JP7366608B2 - switch structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a switch structure.

Conventionally, a gas meter is provided with a push button section as an operation section for performing a return operation when a gas flow path is cut off (for example, see Patent Document 1).

The conventional push button part disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to be inserted and supported in a through hole formed at the bottom of a recessed part that opens on the front surface of a case, so as to be able to press a switch housed inside the case. ing. The push button section includes a button key that can press a switch, a button rubber that biases the button key in a direction opposite to the direction of pressing the switch, and a button cover that covers the button rubber. The button key has a cylindrical part that can press a switch, and two flanges that protrude outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical part within the recessed part. The button rubber is provided with a support piece that enters between the two flanges of the button key and elastically supports the flanges.

In such a conventional push button unit, when the button key is pressed, the support piece of the button rubber is pushed in the pressing direction by the flange of the button key, thereby displacing the button key and pressing the switch. ing.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-205919

Incidentally, gas meters are required to be downsized, and conventional push button parts are constructed by inserting a support piece of button rubber between two flanges of a button key. That is, when the button key is pressed, the supporting piece of the button rubber is pushed by the flange and elastically deformed, causing the button key to be displaced in the pressing direction and become pressed, and the button key is pushed back by the elastic restoring force of the button rubber. and enters the restored state. This structure of the push button section has been an obstacle to miniaturization.

An object of the present invention is to provide a switch structure that is miniaturized.

In order to solve the above problem and achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a switch, a casing that houses the switch, and a switch that is inserted and supported in the casing and is displaced in the insertion direction. A switch structure comprising: a switch drive section that is capable of contacting the switch; the switch drive section includes an operation section; and a rod-shaped section extending from the operation section toward the switch. , the casing has a base in which a hole is formed to allow the rod-shaped part to pass through, and a cylindrical part that stands cylindrical from an outer edge of the base and accommodates the operation part, An elastic body is provided between the part and the base to push back the operating part in the direction opposite to insertion, and the operating part is continuously provided around the entire circumference and is extended toward the cylindrical part. The switch structure is characterized in that it has a plurality of lips that are formed in a convex shape and can come into contact with the cylindrical portion.

The invention described in claim 2 includes a switch, a casing that accommodates the switch, and a switch driving section that is inserted and supported in the casing and that can be displaced in the insertion direction and come into contact with the switch. In the switch structure, the switch driving section includes an operating section and a rod-shaped section extending from the operating section toward the switch, and the housing extends through the rod-shaped section. It has a base in which a hole is formed, and a cylindrical part that stands cylindrical from the outer edge of the base and accommodates the operating part, and the operating part is disposed between the operating part and the base. An elastic body is provided for pushing back in the direction opposite to insertion, and the operation part is provided continuously around the entire circumference and is formed to be convex toward the cylindrical part so as to come into contact with the cylindrical part. an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion has a taper portion at a position facing the operating portion that slopes toward the operating portion in the insertion direction; The switch structure is characterized in that the lip is configured to come into contact with the tapered portion when the operating portion is displaced in the insertion direction.

The invention set forth in claim 3 is the invention set forth in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a slip-off prevention device fixed to the rod-shaped portion, and the slip-off prevention device holds the elastic body with the base portion in between. On the opposite side, it is provided so as to be able to come into contact with the base.

The invention set forth in claim 4 is the invention set forth in claim 3 , wherein each surface of the elastic body is in close contact with the operating portion and the base in a state in which the slip-off prevention tool is in contact with the base. It is provided.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the switch structure includes a switch, a housing, a switch driving section, and an elastic body. The switch drive section includes an operating section and a rod-shaped section that is inserted into a hole formed at the base of the housing and extends toward the switch, and the housing has a hole that extends through the rod-shaped section. The cylindrical part is provided with a cylindrical part that stands upright from the outer edge of the base to accommodate the operating part, and an elastic body is provided between the operating part and the base. The portion is formed to be convex toward the cylindrical portion and has a lip that can come into contact with the cylindrical portion. According to this, it is possible to elastically return the operation part without having a structure in which the support piece of the button rubber is pushed by the flange part and elastically deforms when the button key is pressed, as in conventional push button parts. A switch structure can be obtained. That is, by using a structure in which the elastic body is sandwiched between the operating section and the base instead of the collar and the support piece, the structure in which the operating section is elastically returned to its original state by the elastic body can be simplified. Furthermore, since the operation part has a lip that can come into contact with the cylindrical part, it is possible to suppress the axial vibration of the operation part and also to suppress the intrusion of liquid in the insertion direction side from the lip. Even if each part constituting the switch structure is made compact, it is possible to maintain the rigidity of each part and achieve miniaturization without impairing the operability of the switch structure.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gas meter to which a switch structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the said switch structure, Comprising: It is a schematic diagram which shows the initial state of a non-contact switch. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the main parts of the switch structure. It is a figure which shows the said switch structure, Comprising: It is a schematic diagram which shows the pressed state which contacted the switch. It is a schematic diagram showing the switch structure concerning the modification of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a gas meter to which a switch structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the switch structure 1 of this embodiment is a part of a gas meter 10 that outputs an output according to the gas flow rate in a gas flow path that flows in from a gas inlet 11 and flows out from a gas outlet 12. The return operation is performed when the cutoff valve of the gas flow path is closed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gas meter 10 houses a flow path measuring section (not shown) that outputs an output according to the flow rate of gas flowing in from the gas inlet 11 and flowing out from the gas outlet 12, and a flow path measuring section. a box-shaped housing 2 for carrying out the operation, a switch 3 for performing a return operation when the cutoff valve of the gas flow path is closed; The switch drive unit 4 includes a switch drive unit 4 that can come into contact with the switch drive unit 4, and an elastic body 5 that pushes the switch drive unit 4 back in the direction opposite to insertion. The housing 2, the switch 3, the switch driving section 4, and the elastic body 5 constitute a switch structure 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface 20 of the housing 2 is provided with a gas inlet 11 through which gas flows from the LP gas container, and a gas outlet 12 through which gas flows out to the combustor. The gas inlet 11 and the gas outlet 12 are each formed into a cylindrical shape so as to communicate with the outside and the inside of the housing 2 . A flow path measurement section for the gas flow path is provided between the gas inlet 11 and the gas outlet 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an opening 210 is provided on the front surface 21 of the housing 2, and a windshield 211 is provided to cover the opening 210 from the inside. On the inside of the windshield 211 , a display section 212 is provided that overlaps the windshield 211 and is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like and can display an integrated value of gas consumption. The integrated value of gas consumption is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 212, so that the display screen can be viewed through the windshield 211. Furthermore, a support recess 213 for inserting and supporting the switch driving section 4 is provided on the front surface 21 of the housing 2 near the opening 210. In the following, the insertion direction of the switch drive unit 4 into the support recess 213 will be referred to as "backward (as shown in FIG. 2, etc.)", and the opposite direction (opposite direction of insertion) will be referred to as "front (as shown in FIG. 2, etc.)". There are cases.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support recess 213 includes a bottom wall portion 215 (base) in which a hole 214 is formed through which the switch driving portion 4 passes, and a cylindrical shape that extends forward from the outer periphery of the hole 214. A surrounding wall 216 is provided. The bottom wall portion 215 is formed to be located behind the front surface 21 of the casing 2, and the front end of the peripheral wall 216 and the front surface 21 of the casing 2 are formed at the same position in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 216 has an inclined surface main body 216A (tapered portion) whose diameter gradually decreases toward the rear, and an enlarged surface continuous to the front of the inclined surface main body 216A. The diameter portion 216B is configured to have a diameter portion 216B. The inclined surface main body 216A is continuously formed from the rear end 216b of the peripheral wall 216 to a predetermined position 216a (described later). The enlarged diameter portion 216B is formed so that its diameter increases toward the front, and is formed to have a steeper slope than the inclined surface main body 216A. The predetermined position 216a is located at the boundary between the inclined surface main body 216A and the enlarged diameter portion 216B, and is located slightly behind the front end surface 41A of the operating section 41 that can be pressed by the user.

As shown in FIG. 2, the switch 3 is provided at a position opposite to the hole 214 formed in the support recess 213 behind the hole 214.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch driving section 4 includes an operating section 41 that can be pressed by the user, and a rod-shaped rod that extends from the center of the operating section 41 toward the switch 3 and can press the switch 3. 42, and a slip-off prevention tool 43 (shown in FIG. 2) fixed to the rod-shaped portion 42. The operating portion 41 and the rod-shaped portion 42 are integrally constructed. Hereinafter, the operating section 41 and the rod-shaped section 42 may be referred to as "switch drive section main body 40."

The operating section 41 includes a substantially disk-shaped operating section main body 410, and three (plural) lips 411, 412, and 413 formed in a convex manner from the circumferential surface of the operating section main body 410 toward the peripheral wall 216 of the support recess 213. .

The operating section main body 410 includes a cylindrical portion 414 and a tapered portion 415 continuous to the front of the cylindrical portion 414 . The cylindrical portion 414 is formed to be larger in diameter than the hole 214 of the support recess 213, and is formed to have substantially the same size at any position in the axial direction. The operating portion main body 410 is configured such that a boundary portion 410a between the columnar portion 414 and the tapered portion 415 is disposed opposite to a predetermined position 216a of the support recess 213 when the elastic body 5 is in an initial state described later. ing.

The lips 411, 412, and 413 are formed at intervals in the front-rear direction on the cylindrical portion 414 of the operating section main body 410. In this embodiment, each of the lips 411, 412, and 413 is formed so that the height dimensions of the convex portions are approximately the same. Each lip 411, 412, 413 is formed continuously around the entire circumference of the columnar part 414. When the elastic body 5 is in the initial state, each lip 411, 412, 413 is arranged to face the inclined surface main body 216A of the support recess 213 without contacting it, and when the elastic body 5 is compressed, each lip 411, 412, 413 When the lip is displaced rearward, the lips 413, 412, and 411 are configured to contact the inclined surface main body 216A in this order. Thereby, the axial vibration of the operating section main body 410 is suppressed. Moreover, since the lips 411, 412, 413 come into contact with the inclined surface main body 216A, infiltration of liquid in the insertion direction side (rearward) from the lips 411, 412, 413 is suppressed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the rod-shaped portion 42 is formed so as to be insertable into the hole 214 of the support recess 213, and is configured so as not to contact the switch 3 when the elastic body 5 is in its initial state. When the elastic body 5 is compressed, it is configured to come into contact with the switch 3 and press it down. A slip-off prevention device 43 is fixed to the rod-shaped portion 42 at a fixed position 42a that is spaced backward from the operating portion 41 by the total dimension of the front-to-back dimension of the elastic body 5 in the initial state and the front-to-back dimension of the bottom wall portion 215 of the support recess 213. has been done.

The slip-off prevention tool 43 is formed into a C-shape that can be inserted into the rod-shaped portion 42. This slip-off preventer 43 is fixed to the fixed position 42a of the rod-shaped portion 42 so as to come into contact with the bottom wall portion 215 of the support recess 213 when the elastic body 5 is in its initial state. In addition, in a state in which the slip-off prevention device 43 is in contact with the bottom wall portion 215, the elastic body 5 is in a slightly compressed state (initial state) as it is sandwiched between the operating portion 41 and the bottom wall portion 215. . The falling-off preventer 43 comes into contact with the bottom wall 215 of the support recess 213, thereby preventing the bar-shaped portion 42 from slipping forward. In addition, in this embodiment, the falling-off prevention tool 43 is formed in a C-shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. The slip-off prevention device may be ring-shaped or may be a well-known E-ring.

The elastic body 5 is made of a porous body. The elastic body 5 is formed into a ring shape, and is configured such that the rod-shaped portion 42 of the operating portion 41 can be press-fitted into the central hole 50 . That is, the inner diameter of the central hole 50 is smaller than the diameter of the rod-shaped portion 42. The elastic body 5 is located between the operating portion 41 and the bottom wall portion 215 of the support recess 213. The switch drive unit 4 is configured to contact the switch 3 in a compressed state in which the elastic body 5 is compressed between the two, and the switch drive unit 4 is not in contact with the switch 3 in the initial state. . Here, the "initial state" of the elastic body 5 is a state in which the fall-off prevention tool 43 is in contact with the bottom wall part 215 and the elastic body 5 is sandwiched between the operating part 41 and the bottom wall part 215. It is in a slightly compressed state. In the initial state, the elastic body 5 has its front and rear surfaces in close contact with the operating section 41 and the bottom wall section 215. In addition, since the central hole 50 is press-fitted into the rod-shaped part 42 and the inner surface of the central hole 50 is in close contact with the rod-shaped part 42, the three surfaces of the elastic body 5 suppress the intrusion of liquid into the inside of the casing 2. be done. The elastic body 5 has both a waterproof function of suppressing the infiltration of liquid into the housing 2 and a spring function of pushing the switch driving section 4 back in the direction opposite to insertion (forward).

Such a switch structure 1 is assembled by the following procedure. That is, the elastic body 5 is installed on the front surface of the bottom wall 215 of the support recess 213, and the rod-shaped portion 42 of the switch drive unit main body 40 is inserted from the front into the hole 214 of the bottom wall 215 to operate the elastic body 5. It is sandwiched between the portion 41 and the bottom wall portion 215. The slip-off prevention tool 43 is inserted close to the rear end of the rod-shaped portion 42, and the slip-off prevention tool 43 is fixed at the fixed position 42a of the rod-shaped portion 42. As a result, the switch driving section main body 40 is prevented from coming off by the falling-off prevention tool 43. In this way, the switch structure 1 is assembled.

In the switch structure 1 assembled in this way, as shown in FIG. 2, when the elastic body 5 is in the initial state, the switch drive main body 40 is not in contact with the switch 3. Here, when the user presses the front end surface 41A of the operating section 41, the elastic body 5 becomes compressed, and the switch driving section main body 40 including the operating section 41 is displaced rearward, as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the lips 413, 412, and 411 contact the inclined surface main body 216A of the peripheral wall 216 in this order. In this way, by bringing the lips 413, 412, and 411 into contact with the inclined surface main body 216A in this order, the axial runout of the operating section main body 410 is reduced. Moreover, since the lips 411, 412, 413 come into contact with the inclined surface main body 216A, infiltration of liquid in the insertion direction side (rearward) from the lips 411, 412, 413 is suppressed. By further displacing backward, the switch drive unit main body 40 contacts the switch 3 and presses the switch 3. The switch 3 is turned on, and the gas flow path cutoff valve is reset.

According to the embodiment described above, the elastic body 5 is sandwiched between the operating section 41 and the bottom wall section 215 (base), so that the structure in which the operating section 41 is elastically returned by the elastic body 5 can be simplified. Therefore, even if the parts (casing 2, switch driving part 4, elastic body 5) constituting the switch structure 1 are made compact, the rigidity of each part 2, 4, and 5 can be maintained while maintaining the switch structure. Miniaturization can be achieved without impairing the operability of item 1.

Furthermore, the housing 2 has a peripheral wall 216 (cylindrical part) that stands upright in a cylindrical shape from the outer edge of the bottom wall part 215 (base) and houses the operating part 41 , and the operating part 41 faces toward the peripheral wall 216 . It has lips 411, 412, and 413 that are formed in a convex shape and fill the gap between the peripheral wall 216 and the operating section 41. According to this, by forming the respective lips 411, 412, and 413, it is possible to suppress the axial vibration of the operating section main body 410. Furthermore, by bringing the lips 411, 412, 413 into contact with the inclined surface main body 216A, it is possible to suppress the infiltration of liquid toward the insertion direction side (backward) from the lips 411, 412, 413.

It also has a slip-off preventer 43 fixed to the rod-shaped portion 42, and the slip-off preventer 43 is attached to the bottom wall portion 215 on the opposite side (rear side) of the elastic body 5 with the bottom wall portion 215 (base) in between. It is provided so that it can come into contact with it. That is, by providing the slip-off prevention tool 43, a structure in which the operating portion 41 is elastically returned to its original state by the elastic body 5 can be assembled with good workability. Furthermore, by simplifying the shape of each component that constitutes the switch structure 1, costs can be reduced.

Further, in the initial state in which the slip-off prevention tool 43 is in contact with the bottom wall portion 215 (base), each surface of the elastic body 5 is provided in close contact with the operating portion 41 and the bottom wall portion 215. According to this, the elastic body 5 can suppress the infiltration of liquid into the interior of the housing 2 in both the initial state and the compressed state (at all times).

Furthermore, the housing 2 has a peripheral wall 216 (cylindrical part) that stands upright in a cylindrical shape from the outer edge of the bottom wall part 215 (base) and accommodates the operation part 41, and the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 216 is At a position facing the portion 41, the main body 216A has an inclined surface body 216A (tapered portion) that slopes toward the operating portion 41 in the insertion direction. When such an inclined surface main body 216A (tapered part) is provided on the front surface 21 (substantially vertical surface) of the casing 2, the inclined surface main body 216A allows liquid that has entered the peripheral wall 216 to flow to the outside. can do.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes other configurations that can achieve the object of the present invention, and the present invention also includes modifications such as those shown below.

In the embodiment described above, the inclined surface main body 216A (tapered portion) is continuously formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 216 from the rear end 216b of the peripheral wall 216 to a predetermined position 216a, but the present invention is not limited to this. isn't it. As shown in FIG. 5, the tapered portion may be formed continuously from a predetermined position 216a to a position 216c where the lip 413 is displaced when the elastic body 5 is compressed. In this case, from the boundary position 216c to the rear end 216b of the peripheral wall 216, the cylindrical surface 216C may have the same diameter. According to this, substantially the same effects as in the embodiment described above can be achieved.

Further, in the embodiment, the switch driving section 4 is configured to include an operating section 41, a rod-shaped section 42, and a detachment prevention tool 43. 42 is integrally constructed, but the present invention is not limited to this. The switch drive unit may be configured such that the rod-shaped portion and the slip-off preventer are integrally formed in a state before assembly, and the operating portion is fixed to the rod-shaped portion from behind.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the elastic body 5 is made of a porous body, but the present invention is not limited to this. The elastic body may be composed of a coil spring. Alternatively, the elastic body may be composed of both a porous body and a coil spring.

Further, in the embodiment, the support recess 213 is provided on the front surface 21 of the housing 2, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The support recess 213 is preferably provided on either the front surface 21, the rear surface, or the left and right side surfaces of the housing 2. That is, it is preferable that the support recess 213 be provided in a substantially vertical plane. According to this, the liquid that has entered the cylindrical portion can be made to flow to the outside by the tapered portion.

In addition, the best configuration, method, etc. for carrying out the present invention have been disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention has been specifically illustrated and described primarily with respect to particular embodiments, modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. , materials, quantities, and other detailed configurations, those skilled in the art can make various modifications. Therefore, the descriptions that limit the shapes, materials, etc. disclosed above are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention. Descriptions of names of members that exclude some or all of the limitations such as these are included in the present invention.

1 Switch structure 2 Housing 3 Switch 4 Switch drive section 5 Elastic body 41 Operation section 42 Rod-shaped section 43 Pull-off prevention tool 214 Hole section 215 Bottom wall section (base)
216 Peripheral wall (cylindrical part)
216A Inclined surface main body (tapered part)
411, 412, 413 lip

Claims (4)

switch and
a casing that accommodates the switch;
A switch structure comprising: a switch driving section that is inserted and supported in the housing and that can be displaced in the insertion direction and come into contact with the switch,
The switch driving section includes an operating section and a rod-shaped section extending from the operating section toward the switch,
The casing has a base in which a hole is formed to allow the rod-shaped part to pass through, and a cylindrical part that stands cylindrical from an outer edge of the base and accommodates the operating part,
An elastic body is provided between the operating portion and the base for pushing the operating portion back in the opposite direction of insertion,
The operation part is characterized in that it has a plurality of lips that are continuously provided around the entire circumference and are formed in a convex manner toward the cylindrical part and can come into contact with the cylindrical part. switch structure. switch and
a casing that accommodates the switch;
A switch structure comprising: a switch driving section that is inserted and supported in the housing and that can be displaced in the insertion direction and come into contact with the switch,
The switch driving section includes an operating section and a rod-shaped section extending from the operating section toward the switch,
The casing has a base in which a hole is formed to allow the rod-shaped part to pass through, and a cylindrical part that stands cylindrical from an outer edge of the base and accommodates the operating part,
An elastic body is provided between the operating portion and the base for pushing the operating portion back in the opposite direction of insertion,
The operating portion has a lip that is continuously provided around the entire circumference and is formed to be convex toward the cylindrical portion and can come into contact with the cylindrical portion,
The inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion has a tapered portion at a position facing the operating portion that slopes toward the operating portion in the insertion direction,
A switch structure characterized in that the lip is configured to come into contact with the tapered portion when the operating portion is displaced in the insertion direction. comprising a slip-off prevention device fixed to the rod-shaped part;
3. The switch structure according to claim 1, wherein the slip-off prevention tool is provided on the opposite side of the elastic body across the base so as to be able to come into contact with the base. 4. The switch structure according to claim 3, wherein each surface of the elastic body is provided in close contact with the operating section and the base in a state in which the slip-off preventer is in contact with the base.

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