A relay and an automatic protection method for circuits using the relay.

Abstract

This invention relates to a relay and an automatic circuit protection method using the relay. The relay includes a housing, conductive steps disposed on the inner walls of the left and right sides of the housing, and a stepped conductive bridge that can dynamically fit with the conductive steps. External cables pass through the housing and are electrically connected to the conductive steps. A piston push rod device drives the conductive bridge to rise and fall, connecting or disconnecting it from the conductive steps. The piston push rod device is driven by vapor generated by the sublimation of an easily sublimable substance. This relay and the automatic high-voltage circuit protection method using the relay are not only reusable, but also have a simple and stable structure, low manufacturing and assembly costs, stable operation, long service life, and can reliably achieve power cut-off in a fire.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrical components, and more specifically to a relay and an automatic protection method for circuits using the relay. Background Technology

[0002] A relay is an electrical control device that causes a predetermined step change in the controlled variable in the electrical output circuit when the input quantity changes to a specified value. It has an interactive relationship between the control system and the controlled system. Commonly used in automated control circuits, it is essentially an "automatic switch" that uses a small current to control a large current. Therefore, it plays roles in automatic adjustment, safety protection, and circuit switching. Most existing relays require an additional circuit for continuous power supply and a large number of electronic components. Furthermore, due to the high voltage of the main circuit and the harsh operating environment, they are prone to failure and damage, and their manufacturing and assembly costs are high. In addition, existing relays generally cannot automatically cut off power in the event of a fire, which can easily lead to loss of life and property. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems in the existing technology, the present invention provides a relay and an automatic circuit protection method using the relay. The relay and the automatic circuit protection method using the relay are not only reusable, but also have a simple and stable structure, low manufacturing and assembly costs, stable operation, long service life, and can reliably achieve power cut-off in fire conditions.

[0004] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0005] A relay includes a housing, conductive steps disposed on the inner walls of the left and right middle sections of the housing, and a stepped conductive bridge that can dynamically fit with the conductive steps; external cables pass through the housing and are electrically connected to the conductive steps respectively; a piston push rod device drives the conductive bridge to rise and fall and connect or disconnect from the conductive steps; the piston push rod device is driven by vapor generated by the sublimation of an easily sublimable substance upon heating.

[0006] The piston pusher device includes a cylinder and a piston rod that is sealed and slidably sleeved within the cylinder; the piston pusher device is located below the conductive bridge, and the conductive bridge interferes with the conductive step downwards; the piston rod is made of a thermally conductive and insulating material.

[0007] The space enclosed by the shell, conductive steps, conductive bridge, and cylinder is filled with an insulating and heat-conducting layer; multiple semiconductor cooling chips have their cold ends inserted into the insulating and heat-conducting layer and their hot ends protruding out of the shell; heat sinks are installed on the hot ends protruding out of the shell; the semiconductor cooling chips are powered by a low-voltage circuit.

[0008] A current regulating device is provided above the conductive bridge; the current regulating device includes an insulating block fixedly disposed on the upper end face of the conductive bridge, an insulating rod extending upward from the middle of the insulating block, and a resistance wire wound around the outer circumference of the insulating rod; a conductive ring is fixedly disposed on the upper inner wall of the housing corresponding to the insulating rod; the conductive ring is slidably sleeved on the outside of the insulating rod and in electrical contact with the resistance wire; the current regulating device is connected in series with a semiconductor cooling chip.

[0009] One of the pressing components has its lower end connected to an insulating rod and its upper end extending upwards to the outside of the housing; the pressing component is provided with a scale indicating the temperature.

[0010] Wherein, the outer end of the insulating block extends upward to the male end of the guide tube; the length of the male end of the guide tube is greater than the height of the conductive step; a first magnet is provided at the upper end of the male end of the guide tube; a female end of the guide tube is provided on the upper inner wall of the housing corresponding to the male end of the guide tube; a second magnet is provided at the bottom of the inner part of the female end of the guide tube; the first magnet and the second magnet are attracted to each other by opposite poles.

[0011] The guide tube is equipped with a pressure sensor at its female end; the relay is also equipped with a signal transmitter; the male end of the guide tube contacts the female end of the guide tube to trigger the pressure sensor; the pressure sensor triggers the signal transmitter to send a circuit breaker message to the operator.

[0012] The male end of the guide tube, the female end of the guide tube, and the insulating block are all made of heat-insulating material.

[0013] The contact height between the conductive step and the conductive bridge is two-fifths to three-fifths of the piston rod's travel distance.

[0014] An automatic circuit protection method, employing the aforementioned relay, includes the following steps:

[0015] ① Insert the external cables into the housing and connect them to the conductive steps. The current is conducted through the conductive steps and the conductive bridge.

[0016] ② Within the normal power range of the main circuit, the contact part between the conductive ring and the resistance wire is located on the upper part, with a large resistance. The current flowing through the semiconductor cooling chip is small, and the semiconductor cooling chip is in a low power state. Its cold end is cooled by the insulating heat-conducting layer for the conductive steps and conductive bridge.

[0017] ③ When the main circuit power is high, the power of the conductive step and conductive bridge is too high, generating a large amount of heat. When the heat exceeds the boiling point of the easily sublimable substance, the easily sublimable substance sublimates into vapor, increasing the gas pressure inside the cylinder, pushing the piston rod upward, and then pushing the conductive bridge upward. Since the contact height between the conductive step and the conductive bridge is two-fifths to three-fifths of the piston rod's movement distance, the conductive bridge still maintains electrical contact with the conductive step during this process. However, since the insulating rod also rises, the contact position between the resistance wire and the conductive ring decreases, the resistance decreases, the current increases, and the semiconductor cooling chip is in a high-power state, increasing its cold-end cooling capacity and automatically improving its ability to cool the conductive step and conductive bridge. If the temperature is successfully stabilized or reduced, the gas pressure inside the cylinder will no longer increase or will gradually decrease, and the conductive bridge will no longer rise or may even fall again. Inspectors can roughly judge the internal temperature of the relay by observing the degree to which the pressing part is pushed out or by checking the scale on the pressing part.

[0018] ④ When the main circuit power is too high, the semiconductor cooling chip cannot reduce the temperature of the conductive step and the conductive bridge. The air pressure inside the cylinder increases further, pushing the conductive bridge to rise further until it is completely separated from the conductive step. At this time, the main circuit is disconnected. At the same time, the male end of the guide tube is pushed up to the threshold of the attraction between the first magnet and the second magnet. The female end of the guide tube pulls the male end of the guide tube up, so that the conductive bridge is stably suspended above the conductive step. During this process, the pressure sensor is triggered. The pressure sensor triggers the signal transmitter to send the main circuit cut-off information to the operator.

[0019] ⑤ After the staff has finished the maintenance, press down hard on the pressing part to separate the male end and the female end of the guide tube. Press until the conductive bridge reconnects with the conductive step to allow the main circuit to be powered normally.

[0020] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] 1. This invention is not only reusable, but also has a simple and stable structure, low manufacturing and assembly costs, stable operation, long service life, and can reliably achieve power cut-off in the event of a fire. Even if the casing or other components are damaged by fire, it can still reliably achieve automatic power cut-off operation.

[0022] 2. This invention utilizes the sublimation property of easily sublimable substances. Substances with suitable sublimation temperatures can be selected according to specific needs, making it an automatic safety device for cables in various environments. The invention leverages the sublimation of easily sublimable substances into vapor at dangerous temperatures, increasing the pressure within the cylinder, thereby pushing the piston rod and ultimately raising the conductive bridge. This method primarily utilizes the chemical properties of the substance itself, with minimal mechanical transmission, stable and reliable operation, and a long service life. Furthermore, easily sublimable substances can re-condense after the temperature decreases, ensuring repeated use, an extremely long functional lifespan, and protection against damage from electric arcs.

[0023] 3. The present invention also utilizes the piston pusher device to push the conductive bridge upward to simultaneously increase the cooling power of the semiconductor refrigeration chip. Therefore, it can actively cool down when the internal temperature rises and automatically adjust the cooling power according to the internal temperature. During this process, it can still maintain the power supply, providing the operator with time margin to decide how to operate, avoiding the situation where the existing relay has no reaction time and directly cuts off the power. In some special occasions or unexpected situations, this may cause huge losses.

[0024] 4. The present invention can ensure the stability of the conductive bridge operation by cooperating with the female end and the male end of the guide tube. At the same time, the combination of the first magnet and the second magnet can keep the conductive bridge in a high position after the main circuit is de-energized when the conductive bridge reaches a high temperature, thus avoiding the conductive bridge falling again and causing an accident when the temperature drops and the easily sublimated material re-condenses.

[0025] 5. When inspecting the relay, the operator only needs to observe the protrusion height of the pressing part to roughly judge the internal temperature of the relay. It has high reliability. After troubleshooting, simply pressing the pressing part can simultaneously restore the main circuit to the conductive state and the relay to the initial state. It is simple and safe to operate. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main circuit of the present invention within its normal power range;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention when the main circuit power is high;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention when the main circuit power is too high.

[0029] The reference numerals in the figure are as follows:

[0030] 1. Housing; 2. Conductive step; 3. Conductive bridge; 4. Piston push rod device; 41. Cylinder; 42. Piston rod; 5. Insulating and heat-conducting layer; 6. Current regulating device; 61. Insulating block; 62. Male end of guide tube; 63. First magnet; 64. Female end of guide tube; 65. Second magnet; 66. Insulating rod; 67. Resistance wire; 68. Conductive ring; 69. Pressing element; 7. External cable; 8. Semiconductor cooling chip; 81. Cold end; 82. Hot end; 83. Heat sink. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0032] See Figures 1 to 3A relay includes a housing 1, conductive steps 2 disposed on the inner wall of the left and right middle parts of the housing 1, and stepped conductive bridges 3 that can dynamically fit with the conductive steps 2; external cables 7 pass through the housing 1 and are electrically connected to the conductive steps 2 respectively; a piston pusher device 4 drives the conductive bridges 3 to rise and fall to connect or disconnect them from the conductive steps 2; the piston pusher device 4 is driven by vapor generated by the sublimation of an easily sublimable substance. The sublimating substance can be selected as needed. For example, in the case of household circuits, iodine can be used as the sublimating substance, with a sublimation temperature of 45°C; phosphorus pentachloride, for example, has a sublimation temperature of 100°C; or aluminum chloride powder, which has a melting point of 190°C and a boiling point of 178°C at 2.5 atmospheres, and its sublimation temperature is just suitable for high-voltage cables requiring a maximum temperature below 200°C.

[0033] Furthermore, the piston pusher device 4 includes a cylinder 41 and a piston rod 42 that is sealed and slidably sleeved within the cylinder 41; the piston pusher device 4 is located below the conductive bridge 3, and the conductive bridge 3 interferes with the conductive step 2 downwards; the piston rod 42 is made of a thermally conductive and insulating material.

[0034] Furthermore, the space enclosed by the housing 1, the conductive step 2, the conductive bridge 3, and the cylinder 41 is filled with an insulating and heat-conducting layer 5; the cold ends 81 of multiple semiconductor cooling chips 8 are inserted into the insulating and heat-conducting layer 5, and the hot ends 82 protrude out of the housing 1; the hot ends 82 protruding out of the housing 1 are partially equipped with heat sinks 83; the semiconductor cooling chips 8 are powered by a low-voltage circuit.

[0035] Furthermore, a current regulating device 6 is provided above the conductive bridge 3; the current regulating device 6 includes an insulating block 61 fixedly disposed on the upper end face of the conductive bridge 3, an insulating rod 66 extending upward from the middle of the insulating block 61, and a resistance wire 67 wound around the outer circumference of the insulating rod 66; a conductive ring 68 is fixedly disposed on the upper inner wall of the housing 1 corresponding to the insulating rod 66; the conductive ring 68 is slidably sleeved on the outside of the insulating rod 66 and in electrical contact with the resistance wire 67; the current regulating device 6 is connected in series with the semiconductor cooling chip 8.

[0036] Furthermore, the lower end of a pressing member 69 is connected to the insulating rod 66, and the upper end extends upward to the outside of the housing 1; the pressing member 69 is provided with a scale indicating the temperature.

[0037] Furthermore, the outer end of the insulating block 61 extends upward to form a male guide tube 62; the length of the male guide tube 62 is greater than the height of the conductive step 2; a first magnet 63 is provided at the upper end of the male guide tube 62; a female guide tube 64 is provided on the upper inner wall of the housing 1 corresponding to the male guide tube 62; a second magnet 65 is provided at the bottom of the female guide tube 64; the first magnet 63 and the second magnet 65 are attracted to each other by opposite poles.

[0038] Furthermore, a pressure sensor is also provided at the bottom of the female end 64 of the guide tube; the relay is also equipped with a signal transmitter; the male end 62 of the guide tube contacts the female end 64 of the guide tube to trigger the pressure sensor; the pressure sensor triggers the signal transmitter 10 to send a circuit breaker information to the staff.

[0039] Furthermore, the male end 62 of the guide tube, the female end 64 of the guide tube, and the insulating block 61 are all made of heat-insulating material.

[0040] Furthermore, the contact height between the conductive step 2 and the conductive bridge 3 is two-fifths to three-fifths of the moving distance of the piston rod 42.

[0041] An automatic circuit protection method, employing the aforementioned relay, includes the following steps:

[0042] ① Insert the external cable 7 into the housing 1 and connect it to the conductive step 2. The current is conducted through the conductive step 2 and the conductive bridge 3.

[0043] ②See also Figure 1 Within the normal power range of the main circuit, the contact part between the conductive ring 68 and the resistance wire 67 is located on the upper part, with a large resistance. The current flowing through the semiconductor cooling chip 6 is small, and the semiconductor cooling chip 8 is in a low power state. Its cold end 81 is cooled by the insulating heat-conducting layer 5 for the conductive step 2 and the conductive bridge 3.

[0044] ③See Figure 2 When the main circuit power is high, the power of conductive step 2 and conductive bridge 3 is too high, generating a large amount of heat. When the heat exceeds the boiling point of the easily sublimable substance, the easily sublimable substance sublimates into vapor, increasing the gas pressure inside cylinder 41, pushing piston rod 42 upward, and then pushing conductive bridge 3 upward. Since the contact height between conductive step 2 and conductive bridge 3 is two-fifths to three-fifths of the movement distance of piston rod 42, conductive bridge 3 still maintains electrical contact with conductive step 2 during this process. However, since insulating rod 66 also rises, the contact position between resistance wire 67 and conductive ring 68 decreases, resistance decreases, current increases, and semiconductor cooling chip 8 is in a high-power state. Its cold end 81 cools more, automatically increasing its ability to cool conductive step 2 and conductive bridge 3. If the temperature is successfully stabilized or reduced, the gas pressure inside cylinder 41 no longer increases or gradually decreases, and conductive bridge 3 no longer rises or even falls again. Inspectors can roughly judge the internal temperature of the relay by observing the degree to which the pressing part 69 is pushed out or by checking the scale on the pressing part 69.

[0045] ④See Figure 3When the main circuit power is too high, the semiconductor cooling chip 8 cannot reduce the temperature of the conductive step 2 and the conductive bridge 3. The air pressure inside the cylinder 41 increases further, pushing the conductive bridge 3 to rise further until it is completely separated from the conductive step 2. At this time, the main circuit is disconnected. At the same time, the male end 62 of the guide tube is pushed up to the threshold of the attraction between the first magnet 63 and the second magnet 65. The female end 64 of the guide tube pulls the male end 62 up, so that the conductive bridge 3 is stably suspended above the conductive step 2. During this process, the pressure sensor is triggered. The pressure sensor triggers the signal transmitter to send the main circuit cut-off information to the staff.

[0046] ⑤ After the staff has finished the maintenance, press down on the pressing part 69 to separate the male end 62 and the female end 64 of the guide tube. Press until the conductive bridge 3 reconnects with the conductive step 2 to allow the main circuit to be powered normally.

[0047] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A relay, characterized in that: The device includes a housing (1), conductive steps (2) disposed on the inner walls of the left and right middle parts of the housing (1), and a stepped conductive bridge (3) that can dynamically fit with the conductive steps (2); an external cable (7) passes through the housing (1) and is electrically connected to the conductive steps (2); a piston pusher device (4) drives the conductive bridge (3) to rise and fall and be electrically connected or disconnected from the conductive steps (2); the piston pusher device (4) is driven by the vapor generated by the sublimation of easily sublimable substances; the piston pusher device (4) includes a cylinder (41) and a piston rod (42) that is sealed and slidably sleeved in the cylinder (41); the piston pusher device (4) is disposed below the conductive bridge (3), and the conductive bridge (3) is downward connected to the conductive steps (2). The electric steps (2) are interfering and overlapping; the piston rod (42) is made of thermally conductive and insulating material; the space enclosed by the shell (1), the conductive steps (2), the conductive bridge (3) and the cylinder (41) is filled with an insulating and thermally conductive layer (5); the cold ends (81) of multiple semiconductor cooling chips (8) are inserted into the insulating and thermally conductive layer (5), and the hot ends (82) protrude out of the shell (1); the hot ends (82) protruding out of the shell (1) are equipped with heat sinks (83); the semiconductor cooling chips (8) are powered by a weak current circuit; a current regulating device (6) is provided above the conductive bridge (3); the current regulating device (6) includes an insulating block (61) fixedly installed on the upper surface of the conductive bridge (3). An insulating rod (66) extends upward from the middle of the insulating block (61), and a resistance wire (67) is wound around the outer circumference of the insulating rod (66). A conductive ring (68) is fixedly provided on the upper inner wall of the housing (1) corresponding to the insulating rod (66). The conductive ring (68) is slidably sleeved on the outside of the insulating rod (66) and in electrical contact with the resistance wire (67). The current regulating device (6) is connected in series with the semiconductor cooling chip (8). A guide tube male end (62) extends upward from the outer end of the insulating block (61). The length of the guide tube male end (62) is greater than the height of the conductive step (2). A first magnet (63) is provided at the upper end of the guide tube male end (62). The upper inner wall of the housing (1) is provided with a guide tube female end (64) corresponding to the male end (62) of the guide tube; a second magnet (65) is provided at the bottom of the guide tube female end (64); the first magnet (63) and the second magnet (65) are attracted by opposite poles; a pressure sensor is also provided at the bottom of the guide tube female end (64); the relay is also equipped with a signal transmitter; the guide tube male end (62) and the guide tube female end (64) contact to trigger the pressure sensor; the pressure sensor triggers the signal transmitter (10) to send a circuit break information to the staff; the contact height of the conductive step (2) and the conductive bridge (3) is two-fifths to three-fifths of the movement distance of the piston rod (42).

2. A relay as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The lower end of a pressing element (69) is connected to an insulating rod (66), and the upper end extends upward to the outside of the housing (1); the pressing element (69) is provided with a scale indicating the temperature.

3. A relay as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The male end (62), female end (64), and insulating block (61) of the guide tube are all made of heat-insulating material.

4. An automatic circuit protection method, employing the relay as described in claim 1, comprising the following steps: ① Insert the external cable (7) into the housing (1) and connect it to the conductive step (2) respectively. The current is conducted through the conductive step (2) and the conductive bridge (3); ② Within the normal power range of the main circuit, the contact part between the conductive ring (68) and the resistance wire (67) is located on its upper part, with a large resistance. The current flowing through the semiconductor cooling chip (8) is small. The semiconductor cooling chip (8) is in a low power state, and its cold end (81) is cooled by the insulating heat-conducting layer (5) for the conductive step (2) and the conductive bridge (3). ③ When the main circuit power is high, the power of the conductive step (2) and the conductive bridge (3) is too large, generating a large amount of heat. When the heat exceeds the boiling point of the easily sublimable substance, the easily sublimable substance sublimates into vapor, the gas pressure inside the cylinder (41) increases, pushing the piston rod (42) upward, and then pushing the conductive bridge (3) upward. Since the contact height between the conductive step (2) and the conductive bridge (3) is two-fifths to three-fifths of the movement distance of the piston rod (42), the conductive bridge (3) still maintains electrical contact with the conductive step (2) during this process. However, since the insulating rod (66) also rises, Therefore, the contact position between the resistance wire (67) and the conductive ring (68) decreases, the resistance decreases, the current increases, the semiconductor cooling chip (8) is in a high-power state, its cold end (81) cools more, automatically improving the cooling capacity of the conductive step (2) and the conductive bridge (3). If the temperature is successfully stabilized or reduced, the air pressure in the cylinder (41) will no longer increase or will gradually decrease, and the conductive bridge (3) will no longer rise or may even fall again. The inspector can roughly judge the internal temperature of the relay by observing the degree to which the pressing part (69) is pushed out or by checking the scale on the pressing part (69). ④ When the main circuit power is too high, the semiconductor cooling chip (8) cannot reduce the temperature of the conductive step (2) and the conductive bridge (3), and the air pressure in the cylinder (41) further increases, pushing the conductive bridge (3) to rise further until it is completely separated from the conductive step (2). At this time, the main circuit is disconnected. At the same time, the male end (62) of the guide tube is pushed up to the threshold of the attraction between the first magnet (63) and the second magnet (65). The female end (64) of the guide tube pulls the male end (62) of the guide tube up, so that the conductive bridge (3) is stably suspended above the conductive step (2). During this process, the pressure sensor is triggered. The pressure sensor triggers the signal transmitter to send the main circuit cut-off information to the staff. ⑤ After the staff has finished the inspection, press down on the pressing part (69) to separate the male end (62) and the female end (64) of the guide tube. Press until the conductive bridge (3) reconnects with the conductive step (2) to allow the main circuit to be powered normally.

Images