JP4186643B2 - Electromagnetic relay - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay, and more particularly, to an electromagnetic relay suitable for controlling various electrical components of a vehicle such as an automobile, which can achieve high voltage and can be miniaturized.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in vehicles such as automobiles (hereinafter simply referred to as “vehicles”), for example, electromagnetic relays are used for L-type load driving units such as power window motors and wiper motors. In such electromagnetic relays, Therefore, it is indispensable to take measures against arcs at the time of contact separation.
[0003]
For example, in an electromagnetic relay used in a wiper drive unit of a vehicle, when a wiper starting operation is performed by a driver or the like, a control current is supplied to an electromagnet of the electromagnetic relay, and an exciting force is generated. The movable contact receives this exciting force and moves to the fixed contact side. As a result of closing both the contacts, the battery voltage is supplied to the wiper motor via these contacts, and the wiper is activated. When the wiper is stopped by the driver or the like, the control current supplied to the electromagnet of the electromagnetic relay is cut off and the excitation force is lost, and the movable contact is returned to the initial position by the biasing force of the spring or the like. Eventually, both contacts are opened and the battery voltage supply to the wiper motor is cut off, and the wiper is deactivated. However, since the wiper motor is an L load, an L load is generated when both contacts are separated. In some cases, an arc is generated between the movable contact and the fixed contact due to the electromotive force generated in the case. In this case, the arc causes inconvenience such as contact damage.
[0004]
Therefore, conventionally, as a countermeasure against such an arc, the contact gap (separation distance between the movable contact and the fixed contact) has been optimized in accordance with the magnitude of the voltage acting between the contacts. (See Patent Document 1). For example, in this document, when applied to a vehicle equipped with a DC 12V battery, the contact gap is set to “about 0.3 mm”, and applied to a vehicle equipped with a higher voltage, for example, a DC 24V battery. In this case, it is described that the contact gap is set to “about 1.2 mm” which is 0.9 mm wider than that.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-237244 A ([0005])
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventional electromagnetic relays can handle high voltages by increasing the contact gap. However, since increasing the contact gap requires a large excitation force, for example, according to the above example. For example, the required excitation force when the contact gap is 0.3 mm (for convenience Ga) and the required excitation force when the contact gap is about four times (1.2 mm) (for convenience Gb) Of course, since the relationship of Ga << Gb is satisfied, the electromagnet is increased in size, and therefore the electromagnetic relay itself cannot be increased in size.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic relay suitable for controlling various electrical components of a vehicle such as an automobile, for example, capable of taking countermeasures against arcs and capable of achieving high voltage and miniaturization.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The electromagnetic relay according to the present invention is fixed to the movable contact by holding the movable contact at the initial position by the spring force of the movable contact spring having the movable contact at the end when the electromagnet is in the non-excited state. While releasing the contacts,
When the electromagnet is in an excited state, an electromagnetic relay that moves the movable contact in a predetermined direction by an excitation force that exceeds the spring force of the movable contact spring to close the movable contact and the fixed contact,
The feature point is that a stopper fixing member for restricting the movement of the movable contact is provided at a predetermined position opposite to the predetermined direction,
The distance between the stopper fixing member and the fixed contact is set to approximately four times the distance between the movable contact and the fixed contact at the initial position;
When the electromagnet transitions to a non-excited state and the movable contact moves away from the fixed contact and returns to the initial position, the movable contact is excessively moved to the stopper fixing member at the predetermined position exceeding the initial position, And, after stopping the movement by the stopper fixing member, equipped with a movable contact moving mechanism for reversing the moving direction and returning to the initial position ,
The movable contact moving mechanism has a stopper spring attached to the stopper fixing member, restricts an initial position of the movable contact spring by a position of an L-shaped bent tip portion of the stopper spring, and further, the L-shape. It is supposed that the position of the tip of the bent shape is configured to be regulated by a protrusion provided on the stopper fixing member .
[0009]
According to this invention, when the movable contact returns to the initial position, the movable contact moves excessively to a predetermined position ( position of the stopper fixing member) slightly exceeding the specified initial position, and then returns to the initial position. can get.
[0010]
Now, for the sake of convenience, the distance (contact gap) between the initial position of the movable contact and the fixed contact is assumed to be “0.3 mm”, and the distance from the fixed contact to the stopper fixing member is about 4 of the contact gap. times, specifically, when a value obtained by adding 0.9mm to the 0.3 mm (1.2 mm), the movable contact, after separated from the stationary contact, first, the position of the stopper fixing member that contact gap ( 0.3 mm + 0.9 mm = 1.2 mm ) and then settle down to a regular contact gap (0.3 mm).
[0011]
Therefore, since the contact gap of the movable contact immediately after separation from the fixed contact is temporarily expanded to about 4 times ( 0.3 mm to 1.2 mm ) , this temporary expansion value (1.2 mm) is, for example, This corresponds to a proper contact gap (contact gap that does not generate an arc) of a 24V battery, so it can be used for high voltage, and in addition, the contact gap (1.2 mm) for high voltage is temporary. Since the normal contact gap when the movable contact is in the initial position is “0.3 mm”, the excitation force of the electromagnet should be set considering only the normal contact gap (0.3 mm). What is necessary is not to cause an increase in the size of the electromagnet (and hence an increase in the size of the electromagnetic relay).
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view of an electromagnetic relay according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view and a front view thereof. In these drawings, the electromagnetic relay 1 projects one fixed contact terminal 3 and a movable contact terminal (also referred to as a common terminal) 4 from the lower surface of a base 2 made of an insulating material, and two coil terminals 5. 5 is projected. Further, the base 2 is covered with a transparent case (upper lid) 6 made of an insulating material, and the transparent case 6 protects various electromagnetic relay components mounted on the base 2.
[0013]
The electromagnetic relay component includes an iron core 7 and a coil 8 constituting an electromagnet, a resistor 9, a stopper spring 10, a stopper fixing member 11, a hinge spring 12, an armature 13, a yoke 14, and the like. Although only shown in FIG. 2A, the movable contact spring 15 integrated with the hinge spring 12, the movable contact 16 attached to the lower end of the movable contact spring 15, and the upper end of the fixed contact terminal 3. The fixed contact 17 attached to the part is also included in the electromagnetic relay component.
[0014]
Here, the detailed structure of the principal part (especially contact mechanism part) of the electromagnetic relay 1 in this Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 3 is a detailed view thereof. In this figure, the yoke 14 fixed to the upper end surface of the holding frame 18 of the coil 8 is made of a conductive material such as metal and is electrically connected to the movable contact terminal 4.
[0015]
A hinge spring 12 also made of a conductive material is fixed to the upper surface of the yoke 14, and the movable contact spring 15 integrated with the hinge spring 12 is when no control current is supplied to the coil 8. That is, when the exciting force is not applied to the iron core 7 (hereinafter referred to as “non-excited state”), it is in the illustrated position (hereinafter referred to as “initial position”), but when the exciting force is applied to the iron core 7, When the armature 13 attached to the back surface of the movable contact spring 15 is attracted to the iron core 7, the armature 13 moves in the attracting direction (right direction in the drawing), and the movable contact 16 attached to the lower end of the armature 13 is a fixed contact terminal. 3 is brought into contact with the fixed contact 17 attached to the upper end of the cover 3, and both contacts (the movable contact 16 and the fixed contact 17) are closed.
[0016]
On the other hand, when the movable contact spring 15 is in the illustrated initial position, the movable contact spring 15 is in contact with the L-shaped bent tip 19 of the stopper spring 10. The L-shaped bent tip 19 can be moved in the left-right direction in the drawing by the spring force of the stopper spring 10. However, in practice, the stopper spring 10 is abutted against a projection 20 formed on the stopper fixing member 11 toward the left of the drawing (when the movable contact spring 15 is at the initial position shown in the drawing), and is directed to the right in the drawing. Therefore, the L-shaped bent tip 19 is only allowed to swing leftward in the drawing with reference to the initial position.
[0017]
For convenience of explanation, the illustrated stopper spring 10 and stopper fixing member 11 are ignored. That is, it is assumed that there is no obstacle on the left side (toward the drawing) of the movable contact spring 15.
In this case, since the movable contact spring 15 can swing from the initial position shown in the drawing to the left within the range of its own spring force, if the left limit position of the swing is “A” for convenience, the movable contact spring 15 is movable. When 16 changes from closed to released, the movable contact spring 15 is elastically moved so that the movable contact spring 15 passes through the initial position, reaches the left limit position A, reverses the direction, and returns to the initial position. I do. Assuming that the contact gap when the movable contact spring 15 is at the initial position (the distance between the movable contact 16 and the fixed contact 17) is 0.3 mm, the contact gap at the left limit position A is 0. It becomes larger by a certain value “X” than 3 mm. X is a separation distance between the left limit position A and the initial position.
[0018]
Therefore, if the value of X can be accurately set to 0.9 mm, for example, when the movable contact 16 transitions from closed to released,
(1) The temporary contact gap of “0.3 mm + 0.9 mm = 1.2 mm” is temporarily achieved, and then the regular contact gap of “0.3 mm” is achieved. It is possible to take measures against arcing,
(2) Since the required excitation force of the electromagnet constituted by the iron core 7 and the coil 8 can be reduced to a value corresponding to the above-mentioned common contact gap, this increases the size of the electromagnet (and hence the electromagnetic relay 1). It may be possible to avoid an increase in size)
Actually, it is difficult to set X to the above value (for example, 0.9 mm) without variations due to manufacturing errors and the like.
[0019]
The stopper spring 10 and the stopper fixing member 11 in the present embodiment are essential element parts for accurately setting the initial position of the movable contact spring 15 and the value of X described above without variation.
[0020]
That is, the initial position of the movable contact spring 15 is regulated by the position of the L-shaped bent tip 19 of the stopper spring 10, and the position of the L-shaped bent tip 19 is regulated by the protrusion 20 of the stopper fixing member 11. These (the L-shaped bent tip 19 of the stopper spring 10 and the protrusion 20 of the stopper fixing member 11) are indispensable element parts for accurately setting the initial position of the movable contact spring 15.
[0021]
Further, the leftward movement of the movable contact spring 15 is performed while the L-shaped bent tip 19 of the stopper spring 10 is pressed and moved to the left of the drawing, but its movement limit (corresponding to the left limit position A). ) Is when the lower end of the movable contact spring 15 collides with the stopper fixing member 11, and the error in the mounting position of the stopper fixing member 11 is so small that it can be ignored in practice. Is also an indispensable component for setting the value of X accurately and without variation.
[0022]
Here, the spring force of the movable contact spring 15 is Fa, the spring force of the stopper spring 10 is Fb, and the return force applied by the movable contact spring 15 and the hinge spring 12 when transitioning from the excited state to the non-excited state. When Fc is set, these Fa, Fb and Fc are set to have a relationship of “Fa <Fb <Fc”.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of the electromagnetic relay 1. For example, first, a fixed contact is attached to the hole 3 a at the upper end of the fixed contact terminal 3, and the fixed contact terminal 3 is fitted into the hole 2 a of the base 2. Next, the coil terminals 5 and 5 are attached to both ends of the resistor 9, and the coil terminals 5 and 5 are fitted into the holes 2 b and 2 b of the base 2.
[0024]
Next, the iron core 7 is inserted into the hole 18 a formed in the holding frame 18 of the coil 8, and the coil leads 21, 21 are fitted into the notches 18 b and 18 b formed in the holding frame 18. Both ends and the coil leads 21 and 21 are electrically connected.
[0025]
Next, the lower end portion of the stopper fixing member 11 to which the stopper spring 10 is attached is fitted into the hole 18 c of the holding frame body 18 of the coil 8.
[0026]
Next, the movable contact 16 is attached to the lower end hole 15 a of the movable contact spring 15, the armature 13 is attached to the back surface of the movable contact spring 15, and the hinge spring 12 integrated with the movable contact spring 15 is attached to the upper surface of the yoke 14. Then, the upper end of the movable contact terminal 4 is attached to the lower end of the yoke 14.
[0027]
Finally, the coil component (consisting of the coil 8, the holding frame 18, the iron core 7, the coil leads 21 and 21, the stopper spring 10 and the stopper fixing member 11) assembled as described above is mounted on the base 2. At the same time, after mounting the movable contact part assembled as described above (including the movable contact spring 15, the movable contact 16, the armature 13, the hinge spring 12, the yoke 14 and the movable contact terminal 4) on the base 2, Covering the case 6, the electromagnetic relay 1 having the structure of FIG. 1 is completed.
[0028]
FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electromagnetic relay 1, and FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of contact operation. In FIG. 5, the fixed contact terminal 3 is connected to the fixed contact 17, and the movable contact terminal 4 is connected to the movable contact 16. The pair of coil terminals 5 and 5 are connected to both ends of the coil 8 and also connected to both ends of the resistor 9. The resistor 9 is provided to absorb a surge voltage generated by the counter electromotive force of the coil 8 when the energization to the coil 8 is turned off.
[0029]
Here, when the control current is not supplied to the coil terminals 5 and 5, the coil 8 is in a non-excited state. In this non-excited state, the movable contact 16 is in the initial position shown in the figure, and is separated from the fixed contact 17 while maintaining a predetermined distance (normal contact gap: 0.3 mm, for example). When the control current is supplied to 5, the movable contact 16 is attracted toward the fixed contact 17 by the exciting force of the coil 8, and both the contacts are closed. As a result, the fixed contact terminal 3 and the movable contact terminal 4 are electrically connected. Connected.
[0030]
Now, considering the transition process from the excited state to the non-excited state, the movable contact 16 is finally separated from the fixed contact 17 and returns to the initial position, but the return force is exclusively the movable contact. Since it is given by the spring force of the spring 15 or the hinge spring 12, it temporarily moves excessively to a predetermined position (dashed line position) that has passed the initial position, and then reverses the moving direction to return to the initial position. It becomes a bullet movement to do. The predetermined position (dashed line position) is determined by the attachment position of the stopper fixing member 11.
[0031]
Now, assuming that the separation distance between the initial position and the predetermined position (dashed line position) is, for example, 0.9 mm, the contact gap (enlarged contact gap) when the movable contact 16 is at the predetermined position (dashed line position) is: Since 0.3 mm + 0.9 mm = 1.2 mm, an appropriate contact gap corresponding to a high voltage (24 V power supply) can be secured, and an arc caused by a high voltage power supply can be prevented.
[0032]
On the other hand, the high-voltage contact gap (1.2 mm) is only temporary, and the regular contact gap is that when the movable contact 16 is in the initial position (0.3 mm). Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the excitation force (attracting force of the movable contact 16). Therefore, the coil 8 is not enlarged, that is, the electromagnetic relay 1 is not enlarged.
[0033]
As described above, according to the electromagnetic relay 1 of the present embodiment, the contact gap can be temporarily enlarged when the movable contact 16 is separated, and this enlarged contact gap (example: 1.2 mm) In addition to the advantage that arcing due to the high voltage power supply can be prevented, the common contact gap when the movable contact 16 is in the initial position is made smaller than the above-mentioned enlarged contact gap (eg, 0.3 mm). In addition, the common contact gap can reduce the required excitation force of the coil 8, and there is an advantage that the electromagnetic relay 1 is not increased in size.
[0034]
In addition, in said embodiment, although the stopper spring 10 and the stopper fixing member 11 are used, it is not limited to this. Instead of the stopper spring 10, an elastic member such as rubber may be used. The stopper fixing member 11 may also be made of an insulating material such as metal or plastic.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the contact gap of the movable contact immediately after separation from the fixed contact is temporarily expanded from 0.3 mm to 1.2 mm, the temporary expansion value (1.2 mm) is, for example, Since it corresponds to the proper contact gap (contact gap that does not generate arc) of a 24V battery, it can be used for high voltage, and in addition, the contact gap (1.2 mm) for high voltage is temporary. Since the normal contact gap when the movable contact is in the initial position is “0.3 mm”, the excitation force of the electromagnet should be set considering only the normal contact gap (0.3 mm). Well, it does not cause an increase in the size of the electromagnet (and hence an increase in the size of the electromagnetic relay).
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an electromagnetic relay in the present embodiment.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are a side view and a front view of an electromagnetic relay according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a main part (particularly, a contact mechanism part) of the electromagnetic relay 1 in the present embodiment.
4 is an assembly diagram of the electromagnetic relay 1. FIG.
5 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electromagnetic relay 1. FIG.
6 is a conceptual diagram of contact operation of the electromagnetic relay 1. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Electromagnetic relay 7 Iron core (electromagnet)
8 Coil (electromagnet)
15 movable contact spring 16 movable contact 17 fixed contact 11 stopper fixed member (movable contact moving mechanism)
10 Stopper spring (movable contact moving mechanism)

Claims (1)

In the initial state where the electromagnet is in a non-excited state, the movable contact and the fixed contact are released by holding the movable contact at the initial position by the spring force of the movable contact spring provided with the movable contact at the end. on the other hand,
When the electromagnet is in an excited state, an electromagnetic relay that moves the movable contact in a predetermined direction by an excitation force that exceeds the spring force of the movable contact spring to close the movable contact and the fixed contact.
A stopper fixing member is provided for restricting the movement of the movable contact at a predetermined position opposite to the predetermined direction,
The distance between the stopper fixing member and the fixed contact is set to approximately four times the distance between the movable contact and the fixed contact at the initial position;
When the electromagnet transitions to a non-excited state and the movable contact moves away from the fixed contact and returns to the initial position, the movable contact is excessively moved to the stopper fixing member at the predetermined position exceeding the initial position, And, after stopping the movement by the stopper fixing member, equipped with a movable contact moving mechanism for reversing the moving direction and returning to the initial position ,
The movable contact moving mechanism has a stopper spring attached to the stopper fixing member, restricts an initial position of the movable contact spring by a position of an L-shaped bent tip portion of the stopper spring, and further, the L-shape. An electromagnetic relay characterized in that the position of the tip of the bent shape is regulated by a protrusion provided on the stopper fixing member .

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