1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switch module with a built-in structure of anti-surge and dual disconnection, particularly to one that has conductive plates disconnecting a series connection and an anti-surge structure disconnecting a parallel connection by insulation elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
Therefore, for safety concern, a usual solution to the defect is to parallel connect to a metal oxide varistor, and to connect to a thermal fuse in series.
In short, the structures disclosed above have shortcomings as uncertain quality, possible exceeding heat due to external connection of components, slow reaction, large volumes, and complicated composition, and they require more constructing space and procedures. Besides, the protection device has to be connected independently outside instead of having one inside.
In UL 1449 3rd Edition (2009) Type 4 was added to Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) requirements. The 3rd Edition also includes the Low voltage Surge Arresters under 1000V in the requirements, and the title is also altered from Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors into Surge Protective Devices. This shows the importance of integrating the components and the surge arresters function of the device.
Hence, the inventor has an invention in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/617,000 filed on Feb. 9, 2015 which has an anti-surge disconnection structure built inside a heat-resisting and fireproof housing of an overcurrent protection switch so that the disconnection could be operated successfully and instantly when an overload occurs. Features of the invention disclosed are illustrated in
Still, the inventor has continued to develop such feature and further designed a switch module disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/950,069 filed on Nov. 24, 2015. The switch module has provides the same effect in operation as the previous one. The invention also has a built-in structure that can melt down a thermo-sensitive piece by a heating metal oxide varistor for a spring element to be loosened and has an outer periphery thereof displacing a pushing rod, so as to detach a first contacting point from a second contacting point, thus disconnecting the circuit. However, both inventions can only disconnect the circuit of series connection, but cannot ensure the structure therein is completely disconnected. That is, the outer periphery of the spring element would still contacting surfaces of the metal oxide varistor; and if the entire structure cannot be disconnected thoroughly, the circuit may still be working and keep heating up, resulting in a dangerous situation.
On the other hand, metal oxide varistors are prone to operate function less effectively after in use for a period. To overcome such issue, manufacturers usually have a fuse connected to a metal oxide varistor for safety concerns, and the inventor therefore tries to improve such structure with a simpler and easier manufacturing process and better effectiveness based on structures of the previous inventions mentioned above.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a switch module with a built-in structure of anti-surge and dual disconnection that has the original function of overcurrent protection and further includes dual disconnection structure for anti-surge to ensure more of electricity safety. The switch module has a conductive colloid thermo-sensitive piece fixedly compressing a conductive spring element and an insulating element for complete disconnection.
Another object of the present invention is to ensure a complete disconnection even when conductive plates fail to disconnect a circuit within the switch.
Yet another object of the present invention is to accomplish qualifications of the surge standards in UL 1449 3rd edition.
To achieve the objects mentioned above, the present invention comprises a housing having a press button arranged atop thereof, and a first conductive plate, a second conductive plate and a third conductive plate arranged at a lower section thereof; said first conductive plate being connected to a binary alloy conductive plate having a first connecting point, and the second conductive plate having a second connecting point on the surface of an upper section thereof corresponding to the first connecting point; a moving rod linking up the bottom of the press button with one end and the binary alloy conductive plate with the other end for the first connecting point to contact the second connecting point, consequently turning on the switch, and for the first connecting point to detach from the second connecting point when current overload occurs and the binary alloy conductive plate is deformed due to high temperature, consequently turning off the switch, so as to form an overcurrent protection switch;
Wherein a structure of anti-surge and dual disconnection is built inside the housing, including: at least one metal oxide varistor being disposed under a plate and having a first surface and an opposite second surface; at least one insulating element having a through hole arranged at a center thereof, an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface arranged correspondingly to the first surface of the metal oxide varistor; at least one conductive spring element having an outer periphery with an extended portion connecting the first surface of the metal oxide varistor with the second conductive plate, and a springy section being compressed by the first surface of the metal oxide varistor in the through hole of the insulating element; at least one thermo-sensitive piece which is conductive and solid colloid to be disposed in the through hole of the insulating element for the springy section of the spring element to be adhered between the lower surface of the insulating element and the first surface of the metal oxide varistor for electrical connection and for the spring element to be conductive and ready for ejection; and a pushing element having a first end thereof arranged correspondingly to the metal oxide varistor, the insulating element and the springy section of the spring element, and a second end thereof arranged correspondingly to the binary alloy conductive plate for pushing;
Whereby when the first connecting point is contacting the second connecting point and an overvoltage occurs, temperature of the metal oxide varistor would instantly rise up to a degree higher than the melting point thereof, therefore melting the thermo-sensitive piece, loosening the springy section of the spring element and displacing the pushing element to force the first connecting point detaching from the second connecting point and turn off the switch; meanwhile, the insulating element also disconnects the circuit structure simultaneously.
With structures disclosed above, the present invention complements the defect of a conventional overcurrent protection switch that it has to connect to a metal oxide varistor from the outside by having the anti-surge disconnection structure ingeniously built inside the heat-resisting and fireproof housing. When receiving exceedingly high voltages, the heating metal oxide varistor would instantly melt down the thermo-sensitive piece, loosening the springy section of the conductive spring element for ejection and further displacing the pushing element, therefore forcing the first connecting point detaching from the second connecting point and turning off the switch immediately. Therefore, the present invention is not only overcurrent protective but also overvoltage protective and surge absorbing; also, the insulating element is able to completely disconnect the thermo-sensitive piece and the spring element from the metal oxide varistor by insulation, ensuring more electricity safety and conveniences in using.
Referring to
The housing 31 has a press button 32 arranged atop thereof, and a first conductive plate 40 as a positive electrode, a second conductive plate 50 as another positive electrode and a third conductive plate 60 as a negative electrode arranged at a lower section thereof. The first conductive plate 40 is connected to a binary alloy conductive plate 41 that has a spring leaf 42 and a first connecting point 421, and the second conductive plate 50 has a second connecting point 511 corresponding to the first connecting point 421.
The moving rod 33 has a top end arranged at the bottom of the press button 32 and a bottom end connecting to a movable end 411 of the binary alloy conductive plate 41. With reference to
The arrangement of the binary alloy conductive plate 41 and the press button 32 is different in various switch modules. In this embodiment, the binary alloy conductive plate 41 has the first connecting point 421 arranged on the spring leaf 42 but it is not limited to such application. The binary alloy conductive plate 41 can eject without the spring leaf 42 and the first connecting point 421 can be arranged aside the binary alloy conductive plate 41. Also, theis is a positive electrode for output and a negative electrode for input; in the embodiment, the first conductive plate 40 is arranged to be the positive electrode input and the second conductive plate 50 is arranged to be the positive electrode output.
The features of the present invention lies in that the anti-surge disconnection structure 70 is built inside the housing 31 and includes at least one metal oxide varistor 71, at least one insulating element 76, at least one conductive spring element 73, at least one thermo-sensitive piece 72, and at least one pushing element 75.
The metal oxide varistor 71 is disposed under a plate 74 and has a first surface 711 and an opposite second surface 712. In this embodiment, the first surface 711 is the positive electrode and the second surface 712 is the negative electrode; they are electrically connected to the second conductive plate 50 and the third conductive plate 60 by a connector which can be a conductive wire, a conductive plate, or a conductive element extended from the surface of the metal oxide varistor 71.
The insulating element 76 has a through hole 763 arranged at a center thereof, an upper surface 761 and a lower surface 762. The upper surface 761 is arranged correspondingly to the first surface 711 of the metal oxide varistor 71 to ensure melting liquid would not spill out. Size of the through hole 763 and positions of insulation and adherence on the insulting element 76 is adaptable according to different needs. In this embodiment, the insulating element 76 is arranged in a shape in correspondence to the shape of the metal oxide varistor 71, and it has a surrounding protrusion 764 on both the upper surface 761 and the lower surface 762, individually forming a space thereon.
The conductive spring element 73 has an outer periphery 731 and a springy section 732 compressed in the through hole 763 of the insulating element 76 on the first surface 711 of the metal oxide varistor 71. In this embodiment, there is one spring element 73 and one metal oxide varistor 71. The second surface 712 of the metal oxide varistor 71 is arranged under the plate 74 which is arranged to have a fixed surface for ejection; therefore, it can be a conductive plate, a positioning plate formed in one-piece together with the housing 31, or an extended portion from the third conductive plate 60. The spring element 73 is abutting on the lower surface 762 of the insulating element 76 and the outer periphery 731 of the spring element 73 further has an extended portion 733 that is arranged as a bended portion 734 and connects the first surface 711 of the metal oxide varistor 71 with the second conductive plate 50. As shown in
The thermo-sensitive piece 72 is conductive and solid colloid to be disposed in the through hole 763 of the insulating element 76 for the springy section 732 of the spring element 73 to be adhered between the lower surface 762 of the insulating element 76 and the first surface 711 of the metal oxide varistor 71 for electrical connection and for the spring element 73 to be ready for ejection. In this embodiment, the thermos-sensitive piece 72 is made of metal compounds which are conductive and fast-acting in low temperature that would melt at a pre-determined degree before temperature of the metal oxide varistor 71 rises up to a dangerously high number.
The pushing element 75 has a first end 751 arranged correspondingly to the metal oxide varistor 71, the insulating element 76 and the springy section 732 of the spring element 73, and a second end 752 arranged correspondingly to the binary alloy conductive plate 41 for pushing.
In this embodiment, the pushing element 75 is an isolated pushing rod and the first end 751 thereof is contacting the springy section 732 of the spring element 73, and the second end 752 thereof is arranged as a protruding portion to contact the binary alloy conductive plate 41. Furthermore, the first end 751 is arranged in a shape in accordance with shapes of the insulating element 76 and the spring element 73, and it has a positioning hole 753 for the springy section 732 of the spring element 73 to engage therein; whereby the first connecting point 421 on the binary alloy conductive plate 41 would be forced to detach from the second connecting point 511 when the spring element 73 is ejected.
Further referring to
The first metal oxide varistor 71a is disposed under a plate 74 and has a first surface 711 and an opposite second surface 712. The first insulating element 76a has a through hole 763 arranged at a center thereof, an upper surface 761 and a lower surface 762. The spring element 73a has an a springy section 732 compressed in the through hole 763 by the first surface 711 of the first metal oxide varistor 71a and an outer periphery 731 having a first extended portion 733a connecting to the first surface 711 of the first metal oxide varistor 73a with the second conductive plate 50. The first thermo-sensitive piece 72a is conductive and solid colloid to be disposed in the through hole 763 of the first insulating element 76a for the springy section 732 of the spring element 73 to be compressed and adhered between the lower surface 762 of the first insulating element 76a and the first surface 711 of the first metal oxide varistor 71a for electrical connection, and the spring element 73a to be ready for ejection.
The second metal oxide varistors 71b also has a first surface 711 compressing the spring element 73a. The second insulating element 76b has a through hole 763 arranged at a center thereof, an upper surface 761 and a lower surface 762. The electrical connector 73c is disposed under the second insulating element 76b and a second surface 712 of the second metal oxide varistor 71b with a second extended portion 733b arranged aside for electrical connection between the second surface 712 of the second metal oxide varistor 71b and the third conductive plate 60. In this embodiment, the first extended portion 733a and the second extended portion 733b are arranged as bended portions for respectively engaging the second conductive plate 50 and the third conductive plate 60. The second thermo-sensitive piece 72b is conductive and solid colloid to be disposed in the through hole 763 of the second insulating element 76b, electrically connecting the springy section 732 of the electrical connector 73c and the second surface 712 of the second metal oxide varistor 71b; and the springy section 732 of the electrical connector 73c is compressed and adhered on the second surface 712 of the second metal oxide varistor 71b for the electrical connector 73c to be ready for ejection.
The pushing element 75 has a first end 751 arranged correspondingly under the second surface 712 of the second metal oxide varistor 71b, the second insulating element 76b and the electrical connector 73c, and a second end 752 arranged correspondingly to the binary alloy conductive plate 41 for pushing. In this embodiment, the electric connector 73c is made of a spring and has an outer periphery 731 and a springy section 732 compressed by the second surface 712 of the second metal oxide varistor 71b corresponding to the through hole 763 of the second insulating element 76b. The second end 752 of the pushing element 75 is arranged close to the binary alloy conductive plate 41 so that when either of the first spring element 73a or the electrical connector 73c ejects the pushing element 75 would displace and force the first contacting point 421 on the binary alloy conductive plate 41 detaching from the second contacting point 422 and therefore stop the heating operation of the first and second metal oxide varistors 71a, 71b to cease the power supply operation.
The first insulating element 76a has a through hole 763 arranged at a center thereof, an upper surface 761 and a lower surface 762. The upper surface 761 is arranged correspondingly to the first surface 711 of the first metal oxide varistor 71a. The first thermo-sensitive piece 72a is conductive and solid colloid to be disposed in the through hole 763 of the first insulating element 76a for a springy section 732 of the first spring element 73a to be compressed and adhered between the lower surface 762 of the first insulating element 76a and the first surface 711 of the first metal oxide varistor 71a for electrical connection and for the first spring element 73a to be ready for ejection. The first spring element 73a further has an outer periphery 731 with a first extended portion 733a connecting the first surface 711 of the first metal oxide varistor 71a with the second conductive plate 50.
The second insulating element 76b has a through hole 763 arranged at a center thereof, an upper surface 761 and a lower surface 762; the upper surface 761 is arranged correspondingly to the second surface 712 of the second metal oxide varistor 71b. The second metal oxide varistor 71b has a first surface 711 and an opposite second surface 712; the first surface 711 thereof is compressing the first spring element 73a. The second thermo-sensitive piece 72b is conductive and solid colloid to be disposed in the through hole 763 of the second insulating element 76b for a springy section 732 of the second spring element 73b to be compressed and adhered between the lower surface 762 of the second insulating element 76b and the second surface 712 of the second metal oxide varistor 71b for electrical connection and for the second spring element 73b to be ready for ejection. The second spring element 73b further has an outer periphery 731 with a second extended portion 733b connecting the second surface 712 of the second metal oxide varistor 71b with the third conductive plate 60.
The third insulating element 76c has a through hole 763 arranged at a center thereof, an upper surface 761 and a lower surface 762; the upper surface 761 is arranged correspondingly to the first surface 711 of the third metal oxide varistor 71c. The electrical connector 73c abuts on the third insulating element 76c and has an outer periphery 731 with a third extended portion 733c electrically connecting to the first surface 711 of the third metal oxide varistor 71c and to the plate 74. The plate 74 is also electrically connected to the second surface 712 of the first metal oxide varistor 71a.
The third metal oxide varistor 72c is conductive and solid colloid to be disposed in the through hole 763 of the third insulating element 76c for a springy section 732 of the electrical connector 73c to be electrically connected to the first surface 711 of the third metal oxide varistor 71c and to be compressed and adhered between the lower surface 762 of the third insulating element 76c and the first surface 711 of the third metal oxide varistor 71c for electrical connection and for the electrical connector 73c to be ready for ejection.
The pushing element 75 has a first end 751 disposed under the electrical connector 73c and arranged correspondingly to a middle of the electrical connector 73c and the first surface 711 of the third metal oxide varistor 71c, and a second end 752 arranged correspondingly to the binary alloy conductive plate 41 for pushing. In the embodiment, the melting of either of the thermo-sensitive pieces 72a, 72b would cause ejection of either of the first or second spring elements 73a, 73b and disconnect the device without damaging structure of other thermo-sensitive pieces for disconnection.
In this embodiment, the electrical connector 73c is made of a spring that has an outer periphery 731 with a third extended portion 733c electrically connecting to the third metal oxide varistor 71c, and a springy section 732 compressed under the third insulating element 76c and the first surface 711 of the third metal oxide varistor 71c; the plate 74 further has a conductive element 742 to be electrically connected to the third extended portion 733c of the electrical connector 73c and a fourth conductive plate 743 disposed aside and extended to outside of the housing 31 as shown in
With structures disclosed above, the present invention complements the defect of a conventional overcurrent protection switch that it has to connect to a metal oxide varistor and a thermal fuse from the outside by having an anti-surge disconnection structure 70 including at least one metal oxide varistor, at least one thermo-sensitive pieces, at least one insulating element, and at least one conductive spring element ingeniously built inside so that when receiving exceedingly high voltages, the heating metal oxide varistor would instantly melt at least one thermo-sensitive piece, counterbalancing the compressing force on a spring element and further displacing the pushing element, therefore forcing the connecting points to detach and turning off the switch immediately; meanwhile, a corresponding insulating element would further ensure the disconnection is performed completely and safely. Hence, the present invention has the original function of overcurrent protection and further has the overvoltage protection and anti-surge disconnection structures built inside, ensuring more electricity safety and conveniences in using.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 14/950,069 filed on Nov. 24, 2015, currently pending.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20170148602 A1 | May 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14950069 | Nov 2015 | US |
Child | 15389885 | US |