JP2015220182A - Contact device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contact device capable of rapidly extinguishing arc.SOLUTION: A contact device has a contact portion 4 having a fixed contact 2 and a movable contact 3, an arc-extinguishing frame 5 and a magnet 6 for generating magnetic field. The movable contact 3 moves between a closed position at which the movable contact 3 comes into the fixed contact 2, and an open position at which the movable contact 3 separates from the fixed contact 2. A direction intersecting to both of the direction of magnetic field applied to the contact portion 4 (left direction) and the moving direction of the movable contact 3 (up-and-left direction) is defined as an acting direction (front-and-rear direction). The arc-extinguishing frame 5 forms an annular circulation flow passage 50 which is a flow passage containing a space in which the contact portion 4 is disposed and partially extends along the acting direction (front-and-rear direction).

Description

  The present invention relates generally to a contact device, and more particularly to a contact device comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a contact device that includes a fixed contact and a movable contact that moves between a closed position that contacts the fixed contact and an open position that moves away from the fixed contact. As this type of contact device, a contact device having an arc extinguishing chamber space for extinguishing an arc generated when the contact is opened is provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The arc is extinguished by being stretched by a magnetic field in the arc extinguishing chamber space.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-312449

  However, the air in the arc extinguishing chamber expands due to the heat of the arc, and the atmospheric pressure in the arc extinguishing chamber increases. This increase in atmospheric pressure hinders the stretching of the arc, and it may take time to extinguish the arc.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said reason, The objective is to provide the contact apparatus which can extinguish an arc rapidly.

  The contact device of the present invention includes a fixed contact, a contact portion having a movable contact that moves between a closed position that contacts the fixed contact and an open position that moves away from the fixed contact, and a magnet that generates a magnetic field, A flow path including a space in which the contact portion is disposed, with a direction intersecting both directions of the magnetic field applied to the contact portion and a direction in which the movable contact moves as a working direction. The portion further includes an arc extinguishing frame that forms an annular circulation flow path along the action direction.

  In this contact device, it is preferable that the circulation channel has a space having a smaller cross-sectional area than a space in which the contact portion is disposed.

  In this contact device, it is preferable that a plurality of the contact portions are provided.

  In this contact device, the plurality of contact portions have the same direction of force acting on the current flowing between the fixed contact and the movable contact by the applied magnetic field in the circumferential direction of the circulation flow path. It is preferable that

  In this contact device, the magnet is preferably provided at a position surrounded by the circulation flow path.

  In this contact device, it is preferable that two contact portions are provided, and the magnet is provided between the two contact portions.

  The contact device includes a fixed contact plate that is long in one direction having the fixed contact, and a movable contact plate that is long in one direction having the movable contact, and the magnet is a plate that is long in one direction. Preferably, the fixed contact plate, the movable contact plate, and the magnets have the same longitudinal direction.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the arc is stretched so as to bypass the arc extinguishing structure, the arc can be extinguished quickly.

It is sectional drawing of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a contact device in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a front view of a contact device in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the contact device in Embodiment 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the contact device in Embodiment 1. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a front view which shows the modification of the contact device in Embodiment 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the contact device in Embodiment 1. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a perspective view of the contact device in Embodiment 2. It is a front view of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 2. It is sectional drawing of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 2. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 2. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the contact apparatus in Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a front view which shows the modification of the contact device in Embodiment 2.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
An external perspective view of the contact device 1 of the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 2, and a front view is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the contact device 1 of the present embodiment includes a fixed contact 2 and a movable contact 3 that moves between a closed position that contacts the fixed contact 2 and an open position that leaves the fixed contact 2. The contact part 4 which has, the arc-extinguishing frame 5, and the magnet 6 are provided.

  Below, the structure of the contact apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated in detail using FIGS. 1-3. Note that the description will be made by defining the vertical and horizontal directions in FIG. 3 as the vertical and horizontal directions. Further, the direction orthogonal to the up / down / left / right direction is defined as the front / rear direction, specifically, the direction from the back to the front in FIG. 3 (downward direction in FIG. 1) is the front direction, and the direction from the front to the back (FIG. 1). (Upward direction) is defined as the rear direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the contact device 1 of the present embodiment will be described as an example in which an electromagnetic relay 11 is configured together with an electromagnet device 10 that moves the movable contact 3. The application of the contact device 1 is not limited to the electromagnetic relay 11 and may be used for a switch, a breaker (circuit breaker), or the like.

  In the contact device 1 of the present embodiment, a contact portion 4 (a fixed contact 2 and a movable contact 3), an arc extinguishing frame 5, and a magnet 6 are housed in a rectangular parallelepiped case 7. The case 7 includes a main body 71 and a cover 72 attached to the main body 71. The main body 71 is formed in an L shape by a bottom plate 711 and a side plate 712 and constitutes a bottom portion and a left side wall of the case 7. The cover 72 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a hollow structure in which the lower surface and the left surface are opened, and is attached to the main body 71 so that the opening of the lower surface and the left surface is covered with the main body 71.

  The fixed contact 2 is provided on a rectangular fixed contact plate 20 having a contact holding portion 21, a terminal portion 22, and a bent portion 23. The fixed contact plate 20 is composed of a metal plate whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction and whose thickness direction is the up-down direction, and is provided along the bottom plate 711 of the main body 71. The fixed contact plate 20 is formed so that the right-end contact holding portion 21 is separated from the bottom plate 711 by two bent portions 23. Then, the fixed contact 2 is caulked to the contact holding portion 21, whereby the fixed contact 2 is fixed to the upper surface of the contact holding portion 21. The fixed contact plate 20 is provided so as to penetrate the side plate 712, and the terminal portion 22 protruding leftward from the side plate 712 is electrically connected to a power source (not shown), for example. In the present embodiment, the fixed contact plate 20 and the fixed contact 2 are configured separately. However, for example, the fixed contact plate 20 and the fixed contact are formed so as to form the fixed contact 2 by driving the fixed contact plate 20. 2 may be integrally formed.

  The movable contact 3 is provided on a rectangular plate-shaped movable contact plate 30 having a contact holding portion 31, a terminal portion 32, and a bent portion 33. The movable contact plate 30 is composed of a metal plate whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction and whose thickness direction is the vertical direction, and is fixed to the side plate 712 so that the lower surface faces the upper surface of the fixed contact plate 20. The movable contact plate 30 is formed by two bent portions 33 so that the contact holding portion 31 on the right end side approaches the bottom plate 711. The movable contact 3 is caulked to the contact holding portion 31, so that the movable contact 3 is fixed at a position facing the fixed contact 2 in the vertical direction on the lower surface of the contact holding portion 31. The movable contact plate 30 is provided so as to penetrate the side plate 712, and the terminal portion 32 protruding to the left from the side plate 712 is electrically connected to, for example, a load (not shown). The movable contact plate 30 is also used as a plate spring having elasticity in the vertical direction. The movable contact plate 30 is closed using the elasticity of the movable contact plate 30 to contact the fixed contact 2 and the movable contact 3. Opening that separates from the fixed contact 2 is performed. In the present embodiment, the movable contact plate 30 and the movable contact 3 are configured separately. However, for example, the movable contact plate 30 and the movable contact 3 are formed so as to form the movable contact 3 by driving the movable contact plate 30. 3 may be integrally formed.

  The movable contact plate 30 is bent downward by a round bar-shaped movable shaft 73, so that the contact holding portion 21 and the movable contact 3 move downward. The movable shaft 73 is held movably in the vertical direction by a holding member 713 provided so as to protrude rightward from the side plate 712 of the case 7, and the lower end is in contact with the upper surface of the movable contact plate 30. Yes.

  The holding member 713 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is provided at a position above the movable contact plate 30 in the side plate 712. In addition, the holding member 713 has a hole 714 penetrating in the vertical direction, and the movable shaft 73 is passed through the hole 714 to hold the movable shaft 73 movably in the vertical direction. Further, a hole 721 that penetrates in the vertical direction is also formed on the upper surface of the cover 72, and the movable shaft 73 is provided so as to also penetrate the hole 721 of the cover 72. That is, the movable shaft 73 is held in a state of protruding from the case 7.

  The movable shaft 73 has a first flange 731 formed at the upper end, and the position where the lower surface of the first flange 731 contacts the upper surface of the cover 72 is the lower limit position of the movable shaft 73. Furthermore, the movable shaft 73 has a second collar portion 732 formed at a position below the holding member 713, and the position where the upper surface of the second collar portion 732 contacts the lower surface of the holding member 713 is This is the upper limit position of the movable shaft 73.

  The movable shaft 73 is moved downward by the electromagnet device 10 (see FIG. 3). The electromagnet device 10 has a conventionally well-known configuration including, for example, an excitation coil and a movable iron core (not shown). A movable iron core that moves downward by magnetic flux generated when the excitation coil is energized is connected to the movable shaft 73. When the exciting coil is energized and the movable iron core moves downward, a downward force is applied to the movable shaft 73, and the movable shaft 73 moves downward. The configuration of the electromagnet device 10 is not limited to the above.

  When the exciting coil is energized and the movable shaft 73 moves downward, the movable contact plate 30 is bent downward, and the contact holding portion 31 and the movable contact 3 move downward. As a result, the movable contact 3 comes into contact with the fixed contact 2, and the movable contact plate 30 and the fixed contact plate 20 are electrically connected.

  The movable contact plate 30 has elasticity in the vertical direction, and an upward force that causes the movable contact 3 to move away from the fixed contact 2 by a restoring force that attempts to return to the original state from the bent state. Act. When energization of the exciting coil is stopped and the downward force on the movable shaft 73 is released, the contact holding portion 21 is moved upward by the restoring force of the movable contact plate 30 and the movable contact 3 is separated from the fixed contact 2. .

Thus, the movable contact 3 moves in the vertical direction between a closed position that contacts the fixed contact 2 and an open position that is separated from the fixed contact 2. Here, the open contact where the movable contact 3 is separated from the fixed contact 2. In some cases, an arc may occur between the movable contact 3 and the fixed contact 2. The arc may generate a gas containing a metal or the like at a high temperature. Therefore, the contact device 1 of the present embodiment includes an arc extinguishing frame 5 that prevents scattering of a metal or the like contained in a gas generated by the arc, and a magnet 6 that extinguishes the arc by extending the arc by a magnetic field. Yes.

  The arc extinguishing frame 5 is made of an electrically insulating insulator such as resin or ceramic, is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is provided so as to surround the contact portion 4. In order to store the contact portion 4 in the arc extinguishing frame 5, a rectangular hole 51 is formed from the upper end to the lower end in the central portion of the left side wall of the arc extinguishing frame 5 in the front-rear direction. By passing the fixed contact plate 20 and the movable contact plate 30 through the hole 51, the contact portion 4 (the fixed contact 2 and the movable contact 3) is accommodated in the arc extinguishing frame 5.

  Further, the arc extinguishing frame 5 has an inner wall 52 inside, and forms an annular circulation channel 50 centering on the inner wall 52. The inner wall 52 is formed in a plate shape with the left-right direction as the thickness direction. And the inner wall 52 is formed so that the lower surface and upper surface of the arc-extinguishing frame 5 may be connected in the center part of the arc-extinguishing frame 5 in the left-right direction. A gap is formed between the side wall of the arc extinguishing frame 5 and the inner wall 52, and an annular circulation channel 50 centering on the inner wall 52 is formed by this gap, and the airflow is circulated along the circumferential direction. Can do. The circulation channel 50 is formed in a rectangular shape with the front-rear direction as the longitudinal direction, and the contact portion 4 is disposed at the center in the front-rear direction in the circulation channel 50.

  In addition, a rectangular hole 521 penetrating in the vertical direction is formed in the inner wall 52, and the magnet 6 is inserted into this hole.

  The magnet 6 is formed in a plate shape whose left-right direction is the thickness direction, and applies a magnetic field directed leftward to the contact portion 4. The Lorentz force acts on the arc by this magnetic field, and the arc can be extinguished by extending the arc. For example, when a current flows from the movable contact 3 toward the fixed contact 2, the arc is stretched backward (upward in FIG. 1). On the other hand, when a current flows from the fixed contact 2 toward the movable contact 3, the arc is stretched in the forward direction (downward in FIG. 1). That is, the arc is stretched along the circulation flow path 50 regardless of the direction in which the current flows.

  As described above, since the arc is hot, the air in the arc extinguishing frame 5 is warmed and expanded by the heat of the arc. For example, when the arc is stretched in the rearward direction, the air on the rear side of the contact portion 4 in the arc extinguishing frame 5 is particularly warmed and expands. The arc-extinguishing frame 5 of the present embodiment includes a circulation channel 50, and can circulate air along the circumferential direction of the circulation channel 50 when the air in the arc-extinguishing frame 5 expands. For example, when the arc is stretched backward (upward in FIG. 1), air flows in the clockwise direction in FIG. On the other hand, when the arc is stretched in the forward direction (downward direction in FIG. 1), the air flows counterclockwise in FIG.

  As described above, the contact device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the contact portion 4 having the fixed contact 2 and the movable contact 3, the arc extinguishing frame 5, and the magnet 6 that generates a magnetic field. The movable contact 3 moves between a closed position in contact with the fixed contact 2 and an open position away from the fixed contact 2. In addition, a direction that intersects both the direction of the magnetic field applied to the contact portion 4 (left direction) and the direction in which the movable contact 3 moves (vertical direction) is defined as an action direction (front-rear direction). The arc extinguishing frame 5 is a flow path including a space in which the contact portion 4 is disposed, and a part of the arc extinguishing frame 5 forms an annular circulation flow path 50 along the action direction (front-rear direction).

  By providing the contact device 1 of the present embodiment with the above configuration, when the air in the arc extinguishing frame 5 is warmed by the heat of the arc, the air flows along the circumferential direction of the circulation channel 50. Therefore, an increase in the atmospheric pressure in the direction in which the arc is extended with respect to the contact portion 4 is suppressed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the stretching of the arc from being hindered by an increase in the atmospheric pressure. Further, the circulation channel 50 is formed in a rectangular shape with the longitudinal direction as the longitudinal direction, and the arc is stretched forward or backward in the circulation channel 50. That is, air flows along the direction in which the arc is stretched. Therefore, the arc extinguishing frame 5 makes it easier to stretch the arc, and the arc can be extinguished more quickly. By rapidly extinguishing the arc, the electrical disconnection between the fixed contact 2 and the movable contact 3 at the time of opening the contact is made quickly, and the interruption performance of the contact device 1 can be improved.

  Moreover, the contact part 4 is arrange | positioned in the center part of the front-back direction in the circulation flow path 50 which makes the front-back direction a longitudinal direction. Therefore, since the arc can be extended along the longitudinal direction of the circulation flow path 50 regardless of the direction of the current flowing through the contact portion 4, the arc can be more easily extended and the arc can be extinguished more quickly.

  Further, the arc extinguishing frame 5 is configured to surround the contact portion 4, and the gas generated by the arc also flows along the circumferential direction of the circulation flow path 50, so that the metal contained in the gas is outside the arc extinguishing frame 5. Can be prevented from being scattered.

  Further, since the magnet 6 is inserted into the hole 521 formed in the inner wall 52 of the arc extinguishing frame 5, it is possible to prevent the arc from contacting the magnet 6. Furthermore, since the magnet 6 is provided at a position surrounded by the circulation flow path 50, it can be disposed closer to the contact part 4 than the case where it is provided outside the arc extinguishing frame 5. The magnetic field applied to can be increased. Thereby, an arc can be extended more and an arc can be extinguished more rapidly. Further, by inserting the magnet 6 into the hole 521 of the inner wall 52, the space in the case 7 can be used effectively.

  The arc-extinguishing frame 5 is not necessarily formed integrally, and may be configured by combining a plurality of divided parts. Thereby, when the contact device 1 is assembled or the arc extinguishing frame 5 is manufactured, it is possible to cope with a case where it is convenient that the contact device 1 is composed of a plurality of parts. Further, the arc extinguishing frame 5 may have a configuration in which holes are provided in addition to the holes 51. By providing a hole in the arc-extinguishing frame 5, the material constituting the arc-extinguishing frame 5 can be reduced, and the cost and weight can be reduced.

  Next, a modified example of the contact device 1 of the present embodiment will be described. In addition, the modification of the structural member in the contact device 1 is distinguished by attaching A, B, C.

  In the present embodiment, the arc extinguishing frame 5 is provided with an inner wall 52 at the center in the left-right direction. Therefore, the circulation flow path 50 includes a cross-sectional area of a space (a space on the left side with respect to the inner wall 52) in which the contact portion 4 is disposed, and a space (a space on the right side with respect to the inner wall 52) in which the contact portion 4 is not disposed. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the arc extinguishing frame 5A is a space (a space on the right side with respect to the inner wall 52A) having a smaller cross-sectional area than a space (a space on the left side with respect to the inner wall 52A) in which the contact portion 4 is disposed. The circulation flow path 50A having the above is formed. The arc extinguishing frame 5 </ b> A has an inner wall 52 </ b> A on the right side of the central portion in the left-right direction. Therefore, the circulation channel 50A is formed so that the right side width L2 with respect to the inner wall 52A is smaller than the left side width L1 with respect to the inner wall 52A. The cross-sectional area is different. In the circulation channel 50A, an arc is generated in the space on the left side with respect to the inner wall 52A. Therefore, the width L1 is set such that the arc does not contact the arc extinguishing frame 5. On the other hand, in the circulation channel 50A, in the space on the right side with respect to the inner wall 52A, no air is generated, and air flows to such an extent that an increase in atmospheric pressure is suppressed in the direction in which the arc is stretched with respect to the contact portion 4. That's fine. Therefore, even when the width L2 is set smaller than the width L1, the influence on the arc extinction is small. Further, the arc extinguishing frame 5 </ b> A has a width L <b> 2 smaller than the width L <b> 1, and therefore the width in the left-right direction is smaller than the arc extinguishing frame 5. Therefore, the arc extinguishing frame 5 </ b> A can suppress interference with other components, and the contact device 1 can be downsized.

  Further, an arc extinguishing member (not shown) that releases an arc extinguishing gas mainly composed of hydrogen when heated may be provided on the side wall or the inner wall 52 of the arc extinguishing frame 5. In this case, it is preferable that the circulation flow path 50 is formed so that the width on the left side with respect to the inner wall 52 becomes small so that the arc easily contacts the arc extinguishing member.

  Further, the arc extinguishing frame 5 may be configured such that a portion where the arc may come into contact is made of an insulator having electrical insulation, and a portion where there is no possibility that the arc comes into contact is made of other than the insulator. It may be. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the arc extinguishing frame 5B, the side wall 501 on the right side of the inner wall 52B is made of metal. That is, in the arc extinguishing frame 5B, the side wall 501 where there is no possibility of contact with the arc is made of a metal having higher strength than an insulator such as resin or ceramic. Therefore, the arc-extinguishing frame 5B can improve the strength as compared with the arc-extinguishing frame 5 made of only an insulator.

  Moreover, although said contact device 1 is the structure provided with one contact part 4, the structure provided with two or more contact parts 4 may be sufficient. The modification of the contact apparatus 1 provided with the two contact parts 4 is shown in FIGS. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 6 to 9, the illustration of the cover 72 is omitted.

  The contact device 1 of this modification includes two contact portions 4 (a fixed contact 2 and a movable contact 3), a fixed contact plate 20, a movable contact plate 30, a movable shaft 73, and a holding member 713. A set of the contact portion 4 (fixed contact 2, movable contact 3), fixed contact plate 20, movable contact plate 30, movable shaft 73, and holding member 713 is provided side by side in the front-rear direction. When distinguishing each of the two sets of contact portions 4 (fixed contact 2 and movable contact 3), fixed contact plate 20, movable contact plate 30, movable shaft 73, and holding member 713, reference is made to the configuration of the front set. In the description, “a” is added to the end, and “b” is added to the end of the reference numerals for the configuration of the rear group.

  In the contact device 1 of this modification, the upper ends of the movable shaft 73a and the movable shaft 73b are connected by the first flange portion 731A in order to close or open the two contact portions 4a and 4b simultaneously.

  Further, the arc extinguishing frame 5C is configured to surround both of the two contact portions 4a and 4b. A hole 51a for accommodating the contact portion 4a in the arc extinguishing frame 5C is formed on the left side wall of the arc extinguishing frame 5C, and a hole 51b for accommodating the contact portion 4b in the arc extinguishing frame 5C is formed. And the arc-extinguishing frame 5C has a circulation channel 50C formed by the inner wall 52C.

  The magnet 6A is inserted into a hole 521C formed in the inner wall 52C of the arc extinguishing frame 5C, and applies a magnetic field directed in the left direction to the contact portions 4a and 4b.

  As described above, the contact device 1 of the present modification includes the two contact portions 4a and 4b, and the two contact portions 4a and 4b share the arc extinguishing frame 5C, the magnet 6A, and the like. Therefore, compared with the case where a plurality of contact devices 1 having one contact portion 4 are used, space saving can be realized and the cost can be reduced.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the terminal part 22a of the fixed contact plate 20a and the terminal part 32b of the movable contact plate 30b are short-circuited by the conductive member 74. Thereby, the two contact portions 4a and 4b are connected in series. In addition, although the conductive member 74 is provided so as to be exposed from the side plate 712, the side plate 712 may be configured by insert molding of the conductive member 74.

  By connecting the two contact portions 4a and 4b in series, the voltage applied between the fixed contact 2 and the movable contact 3 at the time of opening is divided as compared with a configuration including a set of contact portions 4. Therefore, the breakdown voltage of the contact device 1 can be improved.

  Further, the two contact portions 4a and 4b are arranged such that the direction of the force (Lorentz force) acting on the current flowing between the fixed contact 2 and the movable contact 3 by the applied magnetic field is the same in the circumferential direction of the circulation channel 50C. It will be the same. That is, since the directions of currents flowing through the contact portions 4a and 4b are the same, arcs generated at the contact portions 4a and 4b can be stretched in the same direction. Therefore, the direction of the airflow generated by the arc generated at the contact portion 4a is the same as the direction of the airflow generated by the arc generated at the contact portion 4b. As a result, the direction of the air flowing through the circulation flow path 50C is only one direction, and the air can be efficiently flowed, so that the arc can be more easily stretched and the arc can be extinguished more quickly. Moreover, since the arc generated at the contact portion 4a and the contact portion 4b is stretched in the same direction, it is possible to prevent the arcs from contacting each other.

  Further, the contact device 1 may be configured such that the two contact portions 4a and 4b are connected in parallel. By short-circuiting the terminal portion 22a of the fixed contact plate 20a and the terminal portion 22b of the fixed contact plate 20b, and further short-circuiting the terminal portion 32a of the movable contact plate 30a and the terminal portion 32b of the movable contact plate 30b, the contact portion 4a. , 4b are connected in parallel.

  By connecting the two contact portions 4a and 4b in parallel, the current flowing between the fixed contact 2 and the movable contact 3 at the time of closing is divided as compared with the configuration including one set of contact portions 4. The current capacity of the contact device 1 can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the directions of currents flowing through the contact portions 4a and 4b are the same, the arcs generated at the contact portions 4a and 4b can be stretched in the same direction. Therefore, it becomes easier to stretch the arc, and the arc can be extinguished more quickly. Moreover, it can also prevent that arcs contact.

  In the above configuration, a magnetic field in the same direction is applied to the contact portions 4a and 4b using one magnet 6A, but a magnetic field is applied to each of the contact portions 4a and 4b using two magnets. You may comprise. Thereby, it can comprise so that the direction of the magnetic field applied to each of contact part 4a, 4b may mutually differ. Therefore, even when the contact portions 4a and 4b have different current directions, the arcs generated at the contact portions 4a and 4b can be extended in the same direction in the circumferential direction of the circulation channel 50C.

Note that the contact device 1 is not limited to the number of the contact portions 4 but may be configured to include more contact portions 4. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the contact device 1 includes three contact portions 4. The contact device 1 includes an arc extinguishing frame 5 </ b> D configured to surround the three contact portions 4 and a magnet 6 </ b> B that applies a magnetic field to the three contact portions 4. Further, the upper ends of the three movable shafts 73 are connected by a first flange portion 731B. The terminal portion 22 of the front fixed contact plate 20 and the terminal portion 32 of the central movable contact plate 30 are short-circuited by the conductive member 74A, and the terminal portion 22 of the central fixed contact plate 20 and the rear movable contact plate 30 are connected. The terminal portion 32 is short-circuited with the conductive member 74B. Accordingly, the three contact portions 4 are connected in series, and the arc generated at each contact portion 4 is stretched in the same direction, so that the arc is more easily stretched and the arc can be extinguished more quickly. .
(Embodiment 2)
An external perspective view of the contact device 1 of the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 12, and a front view is shown in FIG. Moreover, CC sectional drawing in FIG. 13 is shown in FIG. In addition, about the structure similar to Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted. In the present embodiment, the cover 72 is not shown.

  The contact device 1 of the present embodiment is different from the contact device 1 of the first embodiment in the structure of the arc extinguishing frame 5E.

  The arc extinguishing frame 5E is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction. And the arc-extinguishing frame 5E forms the rectangular circulation flow path 50E which makes the left-right direction a longitudinal direction by the inner wall 52E which makes the front-back direction the thickness direction.

  In addition, a rectangular hole 53a through which the fixed contact plate 20a passes and a rectangular hole 53b through which the fixed contact plate 20b passes are formed at the center in the left-right direction on the lower surface of the arc extinguishing frame 5E. The hole 53a is formed in front of the inner wall 52E, and the hole 53b is formed in rear of the inner wall 52E. By passing the fixed contact plate 20a through the hole 53a, the contact holding portion 21a and the fixed contact 2a are accommodated in the arc extinguishing frame 5E. Further, the fixed contact plate 20b is passed through the hole 53b, whereby the contact holding portion 21b and the fixed contact 2b are accommodated in the arc extinguishing frame 5E.

  Further, a hole 54a through which the movable contact 3a passes and a hole 54b through which the movable contact 3b passes are formed at the center in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the arc extinguishing frame 5E. Then, the movable shaft 73a moves downward and the movable contact plate 30a bends downward, so that the movable contact 3a contacts the fixed contact 2a through the hole 54a. Similarly, when the movable shaft 73b moves downward and the movable contact plate 30b bends downward, the movable contact 3b contacts the fixed contact 2b through the hole 54b.

  The magnet 6C is formed in a plate shape having the front-rear direction as the thickness direction and the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction, and is inserted into a hole 521E formed in the inner wall 52E of the arc extinguishing frame 5E. Therefore, the magnet 6C is disposed between the contact portion 4a and the contact portion 4b in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the magnet 6C applies a magnetic field directed in the backward direction to the contact portions 4a and 4b.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the terminal portion 32a of the movable contact plate 30a and the terminal portion 32b of the movable contact plate 30b are short-circuited, and the contact portions 4a and 4b are closed so that the fixed contact plate 20a and the fixed contact are closed. The plate 20b is configured to be short-circuited. Therefore, the direction of current flow in the contact portion 4a and the contact portion 4b is opposite. For example, when a current flows from the fixed contact 2a toward the movable contact 3a, a current flows from the movable contact 3b toward the fixed contact 2a. In this case, the arc generated at the contact portion 4a is stretched leftward, and the arc generated at the contact portion 4b is stretched rightward. That is, the two contact portions 4a and 4b are configured such that the direction of the force (Lorentz force) acting on the current flowing between the fixed contact 2 and the movable contact 3 by the applied magnetic field is mutually in the circumferential direction of the circulation channel 50E. It will be the same. Therefore, in the arc extinguishing frame 5, the direction of the air flow generated by the heat of the arc generated at the contact portions 4a and 4b is the same in the circumferential direction of the circulation flow path 50E (clockwise in FIG. 14). Thereby, since air can be circulated efficiently, it becomes easier to extend the arc and the arc can be extinguished more quickly.

  Furthermore, since the magnet 6C is disposed between the contact portion 4a and the contact portion 4b in the front-rear direction, the distance between the magnet 6C and the contact portions 4a and 4b is shortened and applied to the contact portions 4a and 4b. The magnetic field becomes stronger. Thereby, an arc can be extended more and an arc can be extinguished more rapidly.

  In the present embodiment, the fixed contact plate 20 and the movable contact plate 30 are formed in a plate shape that is long in the left-right direction, and the magnet 6C is provided so that the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal directions of the movable contact plate 30 and the magnet 6C are the same. Therefore, since the arc generated in the contact portion 4 is stretched in the left-right direction that is the same as the longitudinal direction of the fixed contact plate 20 and the movable contact plate 30, the left and right arcs are fixed between the fixed contact plate 20 and the movable contact plate 30 in the vertical direction. An arc extinguishing frame 5E whose direction is the longitudinal direction can be arranged. As a result, the space in the case 7 can be used effectively, and the width of the contact device 1 in the front-rear direction can be increased as compared with the case where the arc extinguishing frame 5C (refer to FIGS. 6 to 9) whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction. The thickness can be reduced by reducing the size.

  The arrangement position of the magnet 6C is not limited to the position surrounded by the circulation flow path 50E. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the magnet 6C is provided outside the circulation flow path 50F, specifically, on the rear side with respect to the arc extinguishing frame 5F. Therefore, since it is not necessary to form a hole for inserting the magnet 6C in the inner wall 52F of the arc extinguishing frame 5F, the structure of the arc extinguishing frame 5F is simplified.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the contact device 1 may be configured to include a yoke 61. The yoke 61 is formed in a U-shape with an opening on the left side, and is provided so as to surround the magnet 6C and the arc extinguishing frame 5F. The yoke 61 makes the direction of the magnetic field applied to the contact portions 4a and 4b uniform, and further increases the magnetic field applied to the contact portions 4a and 4b. As a result, the arc is stretched more and the arc can be extinguished more quickly. Further, although the contact portion 4a is provided at a position farther from the magnet 6C than the contact portion 4b, the strength of the magnetic field applied to the contact portion 4a can be secured by the yoke 61.

  In the above configuration, the two movable contact plates 30a and 30b are used to short-circuit the two fixed contact plates 20a and 20b at the time of closing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a single movable contact plate 30 </ b> A may be used so that the two fixed contact plates 20 a and 20 b are short-circuited at the time of closing. The movable contact plate 30A is made of a bent metal plate. The movable contact plate 30A includes a first piece 301 that contacts the lower ends of the movable shafts 73a and 73b, a second piece 302 that extends downward from the front end side and the rear end side at the left end of the first piece 301, and And a third piece 303 extending rightward from the lower end of the second piece 302. The third piece 303 functions as a contact holding portion, and the movable contact 3 is provided on the lower side.

  A coil spring 75a is passed through the movable shaft 73a between the holding member 713a and the first flange portion 731A, and a coil between the holding member 713b and the first flange portion 731A is passed through the movable shaft 73b. A spring 75b is passed. By the repulsive force of the coil springs 75 a and 75, the first flange portion 731 </ b> A is pushed up, so that the movable contact 3 is held at the closed position away from the fixed contact 2. Then, when the downward force is applied to the movable shafts 73a and 73b by the electromagnet device 10 (see FIG. 3), the movable shafts 73a and 73b and the movable contact plate 30A move downward. As a result, the movable contact 3 is held at the closed position where it comes into contact with the fixed contact 2, and the fixed contact plates 20a and 20b are short-circuited. In the example shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the coil spring 75 is provided between the first flange portion 731A and the holding member 713, but the first flange portion 731A and the cover 72 (FIG. 2, FIG. (See FIG. 3).

  The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made according to design and the like as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated from this embodiment. Of course, it can be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Contact apparatus 2 Fixed contact 3 Movable contact 4 Contact part 5 Arc-extinguishing frame 50 Circulation flow path 6 Magnet

Claims (7)

A contact portion having a fixed contact and a movable contact that moves between a closed position in contact with the fixed contact and an open position away from the fixed contact;
A magnet for generating a magnetic field,
The direction that intersects both the direction of the magnetic field applied to the contact portion and the direction in which the movable contact moves is an action direction,
A contact device, further comprising: an arc extinguishing frame that includes a space in which the contact portion is disposed, and a part of which forms an annular circulation channel along the action direction. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the circulation channel has a space having a smaller cross-sectional area than a space in which the contact portion is disposed. The contact device according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the contact portions. In the plurality of contact portions, the direction of the force acting on the current flowing between the fixed contact and the movable contact by the applied magnetic field is the same in the circumferential direction of the circulation flow path. The contact device according to claim 3. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is provided at a position surrounded by the circulation flow path. Two contact points,
The contact device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the magnet is provided between the two contact portions. A plate-like fixed contact plate that is long in one direction having the fixed contact;
A plate-like movable contact plate long in one direction having the movable contact;
The magnet is formed in a plate shape long in one direction,
The contact device according to claim 6, wherein longitudinal directions of the fixed contact plate, the movable contact plate, and the magnet are the same.

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