JP2004227996A - Electric apparatus having make and break contact in its interior - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric apparatus having a make and break contact, capable of reducing the concentration of an organic gas by decomposing the organic gas generated inside, and suppressing a conduction failure and an increase of a contact resistance by preventing a carbide from being deposited by arcing at the time when a contact is opened and closed. <P>SOLUTION: A titanium oxide 1 is provided as an organic gas decomposing means inside the electric apparatus. The titanium oxide 1 is excited by an ultraviolet generated by make and break of a contact part, visible light, and an electromagnetic wave generated in a coil to activate a photocatalyst function, and the organic gas is decomposed to carbon monoxide, water or the like due to catalyst action by the titanium oxide, and thereby, the concentration of the organic gas can be reduced. In addition, even if oxygen and nitrogen in the air react with each other by arcing at the time when the contact part is opened and closed to produce a nitrogen oxide (NO<SB>X</SB>), the nitrogen oxide (NO<SB>X</SB>) is decomposed to oxygen and nitrogen by the catalyst action of the titanium oxide to prevent a metallic member from being corroded. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electric device such as an electromagnetic relay having a switching contact inside.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a component of the electromagnetic relay (relay), an organic material is used for a molded article (exterior case), a coil wire, a sealing material, etc., which constitutes an exterior, and an organic gas is generated from the organic material during use of the electromagnetic relay. appear. When such an organic gas is generated inside the electromagnetic relay, when the contacts of the electromagnetic relay are opened and closed, carbides and the like are generated by an arc generated at the contact portion, which deposits on the contact portion, resulting in poor conduction and poor contact resistance. Was causing the increase.
[0003]
Therefore, conventionally, materials that generate a small amount of organic gas have been used as materials of the outer case 2, the coil wire, the sealing material, and the like, or polyhydric alcohol has been converted into an electromagnetic relay as disclosed in Patent Document 1. It has been proposed to prevent organic gas from adhering to the contact surface.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-162859 (Claims)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-21258 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, due to the recent miniaturization of electromagnetic relays, the volume inside the electromagnetic relay has decreased, and as a result, the concentration of organic gas generated inside the electromagnetic relay has increased even if the amount of organic gas generated is the same. Therefore, it is no longer possible to sufficiently suppress the accumulation of carbides and the like at the contact portion 4 only by the conventional method for reducing the organic gas.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and relates to an electric device having a built-in switching contact, such as an electromagnetic relay, and more particularly, to reduce an organic gas concentration by decomposing an organic gas generated inside. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric device capable of preventing accumulation of carbides and the like due to an arc at the time of opening and closing a contact, thereby suppressing poor conduction and increase in contact resistance.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The electric device having the switching contact according to the first aspect is characterized in that titanium oxide 1 is provided as an organic gas decomposing means inside.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, titanium oxide 1 is mixed into the outer case 2.
[0009]
The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in claim 1 or 2, titanium oxide 1 is provided on at least one of the surface of the metal member 3 inside and the surface of the formed member.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, a member made of titanium oxide 1 is provided inside the electric device.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that it is formed as an electromagnetic relay.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0013]
The present invention relates to an electric device having an open / close contact, such as an electromagnetic relay. FIG. 6 shows an overall configuration of an electromagnetic relay as an example of an electric device having such a switching contact, but the configuration of the electromagnetic relay is not limited to this.
[0014]
This electromagnetic relay has a so-called balance armature structure, in which a coil bobbin is integrally formed on a substantially U-shaped iron core 11, a coil is wound around the coil bobbin, and a magnet 14 (permanent magnet) is An electromagnet block is formed by being interposed between the tips of the two side pieces of the armature 11, and the armature is slidably mounted on the permanent magnet so as to face the upper surface of the both side pieces as the magnetic pole portions of the iron core 11. .
[0015]
In the illustrated electromagnetic relay, a body block 21 made of synthetic resin or the like is provided integrally with a terminal plate 13 having an iron core 11, a coil, a magnet 14, and a terminal 17 and having a fixed contact 19 fixed thereto. I have. On the other hand, a contact spring 16 having a movable contact 18 fixed to the tip is disposed on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the swinging direction of the armature 15 and molded with a synthetic resin so that the armature 15 and the contact spring 16 are integrally formed. The armature block 22 is formed by mounting the armature block 22 on the body block 21, and a box-shaped synthetic resin case 23 having an open surface is fitted on the body block 21. , An electromagnetic relay is formed.
[0016]
In the electromagnetic relay, when power is supplied to the coil, one end of the armature 15 is attracted to one magnetic pole 11a of the iron core 11 in accordance with the direction of magnetization, and the armature block 22 swings to contact the spring. When the movable contact 18 fixed to one end of the contact 16 comes into contact with the fixed contact 19 and the direction of current supply to the coil is reversed, the armature 15 is attracted to the other magnetic pole 11 a of the iron core 11 and fixed. The movable contact 18 that has been in contact with the contact 19 operates so as to be separated.
[0017]
In the present invention, titanium oxide 1 is provided as an organic gas decomposing means inside the electromagnetic relay as exemplified above. It is particularly preferable to provide an anatase type titanium oxide 1.
[0018]
The method for providing the titanium oxide 1 is not particularly limited, and an appropriate method can be employed.
[0019]
For example, the titanium oxide 1 can be mixed into the exterior case 2 constituting the exterior of the electromagnetic relay, and in the above example, at least one of the case 23 and the body block 21 made of synthetic resin. That is, when the outer case 2 is formed, the outer case 2 is formed by using a molding material mixed with the titanium oxide 1 and molding the same. In this case, inside the electromagnetic relay, as schematically shown in FIG. 3, the titanium oxide 1 is exposed on the inner surface of the outer case 2, whereby the titanium oxide 1 is provided inside the electromagnetic relay. The content of the titanium oxide 1 in the outer case 2 is not particularly limited, and may be an appropriate content. For example, the content is 0.1 to 1% by weight based on the whole molded body. .
[0020]
Further, a sealing material for sealing the electromagnetic relay, that is, a sealing material for sealing a gap between the synthetic resin case 23 and the body block 21 also constitutes the outer case 2. In this case, the titanium oxide 1 may be exposed on the surface of the sealing material inside the electromagnetic relay, whereby the titanium oxide 1 is provided inside the electromagnetic relay. .
[0021]
Further, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, titanium oxide 1 can be provided on the surface of metal member 3 provided inside the electromagnetic relay, or titanium oxide 1 can be provided on the surface of another molded member. .
[0022]
For example, on the surface of the iron core 11, the armature 15, the contact spring 16, the magnet 14, and other members provided in the electromagnetic relay in the above example and formed of metal, the titanium oxide 1 is formed into a film shape or the like. To form. In this case, the titanium oxide 1 can be provided in a large distribution on the surface of the metal member 3, and the catalytic effect of the titanium oxide 1 described later increases.
[0023]
In addition, the titanium oxide 1 may be formed in a film shape on the inner surface of the outer case 2 of the electromagnetic relay (for example, the case 23 made of synthetic resin in the above example), or on the surface of the armature block 22, the body block 21, and the like. In this case, the titanium oxide 1 can be provided in a large distribution on the inner surface of the outer case 2 or the like, and the catalytic effect of the titanium oxide 1 described later increases.
[0024]
As described above, the method of forming the titanium oxide 1 in the case where the titanium oxide 1 is provided on the surface of the metal member 3 or the surface of another molded member is not particularly limited, and for example, using a vapor deposition, coating, plating, or other coating method. Can be formed. In this case, the thickness of the titanium oxide film 1 is not particularly limited, and it can be formed to have an appropriate thickness. For example, the film is formed to have a thickness of 1 μm or more.
[0025]
Here, in the case where the titanium oxide 1 is provided on the contact portion 4, that is, the fixed contact 19 fixed to the terminal plate 13 in the illustrated example, or the movable contact 18 fixed to the contact spring 16, the contact portions 4 contact each other. It is preferable that the conduction of the contact portion 4 is ensured by not providing the titanium oxide 1 at the site. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, an Ag layer 25 is provided on the terminal plate 13 or the contact spring 16 via a CuNi layer 24 for welding connection, and an Au layer 26 is provided on the surface thereof, whereby the fixed contact 19 or the movable contact 18 is provided. However, by providing the titanium oxide 1 only on the surface of the CuNi layer 24, the titanium oxide 1 is not provided at the contact portion between the contacts, and the conduction of the contact portion 4 is ensured.
[0026]
In addition to the provision of titanium oxide 1 as an essential member of the electromagnetic relay as described above, a separate member functioning only as an organic gas decomposing means may be formed of titanium oxide 1 and provided inside the electromagnetic relay. For example, a ball-shaped molded body is formed from titanium oxide 1, and this is disposed at an appropriate position inside the electromagnetic relay.
[0027]
In the electromagnetic relay formed as described above, even if an organic gas is generated inside the electromagnetic relay, it is decomposed into carbon dioxide, water, and the like by the catalytic action of the titanium oxide 1 as conceptually shown in FIG. Can reduce the concentration of the organic gas inside. In particular, in the electromagnetic relay, the opening and closing of the contact portion 4 generates ultraviolet light and visible light at the contact portion 4 and generates an electromagnetic wave at the coil, thereby exciting the titanium oxide 1 and activating the photocatalytic function, Organic gas can be decomposed with high efficiency. For this reason, generation of carbide by the arc at the time of opening and closing of the contact portion 4 is suppressed, and carbide is not deposited on the contact portion 4, so that occurrence of conduction failure and increase in contact resistance at the contact portion 4 can be suppressed. Things.
[0028]
In the case of an electromagnetic relay (power relay) for opening and closing a large load such as opening and closing a load from a power supply, for example, a load (L load (inductive load)) in which an arc at the contact portion 4 is maintained. And the like), nitrogen oxide (NO _x ) is generated by the reaction between nitrogen and oxygen in the air, and this reacts with moisture (H ₂ O) in the air to produce nitric acid (H ₂ NO ₃ ). May be generated, causing the metal member 3 inside the electromagnetic relay to corrode and cause a malfunction. In the electromagnetic relay according to the present invention, as shown conceptually in FIG. As a result, nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) are decomposed into oxygen and nitrogen, so that corrosion of the metal member 3 can be suppressed.
[0029]
In producing the electromagnetic relay as described above, it is preferable that, in the final stage of the assembly, ultraviolet light or visible light is applied to the titanium oxide 1 disposed inside the electromagnetic relay, whereby the titanium oxide 1 By activating the catalytic performance, a higher effect can be obtained. In particular, when a sealing material that needs to be heat-formed such as a thermosetting sealing material is used to seal the electromagnetic relay with the sealing material, an organic gas is generated at the time of the heat forming. If the titanium oxide 1 disposed inside the electromagnetic relay is activated by irradiating the catalyst performance with ultraviolet rays before the sealing by the sealing method, the organic gas generated during the heat molding of the sealing material becomes a catalyst of the titanium oxide 1. It is decomposed by the action to suppress the residual organic gas in the electromagnetic relay.
[0030]
Further, the electric device including the switching contact according to the present invention is not limited to the electromagnetic relay as described above as long as the switching contact is mounted therein. For example, a switch, a motor, and a hard disk having another contact structure are provided. The present invention can also be applied to a drive and the like, and in these electric devices as well, it is possible to similarly suppress occurrence of conduction failure at the contact portion and increase in contact resistance.
[0031]
【Example】
As an example, 5% of titanium oxide is dispersed on the upper and lower surfaces (ceiling surface) of the inner surface of an outer case of an electromagnetic relay (GQ relay; manufactured by Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd .; product number "AGQ200A4H; outer case material LCP (liquid crystal polymer)"). 5 mg of the solution was applied and dried to prepare an outer case provided with 0.25 mg of titanium oxide on the inner surface, and as a comparative example, the same electromagnetic relay as that of the example except that titanium oxide 1 was not provided was prepared. .
[0032]
The contact resistance of the contacts was measured when the electromagnetic relays of the example and the comparative example were opened and closed 1,000,000 times at a load of 10 V and 10 mA in an atmosphere of 85 ° C. FIG. 7A shows the result of the example, and FIG. 7B shows the result of the comparative example. Note that the horizontal axis of the graph of FIG. 7 indicates the value obtained by dividing the number of open / close cycles by 10,000, and the vertical axis indicates the contact resistance value, and FIG. 7A and FIG. The range is different.
[0033]
As is clear from these results, the contact resistance value of the contact was significantly increased in the comparative example as compared with the example, and accordingly, in the example, the internal organic gas was decomposed by the catalytic action of titanium oxide 1. It was clarified that the increase in the contact resistance of the contacts was suppressed by suppressing the accumulation of carbides and the like at the contacts.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the electric device having the switching contact according to claim 1, since titanium oxide is provided as an organic gas decomposing means therein, the organic gas is formed from the organic material constituting the electric device during use of the electric device. Even if it occurs, the titanium oxide is excited by the ultraviolet and visible light generated by opening and closing the contact portion and the electromagnetic wave generated in the coil to activate the photocatalytic function. The organic gas concentration can be reduced by being decomposed into carbon, water, etc., and therefore, the generation of carbide by the arc at the time of opening / closing of the contact portion is suppressed, and the carbide is not deposited at the contact portion, so that the contact portion has It is possible to suppress occurrence of conduction failure and increase in contact resistance. Also even react with oxygen and nitrogen in the air by an arc at the time of opening and closing of the contact portion to generate nitrogen oxides (NO _X) is nitrogen oxides by the catalytic action by titanium oxide (NO _X) is oxygen and nitrogen And corrosion of the metal member can be prevented.
[0035]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, since the titanium oxide is mixed into the outer case, the titanium oxide can be widely dispersed and provided inside the electric device.
[0036]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the titanium oxide is provided on at least one of the inner surface of the metal member and the surface of the molded member. And the catalyst effect of titanium oxide can be improved.
[0037]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, since a member made of titanium oxide is provided inside the electric device, an arbitrary amount of titanium oxide may be provided at an arbitrary position in the electric device. You can do it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are conceptual diagrams showing how organic gas is decomposed by the catalytic action of titanium oxide.
FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are conceptual diagrams showing how nitrogen oxides are decomposed by the catalytic action of titanium oxide.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which titanium oxide is exposed on the surface of an outer case.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which titanium oxide is provided on the surface of a metal member.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which titanium oxide is provided in a terminal portion.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the entire configuration of the electromagnetic relay.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are graphs showing a change in the value of contact resistance of a contact with respect to the number of switching cycles of an electromagnetic relay in an example and in a comparative example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Titanium oxide 2 Exterior case 3 Metal member

Claims (5)

An electric device having a built-in switching contact, wherein titanium oxide is provided as an organic gas decomposing means inside. The electric device having a switching contact according to claim 1, wherein titanium oxide is mixed into an outer case. 3. An electric device having a switching contact according to claim 1 or 2, wherein titanium oxide is provided on at least one of the surface of the internal metal member and the surface of the molded member. 4. An electric device having a switching contact according to claim 1, wherein a member made of titanium oxide is provided inside the electric device. The electric device having the switching contact according to claim 1, wherein the electric device is formed as an electromagnetic relay.

Images