JPH09129104A - Electromagnetic relay - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extend the life and improve shock resistance. SOLUTION: This relay is provided with a base, an armature assembly rockably provided on the base, and a hinge plate spring 44. The rocking center line of the armature assembly is called Y, the longitudinal direction is called X, and the vertical direction is called Z. The first plate spring section 44-1 is located in the X-Y plane, and it is extended in the direction Y from a position drifted in the direction Y from the rocking center. The second plate spring section 44-2 is extended to a position beyond the rocking center line in the direction X from the tip of the first plate spring section 44-1, is located in the X-Y plane, has a U-shaped curve section 44-2b, and is fixed to the base on the tip side. When the armature assembly is rocked, the first plate spring section 44-1 and the second plate spring section 44-2 are bent to be warped. When a strong shock in the direction Z1 is applied to the electromagnetic relay, the U-shaped curve section 44-2b is elastically deformed in the linear direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay, and more particularly to an electromagnetic relay in which an armature assembly having movable contacts is swingably supported on a base by a hinge leaf spring. FIG. 7A shows a basic configuration of a general electromagnetic relay. The electromagnetic relay 10 includes a base 11 and an armature assembly (armature) 12 that is swingably provided on the base 11. The armature assembly 12 is swung by the electromagnet 13. When the armature assembly 12 rotates in the A1 direction, the movable contact 14 comes into contact with the fixed contact 15. When the armature assembly 12 rotates in the A2 direction, the movable contact 16 comes into contact with the fixed contact 17 as shown in FIG. 7B.

Further, for example, when an operator is handling the electromagnetic relay 10 and the electromagnetic relay 10 is accidentally dropped, the electromagnetic relay 10 receives a strong impact. When the impact acts on the electromagnetic relay 10 in the height direction and the upward direction (Z1), the armature assembly 12 is temporarily moved to the position shown in FIG.
As shown in, it is displaced so as to float above the base 11.

In recent years, electromagnetic relays are required to have a long life. That is, it is required that the hinge leaf spring does not deteriorate over a long period of time and has durability. Further, the electromagnetic relay is required to have improved impact resistance.
That is, the electromagnetic relay is required to withstand a comparatively strong impact even if a relatively strong impact is applied, and cause no problem in characteristics.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows hinge leaf springs 21 and 22 of an armature assembly 20 of a conventional electromagnetic relay. The hinge leaf springs 21 and 22 each have an I-shape, have a length L1, and are closer to the swing center 23 of the armature assembly 20.
It extends in the Y1 and Y2 directions, and the tip side is fixed to the base.

When the armature assembly 20 swings as shown by A1 and A2, the hinge leaf springs 21 (22) are twisted and deformed as shown by the chain double-dashed line. When the electromagnetic relay is accidentally dropped and a shock acts in the Z1 direction, as shown in FIG. 8, the armature assembly 20 floats from the base, and at this time, the hinge leaf spring 21 (22) extends by ΔL1.

[0006]

However, each time the hinge leaf springs 21 and 22 are twisted and deformed, the hinge leaf spring 2 is used.
A squeezing force is applied to the blades 1 and 22, and the hinge leaf springs 21 and 22 bear a larger burden than when they are flexibly deformed. Here, due to the size of the electromagnetic relay, the length L1 of the hinge leaf springs 21 and 22 cannot be made long, and the load of the hinge leaf springs 21 and 22 due to the torsional deformation becomes large and fatigue easily occurs. As a result, the electromagnetic relay has unstable operation characteristics at a relatively early stage.

Further, due to the impact, the hinge leaf springs 21,
The ratio of the amount of expansion ΔL1 of 22 to the length L1, that is,
Since the distortion is relatively large, the hinge leaf springs 21 and 22 are likely to be permanently deformed. When the hinge leaf springs 21 and 22 are permanently deformed, the electromagnetic relay immediately becomes unstable in operating characteristics.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic relay that solves the above problems.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base having fixed contacts and electromagnets, movable contacts on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and a swingable contact provided on the base. A pole assembly and a pole piece assembly provided on the armature assembly, extending from the armature assembly, having a tip fixed to the base, and bending when the armature assembly swings. In an electromagnetic relay having a hinge leaf spring, when the swing center line of the armature assembly is Y and the longitudinal direction of the armature assembly is X, the hinge leaf spring has a strip-shaped L-shape. And a first leaf spring portion and a second leaf spring portion, and a U-shaped curved portion curved in a U shape at a position in the middle of the second leaf spring portion. , The first leaf spring portion is located in the XY plane,
The second leaf spring portion extends in the Y direction from a position deviated in the Y direction from the swing center of the armature assembly, and the second leaf spring portion is in the X direction from the tip of the first leaf spring portion. A configuration in which the armature assembly extends in a direction approaching the swing centerline to a position beyond the swing centerline, is located in the XY plane, and has its tip end side fixed to the base. It is what

[0010]

2 shows an electromagnetic relay 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover 50 removed. The electromagnetic relay 30 generally includes a base assembly 31 and an armature assembly 32 mounted on the base assembly 31. The armature assembly 32 is swingable in the A1 and A2 directions about an axis line (swing center axis line) 33 in the Y direction.

The base assembly 31 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the X1 and X2 directions, a synthetic resin base 34 having an electromagnet 35 and a fixed contact 36 incorporated therein, and a coil from the base 34. It has a structure in which the terminal 37 and the fixed spring 38 extend downward. The armature assembly 32 has a rectangular plate-like shape that is long in the X1 and X2 directions, and has an elongated plate-like armature 40 made of a magnetic material, a central block 41 made of synthetic resin in the center, and a central part. Four movable contact spring pieces 42 extending from the block 41 along the armature 40 in the X1 and X2 directions and having a movable contact 43 at the tip, and the present invention provided on the Y1 side and the Y2 side of the central block 41. Be that forms the main part
-Cu, C1720R-1 / 2H made hinge leaf spring 4
4, 44A.

In the armature assembly 32, the center of the central block 41 rests on a fulcrum (not shown) on the base 34, and the tips of the hinge leaf springs 44, 44A are fixed to the base 34. It is assembled on the base assembly 31. When the electromagnet 35 is excited, the armature assembly 32 swings in the A1 and A2 directions around the fulcrum portion while bending the hinge leaf springs 44 and 44A, and the contacts are opened and closed. The flexed hinge leaf springs 44, 44A provide a restoring force to the armature assembly 32. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the armature assembly 32 swings in the A1 direction.

As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1, the hinge leaf spring 44 has an L shape in the XY plane, and has a strip-shaped first leaf spring portion 44-1 and a strip-shaped second leaf spring portion. Spring part 44-
And 2. The first plate spring portion 44-1 includes the swing center axis line 33 of the side surface 41 a of the central block 41 on the Y1 side.
It extends in the Y1 direction from a point P1 that is offset by the dimension B in the X2 direction, and has a length L1. The length L1 is determined by the size of the electromagnetic relay 30, and is the hinge leaf spring 21 described above.
Is the same as the length L1.

As also shown in FIG. 6 (A), the second leaf spring portion 44-2 is located in the X1 direction from the point P2 at the tip of the first leaf spring portion 44-1, that is, the swing center axis line. It extends in the direction returning to the 33 side and has a length L2. The tip portion 44-2a of the second plate spring portion 44-2 is fixed to the base 34 by welding. The length L2 is larger than the dimension B described above, and the fixed portion 45 formed by welding is located at a point P3 that is offset by the dimension C in the X1 direction from the swing center axis 33.

The second plate spring portion 44-2 has a U-shaped curved portion 44-2b at an intermediate portion. The U-shaped curved portion 44-2b is elastically deformed in the direction of the straight line to move to the second
The plate spring portion 44-2 functions to extend the length L2. Further, the U-shaped curved portion 44-2b has the swing center axis 3
It is located at a position deviated in the X1 direction from 3.

Another hinge leaf spring 44A has a shape symmetrical with the above-mentioned hinge leaf spring 44 with respect to the X-axis, and extends from the side surface 41b of the central block 41 on the Y2 side. Next, the deformed state of the hinge leaf spring 44 when the electromagnetic relay 30 is operating will be described.

(1) When the armature assembly 32 swings in the A1 direction. As shown in FIG. 3, when the armature assembly 32 swings in the A1 direction, the point P1 is displaced in the Z2 direction. When the point P1 is displaced in the Z2 direction, the point P2 is also dragged and displaced in the Z2 direction. As a result, in the second plate spring portion 44-2, the point P2 is displaced in the Z2 direction with the fixed portion 45 as the fixed point, and X-
Warp downward in the Z plane. The first plate spring portion 44-1 is Z
With the point P2 displaced in two directions as the base, the point P1 is displaced in the Z2 direction and warps downward in the YZ plane.

(2) When the armature assembly 32 swings in the A2 direction. As shown in FIG. 4, when the armature assembly 32 swings in the A2 direction, the point P1 is displaced in the Z1 direction. When the point P1 is displaced in the Z1 direction, the point P2 is also dragged and displaced in the Z1 direction. As a result, in the second plate spring portion 44-2, the point P2 is displaced in the Z1 direction with the fixed portion 45 as the fixed point, and X-
Warps upward in the Z plane. The first plate spring portion 44-1 is Z
With the point P2 displaced in one direction as the base, the point P1 is displaced in the Z1 direction and warps upward in the YZ plane.

Although illustration is omitted, the hinge leaf spring 44A is also deformed similarly to the hinge leaf spring 44 described above. As described above, the first leaf spring portion 4 of the hinge leaf spring 44 is
The 4-1 and the second leaf spring portion 44-2 are deformed exclusively by warping and are not twisted by deformation.

Here, the load of the leaf spring due to warp deformation is smaller than the load of twisting deformation. Therefore, the hinge leaf spring 44 is less likely to cause fatigue, and the electromagnetic relay 30 operates stably for a long period of time and has a long life as compared with the conventional one.

Next, the deformation of the hinge leaf springs 44, 44A when the electromagnetic relay 30 is accidentally dropped from a height of about 1 m and a shock in the Z1 direction acts on the electromagnetic relay 30, will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the armature assembly 32 floats above the base 34 and is displaced in the Z1 direction more than in the case of the above swing.

Regarding the hinge leaf spring 44, when the armature assembly 32 swings in the A2 direction, the point P1 is displaced in the Z1 direction. When the point P1 is displaced in the Z1 direction, the point P2 is also dragged and displaced in the Z1 direction. As a result, the second leaf spring portion 44-2 uses the fixed portion 45 as a fixed point to set the point P2.
Is displaced in the Z1 direction and warps upward in the XZ plane. The first plate spring portion 44-1 has the point P2 displaced in the Z1 direction as a base portion, and the point P1 is displaced in the Z1 direction to warp upward in the YZ plane.

Here, since the displacement amount of the point P1 in the Z1 direction is large, the force of pulling the point P2 in the Z1 direction is large, and U
The character-shaped curved portion 44-2b is indicated by reference numeral 44-2 in FIG.
As shown by b ', it is elastically deformed in the direction of a straight line and has a length
The second leaf spring portion 44-2 extends by a length ΔL2. The extension of the length L2 of the second leaf spring portion 44-2 absorbs the impact, and the tensile force T acting on the first leaf spring portion 44-1 becomes smaller accordingly.

As described above, the first leaf spring portion 44-1 and the second leaf spring portion 44-2 of the hinge leaf spring 44 are exclusively warped and not twisted. Further, the first plate spring portion 44-1 does not undergo permanent deformation due to elongation. This allows
The hinge leaf spring 44 maintains normal spring characteristics, and the operation characteristics of the electromagnetic relay 30 are kept stable.

The armature assembly 32 is received by the inner peripheral surface of the cover 50 against the impact in the X1 and X2 directions, and the displacement in the X1 and X2 directions is limited. Y
With respect to the impacts in the 1 and Y2 directions, the armature assembly 32 is
It is received by the convex portion 50b on the inner peripheral surface of the cover 50, and excessive displacement in the Y1 and Y2 directions is limited.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
A base having fixed contacts and electromagnets, an armature assembly having movable contacts on both sides in the longitudinal direction and swingably provided on the base, and an armature assembly provided on the armature assembly. An electromagnetic relay that extends from an armature assembly, has its tip fixed to the base, and has a hinge leaf spring that bends when the armature assembly swings. When the swing center line is Y, the longitudinal direction of the armature assembly is X, and the direction perpendicular to the XY plane is Z, the hinge leaf spring has a strip L-shape, and Of the armature and the second arm, the first arm is located in the XY plane, and the first arm is located in the Y direction from the position displaced from the swing center of the armature assembly in the Y direction. In the X direction from the tip of the first arm portion and beyond the swing center line in the direction of the swing center line of the armature assembly. The first arm portion and the second arm portion when the armature assembly swings because the distal end side is fixed to the base. It is possible to bend the arm part of the hinge so as to warp it exclusively without being twisted. Therefore, the load received by the deformation of the hinge leaf spring can be minimized and fatigue of the hinge leaf spring can be reduced. Therefore, the operating life of the electromagnetic relay can be extended as compared with the conventional one.

Further, since the hinge leaf spring has a U-shaped curved portion which is curved in a U-shape at a position in the middle of the second arm portion, the U-shaped curved portion is a straight line. Is elastically deformed in a direction to increase the length of the second leaf spring portion, thereby suppressing the tensile force acting on the first leaf spring portion to be small, and the permanent deformation of the extension to the first leaf spring portion. Can be prevented. As a result, the hinge leaf spring maintains normal spring characteristics and the operation characteristics of the electromagnetic relay can be stably maintained. That is, by elastically deforming the U-shaped curved portion in a direction in which the U-shaped curved portion becomes a straight line, it is possible to absorb a shock having a size larger than the shock that can be absorbed by the conventional hinge leaf spring. Therefore, impact resistance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a portion of a hinge leaf spring in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electromagnetic relay according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a modification of the hinge leaf spring when the armature assembly swings in the A1 direction.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a modification of the hinge leaf spring when the armature assembly swings in the A2 direction.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a modification of the hinge leaf spring when an impact acts in the Z1 direction.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the deformation of the second arm portion of the hinge leaf spring in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of an electromagnetic relay.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a hinge leaf spring of an armature assembly of a conventional electromagnetic relay.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state when a shock acts in the Z1 direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 Electromagnetic relay 31 Base assembly 32 Armature assembly 33 Axis (swing center axis) 34 Base 35 Electromagnet 36 Fixed contact 37 Coil terminal 38 Fixed spring 40 Armature 41 Central block 42 Movable contact spring piece 43 Movable contact 44 , 44A Hinge leaf spring 44-1 First leaf spring portion 44-2 Second leaf spring portion 44-2b U-shaped curved portion 44-2b 'U-shaped curved portion 45 elastically deformed in a straight line direction 45 fixed Part 50 cover

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Sato 2-3-5 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Fujimi Takamizawa Component Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A base having fixed contacts and electromagnets, an armature assembly having movable contacts on both sides in the longitudinal direction and swingably provided on the base, and the armature assembly. An electromagnetic relay having a hinge leaf spring that is provided, extends from the armature assembly, has a tip fixed to the base, and is bent when the armature assembly swings, When the swinging center line of the armature assembly is Y and the longitudinal direction of the armature assembly is X, the hinge leaf spring has a strip-shaped L-shape, and has a first leaf spring portion and a first leaf spring portion. And a U-shaped curved portion that is curved in a U-shape in the middle of the second leaf spring portion, and the first leaf spring portion is X. -Positioned in the Y plane and displaced from the center of swing of the armature assembly in the Y direction by Y
The second leaf spring portion extends in the direction X from the tip of the first leaf spring portion.
In a direction that is closer to the swing centerline of the armature assembly and extends to a position beyond the swing centerline,
An electromagnetic relay that is located in a plane and has a structure in which the tip side is fixed to the base.