JP4828956B2 - power outlet - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power outlet that cuts off an electric circuit along with the occurrence of a discharge due to a tracking phenomenon or the like and notifies the occurrence thereof.

  Conventionally, as a technique for preventing an accident due to a so-called tracking short-circuit in a power outlet, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this technology, a slight discharge generated in the plug is detected by a sensor, and the breaker is cut off based on a signal output from the sensor, thereby cutting off the receiving blade to which the plug is connected from the power source. It relates to a power outlet.

  According to this power outlet, tracking generation can be prevented without providing a separate breaker at the power outlet. However, when this power outlet detects a discharge and operates to break the breaker, when checking the operating state of the breaker, the tilted state of the operation handle is visually observed. For this reason, for example, when the breaker is placed in the back of an electric device, in a dark room or the like and is difficult to see, it may be difficult to confirm the operation state.

  Moreover, what is equipped with the warning display means which displays a warning with the signal from an overcurrent detection means like the warning display outlet described in patent document 2, for example is also devised. However, this technique merely displays a warning for overcurrent detection, and cannot cut off the overcurrent generation source from the power source.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, by combining the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, based on the signal output from the sensor, the discharge in the plug is detected, and the breaker between the power source and the receiving blade There has been devised a power outlet capable of interrupting the electric circuit and notifying the user of the occurrence of discharge by a notification means corresponding to a warning display means.

JP 2004-362836 A JP 2004-103524 A

  However, in this power outlet, the state of interlocking between the breaker and the notification means is not specified, such as a configuration consisting of only the above combination or a configuration in which the operation handle of the breaker cannot be operated unless the notification means is stopped. Therefore, there is a problem in that the operation procedure is likely to be complicated when the restoration operation of the breaker blocking means is not fully understood.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in view of the above problems, for example, the operation handle of the breaker can be operated without stopping the notification operation. The issue is to provide an outlet.

To solve the above problems, electrical outlet according to the invention of claim 1 includes a pair of receiving blades which are connected via the path to the power supply, it is provided between the pair of receiving blades, connected to the receiving blades A sensor for detecting the discharge generated between the plug blades of the plug, a discharge detection means for judging the occurrence of discharge from the discharge detection signal of the sensor and outputting the discharge occurrence signal when judged to be a discharge, and opening and closing for opening and closing the electric circuit And a breaker having a shut-off means that opens and closes the open / close means based on the discharge generation signal to cut off the connection between the power source and the receiving blade; In the state, comprising a notification means for holding the notification operation with the driving power supplied from the power supply, and a notification stop means for stopping the notification operation held in a state where the opening and closing means is closed, The sensor is formed of a metal piece and detects the discharge when a discharge current flows through the metal piece, and the notification stop means is held by the notification means independently of the closing operation of the opening / closing means. The holding notification operation is stopped by a selection unit that selects whether to stop the notification operation that has been performed. As the notification unit, a light emitting element that notifies the occurrence of discharge by light emission, and the discharge generation by sound generation And a sound generating element for informing the user.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the notification means is configured to hold the notification operation with the driving power supplied from the power source in a state where the cutoff means is in the cutoff operation, so that the notification operation of the notification means is maintained. The breaker opening / closing means can be operated, and the operation procedure can be simplified. Further, since the notification stop means is configured to be able to stop the notification operation held in the state where the opening / closing means is closed, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation of erroneously stopping the held notification operation during the shut-off operation. .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the notifying operation can be stopped at any time by the user by the selection means independently of the closing operation of the opening / closing means. That is, it is possible to give the user an opportunity to determine whether or not dust that is the main cause of the tracking phenomenon is removed, and stop the notification operation in conjunction with the closing operation of the opening / closing means. Compared to the case, the user's attention to removing dust can be increased. Therefore, the possibility of occurrence of the tracking phenomenon can be further reduced.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to notify the user of the occurrence of discharge by light emission and sound generation, and even when it is difficult to visually check the position of the operation handle, it is easy to check the operation state. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of a power outlet according to the present invention. For example, the power outlet 1 is housed in a box having an outer dimension that can be mounted in a wall mounting box on which a general household outlet can be mounted, and an electrical device plug is inserted into the front of the box. A pair of plug insertion openings are provided.

  The receiving blade 4 for connecting the electrode of the power outlet 1, that is, the insertion plug through the plug insertion port, is connected to the commercial power source 2 through the electric circuit. Between the receiving blades 4, there is provided a sensor 5 for detecting a minute discharge generated by, for example, a tracking phenomenon between the plug blades of the plug. Reference numeral 6 denotes a discharge detection circuit as discharge detection means for determining the occurrence of discharge from a discharge detection signal as sensor information and outputting a discharge occurrence signal when it is determined that discharge has occurred.

  This sensor 5 is formed of a metal piece, and is installed between a pair of plug insertion openings so that the discharge current contacts when a slight discharge occurs between the electrodes (between the plug blades) of the plug. . For example, by connecting a metal piece to a fixed potential such as ground, a discharge current is in contact with the metal piece, and it has been confirmed by experiments that a current flows between the metal piece and the fixed potential. Utilizing this phenomenon, it is configured to detect a minute discharge generated.

  In addition, the power outlet 1 is an open / close handle 8 as an open / close means capable of opening and closing an electric circuit by a manual operation by a user, and a shut-off means for forcibly opening and closing the open / close handle 8 based on a discharge occurrence signal. A breaker 7 having an electric circuit tripping device 9 is provided. Furthermore, the power outlet 1 includes a notification circuit 11 as a notification means for driving the LED 12 as a light emitting element and a buzzer 13 as a sound generation element based on the discharge generation signal to notify the user of the occurrence of discharge. And a notification stop circuit 15 as notification stop means for stopping the drive of the buzzer 13.

  Next, operations for detecting, notifying, and shutting off the discharge of the power outlet 1 will be described. As described above, when the initial state of the discharge generated by the tracking phenomenon is detected by the sensor 5, a small current (discharge detection signal) is supplied to the diode of PC1 (phototransistor) via D1 (diode) in the discharge detection circuit 6. Flows. Based on this signal, PC1 is turned ON. When PC1 is turned ON, Tr1 (transistor) is turned ON (discharge detection operation).

  In the notification circuit 11, when Tr1 is turned on, a predetermined current (discharge generation signal) flows through the gate of the SCR1 (thyristor). Based on this signal, SCR1 is turned ON. Further, when SCR1 is turned on, LED 12 emits light with the driving power supplied from power supply 2 (notification holding operation), and Tr2 is turned on. When Tr2 is turned ON, driving power is supplied from the power source 2 to the buzzer driving circuit 14, and the buzzer 13 sounds intermittently at a predetermined interval (notification holding operation).

When SCR1 is turned on, PC2 is turned on and Tr3 is turned on. When Tr3 is turned ON, SCR2 is turned ON, and the opening / closing handle 8 interlocked with the electric circuit tripping device 9 is opened, and the connection between the power source 2 and the receiving blade 4 is instantaneously cut off (blocking operation).
Thus, in the state where the breaker 7 is cut off, the power outlet 1 performs the notification operation by driving the LED 12 and the buzzer 13 with the driving power supplied from the power source 2 and holds the notification operation.

Next, the operations of releasing the power outlet 1 and stopping and holding it will be described. In a state in which the open / close handle 8 is closed by manual operation from the state in which the breaker 7 is cut off (blocking release operation), a predetermined value is applied to the diode of the PC 3 by the power supplied again from the power source in conjunction with the closing operation. Current flows and PC3 is turned on. When the PC3 is turned on, a one-shot pulse as a notification stop signal is output from the notification stop circuit 15 as a notification stop means, turning off the SCR1, and further turning off the PC2 and Tr2. Then, the light emission of the LED 12 is stopped by turning off the SCR1, and the sound generation of the buzzer 13 is stopped by turning off the Tr2 (notification stop operation).
In this manner, the power outlet 1 operates the notification stop circuit 15 in conjunction with the closing operation of the opening / closing handle 8 and stops the notification operation of the LED 12 and the buzzer 13 held by the notification circuit 11.

According to the power outlet 1, the open / close handle 8 of the breaker 7 can be operated while the notification operation of the notification circuit 11 is maintained in the state where the circuit removal device 9 of the breaker 7 is cut off. The notification holding operation of the LED 12 and the buzzer 13 can be automatically stopped only by performing the closing operation. Therefore, the operation procedure can be simplified. In addition, since the notification release circuit 15 is provided so as to be able to stop the notification operation held in the state where the opening / closing handle 8 is closed, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation that erroneously stops the held notification operation during the shut-off operation. .
Further, the user can be informed of the occurrence of discharge by the light emission of the LED 12 and the sound of the buzzer 13, and even if it is difficult to visually check the operating state of the open / close handle 8, the operation state of the breaker 7 can be confirmed. Easy to do.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a second embodiment of the power outlet according to the present invention. Unlike the power outlet 1 of FIG. 1, the power outlet 101 of FIG. 2 does not stop the notification operation in conjunction with the closing operation of the open / close handle 8 of the breaker 7, but closes the open / close handle 8 of the breaker 7. In this state, independent of the closing operation of the opening / closing handle 8, the selection switch 116 selects whether to stop the notification operation of the LED 112 and the buzzer 113 held by the notification circuit 111. Other configurations are the same as those of the power outlet 1 of FIG.

  Various operations of discharge detection, notification, and shutoff of the power outlet 101 will be described. Similarly to the power outlet 1, when the initial state of discharge is detected by the sensor 5, a small current (discharge detection signal) flows through the diode of PC1 through D1 in the discharge detection circuit 6. Based on this signal, the PC1 Turn on. When PC1 is turned ON, Tr1 is turned ON (discharge detection operation).

  In the notification circuit 111, when Tr1 is turned on, a signal (discharge generation signal) branches and flows to D102 and D103. A signal from D102 is input to the gate of the SCR 101, the LED 112 is turned on by the driving power supplied from the power supply 2 (notification holding operation), and Tr102 is turned on. When Tr 102 is turned on, driving power is supplied from the power source 2 to the buzzer driving circuit 114, and the buzzer 113 sounds intermittently at a predetermined interval (notification holding operation).

The signal from D103 is input to the gate of SCR2 via the CR filter circuit, PC103, Tr103, and CR time delay circuit, and SCR2 is turned on to the circuit tripping device 9 of breaker 7. The interlocking opening / closing handle 8 opens, and the connection between the power source 2 and the receiving blade 4 is instantaneously cut off (blocking operation). At this time, by providing a CR filter circuit, a PC 103, and a CR time delay circuit, the SCR 101 is operated before the SCR2.
Thus, in the state where the breaker 7 is cut off, the power outlet 101 performs the notification operation by driving the LED 112 and the buzzer 113 with the driving power supplied from the power source 2 and holds the notification operation. Further, the notification holding operation and the shut-off operation are configured to operate independently by branching and flowing the discharge generation signal to D102 and D103.

Next, various operations for releasing and holding the power outlet 101 will be described. A selection switch provided in the notification circuit 111 at any time independently from the closing operation of the opening / closing handle 8 in a state in which the opening / closing handle 8 is closed by a manual operation from the state in which the breaker 7 is blocking operation (blocking release operation). When 116 is manually closed, SCR 101 and Tr 102 are turned OFF. The light emission of the LED 112 is stopped by turning off the SCR 101, and the sound generation of the buzzer 113 is stopped by turning off the Tr 102 (notification stop operation).
As described above, the power outlet 101 is notified by a manual operation by the user of the selection switch 116 independently of the closing operation of the opening / closing handle 8 with the opening / closing handle 8 being closed (ON operation). The notification operation of the LED 112 and the buzzer 113 held by the circuit 111 is stopped.

According to the power outlet 101, the open / close handle 8 of the breaker 7 can be operated while the notification operation of the notification circuit 111 is maintained in a state in which the circuit removal device 9 of the breaker 7 is cut off. Therefore, the operation procedure can be simplified. In addition, since the selection switch 116 that stops the notification operation that is held in the state where the opening / closing handle 8 is closed is provided, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation that erroneously stops the held notification operation during the blocking operation.
Furthermore, the notification switch operation of the LED 112 and the buzzer 113 can be stopped at any time by the user by the selection switch 116 independently of the closing operation of the opening / closing handle 8. That is, it is possible to give the user an opportunity to determine whether dust removal, which is the main cause of tracking occurrence, is sufficient, and to stop the notification operation in conjunction with the closing operation of the opening / closing handle 8 Compared to the above, the user's attention to removing dust can be increased. Therefore, the possibility of occurrence of the tracking phenomenon can be further reduced.
In addition, similarly to the power outlet 1, the user can be notified of the occurrence of discharge through the light emission of the LED 112 and the sound of the buzzer 113, and even if it is difficult to visually check the operating state of the opening / closing handle 8, It is easy to check the operating state.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, As it enumerates below, it is also possible to implement by changing suitably the shape and structure of each part in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.
(1) The sensor is not limited to the one in which the discharge current is brought into contact with the metal piece, and may be configured by using a sensor that detects a gas containing a charge generated by the discharge.
(2) The notification means is not limited to both the LED and the buzzer, and can be configured by either one. In this case, the same effect can be obtained.
(3) The power outlet is not limited to a pair of receiving blades, and a plurality of pairs of receiving blades may be provided, and each may be provided with a sensor.

1 is a circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 101 ··· Power outlet, 2 · Commercial power supply, 4 · · Blade, 5 · · Sensor, 6 · · Discharge detection circuit as discharge detection means, 7 · · Breaker, 8 · · Opening and closing as open / close means Handle, 9 .. Electric circuit trip device as blocking means, 11, 111 .. Notification circuit as notification means, 12, 112... LED as light emitting element, 13, 113 .. Buzzer as sounding element, 14, 114 ··· Buzzer drive circuit, 15 ··· Notification stop circuit as notification stop means, 116 ··· Selection switch as selection means, D1, D102, D103 · · diode, PC1, PC2, PC3, PC103 ··· Phototransistor, SCR1, SCR2, SCR101, thyristor, Tr1, Tr2, Tr3, Tr102, Tr103, transistor.

Claims (1)

A pair of receiving blades connected to a power source via an electrical path;
A sensor that is provided between a pair of receiving blades and detects discharge generated between the plug blades of the insertion plug connected to the receiving blade;
Discharge detection means for determining the occurrence of discharge from the discharge detection signal of the sensor and outputting a discharge occurrence signal when it is determined that discharge has occurred
An open / close means for opening and closing the electric circuit, and a breaker having a shut-off means for opening and closing the open / close means based on a discharge generation signal to cut off the connection between the power source and the receiving blade;
Notifying means for notifying the occurrence of discharge based on the discharge generation signal, and holding the notification operation with the driving power supplied from the power source in the state where the cutoff means is in a cutoff operation;
A notification stop means capable of stopping the notification operation held in a state where the opening / closing means is closed; and
With
The sensor is formed of a metal piece and detects the discharge when a discharge current flows through the metal piece, and the notification stopping unit is held by the notification unit independently of the closing operation of the opening / closing unit. The holding notification operation is stopped by a selection unit that selects whether to stop the notification operation performed,
A power outlet characterized by comprising both a light emitting element for notifying the occurrence of discharge by light emission and a sound generation element for notifying the occurrence of discharge by sounding as the notification means.

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