JP3897989B2

JP3897989B2 - Breaker device

Info

Publication number: JP3897989B2
Application number: JP2001097086A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 一元近田; 宏樹平井; 美生水谷
Original assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd; AutoNetworks Technologies Ltd; Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd; AutoNetworks Technologies Ltd; Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-29
Filing date: 2001-03-29
Publication date: 2007-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-29
Also published as: JP2002298704A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、短絡プラグの抜き挿しによって主回路を開閉するようにしたブレーカ装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
短絡プラグの抜き挿しによって主回路を開閉するようにしたブレーカ装置としては、従来、主回路に直列に設けた一対の電極に対して短絡プラグを差し込むことによりその電極対間を短絡させて主回路を閉じた状態とし、短絡プラグを電極対から抜くことによりその電極対間を通電不能として主回路を開くようにした構造のものがある。
【０００３】
この種のブレーカ装置が電気自動車の動力回路の開閉に用いられる場合、動力回路に通電されている状態で短絡プラグを電極対から抜くと、電極と短絡プラグとの間でアークが発生する虞があるため、次のような対策が講じられている。即ち、短絡プラグにレバーを設けるとともに、ケースには、動力回路を開閉するためのリレーを動作させるマイクロスイッチを設けた構造とし、通常は、短絡プラグを差し込むとともにレバーを格納位置へ倒すことで、動力回路を閉じた状態にしておく。この状態から動力回路を開く際には、まず、レバーを起こすと、そのレバーの動きを検出したマイクロスイッチがリレーを開作動させることによって動力回路が開いて通電が止まった状態となり、この後に、起こしたレバーを摘んで短絡プラグを抜くことによって電極間が通電不能状態となる。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記ブレーカ装置では、リレーの開作動が開始してから、その開作動が完了して主回路（動力回路）が開くまでにはタイムラグがある。そのため、アークの発生を回避するためには、リレーの開作動が開始してから、電極間を通電阻止状態にするための短絡プラグの抜き操作を行うまでの間に、上記タイムラグよりも長い時間がかかるようにする必要がある。
【０００５】
ところが、レバーを起こす第１の操作（即ち、リレーの開作動を開始させるための操作）と、それに引き続いて短絡プラグを抜き取る第２の操作（即ち、電極間を通電不能状態にするための操作）との２つの操作を、レバーに指を引っ掛けたままで一連のワンアクション操作として行うことができるようになっており、しかも、この２つの操作における指の移動方向が概ね同じ方向（上方）となっている。そのため、この２つの操作が極めて短い時間で一気に行われ、その結果、リレーが開作動を開始する前の主回路が閉じた状態のままであるにも拘わらず電極間から短絡プラグが抜き取られてしまう虞がある。
【０００６】
本願発明は上記事情に鑑みて創案され、主回路が閉じている状態のままで電極対の間から短絡プラグが抜き取られてしまうのを防止することを目的としている。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
請求項１の発明は、スイッチング手段の開閉作動により開閉される主回路に一対の電極を直列に設け、その電極対に短絡プラグを抜き差しすることにより前記スイッチング手段の開閉作動とは独立して前記電極対の間の通電を許容又は阻止できるようにしたものであって、前記短絡プラグに設けられ、その短絡プラグの抜取り操作を可能とする操作位置とその抜取り操作を規制する格納位置との間での変位を可能とされた操作手段と、前記操作手段が格納位置へ変位したことを検知して前記スイッチング手段を閉作動させるとともに、前記操作手段が格納位置から操作位置側へ変位する過程でその変位を検知して前記スイッチング手段に開作動を開始させる変位動作検知手段と、前記操作手段に設けられ、その操作手段を格納位置から操作位置へ変位させるための変位操作用指掛け部と、前記操作手段における前記変位操作用指掛け部とは異なる位置に設けられ、前記短絡プラグを前記電極対から抜き取るための抜取り用指掛け部と、前記操作手段が格納位置にある状態では前記変位操作用指掛け部に対する指の引っ掛け動作を許容するが前記抜取り用指掛け部への指の引っ掛け動作を規制し、且つ前記操作手段が操作位置へ変位した状態では前記抜取り用指掛け部への指の引っ掛け動作を許容する指掛け規制手段とを備えている構成とした。
【０００８】
請求項２の発明は、請求項１の発明において、前記変位操作用指掛け部に対する指の引っ掛け方向と、前記抜取り用指掛け部に対する指の引っ掛け方向とが互いに異なる方向とされている構成とした。
請求項３の発明は、請求項１又は請求項２の発明において、前記変位動作検知手段は、前記電極対が取り付けられているケースに一対の端子金具を設け、前記操作手段に、格納位置へ変位したときに前記一対の端子金具を短絡させることで前記スイッチング手段を閉作動させるとともに、操作位置へ向けて変位する途中で前記一対の端子金具の短絡を解除することで前記スイッチング手段の開作動を開始させる短絡端子を設けた構成になる。
【０００９】
請求項４の発明は、請求項１乃至請求項３のいずれかの発明において、格納位置へ変位した前記操作手段を係止させることで、その操作手段が操作位置側へ変遊動することを規制する遊動規制手段を設けた構成とした。
請求項５の発明は、請求項１乃至請求項４のいずれかの発明において、格納位置に変位した前記操作手段を係止させることで、その操作手段及び前記短絡プラグが前記電極から抜き取られる方向へ変位することを規制する抜取り規制手段を設けた構成とした。
【００１０】
請求項６の発明は、請求項１乃至請求項５のいずれかの発明において、前記短絡プラグが前記電極に対して正規に差し込まれた状態では前記操作手段の操作位置から格納位置側への変位を許容するが、前記短絡プラグが不正な差込み状態のときには前記操作手段と干渉してその操作手段が格納位置側へ変位することを規制する差込み状態検知手段を設けた構成とした。
【００１１】
【発明の作用及び効果】
［請求項１の発明］
短絡プラグが電極対に差し込まれるとともに操作手段が格納位置に変位した状態では主回路が閉じた状態となる。この状態から、変位操作用指掛け部に指を引っ掛けて操作手段を格納位置から操作位置へ向けて変位させると、その変位の途中でスイッチング手段が開作動を開始し、その開作動が完了すると主回路が開いた状態となる。この後、指を抜取り用指掛け部に掛け替えて短絡プラグを電極対から抜き取ると、電極対の間の通電が阻止されるが、このとき既に主回路はスイッチング手段の開作動によって開いていているので、電極と短絡プラグとの間にアークが発生することはない。
【００１２】
スイッチング手段を開作動させるための操作手段の操作から、その後の電極対から短絡プラグを抜き取る操作へ移行するときには、指を異なる指掛け部に掛け替える必要があるので、スイッチング手段の開作動が開始してからその開作動が完了して主回路が閉じるまでの間にタイムラグがあっても、短絡プラグの抜取り操作は、開作動が完了して主回路が開いた後で行われるようになる。したがって、主回路が閉じた状態のままであるにも拘わらず電極間から短絡プラグが抜き取られてしまう、ということはない。
【００１３】
［請求項２の発明］
変位操作用指掛け部に対する指の引っ掛け方向と、抜取り用指掛け部に対する指の引っ掛け方向とを互いに異なる方向としたので、変位操作用指掛け部から抜取り用指掛け部に指を掛け替える際のタイムラグ、ひいてはスイッチング手段の開作動が開始してから短絡プラグが抜かれるまでの間のタイムラグを大きく確保することができる。
［請求項３の発明］
スイッチング手段を開閉作動させる変位動作検知手段として簡素な形態である端子金具と短絡端子を用いたので、マイクロスイッチ等の複雑な機器を用いるのに比べると、コストが低く抑えられる。
【００１４】
［請求項４の発明］
遊動規制手段により操作手段が格納位置に保持されるので、スイッチング手段が不用意に開作動を開始することがない。
［請求項５の発明］
抜取り規制手段を設けたので、操作手段が格納位置にあって主回路が閉じた状態となっているにも拘わらず短絡プラグが電極から抜き取られる、ということが確実に防止される。
［請求項６の発明］
差込み状態検知手段を設けたことより、操作手段の格納位置への変位の可否に基づいて、電極に対する短絡プラグの差込み状態を検知することができる。
【００１５】
【発明の実施の形態】
［実施形態１］
以下、本発明を具体化した実施形態１を図１乃至図１３を参照して説明する。
本実施形態１のブレーカ装置Ａは、リレー（本発明の構成要件であるスイッチング手段）の開閉作動により開閉される主回路（図示せず）に一対の電極１４を直列に設け、その電極１４に短絡プラグ３０を抜き差しすることによりリレーの開閉作動とは独立して電極１４の間の通電を許容又は阻止できるようにしたものである。尚、以下の説明において、前後方向については図１における斜め右上方を前方とし、左右方向については図１における斜め右下方を右方とする。
【００１６】
上面が開放されたケース１０は、ヒューズ１１が収容された収容空間１２と、左右方向に長い格納空間１３とを備えている。格納空間１３内には、上下方向に細長い板状をなす一対の電極１４が支柱１５の前後両側面に沿って固定されている。また、格納空間１３内における両電極１４よりも右方の位置には、前後一対の端子金具１６（本発明の構成要件である変位動作検知手段）が上向きに固定されている。この一対の端子金具１６はリレーを構成するものであり、この両端子金具１６に対して短絡プラグ３０の短絡端子４２（本発明の構成要件である変位動作検知手段）が上方から嵌合されるとその両端子金具１６が短絡状態とされ、両端子金具１６から短絡端子４２が離脱されると両端子金具１６の短絡が解除されて主回路が開くようになっている。
【００１７】
格納空間１３を構成する周壁のうち前後両壁１７Ｆ，１７Ｒには、夫々、円形の軸受孔１８と、この軸受孔１８の内径よりも幅が狭くその軸受孔１８の上端から前後両壁１７Ｆ，１７Ｒの上端縁に連通する上下方向（電極１４に対する短絡プラグ３０の抜き差し方向と平行な方向）のガイド溝１９（本発明の構成要件である抜取り規制手段及び差込み状態検知手段）とが形成されている。また、格納空間１３における軸受孔１８よりも右方位置には、その前後両壁１７Ｆ，１７Ｒの中間高さから立ち上がると共に上端に内向きの爪を有する前後一対の弾性係止片２０（本発明の構成要件である遊動規制手段）が、前壁１７Ｆ及び後壁１７Ｒに沿うように形成されている。
【００１８】
また、格納空間１３の前壁１７Ｆ及び後壁１７Ｒにおける略右半分領域は、操作部３４（本発明の構成要件である操作手段）が格納位置にある状態でその抜取り用指掛け部３５に対する指の引掛け動作を規制する指掛け規制部２１（本発明の構成要件である指掛け規制手段）となっている。また、格納空間１３の右壁１７Ｓには、操作部３４が格納位置にある状態でその変位操作用指掛け部３６に対する指の引掛け動作を許容する切欠部２２（本発明の構成要件である指掛け規制手段）が形成されている。
【００１９】
短絡プラグ３０は、絶縁性樹脂材料からなるプラグ本体３１と、金属板材を曲げ加工してなる短絡部材４１と、金属板材を曲げ加工してなる短絡端子４２とを備えて構成される。プラグ本体３１について説明すると、基板部３２の前後両側縁からは前後一対の方形の保護板部３３が延出されており、この一対の保護板部３３の間には短絡部材４１が収容されている。短絡部材４１は、弧状をなす連結部４１Ａの両端から保護板部３３の内面に沿うように略Ｓ字形をなす前後一対の弾性接触片４１Ｂを延出させた形態とされている。
【００２０】
基板部３２には、保護板部３３とは反対側に突出する操作部３４が一体に変位し得るように形成されている。操作部３４は、抜取り用指掛け部３５と変位操作用指掛け部３６とを有する。抜取り用指掛け部３５は、基板部３２の両端から保護板部３３とは反対側に立ち上がる一対の立上り部３７の立ち上がり端同士の間に基板部３２と平行に差し渡された形態である。この抜取り用指掛け部３５は、その前方又は後方から手の指を例えば２〜３本同時に引っ掛けることができるような大きさとされており、この抜取り用指掛け部３５に指を掛けることで操作部３４をしっかり掴むことができる。また、変位操作用指掛け部３６は、抜取り用指掛け部３５における一端部から基板部３２とは反対側（外側）へ突出する形態とされ、この変位操作用指掛け部３６には、抜取り用指掛け部３５に対する指の引掛け方向と直交する方向（抜取り用指掛け部３５の長さ方向と平行な方向）から１本の指の指先だけを引っ掛けることができるようになっている。
【００２１】
また、プラグ本体３１には、抜取り用指掛け部３５における一方（変位操作用指掛け部３６の形成されている側とは反対側）の立上り部３７の基端部に位置するように収容部３８が形成されている。収容部３８は、立上り部３７の外面側に向かって開口されていて、その収容部３８内には変位動作検知手段を構成する短絡端子４２が収容されている。短絡端子４２は、板状の連結部４２Ａから前後一対の略三角形をなす板状の接触部４２Ｂを延出したものであり、この一対の接触部４２Ｂがケース１０に設けた一対の端子金具１６に対して差し込まれる。さらに、抜取り用指掛け部３５における他方の立上り部３７の側縁には、弾性係止片２０が係止される被係止部３９が形成されている。
【００２２】
また、一対の保護板部３３の外面には、前後一対の軸部４０（本発明の構成要件である抜取り規制手段及び差込み状態検知手段）が突出形成されている。この軸部４０の外周は、基板部３２と直交する方向（電極１４に対する短絡プラグ３０の抜き差し方向）の一対の平坦部３２Ｆと、この両平坦部３２Ｆの両端同士を繋ぐ一対の円弧部３２Ｓとから構成されている。一対の平坦部３２Ｆの間の間隔は、ケース１０のガイド溝１９の溝の幅寸法と同じかそれよりも僅かに小さい寸法とされているとともに、一対の円弧部３２Ｓ間の最大距離はガイド溝１９の幅よりも大きい寸法とされており、この寸法設定により、ガイド溝１９の内部では軸部４０が回転できないようになっている。また、一対の円弧部３２Ｓは、共通の仮想円（図示せず）に沿った形態とされており、その共通の仮想円の直径は軸受孔１８の内径と同じかそれよりも僅かに小さい寸法とされており、かかる寸法により、軸部４０は軸受孔１８内では回転できるようになっている。
【００２３】
次に、本実施形態の作用を説明する。
図１に示すように、ケース１０の上方において短絡プラグ３０を変位操作用指掛け部３６が上方を向く姿勢（軸部４０の平坦部４０Ｆが上下方向を向く）とし、この姿勢のまま軸部４０をガイド溝１９に嵌合させてそのガイド溝１９にガイドされつつ短絡プラグ３０を電極１４に対して上から被せるように差し込む。このとき操作部３４と短絡プラグ３０は操作位置にあり、図９に示すように、短絡部材４１の弾性接触部４１Ｂが両電極１４に接触してその両電極１４間を導通可能な状態とする。但し、この時点では主回路はまだ閉じた状態（通電可能な状態）とはなっていない。
【００２４】
この後、操作部３４を指で押し、軸受孔１８内で軸部４０を回転させつつ短絡プラグ３０を右側へ倒すように９０°回転させると、操作部３４と短絡プラグ３０は格納位置となる（図３，６，８，１２を参照）。短絡プラグ３０が操作位置から格納位置へ変位する間、短絡部材４１は電極１４に接触した状態（電極１４を導通可能とする状態）を保つ。
尚、短絡プラグ３０が正規の差込み状態になっていないときには、図１３に示すように、軸部４０が軸受孔１８に達せずにガイド溝１９内に留まったままであるが、軸部４０はガイド溝１９内では回転できない。したがって、この不正な差込み状態では、短絡プラグ３０を格納位置へ回転させることはできない。したがって、この場合には、短絡プラグ３０を正規の差込み状態となるまで、もう一度差し込む操作を行う必要がある。
【００２５】
格納位置に変位した状態では、短絡端子４２が一対の端子金具１６を短絡させ、これにより、操作部３４と短絡プラグ３０が格納位置に変位したことが検知され、リレーが閉作動し、もって、主回路が閉じた状態となる。また、この格納状態では、弾性係止片２０が操作部３４の被係止部３９に対して弾性的に係止することにより、操作部３４は、操作位置側への遊動を規制されて格納位置に保持される。さらに、軸受孔１８内では軸部４０が平坦部４０Ｆをガイド溝１９に対して直交させる向きになるが、この状態では、図１２に示すように、軸部４０は、軸受孔１８からそれよりも幅の狭いガイド溝１９へ進入することはできないため、操作部３４及び短絡プラグ３０の上方への変位、即ち電極１４から抜き取る方向への変位を規制される。
【００２６】
次に、短絡プラグ３０がケース１０内に格納されるとともに、主回路が閉じている状態から主回路を開く手順について説明する。格納状態では、図３に示すように、抜取り用指掛け部３５が格納空間１３の前後両壁１７Ｆ，１７Ｒの指掛け規制部２１との間に完全に収容され、抜取り用指掛け部３５の内側に指を差し込むことができない。一方、変位操作用指掛け部３６は、右壁１７Ｓの切欠部２２から外部へ突出していて指を引っ掛けることが可能な状態となっている。
【００２７】
そこで、まず、この変位操作用指掛け部３６に指先を引っ掛け、操作部３４に対して弾性係止片２０と被係止部３９との係止力を上回る上向きの操作力を付与することにより、短絡プラグ３０を上方へ変位させる。このとき、軸部４０は軸受孔１８内で回動するだけであってガイド溝１９へ変位することはないので、短絡プラグ３０は軸受孔１８を支点として回転する。短絡プラグ３０の変位が開始されると、その開始直後（短絡プラグ３０が操作位置へ達するより前）に、短絡端子４２が一対の端子金具１６から離間し、両端子金具１６の短絡が解除され、短絡プラグ３０が操作位置側への変位を開始したことが検知される。この検知により、リレーが励磁されて主回路を開くための開作動を開始するが、この開作動が開始してから完了するまでにはタイムラグがあり、開作動が完了すると主回路が開く。尚、このとき、電極１４は短絡部材４１によって導通可能な状態に保たれている。
【００２８】
この後、さらに短絡プラグ３０の回動操作を続けると、短絡プラグ３０と操作部３４が操作位置に達し、軸受孔１８内の軸部４０がガイド溝１９へ移動し得る状態になるとともに、抜取り用指掛け部３５が格納空間１３から上方へ露出して指を引掛けうる状態となる。そこで、変位操作用指掛け部３６に引っ掛けていた指を離し、抜取り用指掛け部３５に指を掛け替えて、操作部３４を掴む。この状態で操作部３４を持ち上げれば、短絡プラグ３０が電極１４から抜き取られ、電極１４の間が導通不能な状態となる。電極１４から短絡プラグ３０を抜いた時点では、既に、リレーの開作動によって主回路は開いた状態となっているので、電極１４と短絡部材４１との間にアークが発生することはない。
【００２９】
上述のように本実施形態においては、リレーの開作動が開始してからその開作動が完了して主回路が閉じるまでの間にタイムラグがあるのであるが、リレーの開作動を開始させるために操作部３４を起こす操作から、その後の電極１４から短絡プラグ３０を抜き取るための上方へ持ち上げる操作へ移行するときには、変位操作用指掛け部３６からこれとは異なる位置に設けた抜取り用指掛け部３５に指を掛け替える必要がある。したがって、リレーの開作動が開始してから主回路が閉じるまでの間にタイムラグがあっても、短絡プラグ３０の抜取り操作は、開作動が完了して主回路が開いた後で行われるようになる。よって、主回路が閉じた状態のままであるにも拘わらず電極１４間から短絡プラグ３０が抜き取られてしまう、ということはない。
【００３０】
しかも、変位操作用指掛け部３６に対する指の引っ掛け方向と、抜取り用指掛け部３５に対する指の引っ掛け方向とを互いに異なる方向としたので、変位操作用指掛け部３６から抜取り用指掛け部３５に指を掛け替える際のタイムラグ、ひいてはリレーの開作動が開始してから短絡プラグ３０が抜かれるまでの間のタイムラグを大きく確保することができる。
また、リレーを開閉作動させる変位動作検知手段は、簡素な形態である端子金具１６と短絡端子４２とによって構成されているので、マイクロスイッチ等の複雑な機器を用いるのに比べると、コストが低く抑えられている。
【００３１】
また、遊動規制手段としての弾性係止片２０によって操作部３４と短絡プラグ３０が格納位置に保持されるようになっているので、短絡プラグ３０が不用意に操作位置側へ遊動してリレーが開作動を行う、ということが防止されている。
また、非円形の軸部４０と、短絡プラグ３０の回動中心となる軸受孔１８よりも幅の狭いガイド溝１９とからなる抜取り規制手段を設けたので、操作部３４材が格納位置にあって主回路が閉じた状態であるにも拘わらず短絡プラグ３０が電極１４から抜き取られる、ということが確実に防止される。
【００３２】
また、非円形の軸部４０とこの軸部４０を回動規制するガイド溝１９からなる差込み状態検知手段を設けたので、操作位置にある操作部３４と短絡プラグ３０が格納位置へ変位することが可能か否かに基づいて、電極１４に対する短絡プラグ３０の差込み状態を検知することができるようになっている。
［実施形態２］
次に、本発明を具体化した実施形態２を図１４乃至図１６を参照して説明する。本実施形態２のブレーカ装置Ｂも、実施形態１のブレーカ装置Ａと同じく、リレー（本発明の構成要件であるスイッチング手段）の開閉作動により開閉される主回路（図示せず）に一対の電極（図示せず）を直列に設け、その電極対に短絡プラグ６０を抜き差しすることによりリレーの開閉作動とは独立して電極対の間の通電を許容又は阻止できるようにしたものである。尚、以下の説明において、前後方向については図１４における斜め右上方を前方とし、左右方向については図１４における斜め右下方を右方とする。
【００３３】
上面が開放されたケース５０は、ヒューズ収容空間５１と格納空間５２とを有し、格納空間５２内には、実施形態１と同様に支柱５３に沿った形態の前後一対の電極（図示せず）が収容されている。また、ヒューズ収容空間５１の右壁外面側にはマイクロスイッチ５４（本発明の構成要件である変位動作検知手段）が固定されている。マイクロスイッチ５４は、固定接点５４Ａと、この固定接点５４Ａの前方に位置して格納空間５２内に臨む弾性接触片５４Ｂとを有している。弾性接触片５４Ｂがレバー６３（本発明の構成要件である操作手段）で押されて固定接点に当接すると、マイクロスイッチ５４はリレーを閉作動させ、弾性接触片が固定接点から離間するとマイクロスイッチ５４はリレーに開作動を開始させる。
【００３４】
格納空間５２の前壁は、レバー６３が格納位置にある状態でその抜取り用指掛け部６４に対する指の引掛け動作を規制する指掛け規制部５５（本発明の構成要件である指掛け規制手段）となっており、この前壁には、レバー６３が格納位置にある状態でその変位操作用指掛け部６７に対する指の引掛け動作を許容する切欠部５６（本発明の構成要件である指掛け規制手段）が形成されている。さらに、格納空間５２には、その支柱５３と前壁（指掛け規制部５５）との間に位置し、レバー６３が格納位置にある状態でその抜取り用指掛け部６４と短絡プラグ６０との隙間を埋めるように位置するスペーサ部５７（本発明の構成要件である指掛け規制手段）が突出形成されている。
【００３５】
短絡プラグ６０は、下面が開口された箱状をなす絶縁性樹脂製のプラグ本体６１の内部に、実施形態１と同じ形態の短絡部材６２を固定したものである。この短絡プラグ６０には、レバー６３が起立した操作位置と前方へ倒れた格納位置との間での回動を可能に支持されている。レバー６３は、左右方向に細長い抜取り用指掛け部６４の両端から、一対の脚部６５を延出させたものであり、その脚部６５の途中に設けた軸部６６を支点として回動する。抜取り用指掛け部６４には、短絡プラグ６０と両脚部６５と抜取り用指掛け部６４とで囲まれた空間内に挿入した手の指を引っ掛けることができ、この抜取り用指掛け部６４に指を掛けることでレバー６３をしっかり掴むことができる。また、抜取り用指掛け部６４には、その外面における長さ方向中央から外側へ突出する変位操作用指掛け部６７が突出形成されている。この変位操作用指掛け部６７には、１本の指の指先だけを引っ掛けることができるようになっている。さらに、一方の脚部６５における抜取り用指掛け部６４とは反対側の端部は、マイクロスイッチ５４の弾性接触片５４Ｂに当接可能な押圧部６８となっている。
【００３６】
次に、本実施形態２の作用を説明する。
図１４に示すように、レバー６３を操作位置（起立姿勢）とした状態の短絡プラグ６０を、上から格納空間５２内の電極に差し込み、これにより、短絡部材６２が両電極に接触してその両電極間を導通可能な状態とする（図１５を参照）。但し、この時点では主回路はまだ閉じた状態（通電可能な状態）とはなっていない。この後、操作位置にあるレバー６３を指で押し、前方へ倒すように９０°回転させて格納位置に変位させる（図１６を参照）。レバー６３が操作位置から格納位置へ変位する間、短絡プラグ６０は電極を導通可能とする状態に保つ。格納位置に変位した状態では、レバー６３の押圧部６８が弾性接触片５４Ｂを押して固定接点５４Ａに接触させ、これにより、マイクロスイッチ５４がレバー６３が格納位置に変位したことを検知し、リレーが閉作動し、もって、主回路が閉じた状態となる。
【００３７】
次に、主回路が閉じている状態からその主回路を開く手順について説明する。格納状態では、図１６に示すように、抜取り用指掛け部６４が指掛け規制部５５（前壁）とスペーサ部５７との隙間に嵌入する。換言すると、スペーサ部５７が抜取り用指掛け部６４とプラグ本体６１との間の空間を埋める。そのため、抜取り用指掛け部６４に対してその内側（レバー６３が格納位置にある状態では後側）からも外側からも指を掛けることができない。一方、変位操作用指掛け部６７は、指掛け規制部５５の切欠部５６から外部へ突出しているため、指を引っ掛けることが可能な状態となっている。
【００３８】
そこで、まず、この変位操作用指掛け部６７に指先を下から引っ掛け、格納位置にあるレバー６３を上方へ（操作位置側へ向けて）変位させる。このとき、短絡プラグ６０は電極に差し込まれた状態に保たれる。レバー６３の変位が開始されると、その開始直後（レバー６３が操作位置へ達するより前）に、レバー６３の押圧部６８が弾性接触片５４Ｂから退避するように前方へ変位してその弾性接触片５４Ｂを固定接点５４Ａから離間させ、これにより、レバー６３が操作位置側への変位を開始したことがマイクロスイッチ５４によって検知される。この検知により、リレーが主回路を開くための開作動を開始し、その後、開作動が完了して主回路が開く。このとき、電極は短絡部材６２によって導通可能な状態に保たれたままである。
【００３９】
この後、さらに変位操作用指掛け部６７に指を掛けたレバー６３の操作を続けてそのレバー６３を操作位置へ変位させる。この状態では、図１５に示すように、抜取り用指掛け部６４がスペーサ部５７と指掛け規制部５５との隙間から上方へ抜け出るので、抜取り用指掛け部６４に対して指を前方又は後方から引っ掛けることが可能となっている。そこで、変位操作用指掛け部６７に引っ掛けていた指を離し、抜取り用指掛け部６４に指を掛け替えて、レバー６３を掴む。この状態でレバー６３を持ち上げれば、短絡プラグ６０が電極から抜き取られ、電極の間が導通不能な状態となる。電極から短絡プラグ６０を抜いた時点では、既に、リレーの開作動によって主回路は開いた状態となっているので、電極と短絡部材６２との間にアークが発生することはない。
【００４０】
上述のように本実施形態２においては、リレーの開作動が開始してから主回路が閉じるまでの間にタイムラグがあるのであるが、リレーの開作動を開始させるためにレバー６３を起こす操作から、その後の電極から短絡プラグ６０を抜き取るための上方へ持ち上げる操作へ移行するときには、変位操作用指掛け部６７からこれとは異なる位置に設けた抜取り用指掛け部６４に指を掛け替える必要があるので、リレーの開作動が開始してから主回路が閉じるまでの間にタイムラグがあっても、短絡プラグ６０の抜取り操作は、開作動が完了して主回路が開いた後で行われるようになる。したがって、主回路が閉じた状態のままであるにも拘わらず電極間から短絡プラグ６０が抜き取られてしまう、ということはない。
【００４１】
［他の実施形態］
本発明は上記記述及び図面によって説明した実施形態に限定されるものではなく、例えば次のような実施態様も本発明の技術的範囲に含まれ、さらに、下記以外にも要旨を逸脱しない範囲内で種々変更して実施することができる。
（１）上記実施形態では操作手段が格納位置と操作位置との間で回転操作されるようにしたが、本発明によれば、操作手段の変位形態は、回転に限らず、直線的な平行移動や、揺動変位等とすることもできる。
【００４２】
（２）本実施形態においては指掛け規制手段を電極が固定されているケースに設けたが、本発明によれば指掛け規制手段を短絡プラグに設けてもよい。
（３）上記実施形態１では変位動作検知手段として端子金具とこの端子金具を短絡させる短絡端子とを用いたが、これに替えて、マイクロスイッチ等の他の手段を用いることもできる。
（４）上記実施形態２では変位動作検知手段としてマイクロスイッチを用いたが、これに替えて、実施形態１のような端子金具とこの端子金具を短絡させる短絡端子とを用いてもよい。
【００４３】
（５）上記実施形態では操作手段の格納位置と操作位置との間の変位角度を９０°としたが、本発明では、変位角度は９０°より小さい角度にしてもよく、９０°より大きい角度にしてもよい。
（６）操作手段と短絡プラグとが一体となっている実施形態１において、一対の電極を操作手段及び短絡プラグの回動中心と同心の円弧形状としてもよい。このようにすると、短絡プラグ側の短絡部材が小さくても、回転する間一対の電極の短絡状態を保つことができる。
【００４４】
（７）上記実施形態ではヒューズをケースに固定したが、本発明によれば、ヒューズを短絡プラグに取り付けてもよい。
（８）上記実施形態ではスイッチング手段として励磁により開作動を開始するリレーを用いたが、本発明によれば、トランジスタなどの他の手段を用いることもできる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】実施形態１において短絡プラグを電極から抜いた状態をあらわす斜視図
【図２】短絡プラグを電極に差し込んだ状態をあらわす斜視図
【図３】操作部と短絡プラグを格納位置へ変位させた状態をあらわす斜視図
【図４】変位検知動作検知手段を構成する端子金具と短絡端子の斜視図
【図５】短絡プラグを電極に差し込んだ状態をあらわす平面図
【図６】操作部と短絡プラグを格納位置に変位させた状態をあらわす平面図
【図７】短絡プラグを電極に差し込んだ状態をあらわす横断面図
【図８】操作部と短絡プラグを格納位置へ変位させた状態をあらわす横断面図
【図９】短絡プラグを電極に差し込んだ状態をあらわす縦断面図
【図１０】変位動作検知手段の検知構造をあらわす断面図
【図１１】操作部と短絡プラグが操作位置にある状態をあらわす側面図
【図１２】操作部と短絡プラグが格納位置にある状態をあらわす側面図
【図１３】短絡プラグの差込みが不正である状態をあらわす側面図
【図１４】実施形態２において短絡プラグを電極から抜いた状態をあらわす斜視図
【図１５】短絡プラグを電極に差し込んだ状態をあらわす斜視図
【図１６】レバーを操作位置へ変位させた状態をあらわす斜視図
【符号の説明】
Ａ…ブレーカ装置
１０…ケース
１４…電極
１６…端子金具（変位動作検知手段）
１９…ガイド溝（抜取り規制手段、差込み状態検知手段）
２０…弾性係止片（遊動規制手段）
２１…指掛け規制部（指掛け規制手段）
２２…切欠部（指掛け規制手段）
３０…短絡プラグ
３４…操作部（操作手段）
３５…抜取り用指掛け部
３６…変位操作用指掛け部
４０…軸部（抜取り規制手段、差込み状態検知手段）
４２…短絡端子（変位動作検知手段）
Ｂ…ブレーカ装置
６０…短絡プラグ
６３…レバー（操作手段）
５４…マイクロスイッチ（変位動作検知手段）
６７…変位操作用指掛け部
６４…抜取り用指掛け部
５５…指掛け規制部（指掛け規制手段）
５６…切欠部（指掛け規制手段）
５７…スペーサ部（指掛け規制手段）
５０…ケース[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a breaker device that opens and closes a main circuit by inserting and removing a short-circuit plug.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a breaker device that opens and closes the main circuit by inserting / removing the short-circuit plug, conventionally, the main circuit is configured by short-circuiting the electrode pair by inserting the short-circuit plug into a pair of electrodes provided in series with the main circuit. There is a structure in which the main circuit is opened by disabling the energization between the electrode pairs by removing the shorting plug from the electrode pairs.
[0003]
When this type of breaker device is used to open and close the power circuit of an electric vehicle, if the shorting plug is removed from the electrode pair while the power circuit is energized, an arc may occur between the electrode and the shorting plug. Therefore, the following measures are taken. In other words, a lever is provided on the shorting plug, and the case is provided with a micro switch for operating a relay for opening and closing the power circuit. Normally, by inserting the shorting plug and tilting the lever to the storage position, Keep the power circuit closed. When opening the power circuit from this state, first, when the lever is raised, the micro switch that detects the movement of the lever opens the relay and the power circuit is opened and the power supply is stopped. By picking up the raised lever and removing the short-circuit plug, the electrodes cannot be energized.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described breaker device, there is a time lag after the opening operation of the relay is started until the main circuit (power circuit) is opened after the opening operation is completed. Therefore, in order to avoid the occurrence of an arc, a time longer than the above time lag is required between the start of the relay opening operation and the operation of removing the short-circuit plug for bringing the electrodes into an energized state. It is necessary to take.
[0005]
However, the first operation for raising the lever (that is, the operation for starting the relay opening operation) and the second operation for subsequently removing the short-circuit plug (that is, the operation for disabling the current between the electrodes). ) Can be performed as a series of one-action operations with the finger held on the lever, and the movement direction of the fingers in these two operations is substantially the same direction (upward). It has become. Therefore, these two operations are performed at once in a very short time, and as a result, the short-circuit plug is extracted from between the electrodes even though the main circuit is closed before the relay starts to open. There is a risk of it.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent a short-circuit plug from being pulled out between electrode pairs while the main circuit is closed.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of electrodes are provided in series in a main circuit that is opened and closed by an opening and closing operation of the switching means, and a shorting plug is inserted into and removed from the electrode pair, thereby independently of the opening and closing operation of the switching means. An electric current between the pair of electrodes can be allowed or blocked, and is provided between the operation position that is provided in the shorting plug and enables the extraction operation of the shorting plug and a storage position that regulates the extraction operation. An operation means capable of displacement at a position, and a process of closing the switching means upon detecting that the operation means has moved to the storage position, and the operation means being displaced from the storage position to the operation position side. Displacement motion detecting means for detecting the displacement and starting the opening operation of the switching means, and the operating means, and the operating means from the storage position to the operating position. A displacement-operating finger-hanging portion for displacing to the position, a removal-use finger-hanging portion provided at a position different from the displacement-operating finger-holding portion in the operation means, and for extracting the short-circuit plug from the electrode pair; Is in the retracted position, the finger hooking operation with respect to the displacement operation finger hanging portion is allowed, but the finger hooking operation with respect to the extraction finger hanging portion is restricted, and in the state where the operation means is displaced to the operation position, It is configured to include a finger hooking restricting means that allows a finger hooking operation to the extraction finger hooking portion.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the finger hooking direction with respect to the displacement operation finger-hanging portion and the finger hooking direction with respect to the extraction finger-hanging portion are different from each other.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the displacement operation detecting means is provided with a pair of terminal fittings in a case to which the electrode pair is attached, and the operating means is moved to the storage position. The switching means is closed by short-circuiting the pair of terminal fittings when displaced, and the switching means is opened by releasing the short-circuiting of the pair of terminal fittings while being displaced toward the operation position. It is the structure which provided the short circuit terminal which starts.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the operation means displaced to the retracted position is locked to restrict the operation means from moving to the operation position side. It was set as the structure which provided the floating regulation means to do.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the operation means and the shorting plug are extracted from the electrode by locking the operation means displaced to the storage position. It was set as the structure which provided the extraction control means which controls that it displaces to the side.
[0010]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the displacement of the operating means from the operating position to the retracted position side when the shorting plug is properly inserted into the electrode. However, when the short-circuit plug is in an unauthorized insertion state, an insertion state detection unit is provided that restricts the operation unit from being displaced toward the storage position by interfering with the operation unit.
[0011]
[Action and effect of the invention]
[Invention of Claim 1]
When the shorting plug is inserted into the electrode pair and the operating means is displaced to the storage position, the main circuit is closed. In this state, when the operating means is displaced from the retracted position toward the operating position by hooking a finger on the displacement operating finger rest, the switching means starts to open in the middle of the displacement, and when the opening operation is completed, The circuit is open. After that, when the finger is replaced with the extraction finger-holding part and the short-circuit plug is extracted from the electrode pair, energization between the electrode pair is blocked, but at this time, the main circuit has already been opened by the opening operation of the switching means. An arc does not occur between the electrode and the short-circuit plug.
[0012]
When shifting from the operation of the operation means for opening the switching means to the operation of removing the shorting plug from the electrode pair thereafter, it is necessary to change the finger to a different finger-hanging portion, so the opening operation of the switching means starts. Even if there is a time lag between the completion of the opening operation and the closing of the main circuit, the shorting plug removal operation is performed after the opening operation is completed and the main circuit is opened. Therefore, the shorting plug is not pulled out between the electrodes even though the main circuit remains closed.
[0013]
[Invention of claim 2]
Since the finger hooking direction with respect to the displacement operation finger hanging part and the finger hooking direction with respect to the extraction finger hanging part are different from each other, the time lag when changing the finger from the displacement operation finger hanging part to the extraction finger hanging part, and thus A large time lag from when the opening operation of the switching means is started until the short-circuit plug is removed can be ensured.
[Invention of claim 3]
Since the terminal fitting and the short-circuiting terminal, which are simple forms, are used as the displacement operation detecting means for opening and closing the switching means, the cost can be reduced compared to using a complicated device such as a microswitch.
[0014]
[Invention of claim 4]
Since the operation means is held at the storage position by the play restricting means, the switching means does not inadvertently start the opening operation.
[Invention of claim 5]
Since the extraction restricting means is provided, it is possible to reliably prevent the short-circuit plug from being extracted from the electrode even when the operating means is in the retracted position and the main circuit is closed.
[Invention of claim 6]
By providing the insertion state detection means, it is possible to detect the insertion state of the short-circuit plug with respect to the electrode based on whether or not the operation means can be displaced to the storage position.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[Embodiment 1]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
The breaker device A according to the first embodiment is provided with a pair of electrodes 14 in series in a main circuit (not shown) that is opened and closed by opening and closing operations of a relay (switching means that is a constituent element of the present invention). By connecting and disconnecting the short-circuit plug 30, energization between the electrodes 14 can be allowed or blocked independently of the opening / closing operation of the relay. In the following description, for the front-rear direction, the diagonally upper right in FIG. 1 is the front, and for the left-right direction, the diagonally lower right in FIG. 1 is the right.
[0016]
The case 10 whose upper surface is opened includes an accommodation space 12 in which the fuse 11 is accommodated, and a storage space 13 that is long in the left-right direction. In the storage space 13, a pair of electrodes 14 having an elongated plate shape in the vertical direction are fixed along the front and rear side surfaces of the support column 15. Further, a pair of front and rear terminal fittings 16 (displacement operation detecting means which is a constituent element of the present invention) are fixed upward at a position to the right of both electrodes 14 in the storage space 13. The pair of terminal fittings 16 constitute a relay, and the short-circuit terminals 42 (displacement operation detecting means which is a constituent element of the present invention) of the short-circuit plug 30 are fitted to the both terminal fittings 16 from above. When both terminal fittings 16 are short-circuited and the short-circuit terminal 42 is detached from both terminal fittings 16, the short circuit of both terminal fittings 16 is released and the main circuit is opened.
[0017]
Of the peripheral walls constituting the storage space 13, the front and rear walls 17 F and 17 R each have a circular bearing hole 18 and a width narrower than the inner diameter of the bearing hole 18. A guide groove 19 (extraction restriction means and insertion state detection means, which are constituent elements of the present invention) in the vertical direction (direction parallel to the insertion / removal direction of the short-circuit plug 30 with respect to the electrode 14) communicating with the upper end edge of 17R is formed. Yes. A pair of front and rear elastic locking pieces 20 that rise from an intermediate height between the front and rear walls 17F and 17R and have an inward claw at the upper end at a position to the right of the bearing hole 18 in the storage space 13 (the present invention). Is configured to extend along the front wall 17F and the rear wall 17R.
[0018]
Further, the substantially right half area of the front wall 17F and the rear wall 17R of the storage space 13 is a position where the finger with respect to the extraction finger-hanging portion 35 is in a state where the operation portion 34 (operation means which is a constituent element of the present invention) is in the storage position. It is a finger hook restricting part 21 (finger hook restricting means which is a constituent requirement of the present invention) for restricting the hooking operation. Further, the right wall 17S of the storage space 13 has a notch 22 (a finger hook which is a constituent element of the present invention) that allows a finger hooking operation to the displacement operation finger hook 36 in a state where the operation portion 34 is in the storage position. Regulatory means) is formed.
[0019]
The short-circuit plug 30 includes a plug body 31 made of an insulating resin material, a short-circuit member 41 formed by bending a metal plate, and a short-circuit terminal 42 formed by bending the metal plate. The plug body 31 will be described. A pair of front and rear rectangular protective plate portions 33 are extended from both front and rear edges of the substrate portion 32, and a short-circuit member 41 is accommodated between the pair of protective plate portions 33. Yes. The short-circuit member 41 has a configuration in which a pair of front and rear elastic contact pieces 41B having a substantially S shape are extended from both ends of the arc-shaped connecting portion 41A along the inner surface of the protection plate portion 33.
[0020]
An operation portion 34 that protrudes on the opposite side of the protection plate portion 33 is formed on the substrate portion 32 so that it can be displaced integrally. The operation unit 34 includes a sampling finger hook 35 and a displacement operation finger hook 36. The extraction finger-hanging portion 35 is in a form of being passed in parallel with the substrate portion 32 between the rising ends of a pair of rising portions 37 rising from both ends of the substrate portion 32 to the side opposite to the protective plate portion 33. The extraction finger-hanging portion 35 is sized so that, for example, two or three fingers can be hooked at the same time from the front or rear of the extraction finger-hanging portion 35. Can be firmly grasped. Further, the displacement operation finger-hanging portion 36 is configured to protrude from one end of the extraction finger-hanging portion 35 to the opposite side (outside) of the substrate portion 32, and the displacement operation finger-hanging portion 36 includes the extraction finger-hanging portion 36. Only the fingertip of one finger can be hooked from a direction orthogonal to the finger hooking direction with respect to 35 (a direction parallel to the length direction of the extraction finger hooking portion 35).
[0021]
The plug main body 31 has an accommodating portion 38 so as to be positioned at the base end portion of the rising portion 37 on one side of the extraction finger hanging portion 35 (the side opposite to the side on which the displacement operation finger hanging portion 36 is formed). Is formed. The accommodating portion 38 is opened toward the outer surface side of the rising portion 37, and the short-circuit terminal 42 constituting the displacement operation detecting means is accommodated in the accommodating portion 38. The short-circuit terminal 42 is obtained by extending a pair of front and rear plate-like contact portions 42 B from a plate-like connection portion 42 A, and the pair of contact portions 42 B provided on the case 10. Plugged into. Furthermore, a locked portion 39 to which the elastic locking piece 20 is locked is formed on the side edge of the other rising portion 37 in the extraction finger hook portion 35.
[0022]
In addition, a pair of front and rear shaft portions 40 (sampling restricting means and insertion state detecting means which are constituent features of the present invention) are formed on the outer surfaces of the pair of protective plate portions 33 so as to protrude. The outer periphery of the shaft portion 40 includes a pair of flat portions 32F in a direction orthogonal to the substrate portion 32 (a direction in which the shorting plug 30 is inserted into and removed from the electrode 14), and a pair of arc portions 32S that connect both ends of the flat portions 32F. It is composed of The distance between the pair of flat portions 32F is the same as or slightly smaller than the width of the guide groove 19 of the case 10, and the maximum distance between the pair of arc portions 32S is the guide groove. The dimension is set to be larger than the width of 19, and by this dimension setting, the shaft portion 40 cannot be rotated inside the guide groove 19. Further, the pair of arc portions 32S is formed along a common virtual circle (not shown), and the diameter of the common virtual circle is the same as or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the bearing hole 18. With such dimensions, the shaft portion 40 can be rotated in the bearing hole 18.
[0023]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the shorting plug 30 is placed above the case 10 in a posture in which the displacement operation finger-hanging portion 36 faces upward (the flat portion 40F of the shaft portion 40 faces up and down), and the shaft portion 40 remains in this posture. Is inserted into the guide groove 19 so as to cover the electrode 14 from above while being guided by the guide groove 19. At this time, the operation portion 34 and the short-circuit plug 30 are in the operation position, and as shown in FIG. 9, the elastic contact portion 41B of the short-circuit member 41 comes into contact with both electrodes 14 so that the electrodes 14 can be electrically connected. . However, at this time, the main circuit is not yet in a closed state (a state in which energization is possible).
[0024]
Thereafter, when the operating portion 34 is pushed with a finger and rotated by 90 ° so that the short-circuit plug 30 is tilted to the right while rotating the shaft portion 40 in the bearing hole 18, the operation portion 34 and the short-circuit plug 30 are in the retracted position. (See FIGS. 3, 6, 8, and 12). While the short-circuit plug 30 is displaced from the operation position to the retracted position, the short-circuit member 41 maintains a state of being in contact with the electrode 14 (a state in which the electrode 14 can be conducted).
When the short-circuit plug 30 is not properly inserted, the shaft portion 40 does not reach the bearing hole 18 and remains in the guide groove 19 as shown in FIG. It cannot rotate in the groove 19. Therefore, in this unauthorized insertion state, the short-circuit plug 30 cannot be rotated to the storage position. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to perform an operation of inserting the short-circuit plug 30 again until the short-circuit plug 30 is brought into a normal insertion state.
[0025]
In the state displaced to the storage position, the short-circuit terminal 42 short-circuits the pair of terminal fittings 16, thereby detecting that the operation unit 34 and the short-circuit plug 30 are displaced to the storage position, and the relay is closed, The main circuit is closed. Further, in this stored state, the elastic locking piece 20 elastically locks against the locked portion 39 of the operation portion 34, so that the operation portion 34 is restrained from moving toward the operation position and stored. Held in position. Further, in the bearing hole 18, the shaft portion 40 is oriented so that the flat portion 40F is orthogonal to the guide groove 19. In this state, as shown in FIG. However, since it cannot enter the narrow guide groove 19, the upward displacement of the operation portion 34 and the short-circuit plug 30, that is, the displacement in the direction of extraction from the electrode 14 is restricted.
[0026]
Next, a procedure for opening the main circuit from the state in which the short circuit plug 30 is stored in the case 10 and the main circuit is closed will be described. In the retracted state, as shown in FIG. 3, the extraction finger hook 35 is completely accommodated between the front and rear walls 17F, 17R of the storage space 13 and the finger hook restricting portion 21. Cannot be plugged in. On the other hand, the displacement operation finger-hanging portion 36 protrudes from the notch 22 of the right wall 17S to the outside, and is in a state in which the finger can be hooked.
[0027]
Therefore, by first hooking the fingertip on the displacement operation finger-hanging portion 36 and applying an upward operation force exceeding the locking force between the elastic locking piece 20 and the locked portion 39 to the operation portion 34, The short-circuit plug 30 is displaced upward. At this time, since the shaft portion 40 only rotates within the bearing hole 18 and does not displace into the guide groove 19, the short-circuit plug 30 rotates with the bearing hole 18 as a fulcrum. When the displacement of the short-circuit plug 30 is started, immediately after the start (before the short-circuit plug 30 reaches the operation position), the short-circuit terminal 42 is separated from the pair of terminal fittings 16 and the short-circuit between both the terminal fittings 16 is released. It is detected that the short-circuit plug 30 has started to move toward the operation position. By this detection, the relay is excited and an opening operation for opening the main circuit is started, but there is a time lag from the start to the completion of the opening operation, and when the opening operation is completed, the main circuit is opened. At this time, the electrode 14 is kept in a conductive state by the short-circuit member 41.
[0028]
Thereafter, when the rotation operation of the short-circuit plug 30 is further continued, the short-circuit plug 30 and the operation portion 34 reach the operation position, and the shaft portion 40 in the bearing hole 18 can move to the guide groove 19 and be removed. The finger hooking portion 35 is exposed upward from the storage space 13 so that the finger can be hooked. Therefore, the finger hooked on the displacement operation finger hook 36 is released, the finger is hooked on the extraction finger hook 35, and the operation portion 34 is gripped. If the operation part 34 is lifted in this state, the short-circuit plug 30 is extracted from the electrode 14, so that the electrode 14 cannot be connected. When the short-circuit plug 30 is removed from the electrode 14, the main circuit has already been opened by the relay opening operation, so that no arc is generated between the electrode 14 and the short-circuit member 41.
[0029]
As described above, in this embodiment, there is a time lag between the start of the relay opening operation and the completion of the opening operation until the main circuit is closed. In order to start the relay opening operation, When shifting from the operation of raising the operation unit 34 to the operation of lifting the shorting plug 30 from the subsequent electrode 14 to the upward operation, the displacement finger-fitting unit 35 is moved from the displacement operation finger-fitting unit 36 to a different position. You need to change your fingers. Therefore, even if there is a time lag between the start of the relay opening operation and the closing of the main circuit, the removal operation of the short-circuit plug 30 is performed after the opening operation is completed and the main circuit is opened. Become. Therefore, the short-circuit plug 30 is not pulled out between the electrodes 14 even though the main circuit remains closed.
[0030]
In addition, since the finger hooking direction with respect to the displacement operation finger hanging portion 36 and the finger hooking direction with respect to the extraction finger hanging portion 35 are different from each other, the finger is hooked from the displacement operation finger hanging portion 36 to the extraction finger hanging portion 35. It is possible to secure a large time lag when switching, and thus a time lag from when the relay opening operation is started until the short-circuit plug 30 is removed.
Further, since the displacement operation detecting means for opening and closing the relay is constituted by the terminal fitting 16 and the short-circuit terminal 42 which are simple forms, the cost is lower than using a complicated device such as a micro switch. It is suppressed.
[0031]
Further, since the operation portion 34 and the shorting plug 30 are held in the retracted position by the elastic locking piece 20 as the play restricting means, the shorting plug 30 is inadvertently moved to the operating position side and the relay is operated. The opening operation is prevented.
Further, since the extraction restricting means including the non-circular shaft portion 40 and the guide groove 19 narrower than the bearing hole 18 serving as the rotation center of the short-circuit plug 30 is provided, the operation portion 34 material is located at the storage position. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the short-circuit plug 30 from being extracted from the electrode 14 even when the main circuit is closed.
[0032]
Further, since the insertion state detecting means including the non-circular shaft portion 40 and the guide groove 19 for restricting the rotation of the shaft portion 40 is provided, the operation portion 34 and the short-circuit plug 30 at the operation position are displaced to the storage position. The insertion state of the short-circuit plug 30 with respect to the electrode 14 can be detected based on whether or not this is possible.
[Embodiment 2]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Similarly to the breaker device A of the first embodiment, the breaker device B of the second embodiment also has a pair of electrodes in a main circuit (not shown) that is opened and closed by opening and closing operations of a relay (switching means that is a constituent element of the present invention). (Not shown) are provided in series, and the short-circuit plug 60 is inserted into and removed from the electrode pair so that energization between the electrode pairs can be allowed or blocked independently of the opening / closing operation of the relay. In the following description, for the front-rear direction, the upper right side in FIG. 14 is the front, and for the left-right direction, the lower right side in FIG. 14 is the right side.
[0033]
The case 50 whose upper surface is opened has a fuse housing space 51 and a storage space 52. In the storage space 52, a pair of front and rear electrodes (not shown) having a configuration along the support column 53 is provided as in the first embodiment. ) Is housed. Further, a micro switch 54 (displacement operation detecting means which is a constituent element of the present invention) is fixed on the outer surface side of the right wall of the fuse accommodating space 51. The micro switch 54 includes a fixed contact 54A and an elastic contact piece 54B that is positioned in front of the fixed contact 54A and faces the storage space 52. When the elastic contact piece 54B is pushed by the lever 63 (operation means which is a constituent element of the present invention) and contacts the fixed contact, the microswitch 54 closes the relay, and when the elastic contact piece is separated from the fixed contact, the microswitch 54 causes the relay to start opening.
[0034]
The front wall of the storage space 52 serves as a finger hook restricting portion 55 (a finger hook restricting means that is a constituent feature of the present invention) for restricting the finger hooking operation with respect to the extraction finger hook portion 64 with the lever 63 in the retracted position. The front wall is provided with a notch 56 (a finger hooking restricting means which is a constituent element of the present invention) that allows a finger hooking operation to the displacement operating finger hook 67 in a state where the lever 63 is in the retracted position. Is formed. Further, the storage space 52 is located between the support column 53 and the front wall (finger-holding restriction portion 55), and a gap between the extraction finger-holding portion 64 and the short-circuit plug 60 with the lever 63 in the storage position. A spacer portion 57 (finger-holding restricting means which is a constituent requirement of the present invention) is provided so as to protrude.
[0035]
The shorting plug 60 is obtained by fixing a shorting member 62 having the same form as that of the first embodiment inside a plug body 61 made of an insulating resin having a box shape with an open bottom surface. The short-circuit plug 60 is supported so as to be able to rotate between an operation position where the lever 63 stands and a retracted position where the lever 63 is tilted forward. The lever 63 is formed by extending a pair of leg portions 65 from both ends of the extraction finger-hanging portion 64 that is elongated in the left-right direction, and rotates with a shaft portion 66 provided in the middle of the leg portion 65 as a fulcrum. A finger inserted into the space surrounded by the short-circuit plug 60, both leg portions 65, and the extraction finger-hanging portion 64 can be hooked on the extraction finger-hanging portion 64, and the finger is hooked on the extraction finger-holding portion 64. Thus, the lever 63 can be firmly grasped. Further, the extraction finger-hanging portion 64 is formed with a protruding operation finger-hanging portion 67 protruding outward from the center in the length direction on the outer surface. Only the fingertip of one finger can be hooked on the finger operation portion 67 for displacement operation. Furthermore, the end of the one leg 65 opposite to the extraction finger hook 64 is a pressing portion 68 that can come into contact with the elastic contact piece 54 B of the microswitch 54.
[0036]
Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 14, the shorting plug 60 with the lever 63 in the operating position (standing position) is inserted into the electrode in the storage space 52 from above, so that the shorting member 62 comes into contact with both electrodes. The two electrodes are brought into a conductive state (see FIG. 15). However, at this time, the main circuit is not yet in a closed state (a state in which energization is possible). Thereafter, the lever 63 at the operation position is pushed with a finger, rotated 90 degrees so as to be tilted forward, and displaced to the retracted position (see FIG. 16). While the lever 63 is displaced from the operation position to the storage position, the shorting plug 60 keeps the electrode in a conductive state. In the state of being displaced to the retracted position, the pressing portion 68 of the lever 63 pushes the elastic contact piece 54B to contact the fixed contact 54A, whereby the micro switch 54 detects that the lever 63 has been displaced to the retracted position, and the relay The main circuit is closed by the closing operation.
[0037]
Next, a procedure for opening the main circuit from the closed state will be described. In the retracted state, as shown in FIG. 16, the extraction finger rest 64 is fitted into the gap between the finger rest restricting portion 55 (front wall) and the spacer portion 57. In other words, the spacer portion 57 fills the space between the extraction finger hook portion 64 and the plug body 61. For this reason, the finger cannot be hooked from the inside (the rear side when the lever 63 is in the retracted position) or the outside of the extraction finger-hanging portion 64. On the other hand, the displacement operation finger-hanging portion 67 protrudes from the notch portion 56 of the finger-hanging restriction portion 55 to the outside, so that the finger can be hooked.
[0038]
Therefore, first, the fingertip is hooked on the displacement operation finger hook 67 from below, and the lever 63 in the retracted position is displaced upward (toward the operation position). At this time, the short-circuit plug 60 is kept inserted into the electrode. When the displacement of the lever 63 is started, immediately after the start (before the lever 63 reaches the operation position), the pressing portion 68 of the lever 63 is displaced forward so as to be retracted from the elastic contact piece 54B, and the elastic contact is made. The piece 54B is moved away from the fixed contact 54A, whereby the micro switch 54 detects that the lever 63 has started to move toward the operation position. By this detection, the relay starts an opening operation for opening the main circuit, and then the opening operation is completed and the main circuit opens. At this time, the electrode is kept in a conductive state by the short-circuit member 62.
[0039]
Thereafter, the operation of the lever 63 with the finger placed on the displacement operation finger rest 67 is continued to displace the lever 63 to the operation position. In this state, as shown in FIG. 15, the extraction finger-hanging portion 64 is pulled out upward from the gap between the spacer portion 57 and the finger-hanging restriction portion 55, so that the finger is hooked on the extraction finger-holding portion 64 from the front or the rear. Is possible. Therefore, the finger that has been hooked on the displacement operation finger hook 67 is released, the finger is hooked on the extraction finger hook 64, and the lever 63 is gripped. If the lever 63 is lifted in this state, the shorting plug 60 is extracted from the electrodes, and the electrodes cannot be connected. When the short-circuit plug 60 is removed from the electrode, the main circuit has already been opened by the relay opening operation, so that no arc is generated between the electrode and the short-circuit member 62.
[0040]
As described above, in the second embodiment, there is a time lag between the start of the relay opening operation and the closing of the main circuit, but from the operation of raising the lever 63 to start the relay opening operation. Then, when shifting to the operation of lifting upward to extract the short-circuit plug 60 from the subsequent electrode, it is necessary to change the finger from the finger operation portion 67 for displacement operation to the extraction finger support portion 64 provided at a different position. Even if there is a time lag between the start of the relay opening operation and the closing of the main circuit, the extraction operation of the short-circuit plug 60 is performed after the opening operation is completed and the main circuit is opened. . Therefore, the short-circuit plug 60 is not pulled out from between the electrodes even though the main circuit remains closed.
[0041]
[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the above embodiment, the operating means is operated to rotate between the storage position and the operating position. However, according to the present invention, the displacement form of the operating means is not limited to rotation but linear parallel. It can also be a movement or a rocking displacement.
[0042]
(2) In the present embodiment, the finger hooking restricting means is provided in the case where the electrode is fixed. However, according to the present invention, the finger hooking restricting means may be provided in the short-circuit plug.
(3) In the first embodiment, the terminal metal fitting and the short-circuit terminal for short-circuiting the terminal metal fitting are used as the displacement operation detecting means, but other means such as a microswitch can be used instead.
(4) Although the micro switch is used as the displacement operation detecting means in the second embodiment, a terminal fitting as in the first embodiment and a short-circuit terminal for short-circuiting the terminal fitting may be used instead.
[0043]
(5) In the above embodiment, the displacement angle between the storage position of the operation means and the operation position is 90 °. However, in the present invention, the displacement angle may be an angle smaller than 90 ° or an angle larger than 90 °. It may be.
(6) In the first embodiment in which the operating means and the shorting plug are integrated, the pair of electrodes may have an arc shape concentric with the rotation center of the operating means and the shorting plug. If it does in this way, even if the short circuit member by the side of a short plug is small, a short circuit state of a pair of electrodes can be maintained during rotation.
[0044]
(7) In the above embodiment, the fuse is fixed to the case. However, according to the present invention, the fuse may be attached to the short-circuit plug.
(8) In the above embodiment, the relay that starts the opening operation by excitation is used as the switching means. However, according to the present invention, other means such as a transistor can be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a short-circuit plug is removed from an electrode in Embodiment 1. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a short-circuit plug is inserted into an electrode.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where an operation unit and a short-circuit plug are displaced to a storage position.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting and a short-circuit terminal constituting a displacement detection operation detection means.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which a short-circuit plug is inserted into an electrode.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state where the operation unit and the short-circuit plug are displaced to the storage position.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a shorting plug is inserted into an electrode.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the operation unit and the short-circuit plug are displaced to the storage position.
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the shorting plug is inserted into the electrode.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a detection structure of a displacement motion detection means.
FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state where the operation unit and the short-circuit plug are in the operation position.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing a state where the operation unit and the shorting plug are in the retracted position.
FIG. 13 is a side view showing a state where the insertion of the short-circuit plug is incorrect.
14 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shorting plug is removed from the electrode in Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which a short-circuit plug is inserted into an electrode.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lever is displaced to the operation position.
[Explanation of symbols]
A ... Breaker device
10 ... Case
14 ... Electrode
16. Terminal fitting (displacement motion detection means)
19 ... Guide groove (sampling restricting means, insertion state detecting means)
20 ... Elastic locking piece (floating regulation means)
21 ... Finger-hanging restriction part (finger-hanging restriction means)
22 ... Notch (finger hook restricting means)
30 ... Short-circuit plug
34. Operation section (operation means)
35 ... Extraction finger hook
36: Displacement operation finger rest
40 ... Shaft (sampling restriction means, insertion state detection means)
42 ... Short-circuit terminal (displacement motion detection means)
B ... Breaker device
60 ... Short plug
63 ... Lever (operating means)
54 ... Micro switch (displacement motion detection means)
67 ... Finger hook for displacement operation
64 ... Extraction finger hook
55 ... Finger-hanging restriction part (finger-hanging restriction means)
56. Notch (finger holding restricting means)
57 ... Spacer part (finger holding restricting means)
50 ... Case

Claims

A pair of electrodes are provided in series in the main circuit that is opened and closed by the opening and closing operation of the switching means, and a power supply between the electrode pairs is conducted independently of the opening and closing operation of the switching means by inserting and removing a short-circuit plug into the electrode pair. Is allowed or blocked, and
An operating means provided on the shorting plug and capable of being displaced between an operating position that enables the extraction operation of the shorting plug and a storage position that regulates the extraction operation;
The switching means is closed by detecting that the operating means has been moved to the storage position, and the displacement is detected in the process in which the operating means is displaced from the storage position to the operating position, and the switching means is opened. A displacement motion detecting means for starting
A displacement operation finger-hanging portion provided in the operation means for displacing the operation means from the storage position to the operation position;
A pulling finger hooking portion for pulling out the shorting plug from the electrode pair, provided at a position different from the displacement operating finger hooking portion in the operating means;
While the operation means is in the retracted position, a finger hooking operation with respect to the displacement operation finger hanging portion is permitted, but the finger hooking operation with respect to the extraction finger hanging portion is restricted, and the operation means is displaced to the operation position. A breaker device comprising: a finger hooking restricting means that allows a finger hooking operation to the extraction finger hooking portion in a state.

The breaker device according to claim 1, wherein a direction in which the finger is hooked with respect to the displacement operation finger hook and a direction in which the finger is hooked with respect to the extraction finger hook are different from each other.

The displacement operation detecting means is provided with a pair of terminal fittings in a case to which the electrode pair is attached, and the switching means is short-circuited when the operating means is displaced to the storage position. A short-circuiting terminal is provided for starting the opening operation of the switching means by releasing the short-circuit between the pair of terminal fittings during the closing operation and in the middle of the displacement toward the operation position. The breaker device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The floating regulation means is provided for regulating the movement of the operating means to the operating position side by locking the operating means displaced to the storage position. 5. Breaker device described in 1.

2. An extraction restricting means for restricting displacement of the operating means and the shorting plug in a direction of being extracted from the electrode by locking the operating means displaced to a storage position is provided. The breaker device according to claim 4.

The displacement of the operating means from the operating position to the retracted position side is allowed when the shorting plug is properly inserted into the electrode, but when the shorting plug is improperly inserted, it interferes with the operating means. The breaker device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising insertion state detection means for restricting displacement of the operation means toward the storage position.