Circuit breaker and electrical device

Abstract

Circuit breakers, comprehensive: a communication unit that is connected to an external facility for communication purposes; a relay configured to open and close a power line that delivers electrical power from a power source to a load; a control unit configured to control the relay based on information received from the external device via the communication unit; and an output connector that is connected to an output cable that delivers the electrical power input from the power source to the load, wherein the output connector has a connection surface which is provided to be inclined and directed downwards in a state of use, wherein an insertion port which is connected to the output cable is open in the connection surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit breaker and an electrical device. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In an outdoor cable connection device, if a cable is led out laterally from the device and condensation accumulates on the cable, there is traditionally a risk that water droplets will move along the cable and penetrate into the device, causing a short circuit.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a control device housed in an EV charging station. However, since the control device is configured to be housed in an underground housing portion, Patent Document 1 relates to a technique for preventing flooding of an electrical component due to heavy rain and does not disclose a countermeasure against the intrusion of water droplets due to condensation into a device via a cable. CITATION LISTPATENT LITERATURE

[0004] Patent Document 1: JP 2023-46536 A SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0005] The present invention has been developed in view of the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for preventing the intrusion of water droplets due to condensation. SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0006] The present invention to solve the problems described above provides a circuit breaker comprising: a communication unit communicatively connected to an external device; a relay that opens and closes a power line that supplies electric power from a power source to a load; a control unit that controls the relay based on information received from the external device via the communication unit; and an output connector connected to an output cable that outputs the electric power input from the power source to the load, wherein the output connector includes a connection surface provided to be inclined and directed downward in a use state, and an insertion port connected to the output cable is opened in the connection surface.

[0007] According to this configuration, when water drops adhere to the output cable due to condensation, since the output cable is led out downward from the insertion port of the connection surface of the output connector, the water drops adhering to the output cable move to the side opposite to the connection surface of the output connector, and the water drops from the output connector along the output cable can be prevented from entering the circuit breaker.

[0008] In the present invention, a casing accommodating the communication unit, the relay, the control unit, and the output connector may be further included, and the casing may include an inclined surface portion provided to be continuous with a lower end portion of the connection surface exposed from the casing and inclined and directed upward in the use state.

[0009] According to this configuration, since the inclined surface portion is provided in the use state to be continuous with the lower end portion of the connection surface exposed from the housing and to be inclined and directed upward, water drops adhering to the connection surface fall along the connection surface to the lower end portion and further fall downward along the inclined surface portion, so that the water drops can be prevented from intruding from the connection surface of the output connector into the circuit breaker.

[0010] In the present invention, a first opening and a second opening may be further provided, wherein the first opening is provided on a surface of the housing extending in the vertical direction in the use state, the second opening is provided to be inclined and directed downward at a position recessed inside the housing in the use state, and the connecting surface is exposed through the second opening. Further, the inclined surface portion may be formed to be continuous from a lower edge portion of the second opening to a lower edge portion of the first opening.

[0011] According to this configuration, the connection surface and the inclined surface portion of the output connector can be formed without increasing the volume of the housing.

[0012] In the present invention, the connecting surface and / or the inclined surface portion may form a guide portion that guides the falling of water drops.

[0013] According to this configuration, it is possible to cause water drops adhering due to condensation to fall along one or both of the connecting surfaces of the output connector and the inclined surface portion, and thus it is possible to prevent water drops from entering the circuit breaker.

[0014] In the present invention, a further input connector connected to an input cable that inputs the electric power from the power source may be included, and a second insertion terminal connected to the input cable may be provided so as to open downward in the use state.

[0015] According to this configuration, since the input cable is connected from below to the second insertion terminal, which opens downward in the use state, it is possible to prevent water droplets due to condensation from entering the circuit breaker through the input terminal.

[0016] Furthermore, the present invention provides an electrical device comprising: a communication unit communicatively connected to an external device; an output connector connected to an output line; a relay that opens and closes a line connected to the output connector; and a control unit that controls the relay based on information received from the external device via the communication unit, wherein the output connector includes a connection surface provided to be inclined and directed downward in a use state, and an insertion port connected to the output line is opened in the connection surface.

[0017] According to this configuration, when water drops adhere to the output line due to condensation, since the output line is led out downward from the insertion port of the connection surface of the output connector, the water drops adhering to the output line move to the side opposite to the connection surface of the output connector, and the water drops from the output connector along the output line can be prevented from invading the electrical device. ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of water droplets due to condensation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of a charging system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of a power switching module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the power switching module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the power switching module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a use state of an output connector of the power switching module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a use state of the periphery of the output connector of the power switching module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is another schematic cross-sectional view of the power switching module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSApplication example

[0019] An application example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0020] Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a power switching module 100 used in a Fig. 1 shown charging system 200 is used. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the power switching module 100, and Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the power switching module 100.

[0021] The charging system 200 includes an EV charging outlet 220, a power switching module 100 that opens and closes a power line PL1 for charging a storage battery of an electric vehicle (EV) 230 connected via the EV charging outlet 220 with electric power supplied from an AC power source 210, and a charging management system 250 connected to the power switching module 100 via a network NT1.

[0022] The power switching module 100 includes a relay 101 that opens and closes the power line PL1, a power measuring unit 102 that measures the electric power supplied to the EV 230 via the power line PL1, a communication unit 103 that sends and receives information between the power switching module 100 and an external device through a predetermined communication method, and a control unit 104 that integrally controls the relay 101, the power measuring unit 102, and the communication unit 103.

[0023] The power switching module 100 is housed as a module in a housing of a pole or a box, which is a charging device 260 provided with the EV charging outlet 220.

[0024] An opening 124 having a substantially square shape is formed near an upper end in the longitudinal direction of a front surface portion 121 of a front-side housing 120, and an output connector 172, described below, is exposed through the opening 124. The opening 124 is provided so as to be inclined and directed downward at a position recessed from the front surface portion 121 toward the inside of a housing 110, that is, toward a rear surface portion 131.A guide portion 126a having a substantially rectangular plate shape is provided so as to extend from a lower end edge 125a of an outer opening 125 to a lower end edge 124a of the opening 124, the outer opening 125 having a substantially square shape and being provided near the upper end in the longitudinal direction of the front surface portion 121 of the front housing 120. The guide portion 126a is inclined so as to face upward. An end edge of the guide portion 126a on the side of the opening 124 is bent in the Y direction. A side wall 126b having a substantially triangular plate shape is provided so as to extend from a left end edge 125b of the outer opening 125 to a left end edge 124b of the opening 124.Similarly, a side wall having a substantially triangular shape is provided so as to extend from a right (X-direction) end edge 125c of the outer opening 125 to a right end edge of the opening 124.

[0025] A connection surface 172a of the output connector 172, exposed through the opening 124 of the front housing 120, is inclined downward (in the -(minus)-Y direction) from the front side (Z direction) to correspond to the opening 124. Three insertion terminals 172b to 172d for connecting an output cable connecting the power switching module 100 and the EV charging outlet 220 are provided on the connection surface 172a of the output connector 172.

[0026] At the bottom (-Y direction) of the power switching module 100, an opening 112 is provided through a side wall portion 122 of the front housing 120 and a side wall portion 132 of a rear housing 130, and an input connector 171 for connecting an input cable connecting the AC power source 210 and the power switching module 100 is exposed through the opening 112. In the input connector 171, insertion terminals 171a to 171c connected to the input cable are provided so as to open downward (-Y direction). Water drops adhering to the side wall portion 122 at the bottom (-Y direction) of the front housing 120, the side wall portion 132 at the bottom (-Y direction) of the rear housing 130, and the input cable due to condensation fall downward and can thus be prevented from entering the power switching module 100.

[0027] Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the power switching module 100. In Fig. 4 elements are omitted to simplify the description. The Fig. The cross-section illustrated in Figure 4 is a cross-section parallel to the YZ plane of the section indicated by a dashed line CS1 in Fig. 2, viewed from the direction of an arrow D1. Fig. Fig. 4 illustrates a position in a normal use state, as housed in the charging device 260, in which the Y direction is an upward direction. At this time, the EV charging outlet 220 is positioned on the front side of a column or box that is the charging device 260, that is, in the Z direction of the Fig. 4 shown power switching module 100.

[0028] As described above, the opening 124 of the housing 110 and the connecting surface 172a of the output connector 172 are provided to be inclined and directed downward.

[0029] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing only the output connector 172 in the Fig. 4 schematically shows the cross-sectional view. Fig. Figure 5 illustrates the relationship between the insertion terminal 172c of the output connector 172 and an output cable 400 connected to the insertion terminal 172c (the same applies to the insertion terminals 172b and 172d). The power switching module 100 is mounted in the housing of the charging device 260 in the manner shown in Fig. 4. One end of the output cable 400 is connected to the insertion port 172c of the output connector 172, and the other end is connected to the EV charging outlet 220. Since the connection surface 172a of the output connector 172 is inclined to face downward, the insertion port 172c is provided to face upward from the connection surface 172a into the power switching module 1002a. Thus, the output cable 400 connected to the output connector 172 is led out from the side of the output connector 172 toward the front side, so that it hangs downward, at least initially.Regardless of the relative positional relationship between the power switching module 100 (the output connector 172) and the EV charging outlet 220, when condensation forms on the surface of the output cable 400, water droplets move downward on the output cable 400 as indicated by an arrow DR1, and thus can be prevented from entering the power switching module 100.

[0030] Fig. Figure 6 is a diagram schematically showing the periphery of the output connector 172 in the Fig. 4. As described with reference to Fig. 4, the power switching module 100 is arranged along the vertical direction (Y-axis direction).

[0031] Water drops adhering to the front surface portion 121 of the front housing 120 fall downward along the front surface portion 121, as indicated by an arrow DR2, move beyond the side of the opening 124 or the outer opening 125, and fall downward along the front surface portion 121 or an opening cover 140, as indicated by an arrow DR5. The water drops that have moved to the side of the opening 124 fall along the connection surface 172a of the output connector 172 exposed through the opening 124, as indicated by an arrow DR3, or fall along the output cable 400, as indicated by the arrow DR1, as shown in FIG. Fig. 5, downward. The water droplets that have fallen down along the exposed connecting surface 172a move beyond the opening 124 and fall downward along the guide portion 126a. The water droplets that have reached the lower end of the guide portion 126a fall from the lower end edge 125a of the outer opening 125 along the front surface portion 121 or the opening cover 140.

[0032] Since water drops adhering to the surface of the front case 120 due to condensation fall downward as described above, it is possible to prevent the water drops from entering the power switching module 100. First embodiment

[0033] A charging system 200 including a power switching module 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the configuration of the device and system described in this embodiment should be changed according to various conditions. That is, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiment.

[0034] The charging system 200 includes an EV charging outlet 220, a power switching module 100 that opens and closes a power line PL1 for charging an electric vehicle (EV) storage battery 230 connected to electric power supplied from an AC power source 210 via the EV charging outlet 220, and a charging management system 250 connected to the power switching module 100 via a network NT1. Here, the AC power source 210 and the EV 230 correspond to the power source and load of the present invention, respectively. The power line PL1 corresponds to the power line and line of the present invention. The power switching module 100 corresponds to the power switch and the electrical device of the present invention, and the charging management system 250 corresponds to the external device of the present invention.

[0035] The power switching module 100 mainly includes a relay 101, a power measurement unit 102, a communication unit 103, and a control unit 104. The relay 101 opens and closes the power line PL1 connecting the AC power source 210 and the EV charging outlet 220. The power measurement unit 102 measures the electric power supplied to the EV 230 via the power line PL1. The communication unit 103 is an interface that sends and receives information between the power switching module 100 and an external device through a predetermined communication method. The control unit 104 integrally controls the relay 101, the power measurement unit 102, and the communication unit 103. Here, the relay 101, the communication unit 103, and the control unit 104 correspond to the relay, the communication unit, and the control unit of the present invention, respectively.

[0036] The control unit 104 includes a processor, such as an MPU, and a memory.

[0037] An operating example of the charging system 200 described above is described below.

[0038] The charging management system 250 is, for example, a computing device, such as a plurality of servers arranged in a cloud.

[0039] The charging management system 250 monitors and controls the power switching module 100 connected via the network NT1.

[0040] The power switching module 100 is housed, for example, as a module in the housing of a pole or a box that houses a charging device 260 equipped with the EV charging outlet 220. The relay 101 and the power measuring unit 102 are arranged on the power line PL1 that connects the AC power source 210 and the EV charging outlet 220, and supplies AC power from the AC power source 210 to the EV 230 via the EV charging outlet 220. The relay 101 opens and closes the power line PL1 according to an instruction from the control unit 104 to charge the storage battery of the EV 230. The power measuring unit 102 measures the electric power or an amount of electric power supplied from the AC power source 210 to the EV 230 via the EV charging outlet 220. The charging management system 250 monitors and controls the operation of the power switching module 100 based on the required information sent by the communication unit 103.

[0041] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external shape of the power switching module 100, and Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the power switching module 100. It should be noted that in Fig. 3 elements are omitted to simplify the description.

[0042] The power switching module 100 is arranged in the housing of a post or a box, which is the charging device 260, so that the Fig. 2, the Z direction is the front side (the -Z direction is the back side), the Y direction is the top side (the -Y direction is the bottom side), and the X direction is the right side when facing the front side (the -X direction is the left side when facing the front side) in the use state. At this time, the front side is a side on which the EV charging outlet 220 is arranged in the charging device 260. In the following description, the front (front side), the back side, top, bottom, left, and right are based on a state viewed from the front side in the use state.

[0043] The power switching module 100 generally includes a housing 110 having a front housing 120 and a rear housing 130, an opening cover 140, an IoT substrate 150, a thermally conductive layer 160, and a power substrate 170. The housing 110, which has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a hollow interior, is divided along a parting plane 111 parallel to a front surface portion 121 and a rear surface portion 131 into the front housing 120 on the front side and the rear housing 130 on the rear side. The front housing 120 and the rear housing 130 are coupled to each other by suitable coupling means.The front housing 120 has a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape with a bottom and includes a side wall portion 122 rising from the periphery of the front surface portion 121 having a substantially rectangular shape parallel to the XY plane in a direction (-Z direction) perpendicular to the front surface portion 121. Similarly, the rear housing 130 has a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape with a bottom and includes a side wall portion 132 rising from the periphery of the rear surface portion 131 having a substantially rectangular shape parallel to the XY plane in a direction (Z direction) perpendicular to the rear surface portion 131.Due to the split structure in which the housing 110 is divided into the front housing 120 and the rear housing 130, the housing 110 of the power switching module 100 can be formed with a simple configuration. Here, the housing 110 corresponds to the housing of the present invention. The front surface portion 121 forms a front surface of the present invention. The front surface of the present invention may include the side wall portion 122 of the housing 110. In this case, the front housing 120 and the rear housing 130 may also be referred to as the second housing portion and the first housing portion of the housing 110, respectively. The opening cover 140 and the heat-conducting layer 160 may also be referred to as the lid portion and the heat-conducting member, respectively. The IoT substrate 150 and the power substrate 170 may also be referred to as the second substrate and the first substrate, respectively.

[0044] Near the lower end in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the front surface portion 121 of the front-side housing 120, a recessed portion 123 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is formed, which is recessed from the front to the back. The recessed portion 123 includes a bottom portion 123a parallel to the front surface portion 121 and a side wall portion 123b rising from the periphery of the bottom portion 123a perpendicular to the bottom portion 123a and connected to the front surface portion 121, thereby forming an outwardly (front side) opening opening 123c. The opening 123c of the recessed portion 123, which is provided in the front-side housing 120, is covered with the opening cover 140, which is a substantially rectangular plate-like member, in an openable and closable manner.

[0045] An opening 124 having a substantially square shape is formed near the upper end in the longitudinal direction of the front surface portion 121 of the front-side housing 120, and an output connector 172, which will be described later, is exposed through the opening 124 toward the front side. The opening 124 is provided so as to be inclined downward (-Y direction) parallel to the XY plane toward the inside of the housing 110, that is, toward the rear surface portion 131 (-Z direction), at a position recessed from the front surface portion 121.A guide portion 126a having a substantially rectangular plate shape is provided so as to extend from a lower (Y-direction) end edge 125a of an outer opening 125 to a lower (Y-direction) end edge 124a of the opening 124. The outer opening 125 has a substantially square shape and is provided near the upper end in the longitudinal direction of the front surface portion 121 of the front-side housing 120. The guide portion 126a is inclined from the upper side (Y-direction) to the front side (Z-direction). An end edge of the guide portion 126a on the opening 124 side is bent in the Y-direction. A side wall 126b having a substantially triangular plate shape is provided so as to extend from a left (-X direction) end edge 125b of the outer opening 125 to a left (-X direction) end edge 124b of the opening 124.Similarly, a side wall having a substantially triangular shape is provided so as to extend from a right (X-direction) end edge 125c of the outer opening 125 to a right end edge of the opening 124. Here, the output connector 172 corresponds to the output connector of the present invention. The outer opening 125 corresponds to the first opening of the present invention, and the opening 124 corresponds to the second opening of the present invention. The lower end edge 125a of the outer opening 125 corresponds to the lower edge portion of the first opening of the present invention, and the lower end edge 124a of the opening 124 corresponds to the lower edge portion of the second opening of the present invention. The guide portion 126a corresponds to the inclined surface portion and the guide portion of the present invention.

[0046] The connecting surface 172a of the output connector 172, which is exposed through the opening 124 of the front housing 120, is inclined downward (in the -Y direction) from the front side (Z direction) to correspond to the opening 124. Three insertion terminals 172b to 172d for connecting an output cable 400 or the like (see Fig. 5) connecting the power switching module 100 and the EV charging outlet 220 are provided on the connection surface 172a of the output connector 172. The connection surface 172a corresponds to the connection surface of the present invention. The insertion terminals 172b to 172d correspond to the insertion terminal of the present invention. The output cable 400 corresponds to the output cable and output line of the present invention.

[0047] At the bottom (-Y direction) of the power switching module 100, an opening 112 is provided through the side wall portion 122 of the front housing 120 and the side wall portion 132 of the rear housing 130, and an input connector 171 for connecting an input cable connecting the AC power source 210 and the power switching module 100 is exposed through the opening 112. In the input connector 171, insertion terminals 171a to 171c connected to the input cable are provided so as to open downward (-Y direction). Water drops adhering to the side wall portion 122 at the bottom (-Y direction) of the front housing 120, the side wall portion 132 at the bottom (-Y direction) of the rear housing 130, and the input cable due to condensation fall downward and can thus be prevented from entering the power switching module 100.Here, the input connector 171 corresponds to the input connector of the present invention, and the insertion terminals 171a to 171c correspond to the second insertion terminal of the present invention.

[0048] In Fig. 4, which is a schematic cross-sectional view of the power switching module 100, elements are omitted to simplify the description. The cross section shown in Fig. 4 is a cross-section parallel to the YZ plane of the section defined by the dashed line CS1 in Fig. 2, viewed from the direction of arrow D1. Fig. Fig. 4 illustrates a position in a normal use state, as housed in the charging device 260, in which the Y direction is an upward direction. At this time, the EV charging outlet 220 is positioned at the front of a pole or a box that is the charging device 260, that is, in the Z direction of the Fig. 4 shown power switching module 100.

[0049] As described above, the opening 124 of the housing 110 and the connecting surface 172a of the output connector 172 are provided to be inclined and directed downward (-Y direction).

[0050] Fig. 5 is a diagram schematically showing only the output connector 172 in the Fig. 4 shown cross-sectional view. Fig. Figure 5 illustrates the relationship between the insertion terminal 172c of the output connector 172 and the output cable 400 connected to the insertion terminal 172c (the same applies to the insertion terminals 172b and 172d). The power switching module 100 is mounted in the housing of the charging device 260 in the manner shown in Fig. 4. It is desirable that the housing of the charging device 260 have a waterproof structure. Generally, the EV charging outlet 220 is arranged to face downward on the front surface of the charging device 260 and is configured to insert a charging plug from bottom to top. One end of the output cable 400 is connected to the insertion port 172c of the output connector 172, and the other end is connected to the EV charging outlet 220. Since the connection surface 172a of the output connector 172 is inclined to face downward, the insertion port 172c is provided to face upward from the connection surface 172a into the power switching module 1002a.Thus, the output cable 400 connected to the output connector 172 is led out from the side of the output connector 172 toward the front side (Z direction) so that it hangs downward (-Y direction), at least initially. The relative positional relationship between the power switching module 100 (output connector 172) and the EV charging outlet 220 in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) may vary depending on the configuration of the charging device 260. However, since the output connector 172 and the output cable 400 have the relationship described above, even if condensation occurs on the surface of the output cable 400, water droplets move downward on the output cable 400 (-Y direction), as indicated by the arrow DR1, and can be prevented from entering the power switching module 100.

[0051] Fig. Figure 6 is a diagram schematically showing the periphery of the output connector 172 in the Fig. 4. As described with reference to Fig. 4, the power switching module 100 is arranged along the vertical direction (Y-axis direction).

[0052] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 6, the connecting surface 172a is exposed through the opening 124 provided at a position recessed from the outer opening 125 provided in the front surface portion 121 of the front-side housing 120 toward the interior of the housing 110. The guide portion 126a extending from the lower end edge 124a of the opening 124 to the lower end edge 125a of the outer opening 125 is provided to be continuous with a lower end portion 172e of the connecting surface 172a.

[0053] Water drops adhering to the front surface portion 121 of the front housing 120 fall downward along the front surface portion 121, as indicated by an arrow DR2, move beyond the side of the opening 124 or the outer opening 125, and fall downward along the front surface portion 121 or an opening cover 140, as indicated by an arrow DR5. The water drops that have moved to the side of the opening 124 fall along the connection surface 172a of the output connector 172 exposed through the opening 124, as indicated by an arrow DR3, or fall along the output cable 400, as indicated by the arrow DR1, as shown in FIG. Fig. 5, downward. The water droplets that have fallen down along the exposed connecting surface 172a move beyond the opening 124 and fall downward along the guide portion 126a. The water droplets that have reached the lower end of the guide portion 126a fall from the lower end edge 125a of the outer opening 125 along the front surface portion 121 or the opening cover 140.

[0054] Similarly, as indicated by arrows DR3, DR4, and DR5, water drops adhering to the connecting surface 172a of the output connector 172 fall along the connecting surface 172a, the guide portion 126a, and the front surface portion 121 or the opening cover 140. Similarly, as indicated by arrows DR4 and DR5, water drops adhering to the guide portion 126a fall along the guide portion 126a and the front surface portion 121 or the opening cover 140. Similarly, water drops adhering to the front surface portion 121 or the opening cover 140 below the outer opening 125 fall along the front surface portion 121 or the opening cover 140, as indicated by arrow DR5.

[0055] Since water drops adhering to the surface of the front case 120 due to condensation fall downward as described above, it is possible to prevent the water drops from entering the power switching module 100.

[0056] In the power switching module 100, a circuit substrate is divided into the IoT substrate 150 and the power substrate 170, as described above. Respective electronic components functioning as the communication unit 103 and the control unit 104 are mounted on the IoT substrate 150. The relay 101 and the power measurement unit 102 are mounted on the power substrate 170 and form part of the power line PL1. Furthermore, the busbars 173 and 174 are connected to the power substrate 170 as part of the power line PL1 to ensure a capacity for the electrical power supplied from the AC power source 210 to the EV 230 via the power switching module 100.

[0057] The thermally conductive layer 160 is a layer made of a thermally conductive element such as silicon, and is disposed between the IoT substrate 150 and the opening cover 140.

[0058] Fig. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the power switching module 100. In Fig. 7, elements are omitted to simplify the description. The cross-section shown in Fig. 7 is a cross-section parallel to the XZ plane of the section indicated by a dashed line CS2 in Fig. 2, viewed from the direction of an arrow D2.

[0059] The IoT substrate 150 is arranged in the recessed portion 123 provided on the front surface portion 121 side of the front-side housing 120 and is connected to the power substrate 170 arranged in the rear-side housing 130. The IoT substrate 150 is held at a position separated from the bottom portion 123a by holding portions 123d having a cylindrical shape and located at four corners of the bottom portion 123a of the recessed portion 123.

[0060] The heat-conductive layer 160 disposed between the IoT substrate 150 and the opening cover 140 is slightly compressed between the opening cover 140 and the IoT substrate 150 in a state where the opening cover 140 is closed to come into close contact with the IoT substrate 150 and the opening cover 140, thereby performing a function of transferring heat generated in the IoT substrate 150 to the opening cover 140 and radiating the heat from the opening cover 140.

[0061] The power substrate 170 is held so as to be separated from the rear surface portion 131 by a holding portion 133 disposed on the rear surface portion 131 of the rear housing 130. Each of the bus bars 173 and 174 extends from the power substrate 170 toward the front side, that is, toward the front housing 120 side, and is arranged along the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the rear housing 130. As shown in Fig.As shown in Figure 4, the power substrate 170, including the bus bars 173 and 174, is disposed in an interior space 113 defined by the front housing 120 and the rear housing 130. Heat generated by the power substrate 170 is dissipated to the periphery of the power switching module 100 via the bottom portion 123a and the sidewall portion 123b of the recessed portion 123, the sidewall portion 122 of the front housing 120, and the rear housing 130, which surround the interior space 113. Here, the interior space 113 may be referred to as a hollow interior space of the housing 110, the bottom portion 123a and the side wall portion 123b of the recessed portion 123, the side wall portion 122 of the front housing 120 and the rear housing 130 may be referred to as a first chamber of the housing 110, and the recessed portion 123 may be referred to as a second chamber of the housing 110.In this case, the bottom portion 123a and the side wall portion 123b of the recessed portion 123 may also be referred to as partition walls that separate the first chamber and the second chamber from each other.

[0062] As described above, the heat generated by the IoT substrate 150 is dissipated to the front surface portion 121 side of the power switching module 100 via the heat-conducting layer 160 and the opening cover 140. Since the IoT substrate 150 is disposed in the recessed portion 123 of the front-side case 120, the IoT substrate 150 is separated from the internal space 113 in which the power substrate 170 is disposed by the bottom portion 123a of the recessed portion 123 and is held by the holding portions 123d so as to also be separated from the bottom portion 123a. Accordingly, the influence of heat generation in the power substrate 170 on the MPU or the like mounted on the IoT substrate 150 is reduced, and the temperature rise of the MPU or the like is suppressed.Thus, the communication unit 103 and the control unit 104 can operate within a suitable temperature range, and the reliability of the power switching module 100 can be ensured. Furthermore, by configuring the power switching module 100 as described above, the entire device can be made compact by suppressing the volume, and the power switching module 100 can be installed in a column or box charging device where the volume of an internal space is limited. modification

[0063] An electrical device to which the above-described configuration of the output connector capable of preventing water droplets from entering can be applied is not limited to the power switching module 100 constituting the charging system 200 for charging the storage battery of the EV 230 described as the first embodiment. For example, the configuration can be applied to a power conditioner and a control device used to control a social infrastructure, but is not limited thereto.

[0064] In an electrical device to which the configuration of the output connector can be applied, a line opened and closed by a relay is not limited to a power line such as the power line PL1 described above, but may be a signal line, and may be a line through which a current flows to output electric power, a signal, or the like via an output line connected to an output connector.In such an electrical device, similar to the output connector 172 according to the first embodiment, a connection surface of the output connector exposed through an opening on the front surface side of a housing is inclined downward (in the -Y direction) from the front side (Z direction) to correspond to the opening, and a guide portion extending from the lower end edge of the opening to the lower end edge of another opening of the housing is provided so as to be continuous with the lower end portion of the connection surface, whereby water drops adhering to the output line and the housing can be prevented from penetrating into the interior.

[0065] It should be noted that the constituent features of the present invention will be described below with reference numerals in the drawings to enable comparison between the constituent features of the present invention and the configurations of the embodiment. Additional note 1

[0066] Circuit breaker (100), comprising: a communication unit (103) communicatively connected to an external device (250); a relay (101) that opens and closes a power line (PL1) that supplies electrical power from a power source (210) to a load (230); a control unit (104) that controls the relay (101) based on information received from the external device (250) via the communication unit (103); and an output connector (172) connected to an output cable (400) that outputs the electrical power input from the power source (210) to the load (230), wherein the output connector (172) has a connecting surface (172a) provided to be inclined and directed downward in a use state, wherein an insertion port (172b to 172d) connected to the output cable (400) is opened in the connecting surface (172a). Additional note 2

[0067] The circuit breaker (100) according to Supplementary Note 1, further comprising a housing (110) accommodating the communication unit (103), the relay (101), the control unit (104), and the output connector (172), the housing (110) having an inclined surface portion (126a) provided to be continuous with a lower end portion (172e) of the connection surface (172a) exposed from the housing (110), and to be inclined and directed upward in the use state. Additional note 3

[0068] Circuit breaker (100) according to Additional Note 2, further comprising: a first opening (125) provided on a surface of the housing (110) and extending in a vertical direction in the use state; and a second opening (124) provided so as to be inclined and directed downwards at a position recessed inside the housing (110) in the use state, the connecting surface (172a) being exposed through the second opening (124), wherein the inclined surface portion (126a) is formed to be continuous from a lower edge portion (124a) of the second opening (124) to a lower edge portion (125a) of the first opening (125). Additional note 4

[0069] The circuit breaker (100) according to Additional Note 2 or 3, wherein the connecting surface (172a) and / or the inclined surface portion (126a) forms / forms a guide portion (172a, 126a) that guides the falling of water drops. Additional note 5

[0070] The circuit breaker (100) according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 4, further comprising an input connector (171) connected to an input cable that inputs the electric power from the power source (210), wherein a second insertion terminal (171a to 171c) connected to the input cable is provided so as to open downward in the use state. Additional note 6

[0071] Electrical device (100) comprising: a communication unit (103) communicatively connected to an external device (250); an output connector (172) connected to an output line (400); a relay (101) which opens and closes a line (PL1) connected to the output connector (172); and a control unit (104) that controls the relay (101) based on information received from the external device (250) via the communication unit (103), wherein the output connector (172) comprises a connecting surface (172a) provided to be inclined and directed downward in a use state, wherein an insertion port (172b to 172d) connected to the output line (400) is opened in the connecting surface (172a). LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 100 power switching module 101 Relays 103 Communication unit 104 Control unit 113 Interior 172 output connectors 172a Connection surface 172b-172d insertion connections 210 AC source 230 electric vehicles PL1 power line QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2023-46536 A

[0004]

Claims

[1] Circuit breaker, comprising: a communication unit that is communicatively connected to an external device; a relay configured to open and close a power line that delivers electrical power from a power source to a load; a control unit configured to control the relay based on information received from the external device via the communication unit; and an output connector connected to an output cable that outputs the electrical power input from the power source to the load, wherein the output connector has a connecting surface provided to be inclined and directed downward in a use state, wherein an insertion port connected to the output cable is opened in the connecting surface. [2] The circuit breaker of claim 1, further comprising: a housing configured to accommodate the communication unit, the relay, the control unit and the output connector, wherein the housing has an inclined surface portion provided to be continuous with a lower end portion of the connecting surface exposed from the housing and to be inclined and directed upward in the use state. [3] Circuit breaker according to claim 2, further comprising: a first opening provided on a surface of the housing and extends vertically when in use; and a second opening provided so as to be inclined and directed downwards at a position recessed inside the housing in the use state, the connecting surface being exposed through the second opening, wherein the inclined surface portion is formed to be continuous from a lower edge portion of the second opening to a lower edge portion of the first opening. [4] The circuit breaker according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the connecting surface and / or the inclined surface portion forms / forms a guide portion configured to guide the falling of water drops. [5] Circuit breaker according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: an input connector connected to an input cable that inputs the electrical power from the power source, wherein a second insertion port connected to the input cable is provided so as to open downward in the use state. [6] Electrical device comprising: a communication unit that is communicatively connected to an external device; an output connector connected to an output line; a relay configured to open and close a line connected to the output connector; and a control unit configured to control the relay based on information received from the external device via the communication unit, wherein the output connector has a connecting surface provided to be inclined and directed downward in a use state, wherein an insertion port connected to the output line is opened in the connecting surface.

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