EP0860846B1 - Electrical power regulator, in particular for electric heaters - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical control device having the features of the preamble of claim 1 or 12.

Electrical control devices, which include switches, power control devices or similar devices which affect the functions of the connected devices, are intended in particular for the electric heating range, but also for other devices, such as household appliances, usually with rotary actuation and accordingly have a control shaft. In electric cooking appliances, there are often several independently operable units, e.g. four or five hotplates per cooktop. For this purpose, individual control devices, e.g. Cam switches or clocking power control devices are provided, which must be individually mounted and wired.

From DE 30 50 926 C, an electrical control unit in the form of a four-way switch block has become known, which consists of a sheet metal frame, can be snapped into the individual insulating, carry the functional parts such as contact springs and mating contacts. On the back of Isolierplatten plug contacts are provided.

DE 36 35 324 C shows a power control device with a box-shaped, closed by a lid housing and freestanding flat tabs on the back. It also shows how these individual devices are mounted on a frame plate. A board common to all devices runs along a side parallel to the switching waves and is connected to the devices by wire connections. On the circuit board plug connections for low-current circuits (signal lines) are provided, while in another level at the individual switches, the connector terminals for the power supply are arranged freely protruding.

EP 622 819 A1 shows a switching device with a base plate and an upper housing part into which a connector plug is inserted. In this case, the receptacle for the connector on a coding by projections and recesses, in which it fits exactly. At the switching device, a single receptacle for a single connector is provided.

The CH 387 742 A shows a switch for electric heaters. On one side of a switch housing various terminals are provided, by means of which a contact with the switch with appropriate cables is possible. Plug or the like are not provided here.

FR 2 349 697 A shows a switching device., In which the electrical connection via plug connection lugs or clamping springs takes place. The plug-in lugs or clamping springs are arranged in individual chambers and are electrically contacted by individual cables, namely either sockets or contact sleeves.

DE 15 90 137 A shows a rotary switch with a housing. From this housing plug-in lugs stand for an electrical contact.

TASK AND SOLUTION

The object of the invention is to provide an electrical control device that allows an improved and simplified and above all easy to install and reliable way of connecting the inlets and outlets. This object is achieved by claim 1 and claim 12.

Characterized in that several are each arranged to an incoming or outgoing wiring harness or wiring harness tabs in arranged in the housing plug-in chambers, they are completely protected, both against mechanical and the electrical safety influencing conditions. So it is also possible to provide the connections in a very narrow, preferably a 5 mm grid, without short circuits or overheating are to be feared. Above all, it is possible to encode the walls of the plug chambers through slots which are provided in different numbers, dimensions or positions so that only the correspondingly formed sockets fit. These can contain any number of tab connectors in a row. Thus, you can work with pre-assembled cable harnesses that already contain these sockets. It is thus a significant potential for failure during installation and also in a possible repair of electrical appliances, especially of electric cooking appliances switched off. Miswiring is the most common cause of error during installation. This can be turned off by the coding of the harnesses associated with the cooperating male and female sockets.

Such codes have already been proposed for a plug-in connection of another type. With separate plugs, the Macromodul- or group plug technology is in use. However, the invention makes it possible with the immediate integrated inclusion of the plug chambers in the housing and also by the fact that the terminal side of the housing entirely reserved for the plug-in connections and they are electrically isolated by the sockets, a particularly favorable, stable and electrically safe switch or to build a controller.

This is especially true when several control units, such as cam switches, power control devices (generally referred to as energy regulator) o. The like. Are arranged in a unitary and preferably one-piece housing. This then usually does not need a lid, because the terminal side is completely closed electrically and the functional side with switch contacts o. The like. By mounting on a corresponding component of the electrical appliance is completed. Particularly advantageously, at least one control unit contained in the housing may include a cam switch with bending switching springs, which are punched from a circuit board. So it can always comb-like design a plurality of switching springs and in a bending-springing section subsequent switching arm be stiffened by lateral bending, so that a production of a good flexural elastic material is possible without the switching arm to be too flexible, which could be problematic in the opening of an adhesive contact.

It when two such boards, possibly mirror images aligned with each other, are combined by a common connecting part to form a unit, wherein the associated tabs can be formed on the connecting parts is particularly advantageous. They engage through slots in the bottom of the housing and thus provide the connection to the terminal side and at the same time a secure fixing of the switching spring assembly.

This design also makes it possible prefabricate the individual boards in the form of a coherent band and to equip with welded contacts. They can thus be rolled up as an endless belt fed to an assembly machine and are deflected immediately prior to assembly only in the required number of individual switching springs. The mating contacts make it possible to place the switch contacts centrally in the plane of the tab by a turn in the form of a "7", so that they are always loaded centrally.

According to a further feature of the invention, the cam switch can work with a sliding contact bridge. This contains two switch contacts, which work together with fixed mating contacts and bridges them when they are pressed against it by a spring. Here a very short switching stroke is possible, because the contact distance can be halved by the use of two contacts in the current flow. The contact bridge can be relatively solid, even if made of flat material, and thus performs the good heat generated by an opening spark. It makes it possible in particular to comply with the small distances between the individual contact paths, which are predetermined by the 5 mm grid. On both sides of the contact bridge then there is still sufficient space to provide vertically through the switch leading ventilation channels containing openings in the bottom of the switch housing. Even with the individual flat tabs, a certain ventilation for heat dissipation can be provided by the slots into which they are introduced and which, for example, break through the ground, are widened in a central region. This not only facilitates the introduction of the flat tabs without compromising their grip, but also allows a vent flow to dissipate the resulting heat due to any transitional losses.

These and other features will become apparent from the claims but also from the description and drawings, wherein the individual features each alone or more in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields be realized and advantageous and protectable Represent embodiments for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections as well as intermediate headings does not restrict the general validity of the statements made thereunder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf ein Steuergerät mit zwei Nockenschaltern,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Unteransicht des Steuergerätes nach Fig. 1 mit einer zugehörigen Steckerbuchse

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Gehäuses des unbestückten Steuergerätes entsprechend Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht zweier Schaltfeder-Einheiten mit zugehörigen Anschlußteilen,

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Satzes von Gegenkontakten für die Schaltfeder nach Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

eine schematische Unteransicht eines Steuergerätes mit angedeuteten Steckerbuchsen,

Fig. 7

zwei Basisformen zur Herstellung von Steuergeräten mit unterschiedlichem SteuerwellenAbstand,

Fig. 8

einen Querschnitt durch ein Steuergerät mit einer anderen Ausführung der Schaltkontakte,

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Schaltachse, Gegenkontakte und einer diese verbindenden Kontaktbrücke,

Fig. 9a

einen Schnitt durch ein Rastelement,

Fig. 10

perspektivische Ansichten zweier Arten dort verwendeter Gegenkontakte,

Fig. 11

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines taktenden Leistungssteuergerätes mit vorgeschaltetem Nockenschalter, ebenfalls mit zwei Einheiten,

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf das Gerät nach Fig. 11,

Fig. 13

eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf das unbestückte Gehäuse des Gerätes nach Fig. 11 und 12,

Fig. 14

einen schematischen Querschnitt, der das Aufbauprinzip des Reglers zeigt,

Fig. 15 und 16

eine perspektivische Ansicht und eine Seitenansicht der beiden Steuergeräte-Baueinheiten aus den Figuren 11 und 12,

Fig. 17

ein Detail eines in den Steuergeräten verwendeten Bimetalls,

Fig. 18 und 19

zwei Ausführungsformen eines Bauteiles der der Steuergeräte,

Fig. 20

ein Schema eines Verbindungssystems zwischen zwei Abschnitten der Bauteile Fig. 18 und 19,

Fig. 21

eine mechanische und elektrische Kontaktierungsfeder für die Steuergeräte,

Fig. 22

eine Seitenansicht eines Steuergerätes mit einem Schleifkontaktgeber,

Fig. 23 und 24

Ansicht und Draufsicht auf einen Schleifkontaktgeber,

Fig. 25

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Schaltwelle mit einem Schleppnockenteil,

Fig. 26 und 27

perspektivische Ansichten und Seitenansichten sowie Schnitte des Schleppnockenteiles,

Fig. 28 und 29

Seitenansicht und Draufsicht auf die Schaltwelle mit Schleppnockenteil.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a perspective top view of a control unit with two cam switches,

Fig. 2

a perspective bottom view of the control unit of FIG. 1 with an associated socket

Fig. 3

1 is a perspective view of the housing of the unpopulated control unit according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of two switching spring units with associated connecting parts,

Fig. 5

a perspective view of a set of mating contacts for the switching spring of FIG. 4,

Fig. 6

a schematic bottom view of a control unit with indicated sockets,

Fig. 7

two basic forms for the production of control units with different control shaft spacing,

Fig. 8

a cross section through a control unit with another embodiment of the switch contacts,

Fig. 9

a perspective view of the switching axis, mating contacts and a contact bridge connecting them,

Fig. 9a

a section through a locking element,

Fig. 10

perspective views of two types of mating contacts used there,

Fig. 11

a perspective view of a clocking power control unit with upstream cam switch, also with two units,

Fig. 12

a perspective top view of the device of FIG. 11,

Fig. 13

a perspective top view of the bare housing of the device according to FIGS. 11 and 12,

Fig. 14

a schematic cross section showing the principle of construction of the controller,

FIGS. 15 and 16

3 a perspective view and a side view of the two control unit assemblies from FIGS. 11 and 12,

Fig. 17

a detail of a bimetal used in the control units,

FIGS. 18 and 19

two embodiments of a component of the control units,

Fig. 20

a diagram of a connection system between two sections of the components Fig. 18 and 19,

Fig. 21

a mechanical and electrical contact spring for the control units,

Fig. 22

a side view of a control unit with a sliding contactor,

FIGS. 23 and 24

View and top view of a sliding contactor,

Fig. 25

a perspective view of a switching shaft with a tow cam part,

FIGS. 26 and 27

perspective views and side views as well as sections of the tow cam part,

FIGS. 28 and 29

Side view and top view of the shift shaft with tow cam part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT (FIGS. 1 to 7)

Figures 1 to 5 show an electrical control unit 11 in the form of a double cam switch with a housing consisting of a thermosetting or thermosetting plastic part housing 12 and two control units 61, which have two mutually parallel, parallel control shafts 13 with switching cam 14.

The switch housing for the double cam switch, which can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, is made of plastic injection molding essentially without undercuts, so that it can be produced in a two-part mold with only a few mold slides (eg for the front opening 15 for receiving the switching shaft). It has the general shape of a longitudinally rectangular frame with a front side 16, a rear side 17 and two narrow sides 18, 19. By a multiply perforated and stiffened by high intermediate wall sections 20 bottom 21 a generally cup-shaped functional space 22 is delimited within the side walls 16-19. The projecting into this space intermediate wall sections 20 serve to accommodate and delimitation of functional parts of the switch. In the functional space 22, two mutually parallel switch chambers 23 are delimited, in the region of the bottom 21 to the functional space opposite terminal side 24 is lowered and broken by ventilation holes 25.

In the area of the switch chambers 23, openings 15, 26 for receiving and supporting the switching shafts 13 are provided in the front and rear walls 16, 17.

The bottom 21 is, in particular in the area of frame-like upwardly projecting intermediate wall portions 20, multiple slot-like broken to receive functional parts, such as terminal tab 27 of mating contacts 28 or 29 shift springs. The apertures 30 are slot-shaped with a widened middle part 72 (see FIG. 2).

On the front are openings 31 to each side of the control shaft 13, which are designed to receive fastening screws with which the switch can be attached to a device, such as a Elektroärme- or cooking appliance. For this purpose, 32 nuts are inserted secured against rotation in chambers (not shown).

On the connection side 24, the housing also contains separated by intermediate wall portions 20 terminal chambers 33. From its bottom protrude the tabs 27, which are integrally formed on the functional parts 28, 29 and connected thereto. They are arranged in a predetermined grid parallel to each other aligned. A preferred grid spacing is 5 mm. The two contact surfaces 34 of the tabs are directed transversely to the longitudinal extent of the connecting chamber 33, which usually has a longitudinally rectangular shape. In the longitudinal walls of the terminal chambers 27 slots 35 are arranged parallel to the direction of insertion of the flat tabs, which are different in their number and shape, ie their width and position for each of the terminal chamber 33. In still explained This way, a distinctive coded terminal arrangement is made possible. Fig. 2 shows that although the connectors are arranged raster, but not all grid positions are occupied. Thus, for example, in the left upper chamber in FIG. 2 on three in 5 mm grid juxtaposed flat connector 27 follows a gap, which then again follow two in-grid terminal tab 27. The pitch between the connectors is 5 mm or a multiple of it, or 2.5 of them (also a 7.5 mm locking distance is possible).

Fig. 4 shows two units 36, each with two oppositely directed groups of three switching springs 29. The switching springs 29 of each group are punched from a common board 36 of good electrically conductive resilient material. They then have on a leaf spring-like flexible portion 137 each have a V-shaped bend 37, which runs on a cam 14 of the shift shaft, and then a switching arm 38 which carries at its end an applied by spot welding or riveting switch contact 39. For stiffening the switching arms their longitudinal sides are upwards, i. from the switching contacts, bent up and form longitudinal stiffeners 40. Each board 36 may have any number of switching arms. It may also, if the function requires, individual switching arms be omitted.

Each two opposing boards 36 are connected by a connecting part 41 with each other. It consists of a stamped sheet metal part which is connected to the sinkers 36 by means of welding, riveting or embossing deformation 142 (similar to FIG. 20). Subsequent to a middle connecting bridge 42, a plate guiding the strip, they overlapping and stiffening transverse strip 43 is formed on each side. Each two Anschlußflachstecker protrude for each board 36, of which Connecting strips bent at right angles, through slots 44 in the board. Each unit 46 thus forms a functional section with a total of six contacts, which lie centrally at the same potential, but each have three different switching outputs for each of the two cam switch contained in the cam switch unit 11. Fig. 1 shows that two of these units are arranged in the form of a double cam switch controller 11, so that each cam switch six mating contacts 28 can operate.

Mating contact parts 52, 53 are also produced as stamped sheet metal parts. Subsequent to a tab 26 of the mating contact portion 52 forming sheet metal section is two-stage widened T-shaped so that it forms on support shoulders 45, 49 for fixing position in the slots 30 and the deforming attachment. At the opposite side of the tab 27 a sheet metal tab 47 is cut out and bent obliquely to one side and then at right angles to the extension of the tab 27 having surface over the top edge 48 of the crossbar. In this area, a mating contact 28 is riveted or welded centrally above the flat plug level, e.g. a silver contact. The bent in the form of a "7" sheet metal tabs 47 has in the region of its more than 90 ° bend 50 on a bend facilitating hole 51.

Each switching shaft are, corresponding to the six switching arms 38, six mating contacts 28 are provided which are provided on four individual mating contact parts 52, each with a tab and a mating contact and a double mating contact part 53 with two mating contacts 28 and two tabs 27.

To the functional parts still belongs a locking part 54, which will be described in connection with FIGS. 9 and 9a. It is in a latching portion 55 near the front side 16 of the housing 12th arranged and works for detent fixing the switch shaft in the individual switching positions with a star wheel 56 (Fig. 9) together. In a cylindrical guide chamber 57 in the latching portion 55, the locking part 54 is guided. Its spherical head is pressed by means of a spring 58 into the recesses of the detent star 56. The locking part 54 consists of a cylindrical sleeve-shaped part made of plastic with good sliding properties. It has a spherical contact surface for Raststern and on its back a sleeve-like recess for guiding the spring 58. It combines the advantages of a detent ball (insensitivity to tilting, low friction) with those of a locking slide (ease of manufacture and assembly).

Fig. 6 shows schematically the plug 59, which are inserted on the connection side 24 in the connection chambers 33 and there contact the connector 27 (see also Fig. 2). It is in the basic form rectangular plug or sockets that have in 5 mm grid side by side contact sockets for electrically contacting recording of the terminal tab. On the outside of their plug housing they have web-like projections 60 which fit into the slots 35 of the terminal chambers. These projections are formed and arranged in cooperation with the slots 35 so that they represent a unique coding for the connected harness 170. Each one particular plug 59 thus fits only in a specific terminal chamber 33 and no other.

The control unit 11, which consists in the embodiment of two separately operable, formed by cam switches control units 61 may also be formed using even a single housing with even more, for example, four parallel control units. The entire arrangement of the switch and in particular the Gehäues is formed so that the belonging to the individual control units 61 functional components and their recordings in the housing 12 are limited to functional areas 62, within which the previously described functional components are arranged. Between these functional regions 62 there is in each case an intermediate region 63, which has no functional components and is only bridged by the connecting bridge 42 of the connecting part 41 of the two units 46.

It is thereby possible, using the plastic injection molds of the same functional components switch housing for control units 11, which are different in their extent transverse to the axes 64 of the switch shafts, but with respect. Their configuration in the functional areas 62 identical manufacture. This production of switches with different distances of the switch shaft axes 64 from each other is significant because of structural and designerischen reasons manufacturers of electrical appliances, such as cookers and hobs, often require different gagging distances of the switch. So far, then individual switches had to be used or each switch to be used with very different designs housings.

MANUFACTURE AND FUNCTION (Fig. 1 to 7)

Fig. 7 shows schematically a design of the plastic injection mold for a housing 12 of four control units 61 with different gagging distances, which build on the same base moldings.

The housing of the control unit 11 is produced by injection molding in molds, which are indicated schematically in Fig. 7 in two different versions. In one Forming tool 65, which surrounds a base mold space 66 in the manner of a frame, individual mold cavities 68 are inserted, and in the exemplary embodiment, four mold cavities which each contain the (complementary) mold for a functional region 62.

In between, mold spacers 67 are provided, which are inserted into the base mold space 66 and designed so that they fit the appropriate mold sections for the functional areas and thus form the intermediate regions 63. These mold spacers 67 can be made of different widths and used in correspondingly wide basic mold spaces 66 together with the same functional mold sections 68. Since the intermediate portions 63 include only simple connectors, the associated mold cavities 67 are easy to produce in different widths, while the complicated shaped shape portions 68 can be used for the functional areas for all otherwise the same switch with different Knebelabstand.

The functional parts are prepared in the manner previously described. It is particularly advantageous that the boards 36 and possibly also further molded from sheet metal functional parts can be manufactured as a continuous band and immediately before installation, possibly even in the assembly machine, can be cut from this volume. This facilitates manufacture and assembly, in particular the supply of parts. The preparation of the functional parts in the form of an endless belt also makes it possible, e.g. Produce boards 36 with different number of switching arms 38 by simply more or less wide pieces are separated from the belt.

The control shafts 13 are used, whereby they can be mounted by pivoting. They are guided with their front ends through the bearing apertures 15 and fixed at the back by clipping. It can be seen that the opening 26 are formed on the back without moving mold slide by matching cutouts 69 on the inside and outside of the rear wall 17. This also creates sufficient elasticity to depress the precisely sized shaft from above and snap into the opening 26.

Thereafter, the mating contact members 52, 53 and then the contact spring units 46 are inserted from the side of the functional space 22 ago with their terminal tabs 27 in the slots provided 30 until they define their position with their shoulders 45 or other attacks. In the embodiment, then takes place from the connection side 24 forth only a caulking, in which in the region of one of the shoulders 49 with a chisel-like tool, the flat material is laterally expanded to fix the parts positively. But it would also be possible to form on the connector instead of Verstemmungsschultern 49 barb-like issued metal tabs that engage on a daily basis.

In any case, however, the entire supply of all units, ie the main part of the assembly, take place from one side, namely from the functional space side 22. This makes a significant advantage during assembly, since no costly rotations of the housing in the automatic assembly machine are necessary , The housing is very well stiffened due to its many intermediate walls 20, which also define the functional parts unilaterally open chambers, so that switch blocks with eg four or more parallel cam switches with relatively little material costs can be produced. The switch is thus ready for installation and connection.

For installation, the switch is normally mounted with the side of the functional space 22 down on a horizontal wall of the electrical appliance, for example on the bottom of a cooktop. As a result, this side and the current-carrying parts are covered therein, so that no separate cover is needed. So it is only a one-piece housing necessary.

The terminal side 24 then located above is now wired by means of the plug 59. These plugs are located on prefabricated harnesses 170. They are plugged into the terminal chambers 33 and due to their coding via the slots 35 and the projections 60 they are unmistakably coded, so that no miswiring is possible. The connectors also cover all live part on the connection side, so that there is no insulating cover is necessary.

To use the switch is inserted after installation in an electrical appliance on the one-sided flattening 70 provided with switching shaft 13 each have an unillustrated actuating knob or knob and the switch operated by turning the switch shaft. In this case, the individual switching positions are determined by the latching star in cooperation with the latching part 54. The switching cams 14 raise by means of the inherent resilience of their spring portions 137 which lie on the mating contacts 49 switch spring arms 38 according to the predetermined by the cam shapes switching scheme for opening by the cams cooperate with the bends 37. By the shape of the mating contacts shown in Fig. 5 with centrally over the same time the determination of the mating contact component causing the flat plug arranged mating contact this is only loaded centrally and is therefore not exposed to tilting forces. The mating contacts are loaded in the insertion direction and can be inserted in both orientations.

The cam switch can thus serve two input poles as a result of its two switching spring units 46 and three outgoing poles of these connected differently. By mirrored each with two parallel cam switches arrangement (the switch spring arms have in a switch spring unit 46 respectively in opposite directions) is given in addition to a structural simplification, the possibility to use two cam switches with only one input terminal. The three remaining connection tongues 27 can be used for further wiring.

The only functional component that must be different for switches different Knebelabstandes is the connecting part 41, which receives a different length connection bridge 42. In the event that the cam switch should also be separated on the input side, this connecting bridge can also be omitted.

The open lidless design, the heat dissipation from the switch is good. In each switch occur due to switching sparks, ohmic heating in the switch components and in particular due to the contact resistance between the contacts and to the connectors heats, which can be problematic especially for electric heaters because of the high currents. Due to the open design, the ventilation is very good and the switch heating is kept within limits. This also contributes to the fact that in particular by the contact resistances of the connectors and the heat dissipating contact with the mating contacts thermally loaded tabs are also ventilated in that the slots 30 in which they are stuck, have a broadened central portion 71, through the air on the tab along can flow. Above all, but through the ventilation holes 25, the switch chamber 23 well ventilated and can dissipate heat generated by convection.

The previously described assembly and operation modes are also used in the embodiments described below and are only supplemented in their description. The particular design and shape of the housing and other parts can be found in all embodiments of the detailed drawings, to which reference is expressly made.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT FIGURES 8 TO 10

Fig. 8 shows a cross section through a variant with a two-part housing. There, the switching shaft 13 is fixed between two housing parts 12a and 12b. The terminal-side housing part 12b includes the terminal chambers 33 and the slots 35 through which the terminal tabs 27 protrude. The functional-side housing part 12a defines the mating contact components 52a, 53a (see FIG. 10). The cam switch works with a linearly movable contact bridge 72, which bridges two fixed mating contacts 49a, 49b. The contact bridge consists of a small plate of fairly bulky flat material which has near its two ends depending on a switching contact 39a, 39b. Between these, a recess is provided on the upper longitudinal side in FIG. 8, in the middle of which a projection 73 cooperating with the switching cam 14 is provided. By means of the engagement point of the switching cam 14 recessed in relation to the switching contact plane, a tilt-free parallel guidance of the contact bridge 72 is promoted.

On the opposite longitudinal side receptacles for two cylinder compression springs 74 are provided. The contact bridge is located in a contact bridge chamber 75 which supports the springs and guides the contact bridge but is otherwise largely open. It results in that it is easily movable vertically in Fig. 8. Also, the corresponding bottom portion in the connection-side housing part 12b, which limits the switch chamber 23, is provided with ventilation slots 25a and otherwise formed round tunnel-shaped.

The two mating contact components 52a and 53a can be seen from FIG. The individual mating contacts consist of a strip of flat material which has, subsequent to its Flachstekkerteil 27 has a laterally projecting arm 76 which is rotated in the material by 90 °, so that the mating contact 49a thereto by welding of a wire section, e.g. made of silver wire, can be attached. Provided on the tab portion, punched and laterally barbed issued portions 77, the component can also be defined without support by the second housing part.

The mating contact component 53a contains on each side three mating contacts and two flat plugs 27, which each form a mirror image of a total of six mating contacts supporting unit, which bridges the distance between two cam switches. The connecting bridge 42 between them is in turn made different in length according to the width of the intermediate section 63 depending on the toggle distance.

The contact bridge consists of a flat stamped part made of flat material. The two switching contacts 39a, 39b are attached directly to the narrow sides by welding a wire, eg silver wire, which is then cut to length. The shape can also be seen from Fig. 9, which shows the most essential functional components of a cam switch.

Also, this switch makes it possible, like that of Figures 1 to 5, to make do with extremely small axial distances between the individual contact paths, namely in 5 mm grid. While there recognizable in Fig. 1, separated by intermediate wall sections 20 contact chambers 78 produce the necessary leakage current paths between the contacts, these are in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10, the contact bridge chambers 75th

Fig. 8 shows the switch in the open position. The switching cam 14 presses the contact bridge 72 against the force of the springs 74 down, so that between the respective associated contacts 39a, 49a and 39b, 49b, an opening gap is formed. However, this needs to be according to the regulations only half as large as in a single contact, because the opening gaps add in so far respect. The rollover safety. The heat generated by the opening sparks is well distributed in the rather massive contact bridge 72. The opening sparking is, however, lower compared to switches having only one contact pair.

When turning away the switching cam 14 of the projection 73, the springs 74 press the contact bridge 72 upwards and close the respective contacts (position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 8). The current then flows through the contacts and the contact bridge to the opposite mating contact. The opening is forced and without the interposition of resilient elements. Thus, "sticky" contacts can be opened. Due to the symmetrical structure, the actuating torque is the same in both directions of rotation.

With the arrows symbolizing an air guide, it is shown in FIG. 8 that the switch chamber 23 opens through the contact bridge chamber 75 opened at the bottom and the ventilation slots 25a vented good and heat-dissipating, through the slot spacers 71 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and a ventilation flow along the tabs can flow. Above all, the contact bridge 72, which is thermally stressed by the opening spark, is coated with cooling air along its surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT ACCORDING TO FIGURES 11 TO 29

While FIGS. 1 to 10 enable cam switches for the sequential activation of different switching functions, for example a so-called 7-stroke circuit in electric cooking appliances or the different switching stages, grill, top heat and bottom heat or the like in ovens etc., FIGS to 29 a plurality of combined in a unit 11 clocking power control units 80 each with its own switching shaft 13, 13a and superior dreipohligem cam switch 61st

The housing shown in Fig. 13 is generally and in particular in its Nockenschalterabschnitt near the front 16 constructed as described with reference to FIG. 3. The modular design of the mold sections with mold spacers to create different distances between the control shafts 13 from each other, as explained with reference to FIG. 7, is provided here. Further, the functional components of the cam switch part are the same as in the first-described embodiment. It eliminates only the second group of three of the cam switch and the control shaft 13 is correspondingly shorter and in a middle bearing 81, in which it can be snapped with its rear end out. Behind this intermediate bearing 81, a receiving chamber 82 for a manufactured as a functional module and there from the side of the functional space 22 forth usable power control device is provided in each case. The two power controllers of the illustrated Two blocks (here, any number is possible) are identical, but mirror-inverted installed offset. In this way, as in the case of the cam switches, mutually associated connections 83 can be directly connected to one another via the intermediate region 63, wherein it can be seen that different widths of the intermediate section can be compensated for by overlapping formation of the connection bridges 83 (FIG.

The basic principle of the power control module 80 can be best seen from Fig. 14, but which shows the module installed in a two-piece housing design according to Figures 8 to 10. It is a clocking power control unit that controls the released power adjustable by power pulses of different duty cycle and period. These devices are also referred to as "energy regulators". They work thermally by means of a bimetal 84, which is heated in each case in synchronism with the consumer by a thick film heater 99 mounted on a ceramic plate 85. The bent bimetal is connected via a leaf spring bearing 86 with a metallic angle housing 87 and presses with its front, bent end 88 on a snap spring 89 of a snap switch 90. The snap spring has a central, supported on a support finger 91 spring tongue 92, which its one contact 93rd bearing front end gives a snap characteristic. The contact 93 cooperates with a mating contact 94. The snap spring is connected near its end contacted by the bimetal with a parallel thereto spring portion 95 which is riveted to the snap spring carrier 94 and also forms its hinge leaf spring to the angle housing 87 out.

The snap-action spring carrier 94 forms, with a deflection 96, a wiper, which runs on a switching cam 97 which bears against a hollow control shaft 13 a of the power control device 80 is formed. It can be coupled to the control shaft 13 via a clutch 89 to be recognized in FIGS. 15 and 16. The coupling is a dog clutch with a coding for connection to a corresponding control shaft 13, which also enables lateral displacement a coupling and thus mounting the control shaft from the functional space side.

The bimetal is supported via the ceramic plate 85 carrying the bimetallic heater 99 on an adjusting screw 100, which is screwed into a compensation bimetal 101 in FIGS. 14 and 17 (bimetal detail), which serves to compensate the influence of the room temperature on the power control.

The heater 99 is electrically contacted by a leg spring 102 at one end, which is shown in FIG. It is inserted with a coil spring portion on a pin 103 of a plastic side part 104 and extends from there along the upper edge of this side part, then traverses the housing of the control unit 80 and extends downward (see Fig. 12), with this leg 105 and one provided loop against the side of a mating contact member 52 (see Fig. 11) to press and contact this electrically.

The other terminal side of the heater 99 is formed by a receiving pocket 106 (FIG. 17) which keeps the ceramic pad 85 thermally contacted to the bimetal 84.

The frame of the power control module 80 is essentially formed of two parts, namely the plastic side part 104 and the angle frame 87. This is shown in Figures 18 and 19 in two variants, but the basic structure are the same: From a side plate 107, in the bearing 108 of the control shaft 13a is provided at an angle to an upper part 109 and a side part 110 bent. From this in turn by bending by 90 ° two tabs 27 are bent. At the root of one of the tabs, the angle housing is closed in terms of power, in that it is in turn connected to the side plate 107 by a stamped connection 111.

The angle frame is thus one made of a single piece of sheet metal, three mutually perpendicular parts comprehensive frame, which forms the housing and a torsionally rigid receptacle for the functional parts of the power control unit 80 together with the thus caulked tabs 112 connected plate-shaped plastic side part 104. At the same time, it makes the electrical connection via the flat latches 27. The corresponding, connected to the mating contact terminal 113 consists of an angled in four planes sheet metal part with two in the predetermined grid parallel to each other directed flat tabs 27, a side part 114 (FIGS. 15 and 16) and an outside along the plastic side part 104 extending connecting rail 115, from the carrier of the mating contact 94 is angled and protrudes through the plastic side part. Instead of the connecting bridge 83 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a separate connecting web 83a may connect this connecting part 113 to that of the adjacent module.

FIG. 18 shows the variant of the angle frame 87, which is used together with the bimetal embodiment according to FIG. 17 (see also FIGS. 11, 12 and 15). The compensation bimetal 101 according to FIG. 17 then has an incision 126 on the internal threaded hole which clampingly and thus self-holdingly holds the thread for the adjusting screw 100.

Another type of fuse is shown in FIG. There, the adjusting screw 100 is directly in the upper part 109 of the angle frame screwed on there provided an internal thread. This thread is also provided in a bent around 180 ° tab 117, but when tapping the tab is slightly deformed elastically or plastically after tapping. By thus adjusting resilient load between the two threaded parts in which the adjusting screw 100 is screwed, there is also a self-holding effect or-konterung. In this case, no compensation bimetal is provided at this point, but the snap spring carrier 94 is formed as a compensation bimetal.

Fig. 20 shows the preferred connection between sheet metal parts, such as between the sections 107 and 110 of the angle frame 87. It may also be provided in other places of the switch or power control device. In the sheet material, a hole is provided which has a constriction 118 in the direction of the part to be connected. Matching the dimensions of the hole 109, the part to be connected thereto has a pronounced projection 120 in the manner of a short pin. Hole and projection can be produced by the punching tool in the production of the sheet metal part. After both parts are joined together (see arrow), the projection 120 is "broadly stamped" in the hole in the manner of a riveting by a punch, so that a positive connection is formed, which has no over the surfaces of the interconnected parts projecting elements.

Figures 22 to 24 show an additional device to the power control unit 80. About optionally on the back 17 projecting locking lugs 121, a holding plate 122 is arranged parallel to the back 17, which carries the shaft 123 of a sliding contact 124 and contains its contact paths.

The sliding contactor 124 can serve various signaling or control functions, but also serve to transform the position of the control shaft 13a, which is equivalent to the setting of the power control device, into an electronically displayable form, i. to digitize. It thus represents an analog / digital converter. The sliding contactor is a circular disc with sliding contacts 125 mounted thereon, which cooperate with corresponding contacts on the holding plate 22. There are provided according to the desired conversion interrupted circular contact paths, which can be closed by the contact springs 125. The shaft has a flattened round profile, which fits into the corresponding profiled hollow control shaft 13a.

It is thus possible to connect to the switch unit accessories or devices without having to change them yourself large. The unit 11 is a two-piece housing type as previously described. There are ventilation slots 126 can be seen in the upper part of the housing. These are also present in the embodiment of Figures 11 and 12, so that heat dissipation by convection is possible in cooperation with the apertures 25 in the ground, even if the housing is mounted so that it on the upper in Figures 11 and 12 Side tightly closed.

In Figures 26 to 29, the switching shaft 13 is shown for an embodiment in which the power control device for an electric cooking appliance except a central Hauptheizfläche can heat a switchable additional heating, which is switched on the highest heating level (100% ED (relative duty cycle)). In this case, however, the power can be regulated back again after this switching on without the Additional heating zone is turned off. Only at the zero position of the power the additional heating zone is switched off. For this purpose, a cam switch is provided which operates with a tow cam part 127. In the switching shaft, as shown in FIG. 29, a groove 128 is provided, which guides the formed in the form of an open ring tow cam member 127 by means of two inner projections 129 in the circumferential direction movable, but immovable in the axial direction. The annular tow cam member 127 runs on a relation to the shift shaft 13 raised collar 130. Side of the collar 130, two switching cams 14 are provided which actuate the two outer switching arms 38 of the power control unit 80 upstream cam switch (see in Figs. 11 and 12, the two closed switch contacts 38 of the front and left switch group). For the middle switching arm 38, the tow cam portion 127 is provided. This has at the apex of its cam 14a a locking recess 133, in which the sliding element of the switching arm, that is, the V-shaped bend 37, engages when it comes to turn. This is the case when lateral protrusions 132 on the drag cam 127 come to rest against stops 133 (FIG. 29).

Thus, when the shift shaft is rotated, the slider 37 pushes the shift cam in the circumferential direction in front of him until the control cam stops at the stops 133 and stops. Then the switch (which had previously shorted the additional consumer, for example) opens. This happens in a situation that goes beyond 100% power. Now, when the shift shaft is rotated back, so the power controller 80 is set to a partial power, the slider (deflection 37) remains in the recess 131 and the tow cam member 127, in the groove 128 slidably guided back with, until the stops 132 , 133 get in touch again. This happens at the zero position of the power control unit. As with all Nockenvorsatzschaltern to the power control units 80 also serve the other contact tracks for different purposes, from the all-pole separation to the signal contact or other functions.

The design as a simple longitudinally unslotted ring that can be snapped over the shaft makes the tow cam and the overall structure of this additional function particularly easy to manufacture and assemble. An inlet slope and a thickened head 133 on the opposite side of the cam 14 a facilitate the introduction.

FIGS. 25 and 29 show the detents 56a for defining switching positions, which are limited here to one or a few positions, since the main region of the circumference remains without latching because the power control device 80 is infinitely and continuously adjustable. It is also a locking disk 133 can be seen, the start and end position limited by stop on a housing part to prevent rotation over 360 ° away.

Claims (14)

1. Electric control device, particularly for electric heaters, having a housing (12) and at least one control unit (61, 80) with a control spindle (13, 13a) mounted in the housing (12) and which operates functional elements such as cam switches, cyclic power control devices, etc. and with plug connections (27) on a connection side (24) forming the outside of the housing, in which in each case several flat plug connections (27) belonging to the incoming and outgoing line conductor (170) are located in a plug chamber integrated into the housing (12), constructed in one piece therewith and bounded by housing wall sections (20), whereby in said chamber the connections (27) have a predetermined grid with a predetermined mutual spacing or a multiple thereof in parallel to one another and in series, juxtaposed manner project from the bottom of the plug chamber (33) and in which slots (35) are provided in the housing wall sections parallel to the plugging direction of the associated connection jacks (59) and in which projections (60) can engage on associated jacks (59) outwardly terminating the plug chamber (33) and fitted to one of the line conductors (170), characterized in that there are several plug chambers, the number, size and/or position relative to the plug chambers (33) for the individual slots (35) and projections (60) differing in the case of the different plug chambers.
2. Electric control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the grid size is approximately 5 mm.
3. Electric control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that all the preferably rectangular plug chambers (33) are located on a connection side (24) facing the functional area (22) of the casing (12) and from there no functional parts of the control devices (11) are accessible.
4. Electric control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are several control units (61) with parallel control spindles (13) in the unitary, preferably one-piece, cover-less housing (12) extending over all the control units (61).
5. Electric control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one control unit (61) contains a cam switch with a bending switch spring (29), punched from a blank (36) and having switching contacts (39), the blank (36) being arranged in a functional area (22) of the housing (12) so as to at least partly cover the same and in which preferably the switch springs (29) have a bending spring portion (137) and a deflection (37) for mechanical contact with a control cam (14) of the control spindle (13) and in their contact-near area are constructed as switch arms (38) stiffened by lateral bends (40) and/or the blanks (36) are fitted to connecting parts (41) having flat plugs and which are fixed by means of the flat plugs (27) inserted in the housing slots (30) and optionally two blanks (36) arranged in mirror image manner to one another of two adjacent control units (61) are combined with one another by a connecting bridge (42) of the connecting part (41) to provide a switch spring unit (46).
6. Electric control device according to claim 5, characterized in that the blanks (36) are prefabricated in the form of a continuous strip and are cut to length therefrom on assembly.
7. Electric control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several control units (61) are provided therein having mirror image oriented functional elements of the in each case adjacent control units (61).
8. Electric control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that housing-fixed mating contact components (52, 53) of a cam switch are shaped from the material of at least one connection flat plug and are located centrally in the plane of the flat plug (27) and preferably the mating contact (49) is fitted to a sheet metal tab (47), which is then bent laterally out of the plane and then perpendicular to said plane.
9. Electric control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that functional elements (13, 46, 52, 53) of the control device (11) are received in a functional area (22) of the housing (12), which is separated from the connection side (24) by a bottom (21), that all the functional elements or their components are fitted from the opening side of the functional area (22) of a single housing (12) mainly through the straight insertion in slots (30) or between wall sections (20) of the bottom (21) and optionally from the connection side (24) there is fixing by deformation of the portions of the functional elements projecting through the bottom (21).
10. Electric control device according to claim 9, characterized in that fixing takes place by caulking on the sides of connection flat plugs (27).
11. Electric control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one end of the control spindle (13) in an inclined position with respect to the housing (12) is inserted in an opening (15) of a housing wall (16) forming a control spindle mounting support and by tilting is snapped by its other end in a second mounting support (26).
12. Electric control device, particularly according to one of the claims 1 to 4, which contains at least one cam switch, which has a contact bridge (72) with two switching contacts (39a, 39b) movable substantially linearly counter to a spring tension by a trip cam (14) of a control spindle (13), said contacts cooperating with two housing-fixed mating contacts (49a, 49b), which are preferably positioned on either side of the control spindle (13), the contact bridge (72) being made from strong flat material and in the form of a plate, characterized in that the contact bridge movable counter to a spring tension is displaceable and close to two ends of a longitudinal edge carries switching contacts (39a, 39b), advantageously welded on as wire sections and centrally between the same and in recessed form has a projection (73) contacting the trip cam (14).
13. Electric control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) has a multiply ribbed bottom (21) and frame-like, all-round walls (20), which on one side of the bottom (21) has a functional area (22) receiving the functional elements of the at least one control unit (61).
14. Electric control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the connection side (24) and a functional area (22) receiving the functional elements, preferably in the bottom separating the same are provided ventilation openings (25), which are in particular provided in a switch chamber (23) running parallel to the control spindle (13) and/or in lateral extensions (72) of slots (30) receiving the connections (27).

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