JPH11232953A - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably shut down a circuit in an emergency. SOLUTION: This circuit breaker is provided with a pair of sockets 12: one is connected with an electric power supply line by a first bus bar 14 and the other with a battery post by a second bus bar 15. A plug main body 23 comprising a detachable plug 24 is housed in each socket 12 movable to advance and retreat and moving force in he advancing direction is applied to the plug main body by an energizing spring 27. Each plug body 23 is kept at a retreating position by a stopper 31 against the energizing force. If an abnormal incident occurs, electric current flows in a trigger line 42 and a solenoid 34 is excited, so that a plunger 35 is attracted and a lever 36 is rotated and the stopper 31 is moved backwards following the rotation of the lever to release the engagement. Consequently, each plug body 23 is moved to a forward movement position by the energizing force of the energizing spring 27 and both plug bodies 24 come out of the sockets 12 for cutting down the electric power circuit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circuit breaker provided in an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a circuit breaker of this type, a fuse or a fusible link is generally used to cut off an overcurrent in a circuit when the circuit has an overcurrent. On the other hand, in an emergency such as when an accident occurs in a vehicle, there is a case where it is desired to instantaneously forcibly cut off a circuit. For example, a power circuit of an electric vehicle, which has been rapidly spreading in recent years, is particularly demanded.

As a conventional circuit breaker of this type, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-47809 discloses a circuit breaker in which a conductor provided in a circuit is forcibly broken by using the explosive force of explosive. As shown in FIG. 10, a fuse b connected between the output terminals a, an explosive c, and a filament d for heating the explosive c are sealed in a reinforced sealing glass e, The explosive c is exploded by applying a current to the input terminal f to cause the filament d to generate heat, and the explosive force is used to break the fuse b. The circuit can be forcibly cut off at an arbitrary timing. it can.

[0004]

However, since the fuse b is broken by the explosive force of the explosive, the fuse b is surely broken, that is, in order to surely cut off the circuit, the reliability is not good. was there. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker capable of surely performing an emergency circuit break.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for connecting a socket interposed between a socket and a conductive position between the socket and a socket which is inserted into and removed from the socket to establish a conductive state with the socket. A plug disposed to be able to move back and forth between a non-conducting position to be in a non-conducting state, an urging means for urging the plug to move toward the non-conducting position, and an urging force of the urging means for urging the plug And a releasing means for releasing the locking by the locking means by applying a trigger signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the plug is provided with a conductor portion and an insulating portion connected to each other, and when the plug is in the conductive position, the conductor portion is connected to the socket. In the non-conductive position, the insulating portion is connected to the socket. A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the plug can be re-locked to the conductive position by the locking means by being pushed in from the non-conductive position. Have.

[0007]

When the trigger signal is received, the releasing means is operated to release the locking by the locking means, and the plug is moved to the non-conductive position by the urging force of the urging means. Then, the circuit becomes nonconductive and the circuit is cut off. Since the conduction is cut by moving the plug with respect to the socket using the urging force of the urging means, the circuit can be cut off with high reliability and at high speed.

<Invention of Claim 2> When the plug moves to the non-conductive position, the insulating portion provided on the plug is connected to the socket, so that the plug becomes non-conductive. Since the conduction is cut off through the insulating portion having a high insulation resistance, the non-conduction state can be more reliably achieved. <Invention of claim 3> When the plug is pushed in, it can be re-locked at the conduction position, conduction is established with the socket, and the circuit is restored to conduction.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a power supply circuit of an electric vehicle will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a case made of a synthetic resin, and has a shape in which a post mounting plate 3 is projected from one side surface of a flat box-shaped main body 2 at a right angle. The post mounting plate 3 has an insertion hole through which a battery post 5 (see FIG. 3) of a battery (not shown) mounted on the electric vehicle is inserted, and a fastening ring 6 made of a conductor is disposed thereon. Have been. A stud bolt 7 for connecting a power supply line (not shown) is provided on a side surface of the main body 2.

A housing 9 for mounting a socket is accommodated in the upper left portion of the main body 2 in FIG. The housing 9 has a shape in which two housing cylinders 11 are formed on a substrate 10 at an interval. A bottomed cylindrical socket 12 made of a conductor is fitted to the right end side of each housing cylinder 11. Both sockets 12 are formed in a louver terminal shape, and a plurality of louvers 13 bulging elastically inward are provided on the inner surface of the socket 12 at intervals in the circumferential direction.

Each socket 12 has a bus bar 1
4 and 15 are connected to each other. For this reason, a bolt 16 is projected from the bottom surface of the socket 12. The inner connection portion 14A of the first bus bar 14 is passed through the bolt 16 of the upper socket 12, and is connected to the upper socket 12 by tightening a nut 17. The first bus bar 14 is arranged from the left wall to the upper wall of the main body 2, and the outer connection portion 14 </ b> B is applied to the upright surface through the stud bolt 7.

On the other hand, the inner connection portion 15A of the second bus bar 15 is passed through the bolt 16 of the lower socket 12,
Similarly, the nut 17 is connected to the lower socket 12 by tightening. The second bus bar 15 is provided along the left wall and the lower wall of the main body 2, and
5B is raised near the connection plate 19 of the above-described tightening ring 6, and is temporarily assembled to the bolt 20 and the nut 21 inserted through both connection plates 19.

In a space on the right side of the housing 9, a plug body 23 made of a conductor is freely movably accommodated between a retracted position shown in FIG. 1 and an advanced position shown in FIG. On the left surface of the plug body 23, two plugs 24 that can be fitted into the respective sockets 12 are set up. On the other hand, an operation rod 25 is set up at the center of the right side of the plug body 23,
It can protrude from the side surface of the main body 2.

A biasing spring 27 made of a compression coil spring is fitted around the outer circumference of both housing cylinders 11 of the housing 9, and both ends thereof are applied to the substrate 10 and the plug body 23 of the housing 9. It is urged to move toward the forward position by the elastic expanding force of the urging spring 27.

On the tip side of the operating rod 25 of the plug body 23,
A locking groove 29 is formed in a notch. On the other hand, a stopper 31 whose front end can be fitted into the above-described locking groove 29 is accommodated in the main body 2 so as to freely advance and retreat in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the operating rod 25. The stopper 31 is moved and biased in the advance direction by an auxiliary biasing spring 32 mounted on the rear end side. Then, as shown in FIG.
Is pushed into the retracted position while elastically compressing the urging spring 27, and the stopper 31 is fitted into the locking groove 29 of the operation rod 25, whereby the plug body 23 is locked at the retracted position. In the retracted position, both plugs 24 are inserted into the corresponding sockets 12 and connected to each other.

A solenoid 34 is accommodated in a space below the housing 9 in such a manner that the plunger 35 projects rightward. At a position between the solenoid 34 and the stopper 31, a lever 36 is supported rotatably about a shaft 37, and one end thereof is connected to a base end of the stopper 31 via a pin 38. A cam groove 39 is formed at the other end of the lever 36, and a pin 40 set on the plunger 35 is fitted in the cam groove 39.

A trigger line 42 is connected to the solenoid 34 and is drawn out of the case 1. Solenoid 3
When the plunger 35 is in the non-excited state, the plunger 35 is moving forward as shown in FIG. 1, and when the solenoid 34 is excited and the plunger 35 retreats, the lever 36 is On the other hand, the clockwise turning power in FIG. 1 is applied.

At the positions of the bottom surface and the top surface of the main body 2, a pair of return-preventing claws 44, each of which can be flexibly deformed, are provided. The plug 23 is restricted from returning to the retracted position by being locked to the side edge of the plug body 23.

The case 1 as described above is assembled to a battery. At that time, the plug body 23 is in the retracted position in advance as shown in FIG. Then, the battery post 5 is passed through the tightening ring 6, and both connecting plates 19 are connected to the bolts 20 and the nuts 21.
When tightened, the tightening ring 6 is reduced in diameter and fixed to the battery post 5, and at the same time, the battery post 5 and the outer connection portion 15 </ b> B of the second bus bar 15 are connected via the tightening ring 6. A connection end of a power supply line (not shown) is fitted into the stud bolt 7, and is fixed while being pressed against an outer connection portion 14B of the first bus bar 14 by a nut (not shown).

Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the second bus bar 15 and the lower socket 12 are
And a power supply circuit extending to the power supply line via the upper plug 24, the socket 12, and the first bus bar 14. The trigger line 42 is also connected to the battery. The case 1 is covered with a lid.

The first embodiment has the above-described structure, and its operation will be described below. When an abnormal signal is transmitted from the state of FIG. 1 due to the occurrence of a vehicle accident or the like, a current flows through the trigger line 42 to excite the solenoid 34, and the plunger 35 moves backward. Accordingly, the lever 36 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1, and the stopper 31 retreats against the elastic force of the auxiliary biasing spring 32, and comes out of the locking groove 29 of the operation rod 25. Then, the plug body 23 moves to the forward position as shown in FIG. 2 by the elastic force of the urging spring 27, and is locked by the return preventing claw 44. When the plug body 23 reaches the advanced position, both plugs 24
And is brought out of conduction. As a result, the power supply circuit is shut off. During this period, the excitation of the solenoid 34 is released, but the advance of the stopper 31 and the advance of the plunger 35 are restricted by the tip of the stopper 31 abutting on the operation rod 25.

That is, in the present embodiment, the conduction is cut off by pulling out the plug 24 from the socket 12 by using the urging force of the urging spring 27, so that the power supply circuit can be highly reliably and at high speed. Blocking can be performed. When the operation rod 25 is pushed in from the state of FIG. 2 as indicated by the arrow, the plug body 2 is bent while the return prevention claw 44 is deformed.
3 is returned to the retracted position against the elasticity of the biasing spring 27,
When the stopper 31 is returned to the normal position, the stopper 31 is fitted into the locking groove 29 and locked by the elastic force of the auxiliary biasing spring 32. In the retracted position, the connection between the plug 24 and the socket 12 is connected as described above, so that the circuit can be restored to conduction.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the internal structure is shown in a simplified manner. Further, the portions having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted or will be simplified.

An outer connecting portion 51B of the first bus bar 51 is applied to an upright surface of the stud bolt 7, and an inner connecting portion 51A is disposed in the main body 2. On the other hand, tightening ring 6
Bolt 20 and nut 21 assembled to the connecting plate 19
The outer connection portion 52B of the second bus bar 52 is temporarily assembled, and the inner connection portion 52A is connected to the first bus bar 5 described above.
The first inner connection portion 51A is disposed so as to face the first inner connection portion 51A. A socket 53 made of a conductor is fixed to each of the inner connection portions 51A and 52A by fastening with a nut 54. The socket 53 is formed in the shape of a louver terminal having a plurality of louvers 13 elastically bulging inward on the inner surface thereof and provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.

A plug 55 is slidably fitted between the sockets 53. The plug 55 has a retracted position shown in FIG.
It is possible to move between the forward position shown in FIG. The plug 55 has a conductor portion 56 formed only of a conductive material on the tip side, and an insulating portion 57 formed of an insulating material on the base end side. Therefore, the plug 55 is
Is in the retracted position, the conductor 56 is
3, and when in the forward position in FIG. 5, the insulating portion 57 extends over the entire length of the upper socket 53. An escape hole 58 for opening the tip of the plug 55 is opened in the lower wall of the main body 2, and is closed with a rubber button cap 59. A flange 60 is formed at the upper end of the plug 55, and the plug 55
A biasing spring 62 for biasing the forward movement is mounted.

On the left side of the position where the socket 53 is provided, a solenoid 34 is mounted upward. Solenoid 34
Are connected to the outside of the case 1. A lever 64 is supported between the solenoid 34 and the plug 55 so as to be freely rotatable about a shaft 65.
A locking end 64A at one end of the lever 64 can be locked to the flange 60 of the plug 55, and a contacting end 64B at the other end can contact the plunger 35 of the solenoid 34.
The return spring 6 is provided above the contact end 64B of the lever 64.
6 is attached and urges the lever 64 to rotate counterclockwise.

When assembled to the battery, the plug 55 is locked at the retracted position in FIG. 4, the first bus bar 51 is connected to the power supply line connected to the stud bolt 7, and the second bus bar Reference numeral 52 is connected to the battery post 5 via the fastening ring 6. Thereby, the second bus bar 52, the lower socket 53, the conductor portion 56 of the plug 55, and the upper socket 53 are separated from the battery post 5.
And a power supply circuit reaching the power supply line via the first bus bar 51. The trigger line 42 is also connected to the battery.

The operation of the second embodiment is as follows.
When an abnormal signal is transmitted from the state shown in FIG. 4 due to the occurrence of a vehicle accident or the like, a current flows through the trigger line 42 and the solenoid 3
4 is excited, and the plunger 35 advances. As a result, the lever 64 pivots clockwise against the elasticity of the return spring 66, and the locking end 64A of the lever 64 escapes to release the locking to the flange 60.
The plug 55 advances by the elasticity of 2, and reaches the advance position shown in FIG. Here, the insulating portion 57 is connected to the upper socket 5.
3, the plug 55 and the upper socket 53
The gap becomes non-conductive. As a result, the power supply circuit is shut off.

Also in the second embodiment, conduction is cut by moving the plug 55 with respect to the socket 53 by using the urging force of the urging spring 62, so that high reliability and high speed can be achieved. Can shut off the power supply circuit. Moreover, since the conduction is cut off via the insulating portion 57, the non-conduction state can be more reliably achieved.

5 through a button cap 59.
The plug 55 is pushed into the retracted position against the elasticity of the biasing spring 62 as shown by the arrow of
When the excitation of 4 is released, the lever 64 is rotated counterclockwise and locked to the flange 60 while the plunger 35 is retracted by the elastic force of the return spring 66, and the plug 55 is held at the retracted position and the circuit is electrically connected. A return is made.

<Third Embodiment> FIGS. 7 to 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, only one louver terminal-shaped socket 70 is provided, and the fastening ring 6 for fastening the battery post via the bus bar 71 is provided.
Connected to the side. A plug 72 is slidably inserted into the socket 70 between a retracted position shown in FIG. 7 and an advanced position shown in FIG. Although the plug 72 is formed of a conductive material, as shown in detail in FIG.
The insulating layer 7 extends from the base end side to the outer periphery of the flange 73.
4 are coated. One end of a connection line 75 is connected to a solid portion of the flange 73, and the other end is connected to a bus bar 76 applied to an upright surface of the stud bolt 7.

The plug 72 is urged to move in the forward direction by the urging spring 62, and is held at the retracted position by the locking end 64A of the lever 64 being locked to the flange 73. In the retracted position, the conductive portion of the plug 72 is connected to the socket 70, and the portion provided with the insulating layer 74 is set in the socket 70 when the plug 72 reaches the advanced position. Other structures are almost the same as those of the second embodiment,
Portions having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

The operation of the third embodiment is as follows.
When an abnormal signal is transmitted from the state shown in FIG. 7 due to the occurrence of a vehicle accident or the like, a current flows through the trigger line 42 and the solenoid 3
4 is excited, and the plunger 35 advances. As a result, the lever 64 rotates clockwise against the elasticity of the return spring 66, and the locking end 64A of the lever 64 escapes to release the locking to the flange 73.
The plug 72 moves forward by the elasticity of 2, and reaches the forward position shown in FIG. Here, since the portion provided with the insulating layer 74 enters the socket 70, the plug 72 and the socket 70
The gap becomes non-conductive. As a result, the power supply circuit is shut off.

Also in the third embodiment, the conduction is cut by moving the plug 72 with respect to the socket 70 by using the urging force of the urging spring 62, so that high reliability and high speed can be achieved. Can cut off the power supply circuit.
When the plug 72 is pushed to the retracted position via the button cap 59 against the elasticity of the biasing spring 62 and the excitation of the solenoid 34 is released at the same time, the return spring 66
The lever 64 is rotated counterclockwise while the plunger 35 is retracted by the elasticity of the lever 72, and the plug 72 is held at the retracted position by being locked to the flange 73, and the power supply circuit is returned to conduction.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) For example, in the second embodiment, when the plug is in the forward position, it can be set to the conductive state, and when it is in the retracted position, it can be set to the non-conductive state. Then, the plug may be locked in the forward position by reversing the lock direction. (2) The present invention can be widely applied not only to the power supply circuit of the electric vehicle illustrated in the above embodiment, but also to all circuits that require an emergency shutdown.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view when a plug according to a first embodiment of the present invention is at a retracted position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view when a plug is in an advanced position.

FIG. 3 is a side view

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when a plug according to a second embodiment is at a retracted position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view when the plug is in an advanced position.

FIG. 6 is a side view.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view when a plug according to a third embodiment is at a retracted position.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view when the plug is in an advanced position.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a plug.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Battery post 6 ... Tightening ring 7 ... Stud bolt 12 ... Socket 14 ... First bus bar 15 ... Second bus bar 23 ... Plug body 24 ... Plug 27 ... Bias spring (biasing means) 31 ... Stopper (locking means) 34 ... solenoid (release means) 35 ... plunger 36 ... lever 42 ... trigger wire 51 ... first bus bar 52 ... second bus bar 53 ... socket 55 ... plug 56 ... conductor part 57 ... insulating part 62 ... biasing spring (biasing spring) Means) 64 Lever (locking means) 70 Socket 71 Bus bar 72 Plug 74 Insulating layer 75 Connection wire 76 Bus bar

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Miya ▲ saki ▼ Junnoyuki 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Harness Research Institute, Inc. (72) Inventor Akio Matsumaru Minami, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Ward Inside Harness Research Institute, Inc. (72) Inventor Jun Ankuni 1-14 Nishisuehirocho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Between a socket interposed in a circuit and a conductive position which is inserted and removed from the socket to be in a conductive state with the socket, and a non-conductive position which is in a non-conductive state between the socket and the socket. And a biasing means for moving and biasing the plug toward the non-conductive position, and locking the plug at the conductive position against the biasing force of the biasing means. A circuit breaker comprising: locking means; and releasing means for releasing the locking by the locking means by applying a trigger signal. 2. A conductor portion and an insulating portion are connected to the plug, and the conductor portion is connected to the socket when the plug is in the conductive position, and the insulating portion is connected to the socket when the plug is in the non-conductive position. 2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the circuit breaker is connected to a socket. 3. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the plug is pushed in from a non-conductive position so that the plug can be re-locked to the conductive position by the locking means. .