JP2603484Y2 - Vehicle electric switch - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric switch used for motorcycles, snowmobiles and other small vehicles, and more particularly to an electric switch suitable as a brake light switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3, an electric switch S used for a small vehicle covers one side of a main body A with a rubber or other cover B in close contact therewith, and has an electric contact on the inner surface thereof. A switch chamber C is housed therein. The electrical contact is composed of a fixed electrode D fixedly supported on one side of the main body A covered with the cover B, and a movable electrode E slidably supported by the main body A. Two fixed electrodes D are provided symmetrically, and a movable electrode E supported by an operation rod F is provided between them so as to be able to reciprocate. That is, the movable electrode E is configured to advance and retreat between the fixed electrodes D with the reciprocating movement of the operating rod F, thereby conducting or blocking the connection between the fixed electrodes D.

In general, the electric switch S protects the electrodes D and E from water falling from above, such as rainfall or water for washing a vehicle, or muddy water jumping off a road surface, such as puddle water. For this purpose, a boot (not shown) is placed over the operation rod F or the electric wire G led out from the switch chamber C, and the sliding part is sealed with an O-ring J or a dust seal K. Further, components constituting the switch chamber C containing the electrodes D and E, for example, the cover B
Is made of rubber to prevent the rainwater or muddy water from entering.

[0004]

In the structure in which the switch chamber of the electric switch S is sealed as described above, when the operating rod F enters or leaves the switch chamber C with the brake operation, or when the outside air temperature increases. When the pressure changes, a pressure difference occurs between the inside and outside of the switch chamber C, and when water adheres to a connector portion (not shown) to which the electric wire G is connected, the water is sucked from the connector portion due to the pressure fluctuation, and the inside of the electric wire is removed. In some cases, the water entered the switch room C. Even when the connector is of a waterproof type, the entire electric wire (wire harness) of the vehicle is not completely waterproof, and when water adheres to a branch connection portion (so-called intermediate joint portion) in the middle, the same applies. In some cases, water was sucked due to pressure fluctuations and flooded inside the switch chamber.
In addition, once it has entered the interior, there is a problem that it is difficult to re-discharge to the outside due to the seal.

In order to eliminate such inconveniences, a balloon-shaped accumulator made of an elastic material which can be greatly reduced can be provided in the switch room C to reduce the pressure difference, but it requires an unnecessary space. Since the size of the switch is increased, it is not suitable for a vehicle in which a place for loading parts is limited. It is also possible to communicate between the switch room and the atmosphere by a breathing hole.However, if the opening position is not properly selected, water may easily enter the switch room through the breathing hole. Was. Furthermore, in order to adapt the configuration of the breathing hole to the inundation, it is possible to make the breathing hole a maze, but the configuration of the breathing hole becomes complicated, and the form of the existing switch greatly changes, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. There was a problem of soaring.

[0006]

This problem is solved by one side of the subject.
To form a switch room inside, and
A part of the wall of the room is operated with an operating rod
Formed and tightly closed between the switch chamber and the atmosphere except for breathing holes.
Sealed and locked to the main body inside the switch chamber
Fixed electrode and movable electrode supported by the operating rod
Having an electric power which is opened and closed by movement of the operation rod.
Constituting a switch, providing a shaft hole in the operation rod,
The problem is solved by configuring the shaft hole as a breathing hole.
There, the breathing hole is an elongated hole longer than its diameter.
Preferably. In addition, the operation rod is a switch room.
The breathing hole is arranged downward from the operating rod.
It is preferable to drill in the axial direction. In addition,
The breathing hole has a relatively large diameter through hole and a restriction formed in part of it.
And preferably the diaphragm portion
Near the opening on the switch room side of a relatively large diameter through hole
It is good to form.

[0007]

[Action] When the pressure in the switch chamber becomes higher than the outside air due to the operation of the operating rod and the temperature change of the outside air, the air in the switch chamber flows out to the outside air through the breathing hole. Conversely, when the pressure decreases, the outside air flows through the breathing hole. After flowing into the switch chamber, the pressure in the switch chamber is maintained substantially equal to the outside air. Since the flow rate of air flowing through those breathing holes is small and relatively slow, there is no problem even if the breathing hole is long,
A relatively large amount of water moving at a high speed, such as rainfall or splashed mud, is prevented from flowing by long ventilation holes.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an example of an electric switch according to the present invention, specifically, a brake light switch for a motorcycle. As shown in FIG. 1, the electric switch 1 has a switch chamber 4 composed of a main body 3 made of synthetic resin having an external thread 1a on the outer periphery and a rubber cap 1b covering one side of the main body 3. Have. 1e is an electric wire led out of the switch room 4 through the cap 1b, and the other end is a connector 1
h, it is connected to a power source and required electric components 1f. The portion of the electric wire 1e that is led out from the cap body 1b is covered with a rubber boot 1j in a watertight manner.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an operating rod protruding downward from the lower side of the electric switch 1, and moves into and out of the switch chamber 4 to conduct or cut off the electric switch 1. The operation rod 5 is connected to a brake pedal or other operation element 5b via a connection spring 5a engaged with a locking hole 5j formed at the lower end, and is pulled downward when the operation element 5b is operated. The electrical switch 1 is turned on. When the operating element 5b is released, the operating rod 5 retreats into the electric switch 1 and shuts off the electric switch 1.

The electric switch 1 is mounted on a vehicle body (not shown) by inserting a nut member 2 screwed into a male screw 1a into a mounting hole 2f of a bracket 2b provided on the vehicle body side. The nut member 2 has a hexagonal nut shape formed of a hard synthetic resin, and its screw hole is formed to have a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the male screw 1a. That is, the nut member 2 is configured as a so-called self-locking nut that is loosened by being screwed into the male screw 1a with an interference.

An annular groove 2a is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the nut member 2. The annular groove 2a has a width substantially equal to the plate thickness of the bracket 2b, and a relatively hard ring forming one side of the annular groove 2a. Relatively soft elastic portion 2 on the other side of solid portion 2c
d. The elastic portion 2d has several ribs 2e protruding from the outer periphery, and the rib 2e has a conical gradient with a high groove side.

Thus, when the nut member 2 is pushed into the mounting hole 2f with the operating rod 5 down, the rib 2e is attached to the mounting hole 2f.
Is pressed inward by the inner diameter portion and bends inward to reduce the diameter. When the nut member 2 is elastically deformed and further proceeds inside the mounting hole 2f, the bracket 2b eventually reaches the annular groove 2a, contacts the solid portion 2c, and stops. At the same time, the rib 2e is elastically restored to its original shape, and thus the nut member 2 is prevented from coming off. The nut member 2 is pulled out of the mounting hole 2f by pressing the rib 2e from the outside. The mounting structure of the nut member 2 and the mounting hole 2f is a known brake light for a motorcycle. There is not much difference with the switch.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the switch chamber 4 is as follows.
It is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. That is, the small hole 3a, the medium hole 3b, and the large hole 3c formed in the main body 3
It is formed by individual holes and a cap 1b provided to cover the holes. The cap body 1b is made of rubber or a synthetic resin in the form of rubber, has an opening at one end, and has a so-called cup shape in which the remaining portion is closed. A circumferential recess 1c is formed inside the opening, and this recess 1c is formed.
An annular flange 3e having a diameter slightly larger than that provided on the outer periphery of the main body 3 is closely fitted and locked by the elasticity of the cap body 1b so that water does not enter.

In the large-diameter hole 3c of the main body 3, two electrodes 4a, 4a connected to the two electric wires 1e, 1e are symmetrically arranged and locked so as not to move in the axial direction. I have. That is, the two electrodes 4a, 4a are made of a strip-shaped plate made of phosphor bronze, and both ends are cut in the width direction and bent to one side and the other side, and the ends are formed into the medium diameter. An end face 3f connecting the hole 3b and the large-diameter hole 3c;
It is brought into contact with the horizontal through hole 3d formed in the portion c, and is locked so as not to move in the axial direction.

The operating rod 5 is arranged between the two electrodes 4a, 4a. The operating rod 5 has a shaft hole 5d
Is formed of a metal formed of a mild steel, that is, a pipe made of mild steel, is slidably inserted into the small-diameter hole 3a, and is urged in a pushing direction by a coil spring 3h. The inner end of the operating rod 5 is once narrowed to have a small diameter by plastic working, and is further pushed outward in the outer circumferential direction to form a flange 5c. Reference numeral 5e denotes a drawn portion formed at the same time as the formation of the flange 5c, and its cross-sectional area is formed to be less than half of the shaft hole 5d.
As a result, a shaft hole 5d having a length 10 times or more as compared with the hole diameter is formed as a breathing hole in the operation rod 5, and
A narrower narrow portion 5e is provided at the end on the switch chamber side.

An electrode support cylinder 6b made of a synthetic resin and provided with a short-circuit ring 6a is fitted around the outer periphery of the operation rod 5. The electrode support cylinder 6b is fixed by being pressed toward the flange 5c by a coil spring 3h inserted into the medium diameter hole 3b. The operating rod 5 is at the same time a coil spring 3h
The coil spring 3h also serves as a return spring of the operation rod 5 by being resiliently biased in the retreating direction. Thus, when the operating rod 5 reciprocates in the axial direction and the short-circuit ring 6a comes into contact with the two electrodes 4a, 4a, the electric circuit connected to the electric switch 1 conducts, and when the contact is cut off, the electric circuit is cut off. Is done.

The shaft hole 5d allows the inside of the switch chamber 4 to communicate with the atmosphere, and allows the flow of the air therebetween. The shaft hole 5d constitutes a breathing hole according to the present invention. The shaft hole 5d, which is a breathing hole, is oriented vertically downward when attached to the vehicle body, and the throttle portion 5e provided at the inner end is located at the upper part. 5f is an O-ring for sealing between the main body 3 and the operation rod 5, and 5h is a dust seal. Therefore, the inside and outside of the switch room 4 are sealed except for the shaft hole 5d, thereby preventing rainwater, muddy water, or dust from entering the switch room 4.

Further, since the electric switch 1 has no opening that opens upward or to the side, it is possible to prevent water falling from above, such as rainfall, from entering. Further, since the shaft hole 5d is formed to be relatively elongated, the water jumped up from below also
As long as it does not proceed from the direction coinciding with the axis, it can be prevented from proceeding inside. Further, even when the electric switch 1 is submerged, the inside of the switch chamber 4 is sealed and the shaft hole 5d is relatively deep.
By having e, water can be prevented from entering for a considerable time.

The operation of the electric switch 1 according to the embodiment will be described. When the operator 5b of the vehicle is operated, the operating rod 5 is pulled via the connecting spring 5a, and the operating rod 5 projects from the switch chamber 4 against the elasticity of the coil spring 3h. At this time, since the operation rod 5 accompanies the electrode support cylinder 6b by the flange 5c, when the short-circuit ring 6a supported on the outer periphery moves between the two electrodes 4a, 4a,
The connection between them is conducted through the short-circuit ring 6a. That is,
There is conduction between the two electric wires 1e, 1e. When the operation of the operation element 5b is released, the operation rod 5 retreats into the switch chamber 4 by the elastic force of the coil spring 3h, and at the same time, the electrode support cylinder 6b also retreats from between the electrodes 4a, 4a. Thus, no current flows between the two electric wires 1e, 1e.

The electric switch 1 according to the present invention is not limited to a brake light switch but can be applied to all electric switches having an operation rod 5. The electric switch 1 includes a switch that is operated by pulling the operating rod 5 as shown in the figure, and a switch that is directly pressed and operated by operating means such as a brake lever and a brake pedal. is there.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the inside of the switch chamber is sealed except for the breathing hole, there is no pressure difference acting on the sealed portion due to a change in the outside air temperature. Can be maintained for a long time. In addition, if the location of the opening of the breathing hole is selected at a location where the possibility of flooding is small, flooding into the switch room is prevented, rusting and dust accumulation are reduced, and malfunction of the electric switch and reduction in durability can be prevented. . Further, if the breathing hole is formed as an elongated shaft hole formed in the electric switch, there is an effect that water can be prevented without largely changing the structure of the conventional electric switch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a brake light switch of a motorcycle to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the brake light switch according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is taken along the axis of the operating rod.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a conventional brake light switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Electric switch (brake light switch) 1a ... Male screw 1b ... Cap 1e ... Electric wire 1f ... Electrical component 1h ... Connector 1j ... Boot 2 ... Nut member 2a ... Annular groove 2b ... Bracket 2c ... Solid part 2d ... Elastic part 3 ... Main body made of metal 3a ... Small diameter hole 3b ... Medium diameter hole 3c ...・ Large-diameter hole 3d ・ ・ ・ Transverse hole 3e ・ ・ ・ Flange 3f ・ ・ ・ End face 3h ・ ・ ・ Coil spring 4 ・ ・ ・ ・ Switch room 4a ・ ・ ・ Electrode 5 ・ ・ ・ ・ Operation rod 5a ・..Connection spring 5b ... operator 5d ... shaft hole (breathing hole) 6a ... short-circuit ring 6b ... electrode support cylinder made of synthetic resin

Claims (5)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A forming a switch chamber therein covered on one side the cap body of the main body, a part of the wall of the switch chamber formed in a possible operating rod forward and backward to the chamber, and the air switch chamber Between the chamber and the switch chamber
The fixed electrode locked to the main body inside the
And a movable electrode supported by the operating rod.
An electric switch for a vehicle , comprising: an electric switch which is opened and closed by the operation rod; a shaft hole provided in the operation rod; and the shaft hole serving as a breathing hole. Wherein Oite to claim 1, wherein the ventilation hole electrical switch of the vehicle which is longer elongated hole than its diameter. 3. An electric switch for a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein said operation rod is disposed downward from a switch chamber, and said breathing hole is formed in said operation rod in an axial direction. 4. An electric switch for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said breathing hole comprises a relatively large diameter through hole and a throttle formed in a part thereof. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the throttle section is relatively small.
An electric switch for a vehicle, which is formed in the vicinity of the opening of the large-diameter through hole on the switch room side.