JPH09306579A - Electric outlet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an electric hazard in inserting a plug into an electric outlet. SOLUTION: A sensor substrate 5 is installed in front of a support means 1 to be installed in a wall face and a detection electrode plate 6 constituting an electrostatic capacitance proximity switch is installed before the substrate. An electrode conductive part 9 and an conductive control board 10 are installed in a housing means 3 fixed in the back side of the support means 1 and electric connection between an electric power supply source and a plug socket 7 is made open or closed. Even if a plug P is inserted into the plug socket 7, during the time when the insertion is not sufficient, the electrostatic capacitance not sufficient by the detection electrode plate 6, so that the conductive control means does not start operating and no electric current flows and an electric hazard does not probably occur. When the plug is inserted deeply and set in surely inserted state, the detected quantity of the electrostatic capacitance becomes high and the conductive control means C which receives the detection signal starts operating and the electric power supplying circuit is closed and electric power can be supplied to an electric appliance through the plug.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an outlet capable of preventing electric shock when inserting a plug.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as a means for connecting a power source to an electric device, a plug is inserted into an outlet installed on a wall for connection. Although the plug is usually inserted into the outlet with bare hands,
In order to prevent these accidents, some outlets are equipped with a ground or an earth leakage breaker to cut off the continuity in the event of an electric leakage, because of the danger of electric shock and leakage. .

[0003]

In any of the above-mentioned outlets, the plug socket is always 100V to 200V.
When the plug is inserted into the plug socket, current flows from the moment the tip of the plug terminal comes into contact with the plug socket, which creates a risk of electric shock. There is.

In particular, recently, cancer tools such as game machines using a commercial power source, handicapped persons, and medical treatment equipment have become widespread. Because the opportunities are increasing
Countermeasures against electric shock have become important issues.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the outlet of the present invention does not connect the power supply unless the plug is securely inserted into the plug socket, and the plug is inserted. The electric shock inside can be prevented.

That is, a plug detecting means for detecting that the plug is surely inserted in the outlet is provided, and the conduction between the power supply and the plug socket is controlled by receiving the detection signal output from the plug detecting means. Continuity control means is provided. As a result, the power supply is made conductive by the operation of the conduction control means only when the plug is securely inserted into the plug socket, and the conduction is cut off when the plug is not firmly inserted, and the electric shock is caused by the contact with the plug terminal during the plug insertion operation. Can be prevented.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An outlet according to the present invention comprises a plug detecting means for detecting that a plug is inserted in a plug socket, a power supply and a plug for receiving a detection signal output from the plug detecting means. And a conduction control means for controlling conduction with the socket.

The plug detecting means maintains the initial state when the plug is initially inserted, and when the plug is securely inserted into the plug socket, a detection signal to that effect can be output to the conduction control means. Is equipped with.

The continuity control means conducts electricity while the detection signal indicating that the plug is surely inserted into the plug socket is output from the plug detection means, and conducts when this signal is not output. Is operable to shut off.

It is desirable that the above-mentioned plug detecting means employs a capacitance type proximity switch for detecting the plugged state by a change in capacitance.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a state in which an outlet according to the present invention is attached to the wall surface W, and illustrations of circuit elements and the like described later are omitted.

The support means 1 which contacts the wall surface W and holds the outlet is fixed to the wall surface by mounting screws 2 and 2. A storage means 3 for storing a circuit element and a plug socket is fixed to the back surface of the support means 1 via screws 4.

A sensor substrate 5, which will be described later, is attached to the front surface of the support means 1, and a detection electrode plate 6 is held in front of it by a bent piece 5a at a predetermined distance from the sensor substrate. It is provided in. The sensor substrate 5 and the detection electrode plate 6 constitute a plug detection means D for detecting that the plug is surely inserted into the plug socket 7, and a combination of these functions as a capacitance type proximity switch. I have it.

The storage means 3 is provided with a terminal portion (not shown) for connecting to a power supply and an electrode conducting portion 9 for conducting power from the terminal portion to the plug socket 7. Along with this, the conduction control board 10 in which the circuit element for controlling the conduction of the power supply to the electrode conduction portion is mounted in the storage means 3.
Is attached. Electrode conduction part 9 and conduction control board 10
Constitutes a conduction control means C which receives the detection signal output from the plug detection means D and controls the conduction of the power supply.

FIG. 2 shows the state of the front surface of the outlet, which is provided on the front surface of the detection electrode plate 6 so that the tips of the two plug sockets 7 and 7 coincide with the front surface of the cover 8. Normally, the front surface of the outlet is entirely covered with the cover 8 and only the plug socket 7 is exposed on the front surface of the cover, so that the appearance is the same as that of a general outlet.

Next, the plug detection means D and the conduction control means C
A circuit for connecting and disconnecting the power supply including the above will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, 100 V AC power supply 11
Is connected to the socket terminals 7a, 7a of the plug socket via the power supply circuit L1, and this circuit can control conduction by the electromagnetic relay 12 constituting the conduction control means C.

The supply power supply 11 is provided with a control power supply circuit L2 in parallel with the supply power supply circuit L1. The control power supply circuit L2 includes a transformer 13, a grounding capacitor 14, a rectifier 15 including a diode bridge, and a fuse 16.
It has other features. The control power supply circuit L2 is connected to the sensor substrate 5. An electrostatic sensor control circuit 17 is mounted on the sensor board, and the electromagnetic relay 12 can be operated by receiving the detection signal output from the detection electrode plate 6.
Further, a high-frequency oscillator (not shown) is mounted on the sensor substrate 5, and a high frequency can be constantly oscillated from the detection electrode plate 6 and is generated between the detection electrode plate 6 and the tip of the grip portion of the plug P. It is possible to detect that the plug P, which is the detection target, approaches by the change in the electrostatic capacitance.

[0018]

[Operation of the present embodiment] The circuit of FIG. 3 is in the initial state, that is, the plug P is the plug socket (see FIG. 2).
The power supply circuit L1 is opened by the electromagnetic relay 12 when it is not plugged in. Therefore, in this state, the power supply to the plug socket 7 is not conducted. However, the control power supply circuit L2
Since the DC power source is always ready to be supplied to the electrostatic sensor control circuit 17, it is possible to detect the change in the electrostatic capacitance due to the detection electrode plate 6.

Next, the plug P is inserted into the plug socket 7, and the plug terminal comes into contact with the socket terminal 7a. However, since the electrostatic capacity is very small at the start of the contact, the control operation by the electrostatic sensor control circuit 17 is performed. Is not performed and the power supply circuit L1 remains open. Under this condition, there is no possibility that the user may directly or indirectly contact the plug terminal to cause an electric shock accident during the plug insertion work.

When the plug P is further pushed into the plug socket 7 and the plug is securely inserted into the plug socket, the electrostatic capacity of the detection electrode plate 6 increases, and the electrostatic sensor control receives the detection signal. The electromagnetic relay 12 is operated by the circuit 17 to close the power supply circuit L1, so that the plug socket becomes conductive. Therefore, it becomes possible to supply power from the power supply to the connected device via the plug P. When the plug P is pulled out from the plug socket 7, the power supply circuit L1 opens again and returns to the initial state.

In the present embodiment, the capacitance type proximity switch is used to detect that the plug is surely inserted into the plug socket. However, instead of this proximity switch, a micro switch is adopted, The detection signal may be output when the plug is securely inserted into the plug socket.

Note that the circuit shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and the present invention can be realized by being configured by other circuits.

Further, the present invention can be applied to a power source connecting means such as a table tap other than the outlet provided on the wall surface.

[0024]

According to the present invention, unless the plug is securely inserted into the outlet, the power supply does not conduct to the plug socket, so that there is no danger of electric shock during the plug insertion operation, so that children and physically disabled It is possible to use electric appliances with peace of mind.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway sectional view showing the structure of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which the cover is removed.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of an example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 D plug detection means C continuity control means P plug 7 plug socket

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plug detecting means for detecting that a plug is inserted into a plug socket, and a detection signal output from the plug detecting means for establishing continuity between a power supply and the plug socket. And a conduction control means for controlling the conduction control means, the conduction control means performing the conduction when the plug is inserted into the plug socket, and interrupting the conduction when the plug is not securely inserted. Outlet characterized by being possible. 2. The outlet according to claim 1, wherein the plug detecting means is a capacitance type proximity switch that detects a plugged state of the plug by a change in capacitance.