JPH11176304A - Relay - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress current carrying to a coil at the necessary minimum limit, reduce the heating value from the coil, and reduce electric power consumption. SOLUTION: A plunger of a movable contact unit 20 is moved reciprocation on the basis of excitation and demagnetization of an electromagnet unit 40. Movable contacts 27a, 27b of a movable contact piece 27 assembled with a holding part 23 of a movable contact block 21 are connected or disconnected to/from fixed contacts 14a, 15a, and the on-off control condition is held by a cam groove 25 and a lock pin 33.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a relay, and more particularly to an automotive relay for driving a headlight, a fan motor, or the like that requires a large current.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a vehicle relay, for example, a headlight of a vehicle requiring a large current is turned on / off, a column switch in the vicinity of a driver is operated. A method of driving a relay and turning on a headlight is common. This is because a thinner wire can be used than when the headlight is directly turned on by the column switch. A relay is often installed in an engine room in order to shorten a thick power supply line for supplying a large current from a battery to a headlight and prevent a decrease in brightness of the headlight due to a voltage drop.

[0003] However, the temperature in the engine room usually exceeds 120 ° C due to heat generated by the engine. Furthermore, the relay itself has a contact portion through which the load current flows, and
Heat is also generated from the excited coil. For this reason, the above-mentioned relay not only needs to be formed of a material having high heat-resistant specifications, but also has a problem that it consumes a large amount of power.

In particular, in recent years, the number of relays installed in an engine room has increased, and the number of fine wires for driving the relays has increased in proportion to the increase. Therefore, relay control by multiplex communication has been performed. A semiconductor circuit is indispensable for relay control by multiplex communication. From the viewpoint of assemblability, the relay and the semiconductor circuit are often unitized on one board. For this reason, in order to protect a semiconductor circuit, a relay having a small amount of self-heating is further desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a relay that minimizes current supply to a coil, generates less heat from the coil, and consumes less power.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a relay according to the present invention has an electromagnet unit in which a coil is wound around a spool having a center hole, and a plunger provided in the center hole of the spool in the axial direction. A holding portion for holding the movable contact piece is formed on the front surface of the movable contact block integrated with the lower end of the plunger, and a substantially heart-shaped cam groove is formed on the back surface of the movable block. A contact is opened and closed by a movable contact unit, a lock pin urged to the back side of the movable block, one end of which is engaged with a cam groove of the movable block, and the movable contact piece assembled to a holding portion of the movable contact block. A movable contact block that reciprocates a plunger of the movable contact unit based on excitation and demagnetization of the electromagnet unit. On the contact mechanism in the movable contact piece assembled to the holder, while off, it is constituted to hold on and off state in said cam groove and the lock pin.

An electromagnet unit having a coil wound around a spool having a center hole, and a plunger slidably supported in the center hole of the spool in the axial direction, and a movable contact block integrated with a lower end of the plunger. A holding portion for holding a movable contact piece is formed on each side, a movable contact unit having a substantially heart-shaped cam groove formed in the center of the back surface of the movable block, and one end urged toward the back surface of the movable block. And a contact mechanism for opening and closing a contact with the movable contact piece assembled to the holding portion of the movable contact block, based on excitation and demagnetization of the electromagnet unit. The plunger of the movable contact unit is reciprocated, and the contact mechanism is turned on and off by a movable contact piece assembled to the movable contact block. That one, turned on and the cam groove and the lock pin, it may be maintained in the OFF state.

The contact mechanism has a movable contact at both ends, and is attached to the holding portion of the movable contact block so as to urge it in the operation direction, and is press-fitted and fixed to the base. And a fixed contact terminal having a fixed contact facing the movable contact so as to be able to contact and separate therefrom.

Further, the movable contact unit may be supported slidably in a vertical direction between a plurality of columns erected on a base.

[0010] The leaf spring may be erected on the base. Further, the leaf spring has a small hole on one end side of a substantially rectangular frame made of a thin plate elastic spring material, and has an elastic tongue cut and raised inside the rectangular frame, while the lock pin is One end thereof may be rotatably supported by engaging with the small hole of the leaf spring, and may be biased toward the movable contact block by the elastic tongue of the rectangular frame.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The relay according to the first embodiment generally includes a base 10, a movable contact unit 20, a leaf spring 30, an electromagnet unit 40, and a case 50, as shown in FIGS.

The base 10 has a pair of columns 11 and 12 erected on the upper surface thereof at predetermined intervals. A sliding groove 11 for slidably supporting a movable contact unit 20 to be described later is provided on opposing surfaces of the columns 11 and 12.
a and 12a are provided respectively. The support 1
Terminal holes 13a, 13b provided in the bases on one side of 1, 1
The fixed contact terminals 14 and 15 bent into a substantially L-shaped cross section are press-fitted and fixed. Further, fixed contact terminals 1 punched in a crank shape are provided on the bases on the other side of the columns 11, 12 respectively.
7, 18 are press-fitted and fixed. The horizontal portions of the coil terminals 17, 18 are press-fitted into slits 11b, 12b provided at the upper ends of the columns 11, 12, respectively. Next, a return coil spring 16 is positioned in the concave portion 13c located at the base of the fixed contact terminals 14, 15. Further, a concave portion 13d for fitting a leaf spring 30, which will be described later, is provided on the other side surface of the columns 11, 12 (FIG. 2A).

As shown in FIG. 5, the movable contact unit 20 is formed by insert-molding a plunger 22 made of a magnetic material at the upper end of a movable contact block 21 on the same axis. A holding portion 23 for holding the movable contact piece 27 is formed on the front surface of the movable contact block 21, while a guide groove 24 and a substantially heart-shaped cam groove are formed on the side surface serving as the back surface of the holding portion 23. 25 are formed. further,
A guide ridge 2 is provided on an edge of a side surface adjacent to the holding portion 23.
6a and 26b are formed respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, a movable contact piece 27 having movable contacts 27a and 27b fixed at both ends by caulking is inserted into the frame portion 23 for positioning, and a contact pressure adjusting coil 28 is incorporated. The movable contact piece 27 is urged in the operation direction. The movable contact block 2 is inserted into slide grooves 11 a and 12 a provided in the columns 11 and 12 of the base 10.
The movable contact unit 21 is slidably supported by fitting the one guide ridge 26a, 26b.

On the other hand, the columns 11, 12 are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a leaf spring 30 is press-fitted into a concave portion 13d provided on the back surface. As shown in FIG. 5, this leaf spring 30 is obtained by punching a thin leaf spring material into a predetermined shape by press working, bending both side edges, and bending an elastic tongue piece 31 formed at the center thereof. It is. After the upper end 34 of the bent lock pin 33 is inserted through the small hole 32 of the leaf spring 30 and attached,
The leaf spring 30 is pressed into the second recess 13d. This allows
The upper end 34 of the lock pin 33 engages with the guide groove 24 of the movable contact unit 20, while the elastic tongue 3 of the leaf spring 30
The lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 urged by
5 is engaged.

The electromagnet unit 40 has a coil 43 wound around a spool 41 in which a cylindrical yoke 42 is inserted into a center hole 41a. The engagement grooves of the projections 44 and 45 (FIG. 4) projecting downward from the lower edge of the spool 41 are fitted into the horizontal portions of the coil terminals 17 and 18. For this reason, the upper ends 17a, 18a of the coil terminals 17, 18 protrude from the terminal holes 41b, 41c provided in the lower flange portion of the spool 41. And this upper end 1
The movable contact unit 20 is connected to the movable contact unit 20 by soldering the lead wires of the coil 43 to the movable contact units 7a and 18a.
Plunger 22 is slidably held in cylindrical yoke 42.

The case 50 has a box shape that can be fitted to the base 10. And the base 1
The internal components such as the movable contact unit 20 are hermetically sealed by being fitted to the annular step 13e provided on the outer peripheral surface of the zero.

Next, the operation of the relay having the above configuration will be described. First, the coil 4 of the electromagnet unit 40
When no voltage is applied to the movable contact 3, the movable contact unit 20 is urged upward by the spring force of the coil spring 16, and the movable contacts 27a and 27b are fixed to the fixed contacts 14a and 15a.
Is separated from At this time, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 is located within the zone I of the cam groove 25 (FIG. 7).

Next, when a voltage is applied to the coil 43 for a certain period of time to excite it and then the application of the voltage is stopped, a magnetic force for pulling the plunger 22 downward is generated for a certain period of time and then disappears. Therefore, the electromagnet unit 20 moves downward against the spring force of the coil spring 16, and the movable contacts 27a and 27b contact the fixed contacts 14a and 15a. Further, the electric movable contact unit 20 is pulled down, the contact pressure adjusting coil spring 28 is compressed, and only the movable contact block 21 moves downward. Therefore, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 moves from the zone I of the cam groove 25 to the zone II (FIG. 8). Then, after the magnetic force of the coil 43 has disappeared, the movable contact unit 20 is pushed upward by the spring force of the coil spring 16. At this time, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 attempts to return from zone II to zone I, but cannot return because zone I is one step higher than zone II. For this reason, the lock pin 3
The lower end 35 of 3 moves to zone II, which is one step lower than zone II, and becomes stable (FIG. 9). Therefore, the movable contact unit 20 cannot completely return to the original position, and the movable contacts 27a and 27b are fixed to the fixed contacts 14a and 15a.
Is kept in contact with the ON state.

Next, after the voltage is again applied to the coil 43 for a certain period of time to excite it, when the application of the voltage is stopped, a magnetic force for pulling the plunger 22 downward is generated for a certain period of time and then disappears. For this reason, the coil spring 1
6, the movable contact unit moves downward, but the coil spring 28 is compressed.
a, 15a and the movable contacts 27a, 27b are in contact with a predetermined contact pressure. Further, since the movable contact unit 20 is pulled down, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 moves from the zone III of the cam groove 25 to the zone IV (FIG. 10).
Further, after the magnetic force of the coil 43 has disappeared, the movable contact unit 20 is pushed upward by the spring force of the coil spring 16. Therefore, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 attempts to return from the zone IV to the zone III.
Cannot return because it is one step higher than Zone III. As a result, the lower end portion 35 of the lock pin 33 passes through the zone V one step lower than the zone IV, returns to the zone I, and enters a stable state (FIG. 11). Therefore, the movable contact unit 20 can be completely returned to the original position, and the movable contacts 27a and 27b are separated from the fixed contacts 14a and 15a to completely return to the original state.

According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, when closing a contact, a voltage may be applied to the electromagnet unit for a short time at the beginning and end of closing the contact to excite it. . Therefore, there is no need to apply a voltage while the contacts are closed, so that there is an advantage that power consumption can be saved and heat generation of the coil can be suppressed to a necessary minimum.

The second embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a relay which simultaneously opens and closes two different circuits as shown in FIGS. That is, the base 10, the movable contact unit 20, the leaf spring 30, the electromagnet unit 40,
And a case 50.

The base 10 has two sets of columns 11, 12 projecting from the upper surface thereof. A guide slit 13f is formed between the columns 11 and 12, respectively. On the other hand, a support wall 19 for supporting a leaf spring 30, which will be described later, is formed integrally between the opposing columns 11, 11. Further, terminal holes 13a and 13b of fixed contact terminals 14 and 15 are provided at outer bases of the columns 11 and 12, respectively.
Are provided respectively. A leaf spring 30 is provided upright along the inner surface of the support wall 19. This leaf spring 30
The upper end 3 of the lock pin 33 bent into the small hole 32
4 is inserted, and the lock pin 33 is urged inward by the elastic tongue piece 31. Further, terminal holes 19a, 19b of the coil terminals 17, 17 are provided in the outer base of the support wall 19.

The movable contact unit 20 comprises a movable contact block 21, a plunger 22, and a movable contact piece 27. In the movable contact block 21, a separate plunger 22 made of a magnetic material is engaged and integrated with a notch 21a for engagement provided on a central upper surface from the side, and a movable contact piece 27 is provided on both sides thereof. A holding section 23 for holding is provided. Further, the movable contact block 21
Is formed with a substantially heart-shaped cam groove 25 having the same shape as that of the first embodiment on the central side surface thereof. The movable contacts 27a and 27a are provided at both ends of the holding portion 23 of the movable contact block 21.
The movable contact piece 27 is urged in the operating direction by incorporating the movable contact piece 27 having the contact b and the coil spring 28 for adjusting the contact pressure. Next, the slit 2 of the movable contact block 21 is provided between the columns 11 and 12.
1b and 21c are respectively fitted and supported so as to be slidable in the vertical direction.

The electromagnet unit 40 has a coil 43 wound around a spool 41 having a center hole 41a.
After the return coil spring 29 and the washer 29a are sequentially fitted to the plunger 22 of the movable contact unit 20, the center hole 4 of the spool 41 is inserted into the plunger 22.
1a is fitted. Next, the electromagnet unit 40 is positioned at a predetermined position by engaging the engaging claws provided on the tops of the columns 11, 12 via the engaging holes 41d, 41e provided on the flange portion of the spool 41. . Next, the coil terminals 17, 17 are press-fitted into terminal holes 19 a, 19 b provided in the outer base of the support wall 19, and the lead wire of the coil 43 is wrapped around the upper end engaged with the flange of the spool 41. Solder. Then, the fixed contacts 14 and 15 are press-fitted into the terminal holes 13a and 13b of the base 10, respectively, so that the fixed contacts 14a and 15a are opposed to the movable contacts 27a and 27b so as to be capable of coming and going (FIG. 15).
In FIG. 13, for convenience of explanation, one fixed contact terminal 15 out of a total of four fixed contact terminals 14 and 15 is used.
Is shown only.

The case 50 has a box shape so that it can be fitted to the base 10. And the base 1
The internal components such as the movable contact unit 20 are hermetically sealed by fitting and assembling with 0.

Next, the operation of the relay according to this embodiment will be described. First, when no voltage is applied to the coil 43, the movable contact unit 20 is urged downward by the spring force of the coil spring 29, and the movable contact 27
a, 27b are separated from the fixed contacts 14a, 15a. At this time, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 is
5 zone (I).

Next, when a voltage is applied to the coil 43 for a certain period of time to excite it and the application of the voltage is stopped, a magnetic force for pulling the plunger 22 upward is generated for a certain period of time and then disappears. Therefore, the electromagnet unit 20 moves upward against the spring force of the coil spring 29, and the movable contacts 27a and 27b contact the fixed contacts 14a and 15a. Further, the electromagnet unit 20 is pulled upward, the contact pressure adjusting coil spring 28 is compressed, and only the movable contact block 21 moves upward. Therefore, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 moves from the zone (I) of the cam groove 25 to the zone (II). Then, after the magnetic force of the coil 43 has disappeared, the movable contact block 20 is pushed down by the spring force of the coil spring 29. At this time, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 attempts to return from the zone (II) to the zone (I).
I cannot return because it is one step higher than I). For this reason, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 moves to the zone (III) one step lower than the zone (II) and is brought into a stable state. Therefore, the movable contact unit 20 cannot completely return to the original position, and the movable contacts 27a and 27b are
The ON state in contact with 4a and 15a is maintained.

Next, after the voltage is again applied to the coil 43 for a certain period of time to excite it, when the application of the voltage is stopped, the magnetic force for pulling the plunger 22 upward is generated for a certain period of time and then disappears. For this reason, the coil spring 2
9, the movable contact unit 20 moves upward, but the coil spring 28 is further compressed, and the fixed contact 1
4a, 15a and movable contacts 27a, 27b are in contact with a predetermined contact pressure. On the other hand, since the movable contact unit 20 is pulled up, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 moves from the zone (III) of the cam groove 25 to the zone (IV). After the magnetic force of the coil 43 has disappeared, the coil spring 2
With the spring force of 9, the movable contact unit 20 is pushed down. For this reason, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 attempts to return from the zone (IV) to the zone (III).
Since the zone (IV) is one step higher than the zone (III), it cannot be returned. As a result, the lower end 35 of the lock pin 33 passes through the zone (V) one step lower than the zone (IV), returns to the zone (I), and enters a stable state. Therefore, the movable contact unit 20 can completely return to the original position, and the movable contacts 27a, 27b are fixed to the fixed contacts 14a, 15a.
And completely return to the original state.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16, a headlamp, a headlamp washer motor, a blower fan motor and the like are connected to a plurality of relays connected to a LAN decoder for relay control, as shown in FIG. You may use it.

As shown in FIG. 17, the above-mentioned relays connected to the headlamp, the headlamp washer motor, and the blower fan motor may be directly connected to the LAN for control.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the relay of the first aspect of the present invention, the coil needs to be energized only when the contacts are turned on and off. For this reason, not only can power consumption be reduced, but also heat generation by the coil is small, so that it is not necessary to use a material having high heat-resistant specifications. Further, since there is no need to constantly supply current to the coil, there is no temperature rise due to self-heating of the coil itself. For this reason, since the impedance of the coil does not increase and the generated magnetic flux does not decrease, operation at a low voltage becomes possible. Further, since it is not necessary to consider heat generation of the coil, the capacity of the coil can be further increased. Therefore, the attraction force of the magnetic circuit can be increased, and the adjustment step can be omitted. Since the heat generated from the coil is small, it can be combined with a semiconductor circuit, and relay control by multiplex communication becomes possible. In particular, even when the terminal of the relay is connected to the socket terminal to which the wire harness is connected, the self-heating of the relay is small, so that the displacement between the two due to thermal expansion is small. Therefore, even if expansion and contraction are repeated due to thermal expansion, no loosening occurs between the two, and the contact reliability is improved.

According to the second aspect, in addition to the above-described effects, 2
Since the two contact mechanisms can be opened and closed at the same time, power consumption can be further reduced, and a relay with a small amount of heat generation can be obtained.

According to the third aspect, the movable contact piece provided with the movable contact is urged in the operation direction. As a result, dimensional errors due to variations in assembly accuracy and the like can be absorbed, and variations in contact pressure can be eliminated, so that the contact switching operation is stabilized. According to the fourth aspect, the movable contact block is slidably supported between the plurality of columns provided on the base.
For this reason, the operation of the movable contact block does not rattle, and not only the operation is stabilized, but also the assemblability is improved.

According to the fifth aspect, since the leaf spring can be erected on the base, the positioning is easy and the assembling property is improved. According to the sixth aspect, since the lock pin, which is generally small and difficult to attach, is attached to the leaf spring and attached to the base, the number of parts does not increase, and the assemblability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a relay according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the relay shown in FIG. 1 from different angles.

3 shows the relay of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 3 (a) is a rear partial cross-sectional view and FIG. 3 (b) is a side partial cross-sectional view.

4 shows the relay of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 4 (a) is a front sectional view and FIG. 4 (b) is a side sectional view.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the relay shown in FIG. 1;

6 shows a cam mechanism according to the relay of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a cam groove, and FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the cam groove.

7 (a) is a front partial cross-sectional view, FIG. 7 (b) is a rear partial cross-sectional view, FIG. 7 (c) is a circuit diagram, FIG. 7D is an enlarged view showing the cam mechanism.

8 (a) is a front partial sectional view, FIG. 7 (b) is a rear partial sectional view, FIG. 7 (c) is a circuit diagram, FIG. 7D is an enlarged view showing the cam mechanism.

9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the relay shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 7A is a front partial sectional view, FIG. 7B is a rear partial sectional view, FIG. 7C is a circuit diagram, FIG. 7D is an enlarged view showing the cam mechanism.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the relay shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 7A is a front partial sectional view, FIG. 7B is a rear partial sectional view, FIG. FIG. 7D is an enlarged view showing the cam mechanism.

11 (a) is a front partial sectional view, FIG. 7 (b) is a rear partial sectional view, FIG. 7 (c) is a circuit diagram, FIG. 7D is an enlarged view showing the cam mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a time chart of the relay shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a relay according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the relay shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the relay shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing a relay connection method according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is another circuit diagram illustrating a method for connecting a relay according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Base, 11, 12 ... Column, 14, 15 ... Fixed contact terminal, 14a, 15a ... Fixed contact, 20 ... Movable contact unit, 21 ... Movable contact block, 22 ... Plunger,
Reference numeral 23: holding portion, 25: cam groove, 30: leaf spring, 33: lock pin, 40: electromagnet unit, 41: spool, 4
1a: center hole, 43: coil.

Claims (6)

[Claims] An electromagnet unit having a coil wound around a spool having a center hole; and a movable contact block integrated with a lower end of the plunger, wherein the plunger is slidably supported in the center hole of the spool in the axial direction. A movable contact unit having a substantially heart-shaped cam groove formed on the back surface of the movable block while a holding portion for holding the movable contact piece is formed on the front surface of the movable block; A lock pin engaged with a cam groove of the movable block, and a contact mechanism that opens and closes a contact with the movable contact piece assembled to a holding portion of the movable contact block. Based on excitation and demagnetization of the electromagnet unit, The plunger of the movable contact unit is reciprocated, and the contact mechanism is turned on and off by the movable contact piece assembled to the holding portion of the movable contact block. Write, turned on and the cam groove and the locking pin,
A relay characterized by holding an off state. 2. An electromagnet unit in which a coil is wound around a spool having a center hole, and a movable contact block which supports a plunger in the center hole of the spool so as to be slidable in the axial direction and is integrated with a lower end of the plunger. A movable contact unit having a substantially heart-shaped cam groove formed in the center of the rear surface of the movable block while holding portions for holding the movable contact pieces are formed on both sides of the front surface of the movable block. A lock pin having one end engaged with a cam groove of the movable block, and a contact mechanism for opening and closing a contact with the movable contact piece assembled to a holding portion of the movable contact block, for exciting and demagnetizing the electromagnet unit. The plunger of the movable contact unit is reciprocated based on the movable contact piece, and the contact mechanism is turned on by the movable contact piece assembled to the movable contact block. While off, relay, characterized in that holding on and off state in said cam groove and the lock pin. 3. The contact mechanism has a movable contact at both ends, and is fixedly press-fitted and fixed to a base, and a movable contact piece attached to a holding portion of the movable contact block so as to urge the movable contact block in an operation direction. 3. The relay according to claim 1, further comprising a fixed contact terminal having a fixed contact facing the movable contact so that the movable contact can be separated from the movable contact. 4. 4. The movable contact unit according to claim 1, wherein the movable contact unit is supported so as to be vertically slidable between a plurality of columns erected on the base.
Relay according to paragraph. 5. The relay according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring is erected on the base. 6. The plate spring has a small hole at one end side of a substantially rectangular frame made of a thin plate elastic spring material and an elastic tongue piece cut and raised inside the rectangular frame, and the lock is provided. The pin is rotatably supported by engaging one end of the pin with the small hole of the leaf spring, and is urged toward the movable contact block by the elastic tongue of the rectangular frame. The relay according to claim 1.