This application claims priority under 35 U,S.C. 119(a)-(d) to Spanish Patent Application Number 200502993, filed Dec. 2, 2005.
1. Field of the Invention The present of invention relates to a multifunctional electrical mechanism, designed for use in flush-fitting applications and in surface-mounted casting for the control and operation of low-voltage electrical installations in particular, characterized essentially due to its multi-functionality, consisting of its possible application to control and monitoring functions, optimizing its basic parts in accordance with the type and varying the arrangement of different combinations of contacts, with the aim of making possible the configurations use detailed below:
A single-pole switch, an illuminated single-pole switch, a switch with a pilot light, a bell-push, an illuminated bell-push, a two-way switch, an illuminated two-way switch, a two-way switch with a pilot light, a double-pole switch, a double-pole switch with a pilot light, a crossover switch, an illuminated crossover switch; a total of twelve configurations.
The mechanism which is the object of this invention is characterized also because of the design and the concept of the body or casing, shown in the embodiments with four mounts for the housing of terminals (normal type) or three mounts (reduced type), an embodiment which permits considerable savings of material.
Another essential characteristic of the mechanism disclosed is the type of rocker, designed in order to transmit the action exerted on-the external key to the swinging contact inside the mechanism, also made with two pivots in its four-contact application, or with a single pivot in its three-contact embodiment.
The design of the two-way switches, modified in the place where the mobile contact will be located, is an essential characteristic of the invention, as is that of the crossover switches, whose assembly, soldered instead of riveted, and provided with an insulating separation in order to prevent electric arcing is to be noted, as is its anchorage.
Another essential characteristic of the mechanism disclosed is the arrangement of the contacts, with their fixing system.
The method of carrying out the connection, which may be by means of fast connection or by screws, presents a series of innovations which are essential characteristics of this invention.
This invention is likewise characterized by the particular disposition of the pilot light whose function, by means of a simple turning action, changes from illumination to pilot light, on changing the contacts on which said pilot light bears.
Finally, an essential characteristic of the electrical mechanism which is the object of this invention is the method of extracting the main part of the mechanism from its supporting ring, by means of a simple application of pressure with the help of an auxiliary tool, with no need to dismantle any part of the assembly.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
In the techniques currently used to carry out low-voltage installations, and particularly the flush-mounted installations used in homes or in small industries or businesses, as in small offices, on condition that it be in compliance with current legislation, the preparation and use of mechanisms which allow an immediate interchangeability of some of the elements of which it is comprised, for use in different applications or configurations, is of the greatest importance, due to the savings of all types that it represents.
Thus, the quantity of components to be manufactured is considerably reduced, with the resulting savings in manufacture, in stocks and in storage, likewise the reduction in the labor to be employed, both in the manufacture and in the installation by specialists.
As a reference to the current state of the art, one may quote patent P200301301 (1), which relates to improvements made on low-voltage electrical devices, intended for various configurations; the patent of invention P200201014 (5), which relates to a mechanism with a rocking key, flush-mounted; the utility models MU 289.715, relating to multi-purpose electrical mechanisms; MU 9802516, likewise relating to operation and monitoring electrical devices; and U 200002681, which relates to fast-connection devices.
The characteristics of all these patents and utility models though being sufficient for the particular cases to which they relate, do not display the characteristic innovations encompassed by the patent of invention with which we are concerned.
Therefore, the multi-functional electrical mechanism which is the object of this invention is comprised, basically, of a basic central assembly, comprised of the body or casing, on which will be located the rocker which makes possible the transmission of the operating movement of the swinging contacts, due to the pressure exerted on the external rocking key, said swinging contacts, together with the other contacts, these being variable in accordance with the desired configuration, being located in the interior of the casing.
The rocker has two different embodiments, with two pivots or with a single pivot, both models incorporating fins arranged in order to protect against electric shock.
The rocker with two pivots shall be used in the applications of double-pole switch, double-pole switch with pilot light, crossover switch, and illuminated crossover switch.
The rocker with a single pivot, the rest of the same being identical to that mentioned above, shall be used in the applications of single-pole switch, illuminated single-pole switch, single-pole switch with pilot light, bell-push, illuminated bell-push, two-way switch and illuminated two-way switch.
As has been mentioned above, the casing or body of the mechanism presents two embodiments:
The casing which can house four contacts, considered to be the normal type, equipped with four mounts and used for the applications of two-way switch with pilot light, double-pole switch, double-pole switch with pilot light, crossover switch and illuminated crossover switch.
The casing which can house three contacts, considered to be the reduced type, on being equipped with only three mounts offers a saving in material and assembly of approximately one-fifth of the total, and is used in the applications of single-pole switch, illuminated single-pole switch, single-pole switch with pilot light, bell-push, illuminated bell-push, two-way switch and illuminated two-way switch.
The applications of two-way switch and crossover switch present modifications in their mobile contacts: the two-way switch featuring it in an L-shape in order to reach half-way between the two fixed contacts, and in the crossover switch it is assembled by soldering, where assembly has usually been by riveting. Thus, a fixed contact is soldered to an extension, achieving in this way the desired shape.
Furthermore, it presents the arrangement of a separating insulation positioned between the contacts, this being necessary due to the absence of the minimum distance between these; it also presents the means of anchoring the same.
It should be noted that at the lower part of the contacts there is a retaining means which fixes the contact when located in its correct position, which prevents the contact from accidentally leaving this correct position while the pilot light is being installed.
The insertion of the pilot light is central, it only being necessary to turn the position of the same, so that it bears on different contacts, when it is desired to change its function to pilot light or illumination.
Connection, which may be carried out by fast connection or by screws, modifies to advantage the flange retaining it to the plastic base of the connection, which will acquire a dovetail shape, replacing any retaining cover.
The characteristics of the connection contact allow this and the contact to be fitted at the same time during assembly, being an independent assembly.
The key to assist fast connection shall present two variants:
A single key per terminal, with a single pressure for both cable inlets and which, by means of its nose-shape, acts as a guide so that the cable will not stray; and a split key, facilitating individual pressure on the two cable inlets, maintaining the nose-shape in order to guide the cables.
The casing shall be equipped with a protruding rib which will act as a lock in order to prevent the fast connection key from lifting, once it has been lowered from its initial position.
The main part of the mechanism shall be removed from the, front, with regard to the supporting ring, exerting pressure by means of an auxiliary tool, for example a simple screwdriver, on the locking tab which anchors the main part onto the aforementioned supporting ring, it thus being possible to remove it immediately.
Finally to be noted is the particular arrangement of the lamp and the emergence of light through the key, whose visor is set to one side of the central axis, due to the shape adopted by the internal part of the rocker itself.
With the aim of clearly detailing the characteristics of each of the components of the mechanism which is the object of this invention, attached to this report will be found a series of drawings in which, as a non-limitative example, a practical embodiment of the mechanism disclosed is portrayed, in its different applications.
In said drawings,
Finally,
In accordance with the drawings disclosed above, the multi-functional flush-fitting electrical mechanism which is the object of this patent of invention is comprised of the body or casing (1) formed by a hollow block, whose shape and outline is slightly like a truncated pyramid, provided with four thicker parts at its sides, as mounts (2). The elements of the mechanism for the connection of the cables to the same, to be disclosed below, will be located in these.
For this reason, each of the lateral mounts (2) is provided with two circular holes (3) in its lower side, for the passage of said cables.
In the embodiment of the mechanism with four contacts, the casing (1a) will be provided with four lateral mounts (2), as portrayed in
The casing (1) is equipped with a central orifice (4) located in the base of the same, through which the lamp (5) may be easily inserted, and likewise, with the openings for the positioning of the dovetail-shaped flanges (7) of the contacts located therein, tabs which, being bent (7a) once positioned, will prevent any movement of said contacts.
The casing is also provided with lateral tabs (8) for anchoring and fixing the same, and lateral flanges (9) with triangular cavities on which the rocker (13) will tilt; also four orifices (10), two at the lower part of each side, to allow the insertion of the protruding lugs (12) of the fast connection keys (11). These keys are located, prior to the installation of the casing, at the same level and as a prolongation of the upper surface of the casing itself, as portrayed in
It is equipped with a rocker mechanism (13), which is positioned on the casing (1), comprised of an appreciably curved rectangular plate:. (13a), on whose upper surface there are two symmetrical cavities (14) for the insertion and locking of the corresponding cylindrical pivots (15) with which the external key (16) is equipped in order to lock the same onto the rocker (13), and a third, rectangular-shaped, separate cavity through which the beam of the pilot light will rise towards the visor (49) of the key (16).
The rocker is equipped, at its sides, with two lateral supports, of a triangular profile (17), to provide the rocking action when it is resting in the triangular cavities of the flanges (9) of the casing (1).
The lower surface of the rocker (13) is equipped with hollow pivots (18), inside which are lodged the cylindrical springs (19) which will press the round-headed cylindrical lugs (20) against the swinging contacts (21) (21a) (21b).
These lugs, located inside the hollow pivot (18), are also hollow, the spring (19) being lodged inside them.
In the configurations of the mechanism for the double-pole switch, double-pole switch with pilot light, crossover switch, illuminated crossover switch, the rocker (13) will be equipped with two hollow pivots (18), as portrayed in
In the configurations of the mechanism for the single-pole switch, illuminated single-pole switch, single-pole switch with pilot light, bell-push, illuminated bell-push, two-way switch, illuminated two-way switch and two-way switch with pilot light, the rocker (13) will be equipped with a single hollow-pivot (18), as portrayed in
The assembly of rocker (13) and casing (1) being thus arranged, the cylindrical lug (20), pushed by the action of the external key (16), through-the rocker (13) and the cylindrical spring (19) will press on the swinging contact (21).
An essential characteristic of this invention, as has been mentioned above, is that the contact assemblies are easily interchangeable, in order to allow a different use of the mechanism, in a different configuration.
In the configuration as a single-pole switch, in accordance with
The contact base (22) features a lower horizontal section (46) for affixing the same, and the dovetail-shaped flange (7). In turn, the closing contact (23) has an identical flange (7) and lower horizontal section (47) for its affixing.
At one end of the swinging contact (21), as on the upper part of the closing contact, contact buttons (25) are attached.
In the configuration as a bell-push, in accordance with
This configuration is equipped with the cylindrical spring (26), whose upper end is lodged in the cavity (27) of the lower surface of the rocker (13), while its other end is lodged inside the orifice (28) with which the casing (1) is provided on one of its sides.
The function of this spring (26) is to cause the external key (16) and the rocker (13) to return to its initial non-activated position, when the force applied on the key (16) by the user ceases.
In the configuration as an illuminated bell-push, in accordance with
This lamp is installed on the base, and equipped with a series of contacts, whose purpose will be disclosed below, and which allow the connection, appropriate in this configuration, for the lamp to be used for illumination.
In the configuration as an illuminated single-pole switch, in accordance with
In the configuration as a single-pole-switch with pilot light, it will be provided with the swinging contact (21), the contact base; (22), the closing contact (23) and the connection contacts (24), together with a second closing contact (23a) as portrayed in
In the configuration as a two-way switch, as portrayed in
This configuration has three connection contacts (24), located within the space demarcated by the aforementioned contacts (23) and (30).
The mechanism presented as an illuminated two-way switch, in accordance with
In the configuration as a two-way switch with pilot light, as portrayed in
In the configuration as a double-pole switch, as portrayed in
The contacts for the configuration of the mechanism as a double-pole switch with pilot light, as portrayed in
The mechanism, in its configuration as a crossover switch, as portrayed in
The manufacture of the closing contact (32) with its upper flange (33) should be highlighted, made by means of the joining of its various elements by soldering, a more advantageous manufacturing process than the currently known process of riveting.
The configuration which complements the one above, that of illuminated crossover switch, in accordance with
As has been mentioned above, when describing the casing (1), this casing presents on its upper surface the fast connection keys (11) which, at the moment of installing the mechanism, will be positioned in their operating position, being bent downwards approximately 90°, due to the narrowing or neck (36) which it features at its upper part. Once the key is in position, it will be opposite the lateral opening (10) in the casing (1), in such a way that the protruding lug (12) on the key (11) will be inserted through said opening (10) until it bears against the two spring-clips (37) of the connection contact (24), said lug passing through the lateral orifice (38) with which the closing contact (23) is provided to this end.
The assembly is thus prepared in order that on exerting an inward pressure from the exterior on the key (11), the latter, due to the action of the lug (12) will move the two spring-clips (37), separating them from their initial position, allowing the positioning of the cable or electrical wire (39) to be connected. On releasing the pressure on the key (11), the spring-clip (37) will return to its initial position, pressing against the cable (39), which will be immediately connected.
In a variation of the application, this connection key will be split at its lower central area (11a), the protruding lug (12a) also being split, in order that pressure may be exerted independently on these two adjacent spring-clips (37) of the connection contacts (24); all of these being adapted to the particular structure of the split key (11a).
When the keys (11) and (11a) have been bent and positioned, a safety element will prevent them from accidentally returning to their undesired initial position: the casing (1) possesses a rib (40) on the internal surface of its, upper edge under which, as may be seen in
Another characteristic of this invention is the method by which the contact bases (22) and the closing contacts (23), in their different forms, are positioned and fixed to the inside of the casing (1).
The lower end of these contacts is equipped with a dovetail-shaped flange (7) which, at the moment of assembling the contacts in their location, is placed through the opening (6) at the side of the base of the casing (1). At this moment, and by means of a mechanized process, said flange (7) is automatically bent upwards, thus holding fast to its surroundings (position 7a), preventing the contact from moving.
In
Likewise, in the central part (44) of the casing (1), in the lower area, some lugs (45) with an inclined triangular profile and a quadrangular base are located, as may be seen in
The lower horizontal section (46) of the contact base (22) and the lower horizontal section of the closing contact (23), and of their variants, are positioned under these lugs (45), said contacts thus being immovably fixed.
In several of its configurations, the mechanism shall be equipped with the lamp (5), for the purpose of illumination or pilot light.
The contacts (48) of the base (29), as has been mentioned repeatedly above, will be positioned differently, in accordance with the function desired, turning the base through 90° and making contact with different contacts inside the casing (1), as portrayed in
Regarding the viewing from the exterior of the mechanism of the light produced by the lamp (5), said light will be visible through the visor (49) located on the external surface of the external key (16), into which it is pressed and is affixed by means of its locking tabs (50).
The visor (49) is not central, with regard to the to axes of symmetry of the key, but is slightly offset.
For this reason, and so that the light may be visible from the exterior, the rocker (13) is provided, at the centre of the lower surface of its plate (13a), with a sloping wall (51), with a polished surface, complemented by another sloping wall (52), likewise polished, located below the position occupied by the visor (49) in the external key (16). Part of the light coming from the lamp (5) will be twice reflected by the two aforementioned sloping surfaces (51) and (52), to bear directly on the visor (49), while the remainder of the light will do so directly, by which means it will be sufficiently visible from the exterior.
These two sloping surfaces (51) and (52) are at the same time protective safety elements, as they prevent accidental direct access to the interior of the casing (1) of the mechanism, and to the contacts in particular.
The necessary fitting of another safety element should be highlighted, in the configuration of the mechanism as a crossover switch, that of the addition of a separator (53), as portrayed in
This casing (1), once the entirety of the mechanism has been assembled, is attached to the metallic supporting ring (56), under whose folded edge (58) the tabs (8) on the sides of the casing (1) lock.
An essential characteristic of this invention is the peculiar method of extraction from the front of the main part of the mechanism (casing 1, rocker 3 and all their components) by means of an action executed from the exterior, by means of an auxiliary tool (57), and portrayed in the sequence of
This tool (57) will release the tab (8) from its locked position under the folded edge of the metallic supporting ring (56), thus freeing all the main part of the mechanism.
As may be seen in
The object of this patent of invention having been sufficiently disclosed, it should be indicated that any variation in dimensions, shape, finishes and types of material used in the practical embodiment of the mechanism in any of its configurations will in no way alter the essence of the patent, which is summarized in the following claims:
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