TWI638377B - Time switch - Google Patents

Abstract

The time switch (1) includes a casing (10), a timer mechanism (60), a battery holder (20), a cover (30), and a tool insertion hole (40). The casing (10) houses a drive source (50). The timer mechanism (60) is driven by a drive source (50). The battery holder (20) is capable of accommodating a power failure backup battery (25) that supplies power to the drive source (50) during a power failure. The battery holder (20) includes an opening (22) that opens in a front surface or a side surface of the casing (10). The cover (30) is capable of opening or closing the opening (22). The tool insertion hole (40) allows a tool (100) to be inserted between the housing (10) and the cover (30). (figure 2)

Description

Time switch

The present invention relates to a time switch including a power failure backup battery.

A time switch provided in the power line electrically connecting the power source and the power-consuming device manages the time when the power supply from the power source to the power-consuming device starts and the time when the power supply from the power source to the power-consuming device stops. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-63923 discloses an example of a conventional time switch including a contact mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a timer mechanism. The contact mechanism is switched between an enabled state where the contact mechanism closes the power line and a disabled state where the contact mechanism disconnects the power line. The cam mechanism switches the operating state of the contact mechanism. The timer mechanism operates the cam mechanism based on the measured time. The time switch further includes: an electric motor that drives the timer mechanism using power supplied from a commercial power source; and an enable pin and a disable pin that are attached to the timer mechanism to switch the operating state of the contact mechanism. The activation and deactivation pins are removably coupled to the timer mechanism.

In the above time switch, the timer mechanism to which the enable pin and the disable pin are attached is driven, thereby changing the rotation positions of the enable pin and the disable pin with respect to the cam mechanism as time passes. For example, when the contact mechanism is in the disabled state, if the activation pin contacts the cam mechanism, the torque of the timer mechanism moves the cam structure, so that the operating state of the contact mechanism is switched from the disabled state to the enabled state. This starts the power supply from the power source to the consumer. When the contact mechanism is in the enabled state, if the deactivation pin contacts the cam mechanism, the torque of the timer mechanism moves the cam mechanism, so that the operation state of the contact mechanism is switched from the enabled state to the disabled state. This will stop the power supply from the power source to the consumer.

However, when a power failure occurs, the electric motor of the time switch stops working. This will stop the timer mechanism. Therefore, the timer mechanism cannot measure the current time. Even if the power supply is restored, the time measured by the timer mechanism is later than the current time. In this case, the time when the pin is activated or deactivated to contact the cam mechanism is later than the scheduled time, and the time when the power supply from the power source to the power consumption device is started or stopped is later than the scheduled time.

To solve this problem, the time switch may include, for example, a power failure backup battery that supplies power to the electric motor during a power failure. In a time switch including a power failure backup battery (hereinafter referred to as a "reference example time switch"), the timer mechanism continues to operate even in the event of a power failure. Therefore, the time switch accurately measures the current time. This reduces the situation where the time to start or stop the power supply from the power source to the consumer is later than the scheduled time.

If the working efficiency of replacing the power backup battery is not considered, the reference time switch may have the following problems. For example, when the battery holder holding the power failure backup battery has an opening in the back of the time switch, a cover that closes the opening is provided on the back of the time switch. Because the time switch is usually attached to the wall, the user needs to remove the time switch from the wall when replacing the backup battery.

For example, this problem can be solved by a battery holder formed with an opening in the surface before the time switch. However, the cover is more conspicuous when provided on the front surface of the time switch than when provided on the back of the time switch. Therefore, someone may accidentally remove the cover. The same problem occurs when the opening of the battery holder is located in the side surface of the time switch.

An object of the present invention is to provide a time switch, which can easily replace a power failure backup battery and restricts accidental removal of a cover from a battery holder.

An embodiment of the present invention includes a case, a timer, a battery holder, a cover, and a time switch of a tool insertion hole. The housing contains a driving source. The timer mechanism is driven by a driving source. The battery holder is capable of accommodating a power failure backup battery that supplies power to a drive source during a power failure. The battery holder includes an opening that opens into a front surface or a side surface of the case. The cover can open and close the opening. The tool insertion hole allows a tool to be inserted between the housing and the cover.

The time switch according to the above embodiment makes it possible to easily replace the power failure backup battery, and restricts the accidental removal of the cover from the battery holder. Other embodiments and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and by way of an example of the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the main components of the time switch 1 according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1, the solid line shows the mechanical connection between the components of the time switch 1, and the dotted line shows the electrical connection between the components of the time switch 1.

The time switch 1 is provided in a power line electrically connecting the power source 2 and the power consumption device 3. An example of the power source 2 is a commercial power source. An example of the electric device 3 is an electronic lock installed in a building. When the contact mechanism 80 of the time switch 1 is enabled, the power source 2 and the power consumption device 3 are electrically connected. When the contact mechanism 80 of the time switch 1 is in a disabled state, the power source 2 and the power consumption device 3 are electrically disconnected.

In addition to the contact mechanism 80, the time switch 1 also includes: a cam mechanism 70 that switches the operating state of the contact mechanism 80; a timer mechanism 60 that operates the cam mechanism 70 according to the measured time; The timer mechanism 60 is driven. An example of the drive source 50 is an electric motor. The chronograph mechanism 60 includes a dial 61 that is rotated by the driving force of the drive source 50. The dial 61 is essentially a clock for measuring the current time.

The time switch 1 further includes: a housing 10 that forms the outline of the time switch 1; a setting pin 63 that uses the torque of the timer mechanism 60 to operate the cam mechanism 70; and a knob 90 that is operated to switch the operation of the contact mechanism 80 status. The contact mechanism 80, the cam mechanism 70, the timer mechanism 60, and the drive source 50 are housed in the housing 10.

The setting pin 63 which is removably coupled to the dial 61 rotates together with the dial 61 when attached to the dial 61. The time switch 1 includes two types of setting pins 63, namely an enable pin 63A and a disable pin 63B. The enable pin 63A is attached to the dial 61 to switch the operation state of the contact mechanism 80 to the enable state. The deactivation pin 63B is attached to the dial 61 to switch the operation state of the contact mechanism 80 to the deactivation state.

The casing contains a battery holder 20 capable of receiving a battery 25. The battery 25 is a power failure backup battery that supplies power to the drive source 50 during a power failure. When the time switch 1 is used, the user attaches the battery 25 to the battery holder 20. The battery 25 attached to the battery holder 20 is electrically connected to the driving source 50. When a power failure occurs in the power source 2, the power of the battery 25 drives the drive source 50. Therefore, even when a power failure occurs in the power source 2, the timer mechanism 60 continues to operate as a timer.

The knob 90 may be located at a first operation position at which the knob 90 sets the operation state of the contact mechanism 80 to an enabled state; and a second operation position at which the knob 90 sets the operation state of the contact mechanism 80 Disabled. The operation position of the knob 90 is changed by the user. When the operation position of the knob 90 is set to the first operation position, the cam mechanism 70 is operated regardless of the rotation position of the activation pin 63A. This switches the operation state of the contact mechanism 80 to the enabled state. When the operation position of the knob 90 is set to the second operation position, the cam mechanism 70 is operated regardless of the rotation position of the deactivation pin 63B. This switches the operation state of the contact mechanism 80 to the deactivated state.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the time switch 1. FIG.

The housing 10 includes a main wall 11 that forms a front surface of the housing 10, a side wall 12 that forms a side surface of the housing 10, and a dial setting portion 13 in which a dial 61 is provided. The dial setting portion 13 is a recess formed in a substantially middle portion of the housing 10 and opened in the main wall 11. The battery holder 20 is a recess located in the casing 10 downward from the diagonal of the dial setting portion 13 and opening in the main wall 11.

The time switch 1 further includes a terminal group 14 to which a power line (not shown) and a device line (not shown) are connected. The power line is connected to the power source 2 (refer to FIG. 1), and the device line is connected to the power consumption device 3 (refer to FIG. 1). The terminal group 14 located in the lower portion of the casing 10 includes a first terminal 14A, a second terminal 14B, a third terminal 14C, and a fourth terminal 14D.

A power line connected to the positive terminal of the power source 2 is connected to the first terminal 14A. A power line connected to the negative terminal of the power source 2 is connected to the second terminal 14B. A device line connected to the negative terminal of the power-consuming device 3 is connected to the third terminal 14C. The device wire connected to the positive terminal of the power-consuming device 3 is connected to the fourth terminal 14D. The first and second terminals 14A and 14B may be referred to as power input terminals. The third and fourth terminals 14C and 14D may be referred to as power output terminals.

In addition, the time switch 1 includes: a transparent protective cover 15 that is removably coupled to the housing 10; a cover 30 that is removably coupled to the housing 10; and a tool insertion hole 40 , The tool 100 can be inserted into the tool insertion hole 40 (refer to FIG. 5). A protective cover 15 is attached to the casing 10 to cover the front surface of the casing 10. The cover 30 is attached to the case 10 to close the opening of the battery holder 20.

The timer mechanism 60 includes a dial 61 and a time plate 62 indicating the current time. In one example, the dial 61 rotates every twenty-four hours. The front surface of the dial 61 contains a time mark (not shown) indicating twenty-four hours of time.

The time plate 62 includes a current time indicator 62A indicating the current time, and a rotation direction indicator 62B, which is represented by an arrow indicating the rotation direction of the dial 61. When the rotation position of the dial 61 relative to the time plate 62 is set so that the time mark on the dial 61 indicating the current time is aligned with the current time indicator 62A of the time plate 62, the time measured by the dial 61 corresponds to The current time. From this state, when the dial 61 is continuously operated by the driving force of the driving source 50 (refer to FIG. 1), the time mark of the dial 61 (corresponding to the current time indicator 62A of the time plate 62) will indicate the current time .

The contact mechanism 80 (refer to FIG. 1) includes a first metal plate (not shown) and a second metal plate (not shown) forming a contact. In an example, the first metal plate is electrically connected to the fourth terminal 14D, and the second metal plate is electrically connected to the first terminal 14A. Each of the metal plates partially contacts the cam mechanism 70 (refer to FIG. 1).

When the dial 61 is rotated, when the enabling pin 63A contacts the cam mechanism 70, the moment of the dial 61 rotates the cam mechanism 70 so that the contacts of the metal plates are in contact with each other. This electrically connects the power source 2 and the power consumption device 3. When the dial 61 is rotated, when the deactivation pin 63B contacts the cam mechanism 70, the moment of the dial 61 rotates the cam mechanism 70 so that the contacts of the metal plates are separated from each other. This electrically disconnects the power source 2 from the power-consuming device 3.

The time switch 1 electrically connected to the power source 2 and the battery 25 further includes a control circuit (not shown). The control circuit switches the electrical connection state between the battery 25 and the drive source 50. When the control circuit does not receive a signal indicating that a power outage has occurred in the power source 2, the control circuit does not electrically connect the battery 25 and the driving source 50. When the control circuit receives a signal indicating that a power outage has occurred in the power source 2, the control circuit electrically connects the battery 25 and the driving source 50.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cover 30.

The cover 30 includes: a flat main body 31; a hook portion 32 protruding from the back surface of the main body 31 toward the back side of the housing 10 (refer to FIG. 2); . The body 31 is pentagonal.

The periphery of the main body 31 includes a first side 31A, a second side 31B, a third side 31C, a fourth side 31D, and a fifth side 31E. The first side 31A is close to the side wall 12 (refer to FIG. 2) and extends in the longitudinal direction of the casing 10. The third side 31C is parallel to and shorter than the first side 31A. The second side 31B extending in the lateral direction of the casing 10 connects the first side 31A and the third side 31C. The fourth side 31D is parallel to and shorter than the second side 31B. The fifth side 31E is connected to the third side 31C and the fourth side 31D, and the fifth side 31E is an arc-shaped side that is bent to conform to the shape of the dial setting portion 13 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional structure of the battery holder 20.

The outer shell 10 includes: a main wall 11; a side wall 12; and an inner wall 16 that extends from the back of the main wall 11 to the back of the outer shell 10; and an inner bottom wall 17 that is connected to the side walls 12 and the inner wall 16. The inner bottom wall 17 is pentagonal. One side of the inner bottom wall 17 is connected to the side wall 12. The inner wall 16 extends from the other four sides of the inner bottom wall 17 toward the front of the casing 10.

The battery holder 20 includes a receiving cavity 21 and an opening 22. The receiving cavity 21 is surrounded by the side wall 12, the inner wall 16, and the inner bottom wall 17 of the casing 10. An opening 22 as an opening of the receiving cavity 21 is opened in the main wall 11 of the casing 10. The battery 25 is disposed in the receiving cavity 21.

The mounting hole 23 extends through a part of the side wall 12 forming the battery holder 20. The hook portion 32 of the cover 30 is installed in the mounting hole 23 to fix the cover 30 to the casing 10 and close the opening 22. The hole 24 extends through a portion of the inner wall 16 opposite the side wall 12. When the cover 30 is attached to the housing 10, the insertion portion 33 is first inserted into the hole 24. Then, the hook portion 32 is fitted into the mounting hole 23. The tool 100 (refer to FIG. 5) may be inserted into the mounting hole 23, which operates substantially in the same manner as the tool insertion hole 40. Therefore, the mounting hole 23 can be used as a second tool insertion hole.

The tool insertion hole 40 extends between the hook portion 32 of the cover 30 and the inner surface of the side wall 12. A portion of the tool insertion hole 40 formed on the inner surface of the side wall 12 defines a guide surface 22A. The guide surface 22A is inclined so that the tool insertion hole 40 is wider at the opening of the tool insertion hole 40 than the deep portion of the insertion hole 40. When the tool 100 is inserted into the tool insertion hole 40, the inclination of the guide surface 22A smoothly guides the tip of the tool 100.

Replacement of the battery 25 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

For example, the battery 25 of the time switch 1 is replaced in the following manner. First, the tool 100 is inserted into the tool insertion hole 40. In FIG. 5, a slotted screwdriver, which is an example of the tool 100, is inserted into the tool insertion hole 40. Second, the tool 100 is tilted. That is, the handle of the tool 100 is tilted toward the side wall 12. This removes the hook portion 32 from the mounting hole 23 and lifts the cover 30 from the housing 10.

Third, the insertion portion 33 (refer to FIG. 6) is pulled out from the hole 24 (refer to FIG. 6), and the cover 30 is removed from the housing 10 to expose the opening 22 (refer to FIG. 6). Figure 6 shows the opening 22 when opened. Fourth, the battery 25 is removed from the accommodation hole 21, and a new battery 25 is attached to the battery holder 20.

Fifth, the insertion portion 33 is inserted into the hole 24, and the hook portion 32 is guided by the guide surface 22A (refer to FIG. 4), and is installed in the installation hole 23. This attaches the cover 30 to the housing 10 and closes the opening 22.

The time switch 1 has the advantages described below.

(1) The time switch 1 includes a battery 25 that supplies power to the drive source 50 during a power outage. In this structure, the timer mechanism 60 is continuously driven even when a power failure occurs. This allows the timer mechanism 60 to accurately measure the current time. Therefore, for starting or stopping the power supply from the power source 2 to the power consumption device 3, the delay of the distance schedule time is reduced.

(2) The battery holder 20 includes an opening 22 opened in the main wall 11. This makes the battery 25 easier to replace than when the battery holder 20 is opened in the back of the casing 10.

(3) For example, the cover structure for closing the opening of the battery holder 20 may include a cover 30 for removing the cover from the battery holder 20 in addition to the cover 30 that can be removed by the tool 100. Removed handle (hereafter referred to as "handle attached cover"). In such a handle-attached cover, we pull the handle to remove the cover from the housing 10. The handle acts as an indicator showing how to remove the handle-attached cover. If the user is aware of the handle, this may prompt the user to remove the handle-attached cover. In contrast, the time switch 1 includes a tool insertion hole 40 for removing the cover 30, and the cover 30 does not include the above handle. In this structure, the user is less likely to be prompted to remove the cover 30. Further, even if the user perceives the cover 30, the user will need the tool 100 to remove the cover 30. Therefore, the time switch restricts the erroneous removal of the cover 30.

(4) As described in the advantages (1) and (2), the battery 25 of the time switch 1 can be easily replaced. The time switch 1 contributes to reducing the case where the cover 30 is accidentally removed.

(5) The battery holder 20 includes a mounting hole 23. The cover 30 includes a hook portion 32. This structure allows the cover 30 to be more easily removed from the housing 10 compared to, for example, a case where the cover 30 is fixed to the housing 10 by a fastener separate from the cover 30.

(6) The battery holder 20 includes a hole 24. The cover 30 includes an insertion portion 33. In this structure, when the cover 30 is attached to the housing 10, the insertion portion 33 is first inserted into the hole 24 so that the cover 30 is positioned relative to the housing 10. This helps the cover 30 be attached to the housing 10.

The description of the above embodiment illustrates the time switch according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is not considered to be limiting. In addition to the above embodiments, for example, the time switch according to the present invention may include the following modification examples, and an embodiment combining at least two modification examples that do not conflict with each other.

The housing 10 of the modified example includes a battery holder opened in the side wall 12 instead of the battery holder 20 opened in the main wall 11.

The battery holder 20 of the modified example includes a notch in which the insertion portion 33 is inserted, instead of the hole 24 in which the insertion portion 33 is inserted. In one example, the notch opens into an inner surface opposite the side wall 12 and facing the inner wall 16 of the battery holder 20.

The side wall 12 of the modified example includes a notch in which the hook portion 32 is installed, instead of the mounting hole 23 in which the hook portion 32 is installed. In one example, the notch is opened in the inner surface of the side wall 12.

The time switch 1 of the modified example does not include the tool insertion hole 40. The time switch 1 of the modified example includes a mounting hole 23 that can be used as a tool insertion hole. Therefore, even if the tool insertion hole 40 does not exist, the time switch of the modified example still has the advantages of the embodiment.

In the time switch 1 of the modified example, the battery holder 20 does not include the hole 24, and the insertion portion 33 does not include the cover 30. For example, in this case, the cover 30 may be connected to the casing 10 in such a manner that the cover 30 can expose and close the casing 10. In one example, the hinge couples the third side 31C of the cover 30 with the battery holder 20.

The structure for removing the cover 30 from the housing 10 may be changed to any structure. The time switch 1 of the modified example includes a structure in which the cover 30 is fixed to the housing 10 by a fastener that can be removed by a tool, instead of a structure in which the hook portion 32 of the cover 30 is installed in the mounting hole 23 of the housing 10 . An example of a fastener is a screw. The time switch 1 of the modified example need not include the tool insertion hole 40.

The disclosure also includes various examples described below.

[Paragraph 1] A time switch including: a housing that accommodates a drive source; a timer mechanism that is driven by the drive source; a battery holder that can accommodate the supply of power to the drive during a power outage A power failure backup battery, wherein the battery holder includes an opening that is open in a front surface or a side surface of the housing; a cover that can expose and close the opening; and a tool insertion hole that allows a Insertion of a tool, wherein the tool insertion hole extends through the housing to form part of the battery holder.

[Paragraph 2] A time switch including: a housing that accommodates a drive source; a timer mechanism that is driven by the drive source; a battery holder that is capable of accommodating power supplied to the unit during a power outage A power failure backup battery of a driving source, wherein the battery holder includes an opening opened in a front surface or a side surface of a housing; a cover that can expose and close the opening; and a fastener that Removable by a tool, wherein the fastener secures the cover to the housing.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the examples described above (or one or more implementation aspects of the examples described above) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments may be used, for example, embodiments used by those skilled in the art after reviewing the above description. Also, in the above detailed content, various features can be combined to simplify the disclosure. This should not be construed to mean that unclaimed disclosed features are necessary for the scope of any patent application. Rather, the subject matter of the invention may be embodied in not all of the features of a particular embodiment. Therefore, the following patent application scopes are incorporated herein into the embodiments, and each patent application scope is independently taken as a separate example. The scope of the present invention should be determined with reference to the scope of the accompanying patent application, and all equivalents of the patent application thus applied.

1‧‧‧Time switch
2‧‧‧ Power
3‧‧‧ Electricity device
10‧‧‧Shell
11‧‧‧ main wall
12‧‧‧ sidewall
13‧‧‧ Dial setting section
14‧‧‧ terminal group
14A‧‧‧First Terminal
14B‧‧‧Second Terminal
14C‧‧‧Third Terminal
14D‧‧‧Fourth Terminal
15‧‧‧ protective cover
16‧‧‧ inner wall
17‧‧‧ inner bottom wall
20‧‧‧Battery holder
21‧‧‧accommodation points
22‧‧‧ opening
22A‧‧‧Guide plane
23‧‧‧Mounting holes
24‧‧‧hole
25‧‧‧ Battery
30‧‧‧ cover
31‧‧‧ main body
31A‧‧‧First side
31B‧‧‧Second side
31C‧‧‧Third side
31D‧‧‧Fourth side
31E‧‧‧Fifth side
32‧‧‧ Hook
33‧‧‧ Insertion section
40‧‧‧ insertion hole
50‧‧‧Drive source
60‧‧‧Timer mechanism
61‧‧‧ dial
62‧‧‧Timeboard
62A‧‧‧ Current time indicator
62B‧‧‧Rotation direction indicator
63‧‧‧setting pin
63A‧‧‧Activation pin
63B‧‧‧Discontinued pin
70‧‧‧ cam mechanism
80‧‧‧ contact agency
90‧‧‧ knob
100‧‧‧Tools
D4‧‧‧line

The invention (together with its objects and advantages) can be best understood by referring to the following description of the preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a time switch;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the time switch of FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is a front view of the cover shown in FIG. 2;

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D4-D4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tool inserted into the tool insertion hole shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the cover of FIG. 2 with the cover removed.

Claims (2)

A time switch includes: a housing that accommodates a drive source; a timer mechanism that is driven by the drive source; a battery holder that can accommodate a power outage that supplies power to the drive source during a power outage A backup battery, wherein the battery holder includes an opening opened on a front surface or a side surface of the casing; a cover capable of exposing and closing the opening; wherein the casing includes a side wall, and the side wall forms the battery A part of the holder, the side wall includes a hole extending through the side wall, and the cover includes a hook portion installed in the hole. The time switch is further characterized in that the time switch includes a tool insertion hole, the A tool insertion hole is opened in the front surface of the casing and allows a tool to be inserted between the casing and the cover. The tool insertion hole extends between the hook portion of the cover and an inner surface of the side wall. For example, the time switch of the scope of patent application, wherein the housing includes an inner wall, the inner wall is formed at a position opposite to the side wall, the inner wall forms a part of the battery holder, and the inner wall includes an extension Through a hole in the inner wall, or a notch in an inner surface of the inner wall facing the battery holder, and the cover includes an insertion portion that is allowed to be inserted into the inner wall. Hole or in the notch of the inner wall.