Electromagnetic relays
By employing a compression coil spring as the return spring in electromagnetic relays, the issue of inconsistent spring characteristics is resolved, enhancing the reliability and consistency of the relay's operation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- EM DEVICES CORP
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-08
Smart Images
Figure 2026092972000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to electromagnetic relays.
Background Art
[0002] Electromagnetic relays are widely used in fields such as communication equipment, automotive electrical components, and electrical appliances. The mover that constitutes the electromagnetic relay moves by an electromagnet. A spring may be used to bias the movement of the mover. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of providing a return spring for biasing the mover in the separating direction.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a tension spring is used as the return spring. However, when using a tension spring, it is necessary to provide hook shapes at both ends of the return spring, and there is a risk of variation in spring characteristics. For this reason, a technique for suppressing variation in spring characteristics has been demanded.
[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of this disclosure is to provide an electromagnetic relay capable of suppressing variation in spring characteristics of a return spring.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] An electromagnetic relay according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a movable element having a first movable contact and a second movable contact on one surface of a conductive plate extending in a first direction; a first stator having a first fixed contact connected to the first movable contact; a second stator having a second fixed contact connected to the second movable contact; a movable spring for biasing the movable element in a closing direction; a return spring using a compression coil spring for biasing the movable element in an opening direction; a spring guide having one end biased by the free end of the return spring and the other end held by a movable member; and an electromagnet for generating a magnetic attractive force for closing the movable element, wherein the electromagnet comprises a yoke iron in which the return spring is biased in the extended portion and which constitutes the fixed end of the return spring, and which together with the movable spring constitutes the movable member. The device comprises a movable iron piece and a coil winding that generates a magnetic attractive force to move the movable member, and is configured to move the first movable contact and the first fixed contact, and the second movable contact and the second fixed contact, by moving the movable member, and the return spring is configured to be positioned between the pivot point of the movable member and the contact contact / separation position connecting the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] This disclosure makes it possible to provide an electromagnetic relay that can suppress variations in the spring characteristics of the return spring. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing an example configuration of an electromagnetic relay according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing an example configuration of an electromagnetic relay according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view along line III-III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV in Figure 2. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view along the VV line in Figure 2. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI in Figure 2. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of the electromagnetic relay according to Embodiment 1 with some components removed. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing an example configuration for Case 1. [Figure 9] This is a side view showing an example configuration for the first case. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view along line XX in Figure 9. [Figure 11] This is an enlarged view of area B shown in Figure 10. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view showing an example configuration of an electromagnetic relay according to Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] <Embodiment 1> The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 are perspective and side views, respectively, showing an example configuration of the electromagnetic relay 100 according to Embodiment 1. Figures 3, 4, and 6 are cross-sectional views of the electromagnetic relay 100 cut at the position shown in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic relay 100 cut at the position shown in Figure 2 with the electromagnet 70 switched on. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the electromagnetic relay 100 according to Embodiment 1 comprises a movable element 10, a first stator 20, a second stator 30, a movable spring 40, a return spring 50, a spring guide 60, and an electromagnet 70. The configuration of the electromagnetic relay 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described in detail below. Hereinafter, the first stator 20 and the second stator 30 may be collectively referred to as "stators 20 and 30".
[0010] As shown in Figure 2, the movable element 10 includes a conductive plate 13 extending in a first direction, and a first movable contact 11 and a second movable contact 12 provided on both ends of the surface of the conductive plate 13 facing the stators 20 and 30. The first movable contact 11 and the second movable contact 12 of the movable element 10 are formed by providing convex-shaped members on the surface of the conductive plate 13 facing the stators 20 and 30 on both ends in the first direction. Each component constituting the movable element 10 is made of a conductive material such as a metal material. The first movable contact 11 and the second movable contact 12 may be formed integrally with the conductive plate 13.
[0011] The first stator 20 includes a first conductive member 23 extending in a first direction and a first fixed contact 21 provided to be connectable to a first movable contact 11 of the movable element 10. The first fixed contact 21 of the first stator 20 is formed by providing a convex-shaped member on the movable element 10 side of the first conductive member 23. Each member constituting the first stator 20 is made of a conductive material such as a metal. The first fixed contact 21 may be formed integrally with the first conductive member 23.
[0012] The second stator 30 includes a second conductive member 33 extending in a first direction and a second fixed contact 31 provided to be connectable to the second movable contact 12 of the movable element 10. The second fixed contact 31 of the second stator 30 is formed by providing a convex-shaped member on the movable element 10 side of the second conductive member 33. Each component of the second stator 30 is made of a conductive material such as a metal. The second fixed contact 31 may be formed integrally with the second conductive member 33.
[0013] The movable spring 40 is a spring for biasing the mover 10 in the closing direction. Specifically, the movable spring 40 biases the mover 10 in the second direction and in the direction toward the stators 20 and 30. Here, the second direction is a direction perpendicular to the first direction. As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the movable spring 40 has a cross-sectional L shape when cut in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, for example. One end of the movable spring 40 is connected to the mover 10, and the other end is connected to the movable iron piece 73 that constitutes the electromagnet 70. Although details will be described later, in the example shown in FIG. 1, a part of the end of the movable spring 40 on the side connected to the movable iron piece 73 is cut away, forming a tension portion 41 that pulls the spring guide 60.
[0014] The return spring 50 is a spring for biasing the mover 10 in the opening direction. That is, the return spring 50 biases the mover 10 in the second direction and in the direction away from the stators 20 and 30. The return spring is a compression coil spring. As shown in FIG. 1, the return spring 50 is disposed within the spring guide 60. As shown in FIG. 3, the return spring 50 is disposed between the fulcrum 74 of the movable member (details will be described later) and the contact separation position 32 that connects the first fixed contact 21 and the second fixed contact 31.
[0015] Although details will be described later, one end of the return spring 50 on the side of the movable iron piece 73 is the fixed end, and the other end, that is, the end on the bottom side of the spring guide 60, is the free end. Specifically, the end of the return spring on the side of the mover 10 is connected to the armature 71 that constitutes the electromagnet 70 and serves as the fixed end. In the example shown in FIG. 3, one end of the return spring 50 is connected to the armature extension portion 80 connected to the armature 71 to form the fixed end.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the electromagnetic relay 100 with the mover 10, the stators 20 and 30, the movable spring 40, the return spring 50, and the spring guide 60 removed. In the example shown in FIG. 7, an armature extension 80 is connected to the mover 10 side of the armature 71 that constitutes the electromagnet 70. The armature extension 80 is, for example, an L-shaped member, and one end thereof is connected to the return spring 50. The return spring 50 biases the bottom 62 of the spring guide 60 attached to the tension portion 41 and is supported by being fixed to the armature extension 80. That is, the tension portion 41, the bottom 62, and the armature extension 80 may be regarded as a return spring support portion.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 7, the armature extension 80 may be provided with a mover restricting portion 81. The mover restricting portion 81 is a protrusion extending toward the mover 10 side. When the mover 10 is displaced in a direction away from the stators 20 and 30, the mover restricting portion 81 restricts the displacement of the mover 10 in the second direction by contacting any one of the mover 10, the movable spring 40, and the joint portion between the mover 10 and the movable spring 40. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the mover restricting portion 81 restricts the mover 10 from being displaced toward the armature 71 side from the position shown in FIG. 4 by contacting the joint portion between the conductive plate and the movable contact of the mover 10.
[0018] In the example shown in FIG. 7, the case where the armature extension 80 is formed as a separate member from the armature 71 has been described. However, the armature extension 80 may be formed as an integral member with the armature 71. In this case, the mover restricting portion 81 may also be formed as an integral member with the armature 71.
[0019] The spring guide 60 shown in Figure 6 is a member that guides the return spring 50. As shown in Figure 6, the spring guide 60 is, for example, a U-shaped member. Here, a U-shape is a shape that is U-shaped with corners that are approximately right angles, or in other words, a shape that has two parallel sides and one side that is perpendicular to those two sides and connected to one end of each of those two sides. As shown in Figure 3, the free end of the return spring 50 is in contact with the bottom 62 of the spring guide 60. Therefore, when the return spring 50 is compressed, the bottom 62 of the spring guide 60 is subjected to a force that pushes it from the return spring 50 side toward the movable element 10 side.
[0020] In the example shown in Figure 6, the tension portion 41 holds the spring guide 60. The method for attaching the spring guide 60 to the tension portion 41 is preferably a snap-fit method. By connecting using a snap-fit method, the number of members required for connection can be reduced, making the installation of the spring guide 60 easier. For example, in the example shown in Figure 6, a snap-fit structure portion 61 is provided on the edge of the spring guide 60. The snap-fit structure portion 61 is a flange formed by bending the edge of the spring guide 60 in a direction that is inward and substantially parallel to the first direction. By hooking the snap-fit structure portion 61 onto the tension portion 41, the tension portion 41 can hold the spring guide 60. When attaching the spring guide 60 to the tension portion 41, the snap-fit structure portion 61 is spread and deformed as shown by the dotted line in Figure 6, and then hooked onto the tension portion 41. By configuring the snap-fit structure portion 61 in this way, the deformation of the spring guide 60 can be kept to a minimum, and the spring guide 60 can be hooked onto the tension portion 41. Furthermore, the configuration of the snap-fit structure 61 is not limited to the above, and the spring guide 60 may have a structure in which the edges are not bent. In this case, the processing and manufacturing of the spring guide 60 becomes easier.
[0021] The electromagnet 70 comprises a yoke 71, a coil winding 72, a movable iron piece 73, a bobbin 76, and coil terminals 77. The yoke 71 is a component made of a magnetic material and is U-shaped, for example, as shown in Figure 3. The yoke 71 is positioned at a predetermined location near the coil winding 72. In the example shown in Figure 3, one of the two parallel sides of the U-shaped yoke 71 is inserted into the coil winding 72. As shown in Figure 1, the coil winding 72 is a coil wound around the bobbin 76. The coil terminals 77 are a pair of terminals to which both ends of the coil winding 72 are connected. The electromagnet 70 is driven by energizing the coil winding 72 via the coil terminals 77.
[0022] The coil winding 72 generates a magnetic attractive force when the electromagnet 70 is switched on. The movable iron piece 73 is an iron piece that is attracted by the excitation of the coil winding 72. In the example shown in Figure 3, the movable iron piece 73 is rotatable using the end of the one of the two parallel sides of the U-shaped yoke 71 that is not inserted into the coil winding 72 as a fulcrum 74. In other words, the end of the one of the two parallel sides of the U-shaped yoke 71 that is not inserted into the coil winding 72 functions as a support for the movable iron piece 73.
[0023] When the electromagnet 70 is switched on, the movable iron piece 73 is attracted to the coil winding 72 by the excitation of the coil winding 72 and moves to the position shown in Figure 5. That is, the movable iron piece 73 is attracted to one of the two parallel sides of the U-shaped yoke 71 that is inserted into the coil winding 72. The part to which the movable iron piece 73 is attracted may be another magnetic member connected to the yoke 71, in which case the yoke 71 may be L-shaped. The movable iron piece 73 is connected to the movable spring 40 near the end on the fulcrum 74 side. Therefore, the movable spring 40 rotates together with the movable iron piece 73. Hereinafter, the movable spring 40 and the movable iron piece 73 may be collectively referred to as the movable member.
[0024] As shown in Figure 5, when the movable member rotates, the movable element 10 moves toward the stators 20 and 30 as the movable spring 40 rotates, causing the first movable contact 11 to come into contact with the first fixed contact 21, and the second movable contact 12 to come into contact with the second fixed contact 31, thereby energizing the stators 20 and 30. In this way, the movable spring 40 biases the movable element 10 in the closing direction. Also, as shown in Figure 5, when the movable member rotates, the movement of the spring guide 60 pushes the return spring 50 toward the tension part 41, causing it to compress. When the switch of the electromagnet 70 is turned off in this state, the spring guide 60 is pushed toward the movable element 10 by the elastic force of the return spring 50, and as a result the movable element 10 rotates toward the stators 20 and 30. In this way, the return spring 50 biases the movable element 10 toward the opening direction.
[0025] In the first embodiment, the electromagnetic relay 100 uses a compression coil spring as the return spring 50, eliminating the need to provide hooks at both ends of the return spring 50. This suppresses variations in spring characteristics caused by the characteristics of the hooks.
[0026] The electromagnetic relay 100 according to Embodiment 1 may further include a case for housing each component constituting the electromagnetic relay 100. The case may include, for example, a first case 90 shown in Figure 8 and a second case (not shown) that covers the opening of the first case 90. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the first case 90. Figure 9 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of the electromagnetic relay 100 with each component housed in the first case 90. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic relay 100 with each component housed in the first case 90, cut at the position shown in Figure 9. Figure 11 is an enlarged view of region B shown in Figure 10.
[0027] As shown in Figure 8, the first case 90 is a barrel-shaped member and has a shielding wall 91 inside. As shown in Figure 9, when the components constituting the electromagnetic relay 100 are housed in the first case 90, parts of the stators 20 and 30 and parts of the coil terminals 77 are exposed to the outside of the first case 90. As shown in Figure 11, the shielding wall 91 is provided in a position where it is inserted between the yoke 71 and the coil winding 72, and between the movable iron piece 73 and the coil winding 72. By providing the shielding wall 91 in such a position, the creepage distance between the yoke 71 and the coil winding 72, and between the movable iron piece 73 and the coil winding 72 can be increased, thereby improving insulation. The shielding wall 91 may also be provided at one end of the second case.
[0028] <Embodiment 2> Embodiment 1 describes a case where the edge of the spring guide 60 is attached to one end of the movable spring 40. However, the spring guide 60 may be attached to any position as long as it is attached to the movable member. Embodiment 2 describes a case where the spring guide 60 is attached to the movable iron piece 73.
[0029] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing an example configuration of an electromagnetic relay 200 according to Embodiment 2. The electromagnetic relay 200 has the same configuration as Embodiment 1, except that the movable iron piece 73 forms a tension portion 75. As shown in Figure 12, the tension portion 75 has the same function as the tension portion 41 shown in Embodiment 1 and holds the spring guide 60.
[0030] Although the present invention has been described above in accordance with the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiments, and of course includes various modifications, alterations, and combinations that can be made by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the claims of the present patent application. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0031] 100 Electromagnetic relay 10 Mover 11 1st movable contact 12 2nd movable contact 13 Conductive plate 20 1st stator 21 1st fixed contact 23 First conductive member 30 Second stator 31 2nd fixed contact 32 Contact contact / disconnection positions 33 Second conductive member 40 Movable spring 41 Tensile section 50 Return spring 60 Spring Guide 61 Snap-fit structure 62 Bottom 70 Electromagnet 71 Tsugi 72 Coil winding 73 Movable Iron Piece 74 Fulcrum 75 Tensile section 76 bobbins 77 Coil terminals 80 Yoke extension section 81 Movable element restricting section 90 Case 1 91 Shielding Wall
Claims
1. A movable element having a first movable contact and a second movable contact provided on one surface of a conductive plate extending in a first direction, A first stator is provided with a first fixed contact that is connectable to the first movable contact, A second stator is provided with a second fixed contact that is connectable to the second movable contact, A movable spring for biasing the movable element in the closing direction, A return spring using a compression coil spring for biasing the movable element in the direction of separation, A spring guide, one end of which is biased by the free end of the return spring and the other end of which is held by a movable member, The system includes an electromagnet that generates a magnetic attractive force to close the movable element, The electromagnet comprises a yoke iron that biases the return spring in the extension portion and constitutes the fixed end of the return spring, a movable iron piece that, together with the movable spring, constitutes the movable member, and a coil winding that generates a magnetic attractive force to move the movable member, and is configured to move the first movable contact and the first fixed contact, and the second movable contact and the second fixed contact, by moving the movable member. The return spring is an electromagnetic relay positioned between the pivot point of the movable member and the contact contact / separation position connecting the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact.
2. The spring guide is a U-shaped member whose bottom is the side that contacts the free end of the return spring. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1.
3. The spring guide has a snap-fit structure on the edge opposite the bottom portion that extends inward from the spring guide and toward the first direction. The snap-fit structure is held to the movable member by a snap-fit method. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 2.
4. The movable member that holds the spring guide is the movable spring. An electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
5. The movable member that holds the spring guide is the movable iron piece. An electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
6. The extended portion of the yoke is an L-shaped member fixed to the yoke. An electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
7. The aforementioned yoke has a movable element restricting portion that extends toward the movable element side, The movable element restricting portion restricts the displacement of the movable element in a second direction by contacting the movable element, the movable spring, or the joint between the movable element and the movable spring when the movable element is displaced in the separation direction. An electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
8. The aforementioned yoke is U-shaped, One of the two parallel sides of the yoke is inserted into the coil winding wound on the bobbin, and attracts the movable iron piece which moves when the coil winding is excited. One of the two parallel sides of the yoke iron serves as a support for the movable iron piece and constitutes the pivot point. An electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
9. The device further comprises the movable element, the first stator, the second stator, the movable spring, the return spring, the spring guide, and a case for housing the electromagnet. The case shields the space between the yoke and the coil winding, and the space between the movable iron piece and the coil winding. An electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 3.