JP2008146867A

JP2008146867A - Thermoswitch

Info

Publication number: JP2008146867A
Application number: JP2006329614A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Noriyuki Ito; 紀之伊藤
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 2006-12-06
Filing date: 2006-12-06
Publication date: 2008-06-26

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermoswitch capable of stabilizing a contacting state between a heat sensitive cap and a bimetal irrespective of the installation attitude, using the magnetic force. <P>SOLUTION: The thermoswitch has the heat sensitive cap having a magnetic force for attracting the bimetal. Alternatively, magnetic materials repelling each other are attached to an operating pin and a location opposed to the operating pin, respectively, causing the operating pin to push the bimetal to the heat sensitive cap. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明はサーモスイッチ、特にバイメタルと感熱キャップとの接触を安定させる手段に関するものである。 The present invention relates to a thermoswitch, and more particularly to means for stabilizing the contact between a bimetal and a thermal cap.

図３は一般的なサーモスイッチの断面図であり、１はバイメタルの保持と熱伝達のための感熱キャップ、２がバイメタル、４が固定された端子であり、ハウジング６と、リベット７によって固定されている。８がバネ性を有する接点端子、５が８と電気的導通された端子である。バイメタル２が所望の温度に到達して反転することによって作動ピン３が接点端子８に備えられている突起部８aを押し、接点端子８と固定端子４の導通が遮断される。ハウジング材６は高温環境で使用されることからセラミックや樹脂などの材料が使用されることが多い。又、感熱キャップ１は熱伝達をよくするため一般的にはアルミなどの薄板状金属が使用されている。 FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a general thermoswitch. 1 is a thermal cap for holding and transferring heat of bimetal, 2 is a terminal to which bimetal is fixed, 4 is fixed by a housing 6 and a rivet 7. ing. 8 is a contact terminal having a spring property, and 5 is a terminal electrically connected to 8. When the bimetal 2 reaches a desired temperature and reverses, the operating pin 3 pushes the protrusion 8a provided on the contact terminal 8, and the conduction between the contact terminal 8 and the fixed terminal 4 is interrupted. Since the housing material 6 is used in a high temperature environment, a material such as ceramic or resin is often used. The heat-sensitive cap 1 generally uses a thin plate metal such as aluminum in order to improve heat transfer.

応答特性を改善する為には、感熱キャップからバイメタルへの熱伝導を向上させる事が肝要であり、例えば特開２００１−５２５８１などに示される様に感熱キャップからバイメタルへの熱伝導特性を向上させる様々な手法が提案されている。
特開２００１−５２５８１号公報 In order to improve the response characteristics, it is important to improve the heat conduction from the heat-sensitive cap to the bimetal. Various methods have been proposed.
JP 2001-52581 A

上記従来構造のサーモスイッチでは、所定の温度を検知した時にバイメタルが反転する事ができるように、キャップとハウジングの間で移動が自由な状態でバイメタルが配置されている。この為、感熱面が下向きの時は重力によってバイメタルと感熱キャップは良好な接触状態を保つ事ができるが、仮に感熱面が上向きとなった場合は、重力によってバイメタルとキャップが離れる事になり、キャップとバイメタルの間に空気層が形成されてしまい熱応答性が著しく悪くなるという問題があった。 In the above-described conventional thermoswitch, the bimetal is arranged in a freely movable state between the cap and the housing so that the bimetal can be reversed when a predetermined temperature is detected. For this reason, when the thermal surface is downward, the bimetal and the thermal cap can be kept in good contact by gravity, but if the thermal surface is upward, the bimetal and the cap will be separated by gravity, There is a problem that an air layer is formed between the cap and the bimetal, and the thermal response is remarkably deteriorated.

上記目的を達成する為に、本出願に係わる請求項１記載の発明は、感熱キャップに磁性材料を使用して、磁力により感熱キャップにバイメタルを吸着させて安定して接触する構成であることを特徴とする。 In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 according to the present application is configured to use a magnetic material for the thermal cap and to adsorb the bimetal to the thermal cap by a magnetic force so as to stably contact the thermal cap. Features.

本出願に関わる請求項３記載の発明は、可動端子と作動ピンが反発する方向に対向する面にそれぞれ磁性材料を取り付け、反発力によりバイメタルを感熱キャップに押し付ける構成であることを特徴とする。 The invention according to claim 3 relating to the present application is characterized in that a magnetic material is attached to each of the surfaces facing the repelling direction of the movable terminal and the operating pin, and the bimetal is pressed against the thermal cap by the repulsive force.

以上説明したように、本発明によれば、どのような角度で取り付けても熱応答特性が安定しているサーモスイッチを提供することが可能となる。 As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thermoswitch having stable thermal response characteristics regardless of the angle at which it is attached.

（実施例１）
本発明の第一の実施例を図１を用いて説明する。図１に於いて図３と同じ機能を有するものは同じ番号を付与し、説明を省略する。 (Example 1)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 having the same functions as those in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted.

１０は本実施例を表す感熱キャップであり、磁性材料にて形成されている。使用される感熱キャップの材料としては、ハウジングへの取り付けが容易な形状とするため、加工性に優れたＦｅ−Ｃｒ−Ｃｏ系磁石を使用する事が望ましい。 Reference numeral 10 denotes a heat-sensitive cap representing the present embodiment, which is formed of a magnetic material. As the material of the heat-sensitive cap used, it is desirable to use a Fe—Cr—Co magnet having excellent workability in order to make it easy to attach to the housing.

この時、感熱キャップとバイメタルの吸着力が、バイメタルの反転力よりも大きくなってしまうとバイメタルが反転動作不能となってしまうため、吸着力はバイメタル反転力よりも小さくする必要がある。また、バイメタル動作温度が磁性材のキュリー温度を超えてしまうと、バイメタルが動作温度に到達する前に吸着力が低下して接触が保てなくなってしまうため、磁性材のキュリー温度はバイメタルの動作温度よりも十分高くする必要がある。 At this time, if the suction force between the thermal cap and the bimetal becomes larger than the reversal force of the bimetal, the bimetal cannot be reversed. Therefore, the suction force needs to be smaller than the bimetal reversal force. In addition, if the bimetal operating temperature exceeds the Curie temperature of the magnetic material, the adsorption force will decrease before the bimetal reaches the operating temperature and contact will not be maintained. It must be sufficiently higher than the temperature.

この様に、磁性材感熱キャップ１０にバイメタル２が磁力により吸着することで、サーモスイッチがどのような姿勢で取り付けられても常にキャップとバイメタルの接触状況を安定させる事が可能となる。 In this manner, the bimetal 2 is attracted to the magnetic material heat-sensitive cap 10 by magnetic force, so that the contact state between the cap and the bimetal can be always stabilized regardless of the posture of the thermo switch.

（実施例２）
本発明の第一の実施例を図２を用いて説明する。図２に於いて図３と同じ機能を有するものは同じ番号を付与し、説明を省略する。 (Example 2)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2 having the same functions as those in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted.

２０、及び２１は本実施例を表す磁性材料であり、磁性材２０と可動端子８、並びに磁性材２１と作動ピン３は接着等、使用する材料に適した接続方法で取り付けられ、磁性材２０と２１は各々反発する方向に作用する。本実施例で使用する磁性材料は、所望の磁力が確保できるものであれば特に材料を限定する必要はない。 Reference numerals 20 and 21 denote magnetic materials representing the present embodiment. The magnetic material 20 and the movable terminal 8 and the magnetic material 21 and the operating pin 3 are attached by a connection method suitable for the material to be used, such as adhesion. And 21 each act in the direction of repulsion. The magnetic material used in this embodiment is not particularly limited as long as a desired magnetic force can be secured.

本実施例と第一の実施例の違いは、磁性材の反発力を利用する所にある。磁性材２０と２１の反発力により作動ピン３が感熱キャップ１側に移動する事でバイメタル２と感熱キャップの接触状態が安定する。 The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the repulsive force of the magnetic material is used. The contact state between the bimetal 2 and the thermal cap is stabilized by moving the operating pin 3 toward the thermal cap 1 by the repulsive force of the magnetic materials 20 and 21.

この時、磁性材２０と２１の反発力が作動ピン３とバイメタル２の重量に対して十分な力でないと感熱キャップとの接触が不十分となり、また、反発力が可動端子８と固定端子４の接触圧力よりも大きいとバイメタルが反転していないにも関わらす接点が離れてしまう可能性がある為、反発力の設定には注意が必要である。また、バイメタル動作温度が磁性材のキュリー温度を超えてしまうと、バイメタルが動作温度に到達する前に反発力が低下して接触が保てなくなってしまうため、磁性材のキュリー温度はバイメタルの動作温度よりも十分高くする必要がある。 At this time, if the repulsive force of the magnetic members 20 and 21 is not a sufficient force with respect to the weight of the operating pin 3 and the bimetal 2, the contact with the heat-sensitive cap becomes insufficient, and the repulsive force is not sufficient. If the contact pressure is higher than the contact pressure, the contact point may be separated even though the bimetal is not reversed, so care must be taken in setting the repulsive force. Also, if the bimetal operating temperature exceeds the Curie temperature of the magnetic material, the repulsive force will decrease before the bimetal reaches the operating temperature and contact will not be maintained. It must be sufficiently higher than the temperature.

この様に、磁性材２０と２１の反発力によりバイメタル２を感熱キャップ１に押し付けることで、サーモスイッチがどのような姿勢で取り付けられても常にキャップとバイメタルの接触状況を安定させる事が可能となる。 In this way, by pressing the bimetal 2 against the thermal cap 1 by the repulsive force of the magnetic materials 20 and 21, it is possible to always stabilize the contact state between the cap and the bimetal regardless of the posture of the thermo switch. Become.

尚、本実施例では可動端子に磁性材を取り付ける例で説明を行なったが、作動ピンを感熱面方向に押す力が作用する構成であれば、ハウジングなど別の位置に磁性材を取り付けても良い。 In this embodiment, the magnetic material is attached to the movable terminal. However, the magnetic material may be attached to another position such as a housing as long as the force that pushes the operating pin toward the heat sensitive surface acts. good.

本発明第一の実施例を示す断面図Sectional drawing which shows 1st Example of this invention 本発明第二の実施例を示す断面図Sectional drawing which shows 2nd Example of this invention 従来例を示す断面図Sectional view showing a conventional example

Explanation of symbols

１感熱キャップ
２バイメタル
３作動ピン
１０・２０・２１磁性材 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal cap 2 Bimetal 3 Actuating pin 10, 20, 21 Magnetic material

Claims

It has a pair of terminals connected to an external circuit, each terminal has a contact portion, one terminal has a fixed terminal fixed by a holding member, and the other terminal is connected to the fixed terminal A movable terminal having a movable portion that can be opened and closed, including a bimetal whose curved state is reversed by a predetermined temperature, and having an operating pin for moving the movable terminal by a reversing operation of the bimetal, the operating pin And a thermoswitch having a thermal cap that fixes the bimetal in the holding member and has a function of transferring heat to the bimetal.
A thermoswitch characterized in that the heat-sensitive cap is formed of a magnetic material, and the bimetal before the reversing operation is adsorbed by the magnetic force of the heat-sensitive cap.

The thermoswitch according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic force of the magnetic material used for the heat-sensitive cap is larger than the weight of the bimetal and smaller than the reversal force of the bimetal.

It has a pair of terminals connected to an external circuit, each terminal has a contact portion, one terminal has a fixed terminal fixed by a holding member, and the other terminal is connected to the fixed terminal A movable terminal having a movable portion that can be opened and closed, including a bimetal whose curved state is reversed by a predetermined temperature, and having an operating pin for moving the movable terminal by a reversing operation of the bimetal, the operating pin And a thermoswitch having a thermal cap that fixes the bimetal in the holding member and has a function of transferring heat to the bimetal.
A magnetic material is attached to each of the operating pin and a position opposite to the operating pin, the operating pin is moved by a repulsive force between the magnetic materials, and the bimetal before the reversing operation and the thermal cap are always in contact with each other. Thermo switch.

4. The thermoswitch according to claim 3, wherein the repulsive force of the magnetic material used is larger than the total weight of the bimetal and the operating pin and smaller than the reversing force of the bimetal.

4. The thermoswitch according to claim 1, wherein the Curie temperature of the magnetic material used is higher than the inversion operating temperature of the bimetal.