JPH03266324A - Delay switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lower the cost and also to make load ON-operation light so as to eliminate any feeling of disorder by using a shape-memory resin for delay operation. CONSTITUTION:Under the condition that a switch handle 4 is in OFF operation, a shape-memory resin 1 is heated by a heater 5. When the handle 4 is turned ON, a movable contactor 8 starts ON operation at the pushing part 9 and consequently, electric power is supplied to load 7 and at the same time an external pressure is applied to the heated resin 1 so that this resin may be deformed. Further a heater switch part 6 becomes OFF state so that the heater 5 is ceased and the resin keeps its deformed shape. Then, when the handle 4 is turned OFF, the pushing part 9 is separated from the contactor 8 but the resin 1 keeps the deformed state and the contactor 8 is kept in ON operation state and electric power is continuously supplied to the load 7. Moreover, since the switch part 6 becomes ON, the resin recovers its original shape after a time passes and the contactor 8 is turned OFF. As a result, the electric power to the load 7 is stopped after a prescribed time.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a delay switch that applies power to a load such as a lamp or fan when it is turned on, and shuts it off after a certain delay time after it is turned off. .

[Conventional technology]

Conventional delay switches of this type include those that use semiconductor circuits, and those that wind up a mainspring when turned on and open the switch using the return force of the mainspring when turned off.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, devices that use semiconductor circuits require rectification using CT, etc. to configure the control circuit, and turn on and off using triacs, etc., which generates heat, and cooling is required to suppress this heat generation. It requires fins, which has the drawbacks of high cost and large size.

On the other hand, devices that use a mainspring require force to wind up the mainspring when turning on the device, so there is a problem in that the turning operation feels heavy and uncomfortable.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a delay switch that is easy to turn on and does not give a sense of discomfort.

[Means to solve the problem]

The delay switch of the present invention is made of a shape memory resin that is deformed by applying external pressure while heated to a predetermined temperature, retains its shape even after heating is stopped, and returns to its original shape when reheated to the predetermined temperature. a main switch unit having a movable contact connected to the shape memory resin and applying the external pressure to the shape memory resin when turned on; a switch handle having a pressing portion that presses the movable contact and separates from the movable contact when an off operation is performed; a heater that heats the shape memory resin to the predetermined temperature; and a heater switch that turns the heater on and off. The heater switch section is interlocked with the switch handle so that it is turned off when the switch handle is turned on and turned on when the switch handle is turned off, and the movable contact is turned off when the shape memory resin returns to its shape. It was designed to do so.

[Effect]

According to the configuration of the present invention, when the switch handle is turned off, the heater switch section is turned on, so that the shape memory resin is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater. When the switch handle is turned on, the movable contact is turned on at the pressing part, which supplies power to the load and applies external pressure to the heated shape memory resin, deforming the shape memory resin and turning the switch on. When the handle is turned on, the heater switch section is turned off, so the heater stops, and the shape memory resin starts cooling and maintains its deformed state. Next, when the switch handle is turned off, the pressing part separates from the movable contact, but the shape memory resin maintains its deformed state due to the cooling state, and the movable contact continues to be in the on state due to the deformation of the shape memory resin. is maintained, and power continues to be supplied to the load. Also, as the heater switch part is turned on by this off operation, the shape memory resin is reheated by the heater, and after the time elapses until the predetermined temperature is reached, the shape memory resin returns to its original shape, and the shape memory resin returns to its original shape. The movable contact turns off in the return operation. As a result, the energization of the load is stopped after a certain period of time after the switch handle is turned off.

In this way, the shape memory resin is used for the delay operation, and since the shape memory resin can be easily molded, the cost can be reduced, and the structure of the delay switch can be simplified. In addition, since the shape memory resin is heated by the heater and softened during the ON operation, the load ON operation becomes easier and does not cause discomfort.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 4. That is, this delay switch includes a shape memory resin 1, a main switch section 2, a switch handle 4, a heater 5 of a heater circuit 3, and a heater switch section 6 thereof.

The shape memory resin 1 is deformed by applying external pressure while heated to a predetermined temperature, retains its shape even after heating is stopped, and returns to its original shape by being reheated to the predetermined temperature. The shape memory resin 1 is in the form of a rod, and one end thereof is fixed.

As the shape memory resin 1, transpolyisoprene, polynorbornene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, etc. are known, and the original shape is molded under certain conditions and heated to a temperature higher than room temperature, and then subjected to external pressure such as tensile force or Since the shape memory resin 1 is softened when pressure is applied, it can be deformed very easily with a small force. Next, when the force is removed and the material is left at room temperature or in a cooled gas or liquid, it retains its deformed shape, and when it is then heated to a temperature higher than room temperature, it returns to its original shape. 1 can exert power. Further, the shape in the restored state is maintained even after heating is stopped.

FIG. 3 shows the deformation operation of the shape memory resin 1.

That is, a is the original shape after molding, and b is the predetermined temperature of about 40 to 6
Deformation state when external pressure such as tensile force is applied at 0℃, C
In state b, the external pressure is released and the material is cooled to room temperature, maintaining its deformed state. d is a state in which it is reheated to a predetermined temperature of about 40 to 60° C. without applying external pressure, and the shape is restored to its original state. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, which shows the relationship between shape memory resin recovery time and temperature for styrene-butadiene copolymer, the recovery time for returning to the original shape by reheating after cooling is dependent on temperature; It can be seen that the closer the temperature is to the temperature, the slower the recovery takes place.

The main switch section 2 has a movable contact 8 connected to the shape memory resin 1 and applying external pressure to the shape memory resin 1 when turned on. This main switch section 2 is connected to a load 7 in series. The load 7 is a fan as an example. As shown in FIG. 2, the main switch section 2 consists of a fixed contact spring 11 having a fixed contact IO, and a movable contact 8, which is an example of a plate spring having a movable contact 12 that contacts and separates from the fixed contact 10. The base end of the contact 8 is attached to a handle support 13. In addition, a reversing spring 14 is connected to the tip of the movable contact 8, and an intermediate position between the contact position and the separation position of the movable contact 12 is set as a reversal dead center, and the movable contact 8 is separated from the contact side and the separation side. 2 It is operating stably. Further, a resin connecting portion 15 is attached to the movable contact 8, and the resin connecting portion 15 and the tip of the shape memory resin 1 are connected by a connecting member 16. 17 is a terminal of eight examples of movable contacts.

The switch handle 4 has a pressing portion 9 that presses the movable contact 8 so that the movable contact 8 performs the ON operation when the switch is turned on, and separates from the movable contact 8 when the switch handle 4 is turned OFF. The switch handle 4 has a fulcrum 23 in the middle, a pressing part 9 of the movable contact 8 at one end, and a pressing body 24 of the movable contact spring 21 of the heater switch part 6 at the other end. It is configured to rotate and maintain that state when turned on and off. Therefore, when the movable contact 8 is turned on, the pressing part 9 pushes the movable contact 8 to turn it on, and since the reversal spring 14 crosses the dead center, the spring force of the reversal spring 14 also causes the movable contact 12 to contact the fixed contact 10. and apply contact pressure. Further, when the movable contact 8 is turned on by this ON operation, a tensile force is applied as external pressure to the shape memory resin 1 via the resin connecting portion 15 and the connecting member 16. Note that the movable contactor 8 is turned off by the shape-memory resin 1 returning to its original shape.

The heater 5 heats the shape memory resin 1 to a predetermined temperature, and the heater switch section 6 turns the heater 5 on and off. The heater switch section 6 is interlocked with the switch handle 4 so that it is turned off when the switch handle 4 is turned on and turned on when the switch handle 4 is turned off.

That is, the heater circuit 3 is formed by connecting the heater 5 and the heater switch section 6 in series, and is connected in parallel to the series circuit of the load 7 and the main switch section 2. The heater 5 wraps a heater wire around the shape memory resin 1 to heat it efficiently.

As shown in FIG. 2, the heater switch section 6 has a fixed contact 1.
8, and a movable contact spring 21 having a movable contact 20 that comes into contact with and separates from the fixed contact 18, and the base end of the movable contact spring 21 is placed on the handle support base 13 in a normally open position. installed on. switch handle 4
When the movable contact spring 21 is pushed and elastically deformed by the off operation, the movable contact 20 comes into contact with the fixed contact 18, and the heater 5 is energized. Further, when the switch handle 4 is turned on, the pressing body 24 is separated from the movable contact spring 21, and the movable contact spring 21 automatically returns to its original position due to its spring force, and the movable contact 20 is opened and the heater 5 is de-energized. 22 is its terminal.

This delay switch is configured as shown by the dashed line in FIG.
Connect to.

According to this embodiment, when the switch handle 4 is turned off, the heater switch section 6 is turned on, so that the shape memory resin 1 is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater 5. When the switch handle 4 is turned on, the movable contact 8 is turned on by the pressing part 9, and the load 7 is turned on.
As power is supplied to the heater, external pressure is applied to the heated shape memory resin 1, causing the shape memory resin to deform.Furthermore, when the switch handle 4 is turned on, the heater switch section 6 is turned off, so the heater 5 is stopped. , shape memory resin I
starts cooling and maintains the deformed state. Next, when the switch handle 4 is turned off, the pressing part 9 separates from the movable contact 8, but the shape memory resin 1 maintains its deformed state because it is in a cooled state. continues to remain on, and power continues to be supplied to the load 7. Moreover, since the heater switch section 6 is turned on by this off operation, the shape memory resin 1 is reheated by the heater 5, and after the time elapses until the predetermined temperature is reached, the shape memory resin 1 returns to its original shape. ,
The movable contact 8 is turned off by the return operation of this shape. As a result, il[ of the load 7 will be stopped after a certain period of time after the switch handle 4 is turned off.

In this way, shape memory resin l is used for delayed operation,
Since the shape memory resin 1 can be easily molded, the cost can be reduced, and the structure of the delay switch can be simplified. Furthermore, since the shape memory resin 1 is heated by the heater 5 and softened during the ON operation, the ON operation of the load 7 becomes easier and does not cause discomfort.

Further, with a conventional delay switch using a spring or the like, it is not easy to change the delay time, but if a variable resistor is inserted into the heater 5, the delay time can be adjusted. In other words, the recovery time for the shape memory resin l to return to its original shape by reheating after cooling depends on the temperature, but by controlling the heating amount of the heater 5, the delay time can be varied from several tens of seconds to several minutes. Can be done.

Although the shape memory resin 1 has a rod-like shape, it may have a coil shape.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the delay switch of the present invention, since shape memory resin is used for the delay operation, the shape memory resin can be easily molded, resulting in low cost, and the structure of the delay switch can be simplified. Furthermore, since the shape memory resin is heated by the heater and softened during the ON operation, the load ON operation becomes easier and does not cause discomfort.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a structural diagram of a delay swifter, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of shape memory resin,
FIG. 4 is a temperature characteristic diagram of shape memory recovery time. 1... Shape memory resin, 2... Main switch section, 4
...Switch handle, 5...Heater, 6...Heater switch part, 7...Load, 8...Movable contact,
9... Pressing part Fig. 4 mark (°C)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A shape memory resin that deforms by applying external pressure while heated to a predetermined temperature, retains its shape even after heating is stopped, and returns to its original shape by reheating to the predetermined temperature. , a main switch unit having a movable contact connected to the shape memory resin and applying the external pressure to the shape memory resin in an on operation; a switch handle having a pressing part that presses and separates from the movable contact when an off operation is performed; a heater that heats the shape memory resin to the predetermined temperature; and a heater switch part that turns the heater on and off; The heater switch unit is interlocked with the switch handle so that it is turned off when the switch handle is turned on and turned on when the switch handle is turned off, and the movable contact is turned off when the shape memory resin returns to its shape. A delay switch made like this.