JP2009087822A - Relay - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a relay having simple construction for smoothing the operation of movable contacts to contact/leave fixed contacts while reducing power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: The relay includes the fixed contacts 1, 1 to be connected to an electric circuit, a swinging member 3 supported rockingly around its partial supporting axis 30 to contact/leave the fixed contacts 1, 1, the movable contacts 4, 4 provided on the swinging member 3 for contacting the fixed contacts 1, 1, and an electromagnet 8 having an iron core 6 and a coil 7 for generating repulsive force between a permanent magnet 5 and itself to swing the swinging member 3 so that the movable contacts 4, 4 provided on the swinging member 3 leave the fixed contacts 1, 1, and for generating the attractive force between the iron core 6 of the electromagnet 8 and the permanent magnet 5 to swing the swinging member 3 so that the movable contacts 4, 4 contact the fixed contacts 1, 1. Thus, it has simple construction for smoothing the contacting/leaving operation while reducing power consumption. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay provided to cut off a current supplied to a motor drive circuit when an abnormality occurs in an electric power steering apparatus that assists steering by driving a motor according to an operation of a steering member, for example. .

  In recent vehicles, a motor is driven in accordance with an operation of a steering member, and a predetermined operation is performed using a motor as a drive source, such as an electric power steering device that assists steering by adding a rotational force generated by the motor to a steering mechanism. It is equipped with many devices that make up. In a vehicle equipped with this type of device, a relay is provided between the drive circuit of the motor and the power supply, or between the drive circuit and the motor, and operates to shut off when an abnormality such as overcurrent or overvoltage occurs. Thus, the apparatus including the motor is protected and malfunction of the motor is prevented (see Patent Document 1).

  The relay disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a fixed contact to be connected to an electric circuit, a support that supports a movable contact facing the fixed contact, the support provided at one end, and a movable core at the other end. A plunger rod to which the plunger rod is inserted and supported, a fixed core that faces the movable core, a biasing spring that is interposed between the cores and biases them in directions away from each other, And a coil surrounding the opposing portion.

In this relay, normally, an attractive force is generated between both cores by a magnetic field generated in response to energization of the coil, the movable core is moved toward the fixed core against the bias of the bias spring, The closed contact state is achieved by pressing the movable contact against the fixed contact. On the other hand, when an abnormality occurs, by interrupting the current to the coil, the movable core is separated from the fixed core by the restoring force of the urging spring, and the open contact state is realized by separating the movable contact from the fixed contact.
JP 2003-308773 A

  However, in the relay disclosed in Patent Document 1, two cores, a fixed core and a movable core, and a coil for generating an attractive force between the two cores in order to bring the movable contact into and out of the fixed contact. And an urging spring for urging both cores in directions away from each other, there is a problem that the configuration is complicated. Further, since the plunger rod is moved in the axial length direction using the fixed core as a guide for contact and separation of the movable contact, there is a problem that the contact / separation operation is not smooth. Furthermore, since the coil is energized so as to maintain the closed state at the normal time, there is a problem that power consumption increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a relay having a simple configuration capable of smoothly moving the movable contact to and from the fixed contact and reducing power consumption. The purpose is to do.

  In the relay according to the first aspect of the present invention, the fixed contact to be connected to the electric circuit and the swing supported so as to be swingable about a shaft provided in a part so as to be able to contact with and separate from the fixed contact. A moving body, a movable contact provided on the oscillating body, a permanent magnet provided on the other part of the oscillating body, and a magnetic body facing the permanent magnet, and generating a repulsive force between the permanent magnet A magnetic field generating means capable of performing, and configured to oscillate the oscillating body by an attractive force acting between the permanent magnet and the magnetic body and to bring the movable contact into contact with the fixed contact. It is characterized by.

  In the relay according to the second invention, in the first invention, the magnetic field generating means is an electromagnet comprising an iron core facing the permanent magnet and a coil wound around the iron core, and by energizing the coil The repulsive force is generated between the opposing surfaces of the permanent magnet and the iron core.

  A relay according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the rocking body includes an elastic body that bends and deforms in the rocking direction of the rocking body.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the magnetic field generating means generates a repulsive force with the permanent magnet to swing the rocking body and move the movable contact provided on the rocking body away from the fixed contact. Since the swinging body is swung by the attractive force acting between the magnetic body and the permanent magnet, and the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact, the contact and separation operations are smoothly performed with a simple configuration. be able to. In addition, without the need for electric power, the swinging body is swung by the attractive force acting between the permanent magnet and the magnetic body, and the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact to realize the closed state of the electric circuit during normal operation. Power consumption can be reduced.

  According to the second invention, since the electromagnet having the iron core facing the permanent magnet and the coil wound around the iron core is used as the magnetic field generating means, the permanent magnet has a simple configuration and does not require electric power. The swinging body is swung by the suction force acting between the core and the iron core, and the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact, so that the closed state of the electric circuit can be realized during normal operation, thereby reducing power consumption. it can.

  According to the third invention, since the oscillating body includes an elastic body that bends and deforms in the oscillating direction of the oscillating body, the oscillating body bends and deforms in the oscillating direction when the movable contact and the fixed contact come into contact. The movable contact is pressed against the fixed contact, and stable contact can be realized.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a relay according to the present invention, and shows a closed state.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a fixed contact having conductivity, which is provided on each of the separate supports 2 and 2. As shown in the figure, the support bodies 2 and 2 are supported by base portions 20 and 20 at their respective one ends (base ends) at positions away from each other, and are close to each other in parallel with each other in the same plane. The other ends (tips) of the support members 2 and 2 are provided so as to be positioned at an appropriate length in the extending direction of the supports 2 and 2 and in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction. The fixed contacts 1, 1 have a semi-cylindrical shape, and are provided at the distal ends of the supports 2, 2 as shown in the figure. Connection terminals 21 and 21 are provided at the base ends of the supports 2 and 2, respectively, and the connection terminals 21 and 21 are connected to electric circuits (not shown).

  An oscillating body 3 is provided between the supports 2 and 2. The oscillating body 3 has an elongated rectangular flat plate shape, and includes a flat plate portion 31 having elasticity, and an extending portion 32 extending from a substantially center of the flat plate portion 31 in a direction orthogonal to the flat plate portion 31, and approximately T It has a letter shape. On both ends of the flat plate portion 31, conductive semi-cylindrical movable contacts 4 and 4 are provided on different surfaces, respectively.

  On the other hand, the end portion of the extended portion 32 has a substantially square frustum shape, and a permanent magnet 5 is attached so as to be in contact with an iron core to be described later. As shown in the figure, the permanent magnet 5 is configured such that one end of the flat plate portion 31 is an S pole 51 and the other end is an N pole 52.

  Such an oscillating body 3 has a support shaft 30 provided so as to be orthogonal to the flat plate portion 31 and the extended portion 32 in the vicinity of the crossing position of the extended portion 32 and the flat plate portion 31. The shaft 30 is pivotably attached to a case (not shown) around the shaft 30. By this attachment, the movable contacts 4, 4 provided on the flat plate portion 31 face the fixed contacts 1, 1 provided on the supports 2, 2 as shown in the figure. With this configuration, when the oscillating body 3 oscillates around the support shaft 30, the flat plate portion 31 of the oscillating body 3 contacts and separates from the support bodies 2 and 2 along with this oscillation, and the movable contacts 4 and 4 become fixed contacts. 1, 1 contacts or moves away from the fixed contact 1, 1. Since the movable body 3 has a substantially T-shape, the movable body 3 can smoothly swing in both directions with a good balance around the support shaft 30.

  The supports 2 and 2 and the flat plate portion 31 are made of a conductive metal such as copper, and the closed state of the electric circuit is realized by the movable contacts 4 and 4 coming into contact with the fixed contacts 1 and 1, respectively. . It should be noted that the flat plate portion 31 and the extending portion 32 and the support shaft 30 are insulated so that no current flows.

  An electromagnet 8 formed by winding a coil 7 around a substantially U-shaped iron core 6 is provided in the vicinity of the permanent magnet 5. Both end portions of the iron core 6 extend inward, and opposed surfaces 6a and 6b that face each other are formed at the respective extended ends. The electromagnet 8 is disposed so that the facing surfaces 6a and 6b of the iron core 6 face the side surfaces 51a and 52a of the S pole 51 and the N pole 52 of the permanent magnet 5, respectively.

  When the coil 7 is not energized in the electromagnet 8 arranged in this way, an attractive force acts between the permanent magnet 5 and the iron core 6 that is a magnetic body, and the S pole 51 of the permanent magnet 5 is one of the iron cores 6. It is attracted to the facing surface 6a. By this attraction, the oscillating body 3 oscillates in the direction indicated by an arrow in the figure, and one side surface 51 a of the S pole 51 abuts against one opposing surface 6 a of the iron core 6. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the movable contacts 4 and 4 provided on the flat plate portion 31 of the oscillating body 3 are in contact with the fixed contacts 1 and 1, respectively, and the electric circuit is closed.

  Since the permanent magnet 5 is formed in a substantially quadrangular pyramid shape as described above, one side surface 51a of the S pole 51 can be brought into surface contact with the facing surface 6a of the iron core 6 in the closed state shown in the figure. In order to prevent the oscillating body 3 from oscillating in the opposite direction and the one side surface 52a of the N pole 52 from contacting the other opposing surface 6b, the oscillating body 3 and the other opposing surface 6b of the iron core 6 are disposed between A stopper (not shown) is provided. Further, the flat plate portion 31 provided with the movable contacts 4 and 4 is an elastic body that bends and deforms in the swing direction of the swing body 3, and in a state where the movable contacts 4 and 4 and the fixed contacts 1 and 1 are in contact with each other. As shown in the figure, the flexible contacts 4 and 4 are pressed against the fixed contacts 1 and 1, respectively, so that stable contact can be realized.

  FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of the relay according to the present invention, and shows an open circuit state. When the coil 7 is energized, magnetic poles are generated on the facing surfaces 6a and 6b of the iron core 6, respectively. At this time, on the facing surfaces 6a and 6b of the iron core 6, as shown in the figure, the same magnetic pole as the facing S pole 51 or N pole 52 is generated, and the S pole 51 and N pole 52 facing the facing surfaces 6a and 6b. In the meantime, repulsive forces are generated as indicated by white arrows in FIG. The oscillating body 3 oscillates from the state shown in FIG. 1 by the action of this repulsive force, and the forces acting on both sides of the permanent magnet 5 from the opposite surfaces 6a and 6b are balanced at the substantially equal positions in FIG. Stop at the indicated position.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the movable contacts 4 and 4 provided on the flat plate portion 31 of the oscillating body 3 are separated from the fixed contacts 1 and 1 of the electric circuit, and the electric circuit is in an open circuit state.

  As described above, in the relay according to the present invention, the electromagnet 8 having the iron core 6 and the coil 7 is used as the magnetic field generating means, and repulsive force is generated between the iron core 6 and the permanent magnet 5 by energizing the coil 7. The rocking body 3 is swung by the repulsive force to move the movable contacts 4 and 4 away from the fixed contacts 1 and 1, while the rocking body 3 is swung by the attractive force acting between the iron core 6 and the permanent magnet 5. Since the movable contacts 4 and 4 are in contact with the fixed contacts 1 and 1, the contact and separation operations can be smoothly performed with a simple configuration. Further, in this way, the contact and separation operations of the movable contacts 4 and 4 with respect to the fixed contacts 1 and 1 are realized by using the electromagnet 8 and the permanent magnet 5, and the electromagnet and the biasing spring are used. Compared with the case where the contact or separation is realized by the attraction force generated by the electromagnet and the separation or contact opposite to this is realized by the restoring force of the biasing spring, for example, even when a foreign object adheres, This is particularly advantageous when used in an environment where foreign matters such as dust are easily mixed, such as those installed in vehicles.

  The closed state of the electric circuit in a normal state is that the swinging body 3 is swung by the attractive force acting between the iron core 6 and the permanent magnet 5, that is, without energizing the coil 7, and the movable contacts 4, 4 are moved. Since it is realized by contacting the fixed contacts 1, 1, electric power is not required and power consumption can be reduced during normal times. Moreover, since the electromagnet 8 is used as the magnetic field generating means, a sufficient repulsive force can be generated with a simple configuration including the iron core 6 and the coil 7 wound around the iron core 6.

  Since the permanent magnet 5 is positioned between the opposed surfaces 6a and 6b of the iron core 6 of the electromagnet 8 and a part of the movable member is disposed in the electromagnet 8, the relay can be miniaturized.

  In this embodiment, the oscillating body 3 that oscillates around the support shaft 30 has a substantially T shape. For example, the oscillating body 3 has a substantially L shape, and has a movable contact at one end and a second end. Alternatively, a movable body may be used in which permanent magnets are attached to each other and supported so as to be swingable about a support shaft provided at the intersection.

  In the present embodiment, movable contacts 4 and 4 are provided at both ends of the flat plate portion 31 of the oscillating body 3, and the movable contacts 4 and 4 are configured to be able to contact the opposing fixed contacts 1 and 1, respectively. However, for example, one movable contact may be configured to be able to contact the fixed contact, and the other movable contact and the fixed contact may be always connected by a lead wire or the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the flat plate portion 31 of the oscillating body 3 is an elastic body so as to realize a stable connection by pressing the movable contacts 4 and 4 against the fixed contacts 1 and 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the supports 2 and 2 provided with the fixed contacts 1 and 1 may be elastic bodies.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in order to limit the swinging direction of the swinging body 3 due to the attractive force acting between the permanent magnet 5 and the iron core 6 at the normal time, the opposite of the swinging body 3 and the iron core 6 is opposed to each other. A stopper (not shown) is provided between the iron core 6 and the surface 6b. For example, the iron core 6 and the iron core 6 are placed so that one opposing surface 6a of the iron core 6 is closer to the permanent magnet 5 than the other opposing surface 6b. By setting the positional relationship with the moving body 3 or by energizing the rocking body 3 with an elastic body such as a spring, a closed state can be similarly realized.

  Further, the shape of the iron core 6 of the electromagnet 8 is not limited to the shape described in the present embodiment, and when the circuit is to be opened, a repulsive force is applied to the permanent magnet 5 to swing the rocking body 3. Any shape can be used.

  Furthermore, the present invention can be carried out in other various forms within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the relay based on this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the relay which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixed contact, 2 Support body, 3 Oscillator, 30 Support axis (shaft), 4 Movable contact, 5 Permanent magnet, 6 Iron core (magnetic body), 7 Coil, 8 Electromagnet (magnetic field generation means)

Claims (3)

  A fixed contact to be connected to the electric circuit, a swinging body supported so as to be swingable about a shaft provided in part so as to be able to contact with and separate from the fixed contact, and the swinging body. A movable contact, a permanent magnet provided in the other part of the oscillating body, and a magnetic field generating means capable of generating a repulsive force between the permanent magnet and the permanent magnet. The relay is characterized in that the swinging body is swung by an attractive force acting between the permanent magnet and the magnetic body, and the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact.   The magnetic field generating means is an electromagnet including an iron core facing the permanent magnet and a coil wound around the iron core, and repulsive force is generated between the facing surfaces of the permanent magnet and the iron core by energizing the coil. The relay according to claim 1, which is configured as described above.   The relay according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating body includes an elastic body that bends and deforms in the oscillating direction of the oscillating body.

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