Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Special application – Steering wheel – shaft or column mounted
Patent
1998-04-07
1999-10-26
Gellner, Michael L.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Special application
Steering wheel, shaft or column mounted
200 6128, H01H 900
Patent
active
059732750
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an electrical switch with a support unit which bears contact parts, whereby the contact parts are positioned in the area of an activating element which at least partially encloses the support unit. Such types of constructions are known in steering column switches, for example, in which additional activatable contact pairings are positioned within the activating handle itself. In such types of switches, the handle can, for example, be rotatable for the purpose of the activation of the switch (see: DE - AS 23 22 661), but also, however, be displaceable in its longitudinal direction (see, for example, DE-OS 25 31 696).
It is common to such switches that the switches are constructed discretely, within the handle area of the steering column switch, from individual construction elements. Such a type of construction can be disadvantageous if individual parts of the switch have to be changed, or if large manufacturing series are not aimed at with such types of switches, or if different switching sequences are to be aimed at, with a comparable course of movement, with the same mechanical construction.
The invention thus proceeds from an electrical switch of the type resulting from the preamble to patent claim 1. It is the task of the invention to describe a switch which makes it possible it to carry out different switching sequences, with an unchanged construction of the support unit and activating element, and with a comparable activating sequence. Furthermore, defective switches should be easy to repair. The switch in accordance with the invention should, in addition, make it possible for the contact pairs which are contained in it to be operated by means of different activation forms.
This task is solved by means of the combination of characteristics which result from the characterizing portion of patent claim 1.
The invention therefore consists, in principle, of providing the support unit with a mounting for microswitches, which can be operated in a given sequence by means of a prescribed form of movement of the activating element. The advantage of such a measure essentially consists in the fact that the microswitches can be inserted into the prefabricated switches after having been previously tested. It is thereby not necessary for all of the mounting places for a microswitch to actually be occupied. By means of a different development of the form of the activating elements, the microswitches which are inserted into the mounting can, furthermore, be activated in a variant sequence. For purposes of repair, the defectively-working microswitches can be exchanged in a simple manner. This is particularly simple if an easily detachable joining connection, such as a sectional- / plug connector or the like is selected, so that the connecting lines can easily be connected with the newly inserted microswitches.
The activating element must thereby have a contour which, by means of the movement of the activating element, operates the activation push rod of the microswitches in the sequence which is desired.
In order to also achieve a particularly great flexibility here, and to make a rapid retrofitting or retooling of the switch possible, the combination of characteristics in accordance with patent claim 2 is, in a further development of the invention, recommended. A shifting gate, the surface of which is formed relative to the activating push rods of the microswitches, in such a manner that they trigger these in the manner which is desired, is thereby inserted into the activating element. In connection with the placement of the individual switch places in the mounting cavity, a wide variety of switching possibilities and switching sequences results here, while a new switching behavior of the switch is brought about, in accordance with the invention, by exchanging the plate and/or interchanging the microswitches.
Insofar as the activating element encircles the support unit, in the form of a gear shift handle grip unit, in an essentially cylindrical manner, the combination of characteristics in acc
REFERENCES:
patent: 3934101 (1976-01-01), Jones
patent: 4640997 (1987-02-01), Lane, Jr.
patent: 5003132 (1991-03-01), Lagier
Klein Rudolf
Mozer Reiner
Neubauer Walter
Gellner Michael L.
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Lewis J. Gordon
Nguyen Nhung
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