State detection part and relay
By employing an auxiliary switch design with a shared moving spring in the relay, reliable detection of three states is achieved, solving the problem of the inability to detect multiple states in the prior art, simplifying the structure and improving safety.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- XIAMEN HONGFA ELECTRIC POWER CONTROLS CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-01
AI Technical Summary
The existing relay status detection system cannot effectively detect multiple states, especially three states, which poses a safety hazard.
The design employs a structure with at least two auxiliary switches sharing a common moving spring. By combining the closing and opening of the common moving spring with different stationary springs, it achieves the detection of three states. Furthermore, the structure is simplified by using a bridge switch and a deformation section, reducing space occupation and improving reliability.
It achieves reliable detection of three relay states, reduces structural complexity and space occupation, improves detection accuracy and safety, and avoids safety hazards caused by misoperation.
Smart Images

Figure CN224190185U_ABST
Abstract
Description
A state detection section and a relay Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of relays. Background Technology
[0002] Relays in the prior art are generally used to receive excitations or signals from external circuits to control the on / off state of the external circuit or one of its branches. A traditional relay typically includes a driving section, a pushing section, a contact section, and a status detection section. The driving section receives excitations or signals from the external circuit to drive the pushing section. The driving section generally includes a coil assembly and an armature assembly; the coil assembly drives the armature assembly to move between two positions based on different signals or excitations. The contact section generally includes a moving contact and a stationary contact. The pushing section is generally driven by the armature assembly and connected to the moving contact to close the moving contact with the stationary contact. The status detection section senses the movement of the pushing section and sends information about the status of the contact section to the external circuit.
[0003] With technological advancements, relays are no longer limited to traditional configurations. Some relays have more than one switch in their contacts, and multi-switch relays often operate in multiple states, exceeding two. However, existing state detection systems are unable to detect these multiple states. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this application is to overcome the aforementioned defects or problems in the prior art and to provide a state detection section and a relay that can perform state detection on multiple states of the relay, especially on three states, or to provide a material basis for multi-state detection.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the following technical solution is adopted:
[0006] A state detection section for a relay includes at least two auxiliary switches, wherein the two auxiliary switches are a first auxiliary switch and a second auxiliary switch, and each auxiliary switch includes a moving spring and a stationary spring for closing or opening the auxiliary switch; the first auxiliary switch and the second auxiliary switch share a moving spring to form a common moving spring, the common moving spring being located between the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch and the second auxiliary switch, and adapted to close with the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch or the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch, or to open with both the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch and the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch.
[0007] By sharing a common moving spring between the first and second auxiliary switches to form a common moving spring, and positioning this common moving spring between the stationary springs of the first and second auxiliary switches, the common moving spring is adapted to close with either the stationary spring of the first or second auxiliary switch, or to open with both. Since the common moving spring is adapted to close with either the stationary spring of the first or second auxiliary switch, or to open with both, three states can be represented using only two auxiliary switches. For example, it can provide reliable status signals for real-time monitoring of the series, parallel, and open states of the vehicle's series-parallel switching circuit, avoiding safety hazards caused by misoperation leading to incomplete state switching. Reliable detection of the open state of the vehicle's series-parallel switching circuit is particularly beneficial for ensuring the personal safety of maintenance personnel during repairs. Simultaneously, using a common moving spring simplifies the structure of the status detection section and saves space.
[0008] In at least one embodiment, the state detection section includes three auxiliary switches, another auxiliary switch being a third auxiliary switch. The third auxiliary switch shares the common moving spring with the first and second auxiliary switches. The common moving spring and / or the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch are provided with a deformation part so that the common moving spring is closed with the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch when both the stationary springs of the first and second auxiliary switches are disconnected.
[0009] Because the state detection section uses three auxiliary switches, one auxiliary switch sends a state detection signal regardless of the contact portion's state among the three states. This makes it easier for the external circuit to receive signals, allowing the state of the relay contact portion to be determined directly by judging the state of each switch. Since the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch and / or the common moving spring has a deformation section, it is advantageous for the common moving spring to close with the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch at the midpoint between the stationary springs of the first and second auxiliary switches. That is, the deformation of the deformation section allows the common moving spring to elastically contact the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch. When the state changes, the friction caused by the elastic deformation can be overcome to detect the other two states, further saving space occupied by the state detection section. Simultaneously, the elastic contact achieved through the deformation section provides contact pressure when the common moving spring closes with the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch, preventing the common moving spring from detaching from the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch due to vibration or other factors.
[0010] In at least one embodiment, the common moving spring and each of the stationary springs are respectively connected to a state detection terminal.
[0011] In at least one embodiment, each auxiliary switch is a bridge switch, and each auxiliary switch includes two stationary springs and a common moving spring is a bridge moving spring.
[0012] Because the auxiliary switch uses a bridge switch, the status detection terminal only needs to be led out from the stationary spring, avoiding the need to lead out the status detection terminal through the common moving spring, thus reducing structural complexity. This also prevents the common moving spring from switching detection positions due to large deformation, preventing mechanical fatigue of the moving spring and ensuring the service life of the status detection section.
[0013] In at least one embodiment, each auxiliary switch has a stationary spring that is connected to a corresponding status detection terminal, and another stationary spring of each auxiliary switch is connected to a common status detection terminal.
[0014] Since each auxiliary switch has a stationary spring that connects to its corresponding status detection terminal, and the other stationary spring of each auxiliary switch is connected to a common status detection terminal, it is beneficial to reduce the number of terminals in the status detection section and to facilitate the connection of external signal detection circuits.
[0015] In at least one embodiment, the common moving spring is provided with a first bridge arm, which is used to connect the two stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch or the two stationary springs of the second auxiliary switch; the first bridge arm is an elastic bridge arm.
[0016] Since the first bridge arm is used to connect the two stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch or the two stationary springs of the second auxiliary switch, and the first bridge arm is an elastic bridge arm, the first bridge arm can provide contact pressure when the common moving spring is closed with the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch or the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch, so as to prevent the common moving spring from losing contact with the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch or the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch due to vibration, etc.
[0017] In at least one embodiment, each auxiliary switch is a bridge switch, and each auxiliary switch includes two stationary springs and a common moving spring is a bridge moving spring; the common moving spring is provided with two first deformation parts, which are used to contact the two stationary springs of the third auxiliary switch.
[0018] In at least one embodiment, the common moving spring is provided with a first bridge arm, which is used to connect the two stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch or the two stationary springs of the second auxiliary switch; the first bridge arm is an elastic bridge arm; the extension direction of the first bridge arm is perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the two first deformable parts.
[0019] Since the arrangement direction of the two first deformation parts is perpendicular to the extension direction of the first bridge arm, the first bridge arm, as an elastic bridge arm, is prevented from affecting the closing or opening of the first deformation part and the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch. Of course, the two first deformation parts are also prevented from affecting the closing or opening of the common moving spring and the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch or the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch.
[0020] In at least one embodiment, the stationary springs of both third auxiliary switches are provided with a second deformation portion that elastically contacts the first deformation portion.
[0021] By simultaneously setting a first deformation part on the common moving spring and a second deformation part on the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch, the contact pressure is greater when the common moving spring contacts the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch, resulting in better vibration damping. Furthermore, after the common moving spring disengages from the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch, the recovery deformation of the second deformation part ensures higher reliability when the common moving spring re-closes with the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch.
[0022] A relay includes: a contact portion comprising at least two switches, each switch including a moving contact and a stationary contact; a pushing portion connected to all moving contacts to push each moving contact to close or open with the stationary contact and to place the contact portion in at least three states; the three states being a first state, a second state, and a third state; a state detection portion as described in any of the preceding claims; the common moving spring is mounted on the pushing portion, wherein when the contact portion is in the first state and the second state, the common moving spring is closed correspondingly with the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch and the second auxiliary switch, respectively, and when the contact portion is in the third state, the common moving spring is disconnected from both the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch and the second auxiliary switch.
[0023] Since the common moving spring is installed in the pushing part, and the pushing part is connected to all moving contacts, the common moving spring can directly characterize the state of the contact part through the position change of the pushing part, making the state detection effect more reliable.
[0024] In at least one embodiment, some switches of the contact portion are closed in a first state, other switches are closed in a second state, and all switches are open in a third state.
[0025] When the common moving spring is in the first state and the second state, it closes with the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch and the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch respectively. Since there is a switch closed in both the first state and the second state, it can more accurately reflect the switch state when the first state and the second state are closed.
[0026] In at least one embodiment, the relay further includes a driving section, which includes a motor, the output of which remains in a stopped position when the motor stops rotating; a pushing section includes a rotating member for directly or indirectly pushing all moving contacts, the rotating member being driven by the driving section to rotate around a rotation axis and stop at three rotation positions, wherein the first rotation position corresponds to the first state of the contact portion, the second rotation position corresponds to the second state of the contact portion, and the third rotation position corresponds to the third state of the contact portion; all moving contacts are directly or indirectly driven by the rotating member to close or open with the stationary contact; each auxiliary switch also transmits a position signal to the driving section to control or assist in controlling the motor to drive the rotating member to stop at the corresponding rotation position.
[0027] By sending position signals to the drive unit through the auxiliary switches in the state detection section, the motor can more reliably stop the rotating component at the corresponding rotation position. In particular, when some switches in the contact section are closed in the first state, other switches are closed in the second state, and all switches are open in the third state, both the first and second auxiliary switches can send position signals to the drive unit when some switches are closed, enabling the motor to more reliably stop the rotating component at the corresponding rotation position.
[0028] In at least one embodiment, the pushing part further includes at least one pushing unit; a rotating member rotates about a rotation axis; the pushing unit is driven by the rotating member and pushes at least one moving contact to close or open with a stationary contact; a common moving spring is installed on the pushing unit.
[0029] The common moving spring is installed in the actuation unit, so that the common moving spring is close to the moving contact, which can more accurately reflect the state of the contact part.
[0030] In at least one embodiment, the pushing unit includes a pushing member driven by a rotating member, the pushing member moving linearly perpendicular to the rotation axis, and the common moving spring fixed to the pushing member.
[0031] The common moving spring is installed on the linear motion pusher, which enables the common moving spring to move linearly. It is particularly advantageous when the common moving spring is a bridge-type moving spring. Attached Figure Description
[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments, the accompanying drawings used are briefly described below:
[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the state of each switch when the contact part is in the third state in Embodiment 1;
[0034] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line AA of Figure 1;
[0035] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the state of each switch when the contact part is in the first state in Embodiment 1;
[0036] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the state of each switch when the contact part is in the second state in Embodiment 1;
[0037] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the first contact element in Embodiment 1;
[0038] Figure 6 is a front view of the pushing part in Embodiment 1;
[0039] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the rotating component in Embodiment 1;
[0040] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the state of the pushing part and the contact part when the rotating part is stopped at the third rotating position in Embodiment 1;
[0041] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the state of the pushing part and the contact part when the rotating part is stopped at the first rotating position in Embodiment 1.
[0042] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the state of the pushing part and the contact part when the rotating part is stopped at the second rotating position in Embodiment 1;
[0043] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the Z-axis displacement of the pushing component and the rotation angle of the rotating component in Embodiment 1.
[0044] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the Z-axis velocity of the pushing component and the rotation angle of the rotating component in Embodiment 1.
[0045] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the driving part in Embodiment 1;
[0046] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the drive section in Embodiment 1;
[0047] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the driving part, the contact part, and the pushing part in Embodiment 1;
[0048] Figure 16 is a three-dimensional view of the state detection part in Example 1;
[0049] Figure 17 is a diagram of the switch structure for the state detection section in Embodiment 1;
[0050] Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of the series-parallel switching circuit in Embodiment 1;
[0051] Figure 19 is a top view of the rotating component in Embodiment 2;
[0052] Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of the state of the contact part and the pushing part when the rotating part is stopped at the third rotating position in Embodiment 2;
[0053] Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of the contact part and the pushing part when the rotating part is stopped at the first rotating position in Embodiment 2;
[0054] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram of the contact part and the pushing part when the rotating part is stopped at the second rotating position in Embodiment 2;
[0055] Figure 23 is a diagram of the switch structure for the state detection part in Embodiment 2;
[0056] Figure 24 is a schematic diagram of the series-parallel switching circuit in Embodiment 2.
[0057] Explanation of key figure labels:
[0058] X, X-axis direction; Y, Y-axis direction; Z, Z-axis direction; O, rotation axis;
[0059] 1. First connecting terminal; 2. Second connecting terminal; 3. Third connecting terminal; 4. Fourth connecting terminal; 10. Relay; 21. Circuit unit; 22. Circuit terminal; 100. Contact part; 101. Switch group; 111. First switch group; 112. Second switch group; 121. First switch; 122. Second switch; 123. Third switch; 131. Common moving contact; 132. Moving contact of the third switch; 133. Moving contact; 134. Branch; 135. Fixing part; 136. Actuating part; 137. Flexible connecting part; 141. Common stationary contact; 142. Stationary contact of the second switch; 143. Stationary contact; 144. Stationary contact of the first switch; 145. Stationary contact of the third switch; 150. Connecting terminal; 160. Mounting base; 161. Base body; 162. Connecting part; 163. Bottom hole; 164. Connecting end; 165. Abutting end; 166. Protrusion; 167. Abutting part; 200. Pushing part; 210. Rotating part; 211. Crankshaft 212. Main spindle; 213. Journal shaft; 214. Connecting part; 215. Insertion part; 220. Pushing unit; 221. Connecting body; 222. Pushing body; 223. First elastic element; 224. Guide element; 225. Pushing element; 226. First limiting part; 227. Second limiting part; 300. Drive part; 301. First part; 302. Second part; 310. Motor; 320. Reduction mechanism; 321. Output end of reduction mechanism; 322. Reduction gear; 321. Output end of the reduction mechanism; 322. Reduction gear; 330. Drive circuit board; 331. Drive terminal; 340. Receiving component; 400. Status detection section; 411. First auxiliary switch; 412. Second auxiliary switch; 413. Third auxiliary switch; 421. Common moving spring; 422. First deformation part; 423. First bridge arm; 431. First stationary spring; 432. Second stationary spring; 433. Third stationary spring; 434. Second deformation part; 440. Status detection terminal. Detailed Implementation
[0060] Unless otherwise specified, the terms “first,” “second,” or “third,” etc., in the claims and description are used to distinguish different objects and not to describe a particular order.
[0061] Unless otherwise specified, in the claims and description, the terms “X-axis direction”, “Y-axis direction”, “Z-axis direction”, “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation and positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the purpose of simplifying the description, and do not imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.
[0062] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the terms "fixed connection" or "fixed connection" shall be interpreted broadly to mean any connection in which there is no displacement or relative rotation relationship between the two parties, including non-removable fixed connection, detachable fixed connection, integral connection, and fixed connection by other means or components.
[0063] Unless otherwise specified, the terms “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof in the claims and description shall mean “including but not limited to.”
[0064] In the claims and description, unless otherwise specified, the term "have" means that a technical feature that follows is part of a technical feature that precedes it.
[0065] In the claims and description, unless otherwise specified, the term "relay" is used for a device that receives external signals, stimuli, or actions to control the on / off state of an external circuit, and its scope includes "contaminant," etc., as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The interpretation of a relay should be based on its intended use. A relay generally includes at least a contact portion and a driving portion, wherein the driving portion may be separate from the contact portion or may be integrally housed within a housing.
[0066] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the primary use of the term "contact portion" is to control the on / off state of an external circuit or one of its branches. In this application, the extension of the contact portion may include not only the switch but also a base for fixing the contacts in the switch thereon, referred to in this application as a "mounting base". The mounting base may be part of the housing or may be separately disposed from and fixed to the housing. The mounting base may also be separate or integral.
[0067] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "switch includes moving contact and stationary contact" should be understood to mean that each switch must have moving contact and stationary contact for closing or opening the switch. When two or more switches share a moving contact, the shared moving contact can be closed or opened with the stationary contacts of these switches respectively; when two or more switches share a stationary contact, the shared stationary contact can be closed or opened with the moving contact of these switches respectively.
[0068] In the claims and description, unless otherwise specified, the term "moving contact" refers to a component that moves entirely or partially by being pushed by a pushed portion to close or open with a stationary contact. Those skilled in the art will know that a moving contact has a moving contact point. In this application, when "moving contact" is used to describe action, contact, closure, position, opening, direction of action, or arrangement, it should be understood to specifically refer to the portion used to contact the stationary contact, i.e., the actuating end of the moving contact. As a moving contact, its actuating ends can be separately arranged, but they must necessarily be interconnected; in this case, the separately arranged actuating ends should be considered as the actuating ends of a single moving contact.
[0069] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, when the term "static contact" is used to describe spatial distribution in this application, it should be understood to specifically refer to the portion of the contact that comes into contact with the moving contact.
[0070] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "at least two of the switches form a first switch group" primarily refers to two switches forming a first switch group, and the contact portion may include more than one first switch group.
[0071] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "common moving contact" in this application refers only to a moving contact located in the first switch group and shared by at least all switches in the first switch group. A common moving contact may also be shared by switches outside the first switch group. In particular, when the common moving contact is a bridge-type moving contact, two separate or even mutually insulated bridge-type moving contacts should not be considered as a "common moving contact".
[0072] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the terms "direction of movement of the moving contact" or "direction of movement of the common moving contact" should be understood as bidirectional rather than unidirectional. The term "direction of closure of the moving contact" should be understood as unidirectional. Of course, the unidirectional closure direction is necessarily one of the bidirectional movement directions, and it is the direction of movement when the moving contact contacts the corresponding stationary contact. As mentioned above, the moving contact here specifically refers to the moving end of the moving contact. For the common moving contact, it has one direction of movement and two directions of closure that are opposite to each other. The direction of movement or the direction of closure can be a linear direction of movement, or a swinging direction or a rotational direction. Generally, the movement of a movable contact does not have a degree of freedom in one direction (e.g., direction A), meaning that the trajectory of any point on the moving end of the movable contact lies on a plane perpendicular to direction A. In this application, this is expressed as the movement direction (or closing direction) of the movable contact being perpendicular to direction A or the movement direction (or closing direction) of the movable contact being perpendicular to direction A. Correspondingly, if a straight line, line segment, or ray (e.g., a rotation axis) extends along direction A, in this application, it is expressed as the movement direction of the movable contact being perpendicular to the rotation axis or the movement direction of the movable contact being perpendicular to the rotation axis. When the movement direction of the common movable contact is a swinging or rotating direction, the movement direction of the common movable contact should not only be interpreted as a swinging or rotating direction, but is also allowed to be interpreted as the main linear motion direction of the common movable contact. Here, the main linear motion direction is defined as the extension direction of the line (line segment) connecting the projection of the first closed point onto the projection plane perpendicular to direction A and the projection of the second closed point onto the projection plane perpendicular to direction A. The first closing point is the closing point when the common moving contact closes with the stationary contact on one side, and the second closing point is the closing point when the common moving contact closes with the stationary contact on the other side. The closing point refers to the point of contact when the moving contact of the moving contact and the stationary contact of the stationary contact are in point contact, and the geometric center of the contact surface when the moving contact of the moving contact and the stationary contact of the stationary contact are in surface contact.
[0073] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "the stationary contacts of each switch are located on both sides of the common moving contact along the direction of operation of the common moving contact" should be interpreted as meaning that in the first switch group, the contact portion of the stationary contacts of some switches is located on one side, and the contact portion of the stationary contacts of other switches is located on the other side. When the direction of operation of the common moving contact is a swinging or rotating direction, the direction of operation of the common moving contact here can be interpreted as a swinging or rotating direction, or it can be interpreted as the main linear movement direction of the common moving contact.
[0074] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "alternating between the common moving contact and the stationary contacts on both sides along the direction of movement of the common moving contact" means that the common moving contact is disconnected from the stationary contacts of all switches in the first switch group.
[0075] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "the stationary contact of the stationary contact of the switch where the flexible moving contact is located is tangentially arranged toward the swing trajectory of the actuating part" means that the normal of the point of contact or the vertical of the surface of the stationary contact is the same as or substantially the same as the tangential of the swing trajectory of the actuating part of the flexible moving contact.
[0076] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "the moving part is adapted to swing relative to the fixed part along the direction of movement of the moving contact to close or open with the stationary contact" should not be interpreted as only allowing swinging. Based on the characteristics of the flexible connection, the moving part is allowed to move linearly, and this linear movement should also be regarded as swinging with an infinite swing radius.
[0077] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "the two ends of the flexible connection are located at different positions along the direction of movement of the common moving contact" means that the position where the flexible connection is connected to the fixed part and the position where the flexible connection is connected to the moving part are located at different positions along the direction of movement of the common moving contact.
[0078] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "a common moving contact has at least two moving contacts corresponding to at least one of the stationary contacts" should also be understood to mean that the corresponding stationary contact also has the same number of stationary contacts as the aforementioned moving contacts and that they correspond to each other, or a contact surface that can close with the at least two moving contacts.
[0079] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "integral injection molding of an insert" refers to an injection-molded part being integrally connected to a metal part during injection molding, forming a relatively fixed relationship. Here, the base is the injection-molded part, and the connector is the metal part.
[0080] In the claims and description, unless otherwise specified, the term "the other end of the connector protruding from the seat along its extension direction" means that the other end of the connector can be observed and can be abutted by an object or by an object inserted into the seat, but does not specifically mean that the other end of the connector needs to protrude from the surface of the seat.
[0081] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "connection terminal" refers to a terminal used for connection to an external circuit to control the on / off state of the external circuit or one of its branches. The connection terminal should naturally be connected to at least one stationary contact or at least one moving contact, in which case it can be considered as extending from the stationary or moving contact. The connection terminal can be separate from the moving or stationary contact or can be integrated with it, but they must necessarily be electrically connected to each other.
[0082] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "first contact member riveted, welded, screwed, or connected to the connector by fasteners" shall be interpreted as meaning that when the first contact member is integrally connected with the connecting terminal derived therefrom, the first contact member is riveted, welded, screwed, or connected to the connector by fasteners; when the first contact member and the connecting terminal derived therefrom are separately provided, the first contact member and the connecting terminal may be riveted, welded, screwed, or connected to the connector together by fasteners.
[0083] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "first contact member is crimped and riveted by the connecting end along the extension direction of the connector" shall be interpreted as follows: when the first contact member is integrally connected with the connecting terminal extending therefrom, the first contact member is crimped and riveted by the connecting end along the extension direction of the connector; when the first contact member and the connecting terminal extending therefrom are separately provided, the first contact member and the connecting terminal may be crimped and riveted together by the connecting end along the extension direction of the connector.
[0084] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "protrusion protrudes perpendicular to the extension direction of the connector" means that the protrusion direction of the protrusion has at least a component perpendicular to the extension direction of the connector.
[0085] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "contact element of a non-bridge moving contact" refers to a contact element other than a bridge moving contact.
[0086] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "all connection terminals of the first contacts are located on the same side of at least one common moving contact along its direction of movement" means that, through the geometric center of the moving end of the common moving contact, a plane perpendicular to the linear or main linear direction of movement of the common moving contact is drawn, and the portions of all connection terminals of the first contacts used for connecting external circuits are located on one side of this plane.
[0087] In the claims and description, unless otherwise specified, the term "push portion" is not necessarily conceptually separate from the drive portion. Since the drive portion drives the push portion, a portion of the drive portion necessarily moves together with the push portion. In this application, the portion of the drive portion that moves together with the push portion (e.g., the armature in an electromagnetic relay or the output shaft of a motor or reduction mechanism) is permissible to be interpreted as the push portion. Particularly when the magnetic circuit unit or energy storage unit acts on the push portion, the armature or output shaft can be interpreted as part of the push portion. However, when describing a receiving element used to isolate the motor and reduction mechanism (excluding the output end) from the push portion and contact portion, the push portion cannot be interpreted in the above equivalent way.
[0088] In the claims and description, unless otherwise specified, the term "the connecting body is provided with a second mating part that slides perpendicular to the axis of rotation with the first mating part" should not be interpreted restrictively as sliding along a linear direction of motion. "Perpendicular to the axis of rotation" means that the sliding trajectory lies on a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
[0089] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "push body driven by the connecting body to actuate the moving contact" means that the push body can directly or indirectly actuate the moving contact.
[0090] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "fixed member" means any object fixed relative to the stationary contacts, and its extension may include any one or more of the following: mounting base, housing, and housing.
[0091] In the claims and description, unless otherwise specified, the term "the first elastic element is configured to correspond to the closing direction of the moving contact" means that each first elastic element used to provide contact pressure to the moving contact and the stationary contact has a closing direction of the moving contact corresponding to it. However, it is also permissible for the first elastic element to only serve a limiting or supporting function, in which case the first elastic element serving only a limiting or supporting function may not correspond to the closing direction of the moving contact.
[0092] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "first limiting portion is provided corresponding to the closing direction of the moving contact" means that each first limiting portion has a corresponding closing direction of the moving contact, but a closing direction of a moving contact may have multiple first elastic elements, first limiting portions, and second limiting portions. It should also be understood that since the first limiting portion contacts or approaches the moving contact along the closing direction of the moving contact when the moving contact and the stationary contact are closed, the position of the first limiting portion is located in the opening direction of the moving contact. Only with this understanding can the first limiting portion contact or approach the moving contact along the closing direction of the moving contact when the moving contact and the stationary contact are closed.
[0093] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "the second limiting part is provided with a closing direction corresponding to the moving contact" means that each second limiting part has a closing direction corresponding to a moving contact.
[0094] In the claims and description, unless otherwise specified, the term "when the rotating part is stopped at the first rotating position and / or the second rotating position, the force exerted by the second mating part on the first mating part passes through or is close to the rotation axis" means that a ray drawn from the point of application of the force along the direction of application of the force passes through or is close to the rotation axis. Of course, those skilled in the art will know that a force includes three elements: the point of application, the direction of application, and the magnitude of the force. The force exerted by the second mating part on the first mating part is essentially the reaction force of the force exerted by the first mating part on the second mating part.
[0095] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "arranged around the axis of rotation" may mean either being at the same distance from the axis of rotation or being at different distances from the axis of rotation.
[0096] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "insertion portion" refers to the portion into which each connecting unit needs to be inserted when establishing a connection relationship between the crankshaft and each push unit.
[0097] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "the projected area of the insertion part on the first projection plane is less than the projected area of each sliding groove on the first projection plane" should be interpreted as sufficient as long as the crankshaft is suitable for inserting each push unit along the extension direction of the rotation axis until all sliding grooves are in sliding engagement with the corresponding journal. This does not exclude the case where the projection of the crankshaft as a whole on the first projection plane can be greater than or equal to the projection of the insertion part on the first projection plane. In particular, it is permissible when the projected area of the portion of the crankshaft other than the insertion part on the first projection plane is greater than the projected area of the insertion part on the first projection plane, and this portion is used to limit the engagement with the push unit and limit the insertion part along the extension direction of the rotation axis.
[0098] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "motor and reduction mechanism" can be separate or combined. When the motor and reduction mechanism are combined, it is a geared motor, in which case the housing of the geared motor serves as the accommodating element.
[0099] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "the output terminal of the motor remains in the stop position when the motor stops rotating" means that the position held in the stop position may be slightly different from the stop position due to tolerance or mechanical fit error. At the same time, "held" means that it is difficult to disengage from the held position unless a certain resistance is overcome.
[0100] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "state detection section" is primarily used to send a state detection signal about the state of the contact section to an external circuit by sensing the movement of the push section.
[0101] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the terms "static spring" and "dynamic spring" should not be construed as necessarily having elasticity. In this application, "static spring" is used primarily to distinguish it from a static contact, and "dynamic spring" is used primarily to distinguish it from a dynamic contact.
[0102] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "common moving spring" in this application refers only to the moving spring located in the status detection section and shared by at least two auxiliary switches. When the common moving spring is a bridge-type moving spring, since the bridge-type moving spring does not have connecting terminals, the stationary springs on both sides of the common moving spring can be constructed as two separate or even mutually insulated bridge-type moving springs, so as to close with the two stationary springs on the corresponding side without affecting their function. In this case, the two separate or even mutually insulated moving springs should also be interpreted as "common moving spring" in this application.
[0103] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "common moving spring mounted on the actuating part" means that the common moving spring can be mounted on any part of the actuating part. Of course, the closer the part of the common moving spring is mounted to the moving contact, the better it can reflect the action of the moving contact.
[0104] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "the first switch group has only one stationary contact located on the side of the common moving contact that is shared by the second switch group to form a common stationary contact" implies that "the moving contacts of all switches are linked to each other so that the contact portion is in three states, in which some switches are closed only in the first state, other switches are closed only in the second state, and all switches are open in the third state." Therefore, when the common moving contact is separated from the stationary contacts on both sides, the switches in the second switch group must also be in the open state.
[0105] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "shared connection terminal" shall be interpreted as meaning that they are interconnected and use a common connection terminal for external connection.
[0106] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "arrangement direction of the two moving contacts" shall be interpreted as the arrangement direction of the actuating ends of the two moving contacts when both switches to which the two moving contacts belong are open.
[0107] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "the arrangement direction of at least two switch groups intersects the operating direction of at least one common moving contact" should be interpreted as follows: when the operating direction of the common moving contact is a linear motion direction, the arrangement direction of at least two switch groups is not the same as the linear motion direction of the common moving contact (of course, there is no issue of parallelism); and when the operating direction of the common moving contact is a swinging or rotating direction, the arrangement direction of at least two switch groups is not the same as the aforementioned main linear motion direction of the common moving contact. The arrangement direction of the two switch groups should be interpreted as the arrangement direction of the operating ends of the moving contacts of the two switch groups when all switches in the two switch groups are in the open state.
[0108] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "all common moving contacts have the same direction of movement" shall be interpreted as follows: when the direction of movement of all common moving contacts (including the case of only one common moving contact) is a linear motion direction, the linear motion direction of all common moving contacts is the same; when the direction of movement of some common moving contacts is a rotational or oscillating direction, the aforementioned main linear motion direction of those common moving contacts is the same as the linear motion direction of other common moving contacts; when the direction of movement of all common moving contacts (including the case of only one common moving contact) is a rotational or oscillating direction, the aforementioned main linear motion direction of all common moving contacts is the same.
[0109] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the direction of the common moving contact in the term "the arrangement direction of any two switch groups is perpendicular to the direction of operation of the common moving contact" refers to the direction of operation of each common moving contact that is the same as the direction of operation of each common moving contact in the term "all common moving contacts have the same direction of operation".
[0110] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the terms "circuit unit" and "circuit terminal" do not refer to any electrical component or terminal in general. A circuit unit refers only to an electrical component or circuit section used for switching between series and parallel connections, and a circuit terminal refers only to the first or last terminal in a series connection or the terminals of two main circuits in a parallel connection.
[0111] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "two adjacent circuit units" refers to two circuit units that are numbered adjacently from 1 to n in any arrangement of all circuit units.
[0112] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "all relay contacts are simultaneously in one of three states" means that when the contacts of one relay are in the first state, the contacts of the other relays are also in the first state, and so on.
[0113] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the purpose of the term "pre-charge" is to ensure that the voltage values of each circuit unit are equal or similar when the relay is in the third state.
[0114] The technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0115] Example 1
[0116] The relay in Embodiment 1 includes a contact portion, a push portion, a drive portion, a status detection portion, and a housing. The contact portion controls the on / off state of an external circuit or one of its branches. The push portion actuates the contact portion to close or open. The drive portion receives external signals or excitations to drive the push portion. The status detection portion senses the movement of the push portion and sends a status detection signal regarding the state of the contact portion to the external circuit. The housing houses the contact portion, push portion, drive portion, and status detection portion.
[0117] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, which illustrate the switches in the contact portion 100 of the relay according to Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 1, the contact portion 100 includes at least two switches, each including a moving contact and a stationary contact for closing or opening the switch. In this embodiment, the contact portion 100 includes three switches: a first switch 121, a second switch 122, and a third switch 123.
[0118] At least two of the switches form a first switch group 111. As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the first switch 121 and the second switch 122 form the first switch group 111. In the first switch group 111, each switch shares a moving contact to form a common moving contact 131. The stationary contacts of each switch are located on both sides of the common moving contact 131 along the direction of movement of the common moving contact 131. In this embodiment, the common moving contact 131 swings in a plane perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and its main linear motion direction is the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the direction of movement of the common moving contact 131 can be regarded as the Z-axis direction. The stationary contact 144 of the first switch is located on the upper side of the common moving contact 131 along the Z-axis direction, and the stationary contact 142 of the second switch is located on the lower side of the common moving contact 131 along the Z-axis direction.
[0119] In this embodiment, in at least one first switch group 111, the common moving contact 131 is provided with at least two moving contacts 133 corresponding to at least one of the stationary contacts. As shown in FIG1, in this embodiment, the common moving contact 131 is provided with two moving contacts 133 corresponding to the stationary contacts 144 of the first switch and the stationary contacts 142 of the second switch. Of course, the stationary contacts 144 of the first switch and the stationary contacts 142 of the second switch are also provided with two stationary contacts 143.
[0120] As shown in Figure 1, all switches in the contact portion 100 form at least two switch groups. Each switch group has one moving contact. At least one switch group is a first switch group 111, and the common moving contact 131 in the first switch group 111 is considered as one moving contact. In this embodiment, in addition to the first switch group 111, the third switch 123 also forms a second switch group 112 consisting of only one switch. The moving contact 132 of the third switch also swings in a plane perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and its direction of movement can be considered as the Z-axis direction. The stationary contact 145 of the third switch is located below the moving contact 132 of the third switch along the Z-axis direction.
[0121] In this embodiment, the arrangement direction of at least two switch groups intersects with the operating direction of at least one common moving contact 131. In this embodiment, the operating direction of all common moving contacts 131 is the same, and the arrangement direction of any two switch groups is perpendicular to the operating direction of the common moving contact 131. More preferably, in this embodiment, the arrangement direction of all switch groups is perpendicular to the operating direction of the common moving contact 131. Specifically, as shown in FIG1, the first switch group 111 and the second switch group 112 are arranged along the X-axis direction, and therefore perpendicular to the operating direction of the common moving contact 131.
[0122] At least one stationary contact of at least one switch group is shared by other switch groups to form a common stationary contact 141. As shown in FIG1, in this embodiment, the stationary contact 144 of the first switch of the first switch group 111 is shared by the third switch 123 of the second switch group 112 to form a common stationary contact 141.
[0123] As shown in Figure 1, the contact portion 100 includes at least one switch group 101. The switch group 101 includes a first switch group 111 and a second switch group 112, both having a common stationary contact 141. In the switch group 101, only the stationary contact of the first switch group 111 located on one side of the common moving contact 131 is shared by the second switch group 112 to form the common stationary contact 141. In this embodiment, in the switch group 101, only the stationary contact of the first switch group 111 located above the common moving contact 131 is shared by the second switch group 112 to form the common stationary contact 141. Specifically, the stationary contact 143 of the common stationary contact 141 located in the first switch group 111 and the stationary contact 143 of the common stationary contact 141 located in the second switch group 112 are respectively located on both sides of the common stationary contact 141 along the Z-axis direction. The orientation of the stationary contact 143 of the common stationary contact 141 located in the first switch group 111 and the orientation of the stationary contact 143 of the common stationary contact 141 located in the second switch group 112 are opposite to each other along the operating direction of the common moving contact 131, i.e., the Z-axis direction. In the switch group 101, the two moving contacts have the same operating direction, both swinging in a plane perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and both can be considered as the Z-axis direction. The two moving contacts are arranged along the X-axis direction, thus perpendicular to the operating direction of the two moving contacts.
[0124] At least one moving contact is a flexible moving contact. In this embodiment, at least one common moving contact 131 is a flexible moving contact. In this embodiment, all moving contacts of the switch groups are flexible moving contacts with the same direction of movement, that is, the common moving contact 131 and the moving contact 132 of the third switch are both flexible moving contacts. As shown in FIG2, the flexible moving contact includes a fixed part 135, an actuating part 136, and a flexible connecting part 137. The fixed part 135 is fixed relative to each stationary contact and is used to lead out the connecting terminal 150. In this embodiment, the fixed part 135 of each flexible moving contact extends along the Y-axis direction, and is therefore perpendicular to the main linear movement direction of the moving contact, i.e., the Z-axis direction, and also perpendicular to the layout direction of all switch groups, i.e., the X-axis direction. The actuating part 136 is adapted to swing relative to the fixed part 135 along the movement direction of the moving contact to close or open with the stationary contact. In this embodiment, the actuating part 136 of each flexible moving contact swings relative to the fixed part 136 in a plane perpendicular to the X-axis direction along the movement direction of the moving contact. The flexible connecting portion 137 connects the fixed portion 135 and the actuating portion 136 and is adapted to bend. In this embodiment, the flexible moving contact is made of a laminated metal sheet. Specifically, the two ends of the laminated metal sheet are bonded, pressed, or fused to form the fixed portion 135 and the actuating portion 136, and the middle portion of the laminated metal sheet forms the flexible connecting portion 137. In this embodiment, as a common moving contact 131 of the flexible moving contact, the two ends of the flexible connecting portion 137 are located at different positions along the direction of movement of the common moving contact 131, especially the main linear motion direction Z-axis. The end of the flexible connecting portion 137 connected to the fixed portion 135 is approximately flush with the portion of the stationary contact 142 of the second switch where the stationary contact point 143 is provided along the Z-axis, and the end of the flexible connecting portion 137 connected to the actuating portion 126 is located between the stationary contact 144 of the first switch and the stationary contact 142 of the second switch along the Z-axis.
[0125] As shown in Figure 2, the stationary contact 143 of the stationary contact of the switch containing the flexible moving contact is tangentially aligned with the swing trajectory of the actuating part 136. That is, the normal of the point of contact or the vertical of the surface of the stationary contact 143 is the same as or substantially the same as the tangential of the swing trajectory of the actuating part 136 of the flexible moving contact.
[0126] In this embodiment, at least one flexible moving contact has at least two branches 134. Each branch 134 has a moving contact 133 corresponding to each switch to which the moving contact belongs, and each branch 134 has an actuating part 136 and a flexible connecting part 137. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, specifically, in this embodiment, the common moving contact 131, which is a flexible moving contact, has two branches 134, and the two branches 134 are arranged along the X-axis direction. Each branch 134 has a moving contact 133 corresponding to both the first switch 121 and the second switch 122 to which the common moving contact 131 belongs. Each branch 134 has an actuating part 136 and a flexible connecting part 137.
[0127] See Figures 1, 3, and 4. Figures 1, 3, and 4 show the states of each switch in this embodiment when the contact portion 100 is in the third state, the first state, and the second state, respectively.
[0128] As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, in this embodiment, the moving contacts of all switches in the contact portion 100 are interconnected to keep the contact portion in three states. In these three states, some switches are closed only in the first state, other switches are closed only in the second state, and all switches are open in the third state. As shown in Figure 1, when the contact portion 100 is in the third state, all three switches are open. As shown in Figure 3, when the contact portion 100 is in the first state, the common moving contact 131 and the common stationary contact 141 are closed, causing the first switch 121 to close and the second switch 122 and the third switch 123 to open. As shown in Figure 4, when the contact portion 100 is in the second state, the common moving contact 131 and the stationary contact 142 of the second switch are closed, and the moving contact 132 of the third switch and the common stationary contact 141 are closed, causing the first switch 121 to open and the second switch 122 and the third switch 123 to close.
[0129] As can be seen from the above description, in the first switch group 111, along the direction of operation of the common moving contact 131, the common moving contact 131 is suitable to close with the stationary contact on either side, or to form a gap with both stationary contacts.
[0130] As can be seen from the above description, in switch group 101, when the common moving contact 131 and the common stationary contact 142 are closed, the third switch 123 of the second switch group 112 is open.
[0131] Referring to Figure 5, Figure 5 illustrates the mounting structure of the stationary and moving contacts of the contact portion 100 in this embodiment. Both moving and stationary contacts are defined as contacts. As shown in Figure 5, the contact portion 100 in this embodiment also includes a mounting base 160 fixed relative to each stationary contact. The mounting base 160 includes a seat body 161 fixedly connected to each other and at least one connector 162. In this embodiment, the seat body 161 and the connector 162 are fixedly connected, specifically by insert injection molding; wherein, the seat body 161 is made of plastic, and the connector 162 is made of metal. At least one contact is a first contact connected to the connector 162. In this embodiment, all contacts of non-bridge-type moving contacts are first contacts. Since there are no bridge-type moving contacts in this embodiment, all contacts are first contacts. The mounting base 160 can be separately disposed from the housing or integrated with the housing. In this embodiment, the mounting base 160 is separately disposed from and fixedly connected to the housing.
[0132] The first contact element is connected to the mounting base 160 by riveting, welding, screwing, or fastening the first contact element to the corresponding connector 162. When the first contact element and the leading-out connecting terminal 150 are separately configured, the first contact element and the connecting terminal 150 leading out from the first contact element can also be riveted, welded, screwed, or fastened together to the corresponding connector 162. Of course, the first contact element can also be fixed to the mounting base 160 by two or more connectors 162 to obtain better connection strength.
[0133] As shown in Figure 5, in this embodiment, one end of the connector 162 extends out of the base 161 along its extension direction, i.e., the Z-axis direction, forming a connecting end 164. The other end of the connector 162 along its extension direction protrudes from the base 161, forming an abutment end 165. To expose the abutment end 165, the base 161 may be provided with a bottom hole 163. The connector 162 also has a protrusion 166 and an abutment portion 167. The protrusion 166 protrudes perpendicular to the extension direction of the connector 162 and is embedded in the base 161. The connecting end 164 protrudes from the abutment portion 167. The abutment portion 167 is flush with or protrudes from the surface of the base 161.
[0134] As shown in Figure 5, the first contact is crimped to the connecting end 164 along the extending direction of the connector 162. When the first contact and the leading connecting terminal 150 are separately disposed, the first contact and the connecting terminal 150 led out from the first contact can also be crimped together by the connecting end 164. When the first contact is a flexible movable contact, the fixing part 135 of the flexible movable contact is crimped to the connector 162, or the fixing part 135 and the connecting terminal 150 led out from the flexible movable contact are crimped together by the connecting end 164.
[0135] As shown in Figure 5, in this embodiment, one side of the portion where the first contact member is connected to the connector 162 is attached to the surface of the base 161, and the other side is connected to the connection terminal 150 led out from the first contact member.
[0136] In this embodiment, the specific method for connecting the first contact to the mounting base 160 is to abut the abutting end 165 of the connector 162 against a metal fixture along the extending direction of the connector 162. The first contact, or the first contact together with its leading-out connecting terminal 150, is sleeved onto the connecting end 164, and a riveting device is used to rivet the connecting end 164 along the extending direction of the connector 162 to complete the connection. During the riveting process, the first contact abuts against the abutting portion 167, transmitting the riveting force from the abutting end 165 to the metal fixture, thereby preventing the base 162 from deforming or being damaged due to force.
[0137] In this embodiment, the connecting ends 164 of all connectors 162 extend downward along the Z-axis direction from the base 161. This arrangement allows the connecting terminals 150 of each first contact to extend out of the outer surface of the housing in the same direction.
[0138] In this embodiment, all first contact members are connected to the first side of the base 161 along the direction of the connecting end 164 of the connector 162 extending out of the base 161, and all have connecting terminals 150 led out from the wall opposite to the first side of the housing and the base 161.
[0139] In this embodiment, each common stationary contact 141 has only one connection terminal 150, and each common moving contact 131 has only one connection terminal 150. All connection terminals 150 of the contact portion 100 are located on the same side of at least one common moving contact 131 along its direction of movement. In this embodiment, all connection terminals 150 of the contact portion 100 are located on the lower side of the common moving contact 131 along the main linear movement direction of the common moving contact 131, i.e., the Z-axis direction.
[0140] See Figure 6. Figure 6 shows the structure of the relay's actuating portion 200 in this embodiment. The actuating portion 200 is connected to all moving contacts of the contact portion 100 to actuate each moving contact to close or open with the stationary contact. As shown in Figure 6, the actuating portion 200 includes a rotating member 210. The rotating member 210 is driven by the driving portion to rotate around the rotation axis O and stop at three rotation positions. Of the three rotation positions, the first rotation position corresponds to the first state of the contact portion 100, the second rotation position corresponds to the second state of the contact portion 100, and the third rotation position corresponds to the third state of the contact portion 100. All moving contacts are directly or indirectly actuated by the rotating member 210 to close or open with the stationary contact.
[0141] As shown in Figure 6, the pushing part 200 also includes at least one pushing unit 220. The pushing unit 220 is driven by the rotating member 210 and pushes at least one moving contact to close or open with the stationary contact. In this embodiment, there are two pushing units 220, each corresponding to one moving contact. The two pushing units 220 are arranged along the X-axis.
[0142] Referring to Figure 7, which illustrates the structure of the rotating component 210, as shown in Figure 7, in this embodiment, the rotating component 210 is a crankshaft 211. The crankshaft 211 rotates about the rotation axis O. The crankshaft 211 includes a main shaft portion 212, two journals 213, and a connecting portion 214. The main shaft portion 212 is used to connect the drive portion. The journals 213 extend along the X-axis direction as first mating portions and are offset relative to the rotation axis O. In this embodiment, the two journals 213 are arranged along the X-axis direction, and the projections of the two journals 213 on a first projection plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O at least partially overlap. In this embodiment, the projections of the two journals 213 on the first projection plane completely overlap. The connecting portion 214 is located between the two journals 213 to connect them. Each connecting portion 214 can rotate with the housing to improve the stability of the crankshaft 211 rotation. Although in this embodiment, the connecting portion 214 is located on the rotation axis O, those skilled in the art will understand that the projection of the connecting portion 214 on the first projection plane can at least partially coincide with the projection of the journal 213 on the first projection plane, so that the two journals 213 and the connecting portion 214 together form a longer journal 213. Therefore, it can be seen that one first mating portion can correspond to one or more pushing units 220. In this embodiment, the two journals 213 and the connecting portion 214 also form an insertion portion 215. The function of the insertion portion 215 is described in detail below.
[0143] Referring to Figure 8, which shows the structure of the pushing portion 200 and the contact portion 100, the pushing unit 220 includes a connecting body 221, a pushing body 222, a first elastic member 223, and a guide member 224.
[0144] As shown in Figure 8, the connecting body 221 is provided with a sliding groove 232 as a second mating part. The sliding groove 232, as the second mating part, slides with the journal 213, which is the first mating part, perpendicular to the rotation axis O, allowing the connecting body 221 to move linearly perpendicular to the rotation axis O or to oscillate about a swing axis parallel to the rotation axis O, driven by the rotating member 210. In this embodiment, the connecting body 221 moves linearly along the Z-axis. In other embodiments, the connecting body 221 can also oscillate about a swing axis perpendicular to the rotation axis O. In this embodiment, the sliding fit is a linear sliding fit. The journal 213 can also be considered as a sliding pin that slides with the sliding groove 232.
[0145] In this embodiment, when there is one journal 213, or when there are at least two journals 213 and the projections of all journals 213 on the first projection plane at least partially overlap, the projection area of the insertion part 215 on the first projection plane is smaller than the projection area of each sliding groove 232 on the first projection plane, so that the insertion part 215 can be inserted into each sliding groove 232 along the extension direction of the rotation axis O until all sliding grooves 232 are in sliding engagement with the corresponding journal 213.
[0146] As shown in Figure 8, the pushing body 222 is connected to the connecting body 221 and is driven by the connecting body 221 to push the corresponding moving contact. In this embodiment, the pushing body 222 and the connecting body 221 are fixedly connected to form the pushing member 225. In other embodiments, the pushing body 222 and the connecting body 221 can be completely separated. For example, the connecting body 221 moves linearly, while the pushing body 222 forms a lever that rotates around a fulcrum, or moves linearly in the opposite direction to the linear movement of the connecting body 221 via a lever. In this embodiment, the pushing member 225 moves linearly along the Z-axis.
[0147] As shown in Figure 8, the relay may include a fixing member, which is defined as an object fixed relative to each stationary contact, such as a housing or a mounting base. A guide member 224 is provided corresponding to the push member 225. One of the fixing member and the push member 225 is fixedly connected to the guide member 224, while the other is slidably engaged with the guide member 224 along the linear movement direction of the push member 225 to ensure the linear movement of the push member 225. Specifically, in this embodiment, the guide member 224 is fixedly connected to the mounting base 160 and passes through the push member 225 along the Z-axis direction, with the guide member 224 and the push member 225 slidably engaged along the Z-axis direction.
[0148] As shown in Figure 8, the first elastic element 223 is set in the closing direction of the moving contact and placed between the pusher 222 and the moving contact, so that the pusher 222 enters overtravel after the moving contact contacts the stationary contact along the corresponding closing direction until the moving contact and the stationary contact close. The first elastic element 223 provides the moving contact with the contact pressure of closing with the stationary contact when the moving contact and the stationary contact close.
[0149] In this embodiment, at least one common moving contact 131 has a first elastic element 223 corresponding to both closing directions. The common moving contact 131 is positioned between at least two first elastic elements 223 along its operating direction, as shown in FIG8. The first elastic element 223 corresponding to the upward closing direction of the common moving contact 131 along the Z-axis is located below the common moving contact 131; this first elastic element 223 can also be considered as corresponding to the common stationary contact 142. The first elastic element 223 corresponding to the downward closing direction of the common moving contact 131 is located above the common moving contact 131; this first elastic element 223 can also be considered as corresponding to the stationary contact 142 of the second switch. In this embodiment, all closing directions of all moving contacts correspond to a first elastic element 223. In other embodiments, all moving contacts have first elastic elements 223 on both sides along their operating direction. Of course, if the moving contact pushed by a pushing unit 220 is not the common moving contact 131, such as the moving contact 132 corresponding to the third switch, then, as shown in Figure 6, the moving contact 132 of the third switch only needs to be equipped with one first elastic element 223, thus reducing the need for one first elastic element 223.
[0150] Referring to Figures 8, 9, and 10, which respectively illustrate the positional relationship between the pushing portion 200 and the contact portion 100 when the rotating member 210 is stopped at the third rotating position, the first rotating position, and the second rotating position, the pushing member 225 or the pushing body 222 is in one of the three pushing positions corresponding to the three rotating positions. The three pushing positions are the third pushing position corresponding to the third rotating position, the first pushing position corresponding to the first rotating position, and the second pushing position corresponding to the second rotating position.
[0151] As shown in Figure 8, when the rotating member 210 is stopped at the third rotating position, the journal 213 is located to the left of the main shaft 212 along the Y-axis. At this time, the pushing member 225 or the pushing body 222 is in the third pushing position along the Z-axis. The third pushing position is in the middle position relative to the first and second pushing positions along the linear movement direction of the pushing member 225, i.e., the Z-axis direction, and the contact portion 100 is in the third state where all switches are open. At this time, the common moving contact 131 is held in a position where it is disconnected from both stationary contacts under the opposing forces of the first elastic members 223 on both sides. When the common moving contact 131 swings due to vibration or other reasons, the greater the swing amplitude, the greater the elastic force of the first elastic member 223, which helps the common moving contact 131 to remain in a position where it is disconnected from both stationary contacts. Correspondingly, the moving contact 132 of the third switch is also held in a position where it is disconnected from the common stationary contact 141 under the force of the first elastic member 223.
[0152] As shown in Figure 8, in this embodiment, the pusher 222 is further provided with a second limiting part 227. The second limiting part 227 is set corresponding to the closing direction of the moving contact. When the rotating member 210 stops at the third rotating position, the second limiting part 227 blocks the movement of the moving contact along the closing direction to ensure that the moving contact is disconnected from the stationary contact in the closing direction. In this embodiment, all closing directions of all moving contacts correspond to the second limiting part 227. Taking the common moving contact 131 as an example, the second limiting part 227 located on its upper side along the Z-axis direction blocks the common moving contact 131 from moving upward. When the common moving contact 131 swings upward due to vibration or other reasons, it will abut against the second limiting part 227, preventing it from contacting or closing with the common stationary contact 141, thereby keeping the first switch 121 open. Similarly, the second limiting portion 227 located below the common moving contact 131 along the Z-axis direction prevents the common moving contact 131 from moving downwards, thus preventing the common moving contact 131 from contacting or closing with the stationary contact 142 of the second switch, thereby keeping the second switch 122 open. Similarly, the second limiting portion 227 located below the moving contact 132 of the third switch along the Z-axis direction prevents the moving contact 132 of the third switch from moving downwards, thus preventing the moving contact 132 of the third switch from contacting or closing with the common stationary contact 141, thereby keeping the third switch 123 open. In other embodiments, when the moving contact 132 of the third switch is only provided with the first elastic member 223 on its upper side along the Z-axis direction, the second limiting portion 227 pushes the moving contact 132 of the third switch upwards to keep it in a position disconnected from the common stationary contact 141.
[0153] As shown in Figure 9, in this embodiment, when the rotating member 210 rotates 90 degrees clockwise from the third rotating position and stops at the first rotating position, the journal 213 and the sliding groove 232 slide in cooperation along the Y-axis direction, so that the journal end 213 is located above the main shaft portion 212 along the Z-axis direction in the first rotating position. At this time, the pushing member 225 or the pushing body 222 is in the first pushing position, which is located above the third pushing position along the linear movement direction of the pushing member 225 or the pushing body 222, i.e., the Z-axis direction, and the contact portion 100 is in the first state where only the first switch 121 is closed. At this time, the force exerted by the upper groove wall of the sliding groove 232, which is the second cooperation part, on the journal 213, which is the first cooperation part, passes downward along the Z-axis direction and is close to the rotation axis O. Therefore, any movement of the actuating contact or the pushing unit 220 cannot generate a rotational torque on the rotating member 210, or the rotational torque is very small.
[0154] As shown in Figure 9, during the rotation of the rotating member 210 to the first rotating position, the first elastic member 233 located on the lower side of the common moving contact 131 along the Z-axis applies an upward force to the common moving contact 131, forcing the common moving contact 131 to move upward until it contacts the common stationary contact 141 located above it. Afterward, the pushing body 222 enters overtravel mode, and the first elastic member 223 located on the lower side of the common moving contact 131 along the Z-axis further compresses until the rotating member 210 stops at the first rotating position. The pushing body 222 is in the first pushing position, and the common moving contact 131 closes with the common stationary contact 141 located above it. The first elastic member 213 located on the lower side of the common moving contact 131 provides the contact pressure for the common moving contact 131 to close with the common stationary contact 141. Simultaneously, the pushing body 222 pushes the moving contact 132 of the third switch upward along the Z-axis until the rotating member 210 stops at the first rotating position.
[0155] As shown in Figure 9, in this embodiment, the pusher 222 is further provided with a first limiting part 226, which is configured to correspond to the closing method of the moving contact. When the corresponding moving contact and stationary contact are closed, the first limiting part 226 approaches or contacts the moving contact along the closing direction of the moving contact. In this embodiment, all closing directions of all moving contacts correspond to the first limiting part 226. In this embodiment, the first limiting part 226 corresponding to any closing direction of the common moving contact 131 constitutes a second limiting part 227 corresponding to the other closing direction. Specifically, the second limiting part 227 located below the common moving contact 131 along the Z-axis direction forms the first limiting part 226 when the rotating member 210 rotates to the first rotating position, and approaches or contacts the common moving contact 131 upward along the Z-axis direction. This ensures that when the common moving contact 131 generates a repulsive force with the common stationary contact 141 due to the contraction current between the contacts during excessive current, it cannot detach from the common stationary contact 141 or the distance of detachment from the common stationary contact 141 is very short. Therefore, the arcing time and distance are also very short, and the gas inside the relay will not expand violently and explode, thus avoiding shortening the life of the relay, failure, or damage.
[0156] As shown in Figure 10, when the rotating member 210 rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise from the third rotating position and stops at the second rotating position, the journal 213 and the sliding groove 232 slide in the Y-axis direction, so that the journal end 213 is located below the main shaft portion 212 in the Z-axis direction in the second rotating position. At this time, the pushing member 225 or the pushing body 222 is in the second pushing position, which is located below the third pushing position along the Z-axis direction of the linear movement of the pushing member 225 or the pushing body 222. The contact portion 100 is in the second state where only the second switch 122 and the third switch 123 are closed. At this time, the force exerted by the lower groove wall of the sliding groove 232, which is the second mating part, on the journal 213, which is the first mating part, passes upward along the Z-axis direction and is close to the rotation axis O, so that any movement of the moving contact or the pushing unit 220 cannot generate a rotational torque on the rotating member 210, or the rotational torque is very small.
[0157] As shown in Figure 10, during the rotation of the rotating member 210 to the second rotation position, the first elastic member 213 located above the moving contact in the Z-axis direction applies a downward force to the moving contact, forcing it to move downward until it abuts against the stationary contact located below it. Afterward, the pushing body 222 enters overtravel mode, and the first elastic member 213 located above the moving contact in the Z-axis direction further compresses until the rotating member 210 stops at the second rotation position. The pushing body 222 is in the second pushing position, and the moving contact closes with the stationary contact located below it. The first elastic member 213 located above the moving contact provides the contact pressure for the moving contact to close with the stationary contact.
[0158] As shown in Figure 10, the second limiting part 227, located on the upper side of the common moving contact 131 along the Z-axis, approaches or contacts the common moving contact 131 downwards along the Z-axis when the rotating member 210 rotates to the second rotating position, thus forming the first limiting part 226. This ensures that when the common moving contact 131 generates repulsive force with the stationary contact due to the contraction current between the contacts under excessive current, it cannot detach from the stationary contact or the distance of detachment is very short. Therefore, the arcing time and distance are also very short, and the gas inside the relay will not expand violently and explode, thus preventing the relay from shortening its lifespan, failing, or being damaged. Similarly, the first limiting part 226, located on the upper side of the moving contact 132 of the third switch, approaches or contacts the moving contact 132 of the third switch downwards along the Z-axis when the moving contact 132 of the third switch is closed with the common stationary contact 141, also achieving the effect of preventing short circuits.
[0159] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, when the pusher 222 moves to the first push position, the contact pressure provided by the first elastic element 223 to the common moving contact 131 and the common stationary contact 141 is the same as the contact pressure provided by the first elastic element 223 to the common moving contact 141 and the stationary contact 142 of the second switch when the pusher 222 moves to the second push position.
[0160] As described above, in this embodiment, the rotation direction of the rotating member 210 from the third rotating position to the first rotating position is opposite to the direction of rotation from the third rotating position to the second rotating position. The rotation angle of the rotating member 210 from the third rotating position to the first rotating position and the second rotating position is both 90 degrees. Furthermore, the rotating member 210 must rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise from the first rotating position to the third rotating position, and the rotating member 210 must rotate 180 degrees counterclockwise from the first rotating position to the second rotating position via the third rotating position. Simultaneously, the rotating member 210 must rotate 90 degrees clockwise from the second rotating position to the third rotating position, and the rotating member 210 must rotate 180 degrees clockwise from the second rotating position to the second rotating position via the third rotating position.
[0161] Referring to Figures 11 and 12, which illustrate the displacement and velocity of the pusher 222 along the Z-axis during the rotation of the rotating member 210, the rotation angle increases when rotating clockwise. The position of the pusher 222 is defined as 0 when the rotating member 210 stops at the third rotation position and is in the third push position. The displacement increases when the pusher 222 moves upward. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, in this embodiment, after the rotating member 210 rotates 45 degrees from the third rotation position, the moving contact and the stationary contact come into contact; after rotating 90 degrees, the moving contact and the stationary contact close. Because the sliding engagement of the first and second mating parts converts the rotation of the rotating member 210 around the rotation axis O into the linear motion of the pushing member 225, and the third pushing position is located between the first and second pushing positions along the linear motion direction of the pushing member 225, i.e., the Z-axis direction, the speed of the pushing body 222 gradually decreases during both the contact process and the closing process. This results in a small collision energy when the moving contact and the stationary contact come into contact, reducing wear between the contacts and improving the durability and reliability of the relay. In addition, it can effectively improve the noise generated by the moving contact impacting the stationary contact, so that the relay can provide users with a comfortable user experience when applied in home appliances or automotive electronics.
[0162] Referring to Figures 13 and 14, which illustrate the drive section 300, the drive section 300 includes a motor 310, a reduction mechanism 320, a drive circuit board 330, and a housing 340. The output of the motor 310 remains in a stopped position when the motor 310 stops rotating. The rotation axis of the motor 30 extends along the Z-axis direction, perpendicular to the rotation axis O, and is defined as the first direction. A second direction is defined as the extension direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the rotation axis O; in this embodiment, the second direction is the Y-axis direction. The input of the reduction mechanism 320 is connected to the output of the motor 310. The output of the reduction mechanism 321 is connected to the rotating member 210, specifically to the main shaft portion 212 of the crankshaft 211. The reduction mechanism 320 includes at least a reduction gear 322. The drive circuit board 330 drives the motor 310 and is positioned perpendicular to the first direction. The drive circuit board 330 has drive terminals 331. The receiving member 340 houses the motor 310, the reduction mechanism 320, and the drive circuit board 330, and isolates the motor 310, the reduction mechanism 320 (except for the output end 321 of the reduction mechanism), and the drive circuit board 330 from the pushing portion 200 and the contact portion 100. The drive terminal 331 extends out of the receiving member 340 and is exposed in the housing. In this embodiment, the receiving member 340 is separately disposed from the housing and fixedly connected; in other embodiments, the receiving member 340 may also be part of the housing. The receiving member 340 generally divides the drive portion 300 into a first portion 301 and a second portion 302. The motor 310 is located in the second portion 302, the output end 321 of the reduction mechanism is located in the first portion 301, and the rotation axis of the reduction gear 322 of the reduction mechanism 320 located in the first portion is parallel to or coincides with the rotation axis O. The drive circuit board 330 is at least partially located in the second portion 302. The first part 301 is set approximately perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and the second part 302 is perpendicular to the first part 301 and extends from the upper end of the first part 301 along the extension direction of the rotation axis O, that is, along the X-axis direction, so that the drive part 300 is L-shaped as a whole.
[0163] Referring to Figure 15, which shows the positional relationship between the driving portion 300, the pushing portion 200, and the contact portion 100. As shown in Figure 15, the first portion 301 of the driving portion 300 is located at one end of the pushing portion 200 along the extension direction of the rotation axis O, specifically near the end of the main shaft portion 212. The projection of the second portion 302 onto a projection plane perpendicular to the second direction at least partially coincides with the projection of the pushing portion 200 onto the same projection plane. The projection of the second portion 302 onto a projection plane perpendicular to the first direction at least partially coincides with the projection of the pushing portion 200 onto the same projection plane.
[0164] Referring to Figures 16 and 17, which illustrate the state detection section 400 in this embodiment, the state detection section 400 includes at least two auxiliary switches. In this embodiment, it includes two auxiliary switches: a first auxiliary switch 411 and a second auxiliary switch 412. Each auxiliary switch includes a stationary spring and a moving spring for closing or opening the auxiliary switch. All auxiliary switches share a moving spring to form a common moving spring 421. The common moving spring is mounted on the push section 200. In this embodiment, the common moving spring 421 is mounted on the push unit 220, specifically on the push member 225. The stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch 411 is defined as the first stationary spring 431, and the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch 412 is defined as the second stationary spring 432. The common moving spring 421 is located between the first stationary spring 431 and the second stationary spring 432 along the Z-axis direction of movement of the push member 225.
[0165] As shown in Figure 17, in this embodiment, each auxiliary switch is a bridge switch. Each auxiliary switch includes two stationary springs, and the common moving spring 421 is a bridge-type moving spring with a first bridge arm 423, which is an elastic bridge arm. The extension direction of the first bridge arm 423 is perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. After the common moving spring 421 contacts the stationary spring, the pusher 225 enters overtravel mode, causing the first bridge arm 423 to deform, thereby creating contact pressure between the common moving spring 421 and the stationary spring it closes to.
[0166] Referring to Figures 16, 8, 9, and 10, when the rotating component 210 is stopped at the third rotating position, the pushing component 225 is in the third pushing position, the contact portion 100 is in the third state, the common moving spring 421 is disconnected from both stationary springs, and both auxiliary switches are disconnected. When the rotating component 210 is stopped at the first rotating position, the pushing component 225 is in the first pushing position, the contact portion 100 is in the first state, the common moving spring 421 is closed only with the first stationary spring 431, the first auxiliary switch 411 is closed, and the second auxiliary switch 412 is disconnected. When the rotating component 210 is stopped at the second rotating position, the pushing component 225 is in the second pushing position, the contact portion 100 is in the second state, the common moving spring 421 is closed only with the second stationary spring 432, the first auxiliary switch 411 is disconnected, and the second auxiliary switch 412 is closed.
[0167] As shown in Figures 16 and 17, in this embodiment, the state detection section 400 includes three state detection terminals 440 for outputting state detection signals. The state detection terminals 440 extend out of or protrude from the relay housing. Each auxiliary switch has a retaining spring connected to its corresponding state detection terminal 440, and another retaining spring from each auxiliary switch is connected to a common state detection terminal 440.
[0168] In this embodiment, the two auxiliary switches also transmit positioning signals to the drive unit 300 to control or assist in controlling the drive unit 300 to drive the rotating component 210 to stop at the first rotation position and the second rotation position, respectively. The motor 310 can drive the rotating component 210 to stop at the third rotation position by relying on its built-in Hall sensor.
[0169] This embodiment also includes a series-parallel switching circuit. Referring to Figure 18, Figure 18 shows the series-parallel switching circuit in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 18, the series-parallel switching circuit includes circuit units 21, circuit terminals 22, and the relay 10 as described above. The number of circuit units 21 is at least two; in this embodiment, the number of circuit units 21 is two. In this embodiment, the circuit unit 21 is an energy storage battery, but it can also be other electrical components. The number of circuit terminals 22 is two; in this embodiment, they are a positive circuit terminal and a negative circuit terminal. The contact portion of the relay 10 includes a series switch that closes only in a first state and a parallel switch that closes only in a second state. The series switch is configured for two adjacent circuit units 21 and is used to control the on / off state between the two adjacent circuit units 21. Here, adjacent circuit units 21 refer to two adjacent circuit units 21 numbered from 1 to n in any arrangement. The parallel switch is connected between a circuit unit 21 and one of the circuit terminals 22 and is used to control the on / off state between the circuit unit 21 and the circuit terminal 22. Specifically, in this embodiment, the first switch 121 is a series switch, and the second switch 122 and the third switch 123 are parallel switches. The first switch 121, as a series switch, and the second switch 122, as a parallel switch, form a first switch group 111, and the third switch 123, as a parallel switch, forms a second switch group 112. The first switch group 111 and the second switch group 112 together constitute a switch group 101. When the contact portion is in the first state, each circuit unit 21 is connected in series between two circuit terminals; when the contact portion is in the second state, each circuit unit 21 is connected in parallel between two circuit terminals 22. When the contact portion is in the third state, each circuit unit 21 is disconnected from both circuit terminals 22.
[0170] In this embodiment, the first connecting terminal 1 is led out from the common moving contact 131; the second connecting terminal 2 is led out from the stationary contact 142 of the second switch; the third connecting terminal 3 is led out from the common stationary contact 141; and the fourth connecting terminal 4 is led out from the moving contact 132 of the third switch.
[0171] As can be seen from the description of the contact parts in this embodiment, all series switches in this embodiment are located in the first switch group 111.
[0172] This embodiment also includes a vehicle, which includes the above-described series-parallel switching circuit. Each circuit unit 21 is used to provide electrical energy to the vehicle. Specifically, in this embodiment, when the contact portion is in the first state or the second state, each circuit unit 21 provides electrical energy to the vehicle's power system.
[0173] This embodiment also includes a charging system. The charging system includes a charging power supply, a controller, and the aforementioned vehicle. The charging power supply may be a charging pile. The energy storage battery is rechargeable. The controller is signal-connected to the drive section 300 to control the drive section 300 to place the contact section 100 in one of three states. The controller is adapted to be electrically connected to the charging power supply and control the drive section 300 to place the contact section 100 in a first state or a second state so that the charging power supply charges each circuit unit 21.
[0174] In this embodiment, the vehicle also includes sensors provided with corresponding circuit units 21. The sensors are respectively connected to the controller signal and are used to sense the voltage value of the corresponding circuit unit 21 when the controller controls the drive part 300 to put the contact part 100 in the third state.
[0175] In this embodiment, the charging system also includes a pre-charging circuit, which is electrically connected to each circuit unit 21. The controller is also signal-connected to the pre-charging circuit and controls the pre-charging circuit to pre-charge some circuit units 21 according to the voltage values sensed by each sensor. The controller only controls the driving part 300 to put the contact part 100 into the second state after the pre-charging is completed.
[0176] Example 2
[0177] Example 2 is a variation of Example 1. The main differences between Example 2 and Example 1 are in the contact portion, the pushing portion, the state detection portion, and the series-parallel switching circuit.
[0178] Referring to Figure 19, which shows the rotating component 210 of the pushing part in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 19, the rotating component 210 in this embodiment differs from that in Embodiment 1 in that the two journals 213 of the crankshaft 211 are not only located at different positions along the rotation axis O, but also have a 180-degree phase difference. That is, their projections on the first projection plane are arranged around the rotation axis O and are located on both sides of the main shaft portion 212. The connecting portion 214 still extends along the rotation axis O and connects the two journals 213.
[0179] Referring to Figures 20, 21, and 22, which show the positions of the contact portion and the pushing portion in this embodiment when the contact portion 100 is in the third state, the first state, and the second state, respectively.
[0180] As shown in Figure 20, the difference between the contact portion in this embodiment and that in Embodiment 1 is that, in this embodiment, the common stationary contact 141 is located on one side of the common moving contact 131 along its operating direction in both the portion of the first switch 121 and the portion of the third switch 123, i.e., on the upper side along the Z-axis direction as shown in the figure. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the common moving contact 131 and the moving contact 132 of the third switch are arranged on both sides of the rotation axis O along the Y-axis direction, so that the first switch group 111 and the second switch group 112 are arranged along the Y-axis direction. In this embodiment, although the two moving contacts are still flexible moving contacts, the actuating part moves linearly along the Z-axis direction.
[0181] As shown in Figure 20, the difference between the pushing unit 220 in this embodiment and that in Embodiment 1 is that the sliding groove 232 opens towards the rotating member 210 along the Y-axis direction. Two pushing units 220 are respectively disposed corresponding to two journals 213. The two pushing units are located at different positions along the rotation axis O, and their projections on a first projection plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O are arranged around the rotation axis O.
[0182] As shown in Figure 20, when the rotating part 210 stops at the third rotating position, all three switches are open.
[0183] As shown in Figure 21, when the rotating member 210 rotates 30 degrees clockwise from the third rotating position to the first rotating position, the pushing member 225 located on the left along the Y-axis moves upward to the first pushing position, and the pushing member 225 located on the right along the Y-axis moves downward to the first pushing position, causing the first switch 121 to close and the second switch 122 and the third switch 123 to open, and the contact part 100 is in the first state. At this time, the force exerted by the sliding groove 232, which is the second mating part, on the journal 213, which is the first mating part, is not greater than the rotation axis O and is not close to the rotation axis O.
[0184] As shown in Figure 22, when the rotating member 210 rotates 30 degrees counterclockwise from the third rotating position to the second rotating position, the pushing member 225 located on the left along the Y-axis moves downward to the second pushing position, and the pushing member 225 located on the right along the Y-axis moves upward to the second pushing position, causing the first switch 121 to open and the second switch 122 and the third switch 123 to close, and the contact part 100 is in the second state. At this time, the force exerted by the sliding groove 232, which is the second mating part, on the journal 213, which is the first mating part, is not greater than the rotation axis O and is not close to the rotation axis O.
[0185] Referring to Figure 23, which illustrates the state detection section 400 in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 23, the state detection section 400 differs from Embodiment 1 in that it includes three auxiliary switches: a first auxiliary switch 411, a second auxiliary switch 212, and a third auxiliary switch 413. The third auxiliary switch 413 is also a bridge switch. The common moving spring 421 has two first deformation portions 422, and the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413 is defined as a third stationary spring 433. The two third stationary springs 433 each have second deformation portions 434 that elastically abut against the first deformation portions 422. When the contact portion 100 is in the third state, the third auxiliary switch 413 is closed. In this embodiment, the three auxiliary switches also transmit positioning signals to the driving portion 300 to control or assist in controlling the driving portion 300 to drive the rotating member 210 to stop at the corresponding rotation position.
[0186] Referring to Figure 24, which illustrates the series-parallel switching circuit in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 24, unlike Embodiment 1, this embodiment has three circuit units 21. The relays 10 described above are configured for two adjacent circuit units 21. In this embodiment, there are two relays 10. Each relay includes the three switches described above, and each relay 10 corresponds to two adjacent circuit units 21. The contact portions 100 of all relays are simultaneously in one of three states to achieve the series-parallel switching function. In other embodiments, the two relays 10 of Embodiment 2 can also be combined into one relay including at least two switch groups 101, with each switch group 101 corresponding to two adjacent circuit units 21. In this case, the moving contacts 132 of the second switch group 112 of each switch group 101, i.e., the moving contacts 132 of the third switch, share a common connection terminal. In the first switch group 111 of each switch group 101, the stationary contacts 142 of the second switch, located on the other side of the common stationary contact 141, share a common connection terminal.
[0187] Except for the differences caused by the above-mentioned differences, the other parts of Example 2 are the same as those of Example 1.
[0188] In both embodiments, the contact portion 100 of the relay includes at least two switches, each switch including a moving contact and a stationary contact; at least two of these switches form a first switch group 111; in the first switch group 111, each switch shares a moving contact to form a common moving contact 1311, and the stationary contacts of each switch are located on both sides of the common moving contact 131 along the direction of operation of the common moving contact 131; the common moving contact 131 is adapted to close with either side of the stationary contact along its direction of operation, or to form a gap with both sides of the stationary contacts. Because at least two switches are integrated into the contact portion 100 of a single relay, the volume is smaller, and the synchronization of switches with the same on / off state is higher. Because all switches in the first switch group 111 share a moving contact, the number of components is reduced, making the layout of all switches more compact and improving the integration of the contact portion 100. This makes the structure of the contact portion 100 more compact, especially when using a moving contact with a large current-carrying cross-section to increase the current-carrying capacity. This effectively saves space in the contact portion 100. In addition, it can reduce the number of driving ends used to drive the movement of the moving contact, reducing the structural complexity and volume of the driving portion 300 and / or the pushing portion 200, thereby helping to reduce the size of the relay, while reducing copper loss and cost. Furthermore, the common moving contact 131 can only be closed with one of the stationary contacts or separated from both stationary contacts in a certain state. Compared with the case where each switch has its own moving and stationary contacts, this can effectively avoid circuit logic errors or potential risks caused by timing differences or misoperation. Since the stationary contacts of the first switch group 111 are arranged on both sides of the common moving contact 131 along the operating direction, the common moving contact 131 only needs to move in one direction to achieve position switching. This reduces the design difficulty of the push part 200 and the drive part 300, and in particular improves the space utilization of the relay in the operating direction of the common moving contact 131. Because the common moving contact 131 is designed with three positions along the operating direction, corresponding to the different states of each switch in the first switch group 111, it provides a material basis for the entire contact part 100 to switch between the three states. Since the common moving contact 131 has positions that are spaced apart from the stationary contacts on both sides, it also provides a material basis for the contact part to have a fully open state, and further, it also provides a material basis for meeting the needs of car pre-charging or circuit maintenance scenarios.
[0189] In both embodiments, the moving contacts of all switches are interconnected so that the contact portion 100 is in at least three states. In these three states, some switches are closed only in the first state, other switches are closed only in the second state, and all switches are open in the third state. Because the moving contacts of all switches are interconnected, only one driving part 300 and one pushing part 200 are needed to change the state of all switches. This reduces the design complexity of the pushing part 200 and the driving part 300, and helps improve the synchronization of switches with the same on / off state, avoiding malfunctions caused by individual actuation of each switch, thus achieving effective state isolation. Since all switches are open in the third state, this can meet the needs of scenarios such as vehicle pre-charging or circuit maintenance.
[0190] In at least one embodiment, the common moving contact 131 is provided with at least two moving contacts 133 corresponding to at least one stationary contact. Since the common moving contact 131 is provided with at least two moving contacts 133 corresponding to at least one stationary contact, the multiple moving contacts 133 can share the current, reduce electric arcing, and extend service life.
[0191] In at least one embodiment, at least one moving contact is a flexible moving contact formed by stacking metal sheets. The flexible moving contact includes a fixed portion 135, an actuating portion 136, and a flexible connecting portion 137. The fixed portion 135 is fixed relative to each stationary contact and is used to lead out the connection terminal 150. The actuating portion 136 is adapted to swing relative to the fixed portion 135 along the movement direction of the moving contact to close or open with the stationary contacts. The flexible connecting portion 137 connects the fixed portion 135 and the actuating portion 136 and is adapted to bend. Since the fixed portion 135 of the flexible moving contact is fixed relative to each stationary contact, it is easier to lead out the connection terminal 150. At the same time, compared with the traditional spring structure, the flexible moving contact formed by stacking metal sheets reduces the resistance of the moving contact, improves the current carrying capacity of the moving contact, and reduces the heat generation of the relay while ensuring the flexible movement of the actuating portion.
[0192] In at least one embodiment, the stationary contact 143 of the stationary contact of the switch containing the flexible moving contact is tangentially aligned with the swing trajectory of the actuating part 136. Because the stationary contact 143 of the switch containing the flexible moving contact is tangentially aligned with the swing trajectory of the actuating part 136, when the moving contact 133 swings to the closed position, the stationary contact 143 can be directly opposite and centrally contact the moving contact 133. This makes it easier to reduce contact resistance, reduce heat generation, reduce the generation of arcs during closing and opening, improve contact life, and effectively improve the situation where the misalignment of the moving contact 133 and the stationary contact 143 under contact pressure causes the overtravel of the pushing part 200 to exceed the design overtravel, resulting in insufficient contact pressure.
[0193] In at least one embodiment, the common moving contact 131 is a flexible moving contact; the two ends of the flexible connecting portion 137 are located at different positions along the direction of movement of the common moving contact 131. Since the common moving contact 131 is a flexible moving contact, the moving part of the common moving contact 131 can easily switch positions between the stationary contacts on both sides. Furthermore, since the two ends of the flexible connecting portion 137 are located at different positions along the direction of movement of the common moving contact 131, the position of the moving part 136 relative to the fixed part 135 along the direction of movement can be raised by utilizing the flexible connecting portion 137, which is suitable for bending. This allows the common moving contact 131 to be placed on one of the stationary contacts that is in the same position as the fixed part 135 along the direction of movement, and it is easier to place it between the stationary contacts on both sides along its direction of movement.
[0194] In at least one embodiment, at least one flexible moving contact has at least two branches 134, each branch 134 having a moving contact 133 corresponding to each switch to which the moving contact belongs, and each branch 134 having an actuating part 136 and a flexible connection part 137. Because the flexible moving contact has at least two branches 134, and each branch 134 has a moving contact 133 corresponding to each switch to which the moving contact belongs, the moving contacts 133 of each branch 134 can handle a more balanced current, avoiding overload of a single moving contact 133, reducing the risk of overheating, and enabling the relay to be used in high-voltage or high-current scenarios. Since each branch 134 has an actuating part 136 and a flexible connecting part 137, each branch 134 can move independently and adjust the contact pressure independently, ensuring that the moving contacts 1331 on each branch 134 can make good contact and reduce contact resistance. Furthermore, the independent movement of multiple branches 134 can offset the effects of external vibration or impact, preventing a single moving contact 133 from breaking the circuit due to momentary disconnection caused by vibration, thus reducing the probability of failure. Even if the moving contact 133 of a certain branch 134 has poor contact due to contamination, oxidation, or mechanical wear, the moving contacts 133 on other branches 134 can still ensure the function is realized, preventing complete failure of circuit switching, thereby improving the life of the relay.
[0195] In at least one embodiment, the contact portion 100 further includes a mounting base 160 fixed relative to each stationary contact. The mounting base 160 includes a base body 161 fixedly connected to each other and at least one connector 162. The at least one contact is a first contact fixed to the base body 161 via the connector 162. Since at least one contact is connected to the first contact via the connector 162, the contact can be connected to the base body 161 via the connector 162 to provide reliable rigid support. This avoids the loosening of the contact caused by stress concentration, deformation, or aging of the plastic base body 161 in the traditional adhesive fixing method, thereby improving the connection strength of the contact and increasing the reliability and lifespan of the relay. For contacts with greater current carrying capacity and larger size, this mounting method can achieve reliable installation strength and stability after being fixed to the mounting base 160, which is beneficial to improving the overall current carrying capacity of the relay, making the relay suitable for high voltage and high current scenarios. It also helps to improve the relay's resistance to mechanical vibration to a certain extent, making the relay suitable for high vibration scenarios such as automotive and industrial applications.
[0196] In at least one embodiment, the base 161 is made of plastic, and the connector 162 is made of metal; the base and the connector insert are integrally injection molded. Because the base 161 and the connector 162 are integrally injection molded, the position of the connector 161 relative to the base 162 is more accurate, the dimensional tolerance is smaller, and it is easier for the contacts to close or open accurately, avoiding insufficient contact pressure when the contacts close due to large dimensional tolerances, or the inability of the moving contact 133 and the stationary contact 143 to close in the correct position.
[0197] In at least one embodiment, one side of the portion where the first contact is connected to the connector 162 rests against the surface of the base 161, and the other side is connected to the connection terminal 150 led out from the first contact. Since one side of the portion where each first contact is connected to the connector 162 rests against the surface of the base 161, and the other side is connected to the connection terminal 150 led out from the first contact, the portion where the first contact is connected to the connector 162 can adopt a sheet-like or plate-like structure. This allows each first contact to have a wider surface for connection to both the connector 162 and the connection terminal 150. Therefore, each first contact can easily achieve greater connection strength and provide a larger connection area.
[0198] In at least one embodiment, the mounting base 160 is separately disposed and fixedly connected to the housing. Because the mounting base 160 is separately disposed and fixedly connected to the housing, the first contact is pre-fixed to the independent base 161 via the connector 162, forming a modular assembly, which is then installed as a whole onto the housing. This facilitates the modular production of the contact portion 100 and improves the production efficiency of the relay. Compared to traditional structures, even if the housing wall has a through slot, it only allows the contact terminal 150 to protrude without needing to prevent the contact terminal 150 from shaking or being limited. Therefore, the housing wall has higher strength. The contact terminal 150 can easily contact the housing wall with its wide side, increasing the external connection area while avoiding the problem of high copper loss caused by bending the contact terminal 150. The base 161 and the housing are mechanically fixed, resulting in stronger resistance to mechanical vibration.
[0199] In at least one embodiment, at least one moving contact is a flexible moving contact; the flexible moving contact includes a fixed portion 135, an actuating portion 136, and a flexible connecting portion 137; the fixed portion 135 is fixed relative to each stationary contact and is used to lead out the connecting terminal 150; the actuating portion 136 is adapted to swing relative to the fixed portion 135 along the movement direction of the moving contact to close or open with the stationary contact; the flexible connecting portion 137 connects the fixed portion 135 and the actuating portion 136 and is adapted to bend; the fixed portion 135 of the flexible moving contact is connected to the connecting member 162, specifically by a press-fit connection. Compared with the traditional spring structure, the flexible moving contact formed by stacking metal sheets reduces the resistance of the moving contact, improves the current carrying capacity of the moving contact, and reduces the heat generation of the relay while ensuring the flexible movement of the actuating portion. Since the fixed portion of the flexible moving contact is connected to the connecting member 162, the flexible moving contact with a rigid fixed portion 135 and a greater load-bearing capacity can be fixed to the mounting base 160, thereby improving the current carrying capacity of the contact.
[0200] In at least one embodiment, the first contact is riveted, welded, screwed, or connected to the connector 162 by fasteners.
[0201] In at least one embodiment, at least one end of a connector 162 extends out of the base 161 along its extension direction to form a connecting end 164, and the other end of the connector 162 extends out of the base 161 to form an abutting end 165; a first contact is crimped together with the connecting end 164 along the extension direction of the connector 162. Since the connecting end 164 of the connector 162 extends out of the base 161, it facilitates the crimping of the first contact along the extension direction of the connector 162. The other end of the connector 162 extending out of the base 161 to form the abutting end 165 facilitates the transfer of the crimping force on the connector 162 to the fixture abutting against the other end during crimping, preventing damage or deformation of the plastic base 161 due to direct impact, thereby improving the assembly accuracy of the contact portion 100 and extending the relay life. The crimping connection also facilitates automated production and increases assembly efficiency.
[0202] In at least one embodiment, the connector 162 has a protrusion 166 and an abutment 167. The protrusion 166 protrudes perpendicular to the extending direction of the connector 162 and is embedded in the seat 161. The connecting end 164 extends from the abutment 167, which is flush with or protrudes from the surface of the seat 161. Because the protrusion 166 of the connector 162 is embedded in the seat 161, the connector 162 and the seat 161 are connected more tightly, preventing the connector 162 from shifting relative to the seat 161 along the extending direction of the connector 162. Since the connecting end 164 extends from the abutting part 167 and the abutting part 167 is flush with or protrudes from the surface of the base 161, when the first contact is subjected to the riveting force, it can be directly transmitted through the abutting part 167 to the abutting end 165, and finally to the fixture. This can prevent the plastic base 161 from being damaged or deformed due to direct impact, thereby improving the assembly accuracy of the contact part 100 and increasing the life of the relay.
[0203] In at least one embodiment, all non-bridge moving contacts are first contacts. Since all non-bridge moving contacts are first contacts and are connected to the base 161 via connectors 162 integrally injection molded with the base 161 insert, the connectors 162 are positioned more accurately relative to the base 161, have smaller dimensional tolerances, and are more likely to close or open accurately with the stationary and moving contacts. This avoids insufficient contact pressure when the moving and / or stationary contacts close due to large dimensional tolerances, or the moving contact 133 and stationary contact 143 failing to close in the correct position.
[0204] In at least one embodiment, the connecting ends 164 of all connectors 162 extend out of the base 161 in the same direction, so that the connecting terminals 150 of all first contacts can be led out of the outer surface of the relay in the same direction. Since the connecting ends 164 of all connectors 162 extend out of the base 161 in the same direction, it is convenient to lead out the connecting terminals 150 of all first contacts in the same direction, avoiding the need for multi-directional bending of each first contact, reducing copper loss, and making it easier for each first contact to lead out of or connect to the connecting terminal 150 with a larger wide surface area, increasing the connection strength and increasing the connection area of the connecting terminal 150, especially the welding area for soldering. This facilitates the electrical connection of the relay with external circuits, reduces the design and manufacturing difficulty of external circuits, and expands the application scenarios of the relay.
[0205] In at least one embodiment, all first contacts are connected to the first side of the base 161 along the direction in which the connecting end 164 of the connector 162 extends out of the base 161, and all have a connecting terminal 150 extending from the wall of the housing opposite to the first side of the base 161. Since each first contact has a connecting terminal 150 extending from the wall of the housing opposite to the first side, the required extension length of each first contact is small, which helps to reduce copper loss.
[0206] In at least one embodiment, all the connection terminals 150 leading out from the first contacts are located on the same side of at least one common moving contact 131 along its direction of operation. Since all the connection terminals 150 leading out from the first contacts are located on the same side of the common moving contact 131 along its direction of operation, each connection terminal 150 can be easily concentrated through the wall of the housing opposite the surface of the base 161 from which each connection terminal 164 extends. This fully utilizes the plane perpendicular to the direction of operation of the common moving contact 131, as well as the space along the direction of operation of the common moving contact 131, making the overall size of the relay more reasonable. It avoids excessive size in the direction of operation of the common moving contact 131, resulting in a smaller overall area and volume for the relay. It also facilitates electrical connection between the relay and external circuits, reducing the design and manufacturing difficulty of external circuits, thereby expanding the application scenarios of the relay.
[0207] In at least one embodiment, the relay further includes a push portion 200 and a drive portion 300. The push portion 200 is connected to all moving contacts to push each moving contact to close or open with the stationary contact. The drive portion 300 drives the push portion 200 to move and put the contact portion 100 into one of three states. Since the push portion 200 is connected to all moving contacts, only one drive portion 300 is needed to drive the movement of one push portion 200 to achieve the switching of all switching states. This avoids the relay structure becoming complex and the synchronization becoming poor due to having more than one drive portion 300 or more push portions 200.
[0208] In at least one embodiment, the pushing part 200 includes a rotating member 210, which is driven by the driving part 300 to rotate around the rotation axis O and stop at three rotation positions. The first rotation position corresponds to the first state of the contact part 100, the second rotation position corresponds to the second state of the contact part 100, and the third rotation position corresponds to the third state of the contact part 100. All moving contacts are directly or indirectly driven by the rotating member 210 to close or open with the stationary contacts. Since the relay drives the rotating member 210 to rotate via the motor 310, the rotating member 210 has an infinite number of rotation positions and can stop at more than two rotation positions driven by the motor 310. Compared with the prior art, this provides a material basis for the contact part 100 to achieve multi-state switching. Specifically, in this embodiment, a rotating component 210 driven by the driving part 300 is stopped at three rotation positions to achieve the switching of the three states of the contact part 100. This facilitates the design of the pushing part 200 and meets the stringent requirements of various switches of the contact part 100. At the same time, the use of the rotating component 210 is beneficial to utilize the locking function of the motor 310 to maintain the various states of the contact part 100, avoiding energy consumption in maintaining the contact part 100 in each state.
[0209] In at least one embodiment, the pushing part 200 further includes at least one pushing unit 220, which is driven by the rotating member 210 and pushes at least one moving contact to close or open with the stationary contact. Since the moving contact is pushed to close or open with the stationary contact by the pushing unit 220 driven by the rotating member 210, it is easier to convert the rotation of the rotating member 210 into the action of the moving contact through a mechanical mechanism. At the same time, it is beneficial to achieve insulation between the rotating member 210 and the contact when the rotating member 210 is made of metal, which is beneficial to make the rotating member 210 of metal material, which is beneficial to improve the strength of the rotating member 210, achieve greater torque, make the contact pressure greater when the moving contact and the stationary contact are closed, and make it easier to resist large current impact.
[0210] In at least one embodiment, the rotating member 210 is provided with a first mating part; the pushing unit 220 includes a connecting body 221 and a pushing body 222. The connecting body 221 is provided with a second mating part that slides perpendicular to the rotation axis O with the first mating part, so that the connecting body 221 is driven by the rotating member 210 to move linearly perpendicular to the rotation axis O or to swing about a swing axis parallel to the rotation axis O; the pushing body 222 is connected to the connecting body 221 and is driven by the connecting body 221 to push the moving contact. Since the first mating part of the rotating member 210 and the second mating part of the connecting body 221 slide perpendicular to the rotation axis O, the connecting body 221 is driven by the rotating member 210 to move linearly in the extension direction perpendicular to the rotation axis O or to swing about a swing axis parallel to the rotation axis. Compared with other mechanisms, such as linkage mechanisms, it occupies less space, has higher accuracy of motion trajectory, less impact force during pushing, and lower requirements for dimensional accuracy.
[0211] In at least one embodiment, in at least one actuating unit 220, a connecting body 221 and a actuating body 222 are fixedly connected to form a actuating member 225. Since the connecting body 221 and the actuating body 222 are fixedly connected to form the actuating member 225, the actuating unit 220 has a simpler structure, higher mechanical strength, and smaller dimensional tolerances, while also helping to reduce costs and improve integration and operational reliability.
[0212] In at least one embodiment, the pusher 225 moves linearly perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotation axis O, and along the linear movement direction of the pusher 225, the third push position of the pusher 225 is located between the first push position and the second push position; the third push position, the first push position, and the second push position are the positions of the pusher 225 when the rotating member 210 is correspondingly stopped at the third rotation position, the first rotation position, and the second rotation position, respectively. Since the pusher 225 moves linearly perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotation axis O, and along the linear movement direction of the pusher 225, the third push position of the pusher 225 is located between the first push position and the second push position, when the pusher 225 pushes the moving contact to close, the speed of the pusher 225 along the linear movement direction is smaller as it gets closer to the moving contact, reducing the noise generated by the pusher 225 pushing the moving contact and the stationary contact to close, which is more conducive to achieving the silent effect of the relay, so that the relay can bring a comfortable user experience when applied in home appliances or automotive electronics and other fields.
[0213] In at least one embodiment, the relay further includes a fixing member fixed relative to each stationary contact, and the pushing unit 220 further includes a guide member 224. The pushing member 225 moves linearly. One of the fixing member and the pushing member 225 is fixedly connected to the guide member, and the other is slidably engaged with the guide member 224 along the linear movement direction of the pushing member 225. Because the guide member 224 guides the linear movement of the pushing member 225, the pushing member 225 can maintain linear movement, and the movement direction of the pushing member 225 is more definite.
[0214] In at least one embodiment, the actuating unit 220 further includes a first elastic element 223, which is disposed between the actuating body 222 and the moving contact, corresponding to the closing direction of the moving contact. This allows the actuating body 222 to overtravel after the moving contact contacts the stationary contact along the corresponding closing direction until the moving contact and stationary contact close. The first elastic element 223 provides the moving contact with the contact pressure required for closing with the stationary contact when the moving contact and stationary contact close. Because the first elastic element 223 is disposed between the actuating body 222 and the moving contact, the actuating body 222 can achieve overtravel, providing a stable and reliable contact pressure for the moving contact when it closes with the stationary contact, thus improving the reliability of the switch closing state.
[0215] In at least one embodiment, at least one common moving contact 131 has a first elastic element 223 corresponding to both closing directions, and the common moving contact 131 is positioned between at least two first elastic elements 223 along its direction of movement. Since the common moving contact 131 has a first elastic element 223 corresponding to both closing directions and is positioned between at least two first elastic elements 223 along its direction of movement, the common moving contact 131 can have contact pressure when closed in both closing directions, thereby improving the reliability of the closed state of each switch in the first switch group 111. Meanwhile, the common moving contact 131 is provided with a first elastic element 223 in both closing directions. The common moving contact 131 can be balanced between the two first elastic elements 223, so that when the common moving contact 131 is in the open state, it needs to overcome the elastic force of the first elastic element 223 no matter which side the stationary contact moves towards. This makes it less likely for the common moving contact 131 to close uncontrollably with the stationary contact on one side when subjected to vibration or impact, thereby improving the reliability and safety of the relay in the fully open state, especially ensuring the personal safety of maintenance personnel when repairing external circuits.
[0216] In at least one embodiment, the contact pressure provided by the first elastic element 223 to the common moving contact 131 when the pusher 222 moves to the first push position is the same as the contact pressure provided by the first elastic element 223 to the common moving contact 131 when the pusher 222 moves to the second push position. This ensures that the common moving contact 131 receives the same contact pressure regardless of which stationary contact it closes with, thus making it less likely for the common moving contact 131 to detach from either stationary contact.
[0217] In at least one embodiment, all closing directions of all moving contacts correspond to the first elastic element 223. Since all closing directions of all moving contacts correspond to the first elastic element 223, contact pressure can be provided for all switches when closed, thereby improving the overall current-carrying capacity of the relay and preventing the moving and stationary contacts from disconnecting due to current contraction when there is excessive current. At the same time, it also improves the reliability and safety of the relay, especially ensuring the personal safety of maintenance personnel when repairing external circuits.
[0218] In at least one embodiment, the pusher 222 is provided with a first limiting part 226, which is provided in accordance with the closing direction of the moving contact. When the moving contact and the stationary contact are closed, the first limiting part 226 contacts or approaches the moving contact along the closing direction of the moving contact. Because the pusher 222 is provided with a first limiting part 226, which is set in the closing direction of the moving contact, and when the moving contact and the stationary contact are closed, it approaches or contacts the moving contact along the closing direction of the moving contact. When the moving contact is subjected to a large current impact, the moving contact overcomes the elastic force of the first elastic member 223 and moves in the disconnection direction due to the repulsive force of the magnetic field formed by the contraction current. By contacting the first limiting part 226, the force is directly transmitted to the pusher 222, the connecting body 221, the rotating member 210 and the driving part 300. This is more conducive to preventing the moving contact from detaching from the stationary contact, or only causing a very short distance of detachment. At this time, the gas expansion formed by the arc is only within a limited range, and will not cause a larger explosion due to the arc being too long. This improves the relay's ability to withstand large currents (commonly known as short circuit resistance), and improves the reliability and lifespan of the relay. Especially when the drive section 300 uses a motor 210, since the motor 210 generally has a position locking function, when the moving contact transmits the force to the motor, the holding force of the motor 310 can be used to make the above technical effect more reliable.
[0219] In at least one embodiment, at least one common moving contact 131 has a first limiting portion 226 corresponding to both closing directions, and the common moving contact 131 is located between at least two first limiting portions 226 along its direction of movement. Since the common moving contact 131 has a first limiting portion 226 corresponding to both closing directions, the common moving contact 131 has the effect of resisting large current surges regardless of which side of the stationary contact it closes with.
[0220] In at least one embodiment, all closing directions of all moving contacts correspond to the first elastic element 223 and the first limiting part 226. Since all closing directions of all moving contacts correspond to the first elastic element 223 and the first limiting part 226, all switches have the effect of resisting large current surges when closed, and the entire relay has higher safety, reliability and longer life.
[0221] In at least one embodiment, when the rotating member 210 is stopped at the first rotating position and / or the second rotating position, the force exerted by the second mating part on the first mating part passes through or is close to the rotation axis O. Since the force exerted by the second mating part on the first mating part passes through or is close to the rotation axis O when the rotating member 210 is stopped at the first rotating position and / or the second rotating position, if a large current surge occurs, causing the magnetic repulsion force on the moving contact to be transmitted to the connecting body, the force exerted by the connecting body 221 on the rotating member 210 cannot generate torque or generates very small torque due to the small lever arm, thus failing to cause the rotating member 210 to rotate. This allows the pushing unit 220 to remain in its current position, resulting in a more reliable resistance to large current surges. The entire relay is safer, more reliable, and has a longer lifespan.
[0222] In at least one embodiment, the pusher 222 is further provided with a second limiting part 227, which is provided corresponding to the closing direction of the moving contact. When the rotating member 210 stops at the third rotation position, the second limiting part 227 blocks the movement of the moving contact along the closing direction to ensure that the moving contact is disconnected from the stationary contact in the closing direction. All closing directions of all moving contacts correspond to the second limiting part 227. Because the second limiting part 227 blocks the movement of the moving contact along the closing direction to ensure that the moving contact is disconnected from the stationary contact in the closing direction when the rotating member 210 stops at the third rotation position, and all closing directions of all moving contacts correspond to the second limiting part 227, when the moving contact is subjected to vibration or impact, even if the elastic force of the first elastic member 223 can be overcome, it will not be able to contact the stationary contact due to the obstruction of the second limiting part 227, thus keeping all switches in the open state. This improves the safety of the relay in the fully open third state. Especially in the case of repairing external circuits, it ensures the personal safety of maintenance personnel.
[0223] In at least one embodiment, the pusher 222 for pushing the common moving contact 131 is provided with a first limiting portion 226 along both closing directions of the common moving contact 131. The first limiting portion 226 is provided corresponding to the closing direction of the moving contact, and the first limiting portion 226 contacts or approaches the moving contact along the closing direction of the moving contact when the moving contact and the stationary contact are closed. The first limiting portion 226 of the common moving contact 131 corresponding to any closing direction constitutes a second limiting portion 227 corresponding to the other closing direction. Since the first limiting portion 226 of the common moving contact 131 corresponding to any closing direction constitutes a second limiting portion 227 corresponding to the other closing direction, the structure of the pusher 222 is simpler. The first limiting portion 226 or the second limiting portion 227 not only plays a role in resisting large current surges when the switch is closed, but also plays a role in maintaining a fully open state when all switches are open.
[0224] In at least one embodiment, one of the first mating part and the second mating part is a sliding groove 232 extending perpendicular to the rotation axis O, and the other is a sliding pin 231 extending into the sliding groove 232 along the rotation axis O, with the sliding pin 231 offset relative to the rotation axis O. Due to the sliding engagement between the sliding pin 232 and the sliding groove 231, the sliding trajectory is more accurate, the impact is less, the connection is more compact, the operation is more reliable, and the relay life is less likely to be reduced due to scratches.
[0225] In at least one embodiment, the rotation direction of the rotating member 210 from the third rotating position to the first rotating position is opposite to the rotation direction from the third rotating position to the second rotating position. Since the rotation direction of the rotating member 210 from the third rotating position to the first rotating position is opposite to the rotation direction from the third rotating position to the second rotating position, the relay needs to pass through a fully open state before switching states from the first or second rotating position, thus improving safety and reliability. Simultaneously, the rotating member 210 can directly switch to the fully open state of the third rotating position from both the second and third rotating positions. Compared to switching via unidirectional rotation, this avoids the safety hazards and excessive contact wear that would result from passing through another closed rotating position when switching from the first or second rotating position to the third rotating position. Furthermore, it also avoids excessively long rotational travel of the rotating member 210, which would increase energy consumption.
[0226] In at least one embodiment, the rotation angle of the rotating member 210 from the third rotation position to the first rotation position and the second rotation position is 90 degrees. Since the rotation angle of the rotating member 221 from the third rotation position to the first rotation position and the second rotation position is 90 degrees, it is advantageous to ensure that when the rotating member 210 is in the first rotation position and the second rotation position, the force exerted by the second mating part on the first mating part can pass through the rotation axis O.
[0227] In at least one embodiment, the rotating member 210 is a crankshaft 211; the first mating part is a journal 213 on the crankshaft 211 that serves as a sliding pin 231; and the second mating part is a sliding groove 232. Since the rotating component 210 is the crankshaft 211, each push unit 220 can be positioned at different locations along the rotation axis O, and the direction of movement of each moving contact can be approximately perpendicular to the rotation axis O. The overall layout of the relay is more reasonable, occupies less area, and is more conducive to assembling the push part 200 around the crankshaft 211 along the rotation axis. That is, the rotating component 210 can allow multiple push units to be installed, enabling more switches to close or open simultaneously. This makes the relay well-suited for applications requiring synchronous switching of multiple circuits. The assembly accuracy and the movement accuracy of the moving contacts are also easier to control, and it is beneficial to control the overall volume of the push part 200. Since the cross-sectional dimensions of the crankshaft 211 can be easily controlled within a small range, more space can be provided for the push unit to facilitate the assembly of the first elastic element 223 that can provide contact pressure and to form a limiting structure for the moving contact that can improve short-circuit resistance or prevent accidental closure. Furthermore, since the crankshaft 211 can be set as a one-piece molded structure, there is no need to assemble each first mating part separately, reducing assembly processes and ensuring high positional accuracy of each journal, which is beneficial to ensuring the reliability of each state switching. Simultaneously, it also allows a larger component of the rotation of the rotating component 210 to act on all moving contacts, thereby enabling all moving contacts to achieve a larger contact gap. Compared to using the drive wheel 217, using the crankshaft 211 for transmission also allows the connecting body 221 or the drive component 225 to move linearly or oscillate relative to the crankshaft 211 in a non-radial direction. Therefore, it avoids the problem of the connecting body 221 or the drive component 225 only being able to move radially when driven by the drive wheel 217, which would result in an excessively large relay size in the radial direction.
[0228] In at least one embodiment, at least two journals 213 are located at different positions along the extension direction of the rotation axis O, and the projections of each journal 213 on a first projection plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O are arranged around the rotation axis.
[0229] In at least one embodiment, the number of journals 213 is one, or the number of journals 213 is at least two, and the projections of all journals 213 on the first projection plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O at least partially overlap. Since the number of journals 213 is one, or the projections of all journals 213 on the first projection plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O overlap, the projected area of the rotating member 210 on the first projection plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O is minimized. This is beneficial for reducing the occupied area and overall volume of the pushing part 200. Furthermore, it facilitates the fabrication and control of the angular accuracy of each first mating part. It also facilitates the sharing of moving or stationary contacts, reducing copper loss, the number of components, and the number of connection terminals.
[0230] In at least one embodiment, the crankshaft 211 is provided with an insertion portion 214, the projected area of which on the first projection plane is smaller than the projected area of each sliding groove 232 on the first projection plane. This allows the insertion portion 214 to be inserted into each sliding groove 232 along the extension direction of the rotation axis O until all sliding grooves 232 are in sliding engagement with their corresponding journals 231. Because the projected area of the insertion portion 214 on the first projection plane is smaller than the projected area of each sliding groove 232 on the first projection plane, the insertion portion 214 can be inserted into each sliding groove 232 along the extension direction of the rotation axis O until all sliding grooves 232 are in sliding engagement with their corresponding journals 213. This facilitates the rapid establishment of a connection between the rotating component 210 and each push unit 220, making assembly easier and more efficient.
[0231] In at least one embodiment, the drive unit 300 includes a motor 310 and a reduction mechanism 320. The output end of the motor 310 remains in a stopped position when the motor 310 stops rotating. The input end of the reduction mechanism 320 is connected to the output end of the motor, and the output end 321 of the reduction mechanism is connected to the rotating member 210. Since the output end of the motor 310 remains in a stopped position when the motor 310 stops rotating, the motor 310 has a position locking function, allowing the rotating member 210 to remain in one of multiple rotation positions without consuming energy, and the contact part 100 to remain in the corresponding state without consuming energy. Since the input end of the reduction mechanism 320 is connected to the output end of the motor 310, and the output end 311 of the reduction mechanism is connected to the rotating member 210, a suitable speed can be provided for the movement of the push part 200 and the moving contact.
[0232] In at least one embodiment, the drive portion 300 further includes a housing 340 that houses the motor 310 and the reduction mechanism 320. Except for the output end 321 of the reduction mechanism, the housing 340 isolates the motor 310 and the reduction mechanism 320 from the push portion 200 and the contact portion 100. Because the housing 340 isolates the motor 310 and the reduction mechanism 320 from the push portion 200 and the contact portion 100, except for the output end 310 of the reduction mechanism, debris generated during the operation of the motor 310 and the reduction mechanism 320 will not affect the contact performance of the contact portion 200. This also facilitates modular production and connection of the drive portion 300 and the push portion 200. Furthermore, using separate push portion 200 and drive portion 300 allows for easier and more rational layout of the components compared to integrating them into a single unit, resulting in greater structural flexibility.
[0233] In at least one embodiment, the drive portion 300 includes a first portion 301 and a second portion 302 extending perpendicularly to each other; the output end 321 of the reduction mechanism is mounted on the first portion 301, which is located at one end of the push portion 200 along the extension direction of the rotation axis O; in the reduction mechanism 320, the rotation axis of the reduction gear 322 located in the first portion 301 is parallel to or coincides with the rotation axis O; the motor 310 is mounted on the second portion 302, which extends along the extension direction of the rotation axis O. Since the output end 321 of the reduction mechanism is mounted on the first portion 301, and the first portion 301 is located at one end of the push portion 200 along the extension direction of the rotation axis O, it is beneficial to the connection relationship between the output end 321 of the reduction mechanism and the rotating member 210. Since the rotation shaft of the reduction gear 322 located in the first part 301 is parallel to or coincides with the rotation axis O, the dimension of the first part 301 along the extension direction of the rotation axis O can be shortened, which is beneficial to saving space. Since the motor 310 is installed in the second part 302, which extends along the extension direction of the rotation axis O, the dimension of the relay along the extension direction of the rotation axis O can be avoided to be too large, which is beneficial to saving the area occupied by the relay.
[0234] In at least one embodiment, the rotation axis of the motor 310 extends along a first direction perpendicular to the rotation axis O, and a second direction is defined that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the rotation axis O. The projection of the second portion 302 onto a projection plane perpendicular to the second direction at least partially coincides with the projection of the pushing portion 200 onto the same projection plane. Since the projection of the second portion 302 onto the same projection plane coincides at least partially with the projection of the pushing portion 200 onto the same projection plane, the driving portion 300 and the pushing portion 200 are arranged in a layout that at least partially overlaps along the second direction. This facilitates the arrangement of the motor 310 along the first direction using the space outside the pushing portion 200 along the first direction, thereby saving the area and space occupied by the relay.
[0235] In at least one embodiment, the driving portion 300 further includes a driving circuit board 330 for driving the motor 310. A receiving member 340 houses the driving circuit board 330. The driving circuit board 330 is at least partially located in the second portion 302 and is disposed perpendicular to the first direction. The projection of the second portion 302 onto a projection plane perpendicular to the first direction at least partially coincides with the projection of the pushing portion 200 onto a projection plane perpendicular to the first direction. Because the projection of the second portion 302 onto a projection plane perpendicular to the first direction at least partially coincides with the projection of the pushing portion onto a projection plane perpendicular to the first direction, the driving portion 300 and the pushing portion 200 are arranged in a layout that at least partially overlaps along the first direction. This facilitates the arrangement of the driving circuit board 330 along the second direction using the space outside the pushing portion 200 along the second direction, thereby saving the area and space occupied by the relay.
[0236] In at least one embodiment, the receiving member 340 is separately disposed from and fixed to the housing. Because the receiving member 340 is separately disposed from the housing, the drive part 300 can be manufactured modularly, resulting in higher assembly efficiency.
[0237] In at least one embodiment, the relay further includes a state detection section 400 for detecting the state of the contact portion 100 and includes at least two auxiliary switches, wherein the two auxiliary switches are a first auxiliary switch 411 and a second auxiliary switch 412; each auxiliary switch includes a stationary spring and a moving spring for closing or opening the auxiliary switch; all auxiliary switches share a moving spring to form a common moving spring 421; the common moving spring 421 is installed in the push portion 200 and located between the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch 411 and the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch 412, and the common moving spring 421 is closed with the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch 411 and the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch 412 respectively when the contact portion 200 is in the first state and the second state. By sharing a common spring to form a common spring 421 between the first auxiliary switch 411 and the second auxiliary switch 412, and positioning the common spring 421 between the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 and the second auxiliary switch 412, the common spring 421 is adapted to be closed with either the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch 411 or the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch 412, or to be open with both the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 and the second auxiliary switch 412. Since the common spring 421 is adapted to be closed with either the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch 411 or the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch 412, or to be open with both the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 and the second auxiliary switch 412, three states can be represented by the two auxiliary switches. For example, the series, parallel, and open states of the vehicle's series-parallel switching circuit can be monitored in real time and reliable status signals can be provided, avoiding safety hazards caused by improper switching of states due to misoperation. Reliable monitoring of the open state of the vehicle's series-parallel switching circuit is particularly beneficial for ensuring the personal safety of maintenance personnel during maintenance. Since the common moving spring 421 is installed in the pushing part 200 and the pushing part 200 is connected to all moving contacts, the common moving spring 421 can directly characterize the state of the contact part through the position change of the pushing part 200, and the state detection effect is more reliable.
[0238] In at least one embodiment, when the contact portion 100 is in the third state, the common moving spring 421 is disconnected from both the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 and the second auxiliary switch 412 and is located between the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 and the second auxiliary switch 412. Since detecting the three states requires at least two auxiliary switches, the above embodiment provides a first auxiliary switch 411 and a second auxiliary switch 412. When one of the two auxiliary switches is closed, it corresponds to the first state and the second state, respectively; when both auxiliary switches are open, it corresponds to the third state. Furthermore, since the state detection portion 400 uses the common moving spring 421 to form the common moving spring to detect the three states of the contact portion 100, the structure of the state detection portion 400 can be simplified, saving the space occupied by the state detection portion 400.
[0239] In at least one embodiment, the state detection section 400 includes three auxiliary switches, with another auxiliary switch being a third auxiliary switch 413. The stationary spring and / or common moving spring 421 of the third auxiliary switch 413 are provided with deformation portions so that the third auxiliary switch 413 closes when the contact portion 100 is in the third state. Since the state detection section 400 uses three auxiliary switches, even when the contact portion 100 is in the third state, one auxiliary switch still sends a state detection signal. Therefore, it is easier for external circuitry to receive signals, and the state of the relay contact portion 100 can be determined by directly judging the state of each switch. Because the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413 and / or the common moving spring 421 are provided with deformation parts, it is advantageous for the common moving spring 423 to close with the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413 at the intermediate position between the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 and the second auxiliary switch 412. That is, the deformation of the deformation parts allows the common moving spring 423 to elastically contact the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413. When the state changes, the friction caused by the elastic deformation can be overcome to detect the other two states, thereby further saving the space occupied by the state detection part. At the same time, the elastic contact achieved by the deformation parts can provide contact pressure when the common moving spring 421 closes with the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413, preventing the common moving spring 421 from detaching from the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413 due to vibration or other reasons.
[0240] In at least one embodiment, each auxiliary switch is a bridge switch, and each auxiliary switch includes two stationary springs, with the common moving spring 421 being a bridge moving spring. Because the auxiliary switches use bridge switches, the status detection terminal 440 only needs to be led out from the stationary springs, avoiding the need to lead out through the common moving spring 421. This reduces structural complexity and prevents the common moving spring 421 from switching detection positions due to large deformation, thus preventing mechanical fatigue of the moving spring and ensuring the service life of the status detection section 400.
[0241] In at least one embodiment, each auxiliary switch has a retaining spring that is connected to a corresponding state detection terminal 440, and the other retaining springs of each auxiliary switch are connected to a common state detection terminal 440. Since each auxiliary switch has a retaining spring that is connected to a corresponding state detection terminal 440, and the other retaining springs of each auxiliary switch are connected to a common state detection terminal 440, it is beneficial to reduce the number of terminals in the state detection section and reduce the complexity of connecting to external low-voltage circuits.
[0242] In at least one embodiment, the common moving spring 421 is provided with a first bridge arm 423, which is used to connect the two stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 or the two stationary springs of the second auxiliary switch 412; the first bridge arm 423 is an elastic bridge arm. Since the first bridge arm 423 is used to connect the two stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 or the two stationary springs of the second auxiliary switch 412 and the first bridge arm 423 is an elastic bridge arm, the first bridge arm 423 can provide contact pressure when the common moving spring 421 is closed with the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch 411 or the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch 412, so as to prevent the common moving spring 421 from losing contact with the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch 411 or the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch 412 due to vibration or other reasons.
[0243] In at least one embodiment, all three auxiliary switches are bridge switches, each auxiliary switch includes two stationary springs, and the common moving spring is a bridge moving spring; the common moving spring 421 is provided with two first deformation parts 422, which are used to contact the two stationary springs of the third auxiliary switch 413.
[0244] In at least one embodiment, the first bridge arm 423 is used to connect the two stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 or the two stationary springs of the second auxiliary switch 413; the first bridge arm 423 is an elastic bridge arm; the extension direction of the first bridge arm 423 is perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the two first deformation parts 422. Since the arrangement direction of the two first deformation parts 422 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the first bridge arm 423, the first bridge arm 423, as an elastic bridge arm, is prevented from affecting the closing or opening of the stationary springs of the first deformation parts 422 and the third auxiliary switch 413. Of course, the two first deformation parts 422 are also prevented from affecting the closing or opening of the common moving spring 421 and the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch 411 or the second auxiliary switch 412.
[0245] In at least one embodiment, the stationary springs of both third auxiliary switches 413 are provided with second deformation portions 434 that elastically contact the first deformation portion 422. By simultaneously providing the first deformation portion 422 on the common moving spring 421 and the second deformation portion 434 on the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413, the contact pressure is greater when the common moving spring 421 contacts the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413, resulting in better vibration damping. Furthermore, after the common moving spring 421 disengages from the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413, the recovery deformation of the second deformation portion 434 ensures that the common moving spring 421 re-closes with the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch 413 with higher reliability.
[0246] In at least one embodiment, the pushing part 200 includes a rotating member 210, which is driven by the driving part 200 to rotate around the rotation axis O and stop at three rotation positions. The first rotation position corresponds to the first state of the contact part 100, the second rotation position corresponds to the second state of the contact part 100, and the third rotation position corresponds to the third state of the contact part 100. All moving contacts are directly or indirectly driven by the rotating member to close or open with the stationary contacts. The driving part 300 includes a motor 310, whose output terminal remains at a stop position when the motor 310 stops rotating. Each auxiliary switch also sends a position signal to the driving part 300 to control or assist in controlling the motor 310 to drive the rotating member 210 to stop at the corresponding rotation position. By sending position signals to the driving part through the two auxiliary switches of the state detection part, the motor 310 can reliably drive the rotating member 210 to stop at the rotation position corresponding to the state of the contact part 100.
[0247] In at least one embodiment, the contact portion 100 includes at least three switches; all the switches of the contact portion 100 form at least two switch groups, each switch group having a moving contact, and at least one switch group is a first switch group 111, wherein the common moving contact 131 in the first switch group 111 is regarded as a moving contact. Since the contact portion 100 has at least two switch groups, at least one of which is a first switch group 111, and since the first switch group 111 has three switching states, the increased number of switch groups enables the entire contact portion 100 to achieve at least three switching states, meeting the switching requirements of circuits with complex control logic. Because the contact portion 100 has at least two switch groups, and each switch group corresponds to a moving contact, the relay provides the material basis for satisfying series-parallel switching. This is because, when switching to the parallel state, at least two different switches need to be closed simultaneously, and these two switches do not share a moving contact. For example, when one switch in the first switch group 111 is closed along with a switch in another switch group, it can be used to achieve a parallel connection of external circuits; when the other switch in the first switch group 111 is closed, it can be used to achieve a series connection of external circuits. Since at least one switch group is the first switch group 111, in addition to achieving series-parallel switching, it also provides the material basis for having a fully open state, thus providing a material basis for meeting maintenance needs, improving the lifespan of energy storage batteries, and increasing the operating range of new energy vehicles.
[0248] In at least one embodiment, at least one stationary contact of at least one switch group is shared by other switch groups to form a common stationary contact 141. Since at least two switch groups share a stationary contact to form the common stationary contact 141, copper losses are reduced, thereby reducing costs. This also helps to further reduce the number of leads, allowing the connection terminals 150 led out from the common stationary contact 141 to become common points (points with the same potential) for different circuits, such as common points for series and parallel circuits. This further reduces copper losses, thereby reducing costs, saving space, and reducing fault points and the probability of failure. This ensures stable performance of the relay even in harsh environments with large vibrations or temperature variations. Simultaneously, it simplifies wiring between the relay and external circuits, increases integration, and reduces resistance and voltage losses.
[0249] In at least one embodiment, at least one switch group is a second switch group 112 comprising only one switch; the contact portion 100 includes at least one switch group 101, which includes a first switch group 111 and a second switch group 112 having a common stationary contact 141. Only the stationary contact on one side of the common moving contact 131 in the first switch group 111 is shared by the second switch group 112 to form the common stationary contact 141. In the switch group 101, the two moving contacts have the same direction of movement, and their arrangement direction is perpendicular to their direction of movement. Since a first switch group 111 and a second switch group 112 constitute a switch group, a minimum unit capable of performing series-parallel switching is formed. This allows for changing the number of switch groups 101 according to the number of circuit units 21 to meet various complex series-parallel switching requirements. Because the two moving contacts in the switch group 101 have the same direction of movement, the design difficulty of the push portion 200 and the drive portion 300 is reduced. Since the arrangement direction of the two moving contacts is perpendicular to the direction of their movement, the size of the relay along the direction of the moving contacts' movement can be reduced, which is more conducive to reducing the area occupied by the relay and making more reasonable use of the relay space.
[0250] In at least one embodiment, when the common moving contact 131 and the common stationary contact 141 are closed in switch group 101, the switch of the second switch group 112 is open. Since the second switch group 112 is open when the common moving contact 131 and the common stationary contact 141 are closed, this provides a material basis for all lead-out terminals to be located on one side of the common moving contact 131 along its direction of operation, which is more conducive to connection with external circuits and has greater versatility for various scenarios.
[0251] In at least one embodiment, in switch group 101, the orientation of the common stationary contact 141 at the stationary contact of the first switch group 111 and the orientation of the stationary contact of the common moving contact 131 are opposite to each other along the operating direction of the common moving contact 131. Since the orientation of the common stationary contact 1411 at the stationary contact of the first switch group 111 and the orientation of the stationary contact of the common switch group 112 are opposite to each other along the operating direction of the common moving contact 131, on the one hand, this allows another stationary contact in the first switch group 111 to be arranged on the same side as the portion of the common stationary contact 141 in the second switch group 112 relative to the common moving contact 131. On the other hand, this facilitates arranging the connection terminals 150 of all stationary contacts on the same side of the common moving contact 131 along its operating direction, thereby improving relay integration. The compactness of the structure reduces copper loss, facilitates connection with external circuits, and improves the versatility of the application. On the other hand, it also ensures that the common moving contact 131 in the first switch group 111 and the moving contact in the second switch group 112 always move in the same direction, thereby reducing the complexity of the driving part 300 and the pushing part 200 and reducing space occupation. In addition, it can avoid the need to drive the moving contacts of different switch groups to move in opposite directions through a rotating armature similar to that in a traditional magnetic circuit, avoid motion component loss, and better achieve relay miniaturization.
[0252] In at least one embodiment, the number of switch groups 101 is at least two; the moving contacts of the second switch groups 112 of each switch group 101 share a common connection terminal; the stationary contacts of the first switch groups 111 of each switch group 101 located on the other side of the common moving contact 131 share a common connection terminal 150. Since the number of switch groups 101 is at least two, it can accommodate more circuit units 21 requiring series-parallel switching. Furthermore, the basic configuration of the relay is not changed by expanding the number of switch groups 101. Because the moving contacts of the second switch groups 112 of each switch group 101 share a common connection terminal 150; and the stationary contacts of the first switch groups 111 of each switch group 101 located on the other side of the common moving contact 131 share a common connection terminal 150, the number of connection terminals 150 can still be minimized even after expanding the number of switch groups 101. This not only reduces copper loss and cost but also simplifies the wiring between the relay and external circuits, making the relay easier to use.
[0253] In at least one embodiment, each common stationary contact 141 has only one connection terminal 150, and each common moving contact 131 has only one connection terminal 150. Since each common stationary contact 141 and each common moving contact 131 has only one connection terminal 150, not only is copper loss reduced and relay cost lowered, but the wiring between the relay and external circuits is also simpler, making the relay easier to use.
[0254] In at least one embodiment, the arrangement direction of at least two switch groups intersects with the operating direction of at least one common moving contact 131. Since the arrangement direction of the two switch groups intersects with the operating direction of at least one common moving contact 131, the size of the relay along the operating direction of the common moving contact 131 can be reduced, which is more conducive to reducing the area occupied by the relay, making more reasonable use of the relay space, and better adapting to the requirements of various external spaces.
[0255] In at least one embodiment, all common moving contacts 131 operate in the same direction, and the arrangement direction of any two switch groups is perpendicular to the operating direction of the common moving contacts 131. Because all common moving contacts 131 operate in the same direction, and the arrangement direction of any two switch groups is perpendicular to the operating direction of the common moving contacts 131, the size of the relay along the operating direction of the common moving contacts 131 can be reduced, which is more conducive to reducing the area occupied by the relay, making more rational use of relay space, and better adapting to the requirements of various external spaces. Since all common moving contacts 131 operate in the same direction, the design difficulty of the pushing part 200 and the driving part 300 is reduced.
[0256] In at least one embodiment, the arrangement direction of all switch groups is perpendicular to the operating direction of the common moving contact 131. Since the arrangement direction of all switch groups is perpendicular to the operating direction of the common moving contact 131, it is easier to expand the number of switches along the arrangement direction of the switch groups, which facilitates the design expansion according to the requirements of external circuits. At the same time, the consistent arrangement direction of all switch groups is beneficial for all moving contacts to be located on the side of the push portion 200 perpendicular to the operating direction of the common moving contact 131, thereby shortening the distance between switches that need to share a stationary contact, resulting in lower copper loss and lower cost of the common stationary contact 141.
[0257] A series-parallel switching circuit according to at least one embodiment includes circuit units 21, circuit terminals 22, and a relay as described in at least one embodiment above. The number of circuit units 21 is at least two, and the number of circuit terminals 22 is two. The contact portion 100 includes a series switch that closes only in a first state and a parallel switch that closes only in a second state. The series switch is configured for each of two adjacent circuit units 21 and is used to control the connection between the two adjacent circuit units 21. The parallel switch is connected between a circuit unit 21 and one of the circuit terminals 22 and is used to control the connection between the circuit unit 21 and the circuit terminal 22. When the contact portion 100 is in the first state, each circuit unit 21 is connected in series between the two circuit terminals 22. When the contact portion 100 is in the second state, each circuit unit 21 is connected in parallel between the two circuit terminals 22. When the contact portion 100 is in the third state, each circuit unit 21 is disconnected from both circuit terminals 22. Because a three-state relay is used, and the series and parallel switches are used to control the switching between the series and parallel states respectively, series-parallel switching can be achieved. Because the relay has a fully open third state, it can meet maintenance requirements.
[0258] In at least one embodiment, all series switches are located in the first switch group 111. Since the number of series switches is less than that of parallel switches and all series switches are located in the first switch group 111, the integration of the first switch group 111 is maximized, the volume occupied is reduced, the copper loss is lower, the cost is lower, and it can be better applied to various scenarios.
[0259] In at least one embodiment, the contact portion 100 of the relay has only one series switch and two parallel switches; two adjacent circuit units 21 correspond to one relay, and one series switch is used to control the on / off state between the two adjacent circuit units 21; the two parallel switches are used to control the on / off state between the two adjacent circuit units 21 and different circuit terminals 22, respectively; the contact portions 100 of all relays are simultaneously in one of three states. By making two adjacent circuit units 21 correspond to one relay with three switches, the series-parallel switching circuit can have higher scalability. Even if the number of circuit units 21 changes with the development of technology or changes in requirements, the number of relays only needs to be changed accordingly, without changing the internal structure of the relays. Therefore, it can more flexibly respond to demand scenarios.
[0260] In at least one embodiment, circuit unit 21 is an energy storage battery. Since circuit unit 21 is an energy storage battery, the state of the energy storage battery can be determined by measuring its voltage even in the fully disconnected third state.
[0261] The vehicle in at least one embodiment includes a series-parallel switching circuit as described in at least one embodiment above, wherein each circuit unit 21 provides electrical power to the vehicle's power system when the contact portion 100 is in a first state or a second state.
[0262] The charging system in at least one embodiment includes a charging power supply, a controller, and a vehicle as described above. The energy storage battery is rechargeable. The controller is signal-connected to the drive section 300 to control the drive section 300 to place the contact section 100 in one of three states. The controller is adapted to be electrically connected to the charging power supply and to control the drive section 300 to place the contact section 100 in a first state or a second state so that the charging power supply charges each circuit unit 21.
[0263] In at least one embodiment, the vehicle further includes sensors corresponding to the circuit units 21. These sensors are signal-connected to the controller and used to sense the voltage value of the corresponding circuit unit 21 when the controller controls the drive section 300 to put the contact section 100 into a third state. Because a sensor is provided for each circuit unit 21, and the voltage value of each circuit unit 21 is measured when the controller controls the contact section 100 to be in the third state, the states of each circuit unit 21 can be compared, thereby determining whether pre-charging is required or which circuit units 21 need to be pre-charged.
[0264] In at least one embodiment, the charging system further includes a pre-charging circuit electrically connected to each circuit unit 21. A controller is also signal-connected to the pre-charging circuit and controls the pre-charging circuit to pre-charge some circuit units based on the voltage values sensed by each sensor. The controller only controls the drive unit 300 to put the contact part 100 into a second state after pre-charging is complete. Because controlling the contact part 100 to be in the second state to charge each circuit unit after pre-charging is complete can better improve the health and lifespan of each circuit unit 21, avoid overcharging or undercharging of some circuit units 21, and reduce the impact on the vehicle's driving range after charging is complete.
[0265] Although the contact portions shown in both embodiments are in a fully disconnected state, the scope of protection of each claim in this application is not contingent upon the contact portions being in a fully disconnected state. The fully disconnected state of the contact portions is merely a preferred embodiment.
[0266] The description of the above specification and embodiments is used to explain the scope of protection of this application, but does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.
Claims
1. A state detection section for use in a relay, characterized in that, The state detection section includes at least two auxiliary switches, namely a first auxiliary switch and a second auxiliary switch. Each auxiliary switch includes a moving spring and a stationary spring for closing or opening the auxiliary switch. The first auxiliary switch and the second auxiliary switch share a moving spring to form a common moving spring. The common moving spring is located between the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch and the second auxiliary switch, and is adapted to close with the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch or the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch, or to open with both the stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch and the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch.
2. The state detection section as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The state detection section includes three auxiliary switches, and another auxiliary switch is a third auxiliary switch. The third auxiliary switch shares the common moving spring with the first and second auxiliary switches. The common moving spring and / or the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch are provided with a deformation part so that the common moving spring is closed with the stationary spring of the third auxiliary switch when both the stationary springs of the first and second auxiliary switches are disconnected.
3. The state detection section as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The common moving spring and each of the stationary springs are respectively connected to the status detection terminal.
4. The state detection section as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each auxiliary switch is a bridge switch, and each auxiliary switch includes two stationary springs and a common moving spring, which is a bridge moving spring.
5. The state detection section as described in claim 4, characterized in that, Each auxiliary switch has a stationary spring that is connected to a corresponding status detection terminal, and the other stationary springs of each auxiliary switch are connected to a common status detection terminal.
6. The state detection section as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The common moving spring is provided with a first bridge arm, which is used to connect the two stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch or the two stationary springs of the second auxiliary switch; the first bridge arm is an elastic bridge arm.
7. The state detection section as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Each auxiliary switch is a bridge switch, and each auxiliary switch includes two stationary springs and a common moving spring, which is a bridge moving spring. The common moving spring is provided with two first deformation parts, which are used to contact the two stationary springs of the third auxiliary switch.
8. The state detection section as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The common moving spring is provided with a first bridge arm, which is used to connect the two stationary springs of the first auxiliary switch or the two stationary springs of the second auxiliary switch; the first bridge arm is an elastic bridge arm; the extension direction of the first bridge arm is perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the two first deformation parts.
9. The state detection section as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The stationary springs of both third auxiliary switches are provided with a second deformation part that elastically contacts the first deformation part.
10. A relay, characterized in that its include: The contact portion includes at least two switches, each switch including a moving contact and a stationary contact; The actuating part is connected to all moving contacts to actuate each moving contact to close or open with the stationary contact and to keep the contact part in at least three states. The three states are a first state, a second state, and a third state; the state detection part is as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; the common moving spring is installed on the pushing part, and when the contact part is in the first state and the second state, the common moving spring is closed with the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch and the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch respectively, and when the contact part is in the third state, the common moving spring is disconnected from both the stationary spring of the first auxiliary switch and the stationary spring of the second auxiliary switch.
11. The relay as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, Some switches in the contact area are closed in the first state, other switches are closed in the second state, and all switches are open in the third state.
12. The relay as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The relay further includes a drive section, which includes a motor. The output of the motor remains in a stopped position when the motor stops rotating. The push section includes a rotating component for directly or indirectly pushing all moving contacts. The rotating component is driven by the drive section to rotate around a rotation axis and stop at three rotation positions. Among the three rotation positions, the first rotation position corresponds to the first state of the contact part, the second rotation position corresponds to the second state of the contact part, and the third rotation position corresponds to the third state of the contact part. All moving contacts are directly or indirectly driven by the rotating component to close or open with the stationary contacts. Each auxiliary switch also transmits a position signal to the drive section to control or assist in controlling the motor to drive the rotating component to stop at the corresponding rotation position.
13. The relay as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that, The pushing part further includes at least one pushing unit; a rotating component rotates around a rotation axis; the pushing unit is driven by the rotating component and pushes at least one moving contact to close or open with a stationary contact; a common moving spring is installed in the pushing unit.
14. The relay as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that, The pushing unit includes a pushing member driven by a rotating member, the pushing member moving linearly perpendicular to the rotation axis, and the common moving spring fixed to the pushing member.