JP2012043665A - Power receptacle with overcurrent prevention function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an overcurrent from flowing due to an internal short circuit, as well as to enable early detection of heat generation due to a flow of weak current caused by accumulation of dust or the like.SOLUTION: A power receptacle includes outlet ports 5a to 5c and an outlet terminal 7, as well as a current detection unit 15 which detects a current flowing in a current path 21 between the outlet terminal 7 and the outlet ports 5a to 5c, a current path cutoff unit 17 which cuts off the current path in response to a drive signal, and temperature sensors 9a to 9c which detect the temperature in the vicinity of the outlet ports. Whether an overcurrent has flown is determined from the detection output of the current detection unit 15 by a microcomputer 13, thereby controlling the current path cutoff unit 17 to cut off the current path 21, and whether the temperature in the vicinity of the outlet ports has exceeded a prescribed temperature is determined from the detection outputs of the temperature sensors 9a to 9c, thereby controlling the current path cutoff unit 17 to cut off the current path 21.

Description

  The present invention relates to a power outlet with an overcurrent prevention function.

  In various types of electrical equipment such as TVs, personal computers, video equipment, air conditioners, etc., plug the AC plug into a power outlet and turn on the power switch of the electrical equipment to supply power to the electrical equipment. Turn off to stop the power supply. Several technologies that can automatically and wirelessly perform power supply and supply stop to such an electric device have been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-117539 A

  Therefore, in an office where multiple power outlets are arranged, when a plurality of electrical devices are inserted in each power outlet, the power supply shut-off operation is convenient as described above by operating the power switch of the electrical device. Even if this is done, there is an increased chance that the pair of terminals of the electrical equipment plug are left in a state where they are inserted into the pair of outlets of the power outlet. Of course, the power outlet may be left unused for a long time.

  If such a power outlet is short-circuited due to a failure, etc., regardless of whether it is left unattended, a short-circuit current will flow at once, causing heat generation and becoming unsafe. Many have also been proposed.

  On the other hand, there is a problem of dust accumulation on the surface of the insulating resin outlet between the pair of outlets due to the above-mentioned neglect and the like. Even if there is such dust accumulation, the outlet surface between the pair of outlets has a long distance and is sufficiently electrically insulated, so that insulation is ensured and safety is maintained even if the above opportunities increase. I'm leaning.

  However, when the dust accumulation becomes excessive, impurities inside the dust are likely to be in a conductive state in which current easily flows. When left in such a conductor state, the electrical insulation state of the outlet surface between the pair of outlets becomes low, a weak current flows, and the dust accumulation portion generates heat.

  In the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent the short circuit current from flowing at once as an overcurrent due to an internal short circuit and generating heat and combusting. It is an object of the present invention to provide a power outlet that can be prevented before it is detected in an early stage and combustible.

  A power outlet according to the present invention includes a power outlet terminal, a power outlet, a current detection unit that flows through a current path between the power outlet terminal and the power outlet, and a current path interruption that interrupts the current path in response to a drive signal. And a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the outlet. When the microcomputer determines that an overcurrent has flowed from the detection output of the current detection unit, the current path blocking unit Is controlled from the connection side to the cutoff side, and when it is determined from the detection output of the temperature sensor that the temperature near the outlet has exceeded the specified temperature, the current path cutoff unit controls the current path to the cutoff side. It is characterized by becoming.

  One or more outlets are included.

  In the above, according to the power outlet of the present invention, when the overcurrent flows in the current path, and when the temperature near the outlet exceeds the specified temperature, the current path is controlled from the connection side to the cutoff side. When the power outlet is, for example, an internal short circuit and an overcurrent flows, the short circuit current flows at once, and it is safe without causing heat generation. Even when dust is collected on the surface of the outlet and the temperature near the outlet exceeds the specified temperature due to the current flowing through the waste, the current path is controlled from the connection side to the cutoff side. Even the power outlet can be used safely.

  Note that the specified current is a current that generates heat due to the current flowing through the waste collection at the outlet, and the temperature due to the heat generation is lower than the temperature at which it ignites, for example. Prevent fire in advance.

  In addition, it is preferable to display that dust is collected near the state exceeding the specified temperature before the temperature near the outlet port exceeds the specified temperature at the power outlet.

  In the present invention, it is prevented that the short-circuit current flows at once as an overcurrent due to an internal short circuit, and heat is generated and combustible. On the other hand, heat generation due to weak current flowing due to dust accumulation etc. is detected in advance and combustible. Can be prevented in advance.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the appearance of a power outlet according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal block of the power outlet of FIG.

  Hereinafter, a power outlet according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the appearance of a power outlet according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an internal block of the power outlet.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a power outlet 1 includes a rectangular casing 3 and a plurality of outlets 5 a-5 c and outlet terminals 7. In the embodiment, there are three outlets, but one outlet may be used. A temperature sensor 9a-9c is provided in the vicinity of the outlet 5a-5c on the surface of the casing 3, and a warning display unit 11 is provided on the side surface.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the power outlet 1 includes a microcomputer 13, a current detector 15, a current path interrupter 17, and an AC / DC power supply 19 in addition to the temperature sensors 9 a to 9 c.

  The current detection unit 15 includes, for example, a resistor and a voltmeter connected in parallel to the resistor. The voltage between both ends of the resistor is measured by the voltmeter, and the measured voltage is measured by each outlet 5a-5c and the outlet terminal 7. Is input to the microcomputer 13 as a detection output of the current flowing through the current path 21 connecting the. The microcomputer 13 determines from this detection output whether or not an overcurrent exceeding the specified current flows in the current path 21. If it is determined that an overcurrent flows in the current path 21, the microcomputer 13 controls the current path blocking unit 17 to control the current path 21 from the connection side to the blocking side. The current path interrupting unit 17 includes, for example, a relay coil energized and controlled by the microcomputer 13 and a motor relay contact between the current paths 21. The microcomputer 13 turns the relay contact on and off by energizing control of the relay coil. Connect and disconnect.

  Further, the microcomputer 13 determines whether or not the temperature near the outlet 5a-5c exceeds the specified temperature based on the detection output from the temperature sensors 9a-9c. When the microcomputer 13 determines that the temperature near the outlets 5a-5c exceeds the specified temperature, the microcomputer 13 controls the current path blocking unit 17 to control the current path 21 from the connection side to the blocking side. On the other hand, the microcomputer 13 displays the temperature near the outlet 5a-5c on the warning display unit 11, and displays a warning when it is determined that the temperature near the outlet 5a-5c exceeds the specified temperature.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when an overcurrent flows in the current path, and when the temperature near the outlet exceeds the specified temperature, the current path is controlled from the connection side to the cutoff side. For example, when an overcurrent flows due to an internal short circuit, the short circuit current does not cause heat generation at once, and it is safe, but it is not a short circuit, but an insulating resin outlet between a pair of outlets. Even if dust is accumulated on the surface and the current near the outlet exceeds the specified temperature due to the current flowing through this waste, the current path is controlled from the connection side to the cutoff side, so that even if there is dust accumulation, It will be possible to maintain safety when using the power outlet.

  The temperature sensors 9a-9c may be ordinary sensors, but may be sensors that can transmit detection outputs wirelessly, for example. In this case, it is necessary to incorporate a wireless device that can receive the detection output transmitted wirelessly on the microcomputer 13 side.

1 Power outlet 3 Casing 5a-5c Outlet port 7 Outlet terminal 9a-9c Temperature sensor

Claims (2)

  An outlet terminal, an outlet port, a current detection unit that flows through a current path between the outlet terminal and the outlet port, a current path blocking unit that blocks the current path in response to a drive signal, and A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature, and when the microcomputer determines that an overcurrent has flowed from the detection output of the current detection unit, the current path is changed from the connection side to the cutoff side by the current path cutoff unit. And the current path is controlled to the cutoff side by the current path cutoff unit when it is determined from the detection output of the temperature sensor that the temperature near the outlet has exceeded a specified temperature. And a power outlet.   The power outlet according to claim 1, wherein the casing is provided with a display unit that displays the vicinity of the outlet and displays a warning when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature.

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