Switch device mounting structure

A switch device structure serves to help in stably moving an operation rod. The switch device includes a contact fixing support assembled with an insulation case. The fixing support is formed with multiple openings. A connection board and multiple support members are correspondingly assembled in the openings. The support member has a base section and a neck section, which together define a passage. The operation rod is assembled with an elastic unit and can pass through the passage and the connection board to extend into the fixing support so as to move a wire connection assembly in the case. The switch device structure improves the shortcoming of the conventional switch device that the operation rod is apt to shake and deflect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an improved switch device structure, and more particularly to a switch device having a connection board and multiple support members assembled with a fixing support (or contact support), whereby the operation rod can be stably operated.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional switch indication device or switch device is applied to an electrical, electronic and automatic control system for an operator to operate or power on/off the system on the console. For example, a restriction switch or travel switch is applied to mechanical equipment for controlling the motional travel thereof. In general, the switch device is installed in a predetermined position. When a motional part of the mechanical equipment hits the contact of the restriction switch, the restriction switch will switch the circuits to control the travel of the mechanical equipment and provide terminal restriction protection.

The conventional (restriction) switch device generally includes multiple contact seats (or insulation cases), which are side by side assembled with each other. A wire connection assembly is disposed in each contact seat. The contact seats are securely locked with a contact fixing support by means of screws and spring lock washers to form an integrated form. Basically, the contact fixing support is formed with openings. The operation rods can pass through the openings and extend into the contact seats to touch and move the wire connection assemblies to achieve an effect as a restriction switch.

With respect to the structure, operation and application of such restriction switch device, the opening of the contact fixing support only provides a path for the operation rod to get into the insulation case to touch and move the wire connection assembly. Therefore, the opening is not designed with any structure to sealedly assemble with the operation rod. As a result, when operating the operation rod to reciprocally touch and move the wire connection assembly, the operation rod is apt to deflect and shake. This will affect or deteriorate the moving effect of the operation rod to the wire connection assembly.

As well known by those who are skilled in this field, in the conventional switch device, the opening of the contact fixing support is not designed with any structure to sealedly assemble with the operation rod. Therefore, during the long-term use of the conventional switch device, dust, liquid, humidity or the like tends to infiltrate into the switch device through the opening and accumulate on the contact fixing support, the case and the wire connection assembly to affect the operation of the switch device or cause short-circuit. This is not what we expect.

To speak representatively, the above description reveals some shortcomings of the contact seat (or the insulation case), the contact fixing support and the relevant connection components of the conventional switch device in use and structural design. Incase the contact fixing support and the relevant components are redesigned to be different from the conventional switch device, the use form of the switch device can be changed to widen the application range thereof. For example, in comparison with the conventional switch device, a specific cooperative structure is disposed between the opening of the fixing support and the operation rod to enhance the sealing extent therebetween. This improves the shortcoming of the conventional switch device that when the operation rod is operated to reciprocally move the wire connection assembly, the operation rod is apt to deflect and shake to affect or deteriorate the moving effect of the operation rod to the wire connection assembly. Moreover, during the long-term use of the conventional switch device, dust, liquid, humidity or the like tends to infiltrate into the switch device through the opening and accumulate on the contact fixing support, the case and the wire connection assembly to affect the operation of the switch device or cause short-circuit. The specific cooperative structure between the opening of the fixing support and the operation rod as minimizes this shortcoming as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a switch device structure serves to help in stably moving an operation rod. The switch device includes a contact fixing support assembled with an insulation case. The fixing support is formed with multiple openings. A connection board and multiple support members are correspondingly assembled in the openings. The support member has a base section and a neck section, which together define a passage. The operation rod is assembled with an elastic unit and can pass through the passage and the connection board to extend into the fixing support so as to move a wire connection assembly in the case. The switch device structure improves the shortcoming of the conventional switch device that the operation rod is apt to shake and deflect.

In the above switch device structure, the connection board has a board-shaped base section and neck sections protruding from the base section. Each neck section has a closed end and an internal room. The neck section of the connection board is assembled or sealedly assembled in the opening of the fixing support. The neck section of the support member is assembled or sealedly assembled in the neck section or internal room of the connection board. The passage of the support member at least includes a first passage and a second passage with a width (or inner diameter) larger than the first passage, whereby the width (or inner diameter) of the first passage is approximately equal to the width (or outer diameter) of the operation rod, permitting the operation rod to pass through the first passage to freely reciprocally move. The elastic unit is securely assembled in the second passage to together forma sealedly assembled structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIGS. 1, 2 and 3. According to a preferred embodiment, the switch device structure of the present invention is a restriction or travel switch device for illustration purposes. The switch device has three contact seats (or insulation cases10) side by side assembled with each other. The cases10are latched and connected with a (contact) fixing support20. The fixing support20is selectively locked with a fixing plate40and a connection board60by means of screws30. The fixing plate40and the connection board60permit the operation rods50to extend into the fixing support20to touch and move the wire connection assemblies90in the cases10to achieve an effect as a conventional restriction switch.

In this embodiment, the case10is defined with an axis χ. The case10has a first end wall11, a second end wall12, two sidewalls13, an upper section14and a bottom section15to together define a cavity16for arranging a wire connection assembly90therein. The case10has an assembling section17protruding from the first end wall11and/or the second end wall12and an oblique socket18directed to and related to the assembling section17. A block body or shoulder section17aprotrudes from a portion of the assembling section17near the bottom section15in a direction to two ends of the case10(away from the axis χ).

In addition, two ends of the fixing support20are respectively formed with latch sections21corresponding to the assembling section17and the oblique socket18. As shown in the drawings, multiple continuously arranged latch sections21are formed at two ends of the fixing support20in accordance with the number of the cases10. The assembling sections17of the contact seats10are detachably latched with the latch sections21to form an integrated structure.

To speak more specifically, each latch section21of the fixing support20has two protruding cantilevers22and a connection section23connected between the two cantilevers22to together define a space24. Accordingly, the latch section21has a U-shaped (cross-sectional) configuration with elasticity. Also as shown in the drawings, the oblique socket18is a structure inclined from the first and second end walls11,12to the axis χ. The oblique socket18includes a slope19inclined to the axis χ for supporting and guiding a tool to insert into the case10. (This will be further described hereinafter.)

FIG. 2also shows that the fixing support20is formed with at least one stake25positioned between the adjacent latch sections21and having trapezoidal cross section. The edge of the fixing plate40is formed with notches41in alignment with the stakes25for assembling or inlaying the stakes25. Accordingly, the fixing plate40can be securely assembled with the fixing support20.

FIG. 3shows that an operator can directly operate the latch sections21to latch with the assembling sections17of the case10to assemble the fixing support20with the case10. As shown in the drawings, the assembling section17(or the shoulder section17a) is relatively positioned in the space24of the fixing support20with the connection section23pressed onto the assembling section17. In this case, the connection section23is positioned in the inclined path of the oblique socket18.

Therefore, an operator can use a tool (such as a screwdriver) to pass through the oblique socket18and directly push away the connection section23of the latch section21from the assembling section17with the slope19serving as a (force application) fulcrum. Accordingly, the case10and the fixing support20can be quickly installed/uninstalled. To speak more specifically, the stakes25are disposed between the latch sections21of the fixing support20to help the operator in operating the tool to pass through the oblique socket18and push away the connection section23of the latch section21from the assembling section17with the slope19serving as a force application face or force application point. At this time, the stakes25at the other end of the fixing support20serve as abutment points or swinging fulcrums to help in detaching the case10from the fixing support20.

Please further refer toFIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In this embodiment, the fixing support20is assembled with the connection board60and the operation rods50. The fixing support20is formed with at least one or multiple openings26. The connection board60has a board-shaped base section61and neck sections62protruding from the base section61. Each neck section62has a closed end63and an internal room65. The connection board60is selectively made of rubber or the like material, whereby the neck sections62of the connection board60can be elastically assembled or sealedly assembled in the openings26of the fixing support20. Two sides or a peripheral section of the connection board60is formed with multiple notches64for the screws30to pass through so as to securely assemble the components.

In a preferred embodiment, a support member70is disposed between the fixing support20(or the connection board60) and the operation rod50. The support member70is correspondingly assembled in the opening26. As shown in the drawings, the support member70is assembled with the neck section62or internal room65of the connection board60. The support member70has a base section71and a neck section72protruding from the base section71to together define a passage73. The elastic unit80is fitted around the operation rod50, which can pass through the passage73and the connection board60and extend into the fixing support20so as to touch and move the wire connection assembly90in the case10. Basically, the operation rod50is assembled on a plunger main body55. A spring85is disposed in the plunger main body55to help in moving the operation rod50. This part pertains to prior art and thus will not be further described hereinafter.

As shown in the drawings, the neck sections72of the support member70can be assembled or sealedly assembled in the neck section62or internal room65of the connection board60with the base section71of the support member70in contact with or in connection with the base section61of the connection board60. In a preferred embodiment, the neck section72of the support member70is formed with multiple wing sections74to help in securely assembling the support member70in the opening26of the fixing support20(or the internal room65of the neck section72of the connection board60).

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the passage73of the support member70at least includes a first passage75and a second passage76with a cross-sectional width (or inner diameter) larger than the first passage75. Accordingly, the cross-sectional width (or inner diameter) of the first passage75is approximately equal to the cross-sectional width (or outer diameter) of the operation rod50, whereby the operation rod50can pass through the first passage75to freely reciprocally move. One end of the elastic unit80is securely assembled in the second passage76to together form a sealedly assembled structure. This improves the shortcoming of the conventional operation rod that in operation, the operation rod is apt to shake and deflect.

As shown in the drawings, the passage73of the support member70further has a subsidiary passage77formed on the base section71of the support member70. The width (or inner diameter) of the subsidiary passage77is larger than the width (or inner diameter) of the second passage76.

It should be noted that the structures of the base section71, the neck section72and the passage73(or the first passage75) of the support member70serve to restrict and keep the motion of the operation rod50stable and prevent the operation rod50from shaking or deflecting during operation. Moreover, one end of the elastic unit80is securely assembled in the neck section72and the passage73(or the second passage76) of the support member70, whereby the travel or specification of the elastic unit80can be increased. Such arrangement is applicable to an operation rod necessitating longer operation distance or travel.

To speak representatively, in the condition that the switch device structure is easy to operate, in comparison with the conventional switch device, the switch device structure of the present invention has the following advantages:1. The fixing support20, the support member70and the relevant components and structures have been redesigned, and the assembling or sealedly assembling structures of the fixing support20, the connection board60, the support member70and the operation rod50are specifically considered to be different from the conventional switch device and change the use and operation form thereof. For example, the neck section62of the connection board60is sealedly assembled in the opening26of the fixing support. The support member70has a base section71, a neck section72and a passage73(or the first and second passages75,76). The neck sections72of the support member70is sealedly and securely assembled in the opening26of the fixing support and the neck section62of the connection board60. These are obviously different from the structural form of the conventional switch device.2. Especially, the structures of the opening26of the fixing support20, the base section61, the neck section62, the closed end63and the internal room65of the connection board60, the base section71, the neck section72and the passage73(or the first and second passages75,76) of the support member70, the operation rod50and the elastic unit80enhance the sealing extent of the assembly and improve the shortcomings of the conventional switch device that when the operation rod is operated to reciprocally move the wire connection assembly, the operation rod is apt to deflect and shake to affect or deteriorate the moving effect of the operation rod to the wire connection assembly. Moreover, during the long-term use of the conventional switch device, dust, liquid, humidity or the like tends to infiltrate into the switch device through the opening and accumulate on the contact fixing support, the case and the wire connection assembly to affect the operation of the switch device or cause short-circuit. The present invention as minimizes this shortcoming as possible.

In conclusion, the switch device structure of the present invention is effective and different from the conventional switch device in space form and is advantageous over the conventional switch device. The switch device structure of the present invention is considerably greatly advanced and inventive.