Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Actuators
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-07
2001-11-06
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Actuators
C200S086500, C200S331000, C200S01700A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313421
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE ART
The invention relates to a contact module and more particularly for an electrical contact module that are resistive to environmental damage such as that caused by moist or dirty environments.
Known electrical operating contacts have the drawback in various apparatus connections that they are frequently relatively vulnerable to the environment in which they are used. This applies to locations where it right be desired to maintain a relatively high hygienic standard, as the cleaning necessary for the purpose may cause steam, water or high pressure to penetrate into the operating contacts, which leads to damage.
This especially applies to foot operated contacts, as foot operated contacts, in connection with moist cause or dirty environments, are naturally subjected to a strong mechanical action. This action may cause wear, which subsequently results in destruction of possible seals which were to keep water out from the more sensitive parts of the contact.
Examples of such uses might be kitchen cupboards, etc. for handicapped persons, lifting columns for tables, working tables, dentist's chairs and equipment, and other uses where it must be possible to maintain hygiene and safety with simple means.
Generally, the operation takes place with pressure-operated devices in which the pressure causes activation of an electrical contact or the like. Such devices may be constructed as operating panels in wall installations, foot pedals, control panels or the like, connected by a cable with the apparatus which is to be controlled.
Various requirements are made with respect to the structure of the device depending on how the operator is to perform the operation. As a result, it is frequently required that the operating device does not take up unduly much space and thereby interferes with the operator's other activities around the equipment, just as the operating device must be sturdy so that it does not lose its ability to function because of rough handling or because of wear after use for an extended period of time. Furthermore, requirements are also made of the operating device because of the design of the operating panel.
Various simple structures are known in this connection in which the pressure impact causes rotation or tilting of an adapter which is thereby contacted with a microswitch or other contact and activates it. These types of operating devices frequently contain a good deal of individual components which have to be assembled accurately. Such devices can moreover be inexpediently bulky in same cases.
The object of the invention is to provide a structurally simple contact unit which uses relatively simple components, and which reduces the requirement for official approval. Another object of the invention is to provide a device for operating contacts, such as electrical contacts, which overcomes the drawbacks of the known devices and which thus satisfies the constructional requirements better.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The contact module comprises a housing with electrical contacts which may be activated mechanically in at least one connecting part arranged on the housing, and the connecting part comprises one or more connecting elements. This provides a very compact contact module capable of being connected and activated by other units or modules via the connecting part.
An advantage of the invention is thus that the operating modules may be made purely mechanically, which gives an advantage in connection with cleaning as well as sturdiness.
Connecting elements mean various types of mechanical devices which are capable of engaging or being secured to a corresponding connecting element. A wide range of connecting techniques, such as hooks, screws, recesses or the like, may thus be used.
An advantage of the invention is to achieve flexibility. It is thus possible to use one specific contact module in several different applications by connecting various types of operating modules on the same contact module, if the connecting parts and the mechanical transmission between these are dimensioned suitably. A contact module according to the invention may thus be arranged in a simple manner to be connected with various types of operating modules having one, two, three or more operating contacts.
A further advantage of the invention is achieved with respect to the current procedures of approval, since the electrical components for the operation are isolated in one compact module.
A further advantage of the invention is that the compact structure of the electrical components in a module ensures that the electrical components may be sealed or encapsulated in a simple manner.
This results in the additional possibility of using less expensive electrical contacts.
This is an important factor when maintaining the necessary sturdiness to the cleaning which the complete structure must be capable of tolerating.
Isolation of the electrical components in one compact unit does not only make it possible to obtain a structure which may be designed without too many irregularities and thereby does not collect so much dirt and bacteria. It also provides the possibility of designing purely mechanical structures which per se are considerably more sturdy against cleaning by means of steam.
A further advantage of the invention is achieved with respect to service, as primarily isolated mechanical or electrical defects will occur, which means that a contact module or an operating module can be replaced and/or repaired separately if defects or wear occurs.
Communication between a contact module and an external unit may optionally be obtained by means of remote control technique.
The contact module has an external electrical connection which is connected electrically to the electrical contacts internally in the housing, thereby providing a practical embodiment of the invention as a cable connection is preferred in many cases, since these are relatively simple, reliable and economic.
The connecting part has a plurality of holes or depressions provided in the housing, each of the hole or depression being provided with an electrical contact which may be activated mechanically through the hole or depression.
The operating module comprises a housing with at least one corresponding connecting part with corresponding connecting elements. The operating module additionally comprises one or more operating contacts which transfer a force on the operating contacts to the connecting part via one or more mechanical connections. There is also at least one operating contact being mechanically connected with a connecting part so that an operating module of a simple mechanical structure is obtained. The individual operating modules may be made with various physical shapes, so that the user will have the possibility of building precisely the physical structure of the complete foot operation of standard operating modules and contact modules that might be expedient.
The mechanical connection comprises a mechanical rod extending completely or partly through the housing and terminating in the vicinity of a connecting part hole formed in the housing. The rod is connected with an operating contact activatable vertically on the rod allowing operating contacts or the operating contacts to be placed on the upper side of the housing of the operating module and allowing the connecting part to be formed by one or more of the side walls of the housing. This embodiment thus provides for an advantageous operation of the operating contacts, combined with the possibility of an advantageous connection via the connecting part with other operating modules or the contact module.
The perpendicular connection may be provided in numerous ways. The mechanical connection may be made with an upwardly directed through hole in which a rod having an inclined engagement face following the movement of the operating contact may cause movement of the mechanical connection.
Further, the mechanical rod terminating in the vicinity of a connecting part hole formed in the housing comprises a resiliently compressible part and a consequent retur
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Friedhofer Michael
Linak A/S
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