Circuit controllers and electric points

Abstract

To prevent intrusion of living things such as insects from a connection part with a jack plate in a circuit controller for an electric switch machine.SOLUTION: In a circuit controller 2, a cover part 12 covering a base part 10 to define an inner space 16 is engaged with a female screw part 82 of a jack plate 80 inserted in an insertion hole 17 with a fastening screw 70, and is connected to the jack plate 80. The fastening screw 70 has: a rod part 71 passing through the inner space 16; a rotation operation part 72 provided on a head part protruding from a top surface of the cover part 12; and a male screw part 73 positioned in the insertion hole 17 and provided on a lower part of the rod part 71. The circuit controller 2 makes a closing member 75 for a rod close a gap in the insertion hole 17 generated in a connection state where the male screw part 73 and the female screw part 82 are screwed with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit controller for an electric converter, etc.

Background Art

[0002] A circuit controller for an electric converter engages a lever (pole-changing lever) protruding from the side surface of a cover portion with a lock piece of the converter, and switches the motor circuit and the KR (display) circuit of the converter by swinging the lever in conjunction with the operation of the lock piece. [[ID=z13]]

[0003] In a conventional circuit controller for an electric converter, a mechanism portion including various contacts is housed in an internal space 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 caused by biological invasion in which organisms such as ants enter the internal space through the gap of the lever outlet and cause problems.

[0004] As a technique for preventing failure cases caused by biological invasion, for example, there is a technique of providing a blocking plate for closing the gap between the lever and the periphery of the outlet, and sliding this blocking plate following the swing of the lever (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, for example, a blocking member made of a rubber-based material or the like is provided between the lever and the periphery of the outlet to form an allowable movement space for the lever, and the blocking member is brought into contact with the lever near the swing shaft through which the lever is inserted to block the internal space of the circuit controller from the outside (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] The circuit controller for electric point machines is used by connecting it to a jack plate attached to the point machine, but it is possible that insects or other organisms may enter through the connection point with the jack plate.

[0007] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to prevent insects and other organisms from entering a circuit controller for an electric point machine through the connection point with the jack plate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The first invention for solving the above problems is a circuit controller for an electric point machine connected to a jack plate, comprising: a base; a cover portion defining an internal space; and a tightening screw for screwing into a female screw portion on the jack plate, wherein the base portion has an insertion hole at a position corresponding to the female screw portion, and the tightening screw has a rotating operating portion provided on the 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 screwed into the female screw portion provided at the lower part of the rod portion, and further comprising a closing member for closing the connection between the outside of the machine and the internal space through the gap in the insertion hole that occurs when the male screw portion and the female screw portion are screwed together.

[0009] According to the first invention, the gap that occurs in the part where the circuit controller is connected to the jack plate can be closed, thereby preventing the entry of organisms such as ants through the gap.

[0010] The second invention is a circuit controller in which the blocking member is a cylindrical or annular body through which the rod portion is inserted.

[0011] According to the second invention, a circuit controller can be realized in which the rod portion is used as a member that guides the placement position of the blocking member.

[0012] The third invention relates to the above-described circuit controller, wherein 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 within the internal space of the device due to its own weight. It is a circuit controller.

[0013] According to the third invention, when the circuit controller is connected to the jack plate, the closing member moves due to its own weight, and the upper opening of the insertion hole is automatically closed.

[0014] The fourth invention is a circuit controller further comprising a movement limiting unit that limits the range of movement of the blocking member along the rod portion, in the circuit controller described above.

[0015] According to the fourth invention, the range of movement of the blocking member is limited to a predetermined range along the rod portion, so that the blocking member is always in a state where it can move freely along the rod portion. This improves the workability when connecting the circuit controller to the jack plate.

[0016] The fifth invention is a circuit controller in which the blocking member is provided at a predetermined position on the rod portion, and in the process of screwing the male screw portion and the female screw portion together by the rotational operation of the rotating operation portion, a part or all of the blocking member is inserted into the insertion hole, thereby blocking the continuity between the outside of the device and the inside of the device in the connected state.

[0017] According to the fifth invention, the gap related to the insertion hole can be reliably closed.

[0018] The sixth invention is a circuit controller in which the blocking member is a hardened body or an elastic body.

[0019] According to the sixth invention, if the closure member is made of a hardened material, the closure member can be made using metal, hard resin, or the like. If the closure member is made of an elastic material, it can flexibly accommodate the displacement of the relative position, the displacement of the relative orientation, and the variation in shape between the closure member and the insertion hole, thereby creating a closed state.

[0020] The seventh invention is an electric spot welder comprising the above circuit controller 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 spot welder has a second closing member in the form of a cylindrical or 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] Perspective external view of the circuit controller in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Side view of the circuit controller in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Side view showing the installation state of the circuit controller in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Diagram showing a configuration example of the circuit controller in the second embodiment. [Figure 5] Diagram showing a configuration example of the circuit controller and the jack plate in the third embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the circuit controller 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 system (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis) indicating a common direction is shown. The positive X-axis direction is the front, the negative X-axis direction is the rear, the positive Y-axis direction is the right, the negative Y-axis direction is the left, the positive Z-axis direction is the top, and the negative Z-axis direction is the bottom.

[0024] 〔First Embodiment〕 FIG. 1 is a perspective external view seen from the upper right obliquely forward showing a configuration example of the circuit controller 2 for an electric spot welder in the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a side view of the circuit controller 2 as seen from the left (negative Y-axis direction), and a portion of it is shown as a partial cross-section. Figure 3 is a side view showing the installation of the circuit controller 2 as seen from the left (negative Y-axis direction), and a portion of it is shown as a partial cross-section.

[0025] The circuit controller 2 has a transparent cover 12 that covers the top surface of the base 10, and the cover 12 is screwed to the base 10 with cover mounting screws 14, thereby defining the internal space 16. The internal space 16 houses a mechanism 20 that reverses the polarity of the motor circuit and the display circuit. A lever 22 that is linked to the lock piece of the switch machine is connected to the mechanism 20.

[0026] The front end of the lever 22 (the part that engages with the lock piece) protrudes out of the device through the lever protrusion 18 (see Figure 1). The lever protrusion 18 is a rectangular notch provided at the lower front end of the cover portion 12. The rear end of the lever 22 is supported by a pivot shaft 24 that is supported vertically in the internal space 16 of the device, allowing it to swing left and right (in the direction of the Y-axis) within a certain range. In other words, the circuit controller 2 switches the circuit by causing the lever 22, which protrudes from the side of the cover portion 12, to swing in conjunction with the lock piece of the point machine.

[0027] The gap between the lever 22 and the lever protrusion opening 18 is closed by the protrusion opening closing member 40, preventing organisms such as ants from entering this gap.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the circuit controller 2 is connected from above to a jack plate 80 fixed to the electric point machine 3 by fastening screws 70 that pass vertically through the base 10 and cover 12. The jack plate 80 has a group of connection terminals for connecting the electrical circuits of the circuit controller 2.

[0029] The tightening screw 70 has a vertically elongated rod portion 71, a rotating operating portion 72 connected to the upper end of the rod portion 71 and operable from above the cover portion 12, a male threaded portion 73 provided at the lower end of the rod portion 71, and an E-type retaining ring 74.

[0030] The rod portion 71 is a linear portion that penetrates the ceiling portion of the cover portion 12 and is loosely fitted to the cover portion 12 so as to be slidable.

[0031] The rotary operating part 72 is a part that the operator rotates with their fingers to tighten the tightening screw 70, and is attached to the upper end of the rod part 71 that protrudes from the cover part 12. The diameter of the rotary operating part 72 is larger than the diameter of the rod part 71. When the rod part 71 falls onto the cover part 12 due to its own weight, the rotary operating part 72 comes into contact with the upper surface of the cover part 12, causing the tightening screw 70 to hang from the cover part 12 and preventing the tightening screw 70 from falling out of the cover part 12.

[0032] The male screw portion 73 is provided at the lower end of the rod portion 71 and is located within the insertion hole 17 that penetrates the base portion 10 vertically when the tightening screw 70 is suspended from the cover portion 12 by the rotating operation portion 72.

[0033] The E-type retaining ring 74 is attached to the upper part of the rod portion 71 (specifically, the part located at the top of the internal space 16 of the rod portion 71). When the cover portion 12 is inverted, the E-type retaining ring 74 contacts the inner surface of the ceiling of the cover portion 12, preventing the tightening screw 70 from falling out of the cover portion 12. The position of the E-type retaining ring 74 is set so that when the cover portion 12 is inverted, the male screw portion 73 does not come out of the insertion hole 17. In other words, the E-type retaining ring 74, together with the rotation operating portion 72, functions as a movement limiting portion for the rod, restricting the vertical movement range of the rod portion 71.

[0034] When connecting the circuit controller 2 to the jack plate 80, the circuit controller 2 and the jack plate 80 are aligned so that the female screw studs 81 erected on the jack plate 80 are inserted into the insertion holes 17.

[0035] The female threaded stud 81 has a female threaded portion 82 at its upper end for the male threaded portion 73 of the tightening screw 70 to be screwed into. The protruding length of the female threaded stud 81 is set so that when the circuit controller 2 is connected to the jack plate 80, the female threaded portion 82 is located inside the insertion hole 17. The outer diameter of the female threaded stud 81 is smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 17 of the base portion 10, creating a gap between the outer surface of the female threaded stud 81 and the inner surface of the insertion hole 17.

[0036] The gap between the female screw stud 81 and the insertion hole 17 could potentially become a pathway for organisms such as ants to enter. In other words, ants that have entered the jack plate 80 could crawl up the female screw stud 81, travel along 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 then potentially enter the internal space 16 of the circuit controller 2. Therefore, the circuit controller 2 has a rod blocking member 75 through which the rod portion 71 of the tightening screw 70 is inserted.

[0037] The rod closure member 75 is a cylindrical or annular body having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 17. The rod closure member 75 has an outer diameter sufficient to close the upper opening of the insertion hole 17 even if there are manufacturing dimensional variations.

[0038] The material for the rod closure member 75 can be a hardened material (for example, synthetic resin (hard resin), metal, non-ferrous metal, glass, etc.). Using a hardened material allows for the relatively inexpensive and easy manufacture of the rod closure member 75. Furthermore, it enables the rod closure member 75 to be less susceptible to deterioration over time.

[0039] The fitting relationship between the rod closing member 75 and the rod portion 71 is set to "loose fit". Therefore, when the circuit controller 2 is connected to the electric point machine 3 (same as the up-and-down relationship in Figure 3, etc.; with the rotation operation unit 72 at the top), the rod blocking member 75 moves downward along the rod portion 71 in the internal space 16 due to its own weight, stops when it comes into contact with the upper opening of the insertion hole 17, and closes the insertion hole 17. Specifically, the lower surface of the rod blocking member 75 comes into contact with the periphery of the upper opening of the insertion hole 17, covering and sealing the gap between the rod portion 71 and the rod blocking member 75 from above.

[0040] If the circuit controller 2 is stored upside down, the rod blocking member 75 will move along the rod portion 71 within the internal space 16 by its own weight. The upward movement range of the rod portion 71 is restricted by the E-type retaining ring 74, and even if it moves to the maximum extent of the restriction, the tip of the male screw portion 73 will not come out of the insertion hole 17. The rod blocking member 75 moves in the direction of gravity without falling out of the rod portion 71. At the end of its movement is the E-type retaining ring 74, which functions as a movement limiting part that restricts the movement range of the rod blocking member 75 along the rod portion 71. When the circuit controller 2 is placed in the connection position for connecting to the jack plate 80, the rod blocking member 75 moves by its own weight along the rod portion 71 toward the male screw portion 73, closing the gap between the tightening screw 70 and the insertion hole 17.

[0041] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The second embodiment is basically implemented in the same way as the first embodiment, but the structure for closing the gap between the fastening screw 70 and the insertion hole 17 is different. In describing the second embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment will be used for components similar to those in the first embodiment, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0042] Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the circuit controller 2B in the second embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view showing the area around the structure that closes the gap between the fastening screw 70B and the insertion hole 17 in the second embodiment.

[0043] The fastening screw 70B includes an elastic rod closing member 75B and a second E-type retaining ring 76.

[0044] The second E-type retaining ring 76 is installed in a position to press the rod closing member 75B against the upper opening of the insertion hole 17 in an elastically deformed state when the circuit controller 2B and the jack plate 80 are connected.

[0045] Furthermore, the second E-type retaining ring 76 also functions as a movement restricting part that restricts the upward movement of the rod closing member 75B along the rod portion 71.

[0046] According to the second embodiment, the same effects and advantages as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, when the circuit controller 2B and the jack plate 80 are connected, the rod closing member 75B is pressed against the upper opening of the insertion hole 17 while elastically deforming, so that the degree of contact with the insertion hole 17 is increased, and the gap between the tightening screw 70B and the insertion hole 17 can be reliably closed while having the ability to accommodate dimensional variations during manufacturing.

[0047] [Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The third embodiment is basically implemented in the same way as the first embodiment, but the structure for closing the gap between the fastening screw 70 and the insertion hole 17 is different. In describing the third embodiment, we will mainly describe the differences from the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment will be used for components similar to those in the first embodiment, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0048] Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example configuration of the circuit controller 2C and jack plate 80C in the third embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view showing the area around the structure that closes the gap between the fastening screw 70C and the insertion hole 17 in the third embodiment.

[0049] The tightening screw 70C of the third embodiment has a rod closing member 75C which is an O-ring made of an elastic material, and a ring groove 78 for fitting the O-ring to a predetermined position on the rod portion 71.

[0050] The rod closure member 75C is the first closure member in the third embodiment. The outer diameter of the rod closure member 75C is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the upper opening of the insertion hole 17.

[0051] The ring groove 78 is positioned so that, during the screwing process between the male threaded portion 73 and the female threaded portion 82, the rod closing member 75C is elastically deformed and partially or completely inserted into the upper opening of the insertion hole 17. The ring groove 78 functions as a movement limiting portion that prevents the rod closing member 75C from moving along the rod portion 71.

[0052] The female threaded 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 limiting part that prevents the stud closing member 84 from moving along the female threaded stud 81C.

[0053] The stud closure member 84 is a second closure member in the third embodiment. The stud closure member 84 is implemented, for example, as an O-ring, which is an annular body of an elastic material whose outer diameter is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the lower opening of the through hole 17. The stud closure member 84 may also be a cylindrical body of an elastic material.

[0054] The ring groove 85 is positioned such that, during the screwing process between the male thread portion 73 and the female thread portion 82, the stud closing member 84 is elastically deformed and partially or completely inserted into the lower opening of the insertion hole 17, or so the stud closing member 84 is positioned in close contact with a tapered surface that expands below the lower opening of the insertion hole 17.

[0055] When the circuit controller 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.

[0056] According to the third embodiment, the same effects as the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, in the third embodiment, the insertion hole 17 can be closed from above and below.

[0057] Furthermore, it is also possible to omit either the set of rod-type closing member 75C and ring groove 78, or the set of stud-type closing member 84 and ring groove 85.

[0058] Furthermore, the rod closure member 75C is not limited to an O-ring, but may also be a cylindrical or annular body made of an elastic material having a shape in which the outer diameter of the lower end gradually decreases as it goes downwards. Similarly, the stud closure member 84 is not limited to an O-ring, but may also be a cylindrical or annular body made of an elastic material having a shape in which the outer diameter of the upper end gradually decreases as it goes upwards.

[0059] Although several embodiments to which the present invention is applied have been described, the forms to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above embodiments, and components can be added, omitted, or modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 2, 2B, 2C... Circuit controllers 3, 3C... Electric point machine 12...Cover part 16…Inner space 17…Through hole 18...Lever protrusion 22... Lever 40…Protruding opening closing member 70, 70B, 70C... tightening screws 71…Rod section 72... Rotary operation section 73...Male screw part 74…Type E retaining ring 75, 75B, 75C... Rod closing members 76...Type 2E retaining ring 80, 80C...jack plate 81, 81C... Female threaded stud 82...Female thread section 84... Stud closure member

Claims

1. A circuit controller for an electric point machine connected to a jack plate, The base and, A cover portion that defines the internal space of the container, A tightening screw for screwing into the female screw portion on the jack plate, Equipped with, The base portion has an insertion hole at a position corresponding to the female screw portion, The aforementioned fastening screw is A rotating operating part is provided on the head that protrudes from the upper surface of the cover portion, A rod portion that penetrates the internal space of the container, A male threaded portion located within the insertion hole and screwed into the female threaded portion provided at the lower part of the rod portion, It has, A blocking member for blocking the continuity between the outside of the container and the inside of the container through the gap in the insertion hole that occurs when the male screw portion and the female screw portion are screwed together, A circuit controller further equipped with [the following features].

2. The closing member is a cylindrical or annular body through which the rod portion is inserted. The circuit controller according to claim 1.

3. The blocking 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 within the internal space of the container due to its own weight. The circuit controller according to claim 2.

4. A movement limiting unit that restricts the range of movement of the closing member along the rod portion, It also has, The circuit controller according to claim 3.

5. The blocking member is provided at a predetermined position on the rod portion, and is partially or entirely inserted into the insertion hole during the screwing process between the male screw portion and the female screw portion by the rotational operation of the rotating operating portion, thereby blocking the continuity between the outside and the inside space of the device in the connected state. The circuit controller according to claim 2.

6. The aforementioned closing member is a hardened body or an elastic body. A circuit controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A circuit controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The aforementioned jack plate and, An electric point machine equipped with, The female thread portion is a female thread stud erected on the jack plate, which is inserted into the through hole when the connection is made, and has a second closing member which is a cylindrical or annular body through which the female thread stud is inserted. Electric point machine.

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