JP6872273B2 - Plug structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a plug structure having a pole number switching function configured to enable switching of the number of poles according to the form of an outlet.

In recent years, from the viewpoint of improving safety, the number of 3-pole plugs (3P plugs) provided with a grounding electrode and 3-pole outlets (3P outlets) compatible with 3-pole plugs has increased in plugs and outlets of load devices and the like. .. Patent Document 1 discloses a 2P3P combined plug that can be used as a 2-pole plug (2P plug) for a 2-pole outlet (2P outlet) and can be used as a 3-pole plug for a 3-pole outlet.

Specifically, the plug disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a holding portion and an outer peripheral portion that can rotate with respect to the holding portion, and the ground plug is projected / stored according to the rotation position of the outer peripheral portion with respect to the holding portion. A blocking means is provided to prevent the ground plug at the protruding position from being housed in the holding portion.

Further, in recent years, there is a need to configure a plug-in connection type earth leakage detection circuit breaker installed between an outlet and a load device plug so that the number of poles can be switched according to the form of the outlet.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-45634

However, when the plug of Patent Document 1 is inserted into a two-pole outlet, the outer peripheral portion is rotated in the direction from the first position to the second position by the other hand while holding the holding portion with one hand. Need to move. Further, since the outer peripheral portion is urged to the first position by the urging means, it is necessary to insert the plug into the outlet while holding the rotational state to the second position with both hands, which makes the operation difficult. It is expensive and requires getting used to.

In view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plug configured so that the form of a pluggable outlet can be easily switched.

The plug structure according to the present invention is provided with a movement regulating means for restricting the movement of the ground plug in the accommodating direction when the ground plug protrudes. Further, based on the operation of the operation means provided in the housing so as to be operable, the restriction with the ground plug by the movement restricting means is released, and the movement of the ground plug in the accommodating direction is allowed. .. This makes it possible to easily switch the form of the outlet that can be plugged in.

That is, the plug according to one aspect of the present invention can be slidably moved between a grippable housing and a position in which the housing protrudes from the housing and a position in which the plug is housed in the housing. In addition, the ground plug that is movably supported in the protruding direction at the housing position and urged toward the protruding position, and when the ground plug is in the protruding position, interferes with the ground plug to accommodate the ground plug. Based on the movement restricting means for restricting the movement to the position, the operating means provided in the housing so as to be able to operate from the reference position to the unlocking position, and the operation of the operating means to the unlocking position. The movement restriction releasing means for releasing the restriction of the earth plug by the movement restricting means and allowing the earth plug to move to the accommodating position, and the operating means for the reference position when the operating means is not operated. It is equipped with a return means for returning to.

Here, "supported by the housing" includes not only the case of being directly supported by the housing but also the case of being indirectly supported by the housing via other members.

According to this aspect, when the ground plug moves to the protruding position and protrudes from the housing, the movement of the ground plug to the accommodating position by the movement regulating means is restricted, and the plug has a ground pole (for example, a 3-pole plug). You will be able to use it. On the other hand, when the user holding the housing operates the operating means, the regulation by the movement regulating means is released based on the operation of the operating means, and the movement of the ground plug to the accommodating position is allowed. As a result, the form of the pluggable outlet can be easily switched.

Further, the ground plug has a locking portion that is integrally projected on the outer surface of the ground plug, and the movement restricting means interferes with the locking portion and moves to the accommodating position of the ground plug. May be regulated.

With this configuration, in addition to the function of restricting the movement of the ground plug, the locking part also functions to prevent the plug from coming off to the outside of the housing, and is also used as a connection part for the grounding wire connected inside the housing. It is possible to reduce the number of parts and the like.

Further, the returning means may urge at least one of the movement restricting means and the locking portion so as to interfere with each other.

According to this configuration, since the urging force in the direction in which the movement restricting means and the locking portion interfere with each other acts, the locked state at the protruding position of the plug can be stably maintained.

Further, the movement restriction releasing means rotates around the center of the earth plug in response to the operating force of the operating means, thereby pushing at least one of the movement restricting means and the locking portion to determine the relative position of the two. It may have a rotating body that changes from an interference state to a movement allowable state.

According to this configuration, the operability when the user operates the operating means with one hand is improved, and the number of parts can be reduced.

Further, the return means rotates and urges the rotating body to change the locking portion so as to interfere with the movement restricting means, and the movement restricting means is from the protruding position of the earth plug. In a state where movement to the accommodation position is restricted, the locked portion facing the surface of the locking portion on the accommodation position side and the locked portion are continuous, and the ground plug is moved from the protruding position to the accommodation position. It is also possible that the locking portion has an inclined surface that is guided by sliding contact in a state of receiving a rotational urging force from the rotating body when moving.

According to this configuration, when the ground plug moves from the accommodating position in the projecting direction, it receives an urging force in the rotating direction from the rotating body with respect to the locking portion in addition to the urging force in the projecting direction. Here, by providing an inclined surface in the movement restricting means, a component force in the protruding direction of the ground plug is generated on this inclined surface based on the urging force of the returning means, and this component force supports the movement of the earth plug. can do.

Further, the housing has a front wall portion, a rear wall portion arranged on the rear side of the front wall portion, and a side wall portion connecting the front wall portion and the rear wall portion, and the grounding portion. The plug may be provided on the rear wall portion of the housing, and the operating means may be provided on the side wall portion of the housing.

Here, the "side wall portion" includes all wall portions connecting between the front wall portion and the rear wall portion of the housing. For example, when the housing has a rectangular box shape extending in the vertical direction, the "side wall portion" includes a left side wall portion, a right side wall portion, an upper wall portion, and a lower wall portion.

According to this configuration, when the housing is gripped with one hand, the operating means is arranged at a position where it is easy to operate with a fingertip such as a thumb or index finger. This improves the operability of the operating means.

Further, the movement restriction releasing means moves the locking portion so as to release interference with the movement restricting means to allow the earth plug to move to the accommodating position, and the earth plug protrudes. It may be provided with a guiding means having an inclined surface that slides into the locking portion and guides the locking portion so as to interfere with the movement restricting means when moving to the position.

According to this configuration, when the ground plug urged in the projecting direction moves to the projecting position, it slides along the inclined surface and moves to the interference position of the movement regulating means provided at the tip of the inclined surface. You will be guided. As a result, a smoother and more reliable movement regulation operation of the ground plug can be realized.

According to the present invention, since the movement restriction of the ground plug in the accommodating direction can be released by the operation on the surface of the housing, the form of the pluggable outlet can be easily switched.

It is a perspective view which looked at the plug which concerns on embodiment from the diagonally left upper side. It is a perspective view which looked at the pole number switching structure from the diagonally upper side of the front. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. It is a perspective view which looked at the pole number switching structure from the diagonally upper side of the rear. It is a figure for demonstrating the accommodating operation and the projecting operation of the earth plug. It is a figure for demonstrating the accommodating operation and the projecting operation of the earth plug. It is a figure for demonstrating the accommodating operation and the projecting operation of the earth plug. It is a figure for demonstrating the accommodating operation and the projecting operation of the earth plug. It is a top view which shows another example of a pole number switching structure schematically.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description of preferred embodiments is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the invention, its scope of application or its use.

<Outline of plug>
FIG. 1 shows a plug 10 according to this embodiment. Although not shown, the plug 10 is an earth leakage detection circuit breaker that is arranged between an outlet installed at a construction site or a building and a load device and electrically connects the two. When an electric leakage occurs in the load device, the plug 10 instantly detects the leakage and cuts off the supply of commercial power to the load device. The plug 10 has a feature that it can be used without an adapter in both the case where the outlet is a 3-pole outlet having a ground plug insertion hole and the case where the plug 10 is a 2-pole outlet without a ground plug insertion hole.

In the following, when the plug 10 is inserted into the outlet, the front side is referred to as "front" and the side facing the outlet is referred to as "rear". Further, in the insertion plug projecting from the rear wall of the housing, which will be described later, the side where the electrode plug protrudes is referred to as "upper" and the side where the ground plug protrudes is referred to as "lower", and the vertical direction when viewed from the front side. Define left and right based on.

The plug 10 includes a tubular housing 20 having a size (for example, 110 × 50 × 55 mm) that can be grasped by a user (operator) with one hand, and has a pole number switching structure 40 and an electric leakage protection in the housing 20. The section 50 and the unit are housed. The housing 20 can be separated back and forth at the central portion in the front-rear direction, and FIG. 1 shows a state in which the housing 20 is separated back and forth. The housing 20 includes a front cover 20a forming the front half and a rear cover 20b forming the rear half. The front cover 20a has a bottomed box shape that opens to the rear side, and the rear cover 20b has a bottomed box shape that opens to the front side. Further, an engaging claw portion 20c is provided at the left end portion of the front cover 20a, and an engaging recess 20d capable of engaging with the engaging claw portion 20c is provided at a position corresponding to the engaging claw portion 20c on the rear cover 20b. Has been done. Then, with both covers 20a and 20b abutting against each other, the engaging claw portion 20c of the front cover 20a and the engaging recess 20d of the rear cover 20b are engaged with each other. As a result, both covers 20a and 20b are integrally assembled to form the housing 20, and a closed space is formed inside the housing 20. After the above assembly, the front cover 20a and the rear cover 20b are screwed and fixed at the four corners on the rear surface side of the rear cover 20b by tapping screws (not shown). Hereinafter, the term "housing 20" refers to the housing after the above-mentioned screw fixing. That is, the housing 20 after being fixed by screwing has a front wall portion formed of the bottom wall of the front cover 20a, a rear wall portion formed on the rear side of the front wall portion, and a rear wall portion formed of the bottom wall of the rear cover 20b. It is composed of the peripheral walls of both the front cover 20a and the rear cover 20b, and has four peripheral side wall portions connecting the front wall portion and the rear wall portion. The side wall portion is composed of upper and lower wall portions and left and right wall portions.

Although not shown, the earth leakage protection unit 50 includes an earth leakage detection unit that detects an earth leakage and a connection cutoff unit that cuts off the connection between the input and output of the plug when the earth leakage detection unit detects an overcurrent or an earth leakage. .. Conventional techniques can be applied to the configurations of the earth leakage protection unit and the connection cutoff unit, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

On the rear wall portion of the housing 20, a plug 25 composed of two electrode plugs 29 and 29 and a ground plug 27 is projected at a position near the upper end. Further, a crimp terminal 26 having a function of a ground terminal of the plug 10 is provided at the lower left corner of the same rear wall portion. The plug 10 electrically connects the outlet and the load device by inserting the plug 25 into the outlet and inserting the plug of the load device into the outlets 31 and 31 described later.

On the front wall portion of the housing 20, push-type ON buttons 23 and test buttons 24 are arranged in the order of description from the top at intermediate positions in the vertical and horizontal directions. The ON button 23 is a switch that turns on (makes a connection state) the supply of commercial power to the load device. The test button 24 is in a state where the supply of commercial power to the load device is turned off in order to confirm whether the plug 10 operates normally (that is, whether the supply of commercial power to the load device is cut off in the event of an electric leakage). It is a switch to set (blocked state).

Further, on the front wall portion of the housing 20, one insertion port 31 (corresponding to a 3-pole plug) for inserting a plug of a load device or the like is provided under the test button 24. Although not shown, a similar insertion port is provided in the center of the lower wall portion which is a part of the side wall portion of the housing 20. At the lower part of the housing 20, a common blade receiving metal fitting 32 into which a power plug of a load device or the like inserted from both outlets 31 and a ground plug are fitted is provided.

In the front wall portion of the housing 20, a power supply display unit 21 is provided at a position closer to the left end on the upper side of the ON button 23, and a pole number display unit 22 is provided at a position closer to the right end so as to be at the same height position. ing.

The power display unit 21 is composed of, for example, an LED, and when it is detected that the power display unit 21 is inserted into an outlet by pressing the ON button 23, that is, electricity can be supplied between the outlet and the load device via the plug 10. Lights up when the condition is reached. As a result, the user who uses the plug 10 can grasp that the commercial power and the load device are normally conducted. On the other hand, the power display unit 21 is turned off when the plug 10 cannot be energized, such as when a cutoff operation is performed by the earth leakage protection unit 50 that has detected an overcurrent or an earth leakage. This allows the user to know that an overcurrent or earth leakage has occurred, or that the test has been successful.

After an overcurrent or an electric leakage occurs, and after the operation check of the plug 10 by the test button 24 is completed, the plug 10 can be used again as an electric leakage detection circuit breaker by pressing the ON button 23 again. Become.

The pole number display unit 22 represents the state of the number of poles of the insertion plug 25, and is a pole number display window 22a formed through the front wall portion of the housing 20 and a housing on the rear side of the pole number display window 22a. It is composed of a color display unit 46a, which will be described later, arranged in the body 20. In other words, the pole number display unit 22 is configured so that the display color of the color display unit 46a can be seen through the pole number display window 22a.

On the left side wall portion of the housing 20, a circular recess 28a having a peripheral wall portion having an arcuate cross section is formed at a position near the upper end. From the bottom to the front end of the recess 28a, a rectangular button insertion hole 28b is formed so as to penetrate the left wall portion. A push-type release button 41 as an operating means is movably inserted into the button insertion hole 28b. The release button 41 has a rod portion 41c extending in the right direction, and the tip portion (left end portion) thereof protrudes outside the housing 20 (hereinafter, also referred to as a button reference position) to prevent the release button 41 from coming off the housing 20. Has been done. The release button 41 is always urged in the protruding direction by a release button spring 42 (see FIG. 2) around the rod portion 41c. That is, the release button 41 is configured to be pushed into the housing 20 when an operating force is applied, and to return to the protruding position when the operating force is released.

-Structure of pole number switching structure-
Next, the pole number switching structure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

The ground plug 27 is provided at a position corresponding to the ground pole of the 3-pole outlet. The ground plug 27 has a round bar-shaped ground plug main body 27a that is slidably supported between a protruding position protruding from the housing 20 and a housing position housed in the housing 20. The base end portion (front end portion) of the ground plug main body 27a is folded back so as to extend outward in the radial direction of the ground plug main body 27a and then extend toward the tip end side (rear side) of the ground plug main body 27a. An L-shaped switching plate 27b as a locking portion is integrally projected. Although not shown, a circular plug insertion hole slightly larger than the outer diameter of the ground plug main body 27a is formed through the rear wall portion of the housing 20. The ground plug main body 27a is inserted into the plug insertion hole from the inside of the housing 20 with the tip end facing outward. As a result, the ground plug 27 is prevented from coming off from the rear wall portion of the housing 20 by the switching plate 27b.

A display cylinder 43 as a means for releasing movement restriction is provided in the housing 20 on the front side of the plug insertion hole. The display cylinder 43 has a display cylinder main body 43a as a cylindrical rotating body extending in the front direction in the housing 20 on the front side of the plug insertion hole. The display cylinder body 43a is rotatably supported by the housing 20 around its center, its inner diameter is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the ground plug body 27a, and the opening on the rear end side of the display cylinder body 43a is open. , Communicating with the above plug insertion hole.

The earth plug main body 27a is inserted into the display cylinder main body 43a from the opening on the rear end side, and in that state, the protruding position where most of the ground plug main body 27a comes out from the inside of the display cylinder main body 43a, and substantially the entire length direction. Is designed to slide between the display cylinder body and the accommodating position immersed in the main body 43a. When the ground plug main body 27a is immersed in the accommodation position, the ground plug 27 is positioned at the accommodation position accommodated in the housing 20.

Further, the display cylinder main body 43a is formed with a notch portion 43b in which a part of the wall portion thereof is cut out in a rectangular shape from the rear end toward the front to an intermediate position in the length direction of the display cylinder main body 43a. .. The width of the notch 43b, which is the length along the circumferential direction of the display cylinder main body 43a, is formed to be slightly larger than the lateral width of the switching plate 27b. The switching plate 27b is arranged in the cutout portion 43b in a state in which a part thereof protrudes toward the outside of the display cylinder main body 43a. As a result, the switching plate 27b integrated with the ground plug main body 27a moves in the notch 43b while being guided by the notch 43b.

Further, the display cylinder main body 43a is rotatably arranged in the housing 20 so that the front end faces the rear surface of the front plate of the housing 20 in a close state. A coil spring 44 as an earth plug urging means is inserted into the display cylinder main body 43a from the front side of the central hole 48c formed in the base portion 48a of the transmission plate 48, which will be described later. The coil spring 44 is compressed between the front wall portion of the housing 20 and the base end portion of the ground plug main body 27a, and urges the ground plug main body 27a so as to move from the accommodating position to the protruding position. There is.

A lock plate 45 is disposed inside the housing 20, and the lock plate 45 is fixed to the housing 20 by, for example, a tapping screw 45c. The lock plate 45 is switched when the ground plug 27 protrudes sufficiently toward the outside of the housing 20 and moves to the protruding position so that it can be inserted into a 3-pole outlet (hereinafter, also referred to as a 3-pole lock state). It is arranged on the accommodation direction side of the plate 27b. 2 to 4 show a three-pole locked state of the pole number switching structure 40.

Specifically, the lock plate 45 has a base portion 45a extending in the vertical direction and a mounting portion 45b continuous with the rear end portion of the base portion 45a and extending in the right direction, and the mounting portion 45b has a tapping screw 45c. Is fixed to the housing 20 by. At the lower end of the base 45a, a regulation portion 45e extending horizontally in the front-rear direction is continuous. A locked portion 45f as a movement restricting means is formed at the rear end of the regulating portion 45e. The locked portion 45f is arranged so as to face the front side of the switching plate 27b of the ground plug 27 and interfere with the switching plate 27b when the ground plug 27 moves to the protruding position. In this interference state, the movement of the ground plug 27 in the accommodating direction is restricted, and the ground plug 27 can be stably used as a 3-pole plug. Further, a spring support portion 45d extending to the left is continuous with the front portion of the regulation portion 45e.

In the present embodiment, the "interference state" is a concept including a state in which a plurality of objects are directly or indirectly engaged with each other to prevent the movement of at least one object. is there. Specifically, for example, the switching plate 27b and the lock plate 45 are in contact with each other, and the switching plate 27b and the lock plate 45 are in close contact with each other so that they are indirectly locked. It is a concept that includes both. Further, the "locking operation" in which the state of the 2-pole plug inserted into the 2-pole outlet is restored to the 3-pole plug and the movement of the ground plug in the accommodating direction is restricted is described in the "protrusion operation of the ground plug" described later. This will be described in detail.

Further, the restricting portion 45e of the lock plate 45 extends from the right end of the locked portion 45f toward the diagonally front right side, that is, is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the protruding direction of the earth plug 27 on the right end surface thereof. An inclined surface of 45 g is formed. Due to the inclined surface 45g, when the ground plug 27 moves from the protruding position to the accommodating position, it slides into contact with the switching plate 27b and rotates the display cylinder main body 43a together with the switching plate 27b.

Further, a transmission plate 48 is rotatably provided at the front end of the display cylinder main body 43a. The transmission plate 48 has a disc-shaped base portion 48a fixed concentrically to the display cylinder main body 43a, and a protruding portion 48b protruding outward in the radial direction from a part of the outer peripheral portion of the base portion 48a. A rectangular plate-shaped transmission portion 48d extending parallel to a plane passing through the rotation center of the display cylinder main body 43a is integrally projected on one side of the protrusion 48b in the width direction. The transmission portion 48d is arranged so as to face the tip of the rod portion 41c of the release button 41. Then, the release button 41 is pushed against the urging force of the release button spring 42 to push the transmission portion 43c with the tip of the rod portion 41c, thereby rotating the transmission plate 48 and integrating it with the transmission plate 48. The display cylinder body 43a of is rotated around the center. That is, when the release button 41 is pushed toward the right side, the transmission plate 48 rotates integrally with the display cylinder main body 43a in the rotation direction (clockwise direction) according to the pushing amount of the release button 41. To do.

Further, on the other side of the projecting portion 48b of the transmission plate 48 in the width direction, an arc plate-shaped display plate 46 extending around the rotation center of the display cylinder main body 43a is integrally formed at one end in the circumferential direction. .. The display board 46 is arranged so as to correspond to the number of poles display window 22a of the housing 20. On the front surface of the display plate 46 (the surface on the pole number display window 22a side), a white sheet 46b extending from an end (one end) located on the transmission portion 48d side in the circumferential direction to an intermediate position, and the other end from the intermediate position A sheet-shaped color display unit 46a composed of a green sheet 46c extending to is attached. In each figure, the white sheet 46b is shown by a diagonal line rising diagonally to the right, and the green sheet 46c is shown by a diagonal line rising diagonally to the left. In the present embodiment, the color display unit 46a is composed of two color sheets, a white sheet 46b and a green sheet 46c, but may have three or more colors, and each sheet is white. , May be a different color other than green.

In the present embodiment, in the state where the release button 41 is not pressed, the display cylinder body 43a, the transmission plate 48, and the display plate 46 are urged by the rotational urging force of the automatic lock spring 47 described later. It is in a non-rotating state, and in this state, green is displayed on the pole number display unit 22 (the green sheet 46c can be seen from the pole number display window 22a). Further, the number of poles display unit 22 is white while the green region gradually decreases in the process in which the release button 41 is pushed and the display cylinder body 43a, the transmission plate 48 and the display plate 46 rotate from the non-rotating state. The area of is gradually increased, and when it is pushed to the unlocked position described later and the display cylinder body 43a, the transmission plate 48, and the display plate 46 rotate to the maximum angle, white is displayed on the pole number display unit 22 (poles). The white sheet 46b can be seen from the number display window 22a).

An automatic lock spring 47 as a return urging means composed of a torsion coil spring is wound around the outer periphery of the base end portion of the display cylinder main body 43a between the base end portion and the base portion 48a of the transmission plate 48. One end of the automatic lock spring 47 is locked to the transmission plate 48 of the display cylinder 43, and the other end is locked to the spring support portion 45h of the lock plate 45. The automatic lock spring 47 urges the display cylinder 43 in the direction of returning to the three-pole locked state, in other words, in the return direction opposite to the rotation direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3).

The pole number switching structure 40 is composed of a switching plate 27b of the ground plug 27, a release button 41, a release button spring 42, a display cylinder 43, a ground telescopic spring 44, and a lock plate 45.

Further, the guiding means includes an inclined surface 45 g of the lock plate 45, a display cylinder 43 and an automatic lock spring 47, and guides the switching plate 27b in the projecting direction along the inclined surface 45 g of the lock plate 45.

<Plug pole number switching operation>
Next, the pole number switching operation of the plug 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

-Accommodation operation of ground plug-
FIG. 5 shows a case where the release button 41 is in the button reference position and the ground plug 27 is in the protruding position, that is, the plug is in the 3-pole locked state. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the ground plug 27 is in the protruding position, the switching plate 27b and the locked portion 45f of the lock plate 45 interfere with each other, so that the ground plug 27 moves in the accommodating direction. Be regulated.

In this interference state, for example, even if a force in the accommodating direction is applied to the ground plug 27 due to a reaction force from the blade receiving metal fitting of the outlet when the ground plug 27 is inserted into the three-pole outlet, the front plate and the lock of the switching plate 27b are locked. Since the locked portion 45f of the plate 45 is abutted and locked, the protruding state of the ground plug 27 is maintained. That is, FIG. 5 shows a state of a 3-pole plug (3-pole locked state) in which the plug 10 corresponds to a 3-pole outlet. At this time, the number of poles display unit 22 of the housing 20 displays the green color of the green sheet 46c on the display board 46.

Hereinafter, the accommodating operation of the earth plug 27 will be described in detail. That is, the operation of switching the number of poles from the 3-pole locked state to the 2-pole plug and the operation of plugging into the 2-pole outlet will be described.

First, the user performs an operation of switching the number of poles of the plug 10 from the 3-pole locked state to the 2-pole plug. Specifically, from the 3-pole locked state of FIG. 5, the release button 41 is pushed by the user holding the housing 20 against the urging force of the release button spring 42 and the rotational urging force of the automatic lock spring 47. Will be done. Then, the transmission portion 48d of the transmission plate 48 is pushed by the rod portion 41c of the release button 41 to move, and the display plate 46 and the display cylinder main body 43a integrated with the transmission plate 48 rotate in the rotation direction (clockwise in FIG. 5A). Rotate in the clockwise direction). Along with this rotation, the notch 43b of the display cylinder body 43a also moves in the rotation direction, so that the switching plate 27b is also pushed by the display cylinder body 43a and moves in the rotation direction. Here, since the lock plate 45 is fixed to the housing 20 and does not rotate following it, the relative position (viewed from the accommodation direction) related to the rotation direction between the switching plate 27b and the locked portion 45f of the lock plate 45. Each other's position) changes. Although not shown, at this time, in the pole number display unit 22, the green region gradually decreases, while the white region due to the white sheet 46b on the display plate 46 gradually increases.

Further, when the release button 41 is pushed forward by the user, as shown in FIG. 6B, the left end of the switching plate 27b is inclined with the locked portion 45f (locked portion surface) of the lock plate 45. It moves to the boundary with the surface 45 g. In the state of FIG. 6, the switching plate 27b is not locked by the locked portion 45f. As a result, when a force is applied to the ground plug 27 in the direction toward the accommodation position, the switching plate 27b, together with the ground plug 27, gradually rotates along the inclined surface 45 g against the urging force of the coil spring 44. However, it can proceed in the accommodation direction. That is, in the state of FIG. 6, the interference of the earth plug 27 by the lock plate 45 is released, and the earth plug is allowed to move to the accommodating position. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the position of each component in FIG. 6 may be referred to as an unlocked position, and the state of FIG. 6 may be referred to as an unlocked state. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, white is displayed on the pole number display unit 22.

After the state shown in FIG. 6, the user performs an operation of inserting the plug 10 into the outlet. Since the two-pole outlet does not have a ground electrode, the tip of the ground plug 27 is pressed against the surface of the outlet cover by the above-mentioned insertion operation, and receives a force to push from the outlet cover in the accommodating direction. In response to the pushing force in the accommodating direction, the ground plug 27 moves in the accommodating direction, and the amount of protrusion to the outside of the housing 20 gradually decreases. The operation of the release button 41 may be released once the earth plug 27 has been accommodated in the display cylinder main body 43a. Even when the operation is canceled, the movement of the ground plug 27 in the accommodating direction can be continued by continuing the plugging operation into the bipolar outlet.

FIG. 7 shows the state of the pole number switching structure 40 while the plug 10 is being inserted into the two-pole outlet (during connection). As shown in FIG. 7B, the ground plug 27 is housed in the housing 20 (inside the display cylinder main body 43a) up to an intermediate position of the ground plug main body 27a.

FIG. 8 shows the state of the pole number switching structure 40 when the plug 10 is completely connected to the two-pole outlet, that is, when the ground plug 27 is in the accommodation position. As shown in FIG. 8B, the ground plug 27 is housed in the housing 20 (inside the display cylinder main body 43a) over substantially the entire axial direction of the ground plug main body 27a. At this time, the rear end of the ground plug 27 remains in contact with the outlet cover. That is, the accommodation position is a concept including a state in which the ground plug 27 is not completely accommodated in the housing 20. As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 8 (a), the number of poles display unit 22 continuously displays white from the display state of FIG.

-Protruding operation of the ground plug-
Next, the pole number switching operation from the state in which the plug 10 is inserted into the 2-pole outlet to the return to the 3-pole locked state will be described in detail. It should be noted that the operation of the release button 41 is not required in the above-mentioned return operation, and it will be described below assuming that the release button 41 is not pressed.

When the plug 10 moves from the two-pole outlet in the removal direction (forward direction), the switching plate 27b is moved to the lock plate 45 mainly by the component force of the rotational urging force of the automatic lock spring 47 in addition to the urging force of the ground telescopic spring 44. The ground plug 27 moves in the projecting direction while rotating along the inclined surface 45 g, and the ground plug 27 gradually projects to the outside of the housing 20 while rotating in the same manner. Specifically, since the inclined surface 45g of the lock plate 45 is tilted with respect to the return direction, the earth plug 27 has a component force in the return direction and a protrusion direction among the rotational urging forces of the automatic lock spring 47. A component force is given. The switching plate 27b is pressed against the inclined surface 45g by the component force in the returning direction. Further, the switching plate 27b is pushed in the protruding direction by the component force in the protruding direction, and the movement of the ground plug 27 in the protruding direction is supported. By moving the switching plate 27b, the notch 43b of the display cylinder main body 43a also rotates in the return direction.

Then, when the switching plate 27b reaches the boundary (unlocking position) between the inclined surface 45g of the lock plate 45 and the locked portion 45f, the switching plate 27b rotates in the return direction, and 3 as shown in FIG. It automatically returns to the polar lock state.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ground plug 27 is urged in the protruding direction by the ground telescopic spring 44, and when the ground plug 27 moves to the protruding position, the lock plate 45 is arranged on the front side of the switching plate 27b. Therefore, the switching plate 27b and the locked portion 45f interfere with each other, and the movement of the ground plug 27 to the accommodation position is restricted. That is, the plug 10 is configured to be a three-pole plug unless the user operates the release button 41. As a result, the user can insert the plug 10 into the 3-pole outlet without worrying about the state of the plug 10 (2-pole / 3-pole). Further, it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion into a 3-pole outlet in the state of a 2-pole plug.

Further, when the release button 41 is pushed to the unlocked position by the user's intention, the interference between the switching plate 27b and the locked portion 45f is released, and the ground plug 27 is allowed to move in the accommodating direction (forward direction). .. As a result, the user can put the ground plug 27 into a state where it can be accommodated by a simple operation with one hand, that is, the plug 10 can be plugged into a two-pole outlet.

Further, the display cylinder main body 43a is urged by the automatic lock spring 47 so that the switching plate 27b and the locked portion 45f interfere with each other, that is, in the return direction. As a result, the interference state between the switching plate 27b and the locked portion 45f when the ground plug 27 is in the protruding position can be made more reliable, and the three-pole locked state can be stably maintained. ..

Further, since the lock plate 45 is provided with an inclined surface 45 g extending diagonally to the right rear side from the right end of the locked portion 45f, when the earth plug 27 protrudes, the urging force by the automatic lock spring 47 is applied. A corresponding component force in the protruding direction is generated. As a result, the protruding operation of the ground plug 27 is supported, and the protruding operation can be made smoother. In addition, with respect to the automatic lock spring 47 and the ground telescopic spring 44, there are no restrictions on the balance of spring strength between the two, and the ease of design is improved.

Further, a release button 41 is projected at a position near the upper end on the left wall portion of the housing 20. That is, for example, when the plug 10 is gripped by the user with the right hand (one hand), the release button 41 is configured to come to the position of the thumb, and the release button 41 is pressed with one hand (thumb). It can be easily plugged into a 2-pole outlet. By using a rotating body such as the display cylinder main body 43a described in the above embodiment, the release button 41 can be arranged at the above position with a small number of parts.

<Other Embodiments>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications can be made.

For example, in the above embodiment, the example in which the operating means (release button 41) is provided at a position near the upper end of the left side wall portion of the housing 20 has been described, but the installation position of the operating means is not limited to this. For example, it may be provided at a position where it can be operated with the fingers of one hand. For example, the operating means may be provided on the upper wall portion of the housing 20. In this case, the user can easily attach the plug 10 to the outlet while pressing the release button with the index finger. Further, it is not necessary to be able to operate with one finger. For example, when operating means are provided on the left and right side wall portions and the housing 20 is gripped from both the left and right sides with one hand, the operation is performed with two fingers. The means may be manipulated.

Further, the operating means may be configured so as to be capable of displacement operation, and is not limited to the push-type release button 41 as described in the above embodiment. For example, it may be a slide type or dial type operation means, and the surface of the operation means may be covered with an elastic body so that the displacement operation can be performed by elastically deforming from the outside. Even in this case, the same effect can be obtained if the displacement operation of the operating means is configured to be transmitted to the releasing means. It should be noted that other means such as a spring or an electromagnetic means may be used to amplify the displacement operation by the operating means and transmit it to the releasing means.

Further, the locking portion (switching plate 27b) is not limited to an L-shaped projecting body integrally provided at the front end portion of the ground plug main body 27a, and may be, for example, a rectangular protrusion. It may be a cylindrical or conical protrusion over the entire circumferential direction. Further, the locking portion may be provided at a position closer to the middle than the base end portion on the front side of the ground plug main body 27a, for example. Further, the locking portion does not have to be a protruding body, and for example, a recess as a locking portion may be formed in the ground plug main body 27a. In that case, the locked portion may be formed of a projecting body. Further, a part of the ground plug main body 27a may also serve as the locking portion. However, there is an advantage that the locking portion can be used as both the retaining portion and the locking portion by forming the locking portion into a protruding body integrally provided at the front end portion of the ground plug main body 27a as in the embodiment. It is preferable because there is.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the earth plug 27 protrudes, the locking portion moves to the rear end portion of the lock plate 45 along the inclined surface 45 g, and then rotates in the return direction to accommodate the earth plug 27. Directional movement is restricted, but not limited to this. For example, although not shown, a recess is provided at an intermediate position of the inclined surface 45g of the lock plate 45, and the switching plate 27b enters the recess so that the movement of the earth plug 27 in the accommodating direction is restricted. You may. Even in this case, in the locked state, the front wall surface of the recess faces the switching plate 27b, so that the front wall of the recess arranged on the accommodation direction side of the switching plate 27b restricts the movement of the earth plug 27 in the accommodation direction. Will be done.

Further, in the above embodiment, the structure may be such that the automatic lock spring 47 is not provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a guide portion 45i extending horizontally in the front-rear direction may be provided on the right side of the regulation portion 45e of the lock plate 45. The guide portion 45i and the regulation portion 45e have the same height position in the vertical direction and the position of the front end portion. Further, the guide portion 45i is formed with an inclined surface 45j that is inclined in parallel with the inclined surface 45g of the regulation portion 45e. The rear end position of the inclined surface 45j extends to the rear side of the rear end position of the locked portion 45f. Further, the inclined surface 45j is slightly inclined at the rear end portion and extends toward the left side so that the tip shape becomes an acute angle. Further, the distance between the inclined surface 45g and the inclined surface 45j is slightly larger than the width of the switching plate 27b of the earth plug 27 in the left-right direction. By providing such a guide portion 45i, in the projecting operation of the ground plug 27, even if there is no urging force by the automatic lock spring 47, the switching plate 27b is tilted by receiving the urging force of the coil spring 44. When the ground plug 27 slides along the surface 45j and moves to the protruding position, the inertial force sliding on the inclined surface 45j automatically brings the three-pole lock state as shown in FIG. The operation of accommodating the ground plug 27 is the same as that of the embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Further, as another modification in which the automatic lock spring 47 is not provided other than the above, although not shown, the movement in the protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface 45g and the immersion direction immersing in the inclined surface 45g on the rear end side of the inclined surface 45g. And may be provided with a claw portion urged in the protruding direction. In this case, the claw portion and the switching plate 27b that has moved to the rear side of the claw portion interfere with each other to restrict the movement in the accommodating direction. By doing so, it becomes possible to regulate the movement of the ground plug 27 to the accommodating position without rotating the switching plate 27b. In this case, if the claw portion moves in the immersion direction based on the operation to the operating means and the interference between the locking portion and the fitted portion is released, the same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained. Be done.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example of an earth leakage detection circuit breaker as a plug has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to other plugs, and the number of poles can be easily switched according to the form of the outlet as in the present embodiment.

Since the present invention is configured so that the form of the pluggable outlet can be easily switched with one hand, it can be applied to a plug for a wide range of purposes including a plug for an earth leakage detection breaker, which is extremely useful. ..

10 plug (plug structure, earth leakage breaker)
20 Housing 27 Earth plug 27b Switching plate (locking part)
41 Release button (operation means)
43 Display cylinder (means for releasing movement restrictions)
43a Display cylinder body (rotating body)
45e Regulation Department (Movement Regulation Means)
45f Locked part 45g Inclined surface 47 Automatic lock spring (returning means)

Claims (1)

With a grippable housing
It is supported by the housing so as to be slidable between a protruding position protruding from the housing and a housing position housed in the housing and movable in the protruding direction at the housing position, toward the protruding position. With the urged ground plug
When the ground plug is located closer to the accommodating position than the projecting position, the earth plug is allowed to move between the projecting position and the accommodating position, while the earth plug is in the projecting position. In addition, a movement control means for restricting the movement of the ground plug to the accommodation position,
An operating means provided in the housing so as to be able to operate from the reference position to the unlocked position.
Based on the operation of the operating means to the unlocked position, the movement restricting means for releasing the restriction of the ground plug by the moving regulating means and allowing the earth plug to move to the accommodating position, and the movement restricting releasing means.
It is provided with a returning means for returning the operating means to the reference position when the operating means is not operated.
The plug structure is characterized by that.

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