CN111937255A

CN111937255A - Socket system

Info

Publication number: CN111937255A
Application number: CN201980023952.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 上田康弘
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-30
Filing date: 2019-03-25
Publication date: 2020-11-13
Also published as: TW201943162A; JP2019179721A; TWI744044B; TW202118172A; WO2019188878A1; TWI712236B

Abstract

Provided is a socket system capable of suppressing an increase in the number of components. The temperature detection unit (5) includes a temperature sensor (51). A temperature detection unit (5) detects the temperature of a detection point group (P100) including at least one of a plurality of first detection points and a plurality of second detection points as a detection temperature by one temperature sensor (51). The plurality of first detection points are detection points electrically insulated from each other. The plurality of second detection points are detection points provided at different positions in the terminal member (2), the connection member (3), and the internal space (40) of the housing. The opening/closing section (6) is electrically connected between the terminal member (2) and the connecting member (3). The opening/closing unit (6) switches from the on state to the off state when a determination condition including that the detected temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature is satisfied. The heat transfer structure (50) thermally couples the detection point group (P100) and a temperature sensor (51).

Description

Socket system

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to an outlet system, and more particularly, to an outlet system including an opening/closing unit that switches from an on state to an off state based on a detection result of a temperature detection unit.

Background

Patent document 1 describes a socket (wiring device) including a terminal member (first connection portion) for electrically connecting an electric wire from an external power supply, and a connection member (second connection portion) for detachably connecting an insertion plug provided in the electric wire from an electric device. The socket includes, for example, a temperature detection unit (temperature measurement unit) attached to at least one of the terminal member and the connection member, and a cutting unit for electrically cutting off the connection between the terminal member and the connection member.

In the socket described in patent document 1, when it is determined that the socket is abnormal based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit, the disconnection unit is caused to open (off) the contact. Therefore, when joule heat generated at the contact portion between the terminal member and the electric wire increases due to a connection failure during the construction, an influence of vibration applied during the use, or the like, the measured temperature of the temperature detection unit increases, and the contact of the cutting unit is opened, whereby the supply of electric power to the electric device can be cut off.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-58332

Disclosure of Invention

In the structure described in patent document 1, for example, a plurality of temperature sensors are required to detect the temperatures of a plurality of portions such as the terminal members and the connection members, which increases the number of parts of the socket.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a socket system capable of suppressing an increase in the number of components.

A socket system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a terminal member, a connection member, a housing, a temperature detection unit, an opening/closing unit, and a heat transfer structure. The terminal member is connected to a power supply line. The connecting part is connected with the plug. The housing accommodates the terminal member and the connecting member. The temperature detection unit includes a temperature sensor. The temperature detection unit detects a temperature of a detection point group including at least one of the plurality of first detection points and the plurality of second detection points as a detection temperature by the one temperature sensor. The plurality of first detection points are detection points electrically insulated from each other. The plurality of second detection points are detection points provided at different positions in the internal space of the terminal member, the connection member, and the housing. The opening/closing portion is electrically connected between the terminal member and the connection member. The opening/closing unit switches from an on state to an off state when a determination condition including that the detected temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature is satisfied. The heat transfer structure thermally couples the group of detection points and the one temperature sensor.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a block diagram showing a configuration of an outlet system according to embodiment 1. Fig. 1B is a conceptual diagram illustrating the thermal coupling relationship of the socket system described above.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view showing an example of use of the outlet system described above, in which the opening/closing unit is in a conductive state. Fig. 2B shows an example of use of the receptacle described above, and is an external perspective view of the open/close section in a cut-off state.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the socket.

Fig. 4A is a front view of the socket in a state where the outer cover and the inner cover are removed. Fig. 4B is a rear view of the socket in a state where the outer cover and the inner cover are removed.

Fig. 5A is a schematic view corresponding to a cross section taken along line X1-X1 in fig. 4A, showing the configuration of the main portion of the receptacle. Fig. 5B is a schematic view corresponding to a cross section taken along line X2-X2 in fig. 4B, showing the configuration of the main portion of the socket.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the outlet system described above.

Fig. 7A is a front view of the receptacle according to embodiment 2 with the outer cover and the inner cover removed. Fig. 7B is a rear view of the socket in a state where the outer cover and the inner cover are removed.

Detailed Description

(embodiment mode 1)

(1) Summary of the invention

As shown in fig. 1A, the outlet system 10 of the present embodiment includes an outlet 1. The socket 1(Outlet) has a terminal member 2, a connection member 3, and a housing 4 (see fig. 2A). In the present embodiment, all the components (the terminal member 2, the connection member 3, and the like) other than the housing 4 in the socket system 10 are accommodated or held in the housing 4. That is, in the present embodiment, all the components of the outlet system 10 are concentrated on one outlet 1, and the outlet system 10 is the same as the outlet 1.

The Outlet 1(Outlet system 10) of the present embodiment is, for example, a power Outlet (Outlet) which is a wiring device that supplies power to an electrical device by connecting a plug 91 (see fig. 5A) of the electrical device. The outlet 1 is installed in, for example, a residential facility such as a private house or a public house, or a non-residential facility such as a business office, a shop, a school, or a nursing care facility. The outlet 1 is attached to a construction surface 100 (see fig. 2A) such as a wall surface, a ceiling surface, and a floor surface of a facility (building).

As shown in fig. 1A and 1B, the socket system 10 of the present embodiment includes a temperature detection unit 5, an opening/closing unit 6, and a heat transfer structure 50 in addition to the terminal member 2, the connection member 3, and the housing 4. The terminal member 2 is a member connected to the power supply line 92 (see fig. 5B). The connection member 3 is a member to which the plug 91 is connected. The housing 4 accommodates the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3.

The temperature detection section 5 includes one temperature sensor 51. The temperature detector 5 detects the temperature of the detection point group P100 including at least one of the plurality of first detection points and the plurality of second detection points as a detection temperature by one temperature sensor 51. The plurality of first detection points are a plurality of detection points electrically insulated from each other. The plurality of second detection points are provided at different positions in the internal space 40 (see fig. 1B) of the terminal member 2, the connection member 3, and the housing 4. As an example, a combination of the detection point P1 and the detection point P2 (or a combination of the detection point P3 and the detection point P4) in fig. 1B is a plurality of first detection points, which will be described in detail later. On the other hand, the combination of the detection point P1, the detection point P3, and the detection point P5 (or the combination of the detection point P2, the detection point P4, and the detection point P5) in fig. 1B becomes a plurality of second detection points.

Here, the detection point group P100 to be a temperature detection target of one temperature sensor 51 may include at least one of a plurality of first detection points and a plurality of second detection points. That is, the detection point group P100 may include only a plurality of first detection points among the plurality of first detection points and the plurality of second detection points, may include only a plurality of second detection points, or may include both of the plurality of first detection points and the plurality of second detection points. When the detection point group P100 includes both of the plurality of first detection points and the plurality of second detection points, a part of the first detection points and a part of the second detection points may overlap. That is, in the example of fig. 1B, the detection point P1 becomes the first detection point in combination with the detection point P2, and becomes the second detection point in combination with the detection points P3 and P5. Thus, a portion of the first detection points may be the same detection points as a portion of the second detection points (e.g., detection point P1).

The opening/closing portion 6 is electrically connected between the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3. The switching unit 6 switches from the on state to the off state when the determination condition is satisfied. The determination condition includes that the detected temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature. The heat transfer structure 50 thermally couples the detection point group P100 and one temperature sensor 51. The term "thermally coupled" in the present disclosure means that two points are coupled to each other by heat (thermal energy) moving between the two points by heat conduction, radiation, convection, or a combination thereof. That is, heat can be transferred between the group of detection points P100 thermally coupled to the heat transfer structure 50 and one temperature sensor 51.

According to the above configuration, in the socket system 10, when the temperature detected by the temperature detector 5 is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature and the determination condition is satisfied, the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state, and the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3 are electrically disconnected from each other. Therefore, in the socket system 10, if a temperature rise is detected due to, for example, a contact failure between the terminal member 2 and the power supply line 92 or a contact failure between the connection member 3 and the plug 91, the connection member 3 can be automatically electrically separated from the terminal member 2. Thus, for example, even if the state in which the plug 91 of the electrical device is connected to the connection member 3 is maintained, the supply of electric power to the electrical device can be stopped, and further heat generation can be suppressed.

In the socket system 10, the temperature detector 5 detects the temperature of the detection point group P100 including at least one of the plurality of first detection points and the plurality of second detection points as a detected temperature by the single temperature sensor 51. That is, in the outlet system 10, the temperature of at least one of the plurality of first detection points electrically insulated from each other and the plurality of second detection points provided at different locations from each other is detected by one temperature sensor 51. Thus, one temperature sensor 51 is shared in temperature detection of, for example, a plurality of first detection points. Alternatively, one temperature sensor 51 is used in common for temperature detection at a plurality of second detection points, for example. Therefore, the number of necessary temperature sensors can be suppressed to be smaller than in the case where a separate temperature sensor is provided for each of the plurality of first detection points or a separate temperature sensor is provided for each of the plurality of second detection points. As a result, according to the above-described socket system 10, the number of temperature sensors required can be reduced with respect to the number of detection points, and an increase in the number of components can be suppressed.

(2) Detailed description of the invention

Next, the outlet system 10 of the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

(2.1) integral Structure

First, the overall configuration of the outlet system 10 will be described with reference to fig. 1A to 4B.

As shown in fig. 1A, the socket system 10 of the present embodiment includes a control unit 7, an operation member 81, a display unit 82, a buzzer 83, and a switch 84, in addition to the terminal member 2, the connection member 3, the housing 4 (see fig. 2A), the temperature detection unit 5, and the opening/closing unit 6. As shown in fig. 1B, the outlet system 10 includes a heat transfer structure 50 that thermally couples the detection point group P100 and one temperature sensor 51.

Fig. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the socket system 10 with the socket 1 attached to the building surface 100. In the present embodiment, the socket 1 is an embedded wiring tool, and is mounted to a mounting frame of a large rectangular continuous (large angular) wiring tool standardized by the japanese industrial standard. Specifically, the socket 1 is attached to the construction surface 100 via an attachment frame. Here, the mounting frame is fixed to the construction surface 100 via the embedded box or directly fixed to the construction surface 100. That is, the mounting frame is fixed to the construction surface 100, and the socket 1 is mounted to the construction surface 100 via the mounting frame. A decorative plate 101 is attached to the attachment frame, and as shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the receptacle 1 is exposed from the inside of the decorative plate 101. Here, the mounting frame may be separate from the housing 4 of the receptacle 1, or may be integrated with the housing 4. In the present embodiment, a description is given of a case where the socket 1 is used indoors, that is, a case where the construction surface 100 is an inner wall surface of a building (facility), but the present invention is not limited to this example, and the socket 1 may be used outdoors.

Hereinafter, a direction perpendicular (orthogonal) to a horizontal plane in a state where the outlet 1 is attached to a building interior wall surface as a building surface 100 is referred to as "vertical direction", and a lower direction (vertical direction) is referred to as "lower" when the outlet 1 is viewed from the front. The direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and parallel to the building surface 100 is referred to as the "left-right direction", the right direction is referred to as the "right direction" and the left direction is referred to as the "left direction" when the socket 1 is viewed from the front. Further, a direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, that is, a direction orthogonal to the building surface 100 is referred to as a "front-rear direction", and a rear side (wall rear side) of the building surface 100 is referred to as a "rear side". However, these directions are not intended to limit the direction of use of the receptacle system 10. For example, when the receptacle 1 is mounted on a floor surface instead of a wall surface, "front-rear direction" is a direction perpendicular to a horizontal surface, and "up-down direction" and "left-right direction" are directions parallel to the horizontal surface. Even when the receptacle 1 is mounted on a wall surface, the receptacle 1 is mounted on the wall surface in an orientation in which the "up-down direction" is parallel to the horizontal plane (i.e., in the lateral direction), so that the "left-right direction" is perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

In the present embodiment, a double-opening socket 1 capable of simultaneously connecting two plugs 91 is exemplified as the socket system 10. That is, the socket 1 has two connection ports 11 to correspond to the two plugs 91. The two connection ports 11 are configured to be connectable to one plug 91, respectively, and are arranged in a vertical direction (vertical direction) on the front surface of the housing 4. One (upper) connecting port 11 of the two connecting ports 11 is a diode socket with a ground for ac 100V, and the other (lower) connecting port 11 is a diode socket without a ground for ac 100V.

In the present embodiment, the socket 1 includes a pair of terminal members 2 having different polarities from each other so as to correspond to the two-pole plug 91. That is, one terminal member 2 of the pair of terminal members 2 is connected to the power supply line 92 on the L-pole (HOT) side, and the other terminal member 2 is connected to the power supply line 92 on the N-pole (COLD) side. Similarly, the socket 1 includes a pair of connection members 3 having different polarities from each other for each connection port 11, and includes two pairs (4) of connection members 3 in total. Here, the two connecting members 3 having the same polarity are connected by the conductive plate 30 (see fig. 3). Further, the connecting member 3 and the terminal member 2 having the same polarity are electrically connected to each other via the opening/closing portion 6.

The socket 1 includes a housing 4, and internal components such as a terminal member 2 and a connecting member 3 which are accommodated or held in the housing 4. As shown in fig. 3, the housing 4 includes an outer body 41, an outer cover 42, an inner cover 43, an inner block 44, and a terminal block 45. The outer body 41, the outer cover 42, the inner cover 43, the inner block 44, and the terminal block 45 are combined to form the housing 4. The case 4 is made of electrically insulating synthetic resin.

The outer body 41 is formed in a box shape with an open front surface. The opening surface (front surface) of the outer body 41 is a rectangle whose vertical dimension is longer than the horizontal dimension. The inner block 44 is accommodated in the outer body 41 together with other internal components (the terminal member 2, the opening/closing unit 6, and the like) in a state where the connection member 3 is held. An inner cover 43 is mounted on the front surface of the outer body 41. Thereby, the internal parts including the connection member 3 held by the inner block 44 are accommodated between the outer body 41 and the inner cover 43. The outer cover 42 is mounted on the front surface of the inner cover 43. Thereby, the connecting member 3 is accommodated between the inner block 44 and the outer cover 42. Here, an opening window 431 penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed in a portion of the inner cover 43 corresponding to the inner block 44. Therefore, the front surface of the inner block 44 holding the connection member 3 is covered with the cover 42, and in a state where the cover 42 is removed, the front surface of the inner block 44 is exposed forward through the opening window 431. The terminal block 45 is housed in the outer body 41 together with other internal components in a state where the terminal member 2 is held.

That is, the inner block 44 and the cover 42 constitute a holding member that holds the connection member 3. The terminal block 45 constitutes a holding member that holds the terminal member 2. In other words, the socket system 10 further includes a holding member that holds at least one of the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3.

In the present embodiment, the cover 42 is configured to be further dividable into a plurality of members (for example, 3 members), but the cover 42 may be integrated (one member). Here, the portion of the outer cover 42 covering the inner block 44 and the inner block 44 are made of, for example, urea resin.

The two connection ports 11 are formed in the cover 42 at a position covering the inner block 44. One (upper) of the two connection ports 11 has a pair of insertion holes 111 into which a pair of blades 911 (see fig. 5A) of the plug 91 are inserted. The other (lower) of the two connection ports 11 includes a ground insertion hole 112 into which a ground pin with a ground plug is inserted, and a ground cover 113, in addition to the pair of insertion holes 111. In the housing 4, the connecting member 3 is disposed at a position corresponding to each insertion hole 111, the first grounding member 114 is disposed at a position corresponding to the grounding insertion hole 112, and the second grounding member 115 is disposed at a position corresponding to the grounding cover 113. The first grounding member 114 is a spring member to which the grounding pin of the plug with ground pole is connected. The second ground member 115 is a screw terminal to which a ground wire of the electrical apparatus is connected. The ground wire can be attached to and detached from the second ground member 115 with the ground cover 113 opened.

The opening/closing portion 6 and the substrate 85 are accommodated in a space between the outer body 41 and the inner cover 43 and on the left of the inner block 44. The substrate 85 is disposed above the opening/closing portion 6. The first indicator 821 and the second indicator 822 constituting the display unit 82, and the switch 84 are mounted on the substrate 85. For example, the first indicator light 821 and the second indicator light 822 are leds (light Emitting diodes) having different emission colors, and the switch 84 is a push switch. Thus, the opening/closing unit 6, the display unit 82, and the switch 84 are accommodated in the housing 4 (the outer body 41 and the inner cover 43). The inner cover 43 has a light-transmitting portion 432 and a cantilever (cantilever)433 formed therein so that light from the display portion 82 can be recognized from the front of the housing 4 and the switch 84 can be pushed from the front of the housing 4. That is, the light of the display unit 82 can be recognized from the front of the housing 4 by passing through the light-transmitting portion 432, and the switch 84 can be pressed from the front of the housing 4 via the cantilever 433. In fig. 2A and 2B, for convenience, marks of the display portion 82 and the switch 84 are added to the front surface of the housing 4 at positions corresponding to the display portion 82 (the first display lamp 821 and the second display lamp 822) and the switch 84.

The control unit 7 is accommodated in the housing 4 and is mounted on, for example, a control board disposed behind the inner block 44. The buzzer 83 is also accommodated in the housing 4 in the same manner, and is mounted on, for example, a control board. The control unit 7 is electrically connected to the opening/closing unit 6, the display unit 82, the buzzer 83, the switch 84, and the temperature detection unit 5. The control unit 7 controls at least the opening/closing unit 6, the display unit 82, and the buzzer 83.

The control unit 7 includes, for example, a microcomputer as a main configuration. The microcomputer realizes the function as the control unit 7 by executing a program recorded in a memory of the microcomputer by a cpu (central Processing unit). The program may be recorded in advance in a memory of a microcomputer, may be recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, or may be supplied via an electrical communication line. In other words, the program is a program for causing the microcomputer to function as the control unit 7.

The control unit 7 also has a function as a notification unit 71 and a function as a status presentation unit 72. The reporting unit 71 reports when the attention determination condition that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit 5 is equal to or higher than the attention temperature lower than the threshold temperature is satisfied. In the present embodiment, the notification by the notification unit 71 is realized by outputting an attention sound from the buzzer 83 and displaying an attention on the display unit 82, as an example. That is, the control unit 7 controls the buzzer 83 and the display unit 82 to realize the report of the report unit 71. The state presenting unit 72 presents whether the opening/closing unit 6 is in the on state or the off state. In the present embodiment, the presentation by the state presenting unit 72 is realized by outputting a warning sound from the buzzer 83 and displaying a warning on the display unit 82, for example. That is, the control unit 7 controls the buzzer 83 and the display unit 82 to display the state of the state display unit 72. The control unit 7 (including the report unit 71 and the status presenting unit 72) is described in detail in the column of "2.3 operation".

The switch 84 is operated when stopping the sound output of the buzzer 83. That is, when the switch 84 is pressed while the buzzer 83 outputs the notice sound or the warning sound, the control unit 7 controls the buzzer 83 so that the buzzer 83 is stopped. The switch 84 also serves as a test switch, and is also used when the switching unit 6 is forcibly switched from the on state to the off state.

The opening/closing portion 6 is electrically connected between the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3. The switching unit 6 is a device that switches between two states, i.e., an on state and an off state. That is, if the opening/closing section 6 is in the conducting state, the terminal member 2 and the connecting member 3 are conducted via the opening/closing section 6, and if the opening/closing section 6 is in the disconnecting state, the terminal member 2 and the connecting member 3 are electrically disconnected (insulated) by the opening/closing section 6. In the present embodiment, as described above, the socket 1 includes the pair of terminal members 2 having different polarities from each other, and the opening/closing unit 6 is electrically connected to both of the pair of terminal members 2. Therefore, if the opening/closing section 6 is in the cut-off state, all of the two pairs (4) of the connection members 3 are electrically separated from the terminal member 2.

Specifically, the opening/closing unit 6 includes a pair of contact devices having different polarities from each other and an electromagnetic release device. A pair of contact devices has a fixed contact and a movable contact, respectively. The movable contact moves between a closed position where the movable contact is in contact with the fixed contact and an open position where the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact. The fixed contact is electrically connected to the terminal member 2, and the movable contact is electrically connected to the connecting member 3. More specifically, the movable contact is provided on the movable contact, and the movable contact is connected to the conductive plate 30 by a braided wire, whereby the movable contact and the connection member 3 are electrically connected.

The opening/closing unit 6 having such a structure is in a conductive state in which the movable contact is in a closed position and the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3 are electrically connected to each other in a steady state. On the other hand, when receiving the drive signal from the control unit 7, the opening/closing unit 6 operates the electromagnetic release device to drive the movable contact and moves the movable contact to the open position, thereby switching to the cut-off state in which the connection between the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3 is electrically cut off. In this way, the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state by the drive signal from the control unit 7.

Further, the opening/closing unit 6 is mechanically connected to an operation member 81. The operation member 81 is a lever-type handle rotatable about a rotation axis. Here, the inner cover 43 and the outer cover 42 are formed with a first operation hole 434 and a second operation hole 421, respectively, so that the operation member 81 can be operated from the front of the housing 4. That is, the operation member 81 is exposed to the front of the housing 4 through the first operation hole 434 and the second operation hole 421, and can be operated from the front of the housing 4.

The operation member 81 rotates in conjunction with the opening/closing unit 6 and moves between an on (on) position (see fig. 2A) and an off (off) position (see fig. 2B). The on position corresponds to the on state of the opening/closing unit 6, and the off position corresponds to the off state of the opening/closing unit 6. That is, if the opening/closing section 6 is in the on state, the operation member 81 is located at the on position as shown in fig. 2A. When the operating member 81 is in the on position, the front surface of the operating member 81 is substantially coplanar with the front surface of the housing 4. On the other hand, when the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state, the operation member 81 rotates and the distal end portion of the operation member 81 moves forward (forward side), and as shown in fig. 2B, the operation member 81 moves to the off position. When the operating member 81 is in the off position, the operating member 81 protrudes forward from the front surface of the housing 4.

Since the operation member 81 is interlocked with the opening/closing unit 6 in this way, when the opening/closing unit 6 receives the drive signal from the control unit 7 and the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state, the operation member 81 moves from the on position to the off position. Conversely, when the operation member 81 moves from the off position to the on position, the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the off state to the on state. Therefore, the user can switch the opening/closing unit 6 in the off state to the on state by operating the operation member 81 located at the off position to move it to the on position. Hereinafter, the operation of moving the operation member 81 from the off position to the on position is referred to as "return operation". The recovery operation is described in detail in the column "action (2.3)".

In the present embodiment, the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state not only when receiving the drive signal from the control unit 7 but also when moving the operation member 81 from the on position to the off position. Therefore, the on state and the off state of the opening/closing unit 6 can be manually switched by the user by operating the operation member 81. In other words, the opening/closing unit 6 functions as a switch device that is opened and closed in response to the operation of the operation member 81.

Next, the structure of the connection member 3 and the terminal member 2 will be described with reference to fig. 4A to 5B.

As shown in fig. 4A and 5A, the two pairs (4) of connecting members 3 are held by the inner block 44. Here, the two pairs of connecting members 3 are disposed at positions corresponding to the two pairs of insertion holes 111 formed in the cover 42, specifically, at four corners of the inner block 44 in a front view. Further, as described above, the two connecting members 3 having the same polarity, that is, the two connecting members 3 arranged in the vertical direction are connected by the conductor plate 30. The pair of conductive plates 30 having mutually different polarities are formed in a band plate shape that is longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. Here, the two connecting members 3 and the conductive plate 30, which have the same polarity, are integrally formed from 1 metal plate. In fig. 4A and 5A, hatching (dotted hatching) is added to the metal plates constituting the connecting member 3 and the conductive plate 30.

Each of the connection members 3 is a blade receiving member into which the blade 911 of the plug 91 is inserted when the plug 91 is connected. Each connecting member 3 is made of a metal having conductivity and elasticity, for example, copper or a copper alloy. Each of the link members 3 has a pair of tab receiving pieces 31 opposed to each other in the left-right direction. Each of the connection members 3 is electrically connected to the male tab 911 with the male tab 911 sandwiched between the pair of male tab receiving pieces 31, and mechanically holds the male tab 911.

As shown in fig. 4B and 5B, the pair of terminal members 2 are held by the terminal block 45. Here, the pair of terminal members 2 are disposed at positions corresponding to the pair of terminal holes 121 formed in the rear surface of the terminal block 45. Each terminal member 2 is an insertion-type quick connection terminal connected to the power supply line 92 by inserting the core wire 921 of the power supply line 92. Specifically, each terminal member 2 includes a terminal plate 21 and a lock spring 22, as shown in fig. 5B. Terminal plate 21 is made of a metal having conductivity, for example, copper or a copper alloy. The latch spring 22 is made of metal having elasticity such as stainless steel or the like. When the power supply line 92 is inserted into the terminal hole 121 opened in the rear surface of the housing 4, each terminal member 2 is electrically connected to the power supply line 92 with the core wire of the power supply line 92 sandwiched between the terminal plate 21 and the locking spring 22, and mechanically holds the insertion piece 911.

Further, the terminal block 45 holds a ground terminal 116 (see fig. 4B) for connecting a ground line. The ground terminal 116 is a plug-in quick-connect terminal similar to the terminal member 2, and is disposed at a position corresponding to a ground terminal hole 122 formed in the rear surface of the terminal block 45. The ground terminal 116 is electrically connected to the first ground member 114 and the second ground member 115 in the housing 4.

The temperature detection section 5 includes one temperature sensor 51. The temperature detection unit 5 is housed in the case 4. In detail, although the description is given in the column of "configuration of the temperature detection unit (2.2)", the temperature detection unit 5 detects the temperature of the detection point group P100 (see fig. 1B) including at least one of the plurality of first detection points and the plurality of second detection points as the detection temperature by one temperature sensor 51. The temperature sensor 51 is a sensor for detecting the temperature of the terminal member 2, the connection member 3, the internal space 40 of the housing 4 (see fig. 5A), and the like. The temperature sensor 51 is implemented by, for example, a thermistor, a thermocouple, a bimetal, or a thermopile.

In the present embodiment, the temperature detection unit 5 includes only one temperature sensor 51 as a sensor element. In the present disclosure, "only one temperature sensor 51 is provided as a sensor element" means that the number of temperature sensors 51 is only one as a sensor element, and does not exclude the temperature detection unit 5 from having elements (e.g., a substrate, electronic components, etc.) other than the sensor element. That is, the temperature detector 5 has only one temperature sensor 51, and the temperature of the plurality of detection points P1 to P5 (see fig. 1B) included in the detection point group P100 is detected by the one temperature sensor 51. Therefore, the temperature sensor 51 is thermally coupled to the plurality of detection points P1 to P5 included in the detection point group P100 by a heat transfer structure 50 described later.

The temperature detector 5 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor 51 to the controller 7. The "detection signal" in the present disclosure may be a signal (electric signal) that transmits information corresponding to temperature by a specific symbol, and may be a signal in which an electric quantity such as a resistance value, a voltage value, or a current value changes depending on temperature. The detection signal may be a signal that is switched between two values of on/off (or high/low) depending on whether the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 5 is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature or lower than the threshold temperature. Further, the temperature detection unit 5 may include a processing circuit that processes the output of the temperature sensor 51 and outputs a detection signal.

In the present embodiment, the heat transfer structure 50 is separate from the conductive member that electrically connects the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3. The "conductive member" in the present disclosure is a member having conductivity and constituting at least a part of a current path between the terminal member 2 and the connecting member 3, and includes, for example, a conductive plate 30, a braided wire connecting the movable contact of the opening/closing portion 6 and the conductive plate 30, and the like. In short, since the heat transfer structure 50 is a member different from these conductive members (the conductive plate 30, the braided wire, and the like), and the electrical connection between the terminal member 2 and the connecting member 3 is ensured by the conductive members, the heat transfer structure 50 may not have conductivity.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 5A, the heat transfer structure 50 is implemented by a potting (potting) material that fills the internal space 40 of the case 4. That is, in the present embodiment, the heat transfer structure 50 is configured by filling the inner space 40 of the case 4 with a potting material of electrically insulating synthetic resin and curing the potting material. The potting material preferably has a relatively high thermal conductivity. The potting material constituting the heat transfer structure 50 may be used to fill at least a part of the internal space 40, and may not be used to fill the entire internal space 40.

(2.2) Structure of temperature detection part

Next, the structure of the temperature detection unit 5 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 1B and 4A to 5B.

In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 51 of the temperature detection unit 5 (see fig. 1A) is disposed in the internal space 40 of the housing 4, as shown in fig. 5A, for example. Specifically, the temperature sensor 51 is disposed behind the inner block 44 in the internal space 40 and at a position away from the inner block 44. More specifically, as shown in fig. 4A, the temperature sensor 51 is disposed slightly above the center of the inner block 44 in the front view. That is, the temperature sensor 51 is disposed at a position near the upper connecting member 3 among the two connecting members 3 of the same polarity connected to each other by the conductor plate 30 in the vertical direction between the pair of conductor plates 30 of different polarities from each other in the front view.

In the housing 4, a pair of terminal members 2 and two pairs (4) of connection members 3 are accommodated. Since the internal space 40 of the case 4 is filled with the potting material as the heat transfer structure 50 as described above, the temperature sensor 51 is embedded in the heat transfer structure 50 (potting material). Thus, in the case 4, heat generated by the terminal member 2 or the connection member 3 is transmitted to the temperature sensor 51 via the heat transfer structure 50 disposed in the internal space 40. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 51 is disposed slightly above the center of the inner block 44 in consideration of the thermal property that heat is easily moved upward.

With the above configuration, as shown in fig. 1B, the temperature sensors 51 can detect the temperatures of the terminal member 2, the connection member 3, and the detection points P1 to P5 provided in the internal space 40. Here, the detection point P1 and the detection point P2 are detection points provided at one and the other of the pair of terminal members 2 having different polarities from each other. The detection point P3 and the detection point P4 are detection points provided on one and the other of the pair of connecting members 3 having different polarities from each other. The detection point P5 is a detection point provided in the internal space 40 of the housing 4. In fig. 1B, the detection points P1 to P5 are conceptually illustrated as the detection point group P100 to be a temperature detection target of the temperature sensor 51, and specific positions and the like of the detection points P1 to P5 are not intended to be specified.

Among these detection points P1 to P5, a combination of the detection point P1 and the detection point P2 (or a combination of the detection point P3 and the detection point P4) becomes a plurality of first detection points electrically insulated from each other. That is, for example, the detection points P1 and P2 are detection points provided on one and the other of the pair of terminal members 2 having different polarities from each other, and thus correspond to a plurality of first detection points. On the other hand, the combination of the detection point P1, the detection point P3, and the detection point P5 (or the combination of the detection point P2, the detection point P4, and the detection point P5) is a plurality of second detection points provided at different positions in the internal space 40 of the terminal member 2, the connection member 3, and the housing 4. That is, for example, the detection point P1, the detection point P3, and the detection point P5 are detection points provided in the terminal member 2, the connection member 3, and the internal space 40 of the housing 4, respectively, and therefore correspond to a plurality of second detection points.

In the present embodiment, the detection point group P100 to be a temperature detection target of one temperature sensor 51 includes all of the detection points P1 to P5, that is, both of the plurality of first detection points and the plurality of second detection points. In short, the detection point group P100 includes both of a plurality of first detection points including a combination of the detection point P1 and the detection point P2, and a plurality of second detection points including a combination of the detection point P1, the detection point P3, and the detection point P5.

Here, the temperature of the connecting member 3 detected by the temperature detecting unit 5 is, for example, any one of the plurality of detection points P101 to P111 shown in fig. 5A. In other words, the detecting point P3 and the detecting point P4 provided in the connecting member 3 are selected from the plurality of detecting points P101 to P111 shown in fig. 5A, respectively. That is, the temperature increase of the connecting member 3 is often caused by the contact portion with the plug-in piece 911 in the connecting member 3 serving as a heat source. Therefore, the detection point P3 or the detection point P4 provided in the connecting member 3 is selected from, for example, detection points P101, P102, P110, and P111 near the contact portion with the plug piece 911 in the connecting member 3. When the temperature of one of the connection members 3 rises, the heat of the connection member 3 is transmitted to the conductor plate 30 and the other connection members 3 connected to the conductor plate 30 by heat conduction. Therefore, the detection point P3 or the detection point P4 provided in the connection member 3 may be, for example, a detection point P107 set at the center in the vertical direction of the conductor plate 30.

Further, when the temperature of the connecting member 3 rises, heat from the connecting member 3 or the conductor plate 30 may be transmitted to the holding member that holds the connecting member 3. In particular, when the holding member is a synthetic resin member such as the inner block 44 and the outer cover 42 as in the present embodiment, the characteristics of the holding member (the inner block 44 and the outer cover 42) may be affected by heat, and the characteristics of the holding member may change (including change in quality, discoloration, and deformation). Therefore, the detection point P3 or the detection point P4 provided in the connection member 3 may be selected from, for example, detection points P105, P106, P108, and P109 near the contact portion with the holding member (inner block 44 and cover 42) in the connection member 3 and the conductor plate 30.

As an example, the temperature of the terminal member 2 detected by the temperature detector 5 is any one of the plurality of detection points P121 to P125 shown in fig. 5B. That is, the temperature rise of the terminal member 2 is often caused by the contact portion with the core wire 921 in the terminal member 2 serving as a heat source. Therefore, the detection point P1 or the detection point P2 provided in the terminal member 2 is selected from the detection points P124 and P125 in the vicinity of the contact portion with the core wire 921 in the terminal member 2, for example. When the temperature of the terminal member 2 rises, heat is transferred to the entire terminal plate 21 by heat transfer. Therefore, the detection point P1 or the detection point P2 provided in the terminal member 2 may be, for example, the detection point P122 of the terminal plate 21 that is distant from the contact portion with the core wire 921.

When the temperature of the terminal member 2 rises, heat from the terminal member 2 may be transferred to the holding member that holds the terminal member 2. In particular, as in the present embodiment, when the holding member is a synthetic resin member such as the terminal block 45, the characteristics of the holding member (terminal block 45) may be affected by heat, and the characteristics of the holding member may change (including change in quality, discoloration, and deformation). Therefore, the detection point P1 or the detection point P2 provided in the terminal member 2 may be selected from the detection points P121 and P123 in the vicinity of the contact portion with the holding member (terminal block 45) in the terminal member 2, for example.

Further, when the temperature of the connection member 3 rises, the temperature of the internal space 40 (see fig. 5A) of the housing 4 also rises due to heat dissipation from the connection member 3 or the conductor plate 30. Similarly, when the temperature of the terminal member 2 increases, the temperature of the internal space 40 of the housing 4 also increases due to heat dissipation from the terminal plate 21 or the latch spring 22. Therefore, the temperature detection unit 5 may detect the temperature of the connection member 3 or the terminal member 2 indirectly by detecting the temperature at detection points P112, P113, and P114 (see fig. 5A) provided in the internal space 40 of the housing 4, instead of the connection member 3, the conductor plate 30, or the terminal member 2. That is, detection point P5 provided in internal space 40 of case 4 is selected from detection points P112, P113, and P114, for example.

The arrangement of the temperature sensor 51 and the positions of the detection points P101 to P114 and P121 to P125 shown in fig. 5A and 5B are merely examples, and can be changed as appropriate.

In addition, as described above, when the temperature detection unit 5 detects the temperatures of the detection points P1 to P5 provided in the terminal member 2, the connection member 3, and the internal space 40 by the single temperature sensor 51, the temperatures of the detection points P1 to P5 can be distinguished by the following configuration, for example.

That is, as described above, for example, the temperature increase of the connection member 3 is often caused by the contact portion with the plug-in piece 911 in the connection member 3 serving as a heat source, while the temperature increase of the terminal member 2 is often caused by the contact portion with the core wire 921 in the terminal member 2 serving as a heat source. Further, the temperature increase of the internal space 40 of the case 4 is caused by the temperature increase of the terminal member 2 or the connection member 3. Therefore, the temperature change operation differs between detection points P1 and P2 provided in terminal member 2, detection points P3 and P4 provided in connection member 3, and detection point P5 provided in internal space 40 of case 4. Therefore, the temperature detection unit 5 or the control unit 7 can distinguish the temperatures at the detection points P1 to P5 by performing analysis processing on the output of the temperature sensor 51.

For example, when the temperature rapidly increases within several seconds immediately after the power supply to the socket system 10 is started, that is, immediately after the socket system 10 is started, it is estimated that the temperature at the detection points P1 and P2 provided in the terminal member 2 increases. On the other hand, when the temperature rapidly increases within several seconds after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the energization of the outlet system 10, it is estimated that the temperature at the detection points P3 and P4 provided in the connection member 3 has increased. When the temperature gradually increases within one hour, it is estimated that the temperature at detection point P5 provided in internal space 40 of case 4 increases.

(2.3) operation

Next, the operation of the outlet system 10 of the present embodiment will be described.

As a basic operation of the outlet system 10, the opening/closing unit 6 operates to switch from the on state to the off state when the determination condition is satisfied. The determination condition includes that the detected temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature. Here, the detected temperature is the temperature of at least one of the terminal member 2 and the connecting member 3 detected by the temperature detecting unit 5. The opening/closing unit 6 can switch from the off state to the on state when the determination condition is not satisfied.

In the present disclosure, "switchable from the off state to the on state" means a state in which switching of the opening/closing unit 6 from the off state to the on state is permitted, that is, a state in which switching of the opening/closing unit 6 in the off state to the on state is permitted. Therefore, if it is not "switchable from the cut-off state to the conduction state", the switching of the opening/closing unit 6 in the cut-off state to the conduction state is prohibited, and the cut-off state is maintained. Here, the switching of the switching unit 6 from the off state to the on state may be manually performed by a user, or may be automatically performed by the outlet system 10 when a recovery signal is received from the outside of the outlet 1 or a recovery condition such as a lapse of a predetermined time is satisfied, for example.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 7 receives the detection signal from the temperature detection unit 5 to acquire the detected temperature. The control unit 7 compares the threshold temperature stored in the memory or the like with the detected temperature to determine the determination condition. When determining that the determination condition is satisfied, the control unit 7 outputs a drive signal to the opening/closing unit 6 to switch the opening/closing unit 6 from the on state to the off state. In the present embodiment, the determination condition is only that the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, as an example. That is, the determination condition is satisfied if the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, and the determination condition is not satisfied if the detected temperature is lower than the threshold temperature.

Here, in the present embodiment, the temperature detector 5 detects the temperature of the connecting member 3 as a detection temperature and detects the temperature of the terminal member 2 as an auxiliary detection temperature. When the assist determination condition including the assist detection temperature being equal to or higher than the assist threshold temperature is satisfied, the opening/closing unit 6 switches from the on state to the off state, and the switching from the off state to the on state is restricted. That is, in the present embodiment, the temperature detector 5 detects the temperature of only the connection member 3 of the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3 as a detection temperature, and detects the temperature of the terminal member 2 as an auxiliary detection temperature other than the detection temperature.

Therefore, regarding the temperature of only the connection member 3 of the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3, the opening/closing portion 6 can be switched from the on state to the off state when the determination condition is satisfied, and the opening/closing portion 6 can be switched from the off state to the on state when the determination condition is not satisfied. The temperature of the terminal member 2 (assist detection temperature) is switched from the on state to the off state by the opening/closing unit 6 when the assist determination condition is satisfied, but the switching from the off state to the on state is restricted. That is, when the assist detection temperature satisfies the assist determination condition, even if the assist determination condition is not satisfied, the switching of the opening/closing unit 6 from the off state to the on state is restricted (e.g., prohibited).

In the present embodiment, as an example, the assist determination condition is only set such that the assist detection temperature is equal to or higher than the assist threshold temperature, as in the determination condition. That is, the assist determination condition is satisfied if the assist detection temperature is equal to or higher than the assist threshold temperature, and the determination condition is not satisfied if the assist detection temperature is lower than the assist threshold temperature. Similarly, the attention determination condition used for determining whether or not to perform the report by the report unit 71 is set so that only the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the attention temperature in the present embodiment. That is, the caution determination condition is satisfied if the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the caution temperature, and the caution determination condition is not satisfied if the detected temperature is not equal to the caution temperature.

In the present embodiment, as the display mode of the display unit 82, there are a plurality of types of display modes by a combination of lighting states (off, on, or blinking) of the first display lamp 821 and the second display lamp 822. For example, when the open/close unit 6 is in the on state and in the steady state, the display unit 82 turns on the first indicator light 821 and turns off the second indicator light 822 to perform the "normal" display. On the other hand, when the attention determination condition including that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 5 is equal to or higher than the attention temperature lower than the threshold temperature is satisfied, the display unit 82 lights the first indicator light 821 and blinks the second indicator light 822 to display "attention". When the switching unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state, the display unit 82 lights the first indicator light 821 and the second indicator light 822 to display a "warning".

Similarly, the output sound from the buzzer 83 may be of a plurality of types including a notice sound for realizing the report from the report unit 71 and a warning sound for realizing the presentation from the state presentation unit 72. That is, the buzzer 83 is stopped when the opening/closing unit 6 is in a steady state of an on state, and outputs a notice sound when an attention determination condition including that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 5 is equal to or higher than a notice temperature lower than the threshold temperature is satisfied. Further, when the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state, the buzzer 83 outputs a warning sound other than the attention sound.

In the present embodiment, the threshold temperature is set to a temperature lower than a detection temperature when the characteristic of the holding member changes by a predetermined amount. That is, as described above, heat from the connecting member 3 may be transmitted to the holding member (the inner block 44 and the cover 42) that holds the connecting member 3, and the characteristics of the holding member may be affected by the heat, and the characteristics of the holding member may change (including change in quality, discoloration, and deformation). On the other hand, in the outlet system 10 of the present embodiment, even after the temperature rise occurs, it is preferable to cut the opening/closing portion 6 so that the characteristics of the holding member do not exceed the allowable range in order to enable the outlet 1 to be used again. The "predetermined change" in the present disclosure is a change in the characteristics of the holding member to the upper limit of the allowable range. For example, when the allowable range of the characteristics of the holding member is determined by a specific criterion, the characteristics of the holding member are preferably limited to the allowable range even if the temperature rises. Here, by setting the temperature lower than the detection temperature when the characteristic of the holding member changes by a predetermined amount as the threshold temperature, the opening/closing portion 6 can be set to the closed state before the characteristic of the holding member changes by a predetermined amount or more. This allows the opening/closing unit 6 to be in the closed state before the characteristics of the holding member are degraded, thereby suppressing further temperature rise and allowing the receptacle 1 to be reused.

The outlet system 10 of the present embodiment includes the operation member 81 for receiving an operation from the user as described above, and the operation member 81 is interlocked with the opening/closing unit 6. Therefore, the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the off state to the on state by the operation (the return operation) of the operation member 81 when the determination condition is not satisfied. That is, after the determination condition is satisfied and the switching unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state, if the factor satisfying the determination condition is eliminated and the recovery operation is performed in a state where the determination condition is not satisfied any more, the switching unit 6 is switched from the off state to the on state. This enables the user to manually switch the opening/closing unit 6 from the off state to the on state.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the operation member 81 moves between the on position and the off position in conjunction with the opening/closing unit 6. That is, since whether the opening/closing unit 6 is in the on state or the off state is also presented according to the position of the operating member 81, the operating member 81 also functions as a state presenting unit that presents the state of the opening/closing unit 6. In the present embodiment, a portion of the operation member 81 that can be recognized only when the operation member 81 is in the off position is colored in red or the like, so that it is possible to recognize from a distance which of the on position and the off position the operation member 81 is in.

An example of the operation of the outlet system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to a flowchart of fig. 6. The flowchart of fig. 6 is merely an example, and the order of the processing may be changed as appropriate, and the processing may be added or omitted as appropriate.

In fig. 6, first, the controller 7 receives a detection signal from the temperature detector 5 and obtains an actually measured temperature T1 (S1). The measured temperature T1 includes both the temperature of the connection member 3 (detected temperature) and the temperature of the terminal member 2 (auxiliary detected temperature).

Next, the controller 7 compares the measured temperature T1 with the attention temperature Tth1 (S2). The attention temperature Tth1 is a temperature to be compared with the detected temperature in order to determine whether or not the attention determination condition is satisfied, that is, whether or not the report of the reporting unit 71 is performed. Note that the temperature Tth1 is a temperature lower than the threshold temperature Tth 2. If the actually measured temperature T1 does not reach the attention temperature Tth1 (S2: no), the control unit 7 determines that the attention determination condition is not satisfied, performs the stop process of the buzzer 83 (S3) and the "normal" display of the display unit 82 (S4), and returns to the process S1.

On the other hand, in the process S2, if the measured temperature T1 is equal to or higher than the attention temperature Tth1 (yes in S2), the control unit 7 determines that the attention determination condition is satisfied, and outputs the attention sound from the buzzer 83 as the report from the report unit 71 (S5) and displays "attention" on the display unit 82 (S6). In this state, when the switch 84 is pressed, that is, the stop button of the buzzer 83 is pressed (yes in S7), the control unit 7 executes the stop process of the buzzer 83 (S8) and acquires the measured temperature T1 (S9). If the switch 84 is not pressed, that is, the stop button of the buzzer 83 is not pressed (S7: no), the control unit 7 skips the stop process of the buzzer 83 (S8) and obtains the measured temperature T1 (S9).

Next, the controller 7 compares the measured temperature T1 obtained in step S9 with the threshold temperature Tth2 (S10). The threshold temperature Tth2 is a temperature that is compared with the detected temperature in order to determine whether or not the determination condition is satisfied, that is, whether or not the opening/closing unit 6 is in the closed state. Further, in the present embodiment, the threshold temperature Tth2 doubles as an assist threshold temperature to be compared with an assist detection temperature in order to determine whether or not the assist determination condition is satisfied. That is, the assist threshold temperature is equal to the threshold temperature Tth 2. If the measured temperature T1 is less than the threshold temperature Tth2 (S10: no), the controller 7 determines that the determination condition and the assist determination condition are not satisfied, and returns to the process S1.

Therefore, even if the notification unit 71 reports that the attention determination condition is satisfied once, if the measured temperature T1 subsequently decreases to become lower than the attention temperature Tth1 (S2: no), the stop processing of the buzzer 83 is performed (S3) and the display unit 82 displays "normal" (S4). Therefore, for example, even if the temperature rises due to a transient event, the measured temperature T1 falls, and it is determined that the temperature is equal to or higher than the attentive temperature Tth1, if the measured temperature T1 falls thereafter, the report by the report section 71 is automatically stopped.

On the other hand, in the process S10, if the measured temperature T1 is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature Tth2 (S10: yes), the controller 7 determines that the determination condition or the auxiliary determination condition is satisfied, outputs the drive signal to the switch 6, and switches the switch 6 from the on state to the off state (S11). After that, the controller 7 outputs a warning sound from the buzzer 83, which is presented by the state presenting unit 72 (S12), and displays "warning" on the display unit 82 (S13). In this state, when the switch 84 is pressed, that is, the stop button of the buzzer 83 is pressed (yes in S14), the control unit 7 executes the stop process of the buzzer 83 (S15), and the process proceeds to S16. If the switch 84 is not pressed, that is, the stop button of the buzzer 83 is not pressed (S14: no), the control unit 7 skips the stop processing of the buzzer 83 (S15), and the process proceeds to S16.

In step S16, the control unit 7 determines whether or not the actual temperature T1 determined to be equal to or higher than the threshold temperature Tth2 is the temperature of the connection member 3. That is, if the measured temperature T1 at this time is the temperature of the connection member 3 (S16: yes), the control unit 7 shifts to a process S17 in which the on/off unit 6 can be switched from the off state to the on state because it is determined in the process S10 that the determination condition is satisfied. When the operation member 81 is returned to this state (yes in S17), the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the off state to the on state (S18), and the process proceeds to S9. At this time, if the cause of the determination condition is not eliminated, that is, if the actually measured temperature T1 remains equal to or higher than the threshold temperature Tth2 (yes in S10), the controller 7 immediately switches the on/off unit 6 from the on state to the off state (S11). On the other hand, if the cause of the determination condition is eliminated and the actually measured temperature T1 is less than the threshold temperature Tth2 (S10: no), the control unit 7 determines that the determination condition and the auxiliary determination condition are not satisfied, and returns to the process S1. Thereby, the opening/closing unit 6 is maintained in the on state, and the receptacle 1 is reusable.

On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S16 that the measured temperature T1 equal to or higher than the threshold temperature Tth2 is not the temperature of the connection member 3 (no in S16), it is determined in a step S10 that the assist determination condition is satisfied. In this case, the control unit 7 proceeds to step S19 where the switching unit 6 cannot be switched from the off state to the on state. In this state, when the operation member 81 is returned (yes in S19), the controller 7 forcibly maintains the opening/closing unit 6 in the cut-off state by the drive signal (S11).

In addition, in either of the processing S17 and the processing S19, if the recovery operation is not performed (S17: no or S19: no), the control unit 7 proceeds to the processing S14.

In the outlet system 10, the opening/closing unit 6 can be switched from the off state to the on state when the determination condition is not satisfied. That is, in the outlet system 10, even if the open/close unit 6 is once in the off state by satisfying the determination condition, the open/close unit 6 can be returned to the on state if the determination condition is not satisfied by the elimination of the factor satisfying the determination condition thereafter. Therefore, according to the outlet system 10, even if the opening/closing unit 6 is once in the cut-off state, by returning the opening/closing unit 6, the outlet system 10 (outlet 1) can be reused without replacing the outlet system 10 (outlet 1). Therefore, for example, when the socket 1 does not need to be replaced due to a transient event due to a temperature rise or due to an electrical device connected to the socket 1, the socket 1 does not need to be replaced, and convenience of the socket system 10 is improved.

(3) Modification example

The above-described embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The above embodiment can be variously modified according to design and the like if the object of the cost disclosure can be achieved. The same functions as those of the control unit 7 of the above embodiment may be embodied by a control method of the outlet 1, a computer program, a non-transitory recording medium in which a computer program is recorded, or the like.

Modifications of the above embodiment will be described below. The modifications described below can be applied in appropriate combinations.

The outlet system 10 in the present disclosure includes a computer system in the control unit 7 or the like, for example. The computer system has a main structure including a processor and a memory as hardware. The function as the control section 7 in the present disclosure is realized by executing a program recorded in a memory of a computer system by a processor. The program may be recorded in advance in a memory of the computer system, may be supplied via an electric communication line, or may be recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, an optical disk, or a hard disk drive that can be read by the computer system. A processor of a computer system is constituted by one to a plurality of electronic circuits including a semiconductor Integrated Circuit (IC) or a large scale integrated circuit (LSI). The plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated into one chip or may be distributed over a plurality of chips. The plurality of chips may be integrated in one device or may be distributed among a plurality of devices.

Further, it is not essential for the outlet system 10 that a plurality of functions in the outlet system 10 are concentrated on one housing 4, and the components of the outlet system 10 may be provided in a plurality of housings in a dispersed manner. Further, at least a part of the functions of the outlet system 10 such as the control unit 7 may be realized by cloud (cloud computing) or the like, for example. Conversely, as in the above-described embodiments, all the functions of the outlet system 10 may be integrated into one housing 4.

The control unit 7 is not an essential component of the outlet system 10 and can be omitted as appropriate. That is, the outlet system 10 may be configured such that the opening/closing unit 6 operates to switch from the on state to the off state when the determination condition is satisfied, and the opening/closing unit 6 can switch from the off state to the on state when the determination condition is not satisfied. Therefore, for example, when the output (detection signal) of the temperature detection unit 5 is directly input to the opening/closing unit 6 and the opening/closing unit 6 operates upon receiving the detection signal, the control unit 7 can be omitted. Further, for example, when the temperature detecting unit 5 is a bimetal or the like and the opening/closing unit 6 is directly driven, the control unit 7 may be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the case where the temperature detector 5 detects the temperature of the connecting member 3 as the detected temperature and detects the temperature of the terminal member 2 as the auxiliary detected temperature has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the temperature detector 5 may detect the temperature of the terminal member 2 or both the terminal member 2 and the connecting member 3 as the detected temperature. When the temperatures of both the terminal member 2 and the connecting member 3 are set as the detected temperatures, the determination conditions may be the same or different between the detected temperature of the terminal member 2 and the detected temperature of the connecting member 3.

The determination condition may include that the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, and may include other conditions than that the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature. For example, the determination condition may include that an event whose detected temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature continues for a predetermined time, occurs a predetermined number of times, or occurs at a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined value. Similarly, the assist determination condition may include that the assist detection temperature is equal to or higher than the assist threshold temperature, and may include other conditions than that the assist detection temperature is equal to or higher than the assist threshold temperature. Similarly, the attention determination condition may include a detected temperature equal to or higher than the attention temperature, or may include other conditions in addition to the detected temperature equal to or higher than the attention temperature.

The Outlet 1 is not limited to a strip ground, but may have no ground, and may be an Outlet (Outlet) for ac 200V or dc, for example. Further, the receptacle 1 is not limited to the a-type receptacle, and may be a receptacle to which a plug having a pin-shaped blade can be connected, such as the B-type or C-type receptacle. The socket 1 is not limited to the two-port type, and may be a 1-port type or a 3-port type, for example. Further, the outlet system 10 may include not only the outlet 1 but also a human detection sensor, a timer, a switch, or the like. The terminal member 2 may not be a quick-connect terminal, and may be a screw terminal, for example. The socket 1 is not limited to a structure (embedded installation type) in which it is installed using a mounting frame in a state in which it is embedded in the building surface 100, but may be a structure (exposed installation type) in which it is installed in a state in which it is entirely exposed on the building surface 100.

Further, the receptacle 1 may have a lock mechanism which becomes a lock portion of the plug 91. The lock mechanism performs locking of the blades 911 of the plug 91 by, for example, rotating the plug 91. The socket 1 may also be provided with a shutter.

In the above embodiment, when the electromagnetic release device is operated and the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state, the operation member 81 is also moved to the off position in conjunction with the opening/closing unit 6, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, when the opening/closing unit 6 is switched from the on state to the off state, the operation member 81 may be kept at the on position. In this case, the return operation is performed by moving the operation member 81 from the off position to the on position after temporarily moving the operation member 81 from the on position to the off position.

The opening/closing unit 6 may be implemented by, for example, a mechanical relay, a semiconductor switch, or the like.

The temperature detection unit 5 may include at least one temperature sensor 51, or may include one or more other temperature sensors in addition to the one temperature sensor 51. In this case, the single temperature sensor 51 also detects the temperature of the detection point group P100 including at least one of the plurality of first detection points and the plurality of second detection points as the detection temperature.

The heat transfer structure 50 is not limited to a potting material for filling the internal space 40 of the case 4, and may be a member having heat transfer properties such as another resin member or a metal member, or a heat pipe, or may be realized by a combination thereof. In this case, the potting material filling the internal space 40 can be omitted. Further, the heat transfer structure 50 may be integrated with a conductive member that electrically connects the terminal member 2 and the connection member 3. That is, the conductive member (the conductive plate 30, the braided wire, and the like) can also serve as the heat transfer structure 50.

In the above embodiment, the presentation mode of the state presentation unit 72 is the same for both the case where the determination condition is satisfied and the case where the assist determination condition is satisfied, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the state presentation unit 72 may present different modes for both the case where the determination condition is satisfied and the case where the assist determination condition is satisfied. For example, the display mode of the display unit 82 is changed by turning on the first indicator light 821 when it is determined that the measured temperature T1 equal to or higher than the threshold temperature Tth2 is the temperature of the connection member 3, and by turning on the first indicator light 821 when the measured temperature T1 is the temperature of the terminal member 2.

In the present disclosure, the term "at least" in the comparison of the binary values of the detected temperature and the threshold temperature includes both the case where the binary values are equal and the case where one of the binary values exceeds the other. However, the meaning of "above" here is not limited to this, and may be the same as "greater than" in the case where only one of the binary values exceeds the other. That is, whether or not the binary values are equal can be arbitrarily changed immediately after setting of the reference value or the like, and there is no technical difference between "above" and "above". Similarly, the meaning of "less than" may be the same as "below".

(embodiment mode 2)

As shown in fig. 7A and 7B, the outlet system 10A of the present embodiment is different from the outlet system 10 of embodiment 1 in that the outlet 1A includes a temperature sensor 52. Hereinafter, the same configurations as those in embodiment 1 will be referred to by common reference numerals and their description will be omitted as appropriate.

That is, in the present embodiment, the temperature detection unit 5 includes two sensor elements, i.e., a temperature sensor 51 (hereinafter also referred to as a "first temperature sensor 51") and a temperature sensor 52 (hereinafter also referred to as a "second temperature sensor 52"). The second temperature sensor 52 is implemented by, for example, a thermistor, a thermocouple, a bimetal, a thermopile, or the like, as in the first temperature sensor 51.

The first temperature sensor 51 is a sensor for detecting the temperature of the connecting member 3. The second temperature sensor 52 is a sensor for detecting the temperature of the terminal member 2. Therefore, the first temperature sensor 51 is thermally coupled to the detection points P3 and P4 (see fig. 1B) provided in the connection member 3 by the heat transfer structure 50, and the second temperature sensor 52 is thermally coupled to the detection points P1 and P2 (see fig. 1B) provided in the terminal member 2 by the heat transfer structure 50.

The second temperature sensor 52 is disposed in the internal space 40 of the housing 4, for example (see fig. 5A). Specifically, as shown in fig. 7A and 7B, the second temperature sensor 52 is disposed behind the terminal block 45 in the internal space 40. More specifically, as shown in fig. 7A, the second temperature sensor 52 is disposed between a pair of terminal members 2 having different polarities from each other in a front view.

With the above configuration, the temperatures at the detection points P1 and P2 provided in the terminal member 2 can be detected by the second temperature sensor 52. Here, since the detection point P1 and the detection point P2 are detection points provided on one and the other of the pair of terminal members 2 having mutually different polarities, the combination of the detection point P1 and the detection point P2 becomes a plurality of first detection points electrically insulated from each other. That is, the detection point group to be a temperature detection target of the second temperature sensor 52 includes a plurality of first detection points (detection points P1, P2). On the other hand, the temperatures at the detection points P3 and P4 provided in the link 3 can be detected by the first temperature sensor 51. Here, since the detection point P3 and the detection point P4 are detection points provided on one and the other of the pair of connecting members 3 having mutually different polarities, the combination of the detection point P3 and the detection point P4 becomes a plurality of first detection points electrically insulated from each other. That is, the detection point group to be a temperature detection target of the first temperature sensor 51 includes a plurality of first detection points (detection points P3, P4).

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, since the temperatures of the plurality of first detection points electrically insulated from each other are detected by one temperature sensor (51 or 52), the number of temperature sensors required for the number of detection points can be reduced, and an increase in the number of components can be suppressed. Since the temperature of the terminal member 2 and the temperature of the connecting member 3 are detected by the

different temperature sensors

51 and 52, it is easy to distinguish the temperature of the terminal member 2 from the temperature of the connecting member 3.

The configuration described in embodiment 2 can be adopted in appropriate combination with the various configurations (including the modifications) described in embodiment 1.

(conclusion)

As described above, the socket system (10, 10A) of the first embodiment includes the terminal member (2), the connection member (3), the housing (4), the temperature detection unit (5), the opening/closing unit (6), and the heat transfer structure (50). The terminal member (2) is connected to a power supply line (92). The connecting member (3) is connected to the plug (91). The case (4) accommodates the terminal member (2) and the connection member (3). The temperature detection unit (5) includes a temperature sensor (51 or 52). A temperature detection unit (5) detects the temperature of a detection point group (P100) including at least one of a plurality of first detection points and a plurality of second detection points as a detection temperature by one temperature sensor (51 or 52). The plurality of first detection points are detection points electrically insulated from each other. The plurality of second detection points are detection points provided at different positions in the internal space (40) of the terminal member (2), the connection member (3), and the housing (4). The opening/closing section (6) is electrically connected between the terminal member (2) and the connecting member (3). The opening/closing unit (6) switches from the on state to the off state when a determination condition is satisfied, the determination condition including a detected temperature being equal to or higher than a threshold temperature. The heat transfer structure (50) thermally couples the group of detection points (P100) and a temperature sensor (51 or 52).

According to this aspect, one temperature sensor (51 or 52) detects the temperature of at least one of the plurality of first detection points electrically insulated from each other and the plurality of second detection points provided at different locations from each other. Thus, one temperature sensor (51 or 52) is shared in the detection of the temperatures at the plurality of first detection points, for example. Alternatively, one temperature sensor (51 or 52) is used in common for detecting the temperatures at a plurality of second detection points, for example. Therefore, the number of temperature sensors required can be reduced as compared with the case where separate temperature sensors are provided for each of the plurality of first detection points or the case where separate temperature sensors are provided for each of the plurality of second detection points. As a result, according to the socket system (10, 10A), the number of temperature sensors required for the number of detection points can be reduced, and an increase in the number of components can be suppressed.

According to the socket system (10, 10A) of the second aspect, in the first aspect, the heat transfer structure (50) is separate from the conductive member that electrically connects the terminal member (2) and the connection member (3).

According to this aspect, since the electrical connection between the terminal member (2) and the connecting member (3) is ensured by the conductive member, the heat transfer structure (50) may not have conductivity, for example, and the degree of freedom in designing the heat transfer structure (50) is improved.

According to the outlet system (10) of the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the temperature detection unit (5) includes only one temperature sensor (51) as a sensor element.

According to this aspect, only one temperature sensor (51) is used as the sensor element, and therefore the number of necessary temperature sensors can be reduced, and an increase in the number of components can be suppressed.

The configuration of the second or third aspect is not essential to the outlet system (10, 10A), and can be omitted as appropriate.

Description of the reference numerals

2 terminal member

3 connecting part

5 temperature detecting part

6 opening and closing part

10, 10A socket system

50 heat transfer structure

51, 52 temperature sensor

91 plug

92 supply line

P1-P5 detection points

P100 detection point group

Claims

1. A socket system, characterized in that,

the disclosed device is provided with:

a terminal member to which the power supply line is connected;

a connection member to which a plug is connected;

a housing that accommodates the terminal member and the connection member;

a temperature detection unit including one temperature sensor, the temperature detection unit being configured to detect, as a detection temperature, a temperature of a detection point group including a plurality of first detection points electrically insulated from each other and at least one of a plurality of second detection points provided at different positions in an internal space of the terminal member, the connection member, and the housing;

an opening/closing unit electrically connected between the terminal member and the connection member, and configured to switch from an on state to an off state when a determination condition including that the detected temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature is satisfied; and

and a heat transfer structure thermally coupling the group of detection points and the one temperature sensor.

2. The socket system of claim 1,

the heat transfer structure is separate from a conductive member that electrically connects the terminal member and the connection member.

3. The socket system of claim 1 or 2,

the temperature detection unit includes only the one temperature sensor as a sensor element.