Electrical switching device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical switching device, in particular a position switch, limit switch, microswitch or other limit stop switch, having at least one housing and one or more electrical switch contacts arranged in the housing, the housing having at least one actuation opening, via which the switch contact(s) can be actuated mechanically from a position outside the housing, the switching device, as a further separate component, having at least one actuator, which has at least one actuation ram that is longitudinally displaceable in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the actuator, the actuator, in a number of different rotation angle positions with regard to the longitudinal axis, being securable to the housing of the switching device in a manner secured against rotation, in such a way that, in the event of external actuation of the actuation ram, the switch contact(s) can be mechanically actuated, a strap being provided as securing means to mechanically secure the actuator to the housing of the switching device, which strap can be slid over at least part of the actuator and at least part of the housing of the switching device.

Claims

1. An electrical switching device, comprising: at least one housing; and at least one electrical switch contact arranged in the housing, the housing having at least one actuation opening, via which the at least one electrical switch contact is mechanically actuatable from a position outside the housing; at least one actuator arranged as a separate component and having at least one actuation ram that is longitudinally displaceable in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator, the at least one actuator being securable to the at least one housing in a number of different rotation angle positions with regard to the longitudinal axis in a manner secured against rotation, wherein the event of external actuation of the at least one actuation ram, the at least one switch contact is mechanically actuated; a strap configured to mechanically secure the at least one actuator to the at least one housing, wherein when the at least one actuator is inserted into the actuation opening the strap is slidable over at least part of the at least one actuator and at least part of the at least one housing, the strap overlapping the at least one actuator and the at least one housing, wherein the strap comprises at least one rotation fixing device, by means of which the at least one actuator is fixed with regard to a longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator in a manner secure against rotation in relation to the at least one housing.

2. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises at least one axial fixing device, by means of which the at least one actuator is fixed in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator in relation to the at least one housing.

3. The switching device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a peripheral groove, into which a web of the strap dips in order to form the at least one axial fixing device.

4. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one axial fixing device has an outer form different from the at least one rotation fixing device.

5. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a rotation fixing device formed as a nub or tooth, which is configured to engage with a recess of a plurality of recesses arranged on the circumference of the at least one actuator.

6. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the strap is slidable in a direction not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator over at least part of the at least one actuator and at least part of the at least one housing.

7. The switching device according to claim 6, wherein the strap is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator.

8. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises at least one securing device, which is configured to cooperate with at least one receiving device, which is formed as a mating piece and is arranged on the at least one housing, in order to secure the strap on the at least one housing.

9. The switching device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one securing device in cooperation with the at least one receiving device allows a limited displaceability of the strap in relation to the at least one housing as far as an end stop, in which the strap is still secured to the at least one housing.

10. The switching device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one actuator is removable from the at least one switching device and/or is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator when the at least one securing device is displaced towards the end stop.

11. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the actuation opening in the at least one housing, into which the at least one actuator is insertable, is formed as a cylindrical or conical opening.

12. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises at least one mounting device for mounting the at least one switching device on another object.

13. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the switching device comprises one of a position switch, a limit switch, a microswitch or a limit stop switch.

14. An electrical switching device, comprising: at least one housing; and at least one electrical switch contact arranged in the housing, the housing having at least one actuation opening, via which the at least one electrical switch contact is mechanically actuatable from a position outside the housing; at least one actuator arranged as a separate component and having at least one actuation ram that is longitudinally displaceable in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator, the at least one actuator being securable to the at least one housing in a number of different rotation angle positions with regard to the longitudinal axis in a manner secured against rotation, wherein the event of external actuation of the at least one actuation ram, the at least one switch contact is mechanically actuated; a strap configured to mechanically secure the at least one actuator to the at least one housing, wherein when the at least one actuator is inserted into the actuation opening the strap is slidable over at least part of the at least one actuator and at least part of the at least one housing, the strap overlapping the at least one actuator and the at least one housing, wherein the at least one housing comprises a lid secured rotatably via a hinge to a main housing part of said at least one housing, which lid can be opened and closed, wherein in the opened state the electrical switch contact arranged in the at least one housing is accessible for the connection of electrical cables.

15. The switching device according to claim 14, wherein at least part of the strap is covered by part of the lid when the lid is in the closed state.

16. The switching device according to claim 14, wherein the strap comprises at least one axial fixing device, by means of which the at least one actuator is fixed in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator in relation to the at least one housing.

17. The switching device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a peripheral groove, into which a web of the strap dips in order to form the at least one axial fixing device.

18. The switching device according to claim 14, wherein the strap is slidable in a direction not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator over at least part of the at least one actuator and at least part of the at least one housing.

19. The switching device according to claim 18, wherein the strap is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator.

20. The switching device according to claim 14, wherein the strap comprises at least one securing device, which is configured to cooperate with at least one receiving device, which is formed as a mating piece and is arranged on the at least one housing, in order to secure the strap on the at least one housing.

21. The switching device according to claim 20, wherein the at least one securing device in cooperation with the at least one receiving device allows a limited displaceability of the strap in relation to the at least one housing as far as an end stop, in which the strap is still secured to the at least one housing.

22. The switching device according to claim 20, wherein the at least one actuator is removable from the at least one switching device and/or is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the at least one actuator when the at least one securing device is displaced towards the end stop.

23. The switching device according to claim 14, wherein the actuation opening in the at least one housing, into which the at least one actuator is insertable, is formed as a cylindrical or conical opening.

24. The switching device according to claim 14, wherein the strap comprises at least one mounting device for mounting the at least one switching device on another object.

25. The switching device according to claim 14, wherein the switching device comprises one of a position switch, a limit switch, a microswitch or a limit stop switch.

Description

(1) In the drawings

(2) FIG. 1 shows an electrical switching device in an isometric view, and

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show an actuator in various isometric views, and

(4) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a strap in various isometric views, and

(5) FIGS. 6 and 7 show cross-sectional illustrations through the electrical switching device in various sectional planes.

(6) In the figures, like reference signs are used for elements that correspond to one another.

(7) FIG. 1 shows an electrical switching device 1, which has, as separate components to be assembled together, a housing 2, 20, an actuator 3, and also a strap 4. The strap 4 is additionally illustrated separately to the left above the housing 2, 20.

(8) The housing 2, 20 has a main housing part 2 and also a lid 20 secured thereto via a hinge 23. The lid 20 can be pivoted via the hinge 23 and can be folded downwardly from the opened position illustrated in FIG. 1 and thus closes the main housing part 2 upwardly.

(9) Electrical switch contacts 26 are located in the main housing part 2 and can be formed as break contacts, normally open contacts or changeover contact elements as required. A plurality of electrical switch contacts can be provided, which are formed identically or differently in terms of the switching function thereof. In particular one or more of the switch contacts can be formed as slow-action contacts or as snap-action contacts. The switch contacts can also be formed as overlapping break contacts, which only open when an associated normally open contact is closed.

(10) The housing 2, 20 has, on a front side, an actuation opening 24, via which the switch contacts 26 can be actuated mechanically from the outer face of the housing 2, 20. A cable introduction opening 25 is provided on the opposite, rear side of the housing 2, 20. Electrical connection cables can be guided hereby from outside to the switch contacts 26 in order to electrically connect to these.

(11) For the mechanical actuation of the electrical switch contacts 26 arranged in the housing 2, 20, a separate component, specifically an actuator 3, is provided. The actuator 3 has a substantially cylindrical body 30. An actuation ram 31, which is longitudinally displaceable along a longitudinal axis L of the actuator 3 and which protrudes from the actuator 3 on the rear side thereof (not visible in FIG. 1) and can thus actuate the switch contacts 26, is located within the body 30. For this purpose the actuator 3 is to be inserted into the actuation opening 24 and then secured thereto. The strap 4 is provided in order to secure the actuator 3 to the housing 2, 20 in the actuation opening 24. The strap 4 can be slid on from above, i.e. in a direction A substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L (as illustrated in FIG. 5), and in so doing covers part of the actuator 3 and part of the main housing part 2.

(12) The strap 4 is, as mentioned, illustrated separately in the upper left corner, moreover in a position at least partially slid onto the main housing part 2. In this position the actuator 3 can be inserted into the actuation opening 24, more specifically in a desired rotation angle position. When the strap 4 is then displaced further downwards, it fixes the actuator 3 at the same time in the axial direction, i.e. against a displacement in the direction of the longitudinal axis L and against a rotation about the longitudinal axis L. The further means necessary for this purpose will be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures.

(13) It can also be seen in FIG. 1 that the strap 4 has two openings as mounting means 41. Screws can be guided through these openings. When the strap 4 is secured to the housing 2, 20, the complete unit, i.e. the switching device 1, can be secured to another object via screws guided by the mounting means 41.

(14) It can also be seen that the lid 20 has a region 21 protruding in the direction of the strap 4. In this protruding region 21, the lid 20 overlaps the strap 4 in the closed state and fixes the strap in relation to the housing 2, 20. Latching means 22 are arranged within the protruding region 21, by means of which latching means the lid 20 can be connected in a latched manner to the main housing part 2 and the housing 2, 20 can be securely closed in this way.

(15) FIGS. 2 and 3 show further details of the actuator. It can be seen that the actuator 31 has an actuation ram 31, 34 passing through. When the actuator 3 is secured to the housing 2, 20, the part 31 of the actuation ram points outwardly. The part 34 points inside the housing 2, 20 and mechanically loads the electrical switch contacts 26 with corresponding actuation of the outer part 31.

(16) It can also be seen that the actuator 3 has, on the outer circumference of its body 30, a peripheral groove 33. This serves, in conjunction with a protruding wall region of the strap 4 formed as an axial fixing means 40, to axial fix the actuator 3 to the housing 2, 20. For protection against rotation, the actuator 3 has, likewise on the outer circumference of the body 30, recesses 35 arranged between projecting protrusions 32. These recesses cooperate with the strap 4, as explained hereinafter.

(17) The strap 4 is visible in FIGS. 4 and 5 in various views, wherein the protruding wall region, which forms the axial fixing means 40, can again be seen. Longitudinal grooves 46 are arranged in the strap 4 in the vicinity of the axial fixing means 40 and overlap the protrusions 32 of the actuator when the strap has been slid on. On an inner side of the protruding wall region, the strap 4 has a projecting tooth or a nub as rotation fixing means 43. This rotation fixing means 43 engages with one of the recesses 35, in order to secure the actuator 3 against rotation.

(18) For improved manual handling, the strap 4 may have flutings 44 on two opposite outer sides, at which the strap is grasped by hand. In order to secure the strap 4 to the housing 2, 20, in particular to the main housing part 2, this has securing means 45 projecting in the direction of the main housing part 2, which securing means for example can be formed similarly to latching fastening means. The securing means 45 cooperate with receiving means arranged on the housing 2, 20, more specifically on the main housing part 2, which receiving means still allow a certain limited displaceability of the strap 4 once the strap 4 has been fitted on the main housing part 2, but prevent a complete removal of the strap 4 from the main housing part 2. Here, the strap 4, in its position illustrated in FIG. 1, can be displaced upwardly in relation to the main housing part 2. In this position the actuator 3 can be inserted into the actuation opening 24 or can be removed therefrom, or another rotation angle position of the actuator 3 can be selected. In order to final fix the actuator 3, the strap 4 is displaced downwardly and is secured via the protruding region 21 of the lid 20. In addition, the strap 4 is secured in its position by screws, which are guided by the mounting means 41.

(19) FIG. 7 shows a section through the switching device 1 in a plane through the rotation fixing means 43. It can be seen how the rotation fixing means 43 engages with one of the recesses 35 between two adjacent protrusions 32 and thus secures the actuator 3 against rotation.

(20) FIG. 6 shows a section through the switching device 1 in a plane through the axial fixing means 40. It can be seen that the axial fixing means 40 surrounds the actuator 3 over an angular range of approximately 180. Here, the peripheral groove 33 bears against the axial fixing means 40.