Electromagnetic relay

Abstract

To quickly interrupt arc short-circuited between a first fixed terminal and a second fixed terminal, in an electromagnetic relay.SOLUTION: An electromagnetic relay comprises: a first fixed terminal including a first fixed contact; a second fixed terminal including a second fixed contact; a movable contact piece; a case; and a magnet. The movable contact piece includes a first movable contact and a second movable contact. A driving device includes a coil, and it moves the movable contact piece. The case includes a housing space in which the first fixed contact, the second fixed contact, and the movable contact piece are housed. The magnet is located such that it overlaps the coil and the housing space in a third direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece and its moving direction. The magnet extends, in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, first arc generated between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact, and second arc generated between the second fixed contact and the second movable contact. The case includes a first arc extension space at least part of which is located between the coil and the magnet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay. [Background technology]

[0002] In an electromagnetic relay, an arc occurs at the contacts when a current is interrupted. For example, in the electromagnetic relay disclosed in Patent Document 1, an arc-extinguishing member is disposed in the space in which the contacts are disposed in order to quickly extinguish the arc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-049938 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the electromagnetic relay disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a magnet is provided near the contact so that a magnetic field is generated in the short direction of the movable contact piece, the extension direction of the arc generated at the contact changes between outward and inward in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece depending on the current flow direction. When the arc extends inward in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, the arc is short-circuited between the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal, making it difficult to interrupt the arc quickly.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to quickly interrupt an arc that has shorted between a first fixed terminal and a second fixed terminal in an electromagnetic relay. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An electromagnetic relay according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first fixed terminal, a second fixed terminal, a movable contact piece, a drive unit, a case, and a magnet. The first fixed terminal includes a first fixed contact. The second fixed terminal is disposed away from the first fixed terminal. The second fixed terminal includes a second fixed contact. The movable contact piece includes a first movable contact facing the first fixed contact and a second movable contact facing the second fixed contact. The drive unit includes a coil disposed in a first direction from the first movable contact toward the first fixed contact relative to the movable contact piece. The drive unit moves the movable contact piece in a moving direction including the first direction and a second direction in which the first movable contact moves away from the first fixed contact. The case includes an accommodation space in which the first fixed contact, the second fixed contact, and the movable contact piece are accommodated. The magnet is disposed so as to overlap the coil and the accommodation space in a third direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the moving direction of the movable contact piece. The magnet extends a first arc generated between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact and a second arc generated between the second fixed contact and the second movable contact in a longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece. The case includes a first arc extension space extending in the first direction from the accommodation space and at least a portion of which is disposed between the coil and the magnet.

[0007] In this electromagnetic relay, the first arc and the second arc are extended in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact by the magnet. That is, the magnet generates a magnetic field along the third direction between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact and between the second fixed contact and the second movable contact. In this case, the first arc and the second arc are extended inward or outward in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact depending on the current flow direction. That is, the first arc and the second arc are extended in a direction approaching each other or in a direction separating each other depending on the current flow direction. For example, when the first arc and the second arc are extended in a direction approaching each other, the first arc and the second arc are short-circuited between the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal. The arc short-circuited between the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal is extended in an arc extension space arranged between the coil and the magnet by the magnetic field of the magnet. This makes it possible to quickly interrupt the arc short-circuited between the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal.

[0008] The case may include a base disposed below the coil. The first fixed terminal may include a first external connection portion protruding downward from the base. The second fixed terminal may include a second external connection portion protruding downward from the base. The first arc extension space of the case may be disposed between the base and the coil. In this case, the space below the coil can be effectively utilized to quickly interrupt an arc shorted between the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal.

[0009] The magnet may include a narrow portion and a wide portion. The narrow portion may be disposed between the first external connection portion and the second external connection portion and overlap with the accommodation space in the third direction. The wide portion may extend outward in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece beyond the first external connection portion and the second external connection portion and overlap with the coil in the third direction. In this case, the arc shorted between the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal can be extended to the rear side of the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal, so that the first arc extension space in the first direction can be made compact.

[0010] The case may include a second arc-extending space disposed in the second direction relative to the movable contact piece. The magnet may be disposed to overlap the second arc-extending space in the third direction. In this case, the first arc and the second arc can be quickly interrupted in the second arc-extending space when the first arc and the second arc are extended outward in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece.

[0011] The first fixed terminal may include a first extension portion facing the movable contact piece in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece. The first extension portion may be disposed across the accommodation space and the second arc extension space. In this case, when the first arc extends outward in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, the first extension portion facilitates the movement of the first arc into the second arc extension space.

[0012] The case may include a second arc-extending space disposed adjacent to the first arc-extending space and outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact and partitioned from the first arc-extending space. The magnet may be disposed so as to overlap with the second arc-extending space in the third direction. In this case, when the first arc and the second arc extend outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact, the first arc and the second arc can be interrupted by effectively utilizing the space below the coil.

[0013] The first fixed terminal may include a first contact support portion and a first bent portion. The first contact support portion may extend in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, be disposed in the accommodation space, and support the first fixed contact. The first bent portion may be bent from an inner end portion of the first contact support portion in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece toward the first arc extension space. In this case, the arc shorted between the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal can be quickly moved to the first arc extension space by the Lorentz force caused by the current flowing through the first bent portion.

[0014] The case may include a cover member disposed between the first arc-extending space and the coil and covering the first arc-extending space, in which case the coil can be protected from the arc extended in the first arc-extending space. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, in an electromagnetic relay, an arc that has shorted between a first fixed terminal and a second fixed terminal can be quickly interrupted. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electromagnetic relay with the cover removed. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a view of the base and the contact device as seen from above. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic relay taken along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining driving of a first arc and a second arc. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining driving of a first arc and a second arc. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a view of a contact device according to a first modified example, as viewed from above. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of an electromagnetic relay according to a second modified example. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of an electromagnetic relay according to a third modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a base according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of an electromagnetic relay according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of an electromagnetic relay according to a fifth modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] An electromagnetic relay 1 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the electromagnetic relay 1 includes a case 2, a contact device 3, and a drive device 4.

[0018] In the following description, the direction in which the contact device 3 and the drive device 4 are arranged relative to a base 21 of the case 2, which will be described later, is referred to as the upward direction, the opposite direction is referred to as the downward direction, the direction in which the contact device 3 is arranged relative to the drive device 4 is referred to as the forward direction (an example of the second direction), the opposite direction is referred to as the rearward direction (an example of the first direction), and the left-right direction on the paper surface of Fig. 3 is referred to as the left-right direction. However, these directions are defined for the sake of convenience of description, and do not limit the arrangement direction of the electromagnetic relay 1.

[0019] The case 2 is formed in a box shape. The case 2 is formed of an insulating material such as resin and includes a base 21 and a cover 22. The base 21 supports the contact device 3 and the drive device 4. The base 21 includes a bottom 21a and outer walls 21b to 21e. The bottom 21a extends in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The outer wall 21b extends upward from the front edge of the bottom 21a. The outer wall 21c extends upward from the rear edge of the bottom 21a. The outer wall 21d extends upward from the left edge of the bottom 21a. The outer wall 21e extends upward from the right edge of the bottom 21a.

[0020] The cover 22 is open downward, and is attached to outer walls 21b to 21e of the base 21 so as to cover the bottom portion 21a of the base 21 from above. The contact device 3 and the drive device 4 are housed in the case 2.

[0021] 3, the contact device 3 includes a first fixed terminal 11, a second fixed terminal 12, and a movable contact piece 13. In the following description, the first fixed terminal 11 and the second fixed terminal 12 may be referred to as fixed terminals 11, 12.

[0022] The fixed terminals 11, 12 are made of a conductive material such as copper. The fixed terminals 11, 12 are plate-like terminals having a bent shape. The fixed terminals 11, 12 are substantially L-shaped when viewed from the top-bottom direction. The fixed terminals 11, 12 are supported by the bottom 21a of the base 21. In this embodiment, the fixed terminals 11, 12 are press-fitted and fixed to the bottom 21a of the base 21.

[0023] The first fixed terminal 11 includes a first fixed contact 11a, a first contact support portion 11b, a first extension portion 11c, and a first external connection portion 11d.

[0024] The first fixed contact 11a is disposed on the front surface of the first contact support portion 11b. The first fixed contact 11a is fixed to the first contact support portion 11b by crimping. The first fixed contact 11a may be integral with the first contact support portion 11b. The first contact support portion 11b extends in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The first contact support portion 11b supports the first fixed contact 11a.

[0025] The first extension portion 11c extends forward from the right end of the first contact support portion 11b. The first extension portion 11c is disposed to the right of the first movable contact 13a. The front end of the first extension portion 11c is disposed forward of the movable contact piece 13. The first external connection portion 11d extends downward from the lower end of the first extension portion 11c. The first external connection portion 11d protrudes downward from the bottom portion 21a of the base 21 and is electrically connected to an external device (not shown).

[0026] The second fixed terminal 12 is disposed to the left of the first fixed terminal 11. The second fixed terminal 12 has a shape symmetrical to the first fixed terminal 11. The second fixed terminal 12 includes a second fixed contact 12a, a second contact support portion 12b, a second extension portion 12c, and a second external connection portion 12d.

[0027] The second fixed contact 12a is disposed on the front surface of the second contact support portion 12b. The second fixed contact 12a is fixed to the second contact support portion 12b by crimping. The second fixed contact 12a may be integral with the second contact support portion 12b. The second contact support portion 12b extends in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The second contact support portion 12b supports the second fixed contact 12a.

[0028] The second extension portion 12c extends forward from the left end of the second contact support portion 12b. The second extension portion 12c is disposed to the left of the second movable contact 13b. The front end of the second extension portion 12c is disposed forward of the movable contact piece 13. The second external connection portion 12d extends downward from the lower end of the second extension portion 12c. The second external connection portion 12d protrudes downward from the bottom portion 21a of the base 21 and is electrically connected to an external device (not shown).

[0029] The movable contact piece 13 is a plate-shaped terminal and is made of a conductive material such as copper. The movable contact piece 13 is disposed in front of the fixed terminals 11 and 12. The movable contact piece 13 is disposed between the first extension portion 11c and the second extension portion 12c. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 13 coincides with the left-right direction. The movable contact piece 13 is substantially T-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction. The movable contact piece 13 includes a first movable contact 13a, a second movable contact 13b, a vertical extension portion 13c, and a horizontal extension portion 13d.

[0030] The first movable contact 13a and the second movable contact 13b are fixed to the movable contact piece 13 by crimping. The first movable contact 13a and the second movable contact 13b are arranged on the rear surface of the left-right extension portion 13d. The first movable contact 13a faces the first fixed contact 11a in the front-rear direction. The first movable contact 13a can contact the first fixed contact 11a. The second movable contact 13b is arranged away from the first movable contact 13a in the left direction. The second movable contact 13b faces the second fixed contact 12a in the front-rear direction. The second movable contact 13b can contact the second fixed contact 12a. The first movable contact 13a and the second movable contact 13b may be integral with the movable contact piece 13.

[0031] The vertical extension portion 13c extends in the vertical direction, and an upper portion of the vertical extension portion 13c is connected to the drive device 4. The horizontal extension portion 13d extends in the horizontal direction from a lower portion of the vertical extension portion 13c.

[0032] Here, the case 2 includes an accommodation space 23, a first arc extending space 24, a cover member 25 (see FIG. 5), and a second arc extending space 26.

[0033] The accommodating space 23 is provided between the base 21 and the cover 22. The accommodating space 23 is provided between the first arc extension space 24 and the second arc extension space 26 in the front-rear direction. The bottom 21a of the base 21 covers the accommodating space 23 from below. The accommodating space 23 is disposed between the outer wall 21d and the outer wall 21e in the left-right direction. The first fixed contact 11a, the first contact support portion 11b, the first extension portion 11c, the second fixed contact 12a, the second contact support portion 12b, and the second extension portion 12c are disposed in the accommodating space 23.

[0034] The first arc extension space 24 communicates with the accommodating space 23. The first arc extension space 24 is disposed adjacent to the accommodating space 23 and extends rearward from the accommodating space 23. The first arc extension space 24 extends rearward from between the first contact support portion 11b and the second contact support portion 12b. A portion of the first arc extension space 24 may be disposed at a rear portion of the first contact support portion 11b and a rear portion of the second contact support portion 12b.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, the first arc extension space 24 is disposed between the driving device 4 and the bottom 21a of the base 21 in the up-down direction. The bottom 21a of the base 21 covers the first arc extension space 24 from below. The outer wall 21c covers the first arc extension space 24 from the rear. The first arc extension space 24 is disposed between a pair of inner walls 21f, 21g formed on the base 21 in the left-right direction. The pair of inner walls 21f, 21g extend in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction. The inner wall 21f is disposed behind the first contact support portion 11b, and the inner wall 21g is disposed behind the second contact support portion 12b.

[0036] The cover member 25 protects the coil 42, which will be described later, from the arc A3 extended in the first arc extension space 24. The cover member 25 is disposed between the first arc extension space 24 and the coil 42. The cover member 25 covers the first arc extension space 24 from above. The cover member 25 is disposed on top of the pair of inner walls 21f, 21g and supported by the pair of inner walls 21f, 21g. In this embodiment, the cover member 25 is separate from the base 21, but the cover member 25 may be integrated with the base 21.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 3, the second arc extension space 26 is disposed between the movable contact piece 13 and the outer wall 21b in the front-rear direction. The second arc extension space 26 is disposed on the front side of the left-right extending portion 13d of the movable contact piece 13. The second arc extension space 26 communicates with the accommodation space 23. The second arc extension space 26 is disposed adjacent to the accommodation space 23 and extends forward from the accommodation space 23. The first extending portion 11c and the second extending portion 12c are disposed across the accommodation space 23 and the second arc extension space 26.

[0038] The driving device 4 is disposed above the contact device 3. The driving device 4 moves the movable contact piece 13 in a direction in which the first movable contact 13a approaches the first fixed contact 11a and in a direction in which the first movable contact 13a moves away from the first fixed contact 11a. The driving device 4 also moves the movable contact piece 13 in a direction in which the second movable contact 13b approaches the second fixed contact 12a and in a direction in which the second movable contact 13b moves away from the second fixed contact 12a. In this embodiment, the driving device 4 moves the movable contact piece 13 in the front-rear direction.

[0039] 2 and 5, the drive device 4 includes a spool 41, a coil 42, a yoke 43, a movable iron piece 44, a resin member 45, a return spring 46, and a fixed iron core 47. The spool 41 is cylindrical and extends in the front-rear direction.

[0040] The coil 42 is wound around the outer periphery of the spool 41. The coil 42 is disposed above the fixed terminals 11, 12. The coil 42 is disposed rearward relative to the fixed terminals 11, 12, the movable contact piece 13, and the accommodating space 23. The coil 42 is disposed above the cover member 25. The coil 42 overlaps with the first arc extension space 24 in the up-down direction. The coil 42 is disposed above the first arc extension space 24. The first arc extension space 24 extends rearward beyond the center of the coil 42 in the front-rear direction.

[0041] The yoke 43 has an L-shaped bent shape. The yoke 43 includes a connecting portion 43a and an extending portion 43b. The connecting portion 43a is disposed behind the spool 41 and is connected to the fixed core 47. The extending portion 43b extends forward from the upper end of the connecting portion 43a so as to cover the upper side of the coil 42.

[0042] The movable iron piece 44 is disposed in front of the fixed iron core 47. The movable iron piece 44 is rotatably supported by the yoke 43 at the front end of the extension portion 43b. The resin member 45 insulates the movable iron piece 44 from the movable contact piece 13. The resin member 45 connects the movable iron piece 44 to the movable contact piece 13. In detail, the movable iron piece 44 and the movable contact piece 13 are insert molded into the resin member 45. As a result, the resin member 45 and the movable contact piece 13 rotate integrally with the movable iron piece 44 in response to the rotation of the movable iron piece 44.

[0043] The return spring 46 is a coil spring and extends in the front-rear direction. The front end of the return spring 46 is connected to the movable iron piece 44, and the rear end is connected to the yoke 43. The return spring 46 biases the movable contact piece 13 forward via the movable iron piece 44 and the resin member 45. That is, the return spring 46 biases the movable contact piece 13 in the direction in which the first movable contact 13a moves away from the first fixed contact 11a, and in the direction in which the second movable contact 13b moves away from the second fixed contact 12a. The fixed iron core 47 is a laminated iron core and is disposed inside the spool 41. The fixed iron core 47 penetrates the spool 41 in the front-rear direction. The fixed iron core 47 is disposed above the fixed terminals 11 and 12.

[0044] Next, the operation of the electromagnetic relay 1 will be described. When no voltage is applied to the coil 42, as shown in FIG. 3, the first movable contact 13a is separated from the first fixed contact 11a by the elastic force of the return spring 46, and the second movable contact 13b is separated from the second fixed contact 12a. When a voltage is applied to the coil 42 and the coil 42 is excited, the movable iron piece 44 is attracted to the fixed iron core 47 by the electromagnetic force, and the movable iron piece 44 rotates against the elastic force of the return spring 46. As a result, the movable contact piece 13 moves backward, and the first movable contact 13a contacts the first fixed contact 11a, and the second movable contact 13b contacts the second fixed contact 12a. When the application of the voltage to the coil 42 is stopped, the movable iron piece 44 rotates by the elastic force of the return spring 46. As a result, the movable contact piece 13 moves forward, the first movable contact 13a separates from the first fixed contact 11a, and the second movable contact 13b separates from the second fixed contact 12a.

[0045] 3 to 5, the electromagnetic relay 1 includes a magnet 50. The magnet 50 is, for example, a rectangular permanent magnet. The magnet 50 is disposed on the bottom 21a of the base 21. In this embodiment, the magnet 50 is attached to the outer surface of the bottom 21a of the base 21.

[0046] The magnet 50 is arranged so as to overlap the coil 42 and the storage space 23 in the up-down direction (an example of a third direction). The magnet 50 is arranged below the storage space 23 and the coil 42. The magnet 50 is arranged between the first external connection portion 11d and the second external connection portion 12d. The magnet 50 overlaps the first fixed contact 11a, the second fixed contact 12a, and the movable contact piece 13 in the up-down direction. The magnet 50 extends in the left-right direction beyond the movable contact piece 13. The front end of the magnet 50 is arranged forward of the movable contact piece 13 when viewed in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the entire movable contact piece 13 overlaps with the magnet 50 in the up-down direction. The magnet 50 extends rearward beyond the center of the coil 42 in the front-rear direction. Both ends of the magnet 50 in the left-right direction are arranged outside both ends of the coil 42 in the left-right direction. The magnet 50 overlaps with the first arc extension space 24 in the up-down direction. At least a portion of the first arc-extending space 24 is disposed between the coil 42 and the magnet 50. In this embodiment, the entirety of the first arc-extending space 24 is disposed between the coil 42 and the magnet 50.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the magnet 50 extends the first arc A1 generated between the first fixed contact 11a and the first movable contact 13a and the second arc A2 generated between the second fixed contact 12a and the second movable contact 13b in the longitudinal direction (here, in the left-right direction) of the movable contact piece 13. The magnet 50 extends the first arc A1 and the second arc A2 inward or outward in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 13 according to the current flow direction. The inward direction in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 13 is the direction approaching the center of the movable contact piece 13 in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 13. The outward direction in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 13 is the direction away from the center of the movable contact piece 13 in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 13. In other words, the magnet 50 extends the first arc A1 and the second arc A2 in the direction approaching or away from each other according to the current flow direction.

[0048] The magnet 50 generates a magnetic field along the vertical direction between the first fixed contact 11a and the first movable contact 13a and between the second fixed contact 12a and the second movable contact 13b. In this embodiment, the magnet 50 is magnetized so that the upper surface is the N pole and the lower surface is the S pole. Therefore, the magnet 50 generates an upward magnetic field between the first fixed contact 11a and the first movable contact 13a and between the second fixed contact 12a and the second movable contact 13b. The magnet 50 also generates an upward magnetic field in the first arc extension space 24 and the second arc extension space 26.

[0049] 6, when a current flows from the first fixed contact 11a to the first movable contact 13a, a leftward Lorentz force F1 acts on the first arc A1, and a rightward Lorentz force F2 acts on the second arc A2. As a result, the first arc A1 and the second arc A2 are extended in a direction approaching each other, and the first arc A1 and the second arc A2 are short-circuited between the first fixed terminal 11 and the second fixed terminal 12. Then, a backward Lorentz force F3 acts on the arc A3 short-circuited between the first fixed terminal 11 and the second fixed terminal 12, and the arc A3 short-circuited between the first fixed terminal 11 and the second fixed terminal 12 is extended in the first arc extension space 24.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 7, when a current flows from the first movable contact 13a to the first fixed contact 11a, a rightward Lorentz force F4 acts on the first arc A1. As a result, the first arc A1 moves from the first contact support portion 11b to the first extension portion 11c of the first fixed terminal 11 and is extended in the second arc extension space 26. Also, a leftward Lorentz force F5 acts on the second arc A2. As a result, the second arc A2 moves from the second contact support portion 12b to the second extension portion 12c of the second fixed terminal 12 and is extended in the second arc extension space 26.

[0051] In the above-described electromagnetic relay 1, the first arc A1 and the second arc A2 are extended in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 13 by the magnet 50. When a current flows from the first fixed contact 11a to the first movable contact 13a, the first arc A1 and the second arc A2 are extended in a direction approaching each other, and the first arc A1 and the second arc A2 are short-circuited between the first fixed terminal 11 and the second fixed terminal 12. The arc A3 short-circuited between the first fixed terminal 11 and the second fixed terminal 12 is extended in the first arc extension space 24 disposed between the coil 42 and the magnet 50 by the magnetic field of the magnet 50. This makes it possible to quickly interrupt the arc A3 short-circuited between the first fixed terminal 11 and the second fixed terminal 12.

[0052] Moreover, since the first arc extension space 24 is disposed below the coil 42, the space below the coil 42 can be effectively utilized to quickly interrupt the arc A3.

[0053] Furthermore, when a current flows from the first movable contact 13a to the first fixed contact 11a, the first arc A1 and the second arc A2 can be quickly interrupted in the second arc extension space 26. In this embodiment, since the first extension portion 11c and the second extension portion 12c extend to the second arc extension space 26, the first arc A1 and the second arc A2 can be quickly moved to the second arc extension space 26.

[0054] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0055] The configurations of the contact device 3 and the driver 4 may be modified. The driver 4 may have a plunger type structure. The configuration of the case 2 may be modified.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the base 21 is configured from a single member, but the base 21 may be configured from a plurality of members including a first member on which the contact device 3 is mounted and a second member on which the drive device 4 is mounted. For example, the first member may be provided with the accommodation space 23, the first arc extension space 24, and the second arc extension space 26, and the second member may cover the upper side of the first arc extension space 24. In this case, the second member also functions as the cover member 25.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 8, the first fixed terminal 11 may include a first bent portion 11e. The first bent portion 11e has a shape bent from an inner end (here, the left end) of the first contact support portion 11b toward the first arc extension space 24. The first bent portion 11e has a shape bent in a direction away from the movable contact piece 13. The first bent portion 11e is inclined toward the second fixed terminal 12 toward the first arc extension space 24. The inner end of the first contact support portion 11b is the end closer to the second fixed terminal 12 among both ends of the first contact support portion 11b in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 13. Similarly, the second fixed terminal 12 may include a second bent portion 12e. The second bent portion 12e has a shape bent from an inner end (here, the right end) of the second contact support portion 12b toward the first arc extension space 24. The second bent portion 12e is inclined in a direction approaching the first fixed terminal 11 toward the first arc extension space 24.

[0058] The arrangement and shape of the magnet 50 may be changed. As shown in FIG. 9, the magnet 50 may include a narrow portion 50a and a wide portion 50b. The narrow portion 50a is arranged between the first external connection portion 11d and the second external connection portion 12d. The narrow portion 50a is arranged below the accommodation space 23. The wide portion 50b extends in the left-right direction further than the narrow portion 50a. The wide portion 50b is arranged below the coil 42 and the first arc extension space 24, and overlaps with the coil 42 and the first arc extension space 24 in the up-down direction. The wide portion 50b extends outward in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece 13 further than the first external connection portion 11d and the second external connection portion 12d. The left end of the wide portion 50b is arranged leftward of the first external connection portion 11d. The right end of the wide portion 50b is arranged rightward of the second external connection portion 12d.

[0059] 10, the first fixed terminal 11 may have a shape in which the first contact support portion 11b and the first external connection portion 11d overlap in the vertical direction. That is, the first fixed terminal 11 and the second fixed terminal 12 may be plate-shaped terminals extending linearly in the vertical direction. In this case, the magnet 50 may have a shape that avoids the first external connection portion 11d and the second external connection portion 12d.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the second arc extension space 26 is disposed between the movable contact piece 13 and the outer wall 21b in the front-rear direction, but the arrangement of the second arc extension space 26 may be changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the second arc extension space 26 may be disposed side by side with the first arc extension space 24 in the left-right direction. The second arc extension space 26 is disposed adjacent to the first arc extension space 24 on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece. The first arc extension space 24 and the second arc extension space 26 are partitioned in the left-right direction by a pair of inner walls 21f, 21g. The second arc extension space 26 is disposed below the coil 42. The second arc extension space 26 does not have to overlap with the coil 42 in the up-down direction. The second arc extension space 26 is disposed between the inner wall 21f and the outer wall 21e, and between the inner wall 21g and the outer wall 21d. The second arc extending space 26 may be connected to the first arc extending space 24 without providing the pair of inner walls 21f, 21g.

[0061] In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the first extension 11c of the first fixed terminal 11 extends forward from the lower end of the first contact support 11b. The first external connection 11d extends downward from the front end of the first extension 11c. The first external connection 11d protrudes downward from the bottom 21a near the outer wall 21b. The second fixed terminal 12 has a shape similar to that of the first fixed terminal 11. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the magnet 50 does not need to be shaped to avoid the first external connection 11d and the second external connection 12d. In addition, in the case where the first fixed terminal 11 and the second fixed terminal 12 are plate-shaped terminals that extend linearly in the vertical direction, the magnet 50 may be shaped to avoid the space behind the first external connection 11d and the second external connection 12d, as shown in FIG. 13. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 Electromagnetic relay 2 Cases 4. Drive unit 11 1st fixed terminal 11a 1st fixed contact 11c 1st extension section 11d First external connection 11e 1st bending part 12 2nd fixed terminal 12a 2nd fixed contact 12d Second external connection 13 Movable contact piece 13a 1st movable contact 13b 2nd movable contact 21 Base 23 Containment Space 24 First Arc Extension Space 25 Cover material 26 Second Arc Extension Space 42 Coil 50 Magnet

Claims

1. a first fixed terminal including a first fixed contact; a second fixed terminal including a second fixed contact and spaced apart from the first fixed terminal; a movable contact piece including a first movable contact facing the first fixed contact and a second movable contact facing the second fixed contact; a drive device including a coil disposed relative to the movable contact piece in a first direction from the first movable contact toward the first fixed contact, the drive device moving the movable contact piece in a moving direction including the first direction and a second direction in which the first movable contact moves away from the first fixed contact; a case including an accommodation space in which the first fixed contact, the second fixed contact, and the movable contact piece are accommodated; a magnet that is arranged so as to overlap the coil and the accommodating space in a longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece and in a third direction perpendicular to the moving direction, and that extends a first arc generated between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact and a second arc generated between the second fixed contact and the second movable contact in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece; Equipped with The case includes a first arc extension space extending in the first direction from the accommodation space and at least a portion of which is disposed between the coil and the magnet. Electromagnetic relay.

2. the case includes a base disposed below the coil; the first fixed terminal includes a first external connection portion protruding downward from the base, the second fixed terminal includes a second external connection portion protruding downward from the base, The first arc extension space of the case is disposed between the base and the coil.

2. An electromagnetic relay as claimed in claim 1.

3. The magnet is a narrow portion that is disposed between the first external connection portion and the second external connection portion and overlaps with the accommodation space in the third direction; a wide portion that extends outward in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece relative to the first external connection portion and the second external connection portion and overlaps with the coil in the third direction; Including, 3. An electromagnetic relay according to claim 2.

4. the case includes a second arc extension space disposed in the second direction relative to the movable contact piece, The magnet is disposed so as to overlap with the second arc extension space in the third direction.

4. An electromagnetic relay according to claim 1.

5. the first fixed terminal includes a first extension portion facing the movable contact piece in a longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, The first extension portion is disposed across the accommodation space and the second arc extension space.

5. An electromagnetic relay according to claim 4.

6. the case includes a second arc extending space that is disposed adjacent to the first arc extending space and outwardly of the movable contact piece in a longitudinal direction thereof and that is partitioned from the first arc extending space, The magnet is disposed so as to overlap with the second arc extension space in the third direction.

3. An electromagnetic relay as claimed in claim 2.

7. The first fixed terminal is a first contact support portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, disposed in the accommodation space, and supporting the first fixed contact; a first bent portion bent from an inner end portion of the first contact support portion in a longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece toward the first arc extension space; Further comprising:

7. An electromagnetic relay according to claim 1.

8. the case is disposed between the first arc extension space and the coil and includes a cover member covering the first arc extension space.

8. An electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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