JP7508774B2 - Electromagnetic Relay - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay.

Conventionally, electromagnetic relays that open and close electric circuits are known. The electromagnetic relay described in Patent Document 1 includes a fixed terminal including a fixed contact, a movable contact piece including a movable contact, a drive shaft, and a drive device. The drive device moves the movable contact piece via the drive shaft in a direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and in a direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact.

JP 5163318 A

Conventional electromagnetic relays have a problem in that when the movable contact touches the fixed contact, a collision sound is generated due to the collision between the movable contact and the fixed contact.

The objective of this invention is to suppress the impact noise when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact.

An electromagnetic relay according to one aspect of the present invention includes a drive shaft, a fixed terminal, a movable contact piece, a drive device, and a damping member. The fixed terminal includes a fixed contact. The fixed terminal is plate-shaped and extends in a direction intersecting the drive shaft. The movable contact piece is connected to the drive shaft. The movable contact piece includes a movable contact arranged opposite the fixed contact. The drive device moves the movable contact piece via the drive shaft in a direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and in a direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact. The damping member is provided in contact with the fixed contact and damps vibrations when the movable contact contacts the fixed contact.

In this electromagnetic relay, the damping member is provided in contact with the fixed terminal, so that the vibrations that occur when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact are damped by the damping member. This makes it possible to suppress the impact noise that occurs when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact.

The fixed terminal may include a first surface on which the fixed contact is disposed, and a second surface opposite the first surface. The damping member may be provided on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. In this case, the damping member can effectively damp vibrations that occur when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact.

The electromagnetic relay may further include a contact case. The contact case may include a hole that penetrates in the direction of movement of the movable contact piece. The fixed contact and the movable contact piece may be housed in the contact case. The second surface of the fixed terminal may be disposed in contact with the contact case at a position that overlaps with the hole when viewed from the direction of movement of the movable contact piece. The damping material may be filled in the hole. In this case, it is possible to damp vibrations when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact with a simple configuration.

The damping member may be made of resin.

The damping member may be a compression spring arranged on the second surface side so as to be expandable and contractible in the direction of movement of the movable contact piece.

The damping member may be positioned so that it overlaps with the fixed contact when viewed from the direction of movement of the movable contact piece. In this case, the damping member is positioned close to the source of vibration, so that the impact noise when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact can be more effectively suppressed.

The electromagnetic relay may further include a resin contact case in which the fixed contact and the movable contact piece are housed. The damping member may be integral with the contact case. At least one of the first and second surfaces of the fixed terminal may be disposed in contact with the contact case. In this case, the contact case also serves as the damping member, thereby reducing the number of parts.

The first and second surfaces of the fixed terminal may be arranged in contact with the contact case. In this case, the impact sound when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact can be more effectively suppressed.

The contact case may include a contact portion that is formed in a wavy shape and contacts the second surface of the fixed terminal. In this case, the contact portion can more effectively suppress the impact noise when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact.

The present invention can suppress the impact noise when the movable contact touches the fixed contact.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic relay when the electromagnetic relay is in an open state. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic relay when the electromagnetic relay is in a closed state. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a contact case according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a contact case according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a contact case according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a contact case according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a contact case according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a contact case according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a contact case according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a contact case according to another embodiment. FIG.

Below, an embodiment of an electromagnetic relay 100 according to one aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that when referring to the drawings, in order to make the description easier to understand, the upper side in FIG. 1 will be described as "upper", the lower side as "lower", the left side as "left", and the right side as "right". In addition, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 will be described as the front-to-rear direction. These directions are defined for the convenience of description, and do not limit the arrangement direction of the electromagnetic relay 100.

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electromagnetic relay 100. As shown in Figure 1, the electromagnetic relay 100 includes a contact case 2, a contact device 3, a drive device 4, and damping members 5a and 5b.

The contact case 2 is a substantially rectangular box-shaped body made of an insulating material. In this embodiment, the contact case 2 is made of resin. The contact device 3 is housed within the contact case 2. In detail, the contact device 3 houses the fixed contacts 6c, 7c and the movable contact piece 10, which will be described later.

The contact case 2 includes a top surface portion 2a, a side wall portion 2b, and terminal support portions 2c and 2d. The top surface portion 2a is substantially rectangular in top view and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. The side wall portion 2b extends in the up-down direction from the outer end of the top surface portion 2a so as to surround the sides of the contact device 3. The terminal support portions 2c and 2d are formed by through holes that penetrate the side wall portion 2b in the left-right direction.

The contact device 3 includes fixed terminals 6, 7, a movable contact piece 10, and a movable mechanism 11. The fixed terminals 6, 7 are plate-shaped terminals formed from a conductive material. The fixed terminals 6, 7 extend in a direction intersecting with the drive shaft 21 described below. In detail, the fixed terminals 6, 7 extend in the left-right direction and penetrate the contact case 2 in the left-right direction. The fixed terminals 6 and 7 are arranged at a distance in the left-right direction. The fixed terminal 6 is supported by the terminal support portion 2c. The fixed terminal 7 is supported by the terminal support portion 2d.

The fixed terminal 6 includes a first surface 6a, a second surface 6b, a fixed contact 6c, and an external connection portion 6d. The first surface 6a faces downward. The first surface 6a is in contact with the terminal support portion 2c. The second surface 6b is the surface opposite the first surface 6a and faces upward.

The fixed contact 6c is disposed on the first surface 6a. The fixed contact 6c is formed of a conductive material. The fixed contact 6c is separate from the fixed terminal 6. The fixed contact 6c may be integrated with the fixed terminal 6. The external connection portion 6d protrudes leftward from the contact case 2 and is exposed to the outside.

The fixed terminal 7 includes a first surface 7a, a second surface 7b, a fixed contact 7c, and an external connection portion 7d. The first surface 7a faces downward. The first surface 7a is in contact with the terminal support portion 2d. The second surface 7b is the surface opposite the first surface 7a and faces upward.

The fixed contact 7c is disposed on the first surface 7a. The fixed contact 7c is formed of a conductive material. The fixed contact 7c is separate from the fixed terminal 7. The fixed contact 7c may be integrated with the fixed terminal 7. The external connection portion 7d protrudes to the right from the contact case 2 and is exposed to the outside.

The movable contact piece 10 is a plate-like member that is long in one direction and extends in the left-right direction within the contact case 2. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 10 coincides with the left-right direction. The lateral direction of the movable contact piece 10 coincides with the front-rear direction. The movable contact piece 10 is made of a conductive material.

The movable contact piece 10 includes movable contacts 10a and 10b. The movable contact 10a is disposed in a position facing the fixed contact 6c and can contact the fixed contact 6c. The movable contact 10b is disposed at a distance from the movable contact 10a in the left-right direction. The movable contact 10b is disposed in a position facing the fixed contact 7c and can contact the fixed contact 7c. The movable contacts 10a and 10b are formed of a conductive material. The movable contacts 10a and 10b are separate from the movable contact piece 10. The movable contacts 10a and 10b may be integral with the movable contact piece 10.

The movable contact piece 10 is arranged to be movable in a contact direction Z1 in which the movable contacts 10a, 10b contact the fixed contacts 6c, 7c, and in a separation direction Z2 in which they separate. The contact direction Z1 is upward in FIG. 1. The separation direction Z2 is downward in FIG. 1. Therefore, the contact direction Z1 and the separation direction Z2 are parallel to the up-down direction. The contact direction Z1 and the separation direction Z2 are examples of the movement direction of the movable contact piece 10.

The movable mechanism 11 supports the movable contact piece 10. The movable mechanism 11 is provided so as to be movable between a closed position where the fixed contacts 6c, 7c and the movable contacts 10a, 10b are in contact with each other, and an open position where the fixed contacts 6c, 7c and the movable contacts 10a, 10b are separated from each other. That is, the movable mechanism 11 is provided so as to be movable in the contact direction Z1 and the separation direction Z2.

The movable mechanism 11 includes a drive shaft 21, a first holding member 22, a second holding member 23, and a contact spring 24. The drive shaft 21 is connected to the movable contact piece 10. The drive shaft 21 extends in the vertical direction and penetrates the movable contact piece 10 in the vertical direction. The drive shaft 21 is provided so as to be movable in the contact direction Z1 and the separation direction Z2.

The first retaining member 22 is fixed to the drive shaft 21 above the movable contact piece 10. The second retaining member 23 is fixed to the drive shaft 21 below the movable contact piece 10. The contact spring 24 is disposed between the movable contact piece 10 and the second retaining member 23. The contact spring 24 biases the movable contact piece 10 in the contact direction Z1 via the second retaining member 23.

The drive unit 4 uses electromagnetic force to move the movable mechanism 11 between the closed position and the open position. The drive unit 4 moves the movable contact piece 10 in the contact direction Z1 and the separation direction Z2 via the drive shaft 21. The drive unit 4 includes a coil 31, a movable iron core 32, a fixed iron core 33, a yoke 34, and a return spring 35.

When a voltage is applied to the coil 31 and it is excited, it generates an electromagnetic force that moves the movable core 32 in the contact direction Z1. The movable core 32 is connected to the drive shaft 21 so that it can move integrally with the drive shaft 21. The fixed core 33 is disposed in a position opposite the movable core 32. The yoke 34 is disposed so as to surround the coil 31. The return spring 35 is disposed between the movable core 32 and the fixed core 33. The return spring 35 biases the movable core 32 in the opening direction Z2.

Figure 1 shows the state in which the drive unit 4 is not excited. When the drive unit 4 is not excited, the movable mechanism 11 is in the open position. Therefore, the movable contacts 10a and 10b are separated from the fixed contacts 6c and 7c. When the drive unit 4 is not excited, the movable contact piece 10 is pressed in the separation direction Z2 via the movable mechanism 11.

Figure 2 shows the state when the drive unit 4 is excited and the movable mechanism 11 moves to the closed position. When the drive unit 4 is excited, the movable core 32 moves in the contact direction Z1 together with the drive shaft 21. As the drive shaft 21 moves in the contact direction Z1, the contact spring 24 is compressed by the second holding member 23. This increases the force pressing the movable contact piece 10 in the contact direction Z1, and the movable contact piece 10 moves in the contact direction Z1, causing the movable contacts 10a and 10b to contact the fixed contacts 6c and 7c.

The damping members 5a and 5b are made of resin, such as PBT resin, LCP resin, or urethane resin. The damping members 5a and 5b damp the vibrations that occur when the movable contacts 10a and 10b come into contact with the fixed contacts 6c and 7c.

The damping member 5a is provided in contact with the fixed terminal 6. The damping member 5a is disposed between the upper surface 2a of the contact case 2 and the fixed terminal 6. In detail, the damping member 5a is disposed in contact with the upper surface 2a and the second surface 6b. The damping member 5a is disposed in a position overlapping with the fixed contact 6c when viewed from the movement direction of the movable contact piece 10. In other words, the damping member 5a overlaps with the fixed contact 6c in the vertical direction.

The damping member 5b is provided in contact with the fixed terminal 7. The damping member 5b is disposed between the upper surface 2a of the contact case 2 and the fixed terminal 7. In detail, the damping member 5b is disposed in contact with the upper surface 2a and the second surface 7b. The damping member 5b is disposed in a position overlapping with the fixed contact 7c when viewed from the movement direction of the movable contact piece 10. In other words, the damping member 5b overlaps with the fixed contact 7c in the vertical direction.

In the electromagnetic relay 100 configured as described above, the damping members 5a and 5b are provided in contact with the fixed terminals 6 and 7, so that the vibrations generated when the movable contacts 10a and 10b contact the fixed contacts 6c and 7c are damped by the damping members 5a and 5b. This makes it possible to suppress the impact noises generated when the movable contacts 10a and 10b contact the fixed contacts 6c and 7c. In addition, the damping members 5a and 5b are arranged in positions that overlap the fixed contacts 6c and 7c when viewed from the direction of movement of the movable contact piece 10, so that the damping members 5a and 5b can effectively dampen the vibrations generated when the movable contacts 10a and 10b contact the fixed contacts 6c and 7c.

In addition, since the contact case 2 is made of resin and the fixed terminals 6 and 7 are supported by the terminal support parts 2c and 2d of the contact case 2, the contact case 2 can also suppress the impact noise when the movable contacts 10a and 10b come into contact with the fixed contacts 6c and 7c. In other words, in this case, the contact case 2 also functions as a damping member.

The above describes an embodiment of an electromagnetic relay according to one aspect of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, the shape or arrangement of the contact case 2, contact device 3, drive device 4, or damping members 5a and 5b may be changed.

In the above embodiment, the contact case 2 was made of resin, but the contact case 2 may be made of metal or ceramic.

The material of the damping members 5a and 5b is not limited to that of the above embodiment. They may be made of sound absorbing material or elastically deformable rubber material. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the damping members 5a and 5b may be compression springs arranged on the second surfaces 6b and 7b of the fixed terminals 6 and 7 so as to be expandable and contractible in the direction of movement of the movable contact piece 10. The damping members 5a and 5b may also be materials with a higher thermal conductivity than air. In this case, the damping members 5a and 5b improve heat dissipation.

As shown in FIG. 4, the damping members 5a and 5b do not necessarily have to be positioned so as to overlap the fixed contacts 6c and 7c when viewed from the direction of movement of the movable contact piece 10. Also, a portion of the damping members 5a and 5b may be exposed from the contact case 2. In this case, heat generated by the fixed terminals 6 and 7 during current flow can be effectively dissipated to the outside of the contact case 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the contact case 2 may include holes 2e, 2f that penetrate in the direction of movement of the movable contact piece 10. In this case, the second surfaces 6b, 7b of the fixed terminals 6, 7 may be arranged in contact with the upper surface 2a of the contact case 2 at positions that overlap the holes 2e, 2f when viewed from the direction of movement of the movable contact piece 10, and the holes 2e, 2f may be filled with damping members 5a, 5b such as urethane or adhesive. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the fixed terminals 6, 7 may be coated with damping members 5a, 5b.

In the above embodiment, the damping members 5a, 5b are separate from the contact case 2, but the damping members 5a, 5b may be integrated with the contact case 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, at least one of the first surfaces 6a, 7a and the second surfaces 6b, 7b of the fixed terminals 6, 7 may be arranged in contact with the contact case 2. For example, the second surfaces 6b, 7b of the fixed terminals 6, 7 may be arranged in contact with the inner surface of the upper surface portion 2a. In this case, the upper surface portion 2a functions as the damping members 5a, 5b. It is more preferable that both the first surfaces 6a, 7a and the second surfaces 6b, 7b of the fixed terminals 6, 7 are arranged in contact with the contact case 2. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the contact case 2 may include a contact portion 12 formed in a wavy shape and in contact with the fixed terminals 6, 7. In this case, the contact portion 12 functions as the damping members 5a, 5b.

In the above embodiment, the fixed terminals 6, 7 are supported by the terminal support parts 2c, 2d, but the fixed terminals 6, 7 may be supported by other members. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, support parts 41, 42 that support the fixed terminals 6, 7 may be provided in the resin contact case 2. For example, the support parts 41, 42 may be protruded in the direction from the upper surface part 2a toward the fixed terminals 6, 7, and the fixed terminals 6, 7 may be supported by penetrating the support parts 41, 42. In this case, the support parts 41, 42 function as the damping members 5a, 5b.

The shape of the fixed terminals 6, 7 is not limited to that of the above embodiment. The fixed terminals 6, 7 may have a bent shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the fixed terminals 6, 7 may have an L-shaped cross section. In this case, by supporting the bent portions 6e, 6f extending in the vertical direction in the fixed terminals 6, 7 with the contact case 2, the vibrations caused when the movable contacts 10a, 10b come into contact with the fixed contacts 6c, 7c can be effectively damped by the contact case 2.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the impact noise when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact.

Reference Signs List 2: Contact cases 2e, 2f; Hole 4: Drive device 5a, 5b; Damping member 6, 7: Fixed terminal 6a, 7a; First surface 6b, 7b; First surface 6c, 7c; Fixed contact 10: Movable contact piece 10a, 10b; Movable contact 12: Contact portion 21: Drive shaft 100: Electromagnetic relay

Claims (3)

A drive shaft;
a plate-shaped fixed terminal including a fixed contact and extending in a direction intersecting the drive shaft;
a movable contact piece including a movable contact arranged opposite to the fixed contact and connected to the drive shaft;
a drive device that moves the movable contact piece via the drive shaft in a direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and in a direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact;
a damping member provided in contact with the fixed terminal and configured to damp vibrations generated when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact;
a contact case in which the fixed contact and the movable contact piece are housed;
Equipped with
the damping member includes a support portion that supports the fixed terminal in a moving direction of the movable contact piece, and is disposed inside the contact case;
The fixed terminal penetrates the damping member in a direction intersecting with a moving direction of the movable contact piece.
Electromagnetic relay. A drive shaft;
a plate-shaped fixed terminal including a fixed contact and extending in a direction intersecting the drive shaft;
a movable contact piece including a movable contact arranged opposite to the fixed contact and connected to the drive shaft;
a drive device that moves the movable contact piece via the drive shaft in a direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and in a direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact;
a damping member provided in contact with the fixed terminal and configured to damp vibrations generated when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact;
a contact case in which the fixed contact and the movable contact piece are housed;
Equipped with
The damping member is disposed inside the contact case,
the fixed terminal penetrates the damping member in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the movable contact piece,
The contact case is made of resin,
The damping member is integral with the contact case and extends from the inside of the contact case toward the fixed terminal.
Electromagnetic relay. The damping member includes a support portion that supports the fixed terminal in a moving direction of the movable contact piece.
3. An electromagnetic relay as claimed in claim 2.

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