Patent Application
20220181099
The benefit of priority to French Patent Application No. 1912949 filed Nov. 20, 2019, is hereby claimed and the disclosure is incorporated here in by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a multipolar switch for selectively opening or closing at least two electrical circuits.
Switches for industrial machines are widespread in industry. They are connected to the control system of the machine, and allow an operator to interact with the control system, in particular to stop the operation of the machine in the case of an emergency stop switch for example.
There are different mechanisms for actuating a switch (toggle switch, rotary switch, deformable membrane, etc.).
A particular type of switch comprises contact zones connected to an electrical circuit, and an actuator button mechanically connected to a part made from a conducting material. When a user actuates the actuator button by exerting a pressure on the latter, the actuator button is displaced or is deformed, and causes the part made of conducting material and the electrical circuit to be put into contact: the electrical circuit thus switches from the open state to the closed state.
An instruction corresponding to the function of the switch is sent to the control system that then controls the various effector members of the machine according to the instruction received.
In industry, industrial machines have to operate by ensuring maximum safety for users and for the surrounding personnel. That is why it is common to set up a redundancy of the electrical signal. Redundancy consists of doubling the information at the input of a system and/or the effector members at the output. Applied to a switch for an industrial machine, redundancy consists in doubling the number of electrical circuits for the carrying out of the same function. For example, two electrical circuits are used instead of a single electrical circuit to ensure the emergency stopping of a machine. Thus, if a failure is detected in the closure of one of the two electrical circuits, the instruction can even so be carried out thanks to the closure of the other electrical circuit, which improves safety.
Since there are two electrical circuits, it is necessary to provide two switches instead of a single switch, as shown in
The necessity of providing two switches instead of a single switch substantially increases the size of the actuating system within the industrial machine. This can generate additional constraints during the design and the manufacturing of the machine, and also during the use thereof.
Moreover, existing switches do not generally provide the user with a satisfactory force-feedback, in such a way that it is not always easy to detect the actuation, or the degree of actuation, of the switch by touch.
A purpose of the invention is to propose a multipolar switch that makes it possible to overcome the disadvantages described hereinabove.
The invention aims in particular to propose a multipolar switch that has a reduced size compared to known switches.
The invention aims very particularly to supply a multipolar switch that makes it possible to improve the tactile effect, also called the haptic effect, felt by a user when they actuate the switch.
For this purpose, the invention proposes a multipolar switch for selectively opening or closing at least two electrical circuits, comprising:
wherein
the first part made from an electrically conducting material is configured to be elastically deformed when it is mechanically solicited in an actuating direction of the switch,
and the second part made from an electrically conducting material is configured to be elastically deformed or be displaced in an actuating direction of the switch,
between a rest configuration wherein said first and second parts are separated from the first and second electrical contact zones, and an activated configuration wherein said first and second parts are respectively in contact with the first and second electrical contact zones so as to respectively close the first and second electrical circuits.
According to other aspects, the multipolar switch according to the invention presents the following various characteristics taken individually or in any technically admissible combination:
The switch further comprises:
Other advantages and characteristics of the invention shall appear when reading the following description given as an example and in a non-limiting manner, with reference to the following accompanying figures:
The invention relates to a multipolar switch for selectively opening or closing at least two electrical circuits. The two electrical circuits are electrically insulated from one another.
The multipolar switch 1 according to the invention is based on the principle of redundancy of the electrical signal, and makes it possible for this purpose to open or to close the two electrical circuits simultaneously (not shown), by actuation of the actuator button 14 of said switch, as shown in
Then, a single switch 1 is sufficient to close the two electrical circuits, while two switches each opening or closing a respective electrical circuit were required in the state of the art. This leads to a reduction in the size of the actuation system within the industrial machine, and thus limits the constraints during the design and the manufacturing and the use of the industrial machine.
According to a first embodiment shown in
The switch shown in
The cup 4 is advantageously preformed. It has the shape of a disc, comprising a central portion 7, an intermediate portion 8 which extends around the central portion, and a peripheral portion 9 which extends around the intermediate portion. The invention is not however limited to a cup that has the shape of a disc, and other shapes are suitable according to the type of switch, for example a square, rectangular or triangular shape.
The cup 4 is dome-shaped at the central portion 7. It has an upper face 23, and a lower face 24 opposite the upper face with respect to said cup.
The cup 4 is configured to be elastically deformed when it is mechanically solicited by a user in an actuating direction of the switch. The direction of actuation is represented by the arrow X in
The mechanical effort is applied from the upper face 23 of the cup, which can be directly accessible by the user, or alternatively be provided with an actuator button (not shown) whereon the user can press to mechanically solicit the cup.
The cup 4 is then deformed at its intermediate portion 8, passing from a convex curvature wherein the central portion 7 is directed by moving away from the peripheral portion 9 according to the direction X, to a concave curvature wherein the central portion 7 is directed towards said peripheral portion 9. In other terms, the curvature of the cup is inverted: the latter switches from a convex curvature to a concave curvature by deformation of its intermediate portion. The central portion 7 is not deformed, or at the least, is deformed only very slightly.
“Elastic deformation” means the cup 4 returns to its original position when there is no longer any pressure exerted on it. This deformation is made possible by the material and the structure of the cup, wherein the intermediate portion is compresses and thus accumulates potential energy, which is then released when the user releases the pressure exerted on the cup, in the manner of a spring.
The transition of the cup 4 from the convex curvature to the concave curvature, during the deformation thereof, is felt by the user as a very slight jolt translating the maximum compression of the intermediate portion. The user thus feels a tactile or haptic effect, i.e. a force-feedback, when he presses on the cup to actuate the switch. The user then knows, without it being necessary to check it visually, that the cup is deformed and that the switch is actuated.
The cup 4 advantageously has recessed portions 25, that make it possible to improve its deformation, i.e., a reduced pressure is required from the user to obtain a deformation of the recessed cup similar to that of a solid cup.
The switch 1 further comprises electrical contact zones.
The electrical contact zones are located under the cup, facing the lower face 24 of said cup. In
The first electrical contact zones 2a, 2b are electrically connected to a first electrical circuit, i.e. they comprise the first electrical circuit, and the second electrical contact zones 3a, 3b are electrically connected to a second electrical circuit (not shown), i.e. they form the second electrical circuit. The first and the second electrical circuit are electrically insulated from one another.
The switch 1 also comprises a film 32 that at least partially covers the lower face of the metal cup. The film 32 is particularly visible in
The film 32 comprises a first and a second electrically conducting portions 26, 27 electrically insulated from one another by a first and second electrically insulating portions 28, 29.
The first and second electrically conducting portions 26, 27 preferably comprise an electrically conducting material that covers the film 32.
The first and second electrically conducting portions 26, 27 preferably comprise metal tracks silkscreened on the film 32, preferably silver tracks.
Each electrically conducting portion 26, 27 is arranged in such a way as to come into contact with one or several respective electrical contact zones 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b, when the switch is actuated, so as to close the corresponding electrical circuit.
Thus, the first electrically conducting portion 26 is arranged at the intermediate portion 8 of the cup, in such a way as to come into contact with the first two electrical contact zones 2a, 2b, and the second electrically conducting portion 27 is arranged at the intermediate portion 8 of the cup, opposite the first electrically conducting portion 26 with respect to the centre of the cup 4, in such a way as to come into contact with the second two electrical contact zones 3a, 3b. The first and second electrically conducting portions 26, 27 are electrically insulated from one another by the two electrically insulating portions 28, 29 located between the latter.
The operation of the switch according to the first embodiment is as follows.
The switch 1 is initially at rest. The cup 4 is in a rest configuration wherein its central portion 7 and its intermediate portion 8 have a convex curvature. The cup 4, in particular the insulating film 32 covering its lower face, is separate from the electrical contact zones 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b.
When the user actuates the switch by exerting on the cup 4 a force oriented from its upper face 23 towards its lower face 24, said cup 4 is elastically deformed according to the force exerted by the user.
The intermediate portion 8 of the cup then takes a concave curvature.
The first electrically conducting portion 26 comes into contact with the two first electrical contact zones 2a, 2b, thus closing the first electrical circuit, and the second electrically conducting portion 27 comes into contact with the two electrical contact zones 3a, 3b, thus closing the second electrical circuit. The cup 4 is then in an actuating configuration, and the switch is actuated.
The force-feedback induced by the transition of the cup 4 between its rest configuration and its actuated position informs the user in a tactile manner of the actuation of the switch.
When the user releases the cup 4, the latter returns to its rest configuration. The switch 1 then returns to rest, thus reopening the two electrical circuits.
Then, the deformation of the cup 4 by actuation of the single switch 1 allows the user to simultaneously close the first and the second electrical circuit.
According to a second embodiment shown in
The metal cups 4, 5 are similar to those described in the first embodiment, except that the latter are preferably solid. Indeed, it is not necessary to make cuts in the cups to allow for the operation of the switch according to this second embodiment.
The first and the second cup 4, 5 are arranged one above the other, facing, the first cup 4 being located above the second cup 5.
The two cups 4, 5 are housed in a housing 13 provided with a bottom 19 delimited laterally by a lateral surface 20 that extends from the bottom 19 by moving away from the bottom. The peripheral portion 8 of the two cups 4, 5 is fixed to the housing.
The two cups 4, 5 are arranged in such a way that their convex curvature is separated from the median plane that extends between the two cups. The upper face of the first cup is therefore directed towards the top in the plane of the sheet, opposite the housing, while the upper face of the second cup is directed towards the bottom in the plane of the sheet, towards the bottom 19 of the housing.
The multipolar switch 1 further comprises a film 33 arranged between the two cups 4, 5.
The film 33 comprises first electrically conducting zones or portions 2a, 2b, 2c deposited on the upper face of the film facing the first cup 4, and second electrically conducting portion 3a, 3b, 3c deposited on the lower face of the film facing the second cup 5.
The first and second electrically conductrices portions 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c comprise more preferably metal tracks silkscreened on the film, more preferably silver tracks.
The first and second electrically conducting portions 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c are arranged on either side of the film 33, facing one another, at the peripheral portion 9 of the two cups 4, 5, and are then named peripheral electrically conducting portions 2a, 2c, 3a, 3c, and at the central portion 7 of the two cups, and are then named central electrically conductrices portions 2b, 3b.
The first electrically conducting portions 2a, 2b, 2c are electrically connected to a first electrical circuit (not shown), i.e. they form the first electrical circuit, and the second electrically conducting portions 3a, 3b, 3c are electrically connected to a second electrical circuit (not shown), i.e. they form the second electrical circuit.
The first electrically conducting portions 2a, 2b, 2c are respectively electrically insulated from the second electrically conducting portions 3a, 3b, 3c by electrically insulating portions 54 of the film that separate them, at the central portion 7 and the peripheral portion 9 of the cups.
The central electrically conductrices portions 2b, 3b are electrically insulated from the peripheral electrically conducting portions 2a, 2c, 3a, 3c by electrically insulating portions 55 of the film.
The upper face 23 of the second cup 5 is in contact with the bottom 13 of the housing, at its central portion 7. A lug 30 protruding from the bottom 19 of the housing is advantageously provided so as to be used as an abutment to the central portion 7 of the second cup.
The multipolar switch 1 further comprises an actuator button 14.
The actuator button 14 is mounted on the housing 13. It comprises an upper surface 31, and a lower surface 22 bearing against the upper surface of the first cup, at its central portion.
The actuator button 14 is movable by actuation between a rest position wherein the first and the second electrical circuit are open, and an actuation position by application of a pressure by a user on its upper face 31, wherein the cups 4, 5 are mechanically solicited to deform them elastically with respect to the housing 13, so as to close the first and the second electrical circuit.
The actuator button 14 is preferably a push-button configured to return to its rest position from its actuation position when the user releases said push-button.
The operation of the switch according to the second embodiment is as follows.
The switch 1 is initially at rest, as shown in
When the user actuates the switch 1 by exerting on the actuator button 14 a force oriented from its upper face 31 towards its lower face 22, the first cup 4 is elastically deformed according to the force exerted by the user.
The central portion 7 and the intermediate portion 8 of the first cup 4 then have a concave curvature, and said central portion of the first cup comes into contact with the first central electrically conducting portion 2b, thus closing the first electrical circuit. The intermediate portion is deformed, while the central portion 7 is not deformed, or at the very least, is deformed only very slightly.
Given that the peripheral portions 9 of the two cups 4, 5 are in contact with one another, and that the abutment of the central portion 7 of the second cup 5 against the lug 30 of the bottom of the housing, the second cup 5 is deformed simultaneously with, and in a similar manner to, the first cup.
The central portion 7 of the second cup 5 comes into contact with the second central electrically conducting portion 3b, thus closing the second electrical circuit.
According to a third embodiment shown in
Such a thermoformed film 34 can be manufactured by heating the material so as to soften it, then by forming the material that has thus become ductile so that the latter takes a predefined shape, and retains it after cooling to ambient temperature.
Alternatively, the thermoformed film 34 can be cold-formed, i.e. at ambient temperature.
The material of the thermoformed film preferably comprises a thermoplastic polymer suitable for being formed by thermoforming.
The thermoplastic polymer is preferably chosen from: polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and mixtures thereof, present in the form of homopolymers or copolymers.
The thermoformed film 34 comprises an upper face 35 and a lower face 36 opposite the upper face with respect to the film.
The thermoformed film 34 comprises a dome-shaped portion 37, i.e. a convex protrusion that extends from a substantially planar portion of the film.
The dome-shaped portion 37 comprises a bearing surface 38 on the upper face 35 of the film, on which the user can press, by exerting a force oriented from the upper face towards the lower face of the film, so as to elastically deform the film.
The upper face 35 of the thermoformed film is advantageously covered, at least at the dome-shaped portion 37, with a metal layer 39 that makes it possible to reinforce the tactile effect during the actuation of the switch by deformation of the dome-shaped portion of the thermoformed film. The metal layer 39 is preferably deposited by metallisation of the upper surface of the thermoformed film, or by gluing.
The switch 1 further comprises at least two electrically conducting zones 40a, 40b arranged on the lower face of the thermoformed film, separated electrically from one another by an electrically insulating portion 41. The electrically conducting zones are configured to come into contact with a respective first and second electrical contact zone (not shown).
Preferably, the electrically conducting zones 40a, 40b are metal tracks silkscreened on the thermoformed film, more preferably silver tracks. The insulating portion 41 is formed more preferably from a portion of the thermoformed film.
The operation of the switch according to the third embodiment is as follows.
The switch 1 is initially at rest, as in
When the user actuates the switch 1 by exerting on the dome-shaped portion 37 of the thermoformed film 34 a force oriented from its upper face 35 towards its lower face 36, said dome-shaped portion is elastically deformed according to the force exerted by the user.
The dome-shaped portion 37 then has a concave curvature, and the first and second electrically conducting zones 40a, 40b come respectively into contact with first and second electrical contact zones, thus closing the first and the second electrical circuit. The thermoformed film 34 is then in an actuation configuration, and the switch 1 is actuated.
The force-feedback induced by the transition of the dome-shaped portion 37 of the thermoformed film 34 between its rest configuration and its actuated configuration informs the user in a tactile manner of the actuation of the switch.
When the user releases the dome-shaped portion 37, the latter returns to its rest configuration. The switch 1 thus returns to rest.
According to a fourth embodiment shown in
With reference to
The switch 1 further comprises at least one first electrical contact zone connected to a first electrical circuit, i.e. it forms the first electrical circuit, and at least one second electrical contact zone connected to a second electrical circuit, i.e. it forms the second electrical circuit. According to the fourth embodiment, the first and the second electrical contact zone have the shape of electrical contact pads 2a, 2b, 2c, and 3a, 3b, 3c arranged on the bottom 19 of the housing. The pads 2a, 2b, and 2c are connected to the first electrical circuit, and the pads 3a, 3b, and 3c are connected to the second electrical circuit. The first electrical circuit is electrically insulated from the second electrical circuit.
With reference to
The metal cups are similar in their manufacture to those described in the first and in the second embodiments, but different from the latter in their form.
Indeed, the first and the second cup 4, 5 have the shape of a star with several branches 10, or tabs. In
The first and the second cup 4, 5 comprise a central portion 7 from which extend the three tabs 10 which form the intermediate portion 8 of the cup. The ends 12 of the tabs form the peripheral portion of the cup.
The first and the second cup 4, 5 are dome-shaped at their central portion 7. In other terms, the tabs 10 extend from the central portion 7 towards their ends 12 by curving in such a way as to move away longitudinally and transversally from said central portion.
The tabs 10 extend from the central portion 7 by flaring, i.e. by regularly widening in the direction of their end 12.
The tabs 10 are separated from one another by notches 11. The notches have a curved shape that corresponds to the flaring of the tabs 10.
The first and the second cup 4, 5 are able to be elastically deformed, by accumulation and release of potential energy, at their intermediate portion 8, i.e. at the tabs 10, switching from a convex curvature to a concave curvature. The central portion 7 is not deformed, or in the very least, is deformed only very slightly.
The transition of the cups 4 and 5 from a convex curvature to a concave curvature, during the deformation thereof, is felt by the user as a very slight jolt translating the maximum compression of the intermediate portion. The user this feels a haptic effect or force-feedback when he presses on the second cup 5 to actuate the switch. The user then knows, without it being necessary to check it visually, that the cups are deformed and that the switch is actuated.
The first cup 4 is arranged on and at a distance from the electrical contact pads 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c.
An electrically insulating layer 6 is arranged between the first 4 and the second cup 5 so as to electrically insulate them from one another.
The first cup 4 is arranged in such a way that its ends 12 face the first electrical contact zone in the direction of actuation. More precisely, each end 12 of the first cup faces a first corresponding electrical contact pad 2a, 2b, 2c.
The second cup 5 is arranged on the first metal cup 4, and is offset with respect to the latter by an angle determined according to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal plane containing the central portion of the second cup. Due to this offset, each one of the ends 12 of the second cup 5 coincides with a corresponding notch 11 of the first cup 4, and each end 12 of the second cup 5 faces a second corresponding electrical contact pad 3a, 3b, 3c. In the embodiment shown in
The operation of the multipolar switch according to the fourth embodiment shall now be described.
The first and the second cup 4, 5 are initially in a rest configuration, wherein said parts are separated from the first and second electrical contact zones 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c. The first and the second electrical circuit are therefore open.
When the user exerts a pressure on the first cup 4, preferably via an actuator button such as shown in
More precisely, under the pressure of the actuator button 14, the second cup 5 is elastically deformed and presses against the first part 4, via the electrically insulating layer 6, thus causing the deformation of said first cup 4.
Under the effect of the mechanical pressure, and due to the pressing of the ends 12 of the tabs 10 of the first and second cups 4, 5 against the bottom 19 of the housing 13, the curvature of the first and second parts is inverted: the latter become concaves by deformation of their intermediate portion 8.
The first and second parts 4, 5 are then in an activated configuration.
In their activated configuration, the first cup 4 is in contact with the first electrical contact pads 2a, 2b, 2c, and the second cup 5 is in contact with the second electrical contact pads 3a, 3b, 3c, thus making it possible to respectively close the first and second electrical circuits.
The fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment described hereinabove as for the structure of the first and second parts made from an electrically conducting material 4, 5.
The first part 4 comprises four tabs 10, and the latter extend from the central portion 7 of the part by thinning regularly in the direction of their end.
The first part 4 is dome-shaped at the level of its central portion 7, as shown in
The second part 5 has the form of an X, as shown in
The tabs 10 are preferably dome-shaped so as to favour the elastic deformation of the first part.
As shown in
The first part 4 is able to be elastically deformed, by accumulation and release of potential energy, at its intermediate portion 8, i.e. at its tabs 10, switching from a convex curvature to a concave curvature. Its central portion 7 is not deformed, or at the very least, is deformed only very slightly.
The transition of the first part 4 from a convex curvature to a concave curvature, during the deformation thereof, is felt by the user as a very slight jolt translating the maximum compression of the intermediate portion. The user thus feels a haptic effect or force-feedback when he presses on the second part 5 to actuate the switch. The user then knows, without it being necessary to check it visually, that the first part 4 is deformed and that the switch is actuated.
As shown in
The connections of the first and second parts to the electrical contacts is not limited to those shown in
With reference to
The ends of the first part 4 are bearing against the bottom 19 of the housing 13, while their central portion is separated by a determined distance from the bottom 19 of the housing.
A thin (50 microns) and souple electrically insulating layer 6 is arranged between the first and the second part 4, 5 so as to electrically insulate them from one another.
The insulating film is high temperature (about 420° C.).
The second part 5 rests on the electrically insulating layer 6.
The multipolar switch 1 further comprises an actuator button 14 shown in the
The actuator button 14 is arranged on the body 45. It comprises an upper surface 31, and a lower surface 22 bearing against the central portion 7 of the second part 5.
The actuator button 14 is movable by actuation between a rest position wherein the first 43 and the second electrical circuit 44 are open, and an actuation position by application of a pressure by a user on its upper face 31, wherein the first and the second part 4, 5 are mechanically solicited to deform them elastically with respect to the body 45, so as to close the first 43 and the second electrical circuit 44.
The actuator button 14 is preferably a push-button configured to return to its rest position from its actuation position when the user releases said push-button.
The multipolar switch further comprises a closing cover 15 that maintains the actuator button 14 against the body 45 of the housing in a sealed manner. The closing cover 15 makes it possible to maintain all the elements of the switch in the housing 13 in a sealed manner.
The actuator button 14 comprises at its periphery a membrane 56 that ensure the seal of the switch by being compressed between the body 45 of the housing and the closing cover 15.
The operation of the multipolar switch according to the fifth embodiment shall now be described with reference to
In
The first and the second part 4, 5 are in a rest configuration, wherein said parts are separated from the first and second electrical contact zones 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c. The first 43 and the second electrical circuit 44 are therefore open.
When the user exerts a pressure on the actuator button 14 of the switch, shown by the arrow X in
More precisely, under the pressure of the actuator button 14, the second part 5 is displaced and presses against the first part 4, via the electrically insulating layer 6, thus causing the deformation of said first part 4. The second part 5 can be deformed slightly under the effect of the mechanical pressure.
The ends 12 of the second part 5 come into contact with electrical contact pads 2b, 2c, 3a, 3c, thus closing the first electrical circuit.
At the same time, under the effect of the mechanical pressure, and due to the pressing of the ends 12 of the tabs 10 of the first part 4 against the bottom 19 of the housing 13, the curvature of said first part is inverted: the latter becomes concave by deformation of its intermediate portion 8. The tabs 10 of the first part come into contact with the electrical contact pads 2a and 3b, thus closing the second electrical circuit.
The dome shape of the tabs 10 of the second part 5 make it possible to clear the first part 4 at its intermediate portion 8, which favours the elastic deformation of said first part and improves the haptic effect.
The first and second parts 4, 5 are then in an activated configuration, shown in
Preferably, the second part 5 is able to be deformed after coming into contact with the second electrical contact pads 2b, 2c, 3a, 3c, during the actuation of the switch. This additional deformation, or after travel, of the second part 5 makes it possible to improve the electrical contact between the latter and the second electrical contact pads 2b, 2c, 3a, 3c, as well as between the first part 4 and the first electrical contact pads 2a, 3b, given that the second part 5 transfers the force due to the actuating of the switch to the first part 4, thus causing the deformation of the latter.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912949 | Nov 2019 | FR | national |
