JPH10106686A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a fire caused by the tracking phenomenon by receiving light using a photocell detecting the occurrence of a discharge spark, and causing actuation by means of its photoelectrically converted output to stop the occurrence of the discharge spark. SOLUTION: When a discharge spark occurs between plug slots 2A, Band its light impinges on a photocell 19 through a hole 18, a current flows in the element 19. Since the current flows 8$ the base current of a switching element 22, the element 22 is turned on. As a result, a current flows in the exciting coil 17A of an electromagnetic plunger 17, activating the plunger 17 to attract a movable rod. This attraction causes a reset means 16 and a movable armature 15A h:> rotate. This rotation separates a movable contact 15C from a fixed contact 15D, opening a circuit breaker 15. In the open state, a commercial source voltage supplied to contacts 12A, B is shut off, so that the discharge spark stops, preventing the spark from causing the tracking phenomenon.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector generally called an outlet which is used by being attached to a wall of a house or connected to the end of an extension cord, and a plug which is used by being inserted into the outlet. Regarding the connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a safety device in indoor power distribution facilities, a breaker that detects overcurrent and shuts off power supply,
An earth leakage breaker has been put to practical use. An earth leakage breaker is a safety device that detects that a ground current has started to flow due to insulation deterioration of electrical equipment, and shuts off a circuit when the ground current starts to flow beyond a specified value.

[0003]

One of the causes of fire occurrence is a phenomenon called a tracking phenomenon. The tracking phenomenon is that when the surface of an insulator is contaminated or damaged by salt, dust, moisture, chemicals, etc., a leakage current flows on the surface, and insulation is caused by a minute spark discharge called scintillation generated at that time. The surface of an object thermally degrades and carbonized conductive paths, that is, tracks (traces of the passage) are formed, causing surface breakdown. ”The number of fires caused by this tracking phenomenon is increasing. is there.

The most common example of occurrence of the tracking phenomenon is that a plug is left in an outlet for a long period of time, dust adheres between both blades of the plug, and the dust contains moisture to form a conductive path. Then, there are many cases in which the amount of conduction current gradually increases. The leakage current flowing between the two blades of the plug is a very small amount of current, and does not operate the breaker described above. Further, since the property is different from the ground current, it cannot be detected by the earth leakage breaker. Therefore, the emergence of a safety device that can take measures such as shutting off the power supply in anticipation of the occurrence of the tracking phenomenon is expected.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector having a function of detecting the occurrence of a tracking phenomenon and preventing the occurrence of a fire.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method including both an outlet and a plug. The characteristic feature of the invention is a pair of contacts supported by an insulating body and receiving and receiving commercial power. And a light receiving element for detecting that discharge light has been generated on the exposed surface of the insulating body through which the commercial power received and transmitted through the pair of contacts passes;
The present invention proposes a connector constituted by a stop means for stopping the generation of discharge light by being activated by the photoelectric conversion output signal when the light receiving element receives discharge light.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the insulating body forms an insulating body of the outlet, the contact is a female contact housed in a pair of holes formed in the insulating body, and the stopping means is provided on the female contact. The present invention proposes a connector constituted by a circuit breaker that cuts off supplied commercial power. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the insulating body forms an insulating body of the outlet, the contact is a female contact stored in a pair of holes formed in the insulating body, and the stopping means is a pair of female contacts storing the female contact. The present invention proposes a connector constituted by variable surface distance changing means for changing the total surface distance between holes.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the insulating body refers to the insulating body of the plug, the contact is a pair of blades protruding from the insulating body and supported, and the stopping means is the extending surface distance between the pair of blades. The present invention proposes a connector which is constituted by an extended surface distance varying means for enlarging the distance, and provided with a reset means for returning the extended surface distance varying means to the original position. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising an alarm device activated by a detection signal of the light receiving element.

The connector proposed in the first aspect of the present invention takes into consideration the provision of the light receiving means and the stopping means on one or both of the outlet side and the plug side. Therefore, according to the connector of claim 1, when discharge light emission occurs between the blades of the plug inserted into the outlet,
A light receiving element provided on one or both of the outlet side and the plug side detects the discharge light emission, and can operate a stop means for stopping the discharge light emission. By operating the stopping means, the discharge light emission phenomenon is stopped, and it is possible to prevent a fire from occurring. In particular, by providing stopping means on both the outlet side and the plug side,
Discharge emission generated between the blades of the plug can be reliably stopped, and high reliability can be obtained.

[0010] The connector proposed in claim 2 requires a configuration in which a light receiving element and a stopping means are provided on the outlet side. The present invention is characterized in that the stopping means is constituted by a circuit breaker. In other words, when discharge light emission occurs between the blades of the plug inserted into the outlet, the circuit breaker operates and cuts off the commercial power supplied to the female contact of the outlet, so that the discharge light emission is reliably stopped. be able to.

[0011] The connector proposed in claim 3 has a structure in which the light receiving element and the stopping means are provided on the outlet side as in claim 2. The third aspect is characterized in that the stopping means is constituted by an extended surface distance varying means. In the case where the stopping means is constituted by the extending surface distance varying means, the discharge passage moves and is removed from the discharge passage, so that also in this case, the discharge light emission can be surely stopped.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector provided with a light receiving element and a stop means on the plug side. By providing a light receiving element and a stop means also on the plug side, it is possible to stop the discharge light emission even when the operation of stopping the discharge light emission is performed only on the plug side, but it is preferable that the connector proposed in claim 2 or 3 be used. By combining with, the reliability can be improved.

In the connector proposed in claim 5, discharge light emission is generated on the surface of the connector, and when this discharge light emission is detected by the light receiving element, the circuit breaker or the extended surface distance variable means operates to reduce the tracking phenomenon. Prevents development and activates the alarm. By operating the alarm, it is possible to notify that the tracking phenomenon occurs.

[0014]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the connector proposed in claim 1 or 2 of the present invention. This embodiment shows an embodiment in which a light receiving element and a stopping means are incorporated in an outlet. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an insulating body constituting a connector (outlet). A pair of plug insertion holes 12A and 12B are formed on the surface of the insulating body 11, and female contacts 13A and 13B are stored in the plug insertion holes 12A and 12B. One end of the commercial power supply 14 is directly connected to one female contact 13A, and the other terminal of the commercial power supply 14 is connected to the other female contact 13B via a circuit breaker 15.

The circuit breaker 15 is a movable contact 15 in this example.
A, a common terminal 15B swingably supporting the movable contact 15A, a movable contact 15C attached to one end of the movable contact 15A, and a fixed contact 1 contacting the movable contact 15C.
5D shows an example. 16 is a movable contact piece 1
Reset means 16A is used for swinging the movable contact piece 15A to return the movable contact piece 15A to its original position, 16A is an operating rod projecting from the reset means 16 to press and bias the movable contact piece 15A, and 17 is a circuit breaker 15 3 shows an electromagnetic plunger for controlling a disconnected state.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section taken along the line XX shown in FIG. In the present invention, a hole 18 is formed between the plug insertion holes 12A and 12B, and a light receiving element 19 is mounted in the hole 18. The light receiving element 19 is mounted on the circuit board 21. In addition to the light receiving element 19, other circuit elements 22, 2
3 is implemented. FIG. 3 shows an example of a circuit formed on the circuit board 21. The circuit element 22 is a switching element such as a transistor, for example, and the circuit element 23 is a circuit element having a voltage conversion (step-down) and a rectifier circuit. For example, an AC commercial power supply voltage having an effective value of 100 V is applied to the circuit element 23, and the circuit element 23 generates an appropriate DC voltage. The positive voltage terminal 23A and the negative voltage terminal 23 of the circuit element 23
The DC voltage output during B is applied to a series circuit of the exciting coil 17A of the electromagnetic plunger 17 and the switching element 22. The base of the switching element 22 and the positive voltage terminal 23
A light receiving element 19 is connected between A.

According to this circuit structure, the plug insertion hole 12A
Discharge light is generated between the light receiving element 19 and the light receiving element 19B.
Current flows through Since this current flows as the base current of the switching element 22, the switching element 22 is turned on. As a result, the exciting coil 1 of the electromagnetic plunger 17
An exciting current flows through 7A, and the electromagnetic plunger 17 is activated to suck the movable rod. By this suction operation, the reset means 16 is rotated counterclockwise in the example of FIG. 1, and the movable contact piece 15A is rotated clockwise. By this rotation, the movable contact 15C is separated from the fixed contact 15D, and the circuit breaker 15 is controlled to be turned off. Circuit breaker 15
Is cut off, the commercial power supply voltage supplied to the female contacts 12A and 12B is cut off, so that the female contacts 13A and 13B are in contact with the plugs 12A and 12B while the plugs are inserted into the plug insertion holes 12A and 12B. Even if discharge light emission occurs between the blades (not particularly shown), the discharge light emission is stopped and the tracking phenomenon can be prevented because the application of the voltage is canceled.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electromagnetic plunger 1
By connecting an alarm 24 such as an electronic buzzer or a light emitting element, for example, in parallel with the excitation coil 17A of No. 7, the alarm 24 operates simultaneously with the operation of the electromagnetic plunger 17, It can be notified that the tracking phenomenon has been prevented. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the supply of power to the female contacts 13 </ b> A and 13 </ b> B is interrupted by the operation of the circuit breaker 15, and when the discharge light emission is eliminated, the switching element 22 is turned off. At this time, the operating rod 16A protruding from the reset means 16 has the movable contact piece 15A in a posture inclined in the opening direction.
, The circuit breaker 15 does not return to the ON state. To return the circuit breaker 15 to the ON state, the reset means 16 is manually operated. At this time, the surface of the insulator, especially the plug insertion holes 12A and 12B
You need to pay attention to the time between resetting.

FIG. 4 shows a modified embodiment of the circuit breaker 15.
You. In this example, the female body 13B and the insulating body 11
Of the terminal 25 protruding to the back side of the
An embodiment in which a circuit breaker 15 is inserted is shown. That is, the terminal
Fixed contact 15D at 25 split points ₁ And 15D_Two , This
Fixed contact 15D₁ And 15D_Two Contact the movable contact 15A
Thus, the circuit breaker 15 is configured.

The movable contact piece 15A is connected to a movable rod 17B of the electromagnetic plunger 17. The movable rod 15B is provided with a spring 17C for applying a biasing force in a protruding direction. Movable contact piece 15A by the biasing force of the spring 17C is pressed against the fixed contact 15D ₁ and 15D _2, it is maintained in the closed state. FIG. 5 shows an example of the circuit. In this circuit, a case where a thyristor is used as the switching element 22 is shown. A circuit connection structure for applying a trigger signal from the light receiving element 19 to the gate terminal of the thyristor and a switch constituting the reset means 16 connected in series to, for example, a positive voltage terminal 23A of the circuit element 23 is shown.

The reset switch is mounted on the circuit board 21 as shown in FIG. 4, and the push button operator 16B is inserted into the hole 26 and arranged. In such a configuration, when a discharge light emission phenomenon occurs between the plug insertion holes 12A and 12B and the light receiving element 19 receives the discharge light, the thyristor conducts and the electromagnetic plunger 17 is driven. When the electromagnetic plunger 17 is driven, the movable contact piece 15A is pulled off, and the electric power supplied to the female contact 13B is cut off. As a result, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the discharge light emission phenomenon is stopped, and a dangerous situation can be avoided.

To reset, the push-button operation member 16B of the switch constituting the reset means 16 is pressed through the hole 26 to cut off the DC voltage output from the circuit element 23. Once the DC voltage is turned off, the thyristor is turned off. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the connector proposed in claim 3 of the present invention. In this embodiment, when discharge light emission occurs between the blades of the plug, the discharge surface is stopped by changing the extension distance between the blades of the plug in a direction to increase the distance. It was done.

Here, the extended surface distance can be defined as "distance tracing the surface of the insulator connecting the exposed portions of the conductor where discharge is expected to occur". In general, it is known that the longer the extending surface distance, the more difficult the discharge is to generate. For this reason, in the present invention, the extended surface distance varying means 30 is provided between the holes 12A and 12B in which the female contacts are stored, and when the discharge light emission starts between the blades of the inserted plug, the extended surface distance varying means 30 operates. Then, by changing the extending surface distance between the blades of the plug in a direction of increasing the length, the tracking phenomenon is prevented from occurring.

As the extending surface distance varying means 30, a hole 30A having a large opening area is formed between the holes 12A and 12B, and a light transmission filter 30B made of an insulator is arranged at the opening of the hole 30A. Cover. The light transmission filter 30B is connected to the movable rod of the electromagnetic plunger 30C. The movable rod receives a biasing force in a protruding direction by biasing means such as a spring, and supports the light transmitting filter 30B at the position of the opening surface. The light receiving element 19 is provided inside the hole 30A.
Is mounted, and the light emission phenomenon generated between the blades of the plug by the light receiving element 19 is detected through the light transmission filter 30B.

The light transmission characteristics of the light transmission filter 30B are, for example, blue light transmission characteristics, so that light accompanying discharge light emission is distinguished from sunlight, electric light, etc., and mainly a wavelength specific to discharge light is sensed. Can be configured. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the extended surface distance varying means 30 operates. In this state, the light transmission filter 30B is drawn into the inside of the hole 30A, so that the extension distance between the blades of the plug becomes long. For this reason, even if discharge light emission occurs between the blades of the plug, the discharge light emission is erased due to a longer total surface distance. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tracking phenomenon.

The driving circuit of the electromagnetic plunger of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can use the circuit shown in FIG. 5 as it is. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Hole 2 near the light transmission filter 30B appearing on the surface of
6 may be formed, and an operation member 16B of a reset switch may be disposed in the hole 26 so that the reset operation can be performed through the hole 26.

In the above description, the connector has been described as being used by being connected to the wall or at the end of the extension cord. However, as another example, the present invention can be applied to an additional outlet having a blade to be inserted into an existing outlet. Easy to understand. FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the connector proposed in claim 4 of the present invention. This example shows a case where a plug is configured as a connector. That is, the insulating body 11 is an insulating body constituting the plug. The insulating body 11 has a blade 40
Are projected and supported. The cord 41 is connected to the rear end side of the blade 40, and the cord 41 is connected to various electric devices.

In this embodiment as well, a hole 30A is formed between a pair of blades 40 as described with reference to FIGS.
0A, an electromagnetic plunger 30C is mounted inside the movable plunger 30A.
B is attached to form the extended surface distance varying means 30. Since other configurations are the same as those in FIGS. 6 and 7, further detailed description is omitted. However, according to this embodiment, since the plug is provided with the means 30 for stopping discharge light emission, it will be manufactured in the future. By applying the present invention to an electric device, there is obtained an advantage that occurrence of a tracking phenomenon can be prevented even when the device is used by being plugged into an existing outlet.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the plug is left in a state where the plug is inserted into the connector for a long time, dust and the like adhere between the blades of the plug, and the dust and the like adhere to the dust. Is penetrated and has conductivity,
Leakage current begins to flow, heat is generated by the discharge phenomenon, and in the process where the surface of the insulating body constituting the connector or plug is carbonized by the heat and develops into the tracking phenomenon, at the same time as the discharge light emission is started, By detecting this discharge light emission and cutting off the power supply or changing the extending surface distance between the blades of the plug to a longer direction, the discharge light emission is stopped, so in the state before the tracking phenomenon occurs Discharge emission can be stopped. Therefore, the occurrence of a fire due to the tracking phenomenon can be prevented, and the effect is extremely large for practical use. Also,
According to the plug shown in FIG. 9, the tracking phenomenon can be prevented on the plug side without replacing the existing outlet by applying the present invention to an electric device to be manufactured in the future, so that an economic burden is imposed on the user. There is an advantage that safety can be ensured without hanging.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an embodiment of a connector proposed in claims 1 and 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a connection diagram showing an example of an electric circuit used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining a modification of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a connection diagram for explaining an example of an electric circuit used in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view for explaining an embodiment of the connector proposed in claim 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view for explaining an operation state of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view for explaining an embodiment of the connector proposed in claim 4 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Insulation body 12A, 12B Plug insertion hole 13A, 13B Female contact 14 Commercial power supply 15 Circuit breaker 16 Reset means 17 Electromagnetic plunger 18 Hole 19 Light receiving element 21 Circuit board 30 Extension distance variable means

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H01R 25/00 H01R 25/00 G

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A. First Embodiment B. a pair of contacts supported by the insulating body and receiving and receiving commercial power; B. a light receiving element for detecting that discharge light has been generated on an exposed surface of the insulating body through which commercial power received and transmitted through the pair of contacts passes; When the light receiving element receives the discharge light,
A connector which is activated by the photoelectric conversion output signal to stop the discharge light. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said insulating body is an insulating body of an outlet, said pair of contacts are female contacts housed in holes formed in said insulating body, and said stopping means. Is constituted by a circuit breaker for cutting off the commercial power supplied to the female contact, and provided with reset means for operating the circuit breaker from a disconnected state to a continued state. Connector. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said insulating body is an insulating body of an outlet, said pair of contacts is a female contact housed in a hole formed in said insulating body, and said stopping means. Is constituted by extending surface distance variable means for expanding the extending surface distance between the holes in which the pair of female contacts are stored, and provided with reset means for returning the extending surface distance variable means to the original position. Characteristic connector. 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulating body is an insulating body of the plug, and the pair of contacts is a blade protruding from the insulating body and supported.
The stop means is constituted by an extended surface distance varying means for increasing the extended surface distance between the pair of blades, and is provided with a reset means for returning the extended surface distance variable means to an original position. Connector. 5. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm activated by a detection signal of the light receiving element.