to the lighting fixture 115 is interrupted. That is, a pair of common terminals 112a and 112b are connected to the commercial AC power supply 116, and a lighting fixture 115 as a load is connected to the pair of load terminals 113a and 113b. In this state, by switching the switch handle, the common terminal 112a-load terminal 113a set and the common terminal 112b-load terminal 113b set are simultaneously interrupted, and power supply from the commercial AC power supply 116 to the lighting fixture 115 is performed. Be controlled.
[0007]
As is clear from FIGS. 7 and 8, the two-pole switch and the four-way switch have many commonalities such as the number of terminals and their connection states. Therefore, in order to avoid various disadvantages in assembling and various costs when these two-pole switch and four-way switch are separately manufactured independently, it is easy to assemble and to reduce various costs. 2. Description of the Related Art Switches that can share components and selectively assemble 2-pole switches and 4-way switches have been put into practical use.
[0008]
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a lower housing of a switch assembled as a two-pole switch and its housing component as a conventional example of a switch that can be assembled as a two-pole switch or a four-way switch, with a separator attached. FIG. Such a switch 201 is configured by housing and holding various components inside a lower housing 202 and an upper housing (not shown). The lower housing 202 is provided with a pair of common terminals 203a and 203b and a pair of load terminals 204a and 204b. The common terminals 203a and 203b and the load terminals 204a and 204b are configured to be connected to conductive wires (not shown) inserted and held from the lower surface of the lower housing 202. The pair of load terminals 204a and 204b are provided with contacts 205a and 205b, respectively, and a movable piece 207 having contacts 206a and 206b that can be contacted and separated with respect to these contacts 205a and 205b is a pair of common terminals 203a and 203b. Is swingably held. Therefore, by connecting a pair of movable pieces 207 to a switch handle (not shown) swingably provided in an upper housing (not shown), the movable piece 207 is caused to swing according to the swing operation of the switch handle. The contacts 205a and 205b of the terminals 204a and 204b and the contacts 206a and 206b of the movable piece 207 are made contactable and separable.
[0009]
The switch 201 having such a structure can be assembled as a four-way switch by simply replacing the load terminals 204a and 204b. That is, a member provided additionally with a contact (not shown) facing the contact 205b of the load terminal 204b with respect to the load terminal 204a and a contact (not shown) facing the contact 205a of the load terminal 204a with respect to the load terminal 204b are additionally provided. The two-pole switch and the four-way switch can be easily selected by simply preparing the members provided in the above and replacing the load terminals 204a and 204b with those members.
[0010]
Here, when the switch 201 is configured as a two-pole switch as shown in FIG. 9, the insulation distance between the common terminal 203a-load terminal 204a pair and the common terminal 203b-load terminal 204b pair is set. The separator 208 for securing is required. Therefore, in the switch 201 shown in FIG. 9, a fitting fixing portion 209 that forms a fitting structure with the separator 208 is provided inside the lower housing 202, and the separator 208 is press-fitted and fixed to the fitting fixing portion 209. Yes.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, when the switch 201 illustrated in FIG. 9 is assembled as a two-pole switch, in order to secure an insulation distance between the common terminal 203a-load terminal 204a pair and the common terminal 203b-load terminal 204b pair, Incorporation is essential. However, since the separator 208 has a structure that is press-fitted into the fitting fixing portion 209 provided in the lower housing 202, the separator 208 is inserted at an inappropriate angle with respect to the lower housing 202, and the fitting fixing portion 209 is inserted. When press-fitted, the mounting angle and mounting position of the separator 208 become inappropriate, causing various problems. As various inconveniences, for example, sufficient insulation between the common terminal 203a-load terminal 204a set and the common terminal 203b-load terminal 204b set cannot be obtained, or the switching operation cannot be performed correctly. Such a phenomenon can occur.
[0012]
The object of the present invention is to correctly arrange the separators required when assembled as a two-pole switch.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The switch invention according to claim 1 is a housing-like lower housing; an upper housing joined and fixed to an upper surface of a thick portion of the lower housing; a pair of each of which is arranged in parallel at adjacent positions in the lower housing A pair of common terminals disposed in parallel in adjacent positions at positions corresponding to the pair of load terminals in the lower housing; and the load terminals corresponding to the load terminals corresponding to the upper housing A switch handle attached so as to be swingable in a direction connecting the terminals; one end connected to the common terminal and the other end connected to the switch handle, and swings according to the swinging motion of the switch handle A pair of movable pieces in which a contact provided on the other end side contacts and separates from a contact provided on the load terminal; and a set of the load terminal and A separator having a blocking portion disposed in a space between the common terminal, another set of the load terminal, and the common terminal, and a fixing piece sandwiched at a joint portion between the lower housing and the upper housing And comprising;
[0014]
The “lower housing”, “upper housing”, and “switch handle” are formed by, for example, a resin mold. However, it is not limited to this.
[0015]
The connection between the “switch” and the “movable piece” is performed by, for example, a coil spring. Thereby, the contact / separation operation | movement of the movable piece with respect to a contact is performed correctly. In addition, a click interval can be generated in the swinging of the switch. However, it is not limited to such a configuration.
[0016]
The “separator” is formed by, for example, a resin mold. However, it is not necessarily limited to this as long as it is formed of an insulating member.
[0017]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the movable piece connected to the common terminal is swung by the swinging of the switch handle, so that the contact is brought into and out of contact with the load terminal. Action is taken. In addition, a necessary insulation distance can be obtained between the one set of the load terminal and the common terminal and the other set of the load terminal and the common terminal by the separator blocking portion. In such a separator, a blocking portion is disposed in a space between one set of the load terminal and the common terminal and another set of the load terminal and the common terminal, and is formed at a joint portion between the lower housing and the upper housing. Since the fixing piece is sandwiched and fixed, when assembling the switch, the fixing member is fixedly arranged by joining and fixing the upper housing to the lower housing with the separator placed on the lower housing. For this reason, the separator is not positioned at an inappropriate angle with respect to the lower housing, and the arrangement position becomes an appropriate position.
[0018]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the switch according to the first aspect of the invention, the fitting of the fixed portion of the separator slightly protruding from the upper surface of the thick portion is fitted on the upper surface of the thick portion of the lower housing. A concavity is formed.
[0019]
According to such a second aspect of the invention, when the switch is assembled, when the separator is put on the lower housing, the fixed piece of the separator is fitted into the fitting recess. At this time, the position where the separator should be placed on the lower housing is clarified, and the operation is facilitated. In this state, when the upper housing is joined and fixed to the lower housing, the fixed piece protrudes slightly from the upper surface of the thick part of the lower housing, so that the fixed piece is firmly attached to the bonded and fixed portion between the lower housing and the upper housing. Fixed.
[0020]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the switch according to the first or second aspect, the separator swings in a direction in which the contacts are separated from the load terminal in accordance with a swinging operation of the switch handle. A support piece for supporting the movable piece is formed.
[0021]
The “support piece” can be formed integrally with the separator when the “separator” is formed of a resin mold.
[0022]
According to such a third aspect of the invention, when the contact is made between the load terminal and the movable piece, the movable piece that swings and separates from the load terminal is supported by the support piece, and the switch The positioning of the movable piece when off is stable.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is an external perspective view of the switch, FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the switch configured as a two-pole switch, and FIG. 3 is a state in which a separator is attached to a lower housing configured as a two-pole switch and its components. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the separator, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the lower housing configured as a two-pole switch and its housing component with the separator removed, and FIG. 6 is configured as a four-way switch. It is a top view which shows the lower housing and its accommodating component.
[0024]
The switch 1 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which many components can be shared and a two-pole switch and a four-way switch can be selectively assembled. In the following description, an example in the case of being assembled as a two-pole switch will be mainly described in the context of the invention.
[0025]
First, in the switch 1, a housing-like lower housing 2 and an upper housing 3 are joined and caulked and fixed by an eyelet 4, and various structures are housed and held in the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3. Is formed. Further, a switch handle 5 is swingably attached to the upper housing 3, and the structure housed and held therein is configured to perform a switching operation in accordance with the swing operation of the switch handle 5. Yes.
[0026]
The lower housing 2 is a resin-molded casing, and four insertion holes 6 are integrally formed at the bottom of the lower housing 2 so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the four corners. These insertion holes 6 are for guiding the conductive wires 7 from the outside to the inside. Further, the lower housing 2 includes a pair of metal load terminals 8a and 8b that are arranged in parallel at adjacent positions, and a pair of metal common terminals 9a and 9b that are arranged in parallel at adjacent positions. Is provided. These load terminals 8a and 8b and common terminals 9a and 9b are positioned at corresponding positions, respectively. The leaf springs 10 are in contact with the load terminals 8a and 8b and the common terminals 9a and 9b in a one-to-one relationship. Therefore, four leaf springs 10 are provided. These leaf springs 10 have a structure in which the conductive wires 7 that pass through the insertion holes 6 are sandwiched and the conductive wires 7 are electrically connected to the load terminals 8a and 8b and the common terminals 9a and 9b. It is.
[0027]
Here, the load terminals 8 a and 8 b are provided with contacts 11 a and 11 b that are offset slightly to one side from the inner central portion of the lower housing 2. In addition, holding concave portions 12a and 12b are formed at the distal end portions of the common terminals 9a and 9b by bending so as to be positioned at the substantially central portion of the lower housing 2. A pair of metal movable pieces 13a and 13b are swingably connected to the holding recesses 12a and 12b. These movable pieces 13a and 13b have contacts 14a and 14b, and by swinging, the contacts 14a and 14b are in contact with the contacts 11a and 11b formed on the load terminals 8a and 8b. Positioned to separate. Further, connecting convex portions 15a and 15b are integrally formed on the upper portions of the movable pieces 13a and 13b. These connecting convex portions 15a and 15b are paired with a switch handle 5 that is swingably attached to the upper housing 3. It is connected via a spring 16.
[0028]
Next, since the switch 1 of this embodiment is assembled as a two-pole switch, the insulation distance between one set of load terminals 8a and common terminals 9a and another set of load terminals 8b and common terminals 9b. The separator 17 is required to secure As shown in FIG. 4, the separator 17 includes a blocking portion 18 disposed in a space between one set of load terminals 8a and common terminals 9a and another set of load terminals 8b and common terminals 9b, and a lower housing. The four fixed pieces 21 which are fitted on the four fitting recesses 20 formed at four locations on the thick part upper surface 19 and placed on the thick part upper surface 19 and the pair of movable pieces 13a and 13b A pair of supporting pieces 22 to be supported are all integrally formed by resin molding.
[0029]
Here, in a state where the four fixed pieces 21 are fitted in the four fitting recesses 20, the blocking portion 18 has one set of load terminal 8 a and common terminal 9 a and another set of load terminal 8 b and common terminal. It is only disposed in the space between the space 9b and is not press-fitted into any member, for example (see FIG. 5). Here, a groove 23 is formed at the bottom of the lower housing 2, and a narrow portion 24 that fits into the groove 23 is formed at the bottom of the blocking portion 18, but the narrow portion 24 fits loosely into the groove 23. However, it is not press-fitted. Further, the four fixed pieces 21 are formed so as to slightly protrude from the thick portion upper surface 19 in a state where the four fixed pieces 21 are fitted in the four fitting recesses 20. Therefore, when the upper housing 3 is joined and fixed to the thick portion upper surface 19 of the lower housing 2 in a state where the four fixing pieces 21 are fitted in the four fitting recesses 20, the four fixing pieces 21 This is a structure in which the separator 17 is firmly fixed to the joint portion between the housing 2 and the upper housing 3, thereby fixing the position of the separator 17. Further, the pair of support pieces 22 are movable pieces 13a, 13b that are swung in the direction in which the contacts 11a, 11b and 14a, 14b are separated from each other according to the swinging motion of the switch handle 5. It is a structure which supports to a fixed position.
[0030]
In such a configuration, the movable pieces 13a and 13b connected to the common terminals 9a and 9b are swung by the swing of the switch handle 5, and thereby the contacts 11a, 11b and 14a are connected to the load terminals 8a and 8b. , 14b are contacted and separated to perform a switching operation. In addition, a necessary insulation distance is obtained by the blocking portion 18 of the separator 17 between the one set of load terminals 8a and common terminals 9a and the other set of load terminals 8b and common terminals 9b. In such a separator 17, the blocking portion 18 is arranged without being press-fitted into a space between one set of load terminals 8 a and common terminals 9 a and another set of load terminals 8 b and common terminals 9 b. Since the fixing piece 21 is sandwiched and fixed at the joint portion between the upper housing 3 and the upper housing 3, the upper housing 3 is mounted on the lower housing with the separator 17 placed on the upper surface 19 of the thick portion of the lower housing 2 when the switch is assembled. It is fixedly arranged simply by joining and fixing to 2. For this reason, the separator 17 is not press-fitted at an inappropriate angle with respect to the lower housing 2 and is not fixedly positioned at the position, and the arrangement position becomes an appropriate position.
[0031]
Further, when assembling the switch, when the separator 17 is put on the lower housing 2, the fixing piece 21 of the separator 17 is fitted into the fitting recess 20 formed in the thick part upper surface 19 of the lower housing 2. At this time, the position where the separator 17 should be placed on the lower housing 2 becomes clear, and the operation becomes easy. When the upper housing 3 is joined and fixed to the lower housing 2 in this state, the fixed piece 21 protrudes slightly from the upper surface 19 of the thick part of the lower housing 2, so that the joined portion between the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3 The fixing piece 21 is firmly fixed to the surface.
[0032]
Further, when the contacts 11a, 11b and 14a, 14b are brought into contact with or separated from the load terminals 8a, 8b and the movable pieces 13a, 13b, the movable pieces 13a, 13b swinging away from the load terminals 8a, 8b. Is supported by the support piece 22, and the positioning of the movable pieces 13a and 13b when the switch is off is stabilized.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 6, the switch 1 of the present embodiment can be assembled as a four-way switch by simply removing the separator 17 and replacing the load terminals 8a and 8b with the load terminals 31a and 31b. That is, the load terminals 31a and 31b are integrally formed with X-shaped arm portions 32a and 32b extending obliquely, and contacts 33a and 33b are attached to the arm portions 32a and 32b, respectively. . One contact 33a is configured to face the contact 11b, and the other contact 33b is configured to face the contact 11a. Thus, in the switch 1 of the present embodiment, the two-pole switch and the four-way switch can be easily selected and assembled.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
Since the invention of the switch according to the first aspect is configured as described above, the separator between the one set of the load terminal and the common terminal and the other set of the load terminal and the common terminal is provided by a separator blocking portion. Necessary insulation distance can be secured. Also, when assembling the switch, the separator is firmly fixed and positioned simply by joining and fixing the upper housing to the lower housing in a state where it is mounted on the lower housing. It is not positioned and can always be arranged at an appropriate position. As a result, it is possible to avoid inconveniences such as defective insulation and abnormal switching when the separator is mounted at an inappropriate angle.
[0035]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the switch according to the first aspect of the invention, the fitting of the fixed portion of the separator slightly protruding from the upper surface of the thick portion is fitted on the upper surface of the thick portion of the lower housing. Since the joint recess is formed, the position where the separator should be placed on the lower housing becomes clear when the switch is assembled, and the workability is improved. In addition, since the fixed piece protrudes slightly from the upper surface of the thick part of the lower housing, when the upper housing is joined and fixed to the lower housing, the fixed piece is firmly fixed at the joint fixed part of the lower housing and the upper housing. Can do.
[0036]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the switch according to the first or second aspect, the separator swings in a direction in which the contacts are separated from the load terminal according to a swinging operation of the switch handle. Since the support piece for supporting the movable piece is formed, the movable piece that swings and separates from the load terminal is supported by the support piece when the contact is made between the load terminal and the movable piece. Therefore, the position of the movable piece when the switch is turned off can be stabilized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a switch showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of a switch configured as a two-pole switch.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a lower housing configured as a two-pole switch and its housing component with a separator attached thereto.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a separator.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a lower housing configured as a two-pole switch and its housing component with a separator removed.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a lower housing configured as a four-way switch and its accommodating parts.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a lower housing and its accommodating parts as an example of a conventional switch configured as a two-pole switch with a separator attached thereto.
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration and a usage example of a four-way switch.
FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration and a usage example of a two-pole switch.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Lower housing 3 Upper housing 5 Switch handle 8a, 8b Load terminal 9a, 9b Common terminal 11a, 14a Contact 13a, 13b Movable piece 17 Separator 18 Blocking part 19 Thick part upper part 20 Fitting recessed part 21 Fixed piece 22 Supporting piece

Claims (3)

A housing-like lower housing;
An upper housing bonded and fixed to the upper surface of the thick portion of the lower housing;
A pair of load terminals each arranged in parallel in adjacent positions within the lower housing;
A pair of common terminals in the lower housing, each corresponding to the pair of load terminals, each arranged in parallel at adjacent positions;
A switch handle that is swingably mounted in a direction connecting the corresponding load terminal and the common terminal in the upper housing;
One end is connected and held to the common terminal, the other end is connected to the switch handle, and a contact provided on the other end side is provided on the load terminal by swinging according to the swing operation of the switch handle. A pair of movable pieces contacting and separating from the contact point;
A blocking portion disposed in a space between the one set of the load terminal and the common terminal and the other set of the load terminal and the common terminal, and the sandwiched portion between the lower housing and the upper housing A separator having a fixed piece;
A switch comprising: The fitting concave part which makes the said fixing piece of the said separator protrude slightly from the said thick part upper surface, and is fitted in the thick part upper surface of the said lower housing is formed. Switch. The separator is formed with a support piece that supports the movable piece that is swung in a direction in which the contacts are separated from the load terminal in accordance with a swinging motion of the switch handle. The switch according to claim 1 or 2.

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