JP7565759B2 - Microswitch - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a microswitch that is used as a detection switch, an operation switch, etc.

The microswitch described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-129928 comprises a common terminal (8) fixed to a switch base (1), a normally open terminal (3), a normally closed terminal (4), a movable contact piece (5) that is arranged between the normally open contact (3b) of the normally open terminal (3) and the normally closed contact (4b) of the normally closed terminal (4) and has a switching contact (5a, 5b) at one end that selectively contacts these, a rotatable actuator (9) for rotating the movable contact piece (5), and a reversing spring (7) suspended between the movable contact piece (5) and the actuator (6) (Figure 1 of the publication).

In the above-mentioned microswitch, when the actuator (9) is pushed downward, the reversing spring (7) reverses and the movable contact piece (5) rotates downward, thereby switching the contacts so that the switching contact (5b) comes into contact with the normally open contact (3b) (see the two-dot chain line in Figure 1 of the above publication).

However, in such microswitches, the free end of the movable contact piece (5), which is the end on the switching contacts (5a, 5b) side, may move excessively to the side (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 1 of the above publication) due to vibrations and shocks during transportation, or shocks when the microswitch is dropped during installation. In such cases, there is a risk that the fulcrum part on the rotation center side of the movable contact piece (5) may come off each of the mounting pieces (8a, 8b) of the common terminal (8).

However, in the conventional configuration described above, sufficient measures were not taken to prevent the movable contact piece from coming off due to vibration, impact, etc.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a microswitch that can prevent the movable member (movable contact piece) from coming off due to vibration, impact, etc.

The microswitch of the present invention comprises a movable member having one end having a movable contact capable of contacting first and second fixed contacts arranged at a distance, and the other end being supported by a support portion so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and having one end having a tip portion extending beyond the movable contact , and a restricting member arranged to the side of the tip portion at a predetermined distance and abutting the tip portion when the tip portion moves excessively laterally, thereby restricting excessive lateral movement of the one end, thereby preventing the other end from coming off the support portion .

According to the present invention, when one end of the movable member moves excessively to the side due to vibration, impact, etc., the tip of the movable member abuts against the restricting member, thereby restricting the amount of lateral movement of the one end of the movable member from becoming excessive , thereby preventing the other end of the movable member from coming off the support part due to vibration, impact , etc.

In the present invention, the tip of the movable member has a narrow tip end portion, and the restricting member abuts against the tip end portion. Also, in the present invention, the first or second fixed contact is attached to a fixed terminal extending vertically from the base, and the restricting member is provided as a protrusion protruding from a part of the fixed terminal.

In the present invention, the regulating member has a first regulating member for regulating the amount of movement of the tip of the movable member to one side, and a second regulating member for regulating the amount of movement of the tip of the movable member to the other side.

In the present invention, the microswitch comprises a first housing and a second housing assembled therewith . The restricting member has a first restricting member for restricting the tip of the movable member from moving excessively to one side, and a second restricting member for restricting the tip of the movable member from moving excessively to the other side . The first restricting member is provided on the first housing, and the second restricting member is provided on the second housing.

In the present invention, the movable member further includes a support frame as a support part that supports the other end of the movable member so that it can swing up and down , and a tension spring that applies a tension force to one end of the movable member . The support frame is arranged on both sides of the tension spring, and includes a first columnar member arranged on one side of the tension spring and extending in the height direction, and a second columnar member arranged on the other side of the tension spring and extending in the height direction. The other end of the movable member is bifurcated , and one of the bifurcations at the other end engages with a first engagement recess formed on an outer surface of the first columnar member of the support frame so that it can swing up and down , and the other of the bifurcations at the other end engages with a second engagement recess formed on an outer surface of the second columnar member of the support frame so that it can swing up and down .

In the present invention, the actuator further includes a support frame as a support part supporting the other end of the movable member so as to be swingable in the vertical direction , an actuator for inverting the movable member so as to move the movable contact from the first fixed contact side to the second fixed contact side, and a tension spring for applying a tension force to one end of the movable member. The support frame is disposed on both sides of the tension spring, and includes a first columnar member disposed on one side of the tension spring and extending in the height direction, and a second columnar member disposed on the other side of the tension spring and extending in the height direction. One end of the actuator swingably engages with an engagement recess provided in the base, the tension spring is locked to the other end, and parts of both sides of the actuator engage with third engagement recesses formed in the first and second columnar members between the one end and the other end, thereby restricting the upward movement of the actuator.

In the present invention, the movable member further includes a support frame as a support part that supports the other end of the movable member so as to be swingable up and down , an actuator for reversing the movable member so as to move the movable contact from the first fixed contact side to the second fixed contact side, and a tension spring that applies a tensile force to one end of the movable member. When the movable member is reversed by the actuator, the one end of the movable member is displaced laterally or in the opposite direction under the action of the tensile force of the tension spring, so that the movable contact slides relative to the fixed contact.

In the present invention, one end of the tension spring is engaged with one end of the movable member, and the other end is engaged with the actuator. When the movable member is reversed, the movable member rotates around the other end of the tension spring, causing the movable contact to slide relative to the fixed contact.

As described above, according to the present invention, a microswitch can be provided that can prevent the movable member from coming off the support portion due to vibration, impact, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing the main components of a microswitch according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the microswitch (FIG. 1); FIG. 2 is a front view of the microswitch (FIG. 1); FIG. 2 is a rear view of the microswitch (FIG. 1). FIG. 2 is a left side view of the microswitch (FIG. 1); FIG. 2 is a right side view of the microswitch (FIG. 1). FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 3 . FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 3 . FIG. 2 is a plan view of the microswitch (FIG. 1); FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the microswitch (FIG. 1). FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of a common terminal in the microswitch ( FIG. 1 ). This shows the microswitch (FIG. 1) in a state before the actuator is operated. This shows the state of the microswitch (FIG. 1) immediately after the actuator is operated and before the movable member is reversed. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV of FIG. 12. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV of FIG. 13.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 to 15 are diagrams for explaining a microswitch according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Figures 1 to 6 and 9 showing the main components of the microswitch according to this embodiment, Figures 7 and 8 being side cross-sectional views of the microswitch, Figure 10 being an exploded assembly diagram of the microswitch, Figure 11 being a perspective view of the common terminal of the microswitch, and Figures 12 to 15 being diagrams for explaining the operation of the microswitch. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the microswitch will be referred to as the front-rear direction, the lateral direction as the lateral or left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to these as the vertical direction or height direction. In other words, taking Figure 3 as an example, the left-right direction in the figure is the front-rear direction, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the figure is the lateral or left-right direction, and the vertical direction in the figure is the vertical direction.

As shown in Figures 1 to 6 and 10, the microswitch 1 of this embodiment comprises a base 2, which is an insulating base made of synthetic resin, and a common terminal 3, a normally open fixed terminal 4, and a normally closed fixed terminal 5, which are fixed integrally to the base 2 by insert molding. Each of these terminals extends vertically through the base 2, and the base end of each terminal has an external connection terminal 3A, 4A, 5A, respectively, which extends below the base 2.

The tip (switching end) of the normally open fixed terminal 4 has a normally open fixed contact (second fixed contact) 4b arranged above the base 2, and the tip (switching end) of the normally closed fixed terminal 5 has a normally closed fixed contact (first fixed contact) 5b arranged above the base 2, spaced apart from the normally open fixed contact 4b. The normally open fixed contact 4b is fixed by crimping or the like to a contact mounting part 4a arranged above the base 2 and closer to the base 2. The normally closed fixed contact 5b is similarly fixed by crimping or the like to a contact mounting part 5a arranged above the base 2 and away from the base 2.

The tip of the common terminal 3 has a roughly U-shaped (or roughly C-shaped) support frame 30. The support frame 30 has a first columnar member 30A extending in the vertical direction, a second columnar member 30B arranged opposite the first columnar member 30A at a distance from the first columnar member 30A on the side of the first columnar member 30A and similarly extending in the vertical direction, and a connecting member 30C connecting the first and second columnar members 30A and 30B in the left-right direction.

As shown in Fig. 7, which is a cross section taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 3, and Fig. 8, which is a cross section taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 3, in the support frame 30, a part of the first end _30A1 of the first columnar member 30A to which one end of the connecting member 30C is connected is embedded in the base 2 and fixed to the base 2, forming a fixed end. In contrast, the second end _30B1 of the second columnar member 30B to which the other end of the connecting member 30C is connected is not embedded in the base 2 (and therefore is not fixed to the base 2 and is a free end, i.e., free), and is disposed above the base 2. Therefore, the connecting member 30C connecting the ends _30A1 , _30B1 in the left-right direction is disposed above the upper surface 2A of the base 2 with a gap therebetween.

Here, as shown in Fig. 11, the common terminal 3 is formed by bending a terminal plate three-dimensionally, and the support frame 30 is disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the external connection terminal 3A. As shown in the figure, the common terminal 3 has an extension portion _30A2 extending from the first end portion _30A1 of the first columnar member 30A to below the connecting portion 30C. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the extension portion _30A2 is embedded in the base 2 and fixed to the base 2. In addition, the common terminal 3 has three bending points BP between the extension portion _30A2 and the external connection terminal 3A (see Fig. 11), and the reason for this is as follows. The common terminal 3 is punched out in an expanded state in which it is connected integrally with the normally open fixed terminal 4 and the normally closed fixed terminal 5, and then, while maintaining the connected state of each terminal 3, 4, 5, each terminal 3, 4, 5 is bent through a fixing process of each contact 4b, 5b, and then each terminal 3, 4, 5 is insert molded into the base 2 and then separated.In this case, if the common terminal 3 is bent at only one point, the support frame 30 of the common terminal 3 will interfere with the adjacent normally open fixed terminal 4 in the expanded state, and this is to eliminate this.

In the example shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, the dimension in the height direction (vertical direction) of the connecting member 30C, that is, the height, is expressed as follows, where the height at the first end _30A1 is _h1 and the height at the second end _30B1 is _h2 :
_h1 > _h2
is set to.

In the example shown in Figures 7 and 8, the height of the connecting member 30C gradually decreases from the end _30A1 to the end _30B1 , and the connecting member 30C is formed in a tapered shape when viewed from the front-rear direction.

1 to 6, 9 and 10, the microswitch 1 is provided with a movable member 6 having a movable contact 6a at one end and capable of swinging up and down around the other end as a fulcrum. The movable contact 6a is made up of a movable contact _6a1 arranged on the upper side and a movable contact _6a2 arranged on the lower side, with the upper movable contact _6a1 being capable of contacting the normally closed fixed contact 5b and the lower movable contact _6a2 being capable of contacting the normally open fixed contact 4b.

The other end of the movable member 6 is bifurcated into two branches, each of which has a rear end surface 60b at its tip, and also has a pair of left and right side walls 6A, 6B. Notches _6A1 , _6B1 are formed at the tip of each of the side walls 6A, 6B. Meanwhile, (first and second) engagement recesses 30A3, 30B3 are formed on the outer surfaces of the first and second columnar members _30A , 30B of the support frame ₃₀ on the base 2 side, respectively. The tip portions of the side walls 6A, 6B of the movable member 6 are engaged with the engaging recesses 30A3, 30B3 of the first and second pillar members 30A, 30B of the support frame 30, respectively (see Figs. 1 to 3, 5 and 7), whereby the other end side of the movable member 6 is supported by the engaging recesses _30A3 , _30B3 of the support frame ₃₀ so as to be able to swing up and _down , and its movement in the up and down direction is restricted by the upper and lower wall surfaces constituting the engaging recesses _30A3 , _30B3 . At this time, the rear end faces 60b of the tip of the other end side of the movable member 6 abut against the first and second pillar members 30A, 30B (see Fig. 9).

As shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 10, the microswitch 1 is equipped with an actuator 7 for reversing the movable member 6 so as to move the movable contact 6a of the movable member 6 from an upper position on the normally closed fixed contact 5b side to a lower position on the normally open fixed contact 4b side. The actuator 7 is disposed in a direction that intersects with the movable member 6 (see Figures 3 and 4).

As shown in FIG. 10, the actuator 7 has a pair of support plate portions 7a, 7b at one end that protrude to the left and right. On the other hand, the base 2 is provided with a pair of left and right receiving stands 20A, 20B that protrude upward, and each receiving stand 20A, 20B is formed with an engagement recess 20a, 20b that is, for example, a V-shaped notch when viewed from the front. Each support plate portion 7a, 7b of the actuator 7 engages with each engagement recess 20a, 20b of the receiving stands 20A, 20B (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). As a result, the actuator 7 is supported by each engagement recess 20a, 20b so that it can swing up and down, and its movement in the up and down direction is restricted by the upper and lower walls that constitute each engagement recess 20a, 20b. The actuator 7 also has an operating portion 71 at the other end that is operated from the outside.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, 9 and 10, the microswitch 1 has a tension coil spring (tension spring) 8. The tension coil spring 8 has hook portions 8a, 8b for locking at each end. The hook portion 8a of the tension coil spring 8 is locked to a locking protrusion 60a (Figure 10) provided on one end of the movable member 6, and the hook portion 8b is locked to a locking protrusion 70a (Figure 10) provided on the other end of the actuator 7. As a result, the tension force of the tension coil spring 8 acts between one end of the movable member 6 and the other end of the actuator 7.

As shown in Fig. 9, one end of the tension coil spring 8 is disposed between the first and second columnar members 30A, 30B of the support frame 30. That is, the first and second columnar members 30A, 30B of the support frame 30 are disposed on both the left and right sides of the tension coil spring 8. Also, as shown in Fig. 10, the actuator 7 has a pair of left and right protruding portions 7c, 7d that protrude upward at the center in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the intermediate position between one end and the other end). Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 11, ( _third ) engagement recesses _30A4 , 30B4 are formed on the inner surfaces of the first and second columnar members 30A, 30B of the support frame 30, respectively. The protrusions 7c, 7d of the actuator 7 engage with the engagement recesses 30A4, 30B4 of the first and second columnar members _30A , _30B of the support frame 30, respectively (see Figure 8), thereby restricting the upward movement of the actuator 7 by the upper wall surfaces that constitute the engagement recesses _30A4 , _30B4 .

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a protrusion 9 that protrudes inward (left side in Figure 3, right side in Figure 4) is provided on the upper part of the extension portion 5c of the normally closed fixed terminal 5, which is extended upward from the base 2 so as to support the contact mounting portion 5a of the normally closed fixed contact 5b from below. The protrusion 9 is disposed to the side of one end of the movable member 6 (the rear side of the paper in Figure 3, the front side of the paper in Figure 4) with a predetermined distance between it and one end of the movable member 6, and overlaps with one end of the movable member 6 when viewed from the front. The protrusion 9 functions as a restricting member for restricting the lateral movement of one end of the movable member 6.

The reason for providing the protrusion 9 as such a restricting member is as follows.
One end on the free end side of the movable member 6 may move excessively to the side due to vibrations and shocks during transportation of the microswitch 1, or due to shocks when the microswitch 1 is dropped during installation. In such a case, by abutting one end of the moved movable member 6 against the protruding portion 9, the amount of lateral movement of one end of the movable member 6 is prevented from becoming excessive, and the other end of the movable member 6 is prevented from coming off the first and second columnar members 30A and 30B of the support frame 30.

Furthermore, in the microswitch 1, as described above, the tip portions of the side wall portions 6A, 6B at the other end of the movable member 6 engage with the engagement recesses _30A3 , 30B3 of the first and second columnar members 30A, _30B of the support frame 30, respectively (see Figures 5 and 7), and vertical movement is restricted by the upper and lower wall surfaces that constitute each engagement recess _30A3 , _30B3 . This prevents the other end of the movable member 6 from coming off the first and second columnar members 30A, 30B due to the action of direct forces resulting from vibrations and impacts during transportation or impacts when dropped.

Furthermore, in the microswitch 1, as described above, the support plate portions 7a, 7b of the actuator 7 engage with the respective engagement recesses 20a, 20b of the receiving bases 20A, 20B (see Figures 3 and 4), and vertical movement is restricted by the upper and lower wall surfaces that constitute each engagement recess 20a, 20b. This prevents the support plate portions 7a, 7b of the actuator 7 from coming off the receiving bases 20A, 20B due to the action of forces resulting from vibrations and impacts during transport or impacts when dropped. Furthermore, the protrusions 7c, 7d of the actuator 7 engage with the engagement recesses _30A4 , 30B4 of the first and second columnar members 30A, _30B of the support frame 30, respectively (see Figure 8), and the upward movement of the actuator 7 is restricted by the upper wall surfaces that constitute the engagement recesses _30A4 , _30B4 . This makes it possible to prevent the protrusions 7c, 7d of the actuator 7 from coming off the first and second columnar members 30A, 30B due to the action of forces resulting from vibrations and impacts during transport or impacts when dropped.

Next, the operation of the microswitch will be described with reference to FIGS.
Fig. 12 shows the state before the actuator 7 is operated in the microswitch 1, and Fig. 13 shows the state immediately after the actuator is operated. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in Fig. 12, and Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV in Fig. 13.

In the pre-operation state shown in Fig. 12, the movable contact _6a1 of the movable member 6 is in contact with the normally closed fixed contact 5b to close the circuit between the common terminal 3 and the normally closed fixed terminal 5, and a predetermined contact pressure is applied between the contacts by the biasing force of the tension coil spring 8. Also, at this time, as shown in Fig. 14, the axis _CL0 of the tension coil spring 8 substantially coincides with the center lines of the movable contact _6a1 and the normally closed fixed contact 5b of the movable member 6. In other words, the movable contact _6a1 and the normally closed fixed contact 5b are in a state in which their center lines substantially coincide when viewed from above.

When the actuator 7 is operated from this state, as shown in FIG. 13, the actuator 7 swings downward around the engaging recesses 20a, 20b of the receiving platforms 20A, 20B on the base 2 with which the supporting plate portions 7a, 7b on one end of the actuator 7 engage, and the operating portion 71 moves downward. As a result, the movable member 6 is reversed, and the movable member 6 attempts to move from an upper position on the normally closed fixed contact 5b side to a lower position on the normally open fixed contact 4b side.

In this case, immediately before the movable member 6 is reversed by the actuator 7, the movable contact 6a- ₁ of the movable member 6 is still in contact with the normally-closed fixed contact 5b as shown in Fig. 13. Then, as a result of the actuator 7 swinging downward, the distance between the locking projection 60a at one end of the movable member 6, with which the hook portion 8a of the tension coil spring 8 is locked, and the locking projection 70a at the other end of the actuator 7, with which the hook portion 8b is locked, becomes large, and therefore the tension coil spring 8 is stretched, increasing the tensile force acting on one end of the movable member 6.

At this time, the rear end faces 60b of the other bifurcated end of the movable member 6 come into contact with each other (see FIG. 9), and the pressing force acting on each of the first and second columnar members 30A, 30B of the support frame 30 from the other end of the movable member 6 increases. As described above, the first end _30A1 of the first columnar member 30A is fixed to the base 2, and the _second end _30B1 of the second columnar member 30B is not fixed to the base 2. Therefore, when the pressing force acting from the other end of the movable member 6 increases, the second end 30B1 of the second columnar member 30B deforms relatively more than the first end _30A1 of the first columnar member 30A, resulting in a large amount of deformation. In other words, at this time, the second end _30B1 of the second columnar member 30B is displaced relative to the first end _30A1 of the first columnar member 30A, and the amount of displacement is greater than _that of the first end 30A1, and the second columnar member 30B rotates around the first columnar member 30A.

Moreover, in this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the height _h1 of the first end _30A1 is greater than the height _h2 of the second end _30B1 , and preferably the height of the connecting member 30C gradually decreases from the first end _30A1 to the second end _30B1 , so that the connecting member 30C is formed in a tapered shape, and therefore the displacement amount of the second end _30B1 is even greater than the displacement amount of the first end _30A1 .

In addition, since the first end _30A1 of the first columnar member 30A is a fixed end and the second end _30B1 of the second columnar member 30B is a free end, when the pressing force acting on each columnar member 30A, 30B from the other end of the movable member 6 increases, the amount of displacement of the second end _30B1 of the second columnar member 30B is greater than the amount of displacement of the first end 30A1 of the first columnar member _30A .

15, under the action of the tension force of the tension coil spring 8, one end of the movable member 6 is displaced so as to shift laterally around the other end (i.e., rotated laterally). At this time, since the hook 8a on one end of the tension coil spring 8 is engaged with the locking protrusion 60a on one end of the movable member 6, the lateral displacement of the movable member 6 also displaces one end of the tension coil spring 8 laterally. As a result, as shown by the dashed and double-dashed lines in the figure, the axis _CL1 of the tension coil spring 8 is displaced laterally from the position of the axis _CL0 around the other end of the tension coil spring 8 in a direction intersecting with the axis _CL0 . Accordingly, the movable contact _6a1 on one end of the movable member 6 is displaced in a direction intersecting with the axis _CL0 of the tension coil spring 8 while maintaining a state of contact with the fixed contact 5b. At this time, as shown in the figure, the movable contact _6a1 is displaced to the side relative to the normally closed fixed contact 5b (that is, rotates to the side) and slides against the normally closed fixed contact 5b.

In this way, the contact surface can be wiped sufficiently and the insulating coating on the contact surface can be peeled off.

When the actuator 7 is operated further beyond the state shown in FIG. 13, the movable member 6 is inverted and moves from an upper position on the normally closed fixed contact 5b side to a lower position on the normally open fixed contact 4b side, thereby switching the contacts.

In addition, when the movable contact 6a on one end of the movable member 6 returns from a lower position on the normally open fixed contact 4b side to an upper position on the normally closed fixed contact 5b side, the movable contact 6a attempts to displace relative to the normally closed fixed contact 5b in the direction opposite to the displacement direction during the above-mentioned reversal operation, and it is possible that the inertia at that time will cause one end of the movable member 6 to move a large amount to the side.

Even in such a case, by providing a protrusion 9 at a lateral position of one end of the movable member 6, the one end of the movable member 6 that moves laterally can be brought into contact with the protrusion 9, thereby preventing the amount of lateral movement of one end of the movable member 6 from becoming excessive, and avoiding the other end of the movable member 6 coming off the first and second columnar members 30A and 30B of the support frame 30.

[First Modification]
In the above embodiment, the protrusion 9 is provided only on one side of the movable member 6, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this. The protrusion 9 may also be provided on the other side opposite to the one side. That is, in the above embodiment, the protrusion 9 is provided on the back side of the paper in Fig. 3, but it may also be provided on the front side of the paper in the same figure. In this case, the protrusions 9 are provided on both the left and right sides of one end of the movable member 6, and respectively constitute first and second restricting members.

In this case, even if one end of the free end of the movable member 6 moves excessively toward the other side (i.e., toward the front of the paper in FIG. 3) in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned side due to vibrations or shocks during transportation of the microswitch 1, or due to shocks when the microswitch 1 is dropped during installation, the one end of the moved movable member 6 can be abutted against another protrusion 9 to prevent the one end of the movable member 6 from moving excessively toward the other side, thereby preventing the other end of the movable member 6 from coming off the first and second columnar members 30A and 30B of the support frame 30. In other words, in this case, even if one end of the free end of the movable member 6 moves to either side, the other end of the movable member 6 can be prevented from coming off due to that movement.

In this case, the protrusion 9 located on the front side of the paper in FIG. 3 is installed with a specified gap between it and one end of the movable member 6 so as not to impede the movement of the one end of the movable member 6 when it is displaced during the reversal operation of the movable member 6 by the actuator 7. Specifically, it is provided on the extension 5c of the normally closed fixed terminal 5 or the contact attachment part 4a of the normally open fixed terminal 4 above the base 2. When providing it on the contact attachment part 4a, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient insulating distance between it and one end of the movable member 6.

[Second Modification]
In the above embodiment, the protrusion 9 is provided on the base (first housing) 2 side of the microswitch 1, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of providing the protrusion 9 on the base 2 side, a similar protrusion 9 may be provided on the cover (second housing) (not shown) side to be combined with the base 2. In this case, the protrusion 9 on the cover side is formed, for example, by a protruding portion or a rib protruding inward from the inner wall surface of the cover. In addition to the protrusion 9 on the base 2 side as the first restricting member, another protrusion as a second restricting member may be provided on the cover side. In this case, the other protrusion (second restricting member) on the cover side is for restricting the movement of one end of the movable member 6 to the other side, and can restrict the movement of one end of the movable member 6 to both the left and right sides together with the protrusion (first restricting member) 9 on the base 2 side.

[Other Modifications]
The above-described embodiment and each modification should be considered in all respects as merely illustrative of the present invention, and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may, when considering the above teachings, construct various modifications and other embodiments that incorporate the principles of the present invention without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present invention, even if not expressly described herein.

The present invention is useful for microswitches used as detection switches, operation switches, etc.

1: Microswitch

2: Base 20a, 20b: Engagement recess

4b: Normally open fixed contact (second fixed contact)
5b: Normally closed fixed contact (first fixed contact)

6: Movable member _6a1 , _6a2 , 6a: Movable contact

7: Actuator

8: Tension coil spring (tension spring)

9: Protrusion (regulating member)

30: Support frame 30A: First columnar member _30A1 : First end 30A3: (First) engaging recess _30A4 : (Third) engaging recess 30B: _Second columnar member _30B1 : Second end _30B3 : (Second) engaging recess _30B4 : (Third) engaging recess 30C: Connection portion (regulating member)

CL ₀ , CL ₁ : Axis line

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-129928 (see pages 2 to 4, Figures 4 and 5)

Claims (9)

In micro switches,
a movable member, one end of which has a movable contact capable of coming into contact with first and second fixed contacts arranged apart from each other, and the other end of which is supported by a support portion so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, the one end having a tip portion extending beyond the movable contact ;
a restricting member that is disposed at a predetermined interval to the side of the tip portion and that, when the one end moves excessively laterally, comes into contact with the tip portion to restrict the amount of lateral movement of the one end from becoming excessive , thereby preventing the other end from coming off the support portion ;
Equipped with a micro switch. In claim 1,
The tip of the movable member has a narrow tip end portion, and the restricting member is adapted to abut against the tip end portion.
A microswitch characterized by: In claim 1 ,
the first or second fixed contact is attached to a fixed terminal extending vertically from a base, and the restricting member is provided as a protrusion protruding from a part of the fixed terminal;
A microswitch characterized by: In claim 1 or 3 ,
The regulating member has a first regulating member for regulating an excessive amount of movement of the tip end of the movable member in one lateral direction, and a second regulating member for regulating an excessive amount of movement of the tip end of the movable member in the other lateral direction.
A microswitch characterized by: In claim 1,
The microswitch includes a first housing and a second housing that is combined with the first housing,
the restricting member has a first restricting member for restricting an excessive amount of movement of the tip of the movable member to one side, and a second restricting member for restricting an excessive amount of movement of the tip of the movable member to the other side, the first restricting member being provided on the first housing, and the second restricting member being provided on the second housing;
A microswitch characterized by: In claim 1,
a support frame as the support portion that supports the other end of the movable member so as to be swingable in the up and down direction;
a tension spring that applies a tension force to the one end of the movable member,
the support frame is disposed on both sides of the tension spring, and includes a first columnar member disposed on one side of the tension spring and extending in a height direction, and a second columnar member disposed on the other side of the tension spring and extending in a height direction,
the other end of the movable member is bifurcated, one of the bifurcated portions of the other end is swingably engaged with a first engagement recess formed on an outer surface of the first columnar member of the support frame, and the other of the bifurcated portions of the other end is swingably engaged with a second engagement recess formed on an outer surface of the second columnar member of the support frame;
A microswitch characterized by: In claim 1,
a support frame as the support portion that supports the other end of the movable member so as to be swingable in the up and down direction;
an actuator for reversing the movable member so as to move the movable contact from the first fixed contact side to the second fixed contact side;
a tension spring that applies a tension force to the one end of the movable member,
the support frame is disposed on both sides of the tension spring, and includes a first columnar member disposed on one side of the tension spring and extending in a height direction, and a second columnar member disposed on the other side of the tension spring and extending in a height direction,
one end of the actuator is pivotably engaged with an engagement recess provided in the base, the other end of the actuator is engaged with the tension spring, and portions of both sides of the actuator are engaged with third engagement recesses formed in the first and second columnar members, respectively, between the one end and the other end, thereby restricting upward movement of the actuator.
A microswitch characterized by: In claim 1 ,
a support frame as the support portion that supports the other end of the movable member so as to be swingable in the up and down direction;
an actuator for reversing the movable member so as to move the movable contact from the first fixed contact side to the second fixed contact side;
a tension spring that applies a tension force to the one end of the movable member,
When the actuator reverses the movable member, the one end of the movable member is displaced to the side or in the opposite direction under the action of the tensile force of the tension spring, so that the movable contact slides relative to the fixed contact.
A microswitch characterized by: In claim 8,
one end of the tension spring is engaged with the one end of the movable member and the other end is engaged with the actuator, and when the movable member is reversed, the movable member rotates around the other end of the tension spring, causing the movable contact to slide relative to the fixed contact.
A microswitch characterized by:

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