JPH07174062A - Switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the abrasion of the contact point of a switch for a motor for starting an engine mounted on an automobile etc., improve the meshing performance, stabilize the resistance value of a switch circuit, and simplify constitution. CONSTITUTION:As for a switch 1 having the fixed contact points 3 and 4 for the electric conduction from a battery 28 to a starting motor 20 and a movable contact point 5, a pair of auxiliary contact points 7 and 8 having elastic contact points supplying electric-current to the starting motor 20 before the movable contact point 5 closes the fixed contact points 3 and 4, and a starting resistance 6 connected with the auxiliary contact points 7 and 8 restricts the electric current which flows to the starting motor 20 through the auxiliary contact points 7 and 8 until the movable contact point 5 makes contact with the fixed contact points 3 and 4, through the deformation of the auxiliary contact points 7 and 8 after the movable contact point 5 makes contact with the auxiliary contact points 7 and 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch for a starter for starting an engine mounted on an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional starter switch using an auxiliary contact, there is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 51-69015. In the magnetic switch of the starter described in this, when the pinion and the ring gear were in contact with each other at the end face when the engine was started by the starter, the starter was slowly rotated, and the pinion and the ring gear were bitten. At the joint of the two-stage splicing starter where the starter rotates normally later, a protrusion that rotates the movable contact according to the movement distance of the plunger and another contact that slowly rotates the starter are provided. . And
Generally, a starting resistor is arranged between the contact and the motor in a form exposed to the outside air.

[0003]

However, according to the conventional switch, since the resistance is arranged in the outside air,
Instability of the resistance value easily occurs due to the resistance change of the contact part,
Further, there is a problem that the number of parts is increased due to the additional use of the insulating member. Further, in a general starter switch (without an auxiliary contact), a large inrush current due to full-voltage activation is applied, so that the following problems may occur. In other words, contact wear increases due to large contact energization current and breaking current, increase in impact load at the time of meshing due to increase in motor start-up acceleration due to large current supplied to the motor, deterioration of meshing performance,
Due to the high rigidity of the fixed contact, it tends to bounce when contacting the movable contact, which promotes contact wear. Furthermore, if there is an extreme temperature difference between the contact room and the outside air temperature in winter, icing will occur on the surface of the fixed contact. These improvements are necessary because contact continuity may not be achieved in some cases.

Therefore, in view of the above problems and problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a switch which can stabilize circuit resistance, improve contact wear, meshing performance, contact continuity and the like.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact for energizing a starting motor from a battery, the contact being displaceable in the moving direction of the movable contact. A pair of auxiliary contacts energize the starting motor before the movable contact closes the fixed contact, and the starting resistance connected to the auxiliary contact is a fixed contact after the movable contact contacts the auxiliary contact. Limits the current that flows through the auxiliary contact to the starting motor until it contacts. At least the fixed contact, the starting resistor, and the auxiliary contact are housed in an insulating mold cover of the switch.

[0006]

According to the switch of the present invention, the starter motor is energized before the movable contact closes the fixed contact, and the auxiliary contact is contacted with the fixed contact after the movable contact contacts the auxiliary contact. Is deformed or moved, the current flowing to the starting motor through the auxiliary contact is limited by the starting resistance, and a large inrush current due to full voltage starting disappears. Therefore, contact wear due to a large current can be reduced, impact load can be reduced, and meshing performance can be improved. Further, since the speed of the movable contact is suppressed by the elasticity of the auxiliary contact, it is possible to reduce the contact wear due to the bouncing that occurs when the movable contact comes into contact with the highly rigid fixed contact. By providing a fixed contact, starting resistor, and auxiliary contact on the insulative mold cover of the switch, by placing the conductor in the semi-enclosed contact chamber, the circuit resistance value can be stably maintained, and a special insulating material is added. There is no need to use it.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electric circuit using a starter switch 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The starter switch 1 shown in this figure includes a motor 20 in which a field coil 29 and an armature are connected in series, an engine ring gear 21, a pinion gear 22 meshed with the ring gear 21, a motor 20, and a pinion gear. 22
A rotary drive system having an overrunning clutch (hereinafter referred to as a clutch) 23, which is provided between the rotary drive system and the pinion gear 22 only when the engine is started, for controlling the rotary drive system. Is provided with a starter switch 1. This starter switch 1 is
A starting mechanism for abutting and engaging the pinion gear 22 with the ring gear 21 and a switch mechanism for controlling energization of the motor 11 are provided to drive the same plunger 24. The pinion gear 22 of the clutch 23 is a lever 2 connected to the tip of a plunger 24.
6 is moved in the direction of the ring gear 21 and the end faces are brought into contact with each other.

On the outer periphery of the plunger 24, the plunger 2
A pull-in coil 26a for generating an electromagnetic force for driving the motor 4 and a holding coil 26b for holding the attracted plunger 24 in that state are provided. One end of each of the pull-in coil 26a and the holding coil 26b is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 28 via the key switch 27 of the automobile, and the other end of the pull-in coil 26a is connected to the battery 2 via the motor 20.
8 and the other end of the holding coil 26b is connected to the negative electrode of the battery 28 via the starter body.

On the other hand, the starter switch 1 for opening and closing the energizing circuit to the motor 20 is provided with a mold cover 2 made of an insulating material, and the mold cover 2 further includes a battery 27 mounted on the vehicle. Fixed contacts 3 and 4 provided between the motors 20 and a starting resistor 6 described later.
And auxiliary contacts 7 and 8 which can be displaced in the moving direction of the movable contact. The movable contact 5, which is elastically supported by the plunger 24 and works in conjunction with each other to electrically connect the fixed contacts 3 and 4, is arranged in the contact chamber so as to face the fixed contact. Further, one fixed contact 4 is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 28 via a cable, and the other fixed contact is connected to the motor 20 together with the other end of the pull-in coil 26a via a motor terminal.

The lever 25 has a fulcrum 25a at its middle portion.
Rotatably supported by the pinion gear 22. One end of the pinion gear 22 is locked to the driving end of the plunger 24 and the other end is locked to the pressing ring 23a of the clutch 23.
A load for pushing the clutch 23 toward the ring gear 21 is applied to a drive spring (not shown) so that the pinion gear 22 abuts and meshes with the ring gear 21 when the plunger 24 is driven. Further, a screw spline mechanism is formed on the output shaft and the clutch 23 to convert a rotational force into a forward force to ensure a meshed state when the pinion gear 22 is operated. The details of the starter switch 1 will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the construction of a starter switch 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are cross sections I--I, II--II and III--III of FIG. 2, respectively. FIG. As shown in these figures, the starter switch 1 includes a mold cover 2, and the fixed contacts 3 and 4 are housed and fixed in the mold cover 2, and the fixed contact 3 includes a motor terminal bolt 3a. The fixed contact 4 is connected to the battery terminal bolt 4a, and is connected to the fixed contact 3 via the movable contact. One end of the starting resistor 6 is connected to the fixed contact 3 via the plate 9. The auxiliary contact 7 is connected to the other end of the starting resistor 6, and the auxiliary contact 8 is connected to the fixed contact 4 facing the auxiliary contact 7.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the stationary state of the starter switch 1, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the relationship between the movable contact 5 of FIG. 6 and its attached components. As shown in FIG. 6, the movable contact 5 provided on the plunger 24 of the starter switch 1 has a pair of main fixed contacts 3 as shown in FIG.
The contact portion 5a is in contact with the contact point 4 and the contact portion 5b is in contact with the auxiliary contacts 7 and 8. The gap between the auxiliary contacts 7 and 8 and the movable contact 5 is set smaller than the gap between the fixed contacts 3 and 4. This is movable contact 5 and auxiliary contact 7,
This is for making contact with the fixed contacts 3 and 4 before the fixed contacts 3 and 4. The starter switch 1 is composed of a plunger 24 that supports a movable contact at its end via insulators 30 and 31, a yoke 10, a coil 26, a mold cover 2 and the like. The operation of the starter switch 1 will be described in detail below.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an intermediate operation state of the starter switch 1, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a complete operation state of the starter switch 1. First, when the key switch 27 is closed, the pull-in coil 26a and the holding coil 26b of the starter switch 1 are driven by the battery 28.
Upon being energized, the plunger 24 is attracted and moves toward the fixed contacts 3 and 4, as shown in FIG. 8, so that the movable contact 5 abuts the auxiliary contacts 7 and 8. At this time, since the auxiliary contacts 7 and 8 have elasticity, the movable contact does not flutter on the contact surface. On the other hand, at the same time, the clutch 23 moves in the direction of the ring gear 21 via the lever 25 connected to the tip of the plunger 24, and the end faces abut each other. In this state, from the battery 28 to the motor terminal 20 via the battery terminal 4a, the auxiliary contacts 8 and 7, the starting resistor 6, the motor terminal 3a.
The motor 20 is supplied with sufficient current to rotate the motor 20, and the motor 20 rotates slowly. This rotation is transmitted to the clutch 23 by transmission means (not shown), and the clutch 23 slowly rotates to a position where it meshes with the ring gear 21, meshes with the ring gear 21, and advances. Along with this, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the plunger 24 also moves while bending the auxiliary contacts 7 and 8, and the movable contact 5 comes into contact with the main fixed contacts 3 and 4 and is short-circuited. Therefore, a large current is applied to the motor 20.
, The motor 20 rotates at full load to drive the engine. When the engine starts, the key switch 27 is OF
Then, the power supply to the pull-in coil 26a and the holding coil 26b is stopped and the plunger 24 and the clutch 23 are returned to the stationary state by the return spring (not shown). At this time, the contact is opened by first fixing the main fixed contact 3
After 4 and 4 are separated, the auxiliary contacts 7 and 8 are separated. Since the breaking current at this time is greatly reduced by the starting resistance 6, the fixed contacts 3 and 4 are less worn. Further, during the winter season, due to an extreme temperature difference between the outside air temperature and the temperature inside the contact room that houses the fixed contacts, icing occurs on the surface of the fixed contacts 4 connected to the battery terminals 4a, and the main fixed contacts 3 and 4 are closed. Even if it is not performed, the heat generated by the starting resistor 6 is quickly transferred to the fixed contacts 3 and 4 through the auxiliary contacts 7 and 8, so that the conduction failure can be eliminated early.

Further, in this structure, since each connecting portion is housed in the contact chamber which is in a semi-sealed state by the mold cover 2 and the like, the circuit resistance value including the starting resistor 6 and the connecting portion is long-term. And can hold it stably. In addition, each conductor (excluding the movable contact) has an insulating mold cover 2
Since it is housed inside, it is possible to supply a switch with extremely high insulation performance at a very low cost without the need to additionally use a special insulating material and with a single movable contact.

In FIG. 1, the starter switch 1 that is connected to the clutch 23 via the lever 25 has been described. However, even if the starter switch 1 is not connected to the clutch 23, the starter switch 1 and the clutch that control the energization of the motor 20. It can be similarly used if it is provided with a means for advancing 23. The starting resistor 6 may be a non-insulated surface such as a nichrome wire, and its shape and material are not limited.
Further, although the auxiliary contacts 7 and 8 and the starting resistor 6 are explained as a pair, it is obvious that there is no problem even if there are a plurality of them. In the present embodiment, the structure in which the contact itself is deformed as the auxiliary contact has been described, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even in the structure in which the elastic body supporting the contact is displaced without the contact itself being deformed.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the starter motor is energized via the starting resistor before the movable contact closes the fixed contact, and the movable contact contacts the auxiliary contact. The current flowing to the starting motor through the auxiliary contact is limited until the auxiliary contact deforms and comes into contact with the fixed contact, so there is no large inrush current due to full voltage startup, contact wear due to large current is reduced, and meshing performance is improved. it can. Further, due to the elasticity of the auxiliary contact, contact wear due to bouncing when the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact can be reduced. Since the respective contact parts are housed in the mold cover, the circuit resistance value can be stably maintained, and no special insulating material is required to be added, which simplifies the structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electric circuit using a starter switch 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a starter switch 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along line I-I of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a II-II cross section of FIG. 2;

5 is a view showing a cross section taken along the line III-III of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a stationary state of the starter switch 1.

7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the movable contact 5 of FIG. 6 and its accessory components.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an intermediate state of operation of the starter switch 1.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fully differential state of the starter switch 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Starter Switch 2 Mold Cover 3, 4 Fixed Contact 5 Movable Contact 6 Starting Resistance 7, 8 Auxiliary Resistance 20 Motor 21 Ring Gear 22 Pinion Gear 23 Clutch 24 Plunger 25 Lever 26a Pull-in Coil 26b Holding Coil 27 Key Switch 28 Battery

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact for energizing a starting motor from a battery, wherein the movable contact is displaced in the moving direction to energize the starting motor before closing the fixed contact. A pair of auxiliary contacts having movable contacts, and a starting resistance for limiting a current flowing through the auxiliary contacts to the starting motor until the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact after the contact with the auxiliary contact. switch. 2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein at least the fixed contact, the starting resistor and the auxiliary contact are housed in an insulating mold cover of the switch.