ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTACT DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an electromagnetic contact device, and more specifically relates to a driving lever which transmits attraction movement and release movement of a movable core of an electromagnet to a movable contact point support.

BACKGROUND ART

The device of Patent Reference 1 is for example known as an electromagnetic contact device.

In the electromagnetic contact device of this Patent Reference 1, an electromagnet, a movable contact point support arranged parallel to the electromagnet, a return spring which urges the movable contact point support toward an initial position, and a driving lever which transmits attraction movement and release movement of the electromagnet to the movable contact point support, are accommodated within a case.

The movable contact point support comprises a plurality of movable contact points, which moves against the return spring to perform open or close operations with fixed contact points arranged within the case in opposition to each of the movable contact points. The electromagnet comprises an excitation coil, a fixed core, and a movable core arranged in opposition to and capable of contacting and separating from the fixed core. The center portion in the length direction of the driving lever is axially supported via a pin within the case, one end is engaged with the movable contact point support, and another end is engaged with the movable core.

When the excitation coil of the electromagnet is in an excited state and the movable core of the electromagnet is attracted to the fixed core, the movement due to attraction of the movable core is transmitted to the driving lever, which rotates about the pin via a movable core conjoining portion. This rotation of the driving lever is transmitted to the movable contact point support via a movable contact point support conjoining portion, and the movable contact point support moves from the initial position to an operation position, so that each of the corresponding movable contact points and fixed contact points perform open and close operations. Further, when the excitation coil of the electromagnet enters a non-excited state, the urging force of the return spring causes the movable contact point support to move from the operation position to the original position.

In the device of Patent Reference 1, even when an excessive current flows and slight adhesion between movable contact points of the movable contact point support at the operation position and fixed contact points occurs so that the movable contact point support does not move to the initial position against the urging force of the return spring, the inertial force of the movable core which is pressed by the urging force of the return spring to perform release movement is transmitted via the driving lever as a force moving the movable contact point support to the initial position. This force acts as a force to pull apart the slightly adhering movable contact points and fixed contact points, and the movable contact point support can return to the initial position, so that even when excessive current flows, the electromagnetic contact device can operate normally.

Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 556-128533 (FIG. 4)

In the electromagnetic contact device of Patent Reference 1, the driving lever is conjoined with the case via the pin, so that there is a problem that the time required for driving lever assembly is increased.

Further, in Patent Reference 1, the point of action of the driving lever transmitting movement of the movable core to the movable contact point support does not coincide with the line of action (line extending from the axial line) of the return spring applying a urging force to the movable contact point support, so there is a concern that a moment may be imparted to the moving movable contact point support, and there is a concern that sliding friction with the case may increase.

This invention focuses on the above unresolved problems of examples of the prior art, and has as an object of providing an electromagnetic contact device which enables removal, by normal operation, of the problem of light adhesion of contact point portions due to the flow of excessive current, and enables easy assembly of the driving lever linking the movable contact point support and the electromagnet, and in which moreover the movable contact point support can be operated without the occurrence of a moment.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the above object, the electromagnetic contact device of one embodiment has a case accommodating an electromagnet having a movable core for attraction movement and release movement, a movable contact point support moving between an initial position and an operation position in parallel with a moving direction of the movable core, a return spring urging this movable contact point support toward the initial position, and a driving lever which is engaged with the movable core and the movable contact point support, and transmits the attraction movement of the movable core to the movable contact point support as a moving force toward the operation position. The electromagnetic contact device is configured such that a lever holding portion is formed in an inner wall of an extinction cover, and by mounting this extinction cover on the case and having the lever holding portion to axially support one end of the driving lever, the driving lever is accommodated such that another end thereof engaged with the movable core and movable contact point support rotates with the one end as a rotation support point. When the movable contact point support halts midway during release, the release movement due to inertial force of the movable core is transmitted to the movable contact point support via the driving lever as a moving force toward the initial position.

Here, the release movement due to inertial force of the movable, core is a movement of the movable contact point support, wherein the movable contact point support pressed to the initial position side by the urging force of the return spring is transmitted via the driving lever to the movable core, so that the movable core performs release movement. Thus, even if the movable contact point support is halted, the movable core performs release movement due to the force of inertia.

By means of the electromagnetic contact device of this embodiment, a pin or other rotation support member fixed in the case, as in a structure of the prior art, is unnecessary, so that the number of components required for assembly of the driving lever can be reduced. Further, even when the movable contact point support halts midway during release due to slight adhesion of the movable contact points and fixed contact points caused by flow of an excessive current, release movement due to inertial force of the movable core is transmitted via the driving lever to the movable contact point support as a moving force directed toward the initial position, so that the slightly adhering movable contact points and fixed contact points are immediately pulled apart, and slight adhesion of contact points can be removed in normal operation of the electromagnetic contact device.

Further, in the electromagnetic contact device of one embodiment, a point of action of the driving lever, which transmits the attraction movement of the movable core to the movable contact point support as the moving force, is positioned on a line extending from an axial line of the return spring.

By means of the electromagnetic contact device of this embodiment, a moment does not act on the movable contact point support to which a force is transmitted from the point of action of the return spring and driving lever, the sliding friction of the movable contact point support with the case interior can be reduced, and the durability of the movable contact point support can be improved.

Further, in the electromagnetic contact device of one embodiment, a movable core engaging hole is formed in the movable core, and another end of the driving lever is inserted into and engaged with this movable core engaging hole, and in the vicinity of an inner face of the movable core engaging hole with which another end is engaged, a first-contact portion which abuts the tip portion before the inner face is formed when the movable core performs the release movement due to the inertial force.

By means of the electromagnetic contact device of this embodiment, when the movable core performs release movement due to inertial force, another end of the driving lever immediately abuts the first-contact portion formed in the movable core engaging hole. By this means, the operation of pulling apart the slightly adhering movable contact points and fixed contact points can be performed early.

Further, in the electromagnetic contact device of one embodiment, the shape of a tip portion of the driving lever inserted into the movable core engaging hole is made a narrow tip shape with an area smaller than an opening area of the movable core engaging hole. By means of the electromagnetic contact device of this embodiment, the task of engagement of the driving lever with the movable core is facilitated.

Further, in the electromagnetic contact device of one embodiment, another end of the driving lever is bent in the moving direction of the movable core and inserted into the movable core engaging hole to be in proximity to the inner face of the movable core engaging hole positioned in the moving direction of the movable core.

By means of the electromagnetic contact device of this embodiment, another end of the driving lever is in proximity to the inner face of the movable core engaging hole positioned in the moving direction of the movable core, so that attraction movement and release movement due to inertial force of the movable core are immediately transmitted to the movable contact point support.

Also, in the electromagnetic contact device of one embodiment, the lever holding portion formed in the inner wall of the extinction cover is a recess supported by entering the one end of the driving lever.

By means of the electromagnetic contact device of this embodiment, the one end of the driving lever can be axially supported so as to become a rotation support point by the recess of a simple structure formed in an inner wall of the extinction cover.

By means of an electromagnetic contact device of this invention, a pin or other rotation holding member fixed in the case, as in a structure of the prior art, is unnecessary, so that the components necessary for assembly of the driving lever can be reduced. Further, even when the movable contact point support halts midway during release due to slight adhesion of contact point portions caused by the flow of excessive current, the release movement of the movable core due to inertial force is transmitted to the movable contact point support via the driving lever as a moving force directed toward the initial position, and the slightly adhering contact point portions are immediately pulled apart, so that slight adhesion of contact points can be removed in normal operation of the electromagnetic contact device.

Also, when the point of action of the driving lever is positioned on the line extending from the axial line of the return spring, a moment does not act on the movable contact point support to which force is transmitted from the point of action of the return spring and driving lever, so that sliding friction of the movable contact point support with the case interior can be reduced, and the durability of the movable contact point support can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the electromagnetic contact device of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing constituent members of an electromagnetic contact device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the initial state of an electromagnetic contact device;

FIG. 4 is a simplified view showing the state of rotation of a driving lever and movement of a movable contact point support to an operation position, when the movable core of an electromagnetic contact device performs attraction movement;

FIG. 5 is a simplified view showing rotation of the driving lever and release movement of the movable core when the movable contact point support of an electromagnetic contact device moves to the initial position due to the urging force of the return spring;

FIG. 6 is a simplified view showing the state of rotation of the driving lever and movement of the movable contact point support to the initial position when the movable core of an electromagnetic contact device performs-release movement due to inertial force;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of the movable core and the structure conjoining with the driving lever, comprised by an electromagnetic contact device;

FIG. 8 shows the structure of a movable core engaging hole provided in the movable core comprising an electromagnetic contact device; and

FIG. 9 shows the state of another end of the driving lever comprising an electromagnetic contact device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Below, a preferred embodiment of the invention (hereafter “embodiment”) is explained in detail, referring to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electromagnetic contact device 1 of this embodiment comprises a lower case 3 and an upper case 4, formed from a synthetic resin having insulating properties.

In the upper case 4, terminal portions 10a to 10d, each having contact points, and the coil terminal 11 of an electromagnet are arranged. On the upper case 4, an extinction cover 5, which accommodates in a sealed state a movable contact point support 7a, described below, and a terminal cover 6 which covers the terminal portions 10a to 10d each having contact points and the coil terminal 11 of the electromagnet, are mounted.

Within the upper case 4 are accommodated the movable contact point support 7a and return spring 7b, shown in FIG. 2.

The movable contact point support 7a comprises a movable contact point support base 7a1, and a movable contact point support cover 7a2 which adheres and joins to this movable contact point support base 7a1; on the movable contact point support base 7a1, a plurality of sets of combinations of movable contact points 7a3 and contact springs 7a4 are mounted. Further, on the terminal portions 10a to 10d each having contact points mounted on the upper case 4 are provided contact point pieces 12; fixed contact points (not shown) provided on these contact point pieces 12 oppose each of the movable contact points 7a3.

Further, within the lower case 3 is accommodated an AC-operation type electromagnet 8, as shown in FIG. 2. This electromagnet 8 comprises a coil frame 8b which an excitation coil 8a is wound around (see FIG. 3); a fixed core 8c inserted into a hollow portion of the coil frame 8b and fixed to a side wall of the lower case 3; a movable core 8d arranged in opposition to and capable of contacting and separating from the fixed core 8c, and inserted into a hollow portion of the coil frame 8b; and a pair of coil terminals 11 formed integrally and mutually separated on the end of the coil frame 8b at which the movable core 8d is arranged. The pair of coil terminals 11 is arranged in a row with the terminal portions 10a to 10d each of which has contact points mounted within the upper case 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the movable contact point support 7a accommodated within the upper case 4 and electromagnet 8 accommodated within the lower case 3 are arranged such that the moving direction of open and close operation of the movable contact point support 7a and the moving direction of the movable core 8d (attraction movement direction and release movement direction) are parallel, and in addition the return spring 7b is arranged so as to act with a urging force in the direction causing the movable contact point support 7a to return to the initial position.

Further, in order to transmit the attraction movement and release movement of the movable core 8d to the movable contact point support 7a, a driving lever 9, conjoined with one end of the movable contact point 7a separated from the return spring 7b and with the movable core 8d, is extended and accommodated between the lower case 3 and the upper case 4, as shown in FIG. 3.

The driving lever 9 is a plate-shape member, and as shown in FIG. 2, one end in the length direction is a rotation support point portion 9a, and a movable core conjoining portion 9b is formed on another end in the length direction; in the center in the length direction a movable contact point support conjoining portion 9c is provided, and a pair of supported portions 9d is formed at a position closer to the side of the rotation support point portion 9a than the movable contact point support conjoining portion 9c.

As shown in FIG. 7, the movable core conjoining portion 9b of the driving lever 9 is inserted from above into and conjoined with a conjoining hole 8e formed in the movable core 8d.

Viewing the movable core 8d from above as shown in FIG. 8, the conjoining hole 8e is formed as a hexagonal hole in which a first inner face 8e1 provided in one moving direction of the movable core 8d has an inside width (width perpendicular to the movement direction) smaller than a second inner face 8e2 provided in the other movement direction of the movable core 8d, and with an inclined face 8e3 continuous from the first inner face 8e1 and inclined on the side of the second inner face 8e2 provided.

As shown in FIG. 9, the movable core conjoining portion 9b has a narrow tip portion 9b1 formed by gradually narrowing the plate width, and by providing a bent portion 9b2, the width h2 to the tip portion 9b1 is set to a slightly smaller value than the hole width h1 (see FIG. 8) between the first inner face 8e1 and the second inner face 8e2 of the conjoining hole 8e.

The movable contact point support conjoining portion 9c of the driving lever 9 is provided with a bulging portion, and passes through a lever conjoining hole 7a5 which vertically penetrates one side of the movable contact point support 7a as shown in FIG. 3. Here, at the lever conjoining hole 7a5 is provided, on the right side in FIG. 3, a lever engaging wall 7a7 which can abut the movable contact point support conjoining portion 9c.

The pair of supported portions 9d of the driving lever 9 protrudes outward from the plate width direction, and as shown in FIG. 3, when the movable contact point support conjoining portion 9c passes through the lever conjoining hole 7a5 of the movable contact point support 7a, rotatably abut the upper-end face 7a6 of the movable contact point support 7a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation support point portion 9a of the driving lever 9 enters a support point recess 5a provided in the lower face of the extinction cover 5 and rotatably conjoined. And, when the extinction cover 5 is mounted on the upper case 4, the support point recess 5a holds the rotation support point portion 9a of the driving lever 9, and in addition presses the pair of supported portions 9d against the upper-end face 7a6 of the movable contact point support 7a.

In this way, with the rotation support point portion 9a rotatably conjoined with the support point recess 5a of the extinction cover 5, and with the movable core conjoining portion 9b conjoined with the conjoining hole 8e of the movable core 8d, movement of the movable core 8d is accompanied by rotation of the driving lever 9 with the rotation support point portion 9a as a rotation support point, and rotation of this driving lever 9 is transmitted to the movable contact point support 7a via the movable contact point support conjoining portion 9c and the lever conjoining hole 7a5.

Here, the movable contact point support conjoining portion 9c of the driving lever 9 which is conjoined with the lever conjoining hole 7a5 of the movable contact point support 7a is positioned on the line of action of the return spring 7b (the line extending from the axial line P), as shown in FIG. 3.

The case of this invention corresponds to the lower case 3, the case of this invention corresponds to the upper case 4, the lever holding portion and recess of this invention correspond to the support point recess 5a, the movable core engaging hole of this invention corresponds to the conjoining hole 8e, the inner faces of the movable core engaging hole of this invention correspond to the first inner face 8e1 and second inner face 8e2, the first-contact portion of this invention corresponds to the inclined face 8e3, the one end portion of the driving lever of this invention corresponds to the rotation support point portion 9a, another end portion of the driving lever of this invention corresponds to the movable core conjoining portion 9b, and the narrow tip of this invention corresponds to the narrow tip portion 9b1.

Next, operation, of the electromagnetic contact device 1 is explained, referring to FIG. 3 through FIG. 6.

When in an electromagnetic contact device 1 of this embodiment, the excitation coil 8a of the electromagnet 8 is in the non-excited state, then as shown in FIG. 3, an attractive force does not act between the fixed core 8c and the movable core 8d, and the movable contact point support 7a is moved to the right in FIG. 3 (hereafter called the initial position of the movable contact point support 7a) by the urging force of the return spring 7b. At this time, the movable contact points 7a3 of the a contact points of the movable contact point support 7a are separated from the fixed contact points, and the movable contact points 7a3 of the b contact points are in contact with the fixed contact points.

Next, when the excitation coil 8a of the electromagnet 8 enters the excited state, an attractive force acts between the fixed core 8c and the movable core 8d, and the movable core 8d undergoes attraction movement toward the fixed core 8c. As shown in FIG. 4, when the movable core 8d undergoes attraction movement on the left side in the figure, the movable core conjoining portion 9b abuts the second inner face 8e2 of the conjoining hole 8e, and by this means the driving lever 9 undergoes rotation in the clockwise direction with the rotation support point portion 9a, engaged with the right-side wall portion of the support point recess 5a, as a rotation support point; the movable contact point support 7a, pressed by the movable contact point support conjoining portion 9c, moves in the operation direction against the return spring 7b. When the movable contact point support 7a moves to the operation position, the movable contact points 7a3 of the a contact points of the movable contact point support 7a make contact with the fixed contact points, and the movable contact points 7a3 of the b contact points are separated from the fixed contact points.

Next, when the excitation coil 8a of the electromagnet 8 is put into the non-excited state from the operation position of the movable contact point support 7a, the movable contact point support 7a, acted on by the urging force of the return spring 7b, moves to the initial position as shown in FIG. 5. Further, an external force is transmitted to the movable core-8d of the electromagnet 8 via the driving lever 9 from the movable contact point support 7a which moves under the urging force of the return spring 7b, and due to rotation in the counterclockwise direction of the driving lever 9, the movable core 8d undergoes release movement in the direction of separation from the fixed core 8c.

If, due to the flow of excessive current, slight adhesion occurs between the movable contact points 7a3 of the a contact points of the movable contact point support 7a positioned in the operation position and the fixed contact points, then the movable contact point support 7a, which has moved toward the initial position due to action of the urging force of the return spring 7b, stops midway during release.

The urging force of the return spring 7b up to where the movable contact point support 7a stops is transmitted to the movable core 8d via the driving lever 9, so that the movable core 8d moves due to inertia in the direction of separation from the fixed core 8c, and release movement occurs due to the movement force of this inertia (inertial force). In this way, when the movable core 8d undergoes release movement due to inertial force as shown in FIG. 6, the movable core conjoining portion 9b of the driving lever 9 abuts the first inner face 8e1 of the conjoining hole 8e of the movable core 8d, and the driving lever 9 rotates in the counterclockwise direction with the rotation support point portion 9a, engaged with the wall on the left side of the support point recess 5a, as a rotation support point. And, due to the abutting of the lever engaging wall 7a7 of the rotation contact point support 7a on a portion of the driving lever 9 rotating in the counterclockwise direction, an external force toward the initial position is transmitted to the movable contact point support 7a. In this way, when an external force toward the initial position is transmitted to the movable contact point support 7a, the movable contact points 7a3 of the a contact points and the fixed contact points, between which slight adhesion occurs, are pulled apart, and through the action of the urging force of the return spring 7b, the movable contact point support 7a moves to the initial position.

Next, advantageous results of this embodiment are explained, referring to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation support point portion 9a provided at one end of the driving lever 9, conjoined with the movable core 8d and movable contact point support 7a, is rotatably conjoined with the support point recess 5a provided in the lower face of the extinction cover 5, in a structure which is freely rotatable with the rotation support point portion 9a as a rotation support point; a pin or other rotation holding member fixed to the case, as in a structure of the prior art, is unnecessary, so that the number of components necessary for assembly of the driving lever 9 can be reduced.

Further, when an excessive current flows and there is slight adhesion between the movable contact points 7a3 of the a contact points of the movable contact point support 7a positioned at the operation position and the fixed contact points, as shown in FIG. 6, the urging force of the return spring 7b up until stopping of the movable contact point support 7a midway during release is transmitted via the driving lever 9, the movable contact point support 7a moves inertially in the direction of separation from the fixed core 8c, and release movement occurs due to this inertial force of inertia, so that the driving lever 9 rotates in the counterclockwise direction with the rotation support point portion 9a as a rotation support point, and an external force toward the initial position is transmitted to the movable contact point support 7a. In this way, through release movement by inertial force of the movable core 8d, an external force toward the initial position is transmitted to the movable contact point support 7a, and movable contact points 7a3 of a contact points and fixed contact points, which are in slight adhesion, are immediately pulled apart, so that slight contact point adhesion can be eliminated in normal operation of the electromagnetic contact device.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable contact point support conjoining portion 9c of the driving lever 9 conjoined with the lever conjoining hole 7a5 of the movable contact point support 7a is positioned on the line of action (line extending from the axial line P) of the return spring 7b, so that no moment acts on the movable contact point support 7a to which force is transmitted from the points of action of the return spring 7b and driving lever 9, the sliding friction of the movable contact point support 7a with the inside of the upper case 4 can be reduced, and the durability of the movable contact point support 7a can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, an inclined face 8e3 is provided in the conjoining hole 8e of the movable core 8d on the side in one movement direction, and as shown in FIG. 6, when the movable core 8d undergoes release movement due to inertial force, the movable core conjoining portion 9b comes into contact with the inclined face 8e3 before the first inner face 8e1, so that movement responsiveness of the movable contact point support 7a when the movable core 8d undergoes release movement due to inertial force can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the movable core conjoining portion 9b of the driving lever 9 comprises a narrow tip portion 9b1, so that operation to insert the movable core conjoining portion 9b toward the conjoining hole 8e of the movable core 8d can easily be performed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9(a), in the movable core conjoining portion 9b of the driving lever 9, the width h2 from the bent portion 9b2 to the tip portion 9b1 is set to a value slightly smaller than the hole width h1 between the first inner face 8e1 and the second inner face 8e2 of the conjoining hole 8e of the movable core 8d, and when the movable core 8d moves in the attraction direction and the release direction, rotation operation of the driving lever 9 is immediately transmitted from the first inner face 8e1 or the second inner face 8e2 via the movable core conjoining portion 9b, so that movement responsiveness of the movable contact point support 7a can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the support point recess 5a formed in the extinction cover 5 envelops and supports the rotation support point portion 9a which is one end of the driving lever 9, so that the rotation support point portion 9a can be axially supported by a simple structure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As explained above, an electromagnetic contact device of this invention is useful for enabling elimination by normal operation of problems of slight adhesion of contact point portions due to the flow of excessive currents, and for the easy assembly of the driving lever which links the movable contact point support and the electromagnet.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 Electromagnetic contact device

3 Lower case

4 Upper case

5 Extinction cover

5
a Support point recess

6 Terminal cover

7
a Movable contact point support

7
a
1 Movable contact point support base

7
a
2 Movable contact point support cover

7
a
3 Movable contact point

7
a
4 Contact spring

7
a
5 Lever conjoining hole

7
b Return spring

7
a
6 Upper-end face

7
a
7 Lever engaging wall

8 Electromagnet

8
a Excitation coil

8
b Coil frame

8
c Fixed core

8
d Movable core

8
e Conjoining hole

8
e
1 First inner face

8
e
2 Second inner face

8
e
3 Inclined face

9 Driving lever

9
a Rotation support point portion

9
b Movable core conjoining portion

9
b
1 Tip portion

9
b
2 Bent portion

9
c Movable contact point support conjoining portion

9
d Supported portion

10
a-10d Terminal portion

11 Coil terminal

12 Contact point piece

P Return spring axial line

ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTACT DEVICE

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Abstract

Description

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Priority Claims (1)

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