TWI228740B - Thermally-actuated switch - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a thermally-actuated switch for passing current to another channel by breaking electricity to a heating element such as a battery, when an abnormal heat is detected on the heating element. The thermally-actuated switch (2) of the present invention has the following in the housing (3): a first fixed contact (7a); a second fixed contact (8a); a thermally-actuated device (9) such as a bimetal capable of displacing its free end between the first and the second fixed contacts (7a), (8a); and a moveable contact section (10) located at the free end section of the thermally-actuated device (9), which contacts with any one of the first fixed contact (7a) and the second fixed contact (8a). When the temperature is below the predetermined temperature, the moveable contact section (10) contacts with the first fixed contact (7a) in the thermally-actuated device (9). When the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature, the thermally-actuated device (9) turns over, so that the moveable contact (10) contacts with the second fixed contact (8a).

Description

1228740 发明 Description of the invention: [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to a thermally actuated switch that separates a movable contact supported by a thermally actuated element such as a bimetal sheet from a fixed contact, and is particularly suitable for a battery. Detects abnormal heat generation in battery devices such as batteries and thermally activated switches of thermal protectors that suppress heat generation. [Prior art] This type of thermally actuated switch has a conventional structure that includes a thermally actuated element such as a bimetal sheet formed by joining a plurality of metal sheets with different thermal expansion coefficients together. The arm is installed in the housing, and the movable contact fixed on the free end of the bimetal is opposite to and fixed in contact with the fixed contact fixed in the housing. When it exceeds a predetermined temperature, it is connected from the switch. ON (0-cut state is switched to OFF (0FF) state. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-76600 (pages 4 to 7, FIG. 3)). That is, when the temperature drops below a predetermined temperature, the double The metal piece presses the movable contact onto the fixed contact, so the switch is kept on. When the predetermined number of degrees is exceeded, the 'bimetallic sheet flips', so the movable contact leaves the fixed contact, and the contact between the two contacts The switch ^ ^ r% is cut off and switched to the switch cut-off state. This thermally actuated switch is connected in series with the battery remotely. Therefore, the battery is abnormally hot, and the metal sheet exceeds the predetermined limit. Probability Quickly cut off the current and suppress heat generation, so it has a thermal protector function for battery packs such as thunder, and price_ β battery-finding devices. However, in the power source of the device, it is sometimes used to connect many batteries in series. Connection ^ ^ Use the above-mentioned conventional thermally actuated switch as the thermal protector for such a battery pack.

O: \ 88 \ 88106.DOC 1228740 When the power is cut off, the battery pack stops working as a power source =, so it is inconvenient to use the equipment host, and even if the power is cut off, the temperature of the battery is abnormal. It does not drop immediately. Therefore, for safety measures, the cooling fan or the alarm 1 may have to be turned on. Only by the above-mentioned conventional thermal activation, M 'cannot output a command letter 1' to an external circuit such as a protection function circuit. The problem of improving the reliability of thermal protectors at low cost. [Summary of the Invention] In view of the actual situation of such a prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a thermally actuated switch that can detect the abnormal heating of a heating element such as a battery, and cut off and energize the heating element to cause current to flow into other elements. line. In order to achieve the above purpose, the thermally actuated opening relationship of the present invention is provided with a first fixed contact, a point, and a second fixed contact inside the housing; a thermally actuated element (such as a bimetallic piece) The metal plates are joined together, and the free end portion can be displaced between the first and second fixed contacts; and the movable contact portion, which is located at the free end portion of the thermally actuated element, and the i and i 2 Any one of the fixed contacts is in contact with each other; when the temperature is below a predetermined temperature, the thermally actuated element makes the movable contact part contact the fixed contact, and when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the thermally actuated part The element is turned over, and the movable contact portion is brought into contact with the second fixed contact. The thermally actuated switch configured as described above, if the i-th fixed contact is connected to the heating element of the battery, and the heating element is energized through the movable contact portion, when the heating element abnormally generates heat, the dual gold chip U is used to heat the element. The flip can move the movable contact part away from the first fixed contact and contact the second fixed contact.

O: \ 88 \ 88I06.DOC 1228740 This can not only cut off the power supply to the abnormal heating element, but also enable, bypass, and bypass the external heating circuit of the heating element. Therefore, it can be used as an automatic switch „, installed in the X device that is connected in series with a heating element such as a battery, bypassing the abnormally heated heating element and continuing to communicate with other heating elements“ or used as a safety switch, etc., to protect the function The circuit reports (outputs) the abnormal heating information of the heating element, causing the cooling fan and the alarm to operate. 丨 The one side of the thermal actuator is used as the free end, and the other side is used as the fixed end. The first terminal which is derived from the first fixed connection is connected to the second fixed connection, and the second terminal is connected to the second fixed contact, and the first and second terminals are often connected to the movable contact from the fixed end. When the temperature is below a predetermined temperature, the first terminal and the common terminal are conducted through the thermally actuated component, and when the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature, the second terminal and the common terminal are electrically conducted through the thermally actuated element. Using this structure on the right side, the obtained thermally actuated switch can reliably: contact the movable contact part corresponding to the temperature change with each fixed contact. The switching of the switching circuit is conductive, and the structure is simple. Furthermore, if the contact member used in the movable contact portion is fixedly provided in the free cymbal portion of the thermal element and has a portion protruding toward the first fixed contact side and a portion protruding toward the second fixed contact side, it is unnecessary. Separate movable contacts that are in contact with and separated from each fixed contact are provided, so the effect is good. [Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 丨 is a cross-sectional view showing a normal state of the thermally actuated switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state where the bimetal sheet of the thermally actuated switch is reversed, and FIG. 3

O: \ 88 \ 88I06.DOC 1228740 is the external view of the 1H thermal actuated switch. Figure 4 is a plan view of the oscillating actuation ± dropout, and Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the upper and lower parts of the oscillating actuation M / 1. ", The main part of the battery device of the trigger switch = 1 = battery device 'A plurality of batteries 1 are connected in series, and each of the women's thermal switch 2 and the conductor plate u ~ 13. The main The components are: the lower shell 4 and the upper shell 5 are combined to form a flat surface; the shell 3 made of synthetic resin; the A-body metal plates 6 and 7 integrally formed when the lower shell 4 is formed; and the upper shell 5 is formed A good-conducting metal plate integrally formed at the time, a bimetal sheet (including a three-layer metal sheet sandwiching a highly conductive copper plate as an intermediate layer) formed by laminating two metal plates with different thermal expansion coefficients, and The free end portion of the black bimetal 9 is riveted and fixed with a highly conductive movable contact member 10. The metal plates 6 to 8 are made of, for example, brass or copper, and the movable contact member 1 is made of, for example, A copper-nickel alloy or silver-tin-tin is formed into a cymbal, and a semi-spherical inverting portion 9a is formed at the center of the bimetal piece 9 to enable the inverting operation to be carried out reliably. The metal plate 6 has an exposed inner bottom surface of the lower case 4. The common contact 仏, the common end protruding to the outside of the shell 4讣, and the inclined portion 6C buried in the lower case 4. Similarly, the metal plate 7 includes a first fixed contact 7a exposed on the inner bottom surface of the lower case 4, a first terminal 7b protruding outward from the lower case 4, and The inclined portion 7c is buried in the lower case 4. The metal plate 8 has a second fixed contact 8a exposed on the top surface of the upper case 5, a second terminal protruding to the outside of the upper case 5, and a buried portion of the upper case 5. The internal inclined portion (not shown). The fixed end of the bimetal 9 is fixed above the common contact by spot welding or other methods. The free end of the bimetal 9 can be fixed to the first fixed contact opposite to it. Between 7a and 2a fixed contact 8a

O: \ 88 \ 88106.DOC 1228740 Up and down displacement (can be shaken). The part from the movable contact can be separated from the fixed contact to the part protruding from the first fixed contact to the side projection, and can be separated from the contact; as shown in FIG. 3, the male fixed connection is made to the second fixed contact. ㈣ phase contact separation. Middle to each other; (Ή / 5, 鸲 6b and first terminal 7b from housing 3 (lower housing 4) T to opposite directions to each other Common terminal 6b and terminal 丨 terminal 8b from housing 3 (upper housing 5 ) In the direction that intersects with the derivation direction of ...... ^ ^ b (vertical direction in this example), Λα 〇- ^ ^ σ Here, the three terminals 0b, 7b, 8b are from the outside The direction of J is completely different, and the time is W: ° 4 'can improve the understanding of the day guard connected to the conductor plate 11 ~ 13, and can taste the soil // / N put ... 2. The installation area (dedicated area) when the trigger switch 2 is mounted on a battery, etc. and the base (not shown). In addition, the common terminal 6b, which is connected to the fixed U 疋 ^ σ 卩 of the bimetal piece 9, and any one of the first and second sub-b and Pak (the first terminal 7b in this embodiment) It extends from the housing 3 in opposite directions to each other. Therefore, when the terminal 6b and the terminal ㈣ are integrally formed with the housing through the insert molding terminal 6b, it can be made of the same endless belt-shaped (hoop) material. The metal material is used to process two terminals 6b and several, and the production efficiency is good. In addition, the second terminal is bent as shown in FIG. 3, and the common terminal 6b and the first and second terminals%, and the lower surfaces of the three terminals are on the same plane. In this way, the thermally actuated switch 2 It can also be used for surface mounting on circuit boards, etc. The connection relationship between the thermally actuated switch 2 on each battery 1 and the conductor plate 11 to 13 is shown in FIG. 5. The seventh terminal 7b is connected to the conductor plate 丨 丨 and the common terminal 6b is installed on the conductor plate 12. The second terminal 讣 is connected to the conductor plate. Moreover, the conductor plate 11 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery, and the conductor plate 2 is connected to

O: \ 88 \ 88I06.DOC 1228740 忒 Battery 1 is adjacent to the positive electrode of one battery 丨 the conductor plate 13 is connected to the other conductor plate i extending from the other battery i adjacent to 舁 αhai battery 1 2 Top 0 In addition, in a normal state (normal use state) that does not exceed a predetermined temperature, as shown in Fig. 丨, the movable contact member 10 is overlapped with the fixed contact 7a. Therefore, The bimetal piece 9 conducts the common terminal 6b and the i-th terminal 7b, so the conductor plates 12, 丨 丨 are closed, and the conductor plates 12, 丨 3 are open. However, when the predetermined temperature is exceeded, the bimetal is flipped as shown in FIG. 2, so the movable contact 10 is separated from the i-th fixed contact and overlaps with the second fixed contact. That is, the conduction between the common terminal 6b and the first terminal 7b is cut off, and the common terminal 6b and the second terminal 8b are in a state of being conducted through the bimetallic piece 9. Therefore, the 'body plates 12 and 11 are opened and the conductor plates are opened.丨 2, 丨 3 are closed. The thermally actuated switch 2 of each son-in-law on the batteries 1 operates as described above. Therefore, with regard to the battery device of this embodiment, when any of the batteries is abnormally powered, the electricity of the battery 1 is cut off and attached to the battery. The conductor plate 13 on 丨 has a function as a bypass line. That is, in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the battery in the center is la, the battery to the right of battery la is lb, and the battery to the left of battery la is 1c. There is no abnormality in the three batteries la to lc, and the current passes through The conductive plate 12 on the negative electrode of each battery flows in from the positive electrode of each battery to the conductive plate 12 of the adjacent battery. Then, for example, if the electric coil of the towel center heats abnormally, and the thermally actuated bimetal sheet 9 installed on the battery la is turned over, as described above, the movable contact member 10 leaves the first fixed contact, , The second fixed contact point 8a is overlapped. Therefore, the conductor plates 2 and 1 attached to the battery are opened, and the conductor plates 12, 13 are closed, and the hatched part shown in FIG. 5 becomes

O \ 88 \ 88106.DOC -10- 1228740 conductive path. In this way, the positive electrode of the battery 1 b flows into the conductor plate 12 for the battery 1 a, and e, +, and 疋 flow to the conductor plate 11 for the battery 1 a, but to the conductor plate 13. Therefore, the negative electrode of the battery 1a does not flow in current, the current is cut off, and the current flows through the conductor plates 12 and 13 for the battery and flows out to the 'board 12' for the battery lc. Therefore, the battery 1b and the battery are wound. The battery is short-circuited. In this way, regarding the battery device of this embodiment, 'even if the battery i abnormally generates T, it can ensure that the bypass line of the battery 1 is bypassed, so that the power supply function is endless.' Therefore, both safety and security can be ensured. Improve the convenience of use. In addition, if Guangguo connects the external circuit such as the conductive board Η /, Baolinggong and other external circuits attached to each battery, it can automatically report (output) the abnormal heating information of battery 1 to the external circuit. Therefore, it is easy to improve safety measures. In the present embodiment, the thermally actuated switch 2 uses the negative end of the bimetal 9 as the free end of the movable contact member 10. and the other end of the bimetal 9 The side serves as a fixed end that is often in communication with the common terminal 6b. Therefore, the structure is simplified, and the movable contact member member U) corresponding to the temperature change can be reliably performed. And then the conductive path is cut off. Moreover, the i-th fixed contact point ~ is opposite to the second fixed contact point ', so that the movable contact member can be riveted and fixed on the free end portion of the bimetal 9! 0 is in contact with and separated from each of the fixed contacts 7a, 8a. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a movable contact member dedicated to HS and a bypass line with contact 8_contact. Therefore, the battery device can be used conveniently, with high safety and low cost. °

0 \ 88 \ 88I06.DOC -11-1228740 However, in the case where the fixed contacts 7a and _ are opposite to each other due to positional displacement, the on / off operation may be #, or separately from the first (and second) The fixed contact 7a corresponds to two movable contact members, and the common contact 6a and the i-th and second fixed contacts ~, 仏 and 构成 form the common material and the first! And the second terminal 7b, _, respectively. The metal plates 6 to 8 are integrally formed. However, if necessary, the contacts 6a, 7a, and 8a made of other members, which are different from the terminals outside, several, and simple, may be fixed to the metal plates 6 to 8, respectively. Fig. 6 is A cross-sectional view showing a normal state of a thermally actuated switch according to another embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the bimetal of the thermally actuated switch is reversed. The same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to FIGS. I and 2. The thermally actuated switch shown in Figs. 6 and 7 uses the protruding material of the lower case 4 and the raised portion 5 of the upper residue 5 to clamp the central portion of the bimetal 9 and the two ends of the bimetal 9 can be Shake (displaceable), riveting and fixing the movable contact member 10 and the movable contact member 15 respectively at both ends. At the same time, A highly conductive metal plate 16 that is always in contact with the metal plate 6 is integrally formed in the upper case 5. The metal plate 16 has: a common contact exposed on the top plate surface of the upper case 5—a projecting upward outward The common terminal 16b, and the inclined portion embedded in the upper case 5 ..., the movable connection member i5 can be separated from the common contact i6a and the common contact & and the common terminal 16b and the common terminal 连接 are connected. In a normal state (normal use state) that does not exceed a predetermined temperature, the bimetallic piece 9 is connected to the first fixed contact 7a and the movable contact member 15 is connected as shown in FIG. 6. Connected to the common contact ", therefore, the common terminal 6b and the second common terminal are electrically connected via the bimetal sheet 9. However, when the high temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, as shown in Fig. 7, the bimetal sheet 9:

O: \ 88 \ 88I06.DOC -12- 1228740 turn, therefore, the movable contact member 丨 0 is separated from the fixed contact 7a and overlapped with the second fixed contact 8a, and the movable contact member 15 is separated from the common contact Therefore, it is connected to the common contact 16a. Here, the common contact point is always in a conductive state via the common terminals 6b and 16b. Therefore, even if the movable contact member μ is connected to any of the common contacts 6a and 16a, it is equivalent in electric power. Therefore, ^ The movable contact member 1G is separated from the i-th fixed contact to come into contact with the second fixed-point ^, so that the switching operation can be performed in the same manner as in the above embodiment. Effects of the Invention The present invention is implemented as described above, and the following effects can be obtained. In this type of thermally actuated switch, when a heating element such as a battery abnormally generates heat, the movable contact portion can be separated from the fixed contact and brought into contact with the second fixed contact by turning over the thermally actuated element such as a bimetal sheet. Therefore, It can not only cut off the power to the abnormal heating element, but also make the bypass circuit and external circuit around the heating element conductive. Therefore, the thermally actuated switch can be installed in a device in which a heating element such as a battery is connected in series, and the switch can be automatically used to bypass the abnormally heating element and continue to energize other heating elements, or to act as a switch, etc. The function circuit reports (outputs) the abnormal issuing information of the heating element, and causes the cooling fan and the alarm to operate. , I ,,, [Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the present invention. The normal state of the moon-cushion thermally actuated switch FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the state after the bimetal sheet shown in FIG. 1 is flipped. FIG. 3 is an external view of the thermally actuated switch shown in FIG. 2. … Figure A 疋 Figure 1 to Figure 3

O: \ 88 \ 88106.DOC -13-1228740 area. Fig. 5 and Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 are explanatory diagrams of the main parts of the battery device after the thermal switch is installed. The loopback is a cross-sectional view showing a normal shape of a thermally actuated switch according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a cross-section showing the state of the bimetal sheet shown in Fig. 6 after the figure is turned over. [Representative Symbols of Drawing] Back 1 (la, 1b, 1C) Battery 2 Thermally actuated switch 3 Inner case 4 Lower case 5 Upper case 6 to 8, 16 metal plate 6a, I6a common contact 6b, 16b common terminal 7a first fixed contact 7b first terminal 8a second fixed contact 8b second terminal 9 bimetal (thermally actuated element) 10, 15 movable connection Point member 11 to 13 conductor plate

O: \ 88 \ 88106.DOC -14-

Claims (1)

1228740 Pickup and patent application park: 1 · A type of thermally actuated switch, which features A too 々k Μ ΛΛ ~ Jima is provided inside the outer casing: the first fixed contact; the second fixed contact; One ... 51 pieces, which are joined together by joining a plurality of metal plates with different thermal expansion coefficients, and the free end portion can be displaced between the first jade and the second fixed contact; and the movable contact portion is located at the The free end of the thermally actuated element is in contact with any of the above-mentioned first and second fixed contacts; when the temperature is below a predetermined temperature, on the above-mentioned thermally actuated element, add $ / tongue contact ㈣ When it comes into contact with the i-th fixed contact, when the predetermined value is exceeded, the thermally actuated element is turned over, so that the movable contact part is in contact with the second fixed contact. 2. The thermally actuated switch according to item (1) of the patent application, wherein the end of the thermally actuated element is a free end and the other end is a fixed end, and a fixed contact is provided on the outside of the casing. Derived by phase continuity: the first terminal, the second terminal derived from the second fixed contact, and the common terminal where the fixed end is often in communication with the movable contact, and the temperature is at a predetermined temperature In the following, the upper and lower [the second terminal and the common terminal are conducted through the thermally actuated element. 'When the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the second terminal and the common terminal are electrically conducted through the thermally actuated element. 3. The thermally actuated switch as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent claim, wherein the contact member used in the movable contact part is provided at the free end of the thermally actuated element and has a side toward the first fixed contact. A projected part and a part projected to the second fixed contact side. O: \ 88 \ 88I06.DOC