JP3353808B2 - Overcurrent protection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an overcurrent protection device that protects electrical components by preventing an overcurrent from flowing into electrical components used in a vehicle or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a motor vehicle is equipped with many electric components, and a device as shown in FIG. 3 has been proposed as a device for protecting an overcurrent of these electric components (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6 (1994)).
-335159). FIG. 3 illustrates a case where the protection device A protects an electric circuit for lighting a lamp L of a vehicle, and a unit 23 including a PTC element 21 and a comparator 22 whose resistance value increases with temperature when the temperature exceeds a certain temperature. And a display unit 26, and a multiplex line 25 connecting the unit 23 and the display unit 26.

When the current flowing through the lamp L, which is a load, increases from a steady value, the current passing through the PTC element 21 connected in series also increases, and the temperature of the PTC element 21 increases. When the temperature of the PTC element 21 rises and reaches a certain temperature, the resistance value of the PTC element 21 rapidly increases with the temperature, and prevents the passage of an overcurrent flowing through the lamp L to protect the electric circuit.

When an overcurrent flows through the electric circuit, the comparator 22 increases the resistance of the PTC element 21 as described above, and the voltage supplied to the electric circuit decreases because the PTC element 21 lowers the voltage. When the voltage drops below the set value, an abnormal state is transmitted to the display unit 26 via the multiplex line 25. When the display unit 26 is notified of the abnormal state, the corresponding alarm lamp 28 is turned on to display the occurrence of the abnormality.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional overcurrent protection device protects an electric circuit by connecting a PTC element in series with a load. However, since the current capacity of the PTC element itself is low, it is necessary to make the PTC element a large shape in order to secure the current capacity corresponding to the load, and it is necessary to install the PTC element in an electric junction box in order to install each load. is there. For this reason, the shape of the electric connection box becomes large, and it is difficult to secure a place where the electric connection box is installed in the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an overcurrent protection device which does not require an electric junction box and can easily secure a current capacity corresponding to a load.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] To solve the above-mentioned problems.
Therefore, in the first invention, a pair of parallel electric wires,
A PTC disposed between the pair of wires in contact with the pair of wires;
Coating the composition, the pair of electric wires and the PTC composition.
Connecting one of the pair of electric wires to a power supply.
Connection means and the other wireDivided into multiple pieces and divided
Connecting means for connecting to the plurality of electric circuits respectively
And. Thus, PT between a pair of parallel electric wires
C composition is placed and covered, one of the wires is powered
Because an electric circuit is connected to the other electric wire,
Space saving can be achieved without the need for a junction box
You.In addition, the other electric wire is divided, and an electric circuit is
Roads, so multiple electrical circuits
Overcurrent can be easily protected.

In a second aspect, a pair of parallel electric wires is provided.
And P disposed in contact with the pair of wires and disposed between the wires.
A TC composition, the pair of electric wires and the PTC composition are covered.
An insulating coating layer to be covered, and connecting one of the pair of electric wires to a power supply.
Connection means and the other wire to the electrical circuit.
Connecting means, and connecting to the electric circuit.
Part of the coating layer covering the other electric wire is peeled off and the connection is made.
The connecting means is connected to the other electric wire. Thus, one parallel
The PTC composition is placed between the pair of wires to cover and cover one of the wires.
Connect the power supply to the wire and the electrical circuit to the other wire.
The need for an electrical junction box, saving space.
Can be planned. Also, the connection between the other wire and the electrical circuit
And peel off part of the coating layer covering the other wire.
To connect the connection means,
Power can be supplied from an optimal position for connection.

In a third aspect of the present invention, a part of a coating layer covering the other electric wire connected to the electric circuit is peeled off, and the connecting means is connected to the other electric wire. Because the connection between the other electric wire and the electric circuit was made by peeling a part of the coating layer covering the other electric wire and connecting the connection means,
Power can be supplied from an optimal position for connection to an electric circuit.

In a fourth aspect, the length of the other electric wire is cut to a length corresponding to the current capacity of the electric circuit to be connected. Since the length of the other electric wire is cut to a length corresponding to the current capacity of the electric circuit to be connected, various electric current capacities can be easily obtained.

Further, in the fifth invention, the pair of electric wires have a rectangular cross section. Since a wire having a rectangular cross section is used as the wire, the connection area between the wire and the PTC composition becomes large, and a short current wire can easily obtain a desired current capacity.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along line XX ′ of FIG. 1
a and 1b are parallel wires, wires 1a and 1b
The PTC composition 2 is disposed between the PTC compositions 2. The PTC composition 2 comes into contact with the electric wires 1a and 1b.

A battery 6 as a power source is connected to one electric wire 1a by a connecting means 4a, and an electric circuit 7 is connected to the other electric wire 1b by a connecting means 4b. The connection means 4b for connecting the electric circuit 7 is provided with a peeling portion 5 on a part of the insulating coating layer 3 covering the other electric wire 1b and connected to the other electric wire 1b.

The length of the other electric wire 1b is determined by the characteristics of the PTC composition 2 and the contact area between the PTC composition 2 and the electric wires 1a and 1b. Cut into pieces.

The PTC composition 2 is prepared by kneading a conductive filler into a crystalline crosslinked polymer. As the material of the crosslinked polymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene, a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate,
Examples thereof include polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene oxide, and polyvinyl carbazole.

As a crosslinking method, a physical method by irradiation with an electron beam or the like, or a chemical method using various peroxides or silane coupling agents can be applied. The conductive filler is not particularly limited as long as it has conductivity such as carbon-based, silver-based, and nickel-based.
A material of about 0 μm is preferred. The conductor of the electric wire used is
A commonly used compressed copper conductor or non-compressed copper conductor is suitable, but aluminum or silver may be used, and there is no particular limitation.
The material of the insulating coating layer 3 is not particularly limited as long as it has an insulating property such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyurethane, and Teflon.

By configuring the overcurrent protection device as shown in FIG. 1, the contact area can be increased as compared with the conventional PTC element, and the current can be easily adjusted by adjusting the length of the electric wire. The capacity can be changed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the other electric wire 1b described in the first embodiment is connected to 1b-1, 1b-2, 1b-
As shown by 3, the other divided wire 1
From b-1 to 3-1, connection means 4b-1 and 4b-2 respectively
And 4b-3 are connected to the electric circuits 7-1, 7-2 and 7-3.

The other wires 1b are cut to a certain length 8-1 and 8 so that they do not come into contact with each other after being cut.
-2 is provided for dividing. With such a configuration, overcurrent protection for a plurality of electric circuits can be performed simultaneously.

In the embodiment, the electric wires 1a and 1b have a circular cross section. However, when the electric wires 1a and 1b are formed in a rectangular shape, the contact area between the electric wires and the PTC composition 2 becomes large, and a required current capacity can be obtained with a short length. be able to.

[0021]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a PTC composition is arranged and covered between a pair of parallel electric wires so that a power supply is connected to one electric wire and an electric circuit is connected to the other electric wire. Therefore, an electric connection box is not required, and space can be saved. Also, split the other wire and
Because an electric circuit is connected to the wire,
Overcurrent protection for the air circuit can be easily performed.
You.

In the second invention, a pair of parallel electric wires
A PTC composition is placed between and covered, and one wire is
Source, and connect the other wire to an electrical circuit.
Does not require an electrical junction box and saves space.
be able to. Also, the connection between the other wire and the electric circuit
A part of the coating layer covering the other electric wire.
The connection means is connected by
The power can be supplied from an optimal position for the connection.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the connection between the other electric wire and the electric circuit is made by peeling off a part of the coating layer covering the other electric wire and connecting the connecting means. Power can be supplied from an optimal position for connection to a circuit.

In the fourth aspect, the length of the other electric wire is cut to a length corresponding to the current capacity of the electric circuit to be connected, so that various electric current capacities can be easily obtained. it can.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since a wire having a rectangular cross section is used as the wire, the connection area between the wire and the PTC composition becomes large, and the wire having a short length has a desired current. The capacity can be easily obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention,
(B) is a sectional view taken along line XX ′ of (A).

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b Electric wire 2 PTC composition 3 Insulating coating layer 4a, 4b Connection means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-56-160004 (JP, A) JP-A-7-322445 (JP, A) JP-A-7-320909 (JP, A) 134935 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01C 7/02 H02H 5/04 H02H 9/02

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of parallel electric wires, a PTC composition disposed between the pair of electric wires in contact with the pair of electric wires, and an insulating coating layer covering the pair of electric wires and the PTC composition.
Connecting means for connecting one of the pair of electric wires to a power source; and dividing the other electric wire into a plurality of pieces, and dividing the plurality of pieces into the plurality of pieces.
An overcurrent protection device comprising: a connection means for connecting to an electric circuit . 2. A pair of parallel electric wires and a pair of said electric wires.
A PTC composition disposed in contact between the two electric wires;
An insulating coating layer covering the pair of electric wires and the PTC composition;
Connecting means for connecting one of the pair of electric wires to a power source;
Connection means for connecting the other electric wire to the electric circuit.
The other electric wire connected to the electric circuit.
Peeling a part of the covering layer, and connecting the connecting means to the other electric wire.
An overcurrent protection device characterized in that it is connected to 3. A process according to claim 1 Symbol, characterized in that so as to connect said connecting means to peeling the portion of the coating layer covering the other wire to be connected to the electric circuit to the other wire
Placing the overcurrent protection device. 4. The overcurrent protection device according to claim 1, wherein a length of said other electric wire is cut to a length corresponding to a current capacity of an electric circuit to be connected. . 5. The overcurrent protection device according to claim 1, wherein said pair of electric wires have a rectangular cross section.