JP6071503B2 - Latching relay and watt-hour meter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a latching relay and a watt hour meter suitable for a switch used in a watt hour meter.

  A latching relay is a power-saving relay that requires power only during an opening / closing operation and does not require power to maintain an open state and a closed state. The latching relay reverses the open / close state by supplying constant power to the drive coil based on the instructions of the control system, but it is necessary to identify whether or not it has been driven reliably for the maintenance of the installation circuit There are also many. In order to identify the open / closed state of the relay, the method of measuring the interelectrode voltage is the simplest method.

  Further, as a method for identifying the open / closed state of the relay by a method different from the above method, for example, a circuit different from the main circuit for which the relay is responsible for opening / closing, such as a latching relay disclosed in Patent Document 1, is used. A method of providing a so-called auxiliary contact that opens and closes another circuit in conjunction with the main circuit contact is used.

JP 2006-179349 A

  However, the above-described method for measuring the voltage between electrodes has a problem that a current flows through a measurement circuit parallel to the main circuit at least during measurement. Depending on the application, such diversion may not be allowed for economic and safety reasons.

  On the other hand, in the auxiliary contact method of Patent Document 1, since a circuit independent of the main circuit is provided, at least a safety problem can be avoided. However, since it is necessary to give a contact pressure also to the auxiliary contact, the load on the drive mechanism increases and the relay becomes larger. Further, the relay is further increased in size by the installation space for the auxiliary contact and its drive mechanism, and it is difficult to reduce the size of the relay.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a latching relay and a watt hour meter that can identify an open / closed state and can be miniaturized.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a latching relay according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an electromagnet having a coil and a yoke, a leaf spring, a movable contact attached near the tip of the leaf spring, and a contact with the movable contact. A fixed contact to be separated; a movable terminal connected to the leaf spring; a fixed terminal connected to the fixed contact; and the movable terminal and the movable contact between the movable spring and the leaf spring. The engaging member engaged with the armature, the armature contacting and separating the yoke of the electromagnet, the permanent magnet disposed between the armatures, the engaging member, the armature, and the permanent magnet are integrated. A driving element that rotates around the rotation axis by the action of the electromagnet and holds the armature in the open position and the closed position by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, and a magnetic sensor disposed in the vicinity of the permanent magnet And from the magnetic sensor Closed state of the leaf spring possess and determining state determination unit on the basis of the force, the magnetic sensor, and the position where negative is reversed the output of the magnetic sensor between an open position and a closed position of the leaf spring It is attached to .

Further, a latching relay according to the second invention, an electromagnet having a coil and a yoke, a leaf spring, a movable contact attached near the tip of the leaf spring, a fixed contact that contacts and separates from the movable contact, A movable side terminal connected to the leaf spring, a fixed side terminal connected to the fixed contact, and an engagement that is disposed between the movable side terminal and the movable contact and sandwiches the leaf spring. A member, an armature that contacts and separates the yoke of the electromagnet, a permanent magnet disposed between the armatures, the engaging member, the armature, and the permanent magnet, and a rotation shaft that is integrated A driver that is rotated by the action of the electromagnet and that holds the armature in an open position and a closed position by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, and is disposed on the front or back surface of the leaf spring, and stress from the leaf spring Strain resistance whose resistance value changes due to Di, possess and determining state determination unit close state of the leaf spring on the basis of the resistance from the strain gauge, the position in the unstressed state of the leaf spring, and an open position and a closed position of the leaf spring It is characterized by being set between .

Moreover, the watt-hour meter of 3rd invention connects the said input terminal and the said output terminal by the relay drive signal, the input terminal connected to power supply equipment, the output terminal connected to load, and 1st. The latching relay according to any one of claims 5 to 5 , a current detection unit that detects a current used in the load, a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage used in the load, and the current detection And a power calculation unit that calculates power based on the current detected by the unit and the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit.

  According to the latching relay of the present invention, it is possible to identify the open / closed state by arranging a strain gauge on the leaf spring of the latching relay or arranging a magnetic sensor in the vicinity of the permanent magnet, and it is possible to reduce the size.

(A) is a figure which shows the closing state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 1, (b) is a figure which shows the opening state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 1, (c) is the figure of the latching relay which concerns on Example 1. It is a figure which shows the welding open state. 6 is a front view of a latching relay according to Embodiment 2. FIG. (A) The figure which shows the closing state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 3, (b) is the figure which shows the opening state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 3, (c) is the figure of the latching relay which concerns on Example 3. The figure which shows a welding open state, (d) is a figure which shows the state between the opening state of a latching relay which concerns on Example 3, and a closing state. (A) is a figure which shows the closing state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 4, (b) is a figure which shows the opening state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 4. FIG. (A) is a diagram illustrating a closed state of the latching relay according to the fifth embodiment, and (b) is a region where the output voltage of the Hall element is positive and negative when the latching relay according to the fifth embodiment is closed. (C) is a diagram showing the open state of the latching relay according to the fifth embodiment, (d) is a diagram showing that the output voltage of the Hall element is positive when the latching relay according to the fifth embodiment is in the open state. It is a figure which shows the boundary of the area | region and negative area | region which become. It is a front view of the conventional latching relay of the comparative example 1. (A) is a figure which shows the closing state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 6, (b) is a figure which shows the opening state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 6. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the closing state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 7, (b) is a figure which shows the opening state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 7. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the closing state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 8, (b) is a figure which shows the opening state of the latching relay which concerns on Example 8. FIG. It is a front view of the latching relay which concerns on the modification 1. FIG. It is a front view of the latching relay which concerns on the modification 2. FIG. 10 is a configuration block diagram illustrating a watt-hour meter including a latching relay according to a ninth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a latching relay and a watt hour meter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1A is a diagram illustrating a closed state of the latching relay according to the first embodiment, FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an open state of the latching relay according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the welding open state of the latching relay which concerns on 1. FIG.

  The latching relay shown in FIG. 1 includes an electromagnet 1 having a coil 1 a and a yoke 1 b made of a magnetic material, a leaf spring 2, a movable contact 3 attached in the vicinity of the tip of the leaf spring 2, and a contact with and separation from the movable contact 3. The fixed contact 4 to be moved, the movable contact 5 connected to the movable contact 3 and the leaf spring 2, the fixed contact 6 connected to the fixed contact 4, and the position between the movable contact 5 and the movable contact 3. The engaging members 7a and 7b engaged with the leaf spring 2 by hooking or sandwiching them, the armature 8 contacting and separating from the yoke 1b of the electromagnet 1, and the permanent magnet 9 disposed between the armatures 8 are engaged. The members 7a and 7b, the armature 8 and the permanent magnet 9 are integrated and rotated around the rotating shaft 10a by the action of the electromagnet 1, and the armature 8 is moved to the open state and the closed position by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 9. It is arranged on the front or back surface of the driver element 10 to be held and the leaf spring 2, A strain gauge 11 whose resistance value changes according to the contact pressure with the spring 2, a voltage detection unit 12 that detects a voltage corresponding to the resistance value from the strain gauge 11, and a leaf spring based on the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 12 And a state determining unit 13 that determines the open / closed state of 2.

  A movable contact 3 is attached to the leaf spring 2, and the leaf spring 2 is inserted into a slit between the engaging member 7a and the engaging member 7b. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the driver element 10 is in the closed position, the strain gauge 11 disposed on the upper surface of the leaf spring 2 is deformed in the contracting direction. As shown in FIG. 1B, in a state where the driver element 10 is in the open position, the strain gauge 11 is in a substantially no strain state.

  On the other hand, even when the driver element 10 is in the open position, the strain gauge 11 is deformed in the extending direction as shown in FIG. 1C when the movable contact 3 is welded.

  Since the deformation state of the strain gauge 11 differs depending on the closing / opening / welding (driving element opening position), the resistance value of the strain gate 11 changes. The voltage detection unit 12 detects a voltage corresponding to the resistance value from the strain gauge 11, and the state determination unit 13 determines the open / closed state of the leaf spring 2 based on the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 12. That is, three states of closed / open / welded can be identified.

  In addition, since the strain gauge 11 and the wiring material thereof can be accommodated in the relay member gap, the relay can be reduced in size.

  As described above, according to the latching relay of the first embodiment, by disposing one strain gauge 11 on the leaf spring 2 of the latching relay, the open / closed state can be identified, and the size can be reduced.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the latching relay according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the latching relay according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the strain gauges 11 a and 11 b are arranged to face both surfaces of the leaf spring 2.

  Since the strain gauges 11a and 11b are arranged opposite to both surfaces of the leaf spring 2 in this way, the outputs of the strain gauges 11a and 11b are doubled. Accuracy is improved.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a closing state of the latching relay according to the third embodiment, FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an opening state of the latching relay according to the third embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating a state between the open state and the closed state of the latching relay according to the third embodiment.

  In the latching relay according to the third embodiment, the position of the leaf spring 2 in the unstressed state is set to the open position of the leaf spring 2 (see FIG. )) And a closed position (FIG. 3A).

  For this reason, when the strain gauge 11 is attached to the back side of the contact, the strain gauge 11 is deformed in the contraction direction in the closed state, and is deformed in the extension direction in the open state. Therefore, when the open / close state of the leaf spring 2 changes, the polarity of the output voltage of the strain gauge 11 is reversed, so that the open or closed state of the leaf spring 2 can be easily identified.

  Further, at the time of welding, the strain gauge 11 is greatly deformed in the extending direction and the output voltage becomes large, so that the welding state can be identified unlike the normal open state.

  4A is a diagram illustrating a closing state of the latching relay according to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an opening state of the latching relay according to the fourth embodiment. The latching relay according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includes a Hall element 14 disposed in the vicinity of the permanent magnet 9 and a state determination unit 13 that determines the open / closed state of the leaf spring 2 based on the output from the Hall element 14. It is characterized by having.

  The Hall element 14 corresponds to the magnetic sensor of the present invention, converts the magnetic field from the permanent magnet 9 into a voltage, and outputs the converted voltage to the state determination unit 13. Instead of the Hall element 14, a magnetoresistive element whose resistance value changes according to the magnitude of the magnetic field may be used as an example of a magnetic sensor. Moreover, you may use sensors other than a Hall element and a magnetoresistive element as a magnetic sensor.

  The relative positions of the Hall element 14 and the permanent magnet 9 change with the operation of the driver 10 as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). For this reason, since the magnetic flux which penetrates Hall element 14 also changes, the voltage outputted from Hall element 14 also changes. For this reason, the open / closed state of the leaf spring 2 can be identified by the magnitude of the voltage value of the Hall element 14 at the open position and the closed position of the driver element 10 in advance.

  The size of the Hall element 14 is extremely small compared to the size of the latching relay, and the relay can be miniaturized.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a closed state of the latching relay according to the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a region in which the output voltage of the Hall element is positive when the latching relay according to the fifth embodiment is closed. FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a boundary with a negative region, FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating an open state of the latching relay according to the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 5D is a diagram illustrating a state where the latching relay according to the fifth embodiment is in an open state. It is a figure which shows the boundary of the area | region where the output voltage of a Hall element becomes positive, and the area | region which becomes negative.

  The latching relay according to the fifth embodiment is characterized in that the Hall element 14 is mounted between the open position and the closed position of the leaf spring 2 and at a position where the positive / negative of the output of the Hall element 14 is reversed.

  As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5D, a boundary 15 between the region where the output voltage of the Hall element 14 is positive and the region where the output voltage is negative is indicated by a dotted line. When the leaf spring 2 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 5A, the Hall element 14 is outside the boundary 14 as shown in FIG. When the leaf spring 2 is in the open position as shown in FIG. 5C, the Hall element 14 is within the boundary 14 as shown in FIG. That is, the positive position and the negative position of the output value of the voltage of the Hall element 14 are different between the open position and the closed position of the leaf spring 2.

  For this reason, by arranging the Hall element 14 at a position where the positive / negative of the output of the Hall element 14 is reversed, the state determination unit 13 determines the positive / negative of the output voltage without checking the voltage value of the Hall element in advance. . From this determination result, it is possible to identify whether the leaf spring 2 is in the open or closed position.

(Comparative Example 1)
FIG. 6 is a front view of a conventional latching relay for identifying a state using an auxiliary contact. In the conventional latching relay shown in FIG. 6, the outer shape of the relay is increased by the space of the auxiliary contact 16, the auxiliary contact terminal 17, and its driving portion. Further, since it is necessary to generate extra contact pressure and driving force of the auxiliary contact 16, the coil 1a and the permanent magnet 9 are also increased, and the relay is further increased in size.

  7A is a diagram illustrating a closing state of the latching relay according to the sixth embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an opening state of the latching relay according to the sixth embodiment.

  In Examples 4 and 5 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, since both the magnetic poles of the permanent magnet 9 are covered with the armature 8, most of the magnetic flux flows through the armature 8 and the yoke 1b. Only measures some leakage flux.

  The latching relay according to the sixth embodiment is characterized in that a part of the permanent magnet 9 protrudes from the armature 8 toward the hall element 14 as shown in FIG.

  In the latching relay according to the sixth embodiment, a part of the permanent magnet 9 is protruded from the armature 8 toward the Hall element 14, so that the magnetic flux leaking toward the Hall element 14 can be positively increased. Since the output of the element 14 is increased, the detection sensitivity is greatly improved.

  8A is a diagram illustrating a closing state of the latching relay according to the seventh embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating an opening state of the latching relay according to the seventh embodiment.

  In the fourth to sixth embodiments, the example in which the open / close state is identified from the change in the output of the Hall element 14 using the permanent magnet 9 for holding the open / close state is shown. However, in the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. In addition to the holding permanent magnet 9, a permanent magnet 18 for identifying the open / close state is provided on the driver element 10, and the Hall element 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the permanent magnet 18.

  Since the amount of magnetic flux penetrating from the permanent magnet 18 through the Hall element 14 is different between the open position of the leaf spring 2 shown in FIG. 8A and the closed position of the leaf spring 2 shown in FIG. 8B, the output of the Hall element 14 Is different. Therefore, the same effect as that of the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a closing state of the latching relay according to the eighth embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating an opening state of the latching relay according to the eighth embodiment.

  The eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is characterized in that the hall element 14 is arranged outside the container and substantially directly above the permanent magnet 18 as compared with the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. In the eighth embodiment, since the distance between the permanent magnet 18 and the Hall element 14 changes depending on the opening / closing operation of the leaf spring 2, the opening / closing state of the leaf spring 2 can be identified by checking the output value of the Hall element 14 in advance. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the open / close state of the leaf spring 2 of one latching relay is identified. However, for example, a latching relay according to Modification 1 as shown in FIG. 10 may be used. In the modification shown in FIG. 10, two latching relays that are created so as to be symmetrical with respect to each other and that open and close are overlapped with each other on the symmetrical surface, and one Hall element 14 is arranged on the side surface of the two latching relays. doing. Thus, the open / close state of the leaf spring 2 can be identified by one Hall element 14.

  In addition, as in Modification 2 shown in FIG. 11, two latching relays can be integrated using one driver element 10, and the open / closed state of the leaf spring 2 can be identified by one Hall element 14. .

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a watt-hour meter including a latching relay according to the ninth embodiment. 12 includes an input terminal 30 connected to the power supply facility 21 via the power line 22, an output terminal 31 connected to the load 24, a current detection unit 32, a voltage detection unit 33, and an input terminal 30. And a latching relay 340 connected to the output terminal 31, an open / close state determination unit 341, a relay control circuit 35, a central processing unit 36, a display unit 37, a nonvolatile memory 38, and a communication connector 39. The latching relay 340 includes any one of the latching relays according to the first to eighth embodiments.

  The current detection unit 32 detects the use current (A1) used in the load 24 of the consumer, converts it into an electrical signal corresponding to the use current, and outputs it. The voltage detection unit 33 is a part that detects the voltage of the system under measurement, and is configured by a voltage dividing resistor such as a voltage transformer or an attenuator. The voltage detection unit 33 determines a use voltage (V1) used in the load 24 of the consumer. It is detected, converted into a low level voltage signal that is directly proportional to the operating voltage, and output.

  The central processing unit 36 is configured by a digital multiplication circuit, a DSP (digital signal processor), or the like, and calculates the amount of power based on the current detected by the current detection unit 32 and the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 33. . The display unit 37 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like and displays usage data.

  The relay control circuit 35 connects the input terminal 30 and the output terminal 31 by driving the latching relay 34 to supply power from the power supply facility 21 to the load 24. The nonvolatile memory 38 stores the usage data calculated by the central processing unit 36. The communication connector 39 is a connector for performing communication between the watt-hour meter 23 and the outside.

  Thus, according to the watt-hour meter using the latching relay 340, since the latching relay according to the first to eighth embodiments is used, the effects of the latching relay according to the first to eighth embodiments can be obtained. The watt-hour meter can be downsized.

1 electromagnet 1a coil 1b yoke 2 leaf spring 2a leaf spring fixed end 3 movable contact 4 fixed contact 5 movable side terminal 6 fixed side terminal 7 engagement member 7a upper engagement member 7b lower engagement member 8 armature 9 permanent magnet 10 drive Child 10a Driver rotating shaft 11 Strain gauge 12 Voltage detection unit 13 State determination unit 14 Hall element 15 Boundary 16 Auxiliary contact 17 Auxiliary contact terminal
18 Permanent magnet

Claims (6)

An electromagnet having a coil and a yoke;
Leaf springs,
A movable contact attached near the tip of the leaf spring;
A fixed contact contacting and moving away from the movable contact;
A movable terminal connected to the leaf spring;
A fixed terminal connected to the fixed contact;
An engaging member that is disposed between the movable terminal and the movable contact and engages with the leaf spring interposed therebetween;
An armature that contacts and separates the yoke of the electromagnet;
A permanent magnet disposed between the armatures;
The engaging member, the armature, and the permanent magnet are integrated and rotated about the rotation axis by the action of the electromagnet, and the armature is held in the open position and the closed position by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. A driving element to
A magnetic sensor disposed in the vicinity of the permanent magnet;
A state determination unit for determining an open / close state of the leaf spring based on an output from the magnetic sensor;
I have a,
The latching relay, wherein the magnetic sensor is attached between an open position and a closed position of the leaf spring and at a position where the polarity of the output of the magnetic sensor is reversed .   The latching relay according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the permanent magnet. The latching relay according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a part of the permanent magnet protrudes from the armature toward the magnetic sensor . An electromagnet having a coil and a yoke;
Leaf springs,
A movable contact attached near the tip of the leaf spring;
A fixed contact contacting and moving away from the movable contact;
A movable terminal connected to the leaf spring;
A fixed terminal connected to the fixed contact;
An engaging member that is disposed between the movable terminal and the movable contact and engages with the leaf spring interposed therebetween;
An armature that contacts and separates the yoke of the electromagnet;
A permanent magnet disposed between the armatures;
The engaging member, the armature, and the permanent magnet are integrated and rotated about the rotation axis by the action of the electromagnet, and the armature is held in the open position and the closed position by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. A driving element to
A strain gauge disposed on the front or back surface of the leaf spring, the resistance value of which varies with the stress from the leaf spring;
A state determination unit for determining an open / close state of the leaf spring based on a resistance value from the strain gauge;
Have
A latching relay, wherein a position of the leaf spring in an unstressed state is set between an open position and a closed position of the leaf spring. The latching relay according to claim 4, wherein the strain gauge is disposed to face both surfaces of the leaf spring. An input terminal connected to the power supply facility;
  An output terminal connected to the load;
  The latching relay according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the input terminal and the output terminal are connected by a relay drive signal.
  A current detector for detecting a current used in the load;
  A voltage detector for detecting a voltage used in the load;
  A power calculator that calculates power based on the current detected by the current detector and the voltage detected by the voltage detector;
A watt-hour meter comprising:

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