JP3482052B2 - Current cutoff device due to leakage - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for interrupting current flow caused by a leak, and more particularly, it is installed in a house by detecting its vibration in the event of an earthquake to cause a leak in an indoor commercial line. The present invention relates to a device for activating an earth leakage breaker to cut off electricity to a house.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional current interrupting device due to a leakage will be described. First, in order to ensure safety when an electric device vibrates or tilts, an electric leakage generator is installed inside the electric device to force a leak when vibration or tilt is detected. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-297258 discloses a device that cuts off the power supply to an electric device by operating an earth leakage breaker provided in a power source connection portion separate from an electric device that supplies electric power. In the present invention, it is possible to cut off the power supply to the electric device by using the earth leakage breaker widely used in each house only by providing the electric device main body with the vibration sensor and the electric leakage generating section, and to newly install the circuit breaker. There is an effect that it is not necessary to provide it, and therefore complicated wiring is not applied to the indoor commercial electric wire. The invention described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-35260 is such that a vibration switch is connected in parallel with a test switch provided in a test circuit for confirming the operation of an earth leakage breaker. The electric leakage breaker is configured with this to activate the electric leakage breaker to cut off the power supply when vibration occurs, and to prevent the occurrence of fire due to heating of all electric devices in the house in the event of an earthquake etc. It is a thing.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional energization / interruption method has the following problems. In any of the inventions, a leakage generating unit that detects vibration and generates a leakage is provided inside the electric equipment or the earth leakage breaker itself, and therefore, all existing electric equipment in the house can be replaced or the distribution board can be replaced. There is a problem in that the leakage breaker must be replaced by electrical work, which is expensive and time consuming. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost energization / interruption device that can be easily installed in a house due to an electrical leakage.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following constitution. That is, a case part, and a pair of power supply terminals that are provided outside the case part and are detachably connectable from an external commercial wire to an indoor commercial wire facility arranged inside the house through an earth leakage breaker, A leakage generation unit that is provided inside the case unit and that causes a leakage to the indoor commercial electric wire connected to the power supply terminal; and a detection provided inside the case unit that detects vibration applied to the case unit or inclination of the case unit. And the vibration or inclination
Detection signal output from the detector when the value exceeds a certain value
Switch on / off the leakage occurrence switch to
A microcomputer for driving the generator
In the current interruption device due to leakage,
The computer can be used within a certain time after the detection signal is input.
Is installed so that the leakage generator is not driven.
And said that you are.

Further, the detection signal is the microcomputer.
Computer, when input to the computer,
The drive signal output to the leakage generator from the
A drive signal holding mechanism for holding the external commercial electric wire is provided.
When the re-power supply starts after the power supply from the
The leakage generation unit is held by the drive signal holding mechanism.
It is designed to drive based on the drive signal
It is characterized by Further, as the drive signal holding mechanism
The operation history of the microcomputer as data
A non-volatile storage unit that stores
And A latch relay is used as the drive signal holding mechanism.
Is provided. In addition, the leakage
The generating unit includes a diode array for each of the pair of power supply terminals.
The node terminal is connected and the cathode terminal of the diode
Is connected to the switch, and the leak generating switch is connected from the cathode terminal.
Be connected to the grounding terminal through the switch
And are characterized.

[0006]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. (First Embodiment) First, a current interrupting device 1 due to the occurrence of leakage.
The basic configuration of 0 will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 12 is a case part, which is a material having electrical insulation,
For example, it is formed in a box using a synthetic resin material or the like.
Reference numeral 14 is a power supply terminal, which is provided outside the case portion 12,
The external commercial electric wire 16 is detachably connectable to the indoor commercial electric wire 24 arranged in the house 22 through the earth leakage breaker 18 (generally arranged on the switchboard 20). As an example, the power supply terminal 14 is formed as a plug terminal that can be detachably attached to an outlet 26 connected to the indoor commercial electric wire 24. The indoor commercial electric wire 24 is wired in each room or the like of the house 22, and further connected to an outlet 26 so that various electric devices 28a and 28b can be connected and used.

The leakage generating portion is provided in the case portion 12,
The indoor commercial electric wire 24 connected to the power supply terminal 14 has a function of generating a leakage current, and is composed of a leakage current limiting unit 30 and a leakage generation switch unit 32. The leakage current limiting unit 30 is connected to the indoor commercial electric wire 24, and the leakage generation switch unit 32 is interposed between the leakage current limiting unit 30 and the grounding terminal 34. As an example, the leakage current limiting unit 30 has two resistors 36, one end of which is connected to each power supply terminal 14, and an anode terminal of which is connected to the other end of the resistor 36, and two of which cathode terminals are connected to each other. Diode 3
8 and. The leakage generation switch section 32 is formed by using a photo triac as an example, and the triac section of the photo triac is inserted between the cathode terminal of the diode 38 and the grounding terminal 34.
When the triac unit is turned on, a current can flow from the power supply terminal 14 to the grounding terminal 34 via the leakage current limiting unit 30. Then, the value of the flowing current is set by the value of the resistor 36. In addition, the leakage generation switch unit 32 may be configured by using a relay or a semiconductor switch element such as a transistor or an FET. The detection unit is provided in the case unit 12 and has a function of detecting vibration applied to the case unit 12 or inclination of the case unit 12, and having a function of activating the electric leakage generation unit when the vibration or inclination exceeds a predetermined value. , A detection sensor 40 and a drive circuit 42.

Further, the configuration of other circuits provided in the case portion 12 and the detailed configuration of the above circuits will be described. First, 44 is a rectifying / smoothing unit, and each power supply terminal 14
Connected in between, the AC voltage supplied from the indoor commercial electric wire 24 is converted into a DC voltage. Reference numeral 46 denotes a power supply unit, which converts the DC voltage output from the rectifying / smoothing unit 44 into the case unit 12
It generates a constant voltage to be supplied to the electric circuit provided inside, that is, the detection unit, the leakage generation unit, and the like. Note that the Zener diode 38 is used in the present embodiment as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this.

The detection sensor 40 has a function of detecting vibration applied to the case portion 12 above a certain reference value and inclination of the case portion 12 above a certain reference value. The detection sensor 40 includes a light emitting diode 40a, a phototransistor (for example, NPN type) 40b that receives the light, and the light emitting diode 40a when the vibration or the inclination is less than a certain reference value.
Is located at a reflection position where the light of the light emitting diode 40a is reflected in the direction of the phototransistor 40b. It is composed of a moving reflector 48. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a bottom surface is formed in a funnel shape, and a container 50 having a through hole 49 at the apex part of the funnel shape, and a reflector formed on a sphere housed in the container 50. 48 and the container 50, and the inside of the container 50 is exposed through the through hole 49.
It is composed of a light emitting diode 40a for sending light to the inside of 0 and a phototransistor 40b for receiving the light in the through hole 49 (in this example, formed integrally). When the vibration is less than a certain reference value, the reflector 48 is the funnel-shaped container 5.
The light is emitted from the light emitting diode 40a and reflected by the reflector 48 to reach the phototransistor 40b. Further, when vibration or the like is applied, the reflector 48 will move to the container 5
The bottom surface of 0 moves away from the through hole 49 (moves to a non-reflecting position), whereby the light from the light emitting diode 40a does not hit the reflector 48, and even when reflected, the direction of the reflected light is changed. It changes and does not reach the phototransistor 40b. The drive circuit 42 is configured as an inverting amplifier circuit using transistors, and includes the phototransistor 4
It has a function of inverting the signal from 0b and outputting it. The light emitting diode section of the phototriac of the leakage generation switch section 32 is driven when the output signal of the drive circuit 42 becomes the Low level, and a current flows, and the triac section of the phototriac is turned on.

Next, the operation of the power interruption device 10 will be described. First, each of the power supply terminals 14 of the power interruption device 10 according to the present embodiment due to the occurrence of leakage is connected to the indoor commercial electric wire 2 respectively.
Connect to 4. If the power supply terminal 14 is formed as a plug terminal, it may be inserted into the outlet 26. Further, when it is formed on the crocodile clip or the crimp terminal, it may be connected to the wiring portion of the indoor commercial electric wire 24 such as the switchboard 20. Further, the grounding terminal 34 is connected to the terminal 52 when the outlet 26 is provided with the grounding terminal 52 as shown in FIG.
If is not provided in the outlet 26, a grounding rod is connected to the grounding terminal 34 through an electric wire so as to be buried in the ground. Then, when an earthquake occurs and the house 22 vibrates or collapses, vibration or the like is applied to the case portion 12 attached to the outlet 26, and the case portion 12
Is tilted to operate the detection sensor 40, the drive circuit 42 drives the leakage generation switch unit 32 to turn on the triac unit, and a current flows from the grounding terminal 34 to the ground via the leakage current limiting unit 30. Indoor commercial electric wire 24
Electrical leakage occurs. This leakage current is set by the leakage current limiting unit 30 within a range that the leakage breaker 18 senses (a range of about 30 mA to about 100 mA). When a leakage occurs in the indoor commercial electric wire 24, the existing leakage breaker 18 existing in the switchboard 20 detects this leakage and disconnects the indoor commercial electric wire 24 and the external commercial electric wire 16 from the external commercial electric wire 16 to the indoor commercial electric wire 24. The power supply is stopped.

As described above, in the event of an earthquake, vibrations and inclinations due to the vibration are detected to forcibly generate electric leakage, and the earth leakage breaker 18 installed in most of ordinary houses 22 is actuated. Since it is possible to stop the power supply to 22 and thus the power to all the electric devices used in the house 22, it is possible to prevent a fire that originated from the inside of the electric device or an indoor commercial electric wire 24 during an earthquake. It can prevent the occurrence of fire. In particular, the current leakage interrupting device 10 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which a current leakage interrupting mechanism incorporated in each electric device or a leakage breaker in the conventional example is separated from each electric device in one case portion 12. It is housed inside and formed into a single unit, and, for example, an indoor commercial electric wire 24 such as an outlet
It is a great advantage that a person who has no electrical knowledge can easily install the power supply terminal 14 which can be easily connected to the outside in an existing house without electrical work.

Further, in the above embodiment, the shape of the case portion 12 has a structure in which it can be connected to an existing outlet in consideration of ease of installation, but, for example, a self-standing case portion 12 as shown in FIG. As a power source terminal 14 and a grounding terminal 34, the power supply terminal 14 and the grounding terminal 34 may have a plug terminal 14b that can be connected to an outlet at the tip of the electric wire 14a or a ground rod 34b at the tip of the electric wire 34a. . In this case, when the self-supporting case unit 12 falls or shakes due to an earthquake, the detection unit arranged inside activates the leakage generation unit to generate leakage.

Further, the structure of the detection sensor 40 may be the structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example. These detection sensors 4
0 is basically the same as the detection sensor 40 of FIG.
It is composed of a light receiving element such as b, and a reflector (or shield) 48 that changes the arrival state of the light output from the light emitting element to the light receiving element by vibration. In FIG. 6, two pairs of the light emitting diode 40a and the phototransistor 40b are
The optical paths are spaced apart so that they cross in a cross shape, and the shield 48 is hung from the case portion 12 by a spring 56 at the intersection of the optical paths. With this configuration, when the vibration is not generated, the shield 48 is provided from each light emitting diode 40a to the phototransistor 40b.
However, when vibration or the like is applied to the case portion 12, the shield 48 moves in the up-down direction, the left-right front-rear direction, and the vibration exceeds a certain reference value, so that the shield 48 is removed from the optical path. When it comes off, the phototransistor 40b receives light and outputs a signal for activating the leakage generating unit.

Further, FIG. 7 shows a supporting frame 58 fixed in the case portion 12, and a supporting frame 58 supported by the supporting frame 58.
8, a shield 48 whose lower end is inserted into a ring body 60 attached to 8 and whose lateral movement is restricted, and a pair of light-emitting diode 40a and phototransistor 40b provided with the lower end of the shield 48 sandwiched therebetween. Composed of. 6
Reference numeral 2 is a weight for adjusting the sensitivity of the shield 48 with respect to vibration and the like. Paying attention to the fact that the detection sensor 40 is accompanied by vertical vibration especially in an earthquake that causes a large disaster, it has a structure in which it is difficult to respond to horizontal vibration in order to reduce malfunction. Similar to the detection sensor 40, the operation is such that the vibration is detected depending on whether or not the shield 48 that moves up and down along with the pitch shakes the optical path between the light emitting diode 40a and the phototransistor 40b. Although the detection sensors 65 described above are all of the optical type, for example, as shown in FIG.
A weight 62 is provided at the tip of 6 and the weight 6
2 may move up and down to move the actuating lever 66 to turn on and off the contacts of the microswitch 64, thereby detecting vibration. When this detection sensor 40 is used, the phototransistor 40b in the circuit of FIG. 3 may be replaced with the contact of the microswitch 64, and in order to further simplify the circuit, the leakage generation switch unit 32 is connected to the contact of the microswitch 64. You may replace with.

(Second Embodiment) In this embodiment, a microcomputer or the like is added to the above-described first embodiment, which is the basic configuration of the energization / interruption device 70, to perform a more detailed energization / interruption operation. It was done. Using FIG. 9,
Each configuration will be described, and the outline operation thereof will also be described. Reference numeral 72 denotes an external noise absorbing portion, which is formed by using a surge absorbing element such as an arrester and has a function of protecting the electric circuit provided in the case portion 12 from noise from the external commercial electric wire 16. The external noise absorbing section 72 also has the function of the rectifying and smoothing circuit 44 described above. Reference numeral 74 denotes a backup auxiliary power source for a microcomputer (hereinafter, simply referred to as MPU) described later, which is configured by a storage battery, a capacitor and the like. Normally,
It is charged by the DC voltage output from the power supply unit 44. Reference numeral 76 denotes a non-volatile storage unit, which is particularly configured by using a non-volatile memory (EEPROM) in which stored data is not erased even when power supply is stopped.

Reference numeral 78 denotes a notification unit, which is a buzzer 78a or L
It is composed of a display device 78b such as ED, LCD, etc., and is driven by the MPU to indicate the operating state of the energization interruption device 70, for example, the operating state of the detection sensor 40 and information on whether or not other circuits are normal by sound, light, or characters. It has the function of communicating to the outside. The notification section 78 is provided on the outer surface of the case section 12. 80 is M
It is a monitoring IC for PU. The monitoring IC 80 has a function of resetting when the software of the MPU causes a runaway. Further, the detection sensor 40 has a function of outputting a sensor failure signal and a vibration detection signal.
Particularly, in the optical type, since the light emitting diode 40a has a life, for example, a signal is taken out from the anode terminal of the light emitting diode 40a in FIG.
Enter in U. Thereby, the light emitting diode 40a
In the case where the light emitting diode 40a has failed and is in the open state, the sensor failure signal changes from the normal low level to the high level, so the MPU can determine that the light emitting diode 40a has failed. Further, the vibration detection signal is output when the vibration of the reference value or more is detected, and the signal is input to the MPU.

Reference numeral 82 denotes an MPU, which processes each input signal and data, monitors the detection sensor 40, and
It also has the function of a drive circuit and can drive the leakage generation switch unit 32 on / off. Reference numeral 84 is a start switch, which is provided on the outer surface of the case portion 12 and is
It is connected to 82. In addition, RO is installed in the MPU 82.
A storage unit 86 that includes M, RAM, and the like, and stores an operation program of the MPU 82 and the like is included. It also includes a timer function. The function of the MPU 82 will be described. First, the power interruption device 70 is connected to the indoor commercial electric wire 24,
When power is supplied to the electric circuit in the case unit 12, the monitoring IC 80 outputs a reset signal to the MPU 82,
Reference numeral 82 starts an operation in accordance with the program stored in the storage unit 86, initializes the data area of the notification unit 78 and the storage unit 86, and clears the internal status information. Then, when the start switch 84 is pressed, monitoring of the detection sensor 40 is started while processing each input signal and data. Note that the MPU 82 does not drive the leakage generation switch unit 32 even if a vibration detection signal is input within a predetermined fixed time. Immediately after the case unit 12 is installed, the detection sensor 40 may output a vibration detection signal due to the vibration applied at the time of installation. Therefore, the reflector of the detection sensor 40 (including a reflecting ball). Alternatively, it is to wait for the vibration of the shield to subside.

Further, the MPU 82 uses an internal timer function and, after a period (for example, 5 years or 7 years) indicated by the life data has elapsed after the energization / interruption device 70 is installed, the notification unit 78 is provided.
Is activated to notify the outside to that effect. In addition, the state of the sensor failure signal is constantly monitored, and the light emitting diode 40
In the case where a has a failure and is in an open state, the notification section 78 is also operated to notify the outside to that effect. In addition, when the vibration or the like once exceeds the reference value and the vibration detection signal is input, the drive signal to the leakage generation switch unit 32 is held in the driven state. This is because, for example, if the electric power company that is supplying electric power to the area stops the electric power supply before the electric leakage generation switch unit 32 is turned on after the occurrence of an earthquake, the electric leakage will occur indoors. It cannot be generated in the commercial electric wire 24, so that the leakage breaker 18 does not operate. In this state, when the electric power company side starts to supply electric power again, in the configuration of the power interruption device 70 described in the first embodiment, electric power is supplied to the house 22 which is collapsed or electric devices are scattered. There is a risk of fire due to electricity. Therefore, if the MPU 82 is configured to hold the drive signal to the leakage generation switch unit 32 in a driven state as in the present embodiment, even when power is supplied again from the power company, the leakage of the electric power is forcibly performed at that moment. Can be generated in the indoor commercial electric wire 24,
It is possible to prevent a fire. As a specific configuration for holding the drive signal in the driven state, a software-like storage method for storing the operation history as measurement data in the non-volatile storage unit 76, and a hardware-like method using a latch relay or the like. There is a saving method. Note that the MPU 82 can take a history of the number of times the vibration detection signal is detected, the operating time, the number of power failures, and the like, and store the history in the nonvolatile storage unit 76 as measurement data. In addition, the history data is the case part 1
If the configuration is such that the cumulative value of the number of times of detection and the cumulative operating time of the energization interruption device 70 can be checked via the maintenance interface circuit 88 provided inside the unit 2 and connected to the MPU 82, maintenance of the energization interruption device 70 can be performed. There is also an effect that it can be done.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Of course.

[0020]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION When the leakage current-carrying interrupting device according to the present invention is used, the detection unit detects vibration or the like and activates the leakage generation unit to generate leakage in the indoor commercial electric wire, which is normally used in each house. The installed earth leakage breaker can be used to cut off the electricity supply to the house, so there is no cost. In addition, the leakage generator and detector are located inside the case,
Since the power supply terminal which can be detachably connected to the indoor commercial electric wire is provided outside the case portion, it is possible to easily install the indoor commercial electric wire alone in the house without constructing the indoor commercial electric wire. Therefore, it is extremely popular in ordinary houses, and effective disaster countermeasures cannot be implemented unless many houses have the same level of earthquake countermeasures, such as a disaster that occurs over a wide area such as an earthquake. It has a remarkable effect that it is also effective against.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a usage pattern of a power interruption device according to the present invention due to leakage.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer shape of the power interruption device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the power interruption device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of the detection sensor of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the case portion of the power interruption device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of another detection sensor (optical type).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of another detection sensor (optical type).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of another detection sensor (mechanical type).

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of a power interruption device according to the present invention due to leakage of electricity.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Power Supply Breaking Device 12 Case Part 14 Power Terminal 16 External Commercial Electric Wire 18 Earth Leakage Breaker 22 House 24 Indoor Commercial Electric Wire 30 Leakage Current Limiting Part (Constituting Part of Leakage Generating Part) 32 Leakage Occurrence Switch Part (Leakage Generating Part) Part of) 40 Detection sensor (part of detector) 42 Drive circuit (part of detector)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A case part and a pair of power sources projecting outside the case part and detachably connectable from an external commercial wire to an indoor commercial wire facility installed inside a house through an earth leakage breaker. A terminal, a leakage generation unit that is provided in the case portion and that causes a leakage to the indoor commercial electric wire connected to the power supply terminal; and a vibration that is provided in the case portion and that is applied to the case portion or the inclination of the case portion. Detecting unit to detect, and the detection when the vibration or inclination exceeds a predetermined value
The detection signal output from the unit
A micro that turns on / off the
A power interruption device for the occurrence of electric leakage, which includes a computer
In the microcomputer, the detection signal is input.
After that, the leakage generator will not be driven within a certain time.
A device for interrupting power supply due to a leakage of electricity. 2. The detection signal is the microcomputer.
From the microcomputer when input to the computer
Holds the drive signal output to the leakage generator in the drive state.
A drive signal holding mechanism is installed to re-power after the power supply from the external commercial power line is stopped.
At the start of supply, the leakage generating unit is
It will drive based on the drive signal held in the holding mechanism.
The power interruption device according to claim 1, wherein the current interruption device is provided. 3. The drive signal holding mechanism is the
Do not store the operation history of the black computer as data.
A volatile storage unit is provided.
2. A power interruption device due to the occurrence of leakage as described in 2 . 4. A latch relay as the drive signal holding mechanism.
The leakage according to claim 2, wherein the leakage is provided.
A power interruption device that generates electricity. 5. The leakage generator is the pair of power supply terminals.
The anode terminal of the diode is connected to each of the
The cathode terminals of the ode are connected to each other, and the cathode terminals
Connected to the grounding terminal through the leakage generation switch section
Of claim 1, wherein it has been provided et the
A power interruption device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 due to the occurrence of leakage.