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(11) | EP 1 220 251 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Timed mechanical switch device |
| (57) The device is intended for determining the time of functioning of any element, based
on closing a contact by means of manual operation, the device being that which interrupts
the connection by means of opening the contact once a previously established time
interval has passed. The device comprises two units functionally associated with each other, one acting as the timer unit (1) and the other as the personalisation unit (2) for the above. The timer unit (1) comprises a set of toothed wheels (6), a regulating brace (7) and a flywheel-spiral unit (8), all mounted between a base body (3) and a cover (4). The personalisation unit (2) includes the actuation shaft (11), a circular stop piece (3) and a support piece (14) in the shape of a bowl, which contains a spring (20) that acts on the shaft (11). Said pieces (13) and (14), together with a toothed wheel (19) via which said unit (2) is connected to the first wheel (6) of the unit (1), are fitted to the shaft (11), with the latter being fitted in a hole (10) made for the purpose in the cover (4) of the unit (1). The shaft (11), when it rotates due to the effect of the transmission made by all the aformentioned components, actustes the contact by means of a cam (23) in order to establish the corresponding disconnection at the end of the pre-set timing, Fig. 3. |
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] As stated in the title of this descriptive report, the present invention refers to a timed mechanical switch device, the evident purpose of which is to determine the time of functioning of any element, based on closing a contact by means of manual action, so that it is the device itself which, at the end of a previously set time, interrupts the connection by means of opening the contact.
[0002] The object of the invention is to provide the electrical sector with a switch that would perform the function referred to above, solving the problem implied by the application of this type of device to an element it is sought to control. To achieve this, the switch has been conceived as a device determined by two totally differentiable units that can be coupled together, in such a way that one of the units defines the timer, while the other unit defines the remaining particular variables or characteristics corresponding to: work angle; existence or otherwise of a permanent contact position, as well as the dimensions, position and shape of a flat part established in the shaft of this second unit. The constitution of the switch in the form of two units permits a fully automated production and assembly process to be carried out.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] For some years, timed mechanical switches have been known intended for determining the time of functioning of any element, based on closing a contact by means of manual operation, typically a rotation, in such a way that, at the end of the previously established period, the contact opens and the corresponding disconnection is thus made.
[0004] Intervening in the functioning as a fundamental and essential element is a shaft which, by means of a cam, is what actuates the contacts. Connected to that shaft is a main wheel and a leaf spring rolled up on itself, with this spring tending to rotate the said shaft in the direction of disconnection of the contact in such a way that this travel or rotation is timed by means of an array of wheels that functions as an inverted reducer. The first wheel in this array or set of wheels incorporates the triggering system (typically a cliquet) and the random de-triggering system (typically a friction system), while the last wheel of the array or set, known as the escape wheel, has a specially shaped tooth for working in conjunction with an escape brace which in turns acts on a flywheel-spiral unit.
[0005] On the basis of the characteristics referred to above and which define what is a conventional timed mechanical switch, the oscillations of the flywheel-spiral unit determine the length of time passing between advance from one tooth shaft to another of the escape wheel, so that this chain of advance, multiplied by the reduction ratio of the array of wheels, determines the length of time it takes for the shaft to travel the path as far as the point at which the contact opens, which is known as the timing.
[0006] The arrangement of those elements (wheel array, brace, flywheel) in conventional devices is varied according to the external shape it is wished to give to the device itself, though in no case does this affect the theory of the functioning.
[0007] In that regard, the basic timings in the upper range are usually of 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes and 120 minutes, these timings being achieved with a precise array of wheels and a specific flywheel-spiral unit. The application of the switch device to the element to be controlled introduces five fundamental variants, which are the following:
- Work angle
- Existence or not or a permanent contact position
- Height of the shaft
- Dimension and shape of the reference flat part, provided in the shaft
- Position of this flat part referring to the bracing.
[0008] Said variants complicate the device in such a way that hundreds of different ones have been coded, making it impossible or, in the best of cases, difficult to produce an automated production process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The timed automatic switch device is fundamentally characterised in that it is constituted by means of coupling together two well-differentiated units, one of which includes the elements determining the timing, while the other includes the basic shaft for the functioning and other components and specific items personalising the first unit when the two are coupled together.
[0010] The timing unit is determined by a base body and a cover that can be coupled together by means of the clipping of elastic elements, thus permitting its transfer, storage or use with complete guarantee that it will not come apart. Fitted to that unit are the wheel array, the brace and the flywheel-spiral, duly secured between the base body and the cover of the first unit.
[0011] In terms of the shaft unit, this accords with the definition of the five specific characteristics, namely: work angle; existence or not of a permanent contact position; height of the shaft; dimension and shape of the reference flat part corresponding to that shaft; and position of this flat part referring to the brace. This shaft unit comprises the shaft itself, along with a circular piece by way of a plate, acting as a stop, which defines the angle of actuation and the relation between the shaft itself and the corresponding bracing points. It also includes a piece in the shape of a bowl, acting as support, which defines the possibility or otherwise of a permanent contact position.
[0012] The stop piece and the support piece have individual projecting sections determining a limiting means in the relative angular rotation between those stop and support pieces.
[0013] The variation in angular position of the parts mentioned determines the angular values and the possibility of a permanent contact position, with the specific detail that the position of those same parts defines the orientation of the shaft with the bracing points.
[0014] On the basis of the solution constituting the switch device described, in order to change the final reference of it, it will suffice to change the shaft unit, which can be fitted taking as reference the common part of the outside of the support in order to change the final reference of the device.
[0015] Moreover, provision has been made so that the shaft has two well-differentiated support zones on the base of the switch, with these two zones being materialised by some elastic pins and a perimetric neck, in such a way that when a stress is exerted on the shaft directed inwards it is precisely the elastic pins which, resting on the base and very close to the bracing zone, support the stress while if the stress is directed outwards it is the perimetric neck of the shaft itself that does the work.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In order to complement the description that is going to be made below, and with the aim of aiding a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive report is accompanied by a set of drawings on the basis of which the innovations and advantages of the timed mechanical switch device produced in accordance with the object of the invention will be more easily understood.
Figure 1.- Shows a cross-section view of the two independent units which, when coupled, will determine the switch device forming the object of the invention.
Figure 2.- Shows an exploded perspective view of the shaft unit as accords with the definition of the five specific characteristics referred to in this description.
Figure 3.- Shows a cross-section view like that of the first figure, with the two units coupled together, likewise showing the corresponding cover for the shaft unit.
Figure 4.- Shows an elevation view in which the external shape can be seen according to a particular geometric arrangement of the switch device forming the object of the invention.
Figure 5.- Shows a perspective view of the timing unit with the cover being made independent but in a position for coupling to the base body of that timing unit.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0018] With regard to the said figures, it can be seen how the mechanical and timed switch device comprises two independent units 1 and 2, which can be coupled together.
[0019] Unit 1 is defined by a base body 3 and a cover 4, which can be coupled by means of elastic pins 5 defining a clipping system permitting not just easy manufacture of this unit but also its transfer, storage and use, with complete guarantee.
[0020] Arranged in that unit 1 is the corresponding array or set of toothed wheels 6 along with the brace 7 and the flywheel-spiral unit 8, with the specific feature that the end 9 of the flywheel-spiral unit 8 is orientated towards the actual base body 3 and secured by the cover 4, as is clearly represented in figure one, where the securing of the toothed wheels 6 and of the brace 7 can also be clearly seen.
[0021] In the cover 4 of this unit, a hole 10 has been provided for the passage and bracing of the shaft 11 corresponding to the unit 2, the shaft 11 of which defines the length while its flat part 12 defines the shape and dimension.
[0022] Provided in this shaft unit 2 is a circular stop piece 13, which defines the angle of actuation and the relation between the actual shaft 11 and the bracing points, and it also includes a support piece 14 in the shape of a bowl, which defines the possibility or not of a permanent contact position, in such a manner that those stop 13 and support 14 pieces are retained or limited in their angular rotation of one with respect to the other by means of respective projecting sectors 15 and 16, respectively, as shown in figure two, all this in such a manner that the variation of these parts just mentioned and corresponding to the unit 2 will determine the angular values and the possibility of a permanent contact position, while the positioning of those same parts will define the orientation of the flat part 12 of the shaft 11 with the bracing points.
[0023] Some elastic pins 17 and a perimetric section 18 have been provided in the shaft 11, determining the means of bracing on the support that constitutes the internal annular rib corresponding to the hole 10 of the unit 1, the ends of the elastic pins 17 remaining beneath the internal rib 21 and the section 18 supported on the upper part defining a clipping system preventing incorrect handling and offering an exposed resistance system for supporting the shaft 11 during the process of positioning the control.
[0024] As has been said earlier, the functioning of this type of switch is always based on the shaft 11 acting on the contacts of the elements to be controlled, with shaft 11 being linked to the first of the wheels of the wheel set or array 6 via a toothed wheel 19 of that set, unit 2 of the shaft also including a leaf spring 20 rolled up on itself, which tends to turn that shaft 11 in the direction of disconnection of the contact. This spring 20 is fitted to the support piece 14 in the shape of a bowl.
1. TIMED MECHANICAL SWITCH DEVICE which, being intended to control a time of functioning of an element by means of
opening, after a fixed time, a previously closed contact by means of manual actuation,
being based on a rotation of a shaft 11 that permanently tends to be rotated in a
direction of opening the contact, a travel or rotation of that shaft (11) being timed
by means of a set of wheels (6), one of which is linked to a regulating brace (7)
which in turn acts on a flywheel-spiral (8), whose oscillations determine the time
it takes for the shaft (11) to travel a path as far as the point at which the contact
opens, said flywheel-spiral (8) determining means that establish the timing itself;
characterised in that it comprises two independent units (1 and 2), which can be coupled together, one
constituting a timing unit and the other constituting the shaft (11) unit, where the
timing unit (1) comprises a base body (3) and a cover (4) which can be coupled together
by clipping, between which are located a wheel set (6), the regulating brace (7) and
the flywheel-spiral (8), while the shaft unit (2) includes the shaft itself (11),
with a bevel-edge (12) of a flat shape made in its lateral surface, duly dimensioned
and with a specific shape and location, also comprising a circular stop piece (13)
which defines an angle for actuation and also the relation between the shaft (11)
and the brace points; as well as a bowl-shaped support piece (14) which defines a
possibility or not of a permanent contact position.
2. TIMED MECHANICAL SWITCH DEVICE, according to claim 1, characterised in that the unit (2) of the shaft (11) includes two projecting sectors (15 and 16) in the
stop piece (13) and in the support piece (14), respectively, for limiting the relative
rotation of one with respect to the other.
3. TIMED MECHANICAL SWITCH DEVICE, according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the shaft (11) includes elastic pins (17) and a perimetric section (18) determining
the means of support on an internal annular rib (21) established in a hole (10) for
the passage of the shaft (11), corresponding to the timing unit (1), and whose elastic
pins (17) and perimetric section (18), respectively permit to support stresses produced
towards the inside on the shaft (11) and stresses produced towards the outside of
said shaft.
4. TIMED MECHANICAL SWITCH DEVICE, according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the means of clipping (5) between the base body (3) and the cover (4) of the timing
unit (1) are elastic, where the means of clipping of the unit (2) of the shaft on
the timing unit (1) are likewise elastic.