JP2013186978A - Contactor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contactor of a drive control device with improved reliability.SOLUTION: According to an embodiment, a contactor comprises plural sets of electrodes (32u, 32v, 32w) to which currents are inputted, and an opening/closing mechanism 34 for opening/closing the plural sets of electrodes. The opening/closing mechanism 34 comprises: plural operation arms 42 having one end connected to the electrode of each set and the other end 42b that can be pressed, and provided independently movable between a closing position for closing the electrodes and an opening position for opening the electrodes; a pressing apparatus 44 pressing the other end of the operation arm, moving the operation arm to the closing position, and closing the plural sets of electrodes; and an energization member for independently energizing the operation arms to the opening position. The other end of each operation arm is formed into such a shape that it can be separated from the pressing apparatus.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a contactor used in a drive control device for a railway vehicle.

  For example, a railway vehicle includes a plurality of electric motors that drive wheels, an air conditioner, and the like, and a drive control device that drives and controls these electric motors. The drive control device includes a converter that outputs an AC voltage supplied from a power source to a motor that converts the DC voltage into a DC voltage, or a power converter such as an inverter that converts the DC voltage into a three-phase AC voltage and outputs the same to the motor, and A power conversion device and a control device for controlling the electric motor are provided. Further, the drive control device includes, for example, a contactor or a circuit breaker connected between the power conversion device and the electric motor. The contactor opens and closes the connection between the power conversion device and the electric motor, and opens the connection when the operation of the drive control device is stopped or when an abnormality occurs.

Japanese Patent No. 4297971

  In such a drive control device, the contactor includes three sets of electrodes or contacts provided corresponding to the three-phase AC voltage, and an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes these three-phase electrodes. The three-phase electrodes are configured to be turned on or released at once.

  However, as described above, in the configuration in which the three-phase electrodes are collectively opened, if any one electrode is welded due to an abnormality or the like, the other electrodes cannot be opened. May also be welded. In this case, the contactor cannot fully perform its function, and the reliability decreases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a contactor for a drive control apparatus with improved reliability.

  According to the embodiment, the contactor includes a plurality of sets of electrodes to which current is input, and an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the plurality of sets of electrodes. The open / close mechanism has one end connected to each set of electrodes and the other end that can be pressed, and independently between a closed position for closing the electrode and an open position for opening the electrode. A plurality of actuating arms provided movably, a pusher that presses the other end of the plurality of actuating arms and moves the actuating arm to the closed position, and the actuating arms are independently moved to the open position. An urging member that urges toward the end, and the other end of each operating arm is formed in a shape that is separable from the pressing device at the closed position.

The block diagram which shows schematically the drive control apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The figure which shows the inverter circuit of the drive control apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The perspective view which shows the contactor of the drive control apparatus of FIG. The perspective view of the contactor seen from the arrow A direction of FIG. The perspective view which shows the internal structure of the contactor of the drive control apparatus of FIG. The side view of the contactor seen from the arrow B direction of FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a state (closed state) in which the contactor of FIGS. 3 to 6 is closed. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a state where one electrode of the contactor of FIGS. 3 to 6 is closed and another electrode is opened.

Hereinafter, the drive control apparatus provided with the contactor which concerns on various embodiment is demonstrated, referring drawings.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram schematically showing the entire drive control device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an inverter circuit which is a part of the drive control device. As shown in FIG. 1, the drive control apparatus 10 is connected to four electric motors 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. For example, a permanent magnet synchronous motor is used as the electric motor 12. The drive control device 10 includes four power converters 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, four contactors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, a control device 18, and a power source 19. The power source 19 is connected to the four power converters 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d. Moreover, the power converter 14a and the contactor 16a, the power converter 14b and the contactor 16b, the power converter 14c and the contactor 16c, and the power converter 14d and the contactor 16d are respectively connected. The control device 18 is connected to four power converters 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, four contactors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, and two electric motors 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d. The four power converters 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d are, for example, a two-level or three-level inverter (INV), a VVVF inverter, a converter, a unit of the inverter and the converter, and the like. The power converters 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d convert DC power or AC power supplied from the power source 19 into power that can be driven by the motors 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, and the motors 12a, 12b, 12c, To 12d.

 Next, FIG. 2 shows an example in which the above-described power conversion device 14a is a three-level inverter. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing only the power source 19, the power converter 14a, the contactor 16a, and the motor 12a of FIG. 1 in an equivalent circuit. FIG. 2 includes a three-phase inverter circuit 11a, a contactor 16a, and an electric motor 12a. The three-phase inverter circuit 11a includes a power source 19, an upper filter capacitor 26, a lower filter capacitor 27, and an inverter 14a. The inverter 14a has switching elements 20u to 23u, 20v to 23v, 20w to 23w, diodes 24u, 25u, 24v, 25v, 24w, and 25w of the U phase 200, the V phase 210, and the W phase 220. The three-phase inverter circuit 11a includes a cooler, a detector, and the like for cooling the semiconductor elements constituting the three-phase inverter circuit 11a (not shown).

  The U-phase 200 of the inverter 14a includes a first switching element 20u, a second switching element 21u, a third switching element 22u, a first switching element 20u, which are sequentially connected in series between the DC positive terminal P and the DC negative terminal N of the DC power source 19. There are four switching elements 23u. Similarly, the V phase 210 of the inverter 14a includes a first switching element 20v, a second switching element 21v, a third switching element 22v, a fourth switching element connected in series between the direct current positive terminal P and the direct current negative terminal N. The W phase 220 of the inverter 14a includes a first switching element 20w, a second switching element 21w, and a third switching element that are sequentially connected in series between the DC positive terminal P and the DC negative terminal N. 22w and a fourth switching element 23w. The plurality of semiconductor switching elements are, for example, self-extinguishing semiconductor elements such as IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) and GTO.

 Further, the first diode 24u and the first diode 24u are connected between the connection point between the first switching element 20u and the second switching element 21u of the U-phase 200 and the connection point between the third switching element 22u and the fourth switching element 23u. Two diodes 25u are connected in series. Similarly, between the connection point between the first switching element 20v and the second switching element 21v of the V phase 210 and the connection point between the third switching element 22v and the fourth switching element 23v, the first diode 24v and The second diode 25v is connected in series. The first diode 24w and the second diode are connected between the connection point between the first switching element 20w and the second switching element 21w of the W phase 220 and the connection point between the third switching element 22w and the fourth switching element 23w. 25w is connected in series. These first and second diodes are formed of, for example, a silicon nitride (SiC) element that is a low-loss semiconductor element. For example, the switching element described above and a diode connected in reverse parallel to the switching element are modularized.

  The U phase 200, the V phase 210, and the W phase 220 are connected in parallel, and the first filter capacitor 26 and the second filter capacitor 27 that are connected in series are the power source 19 for the U phase 200, the V phase 210, and the W phase 220. Connected in parallel on the side. The first filter capacitor 26 and the second filter capacitor 27 are, for example, power supply smoothing capacitors, such as aluminum electrolytic capacitors. An output terminal 30u is connected between the second switching element 21u and the third switching element 22u of the U-phase 200. Similarly, an output terminal is provided between the second switching element 21v and the third switching element 22v of the V-phase unit. 30v is connected, and the output terminal 30w is connected between the second switching element 21w and the third switching element 22w of the W-phase unit.

  The three-phase output terminals 30 u, 30 v, and 30 w of the U phase 200, the V phase 210, and the W phase 220 are connected to the electric transmitter 12 through one contactor 16. The three-phase AC power generated by the inverter 14a is output to the electric motor 12 via the output terminals 30u, 30v, 30w. The first to fourth switching elements 20u to 23u, 20v to 23v, 20w to 23w of each phase and the first and second diodes 24u, 25u, 24v, 25v, 24w, and 25w constitute a cooler (not shown). It is mounted on the heat receiving surface of the heat receiving block.

  Next, the contactor 16 according to the embodiment will be described in detail. 3 is a perspective view showing the contactor 16 of the drive control device of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the contactor seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the internal structure, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the contactor seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the contactor 16 of this embodiment includes an electrode unit 29 connected to the three-phase output of the inverter 14, an opening / closing mechanism unit 39 that opens and closes the electrode unit 29, and an electrode unit 29. And a housing 37 that supports the opening / closing mechanism 39.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the electrode unit 29 includes an input terminal 40 (u, v, w), a vacuum valve 38 (u, v, w), an electrode 32 (u, v, w), and a fixed electrode 34. (U, v, w), movable electrode 36 (u, v, w), connection end 43 (u, v, w), and output terminal 48 (u, v, w).

  The opening / closing mechanism 39 includes a pressing device 49, an electromagnetic coil 51, a plunger 50, a pressing rod 47, an open end 44 (u, v, w), a coil spring 52, an operating arm 42 (u, v, w), a pivot 46, It has a connecting end 43 (u, v, w). The electrode part 29 and the opening / closing mechanism part 39 are connected by connecting ends 43 (u, v, w).

  Below, the electrode part 29 is demonstrated in detail. The output terminals 30u, 30v, 30w from the three-phase inverter circuit 11 shown in FIG. 2 are connected to one end of L-shaped input terminals 40u, 40v, 40w as shown in FIGS. . Cylindrical vacuum valves 38u, 38v, and 38w are connected to the other end of the input terminals 40u, 40v, and 40w to which the output terminal 30 is not connected. Electrodes 32u, 32v, and 32w are provided in the vacuum valves 38u, 38v, and 38w, respectively, and the contact portions of the electrodes 32u, 32v, and 32w are fixed electrodes 34u and 34v formed of a metal rod and a disk-shaped metal plate. , 34w, and movable electrodes 36u, 36v, 36w formed of a substantially rod-shaped metal rod and a disk-shaped metal plate.

  The fixed electrode 34 has a rod portion fixed to the output terminal 30. The movable electrode 36 is supported by the opening / closing mechanism unit 39 with respect to the fixed electrode 34 through a connecting end 43 so as to be movable up and down. An output terminal is attached to the end of the movable electrode 36 that does not have a contact point with the fixed electrode 34 (the side end of the substantially rod-shaped metal that is not connected to the disk-shaped metal plate). .

  The input terminal 40 a is connected to the output from the inverter 14, and the output terminals 48 u, 48 v, and 48 w are connected via the connecting end 43. The output terminals 48u, 48v, and 48w are connected to the motor 12 (not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). At this time, the housing 37 has a plurality of partition walls 41u, 41uv, 41vw, 41w arranged so as to surround the vacuum valves 38u, 38v, 38w. Specifically, the partition wall 41u faces the outside of the vacuum valve 38u, the partition wall 41uv is located between the vacuum valve 38u and the vacuum valve 38v, and the partition wall 41vw is connected to the vacuum valve 38v and the vacuum valve w. The partition wall 41w faces the outside of the vacuum valve 38w.

  Next, the opening / closing mechanism 39 will be described. Three plate-like operating arms 42u, 42v, and 42w that are rotatably supported independently from the connection ends 43u, 43v, and 43w that are connection points with the electrode portion 29 of the opening / closing mechanism 39 are provided on the electrode portion 29. It extends so as to be substantially at right angles to it. At this time, the three actuating arms are provided in parallel with each other.

  Protrusions having arm openings 42 au, 42 av, 42 aw are provided at the longitudinal center of the operating arms 42 u, 42 v, 42 w and on the output terminal 48 side. It arrange | positions so that the pivot 46 of a metal bar may penetrate the arm opening part 42au, 42av, 42aw. The pivot 46 serves as an axis for allowing the connecting end 43 and the open end 44 of the operating arms 42u, 42v, 42w to be raised and lowered.

  The ends of the operating arms 42u, 42v, 42w that are not connected to the connecting end 43 form open ends 44u, 44v, 44w that are formed in a substantially U shape with the input terminal 40 side of the electrode portion 29 open. ing. A metal rod pressing rod 47 is drawn through the open ends of the open ends 44u, 44v, 44w. That is, the pressing rod 47 is located in the U-shaped groove of the three open ends 44u, 44v, 44w. The pressing rod 47 is disposed substantially parallel to the pivot 46.

  A pressing device 49 is provided in the opening direction (upward) of the pressing rod 47 via a plate-shaped rod pressing rod 53. The rod pressing rod 53 is provided at both ends of the pressing rod 47. One end of the rod pressing rod 53 is in contact with the pressing rod 47 and the other end is connected to the pressing device 49. As shown in FIG. 6, an electromagnetic coil 51 and a plunger 50 are built in the pressing device 49, and a part of the plunger 50 is connected to the rod pressing rod 53. At this time, a power source (not shown) is connected to the electromagnetic coil 51 so that a current flows.

  In addition, coil springs 52u, 52v, 52w are provided between the open ends 44u, 44v, 44w of the operating arms 42u, 42v, 42w that are not in the opening direction, that is, between the bottom wall of the housing 37 and the open ends 44u, 44v, 44w. Is provided. The coil spring 52 presses the open end 44 in the open direction (upward), and holds the position where the operating arm 42 and the electrode portion 29 are substantially orthogonal.

Next, operation | movement of the contactor of embodiment of such a structure is demonstrated.
First, the operation mechanism of the pressing device 49 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a case where no current flows through the electromagnetic coil 51 of the pressing device 49. As shown in FIG. 7, when a current flows from a power source (not shown) to the electromagnetic coil 51 of the pressing device 49, the plunger 50 moves downward and toward the open end 44. When the plunger 50 moves to the open end 44 side, the rod pressing rod 53 and the pressing rod 47 provided on the plunger 55 also move to the open end 44 side.

  The open ends 44u, 44v, 44w engaged with the pressing rod 47 are pressed toward the coil springs 52u, 44v, 44w. When the pressed open ends 44u, 44v, 44w move toward the coil springs 52u, 44v, 44w, the operating arms 42u, 42v, 42w rotate around the pivot 46, and the connecting ends 43u, 43v, 43w move upward ( Move to the direction of the vacuum valve 38). Since the coupling ends 43u, 43v, 43w are connected to the movable electrodes 36u, 36v, 36w, the movable electrodes 36u, 36v, 36w are also moved upward (in the direction of the vacuum valve 38) as the coupling ends 43u, 43v, 43w move. Move to. Due to the upward movement of the movable electrodes 36u, 36v, 36w, the disk-shaped metal plates of the movable electrodes 36u, 36v, 36w have contacts with the disk-shaped metal plates 34u, 34v, 34w of the fixed electrodes. . At this time, the operating arms 42u, 42v, 42 are in a closed position. That is, since the three sets of electrodes 32u, 32v, and 32w are simultaneously charged at the same time, the contactor 16 is in a closed state, and is generated by the inverter 14 and AC power is supplied to the motor 12.

  Further, when the current to the electromagnetic coil 51 stops, the plunger 50 moves to the original position. That is, the plunger 50 moves upward as compared with the case where the current is flowing through the electric coil 51. Along with the movement of the plunger 50, the rod pressing bar 53 moves upward. As a result, the operating arms 42u, 42v, 42w are urged upward by the coil springs 52u, 52v, 52w, and are rotated counterclockwise around the pivot 46. In conjunction with the movement, the connecting ends 43u, 43v, 43w move downward (in the direction of the output terminal 48), so that the movable electrodes 36u, 36v, 36w move downward (in the direction of the output terminal 48). Therefore, the movable electrodes 36u, 36v, 36w and the fixed electrodes 34u, 34v, 34w are separated from each other. At this time, it is assumed that the operating arms 42u, 42v, 42 are in an open position where the electrodes are opened.

  Next, the operation of the contactor 16 will be described in conjunction with the traveling state, taking a railway vehicle as an example. When the railway vehicle is stopped by a station or other stop signal, the energization of the electromagnetic coil 51 is stopped under the control of the control device 18. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the plunger 50 can move upward, and each operating arm 42 is biased by the coil spring 52 and rotates to the open position. By rotating the operating arm 42 to the open position, the connecting ends 43u, 43v, 43w of the operating arm 42 move the movable electrodes 36u, 36v, 36w away from the fixed electrodes 34u, 34v, 34w, and are fixed. Separated from the electrodes 36u, 46v, 46w. As a result, the three sets of electrodes 32u, 32v, and 32w are opened, and the contactor 16 is opened and cut off to cut off the power supply from the inverter 14 to the electric motor 12. Since the contact portions of the fixed electrode 36a and the movable electrode 36b are accommodated in the vacuum valve 38, arc discharge between the opened electrodes can be prevented, and the connection can be reliably cut off.

  Next, a case will be described in which one of the electrodes 32u, 32v, 32w of the contactor 16 is welded and cannot be opened due to an accident during traveling of the railway vehicle or an abnormality in the electrical equipment. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the electrode 32w is welded. When energization of the electromagnetic coil 51 is stopped under the control of the control device 18, the plunger 50 and the pressing rod 47 move upward. Each operating arm 42 is biased by the coil spring 52 and rotates to the open position. At this time, since the open ends 44u, 44v, 44w of the operating arms 42 are formed in a U-shape, the closed position direction (upward) is open, so that the pressing rod 47 has the open ends 44u, 44v, It can move upward through the 44w opening. Therefore, even if the operating arm 42w is fixed at the open position due to the welding of the electrode 32w, the pressing rod 47 can be raised to the open position separated from the open end 44 of the operating arm 42w. As a result, the two operating arms 42u and 42v that are in a state in which normal operation is possible are pressed upward by the spring action of the coil springs 52u and 52v. Therefore, the operating arm 42u and the operating arm 42v can be rotated to the open position, and the contact between the fixed electrode 34u and the movable electrode 36u, and the contact between the fixed electrode 34v and the movable electrode 36v are separated.

  According to the contactor of the drive control device configured as described above, the three-phase electrodes can be put together and the three-phase electrodes can be opened individually. Even when any one or two electrodes are welded due to an accident, abnormality, or the like, the remaining electrodes can be opened. As a result, the contactor can stop the current output from the inverter side to the motor by reliably opening the electrodes other than the welded electrode and cutting off the electrical connection, and at the same time, the electric power generated from the motor is Can prevent backflow. From the above, a contactor for a drive control device with improved reliability can be obtained. The shape of the open end 44 is not limited to the U-shape, and may be a V-shape or a flat plate shape with grooves formed thereon. Various shapes can be selected as long as the shape can be separated from the presser 49. It is.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof. For example, the number and shape of the support legs installed are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously changed as necessary.

  For example, the number of electrode sets of the contactor is not limited to three phases, and may be two phases or four or more phases. The number of operating arms is not limited to three, and can be increased or decreased according to the number of electrode sets. Further, the operating arm is not limited to a rotatable configuration, and may be configured to be able to move up and down linearly between a closed position and an open position. The pressing device is not limited to the combination of the plunger and the electromagnetic coil, and other pressing means may be used. As shown in FIG. 4, a motor voltage sensor (MPT) 54 that measures the voltage between the outputs 48u to 48w, and a discharge resistor (MMRe) 55 that discharges the stray capacitance of the motor are provided on the casing 37 of the contactor 16. And may be integrated with the contactor.

10 drive control device, 11 three-phase inverter circuit, 12 electric motor, 14 inverter,
16 contactors, 18 control devices, 19 DC power supplies, 20 switching elements,
21 switching elements, 22 switching elements, 23 switching elements,
24 diode, 25 diode, 26 first filter capacitor,
27 second filter capacitor, 29 electrode section, 30 output terminal,
32 (u, v, w) electrode, 34 (u, v, w) fixed electrode,
36 (u, v, w) movable electrode, 37 housing, 38 (u, v, w) vacuum valve,
39 Opening / closing mechanism, 40 (u, v, w) input terminal,
41 (u, uv, vw, w) partition wall, 42 (u, v, w) actuating arm,
42a (u, v, w) arm opening, 43 (u, v, w) connecting end,
44 (u, v, w) open end, 46 pivot, 47 pressing rod,
48 (u, v, w) output terminal, 49 presser, 50 plunger,
51 Electromagnetic coil, 52 (u, v, w) Coil spring, 53 Rod pressing rod,
200 U phase, 210 V phase, 220 W phase

Claims (4)

A plurality of sets of electrodes each receiving a current; and
An opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the plurality of sets of electrodes,
The open / close mechanism has one end connected to each set of electrodes and the other end that can be pressed, and independently between a closed position for closing the electrode and an open position for opening the electrode. A plurality of actuating arms movably provided;
A pressing device that presses the other end of the plurality of operating arms and moves the operating arms to the closed position;
A biasing member that biases the operating arms independently toward the open position,
The other end part of each said operating arm is a contactor currently formed in the shape which can be separated from the said presser in the said closed position.   The contactor according to claim 1, wherein the pressing device includes a pressing rod that engages with the other ends of the plurality of operating arms, and a plunger and an electromagnetic coil that press the pressing rod.   Each actuating arm is supported so as to be rotatable around a pivot located between the one end and the other end, and the other end of each actuating arm is substantially U-shaped with the opening position opened. The contactor according to claim 2, wherein the contactor is formed in a shape, and the pressing rod engages with the other end so as to be movable through the opening.   The contactor according to claim 1, wherein each set of electrodes is provided in a vacuum valve.

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