Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Multiple circuit control – Reciprocating contact
Patent
1986-11-26
1988-05-24
Scott, J. R.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Multiple circuit control
Reciprocating contact
H01H 1506
Patent
active
047467711
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-pole slide switch for an electrical apparatus having fixed contact areas provided on both sides of an insulated support layer in the form of a printed circuit board and a switch slide with contact elements enclosing the edge of the support layer and resting resiliently against it for alternate connection of contact areas respectively opposite one another.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A prior art slide switch is known from the German utility design No. 1 998 149.
However, this switch has the disadvantage that the contact elements are firmly riveted at their back with the slide. Thus the resilient ends of the contact elements can follow height tolerances only by giving within the spring excursion. Because of this, the force of pressure is reduced on the one side while rising on the opposite side. Contact deterioration on the one hand and increased wear on the other are the result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to improve such a switch in such a way that the contact characteristics are maintained even with the assembly variations which occur, and when the switch is activated frequently.
Another object of the invention is that the switch should be produceable at moderate cost from a few parts.
The invention is based on the recognition that, by the use of contact elements surrounding the support of the contact areas, in a variation-free construction the contact forces on both sides are even and therefore the operating characteristics of both contact zones agree--however, unwanted deviations occur in reality and these deviations lead to deterioration.
In the invention, the omega-shaped spring elements automatically adjust themselves during assembly and bring an identical pressure force to bear on both contact surfaces. The respective elements are completely independent of one another in regard to their guidance crosswise to the switching direction.
Based on the form of the chambers, the contact elements are secured against falling out even in the non-assembled state of the switch sliders. For assembly the contact elements only need to be guided into the chambers by slight pressure and, because of the arc-like expansion of their omega shape, snap in place there. In order to make contact, the beak-shaped area "riding" on the support element is preferably formed convexly on all sides in the direction of the contact surfaces. Because of the correspondingly expanding opening of the "beak-like" end of the contact elements, the pre-assembled switch slider element containing the contact elements can be assembled in a single step.
By means of the mechanical decoupling of the omega-shaped contact elements in the directions other than those corresponding to the slide direction for the operation as a switch, it is possible to transfer the mechanical actuation steps from an externally guided slide handle element to the switch slider within the required tolerances, wherein the slide handle element can remain connected to the housing and preferably only has force transfer surfaces with small permissible tolerances in the direction of sliding. Since the handle element is guided in the housing by means of a corresponding recess, labyrinth-like leakage distances can be advantageously provided to obtain functional safety, which is of especially essential significance in compact measuring instruments used with high voltage applications.
The ability of self-adjustment, caused by the float mounting of the several contact elements, is so great that several neighboring printed circuit cards having contact areas can be operated by switch sliders rigidly connected with one another.
Thus, with a stacked arrangement of the cards a plurality of switch sliders can be activated with a single handle element, acting on different cards, so that in an advantageous improvement, corresponding to the given requirements for complex switchings affecting several switching steps in connection with an operational switch-o
REFERENCES:
patent: 3188403 (1965-06-01), Semo
patent: 3582578 (1971-06-01), Lockard
patent: 3610845 (1971-10-01), Lewandowski
patent: 3745270 (1973-07-01), Granitz
patent: 3800107 (1974-03-01), Heide
patent: 3896276 (1975-07-01), Held
patent: 4072833 (1978-02-01), Carena
patent: 4075442 (1978-02-01), Fukuda et al.
patent: 4291210 (1981-09-01), Wolber et al.
CREATEC Gesellschaft fur Elektrotechnik mbH
Scott J. R.
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