JP2020071992A - Electromagnetic relay - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electromagnetic relay capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated by a contact device or an electromagnetic drive device when energized.SOLUTION: An electromagnetic relay includes a contact device, an electromagnetic drive device, a housing, and a cooling unit that disposes a cooling member that cools the inside of the housing from the outside of the housing. The contact device includes a fixed terminal including a fixed contact and a movable contact piece including a movable contact capable of contacting the fixed contact. The electromagnetic drive device drives the contact device. The housing houses the contact device and the electromagnetic drive device. The cooling unit is provided in the housing and has a groove or hole shape that is recessed from the outside of the housing toward the inside of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay.

  Conventionally, an electromagnetic relay that opens and closes an electric circuit is known. The electromagnetic relay includes a housing, a contact device, and an electromagnetic drive device that drives the contact device. The contact device and the electromagnetic drive device are arranged inside the housing (see Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 5938745

  When a voltage is applied to the electromagnetic drive device, that is, when the electromagnetic drive device is energized, the contact device and the electromagnetic drive device generate heat. When the contact device and the electromagnetic drive device generate heat, the current-carrying capacity decreases, so it is necessary to efficiently release the heat generated by the contact device and the electromagnetic drive device.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic relay capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated by a contact device or an electromagnetic drive device when energized.

  (1) An electromagnetic relay according to an aspect of the present invention includes a contact device, an electromagnetic drive device, a housing, and a cooling unit for disposing a cooling member that cools the inside of the housing from the outside of the housing. The contact device includes a fixed terminal including a fixed contact and a movable contact piece including a movable contact capable of contacting the fixed contact. The electromagnetic drive device drives the contact device. The housing houses the contact device and the electromagnetic drive device. The cooling unit is provided in the housing and has a groove or hole shape that is recessed from the outside of the housing toward the inside of the housing.

  In this electromagnetic relay, a groove- or hole-shaped cooling portion for disposing a cooling member is provided so as to be recessed from the outside of the housing toward the inside of the housing. Therefore, the cooling member can be arranged at a position close to the heat source when energized, such as the contact device or the electromagnetic drive device housed in the housing, so that the heat source can efficiently generate heat when energized. It is possible to let it escape to the outside of the housing.

  Preferably, the movable contact piece is a plate-shaped member elongated in one direction, and the cooling portion extends along the longitudinal direction or the lateral direction of the movable contact piece. In this case, since the area of the cooling unit becomes large, the heat generated by the heat source can be efficiently released to the outside of the housing.

  Preferably, the housing includes a housing space for housing the contact device, and the cooling unit projects into the housing space. In this case, since the cooling portion projects into the accommodation space, it is possible to efficiently dissipate the heat generated by the contact device to the outside of the housing.

  Preferably, the electromagnetic relay further includes a drive shaft movable with the movable contact piece in a first direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and a second direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact. The housing includes a housing space that houses the contact device. When viewed from the direction along the first direction and the second direction, the cooling unit at least partially overlaps with the fixed terminal or the movable contact piece. In this case, since the cooling unit is arranged at a position close to the fixed terminal or the movable contact piece, the heat generated by the contact device can be more efficiently released to the outside of the housing.

  Preferably, the fixed terminal includes a first fixed terminal exposed in the first direction from the housing, and a second fixed terminal disposed at a distance in the longitudinal direction between the first fixed terminal and the movable contact piece and exposed in the first direction from the housing. And a terminal. The cooling unit is arranged between the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal, and at least a part thereof overlaps with the movable contact piece when viewed from a direction along the first direction and the second direction. In this case, since the cooling unit is arranged at a position close to the first fixed terminal, the second fixed terminal and the movable contact piece, it is possible to more efficiently dissipate the heat generated by the contact device to the outside of the housing.

  Preferably, the electromagnetic relay further includes a drive shaft movable with the movable contact piece in a first direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and a second direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact. The housing includes a housing space that houses the contact device. The cooling unit is provided around the accommodation space, and at least a part thereof overlaps with the accommodation space when viewed from the direction along the first direction and the second direction. In this case, since the cooling unit is arranged around the accommodation space, the heat generated by the contact device can be efficiently released to the outside of the housing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electromagnetic relay that can efficiently dissipate heat generated by a contact device or an electromagnetic drive device when energized.

It is sectional drawing of the electromagnetic relay which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of a cooling part periphery. It is the figure which looked at an electromagnetic relay from the upper part. It is a sectional view of an electromagnetic relay when voltage is applied to a coil. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the electromagnetic relay which concerns on a modification. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the electromagnetic relay which concerns on a modification from the upper part. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the electromagnetic relay which concerns on a modification from the upper part. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the electromagnetic relay which concerns on a modification from the upper part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an electromagnetic relay according to an aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic relay 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the electromagnetic relay 100 includes a housing 2, a contact device 3, a drive shaft 4, an electromagnetic drive device 5, and a cooling unit 6.

  In the description below, the direction in which the axis Ax of the drive shaft 4 extends is referred to as the “axial direction”. Further, when referring to the drawings, the upper side in FIG. 1 will be described as “upper”, the lower side in FIG. In the present embodiment, the lower side in FIG. 1 is the contact direction Z1. The upper side in FIG. 1 is the opening direction Z2. Details of the contact direction Z1 and the opening direction Z2 will be described later.

  The housing 2 includes a case 2a and a cover 2b. The case 2a has a substantially rectangular box shape and is open at the top. The housing 2 in the present embodiment is internally sealed by a case 2a and a cover 2b. The case 2a and the cover 2b are made of an insulating material. Inside the housing 2, a contact device 3, a drive shaft 4, and an electromagnetic drive device 5 are housed.

  The housing 2 includes a housing space 2c that houses the contact device 3. In the present embodiment, the accommodation space 2c is surrounded by the contact case 11 and the cover 2b arranged in the housing 2. The contact case 11 is made of an insulating material.

  The contact point case 11 includes a bottom portion 11a, a tubular portion 11b, a first contact point support portion 11c, and a second contact point support portion 11d. The bottom part 11a is formed in a rectangular and plate shape. The bottom portion 11a has a longitudinal direction that corresponds to the left-right direction in FIG.

  The tubular portion 11b extends in a cylindrical shape in the axial direction. The tubular portion 11b projects downward from the center of the bottom portion 11a, and projects upward from the center of the bottom portion 11a. The tubular portion 11b includes a through hole 18 that axially penetrates the bottom portion 11a. The through hole 18 penetrates the center of the bottom portion 11a in the axial direction. The drive shaft 4 penetrates through the through hole 18 in the axial direction.

  The first contact point support portion 11c is arranged on the left side of the center of the bottom portion 11a in the longitudinal direction. The first contact point support portion 11c is formed in a rectangular shape protruding upward from the bottom portion 11a. The second contact point support portion 11d has a bilaterally symmetrical shape with the first contact point support portion 11c, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

  The contact device 3 includes a first fixed terminal 14, a second fixed terminal 15, a movable contact piece 16, and a contact piece holding portion 17. The 1st fixed terminal 14, the 2nd fixed terminal 15, and the movable contact piece 16 are formed with the material which has electroconductivity.

  The first fixed terminal 14 is formed by bending a plate-shaped member. The first fixed terminal 14 is supported by the first contact support portion 11 c of the contact case 11 inside the housing 2. The first fixed terminal 14 includes a first fixed contact 14a and a first external connection portion 14b. The 1st fixed contact 14a is arrange | positioned in the accommodation space 2c above the 1st contact support part 11c. The first external connection portion 14b projects in the left-right direction from the case 2a.

  The second fixed terminal 15 is supported in the housing 2 by the second contact support portion 11 d of the contact case 11. The second fixed terminal 15 includes a second fixed contact 15a and a second external connection portion 15b. Since the second fixed terminal 15 has a bilaterally symmetrical shape with the first fixed terminal 14, the description thereof will be omitted.

  The movable contact piece 16 is a plate-shaped member that is long in one direction, and extends in the left-right direction within the accommodation space 2c. The longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 16 corresponds to the left-right direction in FIG. It includes a first movable contact 16a and a second movable contact 16b. The first movable contact 16a is arranged so as to face the first fixed contact 14a and can contact the first fixed contact 14a. The 2nd movable contact 16b is arranged facing the 2nd fixed contact 15a, and can contact the 2nd fixed contact 15a.

  The movable contact piece 16 is movable in a contact direction Z1 that contacts the first fixed contact 14a and the second fixed contact 15a and a separation direction Z2 that separates from the first fixed contact 14a and the second fixed contact 15a. The contact direction Z1 is an example of the first direction, and the opening direction Z2 is an example of the second direction.

  The contact direction Z1 is the direction in which the first movable contact 16a and the second movable contact 16b contact the first fixed contact 14a and the second fixed contact 15a (downward in FIG. 1). The separation direction Z2 is a direction (the upper side in FIG. 1) in which the first movable contact 16a and the second movable contact 16b are separated from the first fixed contact 14a and the second fixed contact 15a. The contact direction Z1 and the opening direction Z2 coincide with the axial direction.

  The contact piece holder 17 holds the movable contact piece 16 via the drive shaft 4, as shown in FIG. The contact piece holder 17 connects the movable contact piece 16 and the drive shaft 4. The contact piece holding portion 17 includes a holder 24 and a contact spring 25. The movable contact piece 16 is sandwiched between the upper portion of the holder 24 and the collar portion 4a of the drive shaft 4 in the axial direction. The contact spring 25 is arranged between the bottom portion of the holder 24 and the flange portion 4a of the drive shaft 4, and biases the drive shaft 4 and the movable contact piece 16 toward the opening direction Z2.

  The drive shaft 4 extends along the contact direction Z1 and the separation direction Z2. The drive shaft 4 is connected to the movable contact piece 16 via a contact piece holder 17. The drive shaft 4 is movable in the contact direction Z1 and the opening direction Z2 together with the movable contact piece 16.

  The electromagnetic drive device 5 drives the contact device 3. Specifically, the electromagnetic drive device 5 moves the movable contact piece 16 together with the drive shaft 4 in the contact direction Z1 and the opening direction Z2 by an electromagnetic force. The electromagnetic drive device 5 is arranged in the housing 2 in a space different from the accommodation space 2c. In the present embodiment, the electromagnetic drive device 5 is arranged below the contact case 11.

  The electromagnetic drive device 5 includes a coil 32, a spool 33, a movable iron core 34, a fixed iron core 35, a biasing member 36, and a yoke 37.

  The coil 32 is mounted on the outer circumference of the spool 33. The spool 33 includes a housing portion 33a. The housing portion 33 a is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the spool 33. The housing portion 33a has a cylindrical shape and extends along the axial direction.

  The movable iron core 34 is arranged in the housing portion 33a. The movable core 34 has a cylindrical shape, and the drive shaft 4 penetrates the center thereof in the axial direction. The movable iron core 34 is movable in the axial direction together with the drive shaft 4.

  The fixed iron core 35 is arranged in the accommodation portion 33a so as to face the movable iron core 34 on the contact direction Z1 side of the movable iron core 34. The fixed iron core 35 is fixed to the yoke 37.

  The biasing member 36 is, for example, a coil spring, and is arranged between the movable iron core 34 and the fixed iron core 35. The biasing member 36 biases the movable iron core 34 in the opening direction Z2. Therefore, the urging member 36 is arranged between the movable iron core 34 and the fixed iron core 35 in a compressed state.

  The yoke 37 includes a first yoke 37a and a second yoke 37b. The first yoke 37 a has a plate shape and is arranged between the bottom portion 11 a of the contact case 11 and the spool 33. The first yoke 37a is connected to the annular iron core 38. The second yoke 37b has a substantially U shape, and the bottom portion is arranged below the spool 33. The upper ends of both sides of the second yoke 37b are connected to the first yoke 37a.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view around the cooling unit 6. FIG. 3 is a view of the electromagnetic relay 100 as viewed from above. In addition, in FIG. 3, the movable contact piece 16 etc. which were arrange | positioned in the accommodation space 2c are shown typically. The cooling unit 6 is provided to dispose the cooling member 40 that cools the inside of the housing 2 from the outside of the housing 2. The cooling member 40 is, for example, a cooling pipe, and is fitted into the cooling unit 6 from the outside of the housing 2.

  The cooling unit 6 is provided in the housing 2 and has a groove or hole shape that is recessed from the outside of the housing 2 toward the inside of the housing 2. The cooling unit 6 in this embodiment is provided in the case 2 a of the housing 2. The cooling unit 6 has a groove shape that is recessed from the outside of the case 2a toward the inside of the case 2a, and is open at the upper side. The cooling unit 6 extends in the lateral direction of the movable contact piece 16 in the case 2a and is open in the lateral direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling unit 6 is formed so as to project into the accommodation space 2c. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at least a part of the cooling unit 6 overlaps with the first fixed terminal 14 when viewed from the direction along the contact direction Z1 and the opening direction Z2. Specifically, the cooling part 6 includes a bottom part 6a and a side part 6b. The surface of the bottom portion 6a on the contact direction Z1 side is in contact with the first fixed terminal 14. The side portion 6b extends from the bottom portion 6a in the opening direction Z2. A part of the inner surface of the side portion 6b is in contact with the first fixed terminal 14 inside the housing 2. Further, the side portion 6b is arranged so that a part of the inner side surface is exposed to the accommodation space 2c. The inner side surface of the side portion 6 b is a surface located inside the housing 2. The cooling unit 6 is also provided on the second fixed terminal 15 side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of magnets 42 is arranged around the contact case 11. The pair of magnets 42 are arranged at positions facing each other in the lateral direction of the movable contact piece 16. The pair of magnets 42 are permanent magnets and generate a magnetic field in the accommodation space 2c. Thereby, the arc generated when the first movable contact 16a and the second movable contact 16b are separated from the first fixed contact 14a and the second fixed contact 15a is extended in a predetermined direction.

  Next, the operation of the electromagnetic relay 100 will be described. FIG. 1 shows a state in which no voltage is applied to the coil 32. When no voltage is applied to the coil 32, the biasing member 36 stops the movement of the movable core 34 in the contact direction Z1. Therefore, the first movable contact 16a and the second movable contact 16b are in a state of being separated from the first fixed contact 14a and the second fixed contact 15a.

  FIG. 4 shows a state where a voltage is applied to the coil 32. When a voltage is applied to the coil 32 to excite it, the electromagnetic force of the coil 32 causes the movable iron core 34 to move in the contact direction Z1 against the elastic force of the biasing member 36. With the movement of the movable iron core 34, the drive shaft 4 and the movable contact piece 16 move in the contact direction Z1, and the first movable contact 16a and the second movable contact 16b become the first fixed contact 14a and the second fixed contact 15a. Contact.

  When the application of the voltage to the coil 32 is stopped, the movable iron core 34 moves in the opening direction Z2 due to the elastic force of the biasing member 36, and the first movable contact 16a and the second movable contact 16b move to the first fixed contact 14a. And, it is in a state of being separated from the second fixed contact 15a.

  Here, when the first movable contact 16a and the second movable contact 16b are in contact with the first fixed contact 14a and the second fixed contact 15a, that is, when energized, the first fixed terminal 14 The fixed terminal 15 and the movable contact piece 16 generate heat. In the electromagnetic relay 100 according to the present embodiment, this heat generation can be efficiently dissipated by disposing the cooling member 40 in the cooling unit 6.

  Specifically, the accommodation space 2c is cooled by the cooling member 40 arranged in the cooling unit 6, so that heat generation of the first fixed terminal 14, the second fixed terminal 15, and the movable contact piece 16 can be suppressed. it can. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the current-carrying capacity due to heat generation of the contact device 3 when the current is applied. In particular, in this embodiment, since the cooling unit 6 projects into the accommodation space 2c, the cooling member 40 can be arranged at a position close to the heat source when energized. As a result, it is possible to efficiently dissipate the heat generated by the heat source during energization through the cooling member 40 with a simple configuration. Further, when the cooling unit 6 is brought into contact with the first fixed terminal 14, the heat generated by the first fixed terminal 14 can be released more efficiently.

  Although the embodiment of the electromagnetic relay according to one aspect of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the cooling unit 6 may have a hole shape or the arrangement may be changed. For example, the cooling unit 6 may be provided in the housing 2 so that the space in which the electromagnetic drive device 5 is housed can be cooled. The cooling member 40 may be a member having a higher thermal conductivity than air, such as urethane or silicon, or may be a water-cooled cooler or a cooling fan. The cooling member 40 may be insert-molded in the cooling part 6 of the housing 2.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic relay 200 according to the first modification. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the electromagnetic relay 200 according to the first modification as viewed from above. In the first modification, the contact direction Z1 and the opening direction Z2 are opposite to those in the above-described embodiment. The first fixed terminal 114 and the second fixed terminal 115 are each formed of a substantially cylindrical terminal that extends in the axial direction, and are exposed from the housing 2 in the contact direction Z1. The first fixed terminal 114 and the second fixed terminal 115 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 16. Note that, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the above embodiment. Further, in FIG. 5, illustration of the electromagnetic drive device is omitted.

  The cooling unit 6 is arranged between the first fixed terminal 114 and the second fixed terminal 115. The shape of the cooling portion 6 is similar to that of the above-described embodiment, and has a groove shape that is recessed from the outside of the housing 2 toward the inside of the housing 2. At least a part of the cooling unit 6 in the first modified example overlaps with the movable contact piece 16 when viewed from the direction along the contact direction Z1 and the separation direction Z2.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the electromagnetic relay 200 according to the first modification, at least a part thereof overlaps the accommodation space 2c when viewed from the direction along the contact direction Z1 and the separation direction Z2. The cooling section 6 may be provided around the accommodation space 2c. As shown in FIG. 7, the cooling portion 6 may be provided at a position close to both ends of the movable contact piece 16 in the longitudinal direction, or as shown in FIG. 8, close to both ends of the movable contact piece 16 in the lateral direction. You may provide the cooling part 6 in the position to do. Even if the cooling unit 6 is provided at any position, the cooling unit 6 is arranged in a position close to the first fixed terminal 114, the second fixed terminal 115, and the movable contact piece 16, so that heat generation during energization is efficiently performed. Can be escaped.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electromagnetic relay that can efficiently dissipate heat generated by a contact device or an electromagnetic drive device when energized.

2 housing 2c accommodation space 2f mounting part 3 contact device 4 drive shaft 5 electromagnetic drive device 6 cooling parts 14, 114 first fixed terminal (an example of fixed contact)
14a First fixed contact (an example of fixed contact)
15,115 Second fixed terminal (an example of fixed contact)
15a Second fixed contact (an example of fixed contact)
16 movable contact piece 16a first movable contact (an example of movable contact)
16b Second movable contact (an example of movable contact)
100,200 electromagnetic relay

Claims (6)

A contact device including a plurality of fixed terminals including fixed contacts, and a movable contact piece including a movable contact capable of contacting the fixed contacts,
An electromagnetic drive device for driving the contact device,
A housing that houses the contact device and the electromagnetic drive device;
A cooling unit provided in the housing, having a groove or hole shape recessed from the outside of the housing toward the inside of the housing, and arranging a cooling member for cooling the inside of the housing from the outside of the housing;
An electromagnetic relay equipped with. The movable contact piece is a member elongated in one direction,
The cooling unit extends along a longitudinal direction or a lateral direction of the movable contact piece,
The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1. The housing includes a housing space for housing the contact device,
The cooling unit projects into the accommodation space,
The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 or 2. Further comprising a drive shaft movable together with the movable contact piece in a first direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and a second direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact,
When viewed from a direction along the first direction and the second direction, at least a part of the cooling unit overlaps with the fixed terminal or the movable contact piece,
The electromagnetic relay according to claim 3. The fixed terminal includes a first fixed terminal exposed from the housing in the first direction, and a second fixed terminal disposed at a distance from the first fixed terminal and exposed from the housing in the first direction. Including,
The cooling unit is disposed between the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal, and at least a part thereof overlaps with the movable contact piece when viewed from a direction along the first direction and the second direction. ,
The electromagnetic relay according to claim 4. Further comprising a drive shaft movable together with the movable contact piece in a first direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and a second direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact,
The housing includes a housing space for housing the contact device,
The cooling unit is provided around the accommodation space, and at least a part thereof overlaps with the accommodation space when viewed from a direction along the first direction and the second direction.
The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 or 2.

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