Abstract:
A combination switch device for a clutch pedal of a vehicle in which functions of a clutch switch and an ignition-lock switch are combined and in which electrical contact action is carried out by a slide motion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0152305 filed on, Dec. 24, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates, in general, to a combination switch device for a clutch pedal of a vehicle and, more particularly, to a combination switch device for a clutch pedal of a vehicle in which a clutch switch and an ignition-lock switch are integrated into a single switch. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, as shown in  FIG. 1 , drivers of manual-shift vehicles actuate a clutch using a clutch pedal  1 , to which a clutch switch  2  and an ignition-lock switch  3  are separately attached. The clutch switch  2  serves to control both initial starting acceleration and operability during deceleration/acceleration and driving, and the ignition-lock switch  3  serves to prevent the starting of a vehicle when a driver does not step on the clutch pedal. 
     Here, the clutch switch  2  is operated so that, when a driver is not stepping on the pedal, that is, the pedal is in an idle state, contact points are brought into contact with each other, maintaining an ON state, and when the driver steps on the pedal thereby turning the switch at a certain angle, the contact points are separated away from each other, entering an OFF state. That is, in a normal closed state, the clutch switch  2  opens at a stroke of about 50%. 
     In addition, the ignition-lock switch  3  is operated such that, when a driver is not stepping on the pedal, that is, the pedal is in an idle state, contact points are separated away from each other, maintaining an OFF state, and when the driver steps on the pedal thereby turning the switch to a certain angle, the contact points are brought into contact with each other, entering an ON state. That is, in a normal open state, the ignition-lock switch  3  closes at a stroke of about 85%. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , M 1  indicates an idle state when a driver is not stepping on the pedal  1 , M 2  is the operation state at a stroke of 50%, and M 3  is the operation state at a stroke of 85%. 
     However, such a conventional clutch structure has drawbacks in that the clutch switch  2  and the ignition-lock switch  3  are mounted separately, thereby causing the structure to be complicated and thus increasing the manufacturing cost, generating operation noise upon striking a switch, and inducing contact error due to the contamination of contact points that are exposed to the outside. 
     The description regarding the related art is provided only for understanding of the background of the invention, so it should not be construed by ordinarily skilled persons in the art to be admitted to be the related art. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present invention is intended to propose a combination switch device for a clutch pedal of a vehicle, which can simultaneously perform functions of a clutch switch and an ignition-lock switch, contributing to a simplified structure, cost savings, weight reduction, noise reduction through sliding contact, and prevention of contact error caused by foreign matter-contamination by shielding contact points. 
     In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination switch device for a clutch pedal of a vehicle, including: a housing fixedly mounted to a pedal member; a stationary terminal fixedly coupled to one side of the housing and having a clutch switch terminal and an ignition-lock switch terminal; a plunger rotatably mounted to the housing, facing the stationary terminal; a movable terminal fixedly mounted to one side of the plunger, facing the stationary terminal, and having a contact point for electrical connection with the stationary terminal; and a power transmitter connecting the plunger and the clutch pedal together such that the plunger turns as the clutch pedal turns. 
     The combination switch device may further include a shield to cover the plunger so as to prevent foreign matter from entering a space in which the stationary terminal is mounted, the shield including an upper cover fixedly coupled to one side of the housing and a lower cover coupled to the other side of the housing. 
     The power transmitter may include a switch lever having a lever shaft passing through the lower cover and the housing and being integrally coupled to the plunger, and a pedal pin protruding from one side of the clutch pedal so that a leading end thereof is integrally coupled with the switch lever. The combination switch device may further include a spring, both ends of which are supported by the lower cover and the switch lever so as to elastically support the lower cover. 
     The clutch switch terminal may consist of a positive clutch switch terminal and a ground clutch switch terminal respectively having clutch switch contacts at 180° intervals, the clutch switch contacts being electrically connected with the contact point of the movable terminal unit. 
     The ignition-lock switch terminal may consist of a positive ignition-lock switch terminal and a negative ignition-lock switch terminal. The positive ignition-lock switch terminal may be disposed between the positive clutch switch terminal and the ground clutch switch terminal, and the negative ignition-lock switch terminal may be disposed in the side of the ground clutch switch terminal. The positive and negative ignition-lock switch terminals respectively may have ignition-lock switch contacts at 180° intervals. The ignition-lock switch contacts may be electrically connected with the contact point of the movable terminal, and the ignition-lock switch contacts may be disposed between the clutch switch contacts. 
     The contact point of the movable terminal may consist of a plurality of contact points in order to enhance connectivity, the contact points being disposed in a row so as to be arranged with the clutch switch contacts and the ignition-lock switch contacts. 
     According to the present invention, a combination switch device for a clutch pedal of a vehicle can simultaneously perform functions of a clutch switch and an ignition-lock switch, contributing to a reduction in the number of parts, cost saving, weight reduction, noise reduction through sliding contact, and prevention of contact error caused by foreign matter-contamination of contact points. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of a conventional clutch pedal for a vehicle in which a clutch switch and an ignition-lock switch are separately mounted; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a clutch pedal for a vehicle in which a combination clutch switch device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is mounted; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are an exploded perspective view and a assembled cross-sectional view of the combination switch device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are views of a stationary terminal and a movable terminal in the combination switch device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7 to 9  are views showing the operation of the combination switch device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a clutch pedal  1  for a vehicle is configured so that an upper portion thereof is coupled to a pedal member  5  so as to be rotated about a hinge bolt  4 . The pedal member  5  is fixedly coupled to a vehicle body panel under an instrument panel. 
     A combination switch device  6  for a clutch pedal of a vehicle according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a switch device in which a clutch switch and an ignition-lock switch, which in conventional designs are separately provided in the clutch pedal, are integrated into a single switch. The combination switch device includes a housing  10  which is fixedly mounted to one side of the pedal member  5 , a stationary terminal  20  which is fixedly coupled to one side of the housing  10  and which includes a clutch switch terminal  21  and an ignition-lock switch terminal  22 , a plunger  30  which is rotatably mounted to the housing  10 , facing the stationary terminal  20 , a movable terminal  40  which is fixedly mounted to one side of the plunger  30 , facing the stationary terminal  20 , and which has a contact point  41  for electrical connection with the stationary terminal  20 , and a power transmitter  50  which connects the plunger  30  and the clutch pedal  1  together so that the plunger  30  turns as the clutch pedal  1  moves. 
     The combination switch device  6  further includes a shield which covers the plunger  30  to prevent foreign matter from entering a space in which the stationary terminal  20  is mounted. The shield may include an upper cover  60  which is fixedly coupled to one side of the housing  10 , and a lower cover  70  which is coupled to the other side of the housing  10 . 
     Here, the power transmitter  50  may include a switch lever  53  which includes a lever shaft  52  passing through the lower cover  70  and the housing  10  and is integrally coupled to the plunger  30  by means of a, e.g., a bolt  51 , and a pedal pin  54  which protrudes from one side of the clutch pedal  1  so that a leading end thereof is integrally coupled with the switch lever  53 . 
     Further, the combination switch device  6  may further include a spring  80 , both ends of which are supported by the lower cover  70  and the switch lever  53  so as to elastically support the lower cover  70 . The support force of the spring  80  prevents a gap from being created between the housing  10  and the lower cover  70 , thereby having the effect of ensuring the smooth operation of the combination switch device  6 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the clutch switch terminal  21  may consist of a positive clutch switch terminal  23  and a ground clutch switch terminal  24  which respectively have clutch switch contacts  23   a  and  24   a  at 180° intervals. The clutch switch contacts  23   a  and  24   a  may be electrically connected with the contact point  41  of the movable terminal  40 . 
     The ignition-lock switch terminal  22  consists of a positive ignition-lock switch terminal  25  and a negative ignition-lock switch terminal  26 . The positive ignition-lock switch terminal  25  is disposed between the positive clutch switch terminal  23  and the ground clutch switch terminal  24 . The negative ignition-lock switch terminal  26  is disposed in the side of the ground clutch switch terminal  24 . The positive and negative ignition-lock switch terminals  25  and  26  respectively have ignition-lock switch contacts  25   a  and  26   a  at 180° intervals. The ignition-lock switch contacts  25   a  and  26   a  may be electrically connected with the contact point  41  of the movable terminal  40 . The ignition-lock switch contacts  25   a  and  26   a  may be disposed between the clutch switch contacts  23   a  and  24   a . That is, the ignition-lock switch contact  25   a  may be disposed at a first location that is separated by a certain distance away from the clutch switch contact  23   a  in the rotary direction of the plunger  30  which is coupled to the housing  10 . Subsequently, the clutch switch contact  24   a  may be disposed at a second location separated by a certain distance from the first location. The ignition-lock switch contact  26   a  may be disposed at a location apart by a certain distance from the second location. 
     Further, the contact point  41  of the movable terminal  40  preferably consists of a plurality of contact points  41  for enhancement of connectivity. The contact points may be disposed in a row for arrangement with the clutch switch contacts  23   a  and  24   a  and the ignition-lock switch contacts  25   a  and  26   a.    
     Now, the operation of the combination switch device according to embodiments of the invention will be described. 
     In  FIG. 5 , a location P 1  indicates a location in an idle state when a driver is not stepping on the clutch pedal  1 , a location P 2  is a location in the operation state at a stroke of 50% when the pedal is being pressed down, a location P 3  is a location in the operation state at a stroke of 85% when the pedal is being pressed down, and a location P 4  is a location in the operation state at a full stroke when the pedal is being pressed down. Thus, in the idle state when a driver is not stepping on the pedal or until about a 50% pedal stroke, the contact points  41  of the movable terminal  40  are located in a section R 1  between P 1  and P 2 , thereby coming into contact with the clutch switch contacts  23   a  and  24   a  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Here, the clutch switch terminal  21  is in an ON state, and the ignition-lock switch terminal  22  is in an OFF state, so that the combination switch device  6  of the invention functions as a clutch switch. 
     In addition, when a driver steps on the pedal  1  further, and as shown in  FIG. 8 , the contact points  41  of the movable terminal  40  are located in a section R 2  between the P 2  and P 3  (in a section at a 50-85% pedal stroke), the contact points  41  of the movable terminal  40  are neither in contact with the clutch switch contacts  23   a  and  24   a  nor the ignition-lock switch contacts  25   a  and  26   a , so the combination switch device of the invention is in the state in which each of the clutch switch terminal  21  and the ignition-lock switch terminal  22  are in an OFF state. 
     Further, when a driver steps on the pedal  1  even further, and as shown in  FIG. 9 , the contact points  41  of the movable terminal  40  are located in a section R 3  between P 3  and P 4  (in a section at a 85% to full pedal stroke), the contact points  41  of the movable terminal  40  are brought into contact with the ignition-lock contacts  25   a  and  26   a . Here, the clutch switch terminal  21  continuously maintains an OFF state, and the ignition-lock switch terminal  22  enters an ON state, so that the combination switch device of the invention functions as an ignition-lock switch. 
     As set forth before, the combination switch device  6  of the invention establishes a single switch in which functions of a clutch switch and an ignition-lock switch are integrated, thereby having advantages such as a reduction in the number of parts and weight, and a saving on cost, as compared with a conventional structure in which a clutch switch and an ignition-lock switch are separated constructed. 
     Further, the combination switch  6  of the invention is configured such that the contact points  41  of the movable terminal  40  come into contact with the terminals  21  and  22  of the stationary terminal  20  in a sliding motion, thereby having the advantage of reduced operation noise as compared with a conventional structure in which the contact points come into contact with the contacts in a striking method. 
     Still further, the combination switch device  6  of the invention has the structure in which the stationary terminal  20  and the movable terminal  40  are not exposed to the outside, but shielded by covers  60  and  70 , thereby having the advantage of preventing contamination of contact points due to foreign matter and thus preventing contact error due to the contamination. 
     Furthermore, the combination switch device  6  of the invention has an advantage in that it is commonly applicable to relevant products irrespective of the kind of target vehicles and target clutch pedals. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.