Control relay device and electric switch machine
The control relay device addresses the issue of biological invasion by using a closing member to seal the gap between the device and the jack plate, effectively preventing organism intrusion and ensuring the device's internal space remains secure.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023209584
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-24
AI Technical Summary
Control relay devices and circuit controllers for electric tumbler locks and other applications face issues with biological invasion, such as insect intrusion, through gaps in the connection points with jack plates.
A control relay device design that includes a base portion, a cover portion, and a tightening screw with a rod portion and a male screw portion. A closing member, which can be a cylindrical or annular body, is used to close the gap between the outside and the internal space through the insertion hole, preventing organism intrusion.
The solution effectively prevents the intrusion of organisms like ants by closing the gap between the control relay device and the jack plate, ensuring the internal space remains protected and functional.
Smart Images

Figure 2025093751000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a control relay device and the like.
Background Art
[0002] An electric tumbler lock has a control relay device and a circuit controller for controlling the operation of the electric tumbler lock by an external electric signal. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a circuit controller that engages a lever (pole-changing lever) protruding from the side surface of a cover portion with a locking piece of the tumbler lock, and switches the motor circuit and the KR (display) circuit of the tumbler lock by the lever swinging in conjunction with the operation of the locking piece.
[0003] In a conventional circuit controller for an electric tumbler lock, a mechanism portion including various contacts is housed in an internal space of the device defined by covering a base portion with a hollow cover portion, but an outlet for protruding the lever remains open in the cover portion. There have been cases of failure due to biological invasion in which organisms such as ants enter the internal space of the device through the gap of the lever outlet and cause problems.
[0004] In order to prevent failure cases caused by biological invasion, for example, in the technique of Patent Document 1, a blocking plate for blocking the gap between the lever and the peripheral edge of the outlet is provided, and this blocking plate is slid following the swing of the lever. Also, for example, a blocking member made of a rubber-based material or the like is provided between the lever and the peripheral edge of the outlet to form an operation allowable space for the lever, and the internal space of the circuit controller is blocked from the outside by bringing the blocking member into contact with the lever near the swing shaft through which the lever is inserted (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0005]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] A circuit controller for an electric rolling machine is used by being connected to a jack plate attached to the rolling machine side, but the intrusion of organisms such as insects from the connection part with the jack plate is also assumed. The same problem exists in the control relay device as well. Also, although an example of an electric rolling machine has been described, the same problem could occur in other control relay devices such as a control relay device installed in an instrument box for level crossing control.
[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to prevent the intrusion of organisms such as insects from the connection part with the jack plate in the control relay device.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0008] A first invention for solving the above problems is a control relay device connected to a jack plate, comprising a base portion, a cover portion defining an internal space, and a tightening screw for screwing into a female screw portion on the jack plate. The base portion has an insertion hole at a position corresponding to the female screw portion. The tightening screw has a rotation operation portion provided on a head protruding from the upper surface of the cover portion, a rod portion penetrating the internal space, and a male screw portion located in the insertion hole and screwing into the female screw portion provided at the lower portion of the rod portion. The control relay device further comprises a closing member for closing the continuity between the outside of the device and the internal space through a gap in the insertion hole generated in a connected state where the male screw portion and the female screw portion are screwed together.
[0009] According to the first invention, since the gap generated at the part where the control relay device is connected to the jack plate can be closed, the intrusion of organisms such as ants through the gap can be prevented.
[0010] A second invention is a control relay device in the above control relay device, wherein the closing member is a cylindrical body or an annular body that inserts through the rod portion.
[0011] According to the second invention, a control relay device can be realized that uses the rod portion as a member for guiding the arrangement position of the closing member.
[0012] According to the third invention, in the above control relay device, the closing member has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole, and closes the upper opening of the insertion hole by moving downward along the rod portion by its own weight. It is a control relay device.
[0013] According to the third invention, when the operation of connecting the control relay device to the jack plate is performed, the closing member moves by its own weight and the upper opening of the insertion hole is automatically closed.
[0014] According to the fourth invention, in the above control relay device, the control relay device further includes a movement restricting portion that restricts the movement range of the closing member along the rod portion.
[0015] According to the fourth invention, since the movement range of the closing member is restricted within a predetermined range along the rod portion, the closing member is always in a state where it can move freely along the rod portion. Thereby, the workability when connecting the control relay device to the jack plate can be improved.
[0016] According to the fifth invention, in the above control relay device, the closing member is provided at a predetermined position of the rod portion, and in the screwing process of the male screw portion and the female screw portion by the rotation operation of the rotation operation portion, part or all of it is inserted into the insertion hole, thereby closing the continuity between the outside of the device and the internal space of the device in the connected state. It is a control relay device.
[0017] According to the fifth invention, the gap related to the insertion hole can be surely closed.
[0018] According to the sixth invention, in the above control relay device, the closing member is a cured body or an elastic body. It is a control relay device.
[0019] According to the sixth invention, if the closing member is a cured body, the closing member can be made of metal, hard resin, or the like. If the closing member is an elastic body, it is possible to create a closed state by flexibly coping with the displacement of the relative position, the displacement of the relative posture, and the variation in shape between the closing member and the insertion hole.
[0020] The seventh invention is an electric swaging machine including the above control relay device and the jack plate, wherein the female screw portion is a female screw stud erected on the jack plate and inserted into the insertion hole during the connection, and the electric swaging machine has a second closing member in the form of a cylindrical body or an annular body that passes through the female screw stud.
[0021] According to the seventh invention, the upper gap around the insertion hole can be closed by a closing member, and the lower gap around the insertion hole can be closed by a second closing member.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0022]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0023] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of a control relay device to which the present invention is applied will be described. However, it is needless to say that the forms to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the following embodiments. In each drawing, a right-handed orthogonal three-axis (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis) indicating a common direction is shown. The description will be made with the positive X-axis direction being forward, the positive Y-axis direction being right, and the positive Z-axis direction being upward.
[0024] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective external view seen from obliquely above in front, showing a configuration example of a control relay device 2 for an electric upsetting machine according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the control relay device 2 seen from the right side (in the +Y-axis direction), with a part shown in a partial cross-section. FIG. 3 is a side view of the installation state of the control relay device 2 seen from the right side (in the +Y-axis direction), with a part shown in a partial cross-section.
[0025] The control relay device 2 has a transparent cover portion 12 covering the upper surface of the base portion 10, and the cover portion 12 is screwed to the base portion 10 with cover mounting screws 14 to define an internal space 16. A relay mechanism portion 20 is housed in the internal space 16.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the control relay device 2 is connected from above to a jack plate 80 fixed to the electric upsetting machine 3 by a tightening screw 70 that penetrates the base portion 10 and the cover portion 12 vertically. The jack plate 80 has a connection terminal group for connecting the electric circuit of the control relay device 2.
[0027] The tightening screw 70 has a vertically long rod portion 71, a rotary operation portion 72 connected to the upper end of the rod portion 71 and operable from above the cover portion 12, a male screw portion 73 provided at the lower end of the rod portion 71, and an E-ring 74.
[0028] The rod portion 71 is a linear portion that penetrates the ceiling portion of the cover portion 12 and is loosely fitted to slide freely with respect to the cover portion 12.
[0029] The rotation operation part 72 is a part for the operator to perform a rotation operation with fingers to tighten the screw 70, and is attached to the upper end of the rod part 71 protruding from the cover part 12. The diameter of the rotation operation part 72 is larger than the diameter of the rod part 71. When the rod part 71 drops with its own weight relative to the cover part 12, the rotation operation part 72 contacts the upper surface of the cover part 12, so that the tightening screw 70 is in a state of hanging from the cover part 12 and prevents the tightening screw 70 from falling out of the cover part 12.
[0030] The male screw part 73 is provided at the lower end of the rod part 71 and is located in the insertion hole 17 penetrating the base 10 vertically in a state where the tightening screw 70 is hanging from the cover part 12 by the rotation operation part 72.
[0031] The E-shaped retaining ring 74 is attached to the upper part of the rod part 71 (specifically, the part located in the upper part of the internal space 16 of the rod part 71). When the cover part 12 is in an upside-down posture, the E-shaped retaining ring 74 contacts the inner surface of the ceiling of the cover part 12 and prevents the tightening screw 70 from falling out of the cover part 12. The setting position of the E-shaped retaining ring 74 is set so that the male screw part 73 does not come out of the insertion hole 17 when the cover part 12 is in an upside-down posture. That is, the E-shaped retaining ring 74 functions as a movement restricting part for the rod that restricts the vertical movement range of the rod part 71 together with the rotation operation part 72.
[0032] When connecting the control relay device 2 to the jack plate 80, the control relay device 2 and the jack plate 80 are aligned so that the female screw stud 81 erected on the jack plate 80 is inserted into the insertion hole 17.
[0033] The female screw stud 81 has a female screw part 82 at the upper end for the male screw part 73 of the tightening screw 70 to be screwed in. The protruding length of the female screw stud 81 is set so that the female screw part 82 is located in the insertion hole 17 when the control relay device 2 is connected to the jack plate 80. The outer diameter of the female screw stud 81 is smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 17 of the base 10, and a gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the female screw stud 81 and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 17.
[0034] There is a possibility that the gap between the female screw stud 81 and the insertion hole 17 may become a path for organisms such as ants to invade. That is, ants or the like that have entered the jack plate 80 may climb up the female screw stud 81 and pass through the gap between the female screw stud 81 and the insertion hole 17, enter the gap between the tightening screw 70 and the insertion hole 17, and further may invade the internal space 16 of the control relay device 2. Therefore, the control relay device 2 has a rod closing member 75 that inserts through the rod portion 71 of the tightening screw 70.
[0035] The rod closing member 75 is a cylindrical body or an annular body having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 17. The rod closing member 75 has an outer diameter sufficient to close the upper opening of the insertion hole 17 even with manufacturing dimensional variations or the like.
[0036] The material of the rod closing member 75 can be a hardened body (for example, synthetic resin (hard resin), metal, non-ferrous metal, glass, etc.). By using a hardened body, the rod closing member 75 can be manufactured relatively inexpensively and easily. Also, the rod closing member 75 with less aging deterioration can be obtained.
[0037] The fitting relationship between the rod closing member 75 and the rod portion 71 is set to "loose fit". Therefore, when the control relay device 2 is in a connecting posture (the same as the up-down relationship in FIG. 3, etc.; the posture where the rotation operation portion 72 is upward) connected to the electric transfer machine 3, the rod closing member 75 moves downward along the rod portion 71 into the internal space 16 by its own weight. Then, it contacts and stops at the upper opening of the insertion hole 17, closing the insertion hole 17. Specifically, the lower surface of the rod closing member 75 contacts the peripheral portion of the upper opening of the insertion hole 17, covering and closing the gap between the rod portion 71 and the rod closing member 75 from above.
[0038] If the control relay device 2 is stored upside down, the rod closing member 75 will move along the rod portion 71 by its own weight within the internal space 16 of the device. The upward movement range of the rod portion 71 is restricted by the E-shaped retaining ring 74, and even if it moves to the limit of the restricted range, the tip of the male screw portion 73 will not come out of the insertion hole 17. The rod closing member 75 moves in the direction of gravity without falling off the rod portion 71. There is an E-shaped retaining ring 74 at the moved end, and the E-shaped retaining ring 74 functions as a movement restricting portion that restricts the movement range of the rod closing member 75 along the rod portion 71. When the control relay device 2 is set in a connecting posture to the jack plate 80, the rod closing member 75 moves by its own weight along the rod portion 71 toward the male screw portion 73 by its own weight, and the gap between the clamping screw 70 and the insertion hole 17 is closed.
[0039] 〔Second Embodiment〕 Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The second embodiment is basically realized in the same manner as the first embodiment, but the structure for closing the gap between the clamping screw 70 and the insertion hole 17 is different. In the description of the second embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same components as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the control relay device 2B in the second embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the structure for closing the gap between the clamping screw 70B and the insertion hole 17 in the second embodiment.
[0041] The clamping screw 70B has an elastic rod closing member 75B and a second E-shaped retaining ring 76.
[0042] The second E-shaped retaining ring 76 is attached at a position for pressing the rod closing member 75B against the upper opening of the insertion hole 17 in a elastically deformed state when the control relay device 2B and the jack plate 80 are connected.
[0043] Further, the second E-type retaining ring 76 also functions as a movement restricting portion that restricts the upward movement of the rod closing member 75B along the rod portion 71, thereby restricting the movement range of the rod closing member 75B.
[0044] According to the second embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the second embodiment, in the connected state of the control relay device 2B and the jack plate 80, the rod closing member 75B is pressed against the upper opening of the insertion hole 17 while being elastically deformed. Therefore, the degree of adhesion to the insertion hole 17 is increased, and while having followability that allows for dimensional variations during manufacturing and the like, the gap between the tightening screw 70B and the insertion hole 17 can be reliably closed.
[0045] 〔Third Embodiment〕 Next, a third embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The third embodiment is basically realized in the same manner as the first embodiment, but the structure for closing the gap between the tightening screw 70 and the insertion hole 17 is different. In the description of the third embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same components as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.
[0046] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the control relay device 2C and the jack plate 80C in the third embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the structure for closing the gap between the tightening screw 70C and the insertion hole 17 in the third embodiment.
[0047] The tightening screw 70C in the third embodiment includes a rod closing member 75C that is an O-ring made of an elastic material, and a ring groove 78 for fitting the O-ring at a predetermined position on the rod portion 71.
[0048] The rod closing member 75C is the first closing member in the third embodiment. The outer diameter of the rod closing member 75C is set to a value slightly larger than the inner diameter of the upper opening of the insertion hole 17.
[0049] The ring groove 78 is set at a position where the rod closing member 75C elastically deforms and part or all of it is inserted into the upper opening of the insertion hole 17 during the screwing process of the male screw portion 73 and the female screw portion 82. The ring groove 78 functions as a movement restricting portion that does not move the rod closing member 75C along the rod portion 71.
[0050] The female screw stud 81C of the jack plate 80C has a stud closing member 84 which is an O-ring made of an elastic material, and a ring groove 85 for fitting the stud closing member 84. The ring groove 85 functions as a movement restricting portion that does not move the stud closing member 84 along the female screw stud 81C.
[0051] The stud closing member 84 is the second closing member in the third embodiment. The stud closing member 84 is realized, for example, as an O-ring which is an annular body of an elastic material having an outer diameter set to a value slightly larger than the inner diameter of the lower opening of the insertion hole 17. The stud closing member 84 may be a cylindrical body of an elastic material.
[0052] The ring groove 85 is set at a position where the stud closing member 84 elastically deforms and part or all of it is inserted into the lower opening of the insertion hole 17 during the screwing process of the male screw portion 73 and the female screw portion 82. Alternatively, it is set at a position where the stud closing member 84 is in close contact with a tapered surface that expands below the lower opening of the insertion hole 17.
[0053] When the control relay device 2C is connected to the jack plate 80, the upper opening of the insertion hole 17 is closed by the rod closing member 75C, and the lower opening of the insertion hole 17 is closed by the stud closing member 84.
[0054] According to the third embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, in the third embodiment, the insertion hole 17 can be closed from above and below.
[0055] It should be noted that a configuration in which either the set of the rod closing member 75C and the ring groove 78 or the set of the stud closing member 84 and the ring groove 85 is omitted is also possible.
[0056] Further, the rod closing member 75C may be not limited to an O-ring, but may be a cylindrical body or an annular body made of an elastic material having a shape in which the outer diameter of the lower end gradually decreases as it goes downward. Similarly, the stud closing member 84 may be not limited to an O-ring, but may be a cylindrical body or an annular body made of an elastic material having a shape in which the outer diameter of the upper end gradually decreases as it goes upward.
[0057] Although several embodiments to which the present invention is applied have been described, the applicable forms of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments, and components can be added, omitted, or changed as appropriate. For example, in the above embodiments, the control relay device for an electric tipper has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to other control relay devices such as a control relay device installed in an instrument box for a level crossing control.
Explanation of Signs
[0058] 2, 2B, 2C... Control relay device 3, 3C... Electric tipper 12... Cover part 16... Space inside the device 17... Insertion hole 70, 70B, 70C... Tightening screw 71... Rod part 72... Rotating operation part 73... Male screw part 74... E-ring 75, 75B, 75C... Rod closing member 76... Second E-ring 80, 80C... Jack plate 81, 81C... Female screw stud 82... Female screw part 84... Stud closing member
Claims
1. A control relay device connected to a jack plate, comprising: a base; a cover portion defining an internal space; a tightening screw for screwing into a female screw portion on the jack plate; and the base has an insertion hole at a position corresponding to the female screw portion; the tightening screw has: a rotation operation portion provided on a head protruding from the upper surface of the cover portion; a rod portion penetrating the internal space; a male screw portion located in the insertion hole and screwing into the female screw portion provided at the lower portion of the rod portion; and a closing member for closing the continuity between the outside of the device and the internal space through a gap in the insertion hole generated in a connected state where the male screw portion and the female screw portion are screwed together; The control relay device further comprising.
2. The closing member is a cylindrical body or an annular body through which the rod portion is inserted, The control relay device according to claim 1.
3. The closing member has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole, and closes the upper opening of the insertion hole by moving downward along the rod portion by its own weight, The control relay device according to claim 2.
4. A movement restricting portion for restricting the movement range of the closing member along the rod portion, further comprising, The control relay device according to claim 3.
5. The closing member is provided at a predetermined position of the rod portion, and during the screwing process of the male screw portion and the female screw portion by the rotation operation of the rotation operation portion, part or all of it is inserted into the insertion hole, thereby closing the continuity between the outside of the device and the internal space in the connected state, The control relay device according to claim 2.
6. The closing member is a hardened body or an elastic body, The control relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
7. An electric spot welder comprising the control relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the jack plate, wherein the female screw portion is a female screw stud erected on the jack plate and inserted into the insertion hole during the connection, and has a second closing member which is a cylindrical body or an annular body passing through the female screw stud, Electric spot welder.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Closing plate-fitting structure for circuit controller of electric switching machine
JP2013193506A
Circuit controller for electric point machine
JP2015085880A