Vehicle relay

Abstract

To reduce the power consumption required to remove ice from the surface of a terminal.SOLUTION: A vehicle relay 100 includes a pair of terminals T1, T2 that are spaced apart from each other in a non-conductive state and that contact each other in a conductive state, and a plate 6 that is disposed between the pair of terminals T1, T2 in a non-conductive state, the plate 6 contacting a contact of at least one of the pair of terminals T1, T2 in a non-conductive state, and when the pair of terminals T1, T2 are connected to each other, the plate is removed from the gap between the pair of terminals T1, T2 and slides over the contact of at least one of the pair of terminals T1, T2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a relay for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A vehicle is provided with a relay that controls the on / off of a circuit between the battery and electrical components. For example, the relay may be located in the engine compartment. For example, when the temperature in the engine compartment is low, water vapor may condense inside the relay, causing water to adhere to the surface between the terminals. If this water freezes, the terminals may not be electrically connected.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electromagnetic relay that addresses the above-mentioned problem. In Patent Document 1, when the electromagnetic relay is located in an area where freezing is likely to occur and the current time corresponds to a time when freezing is likely to occur, the electromagnetic relay is vibrated by repeatedly opening and closing at predetermined timings for a predetermined period of time. The vibration prevents freezing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-68927 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the vibration of the electromagnetic relay is repeated at a predetermined timing for a predetermined time, which increases power consumption, resulting in a waste of power.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle relay that can reduce the power consumption required to remove ice from the surface of the terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A vehicle relay according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a pair of terminals spaced apart from each other in a non-conductive state and in contact with each other in a conductive state; a plate disposed between the pair of terminals in the non-conductive state; Equipped with the plate contacts a contact of at least one of the pair of terminals in the non-conductive state; When the pair of terminals are connected, the plate is removed from the gap between the pair of terminals and slides over the contacts of at least one of the pair of terminals. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The present invention reduces the power consumption required to remove ice from the surface of the terminal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a relay according to an embodiment when the terminals are not connected to each other. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a relay according to an embodiment when the terminals are connected to each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Specific dimensions, materials, numerical values, etc. shown in these embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanation, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0011] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a relay 100 according to an embodiment in which terminals T1 and T2 are not connected to each other. For example, the relay 100 is disposed in an engine compartment of a vehicle 500. The relay 100 controls the on / off of a circuit between a battery (not shown) and an electrical component.

[0012] For example, the relay 100 includes a case 1, an iron core 2, a coil 3, a bracket 4, a pair of terminals T1 and T2, an iron piece 5, and a plate 6. The relay 100 may further include other components. Also, the relay 100 may not include at least one of the above components.

[0013] The case 1 houses the components of the relay 100. For example, the case 1 is fixed to a relay holder in an engine compartment.

[0014] A coil 3 is wound around the iron core 2. The coil 3 is connected to a battery (not shown). When a current flows through the coil 3, the iron core 2 generates a magnetic force. For example, in this embodiment, the iron core 2 is fixed to an arbitrary position on the case 1 by a bracket 4. The fixing of the iron core 2 to the case 1 is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments, the iron core 2 may be fixed directly to the case 1, and the relay 100 may not include the bracket 4.

[0015] A pair of terminals T1 and T2 are connected to a battery. An electrical component (not shown) is provided in a circuit including the terminals T1 and T2 and the battery. In FIG. 1, the terminals T1 and T2 are spaced apart from each other and are not electrically connected to each other (non-conductive state). In the non-conductive state, no power is supplied to the electrical component.

[0016] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relay 100 according to the embodiment when the terminals T1 and T2 are connected to each other. In FIG. 2, the terminals T1 and T2 are in contact with each other and are electrically connected to each other (conductive state). In the conductive state, power is supplied to the electrical components.

[0017] 1, in this embodiment, terminal T1 is a movable terminal and terminal T2 is a fixed terminal. Terminal T1 includes contact C1, and terminal T2 includes contact C2. Contacts C1 and C2 are spaced apart from each other in a non-conductive state and contact each other in a conductive state. In the non-conductive state, an air gap is formed between contacts C1 and C2.

[0018] 2, in the conductive state, the iron piece 5 pushes the movable terminal T1 of the pair of terminals T1, T2 toward the fixed terminal T2 by the magnetic force from the iron core 2. This causes the contacts C1, C2 to come into contact with each other, and the terminals T1, T2 are electrically connected to each other.

[0019] Specifically, the iron piece 5 is configured to be rotatable around a predetermined position. For example, in this embodiment, the iron piece 5 is rotatably supported by the bracket 4 at approximately its center. The support structure of the iron piece 5 is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments, the iron piece 5 may be rotatably supported by the bracket 4 or the case 1 at another position.

[0020] For example, in this embodiment, the iron piece 5 includes a first portion 51 that contacts the iron core 2, a second portion 52 that contacts the terminal T1, and a third portion 53 that contacts the plate 6. Referring to Fig. 1, in this embodiment, in the non-conductive state, the first portion 51 does not contact the iron core 2, and the second portion 52 does not contact the terminal T1. The third portion 53 may or may not contact the plate 6 in the non-conductive state.

[0021] For example, in this embodiment, the first portion 51 and the second portion 52 extend in directions that intersect with each other. Also, for example, in this embodiment, the third portion 53 extends from the connection point between the first portion 51 and the second portion 52 on an extension line of the first portion 51.

[0022] For example, an elastic body (not shown), such as a spring, may be provided to maintain the iron piece 5 in the position shown in FIG.

[0023] 2, when a current flows through the coil 3, the first portion 51 is attracted toward the iron core 2 by magnetic force and comes into contact with the iron core 2. This causes the iron piece 5 to rotate, and the second portion 52 comes into contact with the terminal T1. The second portion 52 further pushes the terminal T1 toward the terminal T2. This causes the contact C1 of the terminal T1 to come into contact with the contact C2 of the terminal T2, and the terminals T1 and T2 are electrically connected to each other.

[0024] As described above, for example, the relay 100 is disposed in the engine compartment of the vehicle 500. When the temperature in the engine compartment is low, such as in winter, water vapor may condense inside the case 1 in the non-conductive state, causing water to adhere to the surfaces of the contacts C1 and C2. If this water freezes, the terminals T1 and T2 will no longer be electrically connected. In this embodiment, the relay 100 includes the plate 6 to address this problem.

[0025] 1, the plate 6 is disposed between the contacts C1 and C2 of the terminals T1 and T2 in the non-conductive state. Specifically, the plate 6 contacts at least one of the contacts of the terminals T1 and T2 in the non-conductive state. This configuration prevents water from adhering to the contacts C1 and C2 in the non-conductive state.

[0026] For example, in this embodiment, plate 6 is formed of an insulating material such as aluminum oxide ceramic or phenolic resin, and contacts both contacts C1 and C2 in the non-conductive state. With this configuration, plate 6 is sandwiched between terminals T1 and T2 in the non-conductive state, making plate 6 stable. However, for example, if it is predicted that water is likely to adhere to one of contacts C1 and C2, plate 6 may contact only one of contacts C1 and C2 in the non-conductive state. In this case, plate 6 does not need to be formed of an insulating material.

[0027] For example, the plate 6 extends in a direction intersecting the direction in which the contact points C1 and C2 face each other (the up-down direction in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the plate 6 extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the contact points C1 and C2 face each other (the left-right direction in FIG. 1).

[0028] The plate 6 includes a protrusion (connector) 61 for engaging with the third portion 53 of the iron piece 5. The third portion 53 contacts the protrusion 61. Note that the third portion 53 does not have to be in contact with the protrusion 61 all the time. For example, the third portion 53 may begin to contact the protrusion 61 while the first portion 51 is moving toward the iron core 2. Also, the connector for engaging the iron piece 5 with the plate 6 is not limited to a protrusion. For example, the plate 6 may include a groove as a connector, and the end of the third portion 53 may be inserted into the groove. Also, for example, the iron piece 5 may be engaged with the plate 6 by a connector such as a hinge.

[0029] The iron piece 5 is configured such that the third portion 53 moves in a direction away from the air gap between the terminals T1 and T2 while the first portion 51 moves toward the iron core 2. In this embodiment, the iron piece 5 is configured such that the third portion 53 moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the contacts C1 and C2 face each other while the first portion 51 moves toward the iron core 2.

[0030] In this embodiment, the relay 100 includes a spring (elastic body) 7 that biases the plate 6 toward the air gap between the terminals T1 and T2. For example, the spring 7 is fixed to the inner surface of the case 1. Note that the elastic body is not limited to a spring. For example, the elastic body may be rubber or the like.

[0031] With this configuration, when a current flows through the coil 3 and the first portion 51 is attracted toward the iron core 2 by magnetic force, the iron piece 5 rotates. This causes the third portion 53 to move away from the air gap between the terminals T1 and T2. The third portion 53 pushes the protrusion of the plate 6 away from the air gap. Therefore, the plate 6 is removed from the air gap. As the plate 6 is removed from the air gap, it slides over the contacts C1 and C2. With this configuration, if ice forms on the contacts C1 and C2, the plate 6 can remove the ice from the contacts C1 and C2.

[0032] The relay 100 described above includes a pair of terminals T1 and T2 that are spaced apart in a non-conductive state and in contact with each other in a conductive state, and a plate 6 disposed between the pair of terminals T1 and T2 in a non-conductive state. The plate 6 contacts at least one of the contacts of the pair of terminals T1 and T2 in a non-conductive state. Furthermore, when the pair of terminals T1 and T2 are connected to each other, the plate 6 is removed from the air gap between the pair of terminals T1 and T2 and slides over at least one of the contacts of the pair of terminals T1 and T2. This configuration prevents water from adhering to the contacts C1 and C2 in a non-conductive state. This configuration also allows ice to be removed from the contacts C1 and C2 upon activation. This configuration also eliminates the need for power to energize the relay 100 at times other than activation. Therefore, the power consumption required to remove ice from the surfaces of the terminals can be reduced compared to, for example, a case in which vibration is applied to the relay at a predetermined timing for a predetermined period of time, as in Patent Document 1.

[0033] The relay 100 also includes an iron core 2 and an iron piece 5 that, in a conductive state, presses the movable terminal T1 of the pair of terminals T1 and T2 by magnetic force from the iron core 2. When the pair of terminals T1 and T2 are connected to each other, the plate 6 is moved by the iron piece 5 and removed from the air gap between the pair of terminals T1 and T2. This configuration allows the existing iron piece 5 to be used as a structure for moving the plate 6, thereby simplifying the design.

[0034] In the relay 100, the plate 6 is made of an insulating material, and in the non-conductive state, the plate is in contact with both contacts C1 and C2 of the pair of terminals T1 and T2. With this configuration, in the non-conductive state, the plate 6 is sandwiched between the terminals T1 and T2, and therefore the plate 6 is stable.

[0035] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It is clear that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that such modifications and alterations also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 2 Iron core 5. Iron shingles 6 plates 100 Relay C1 contact C2 contact T1 Movable terminal (terminal) T2 Fixed terminal (terminal)

Claims

1. a pair of terminals spaced apart from each other in a non-conductive state and in contact with each other in a conductive state; a plate disposed between the pair of terminals in the non-conductive state; Equipped with the plate contacts a contact of at least one of the pair of terminals in the non-conductive state; When the pair of terminals are connected to each other, the plate is removed from the gap between the pair of terminals and slides over the contact of at least one of the pair of terminals. Relay for vehicle.

2. Iron core and an iron piece that, in the conductive state, presses a movable terminal of the pair of terminals by a magnetic force from the iron core; Equipped with When the pair of terminals are connected to each other, the plate is moved by the iron piece and removed from the gap between the pair of terminals. The relay for a vehicle according to claim 1 .

3. the plate is made of an insulating material; The plate contacts both contacts of the pair of terminals in the non-conductive state.

3. The relay for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

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