The electromagnetic relay comprises an auxiliary fixed terminal that has a configuration different from that of a fixed terminal and includes an auxiliary external input/output terminal and an auxiliary external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal. The electromagnetic relay comprises an auxiliary movable terminal that has a configuration different from that of a movable terminal and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal.
|
0. 20. An electromagnetic relay comprising:
a fixed terminal including an external input/output terminal and an external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the external input/output terminal;
a movable terminal that can electrically connect the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal;
an auxiliary fixed terminal that has a different configuration from that of the fixed terminal and includes an auxiliary external input/output terminal and an auxiliary external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal;
an auxiliary movable terminal that has a different configuration from that of the movable terminal and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal;
a body, wherein a tip portion of the external input/output terminal, a tip portion of the external output/input terminal, a tip portion of the auxiliary external input/output terminal, and a tip portion of the auxiliary external output/input terminal respectively project outwardly, in a same direction, from the body; and
an armature that moves each of the movable terminal and the auxiliary movable terminal so that:
(1) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as not to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal, and
(2) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as not to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal,
wherein a first axis along which a movable contact point of the movable terminal is moved by the armature and a second axis along which an auxiliary movable contact point of the auxiliary movable terminal is moved by the armature are not parallel.
1. An electromagnetic relay comprising:
a fixed terminal including an external input/output terminal and an external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the external input/output terminal;
a movable terminal that can electrically connect the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal;
an auxiliary fixed terminal that has a configuration different from that of the fixed terminal and includes an auxiliary external input/output terminal and an auxiliary external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal;
an auxiliary movable terminal that has a configuration different from that of the movable terminal and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal;
a body, wherein a tip portion of the external input/output terminal, a tip portion of the external output/input terminal, a tip portion of the auxiliary external input/output terminal, and a tip portion of the auxiliary external output/input terminal respectively project outwardly, in a same direction, from the body; and
an armature that moves each of the movable terminal and the auxiliary movable terminal so that:
(1) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as not to be electrically connected to each of the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal, and
(2) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as to be electrically connected to each of the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as not to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal,
wherein a first axis along which a movable contact point of the movable terminal portion is moved by the armature and a second axis along which an auxiliary movable contact point of the auxiliary movable terminal is moved by the armature are not parallel.
0. 29. An electrical connection system comprising:
an electromagnetic relay; and
a wiring board with insertion holes configured to connect the electromagnetic relay to the wiring board, wherein:
the electromagnetic relay comprises:
a fixed terminal including an external input/output terminal and an external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the external input/output terminal;
a movable terminal that can electrically connect the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal;
an auxiliary fixed terminal that has a different configuration from that of the fixed terminal and includes an auxiliary external input/output terminal and an auxiliary external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal;
an auxiliary movable terminal that has a different configuration from that of the movable terminal and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal;
a body, wherein a tip portion of the external input/output terminal, a tip portion of the external output/input terminal, a tip portion of the auxiliary external input/output terminal, and a tip portion of the auxiliary external output/input terminal respectively project outwardly, in a same direction, from the body; and
an armature that moves each of the movable terminal and the auxiliary movable terminal so that:
(1) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as not to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal, and
(2) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as not to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal,
a first axis along which a movable contact point of the movable terminal is moved by the armature and a second axis along which an auxiliary movable contact point of the auxiliary movable terminal is moved by the armature are not parallel, and
the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal are inserted into the insertion holes, respectively.
0. 31. An electromagnetic relay comprising:
a fixed terminal including an external input/output terminal and an external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the external input/output terminal;
a movable terminal that can electrically connect the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal;
an auxiliary fixed terminal that has a different configuration from that of the fixed terminal and includes an auxiliary external input/output terminal and an auxiliary external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal;
an auxiliary movable terminal that has a different configuration from that of the movable terminal and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal;
an electromagnet including a bobbin and a winding wound round the bobbin, and is configured to generate electromagnetic force for driving the armature to move the movable terminal and the auxiliary movable terminal;
a body for directly or indirectly supporting each of the fixed terminal, the movable terminal, the auxiliary fixed terminal, the auxiliary movable terminal, the armature, and the electromagnet and including a bottom surface; and
an armature that moves each of the movable terminal and the auxiliary movable terminal so that:
(1) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as not to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal, and
(2) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as not to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal,
wherein a first axis along which a movable contact point of the movable terminal is moved by the armature and a second axis along which an auxiliary movable contact point of the auxiliary movable terminal is moved by the armature are not parallel,
the bobbin includes a lower flange and an upper flange facing to the lower flange in a direction of a central axis of the winding,
a distance between the upper flange and the bottom surface is larger than a distance between the lower flange and the bottom surface, and
the upper flange supports the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal.
0. 30. An electrical connection system comprising:
an electromagnetic relay; and
a tester, wherein:
the electromagnetic relay comprises:
a fixed terminal including an external input/output terminal and an external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the external input/output terminal;
a movable terminal that can electrically connect the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal;
an auxiliary fixed terminal that has a different configuration from that of the fixed terminal and includes an auxiliary external input/output terminal and an auxiliary external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal;
an auxiliary movable terminal that has a different configuration from that of the movable terminal and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal;
a body, wherein a tip portion of the external input/output terminal, a tip portion of the external output/input terminal, a tip portion of the auxiliary external input/output terminal, and a tip portion of the auxiliary external output/input terminal respectively project outwardly, in a same direction, from the body; and
an armature that moves each of the movable terminal and the auxiliary movable terminal so that:
(1) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as not to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal, and
(2) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as not to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal,
a first axis along which a movable contact point of the movable terminal is moved by the armature and a second axis along which an auxiliary movable contact point of the auxiliary movable terminal is moved by the armature are not parallel, and
an electromagnet that is configured to generate electromagnetic force so as to switch between a ON state in which a first current flows through the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal and an OFF state in which the first current does not flow though the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal, and
the tester is configured to detect whether a second current through the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal flows or does not flow.
2. The electromagnetic relay according to
3. The electromagnetic relay according to
the auxiliary driving portion is attached to the armature.
4. The electromagnetic relay according to
the auxiliary driving portion is formed of an insulating material.
5. The electromagnetic relay according to
6. The electromagnetic relay according to
7. The electromagnetic relay according to
8. The electromagnetic relay according to
each of the auxiliary movable terminal and the auxiliary fixed terminal is directly or indirectly supported by a bobbin on which a winding of the electromagnet is wound.
9. The electromagnetic relay according to
an electromagnet that generates electromagnetic force for driving the armature to move the movable terminal and the auxiliary movable terminal; and
a body from which a tip portion of the external input/output terminal, a tip portion of the external output/input terminal, a tip portion of the auxiliary external input/output terminal, and a tip portion of the auxiliary external output/input terminal respectively project outward,
wherein the body being is a base for directly or indirectly supporting each of the fixed terminal, the movable terminal, the auxiliary fixed terminal, the auxiliary movable terminal, the armature, and the electromagnet.
10. The electromagnetic relay according to
11. The electromagnetic relay according to
12. The electromagnetic relay according to
wherein the electromagnet is located in a space between the fixed terminal and the auxiliary fixed terminal,
the fixed terminal is closest to at least one first corner of four corners of the cover in a horizontal cross-sectional view,
the auxiliary fixed terminal is closest to at least one second corner of four corners of the cover in the horizontal cross-sectional view, and
the first corner and the second corner are different.
13. The electromagnetic relay according to
14. The electromagnetic relay according to
15. The electromagnetic relay according to
16. The electromagnetic relay according to
another fixed terminal including another external input/output terminal and another external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the another external input/output terminal; and
another movable terminal that can electrically connect another external input/output terminal and another external output/input terminal, wherein
the auxiliary fixed terminal has a configuration different from that of the fixed terminal and the another fixed terminal and includes an auxiliary external input/output terminal and an auxiliary external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal,
the auxiliary movable terminal has a configuration different from that of the movable terminal and the another movable terminal and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal, and
the armature moves each of the movable terminal, the another movable terminal, and the auxiliary movable terminal so that:
(1) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as not to be electrically connected to each of the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal as well as the another movable terminal is switched so as to be electrically connected to each of the another external input/output terminal and the another external output/input terminal, and
(2) the auxiliary movable terminal is switched so as to be electrically connected to each of the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal, when the movable terminal is switched so as not to be electrically connected to each of the external input/output terminal and the external output/input terminal as well as the another movable terminal is switched so as not to be electrically connected to each of the another external input/output terminal and the another external output/input.
17. The electromagnetic relay according to
18. The electromagnetic relay according to
wherein the movable terminal is provided so as to pivot in a same direction as a rotational direction of the vertical portion, and
wherein the auxiliary movable terminal is provided so as to pivot in a same direction as a rotational direction of the horizontal portion.
19. The electromagnetic relay according to
a first tip end of the movable terminal has a movable contact point that comes into contact with a fixed contact point provided in the fixed terminal,
a second tip end portion of the auxiliary movable terminal has an auxiliary movable contact point that comes into contact with an auxiliary fixed contact point provided in the auxiliary fixed terminal, wherein and
a first width of the movable terminal that traverses the movable contact point in a direction orthogonal to a first extending direction of the first tip end portion of the movable terminal is greater than a second width of the auxiliary movable terminal that traverses the auxiliary movable terminal in a direction orthogonal to a second extending direction of the second tip end portion of the auxiliary movable terminal.
0. 21. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 20, wherein the armature includes an auxiliary driving portion extending therefrom which is configured to come into and out of contact with the auxiliary movable terminal so as to actuate: (1) the auxiliary movable terminal being switched so as not to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal and (2) the auxiliary movable terminal being switched so as to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal.
0. 22. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 20, further comprising:
an auxiliary driving portion which is fixed to the armature and is configured to come into and out of contact with the auxiliary movable terminal so as to actuate: (1) the auxiliary movable terminal being switched so as not to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal and (2) the auxiliary movable terminal being switched so as to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal.
0. 23. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 20, further comprising:
a holder which has insulating properties, fixes the armature to the movable terminal while insulating the armature from the movable terminal, and is configured to move integrally with the armature; and
an auxiliary driving portion which is configured to move integrally with the armature, and come into and out of contact with the auxiliary movable terminal so as to actuate: (1) the auxiliary movable terminal being switched so as not to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal and (2) the auxiliary movable terminal being switched so as to electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal to the auxiliary external output/input terminal.
0. 24. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 23, wherein the auxiliary driving portion has electrical conductivity properties.
0. 25. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 23, wherein the auxiliary driving portion has insulating properties.
0. 26. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 20, further comprising:
an electromagnet including a bobbin and a winding wound round the bobbin, and is configured to generate electromagnetic force for driving the armature to move the movable terminal and the auxiliary movable terminal, wherein:
the body directly or indirectly supports each of the fixed terminal, the movable terminal, the auxiliary fixed terminal, the auxiliary movable terminal, the armature, and the electromagnet, and
the body includes a bottom surface from which the tip portion of the external input/output terminal, the tip portion of the external output/input terminal, the tip portion of the auxiliary external input/output terminal, and the tip portion of the auxiliary external output/input terminal respectively project outwardly.
0. 27. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 26, wherein:
the bobbin includes a lower flange and an upper flange facing to the lower flange in a direction of a central axis of the winding,
a distance between the upper flange and the bottom surface is larger than a distance between the lower flange and the bottom surface, and
the upper flange supports the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal.
0. 28. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 26, wherein a distance between the auxiliary movable contact point and the bottom surface is larger than a distance between the movable contact point and the bottom surface.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
This application 2000.
The movable terminal 47 (48) is suspended substantially in the vertical direction. The movable contact points 45a, 45b, 46a and 46b are not in contact with the fixed contact points 52b, 51b, 54b and 53b. The current does not flow between the tip portion 51a and the tip portion 52a or between the tip portion 53a and the tip portion 54a.
When the electromagnetic relay 100 is in the ON state shown in
During the ON state, the current does not flow between the tip portion 62a and the tip portion 63a regardless of the use of a tester. The movable terminal 47 (48) is moved toward the fixed terminal 512 (534) in association with the movement of the armature 41. The movable contact points 45a, 45b, 46a and 46b then come into contact with the fixed contact points 52b, 51b, 54b and 53b, respectively. The current thus flows between the tip portion 51a and the tip portion 52a and between the tip portion 53a and the tip portion 54a.
Next, the electromagnetic relay 100 with the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) welded together is described below with reference to
As a result, the current does not flow between the tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the external output/input terminal 63 even if a voltage is applied between the tip portion 62a and the tip portion 63a by use of a tester. Accordingly, the electromagnetic relay 100 including the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 and the auxiliary movable terminal 65 facilitates the detection of welding between the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) by use of a tester.
The configurations and effects of the electromagnetic relay 100 of the present embodiment are described in detail below.
(1) The electromagnetic relay 100 of the present embodiment includes the following features (i) to (v):
(i) the fixed terminal 512 (534) including the external input/output terminal 51 (53) and the external output/input terminal 52 (54) that can be electrically connected to the external input/output terminal 51 (53);
(ii) the movable terminal 47 (48) that can electrically connect the external input/output terminal 51 (53) and the external output/input terminal 52 (54);
(iii) the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 that has a configuration different from that of the fixed terminal 512 (534) and includes the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62.
(iv) the auxiliary movable terminal 65, 660 or 6500 that has a configuration different from that of the movable terminal 47 (48) and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63; and
(v) the armature 41 that moves the movable terminal 47 (48) and the auxiliary movable terminal 65 so as to switch the auxiliary movable terminal 65 between electrical connection and disconnection with respect to the respective auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 when switching the movable terminal 47 (48) between electrical connection and disconnection with respect to the respective external input/output terminal 51 (53) and external output/input terminal 52 (54).
According to the configurations (i) to (v) described above, the tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the external output/input terminal 63 can be used as terminals for detecting an unusual state of the electromagnetic relay 100. The unusual state is an operational failure of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534). An example of an operational failure is welding between the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534).
An operational failure of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) is generally because of welding therebetween. Other factors, other than the welding, may also lead to a state where the movable terminal 47 (48) is in contact with the fixed terminal 512 (534). An operational failure of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) because of other factors may also be detected by use of the tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63. The respective terminals denoted by reference numerals 51, 52, 53, 54, 47, 48, 62, 63 and 65 and the armature 41 described in the features (i) to (v) above may have any shapes that can detect an operational failure of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534).
The electromagnetic relay 100 including the features (i) to (v) above includes a case in which the internal structure is not covered with the cover 1 and the body 10. The method of detecting welding by use of the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 is effective in the following cases described in items (a) to (c) below. The following items (a) to (c) are examples in which an operational failure of the movable terminal and the fixed terminal is hard to be recognized visually or cannot be recognized visually.
(a) a case where the electromagnetic relay is located in a dark room;
(b) a case where the movable member (the movable terminal, the fixed terminal, the armature) is not visible from the outside as being surrounded by other components; and
(c) a case where the detection of welding between the movable terminal and the fixed terminal should be implemented away from those terminals
When the auxiliary movable terminal 65 can be recognized visually, an operational failure of the movable terminal and the fixed terminal may be confirmed based on the visual recognition of the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243. A case where at least part of the cover 1 is transparent in Embodiment 2 is exemplified below. This case allows the conditions of the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 to be recognized visually from the outside of the electromagnetic relay 100. Accordingly, an operational failure of the movable terminal and the fixed terminal can be confirmed based on the visual recognition of the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243.
In the present embodiment, the external input/output terminal 51 (53), the external output/input terminal 52 (54) and the movable terminal 47 (48) are each an independent member. Alternatively, the present invention may include a case where one of the external input/output terminal 51 (53) and the external output/input terminal 52 (54) is integrated with the movable terminal 47 (48).
The electromagnetic relay of the present invention may include the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62, the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63, and the auxiliary movable terminal 660 or 6500 each as an independent member, as shown in
As used herein, the term “terminal having a different configuration” includes a terminal of which at least one of the shape, pattern, and color is different from that of other terminals.
(2) The electromagnetic relay 100 may include the partition wall 14 provided between the respective fixed terminal 512 (534) and movable terminal 47 (48) and the respective auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 and auxiliary movable terminal 65.
In general, frictional powder is scattered by repeating contact and separation between the fixed terminal 512 (534) and the movable terminal 47 (48). The partition wall 14 provided as described above prevents frictional powder from adhering to the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 and the auxiliary movable terminal 65, 660 or 6500.
(3) The electromagnetic relay 100 switches between electrical connection and disconnection of the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243. The electromagnetic relay 100 may include, as a switching part, the auxiliary driving portion 61, 610, 6700 and 6600 for moving the auxiliary movable terminal 65 while coming into contact therewith. The respective driving portions may be attached to the armature 41 (
The auxiliary driving portions described above may be formed of various types of materials different from that of the armature 41.
For example, the respective driving portions formed of a material lighter than that of the armature 41, such as plastics, can lead to a reduction in weight of the electromagnetic relay 100.
(4) The armature 41 may be formed of an electrically conductive material, and the respective driving portions 61, 610, 6700 and 6600 may be formed of an insulating material (
This can electrically insulate the armature 41 from the auxiliary movable terminal 65.
(5) The armature 41 may include the auxiliary driving portion 41a for moving the auxiliary movable terminal 65 while coming into contact therewith so as to switch between electrical connection and disconnection of the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 (
The auxiliary driving portion 41a can therefore be formed simultaneously with the armature 41 without requiring an additional process.
(6) The auxiliary movable terminal 660 may be directly attached to the armature 41 (
The auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 thus can have mirror symmetry.
(7) When the fixed terminal 512 (534) and the movable terminal 47 (48) are electrically connected to each other, the armature 41 may move each of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the auxiliary movable terminal 65 such that the auxiliary movable terminal 65 is not electrically connected to the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243. This configuration is applied to all of the electromagnetic relays 100 of the first to sixth examples.
A current thus does not flow between the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 when the electromagnetic relay 100 is in the ON state. Accordingly, an unnecessary flow of current through the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 can be prevented during the use of the electromagnetic relay 100.
The electromagnetic relay 100 of the present embodiment, however, may allow the armature 41 to move each of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the auxiliary movable terminal 65 so as to electrically connect the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 when the fixed terminal 512 (534) and the movable terminal 47 (48) are electrically connected to each other.
(8) The auxiliary movable terminal 65 may be pushed upward so as to be electrically connected to the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 (for example, the auxiliary external input/output terminal 64) (common to all of the first to sixth examples).
The own weight of the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 (for example, the auxiliary external input/output terminal 64) can further enhance the electrical connection between the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 (for example, the auxiliary external input/output terminal 64).
(9) The electromagnetic relay 100 may include the electromagnet 20 that generates electromagnetic force for driving the armature 41 to move the movable terminal 47 (48) and the auxiliary movable terminal 65. The auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 may each be directly or indirectly supported by the bobbin 21 on which the winding 25 of the electromagnet 20 is wound.
The auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 can therefore be installed via the bobbin 21, which is an existing member of the electromagnetic relay 100.
The expression “the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 each directly supported by the bobbin 21” refers to a state where the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 are in direct contact with the bobbin 21. The expression “the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 each indirectly supported by the bobbin 21” refers to a state where the auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 are supported by the bobbin 21 with some member interposed therebetween.
The bobbin 21 typically includes the upper flange 22 and the lower flange 23. The electromagnetic relay 100 is in general provided with the armature 41 above the upper flange 22. The auxiliary movable terminal 65 and the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 are preferably provided directly on the bobbin 21 or on another member provided on the bobbin 21.
This configuration can decrease the distance between the armature 41 and the movable terminal 47 (48). This further decreases the length of another member directly or indirectly attached to the armature 41 to move the movable terminal 47 (48) or the length of the armature 41 for moving the movable terminal 47 (48). As a result, deflection of the other member or the armature 41 can be minimized
(10) The electromagnetic relay 100 may include the electromagnet 20 that generates electromagnetic force for driving the armature 41 to move the movable terminal 47 (48) and the auxiliary movable terminal 65. The electromagnetic relay 100 may further include a base for directly or indirectly supporting each of the fixed terminal 512 (534), the movable terminal 47 (48), the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243, the auxiliary movable terminal 65, the armature 41, and the electromagnet 20. The base is the body 10 of the present embodiment. The tip portion 51a (53a) of the external input/output terminal 51 (53), the tip portion 52a (54a) of the external output/input terminal 52 (54), the tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 each project outward from the body 10.
In general, the electromagnetic relay 100 is installed such that the bottom surface of the body 10 is in contact with the printed wiring board 1000. This decreases a gap between each of the tip portions 51a (53a), 52a (54a), 62a and 63a and the printed wiring board 100.
The term “directly supported” is meant to include a state where the armature 41 or the electromagnet 20 is in direct contact with and supported by the body 10. The term “indirectly supported” is meant to include a state where the armature 41 or the electromagnet 20 is supported by the body 10 with some member interposed therebetween.
(11) The auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 may be directly or indirectly supported by the body 10.
The auxiliary fixed terminal can therefore be installed by use of the body 10 that is an existing member. For example, the auxiliary external input/output terminal 6200 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 6300 may be fixed to the body 10, as shown in
The expression “the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 is directly supported by the body 10” refers to a state where the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 is in direct contact with and supported by the body 10. The expression “the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 is indirectly supported by the body 10” refers to a state where the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 is indirectly supported by the body 10 with some member interposed therebetween.
(12) The electromagnetic relay 100 may include the cover 1 attached to the body 10 to enclose the fixed terminal 512 (534), the movable terminal 47 (48), the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243, the auxiliary movable terminal 65, the armature 41, and the electromagnet 20.
The movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) are enclosed by the cover 1 and the body 10. The internal structure of the electromagnetic relay 100 cannot be recognized visually from the outside of the electromagnetic relay 100 when the cover 1 is not transparent. The occurrence of welding between the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) thus cannot be detected by visual check.
The phrase “enclosed by the cover 1 and the body 10” is meant to encompass a state where an operational failure (welding) of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) cannot be recognized visually from the outside of the electromagnetic relay 100. The phrase “cannot be recognized visually” is meant to include a case where an operational failure (welding) of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) cannot be recognized indirectly from the outside of the electromagnetic relay 100. The expression “an operational failure (welding) cannot be recognized indirectly from the outside” is meant to include a case where conditions of other members, other than the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534), such as the armature 41 cannot be recognized visually.
The cover 1 described above is therefore not limited to a state of completely concealing the internal structure of the electromagnetic relay 100. The cover 1 is meant to include a state where part of the internal structure of the electromagnetic relay 100 can be recognized visually therethrough, but an operational failure (welding) of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) cannot be confirmed.
According to the configuration described above, the tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 can be electrically connected to electrodes 2000a of a tester 2000 from the outside of the electromagnetic relay 100. The tester can therefore apply a current to pass through the tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63.
The occurrence of welding between the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) can be presumed depending on whether a current flows through the tip portion 62a and the tip portion 63a. Accordingly, welding between the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) can be detected without the cover 1 removed from the body 10.
The configuration described above can detect the occurrence of welding between the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) that are enclosed by the cover 1 and the body 10 and therefore cannot be recognized visually from the outside.
The electromagnetic relay 100 is illustrated above by the case where the respective tip portions 51a (53a), 52a (54a), 62a and 63a project downward from the body 10. However, the electromagnetic relay 100 is not limited to this case. The electromagnetic relay 100 of the present invention may have any configuration that can detect an operational failure of the movable terminal and the fixed terminal, such as welding, by use of the auxiliary movable terminal and the auxiliary fixed terminal.
For example, the electromagnetic relay 100 may have a configuration in which the respective tip portions 51a (53a), 52a (54a), 62a and 63a project outward from the cover 1. This configuration facilitates the contact of the tip portions 51a (53a), 52a (54a), 62a and 63a with electrodes of the tester.
(13) The cover 1 may have an inner space of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 may be located in the space between the electromagnet 20 and the corners 10b and 10c (refer to
The configuration described above can utilize the space in the cover 1 effectively when installing the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243.
The auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 is preferably located on the lines connecting the center C of the winding 25 and the corners of the cover 1 (corresponding to the corners 10b and 10c of the body) closer to the electromagnet 20 than the partition wall 14 in a plan view. In particular, the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 are provided between the center C and the respective corners 10b and 10c of the body 10 having a rectangular outline shown in
The term “substantially rectangular parallelepiped” is not limited to an exact rectangular parallelepiped with the respective sides intersecting at right angles but includes a rectangular parallelepiped having rounded corners. The term “substantially rectangular parallelepiped” includes a shape with some sides inclined with respect to other sides but recognized as a rectangular parallelepiped as a whole.
The method of detecting an operational failure of the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) of the electromagnetic relay 100 of Embodiment 1 is as follows, which has been considered by the inventor of the present invention as an undisclosed technique.
First, the electromagnetic relay 100 is turned off. The movable terminal and the fixed terminal should not be in contact with each other. A current is then applied from the tip portion 51a (53a) of the external input/output terminal 51 (53) to the tip portion 51a (53a) of the external input/output terminal 51 (53) of the fixed terminal 512 (534) by use of a tester. Namely, it is determined whether a current flows from the tip portion 51a (53a) to the tip portion 52a (54a) when the electromagnetic relay 100 is in the OFF state.
When a current flow from the tip portion 51a (53a) to the tip portion 52a (54a) is detected when the electromagnetic relay 100 is in the OFF state, it is determined that the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) are welded.
When a current flow from the tip portion 51a (53a) to the tip portion 52a (54a) is not detected, it is determined that the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) are not welded together. This is because the current cannot flow from the tip portion 51a (53a) to the tip portion 52a (54a) when the electromagnetic relay 100 is in the OFF state and the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534) are not welded.
The method of detecting the occurrence of welding, which has been considered by the inventor of the present invention as an undisclosed technique, requires the electromagnetic relay 100 to be turned off before the detection. The detection of welding is, however, preferably implemented without the electromagnetic relay turned off. For such a detection, the electromagnetic relay 100 is required to further include particular auxiliary terminals only used for detecting the occurrence of welding between the movable terminal 47 (48) and the fixed terminal 512 (534).
In order to deal with this requirement, the inventor of the present invention considered that extra terminals were added to a plurality of usable terminals for applying current in the electromagnetic relay 100. The inventor conceived that any of the usable terminals could be used as auxiliary terminals for detecting the occurrence of welding between the movable terminal and the fixed terminal A test operator, however, cannot visually distinguish the auxiliary terminals from the other terminals originally used in the electromagnetic relay 100.
The inventor of the present invention thus provides the terminals originally used in the electromagnetic relay 100 and further the auxiliary terminals for detecting occurrence of welding that can visually be distinguished from the terminals originally used. The configurations and effects are as follows.
(14) The tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 may each have an appearance that can visually be distinguished from each of the tip portion 51a (53a) of the external input/output terminal 51 (53) and the tip portion 52a (54a) of the external output/input terminal 52 (54).
The configuration described above can specify the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 as viewed from the outside of the electromagnetic relay 100, namely, from the bottom surface of the body 10.
The appearance described above may be any of the form, color, shape, position and arrangement that can visually be differentiated from others by a user of the electromagnetic relay 100.
(15) The tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 may each have an area of the cross section smaller than that of each of the tip portion 51a (53a) of the external input/output terminal 51 (53) and the tip portion 52a (54a) of the external output/input terminal 52 (54).
The configuration described above can decrease a current passing through the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63. As a result, power consumption for detection can be reduced.
(16) A virtual straight line connecting the tip portion 51a (53a) of the external input/output terminal 51 (53) and the tip portion 52a (54a) of the external output/input terminal 52 (54) may be substantially parallel to a virtual straight line connecting the tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63.
The term “substantially parallel” refers to a state where elements are not necessarily exactly parallel to each other, and slight errors of manufacture are permissible.
The configuration described above can provide parallel arrangements of multiple input/output wiring exposed to the outside of the electromagnetic relay 100 on the printed wiring board 1000. In particular, the wiring connected to each of the tip portion 51a (53a) and the tip portion 52a (54a) and the output/input wiring connected to each of the tip portion 62a and the tip portion 63a can be parallel to each other.
(17) The electromagnetic relay 100 according to another aspect of Embodiment 2 includes the following features (i) to (vii):
(i) The fixed terminal 512 including the external input/output terminal 51 and the external output/input terminal 52 that can be electrically connected to the external input/output terminal 51;
(ii) the movable terminal 47 that can electrically connect the external input/output terminal 51 and the external output/input terminal 52;
(iii) the other fixed terminal 534 including the other external input/output terminal 53 and the other external output/input terminal 54 that can be electrically connected to the other external input/output terminal 53;
(iv) the other movable terminal 48 that can electrically connect the other external input/output terminal 53 and the other external output/input terminal 54;
(v) the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243 that has a configuration different from that of the fixed terminal 512 and the other fixed terminal 534 and includes the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62;
(vi) the auxiliary movable terminal 65, 660 or 6500 that has a configuration different from that of the movable terminal 47 and the other movable terminal 48 and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63; and
(vii) the armature 41 that moves the movable terminal 47, the other movable terminal 48 and the auxiliary movable terminal 65 so as to switch the auxiliary movable terminal 65 between electrical connection and disconnection with respect to the respective auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 when switching the movable terminal 47 between electrical connection and disconnection with respect to the external input/output terminal 51 and the external output/input terminal 52 and switching the other movable terminal 48 between electrical connection and disconnection with respect to the other external input/output terminal 53 and the other external output/input terminal 54.
According to the configurations (i) to (vii) described above, the tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the external output/input terminal 63 can be used as terminals for detecting an operational failure. An operational failure detected is at least one of an operational failure of the movable terminal 47 and the fixed terminal 512 and an operational failure of the other movable terminal 48 and the other fixed terminal 534.
(18) The electromagnetic relay 100 may include the electromagnet 20 that generates electromagnetic force for driving the armature 41 to move the movable terminal 47, the other movable terminal 48 and the auxiliary movable terminal 65.
The electromagnetic relay 100 may further include the base. The base may directly or indirectly support each of the fixed terminal 512, the other fixed terminal 534, the movable terminal 47, the other movable terminal 48, the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243, the auxiliary movable terminal 65, the armature 41 and the electromagnet 20. The base may be the body 10 of the present embodiment. The tip portion 51a of the external input/output terminal 51, the tip portion 52a of the external output/input terminal 52, the tip portion 53a of the external input/output terminal 53, the tip portion 54a of the external output/input terminal 54, the tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 may each project outward from the body 10.
The electromagnetic relay 100 may include the cover 1. The cover 1 may be attached to the body 10 to enclose the fixed terminal 512, the other fixed terminal 534, the movable terminal 47, the other movable terminal 48, the auxiliary fixed terminal 6243, the auxiliary movable terminal 65, the armature 41, and the electromagnet 20.
The tip portion 62a and the tip portion 63a each preferably have an appearance that can visually be distinguished from each of the tip portions 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a.
The configuration described above facilitates the differentiation between the tip portions 62a and 63a and the tip portions 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a of the other terminals. The detection by use of the tip portion 62a and the tip portion 63a can therefore be implemented promptly.
(19) The movable terminal 47 and the other movable terminal 48 may be substantially aligned along a virtual straight line in a plan view and move in a direction crossing the virtual straight line by the electromagnetic force.
The term “substantially aligned” is meant to include a state where the movable terminal 47 and the other movable terminal 48 are not aligned exactly on the same straight line but may be slightly offset therefrom. The movable terminal 47 and the other movable terminal 48 are only required to be recognized as substantially being aligned on the virtual straight line as a whole. This means that errors of manufacture of the movable terminal 47 and the other movable terminal 48 are permissible.
The configuration described above can shorten the length of the electromagnetic relay 100 in the direction vertical to the virtual straight line in a plan view as compared with the electromagnetic relay 100 in which the movable terminal 47 and the other movable terminal 48 are arranged in rows at an interval in the moving direction of these terminals.
The electromagnetic relay of the present invention includes a case in which the movable terminal 47 and the other movable terminal 48 are arranged in rows. This electromagnetic relay can also provide the effects similar to those obtained by the electromagnetic relay 100 described in the present embodiment.
The present embodiment is illustrated by the case where the two movable terminals are provided. Alternatively, the electromagnetic relay of the present invention may be provided with three or more movable terminals. The electromagnetic relay of the present invention thus includes a case where multiple movable terminals are aligned. The electromagnetic relay of the present invention further includes a case where plural sets of movable terminals, each set including the movable terminals being aligned along a straight line, are arranged in rows.
(20) The following are descriptions of a case where the body 10 is viewed in the direction vertical to the bottom surface of the body 10. A comparison between distances (i) and (ii) below is made as follows.
(i) A distance between each of the tip portion 62a and the tip portion 63a and each of the tip portions 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a; and
(ii) a distance between the respective tip portions 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a.
The distance (i) is preferably greater than the distance (ii). This relationship can prevent a current flowing through the tip portions 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a from having an adverse effect on a current flowing through the tip portion 62a and the tip portion 63a because of electromagnetic interference.
(21) The electromagnetic relay 100 may include the pair of coil terminals 25a1 and 25a2 electrically connected to both sides of the winding 25 of the electromagnet 20 and projecting from the body 10. The tip portion 62a of the auxiliary external input/output terminal 62 and the tip portion 63a of the auxiliary external output/input terminal 63 each preferably have an appearance that can visually be distinguished from the pair of coil terminals 25a1 and 25a2.
This configuration facilitates the differentiation between the respective tip portions 62a and 63a and the pair of coil terminals 25a1 and 25a2.
(22) The electromagnetic relay 100 may have the bottom surface having a form or pattern that can visually differentiate the respective tip portions 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a from other terminals when the bottom surface of the body 10 is viewed in the direction vertical to the body 10.
The detecting operation by use of the tester described above can therefore be implemented promptly.
The form or pattern may be any of a recess, color or design provided on the bottom surface of the body 10 that can differentiate the respective tip portions 62a and 63a from the respective tip portions 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a.
The embodiments described above are examples of the present invention. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the descriptions thereof, and various modifications and improvements of the embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art depending on designs without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In the present application, the entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. P2013-257752, which was filed on Dec. 13, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.
| Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
| Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
| 3713055, | |||
| 4464628, | Nov 07 1980 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Relay tester |
| 5359305, | Jun 15 1992 | PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO , LTD | Electromagnetic relay |
| 5367250, | Jun 11 1992 | POWER PROBE GROUP, INC | Electrical tester with electrical energizable test probe |
| 5886601, | Feb 06 1997 | PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO , LTD | Electromagnetic relay assembly |
| 6559744, | Apr 17 1998 | HENGSTLER GMBH | Twin relay |
| 7046107, | Feb 28 2003 | PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO , LTD | Contact device |
| 20050190025, | |||
| 20060134955, | |||
| 20100127805, | |||
| 20130222084, | |||
| 20140240065, | |||
| 20160141131, | |||
| JP186149, | |||
| JP2006179348, | |||
| JP2009224150, | |||
| JP2013080692, | |||
| JP2013232341, | |||
| JP5095559, | |||
| JP5199146, | |||
| WO2004077472, | |||
| WO2013136629, |
| Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
| Mar 31 2021 | PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
| Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
| Mar 31 2021 | BIG: Entity status set to Undiscounted (note the period is included in the code). |
| Date | Maintenance Schedule |
| Nov 29 2025 | 4 years fee payment window open |
| May 29 2026 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
| Nov 29 2026 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
| Nov 29 2028 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
| Nov 29 2029 | 8 years fee payment window open |
| May 29 2030 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
| Nov 29 2030 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
| Nov 29 2032 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
| Nov 29 2033 | 12 years fee payment window open |
| May 29 2034 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
| Nov 29 2034 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
| Nov 29 2036 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |