JP5284882B2 - Electromagnetic relay - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay that can reduce manufacturing costs.

Conventionally, an electromagnetic relay used in a power converter or the like is known (see the following patent document). In FIG. 9, the circuit diagram of the power converter device 90 using the electromagnetic relays 9a and 9b is shown. The power converter 90 converts the DC power of the DC power supply 91 into AC using an inverter 92, and drives, for example, a three-phase AC motor (not shown) using the AC power. As shown in the figure, the power converter 90 uses two electromagnetic relays 9a and 9b as main relays.
One electromagnetic relay 9 a is attached to the positive electrode side of the DC power supply 91, and the other electromagnetic relay 9 b is attached to the negative electrode side of the DC power supply 91. By providing the two electromagnetic relays 9a and 9b in this way, the current can be reliably interrupted.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the structure of each electromagnetic relay 9a, 9b. As shown in the figure, the electromagnetic relay 9 includes an electromagnetic coil 93, a plunger 94 that moves forward and backward in the axial direction of the electromagnetic coil 93, a movable contact portion 95, and a fixed contact portion 96 that contacts and separates from the movable contact portion 95. Prepare. When the movable contact portion 95 and the fixed contact portion 96 come into contact with each other, a current flows between the movable contact portion 95 and the fixed contact portion 96.
The electromagnetic relay 9 is provided with a yoke 99. Magnetic flux generated from the electromagnetic coil 93 passes through the yoke 99 and the plunger 94. By arranging the yoke 99 around the electromagnetic coil 93, the attractive force of the plunger 94 can be increased.

JP 2007-335082 A JP 2002-343216 A JP 11-339605 A

However, since the electromagnetic relay 9 is a relatively expensive component, if the two electromagnetic relays 9a and 9b are used as in the prior art, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the power converter 90 increases.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the electromagnetic relays 9a and 9b are connected in a state where no electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor C, a rush current flows to the capacitor C and the electromagnetic relays 9a and 9b may be damaged. For this reason, a precharge relay (electromagnetic relay 9c) that allows a low current to flow and accumulates electric charge in the capacitor C is provided. When the power is connected, the main relay (electromagnetic relays 9a and 9b) is turned off, and the precharge relay (electromagnetic relay 9c) is turned on. Since the resistor R is connected to the precharge relay (electromagnetic relay 9c), it is difficult for the rush current to flow. After the electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor C, the main relay (electromagnetic relays 9a and 9b) is turned on and the precharge relay (electromagnetic relay 9c) is turned off.
As described above, the precharge relay (electromagnetic relay 9c) is a necessary component for the circuit, but there is a problem that it is an expensive component like the main relay (electromagnetic relays 9a and 9b).
Therefore, it is desired to reduce the manufacturing cost of the electromagnetic relay 9 by integrating a plurality of electromagnetic relays 9 to achieve common parts and simplification of the structure.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic relay including a plurality of relays and capable of reducing the cost.

The present invention includes a fixed contact portion movable contact, and the on state a current flows the movable contact portion comes into contact with the fixed contact portion, a relay for switching between the OFF state where no current flows separated A plurality of electromagnetic relays,
Each of the relay provided with a electromagnetic coil magnetic flux generated by the energization, is provided inside of the electromagnetic coil, at least partially made of a magnetic material, the axis of the electromagnetic coil by the presence or absence of energization of the said electromagnetic coil With a plunger that moves back and forth in the direction,
The movable contact portion is configured to contact and separate from the fixed contact portion in accordance with the advance / retreat operation of the plunger,
Around the plurality of adjacently disposed electromagnetic coils, there is provided a common yoke that surrounds them and through which the magnetic flux generated from each of the electromagnetic coils passes in common.
The electromagnetic relay is characterized in that a magnetic body constituting the common yoke is not provided between the electromagnetic coils adjacent to each other.

The function and effect of the present invention will be described.
In the present invention, a plurality of relays each having an electromagnetic coil and a plunger are provided, and the plurality of relays are configured to share a yoke. That is, the electromagnetic relay of the present invention has one common yoke, and the magnetic flux generated from the electromagnetic coil of each relay flows through this common yoke.
In this way, it is not necessary to form the yoke 99 so as to surround each electromagnetic coil 93 as in the prior art (see FIG. 10), and the entire plurality of electromagnetic coils can be surrounded by one common yoke. . Thereby, it is not necessary to arrange a yoke, that is, a magnetic body between adjacent electromagnetic coils. For example, a nonmagnetic material such as air can be interposed between adjacent electromagnetic coils. In addition, a material cheaper than the magnetic body constituting the common yoke, such as a cheap synthetic resin, can be interposed. Thereby, the quantity of the magnetic body to be used can be reduced and the manufacturing cost of an electromagnetic relay can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electromagnetic relay including a plurality of relays and capable of reducing the cost.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic relay in an OFF state in Example 1, Comprising: DD sectional drawing of FIG. AA sectional drawing of FIG. BB sectional drawing of FIG. CC sectional drawing of FIG. The circuit diagram of the power converter device which uses the electromagnetic relay in Example 1. FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic relay in an ON state in Example 1, Comprising: The figure for demonstrating the direction of the electric current which flows into an electromagnetic coil, and the direction of magnetic flux. The example which changed the direction of the electric current which flows into an electromagnetic coil with respect to FIG. The example which changed the number of relays in Example 1. FIG. The circuit diagram of the power converter device using the electromagnetic relay in a prior art example. Sectional drawing of the electromagnetic relay in a prior art example.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention described above will be described.
In the present invention, each of the relays is formed with a contact pair at a portion where the fixed contact portion and the movable contact portion are in contact, and the plurality of relays are arranged so that the contact pairs are adjacent to each other. and which, being one magnet between the two said contact pairs adjacent arranged, respectively generating arc one above two said contact pairs when switched to the oFF state from the oN state The magnet is preferably extinguished (claim 2).
If it does in this way, since the magnet for extinguishing an arc can be made shared, the manufacturing cost of an electromagnetic relay can be lowered.
That is, when the electromagnetic relay 9 (see FIG. 10) is switched from the on state to the off state, an arc is generated at the contact pair 97. If the magnet 98 is provided in the vicinity of the contact pair 97, Lorentz force acts on the arc, and the arc can be extinguished quickly. Thereby, it becomes easy to interrupt | block an electric current. However, the magnet 98 is expensive, and the conventional electromagnetic relay 9 cannot reduce the number of the magnets 98, which causes the manufacturing cost to increase.
On the other hand, in the present invention, one magnet is provided between two adjacent contact pairs, and arcs generated in the two contact pairs are extinguished by one magnet. Therefore, the number of magnets can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the electromagnetic relay can be reduced.

Also, with two of the relays, together with the magnetic flux generated from the electromagnetic coil of the one of the relay passes through the plunger of one of the relays above, a portion flows through the common yoke of the other of the relay Pass through the plunger,
Magnetic flux generated from the electromagnetic coil of the other of the relay as well as passes through the plunger of the other relay, a portion flows through the common yoke passes through the plunger of one of said relay,
Two of the relay becomes the ON state or the OFF state at the same time, as the magnetic flux generated from each of the electromagnetic coils mutually strengthen the attraction of the plunger from one another, the direction of the current flowing through the electromagnetic coil is defined (Claim 3).
In this way, the magnetic flux generated from one electromagnetic coil increases the attractive force of the other plunger, and the magnetic flux generated from the other electromagnetic coil increases the attractive force of the one plunger. Therefore, even if there is little electric current which flows into an electromagnetic coil, the attraction force of a plunger can be strengthened.

Example 1
An electromagnetic relay according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the present example includes a movable contact portion 22 and a fixed contact portion 21, and an on state in which a current flows when the movable contact portion 22 contacts the fixed contact portion 21 (see FIG. 6). And an electromagnetic relay 1 having a plurality of relays 2 that switch between an off state (see FIG. 1) that is separated and does not flow current.
Each of the relays 2 a and 2 b includes an electromagnetic coil 5 that generates a magnetic flux when energized, and is provided inside the electromagnetic coil 5, and at least a part thereof is made of a magnetic material. 5 is provided with a plunger 3 that moves forward and backward in the axial direction.
In addition, the movable contact portion 22 is configured to come in contact with and separate from the fixed contact portion 21 as the plunger 3 moves forward and backward.
Around the plurality of electromagnetic coils 5 arranged adjacent to each other, there is provided a common yoke 4 that surrounds them and through which magnetic fluxes generated from the individual electromagnetic coils 5 pass in common.
In addition, the magnetic body constituting the common yoke 4 is not provided between the adjacent electromagnetic coils 5a and 5b 50.
The details will be described below.

  The relays 2a and 2b have two springs 30 and 31, respectively. The spring 30 urges the plunger 3 upward in FIG. 1, and the spring 31 urges the movable contact portion 22 downward in FIG.

  When the relays 2a and 2b are turned on, a current is passed through the electromagnetic coil 5 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the plunger 3 is magnetized and falls downward in the figure. Then, the movable contact portion 22 is pushed downward in the figure by the urging force of the spring 31 and contacts the fixed contact portion 21. Therefore, the relays 2a and 2b are turned on.

  When the relays 2a and 2b are turned off, the energization of the electromagnetic coil 5 is stopped as shown in FIG. If it does in this way, the plunger 3 will be pushed up by FIG. As a result, the tip of the plunger 3 comes into contact with the movable contact portion 22, and the movable contact portion 22 is separated from the fixed contact portion 21. Therefore, the relays 2a and 2b are turned off.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the common yoke 4 includes a plate-like yoke 4a and a box-type yoke 4b. In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, two electromagnetic coils 5a and 5b are accommodated in a box-type yoke 4b. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the plate-like yoke 4a is formed with a through hole 12 through which the plunger 3 passes. The common yoke 4 is made of iron. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the magnetic body (iron) constituting the common yoke 4 is not provided between the electromagnetic coils 5a and 5b, and air as a non-magnetic body is interposed. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the relays 2 a and 2 b has two contact pairs 20. A magnet 6 is provided in the vicinity of the contact pair 20. When the relays 2a and 2b are switched from the on state to the off state, an arc is generated at the contact pair 20. However, the Lorentz force acts on the arc by the magnet 6, and the arc is stretched and is easily extinguished. Thereby, it becomes easy to interrupt | block an electric current. Further, the electromagnetic relay 1 is formed with an arc extinguishing chamber 11 in which an arc is guided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plurality of relays 2a and 2b are arranged such that the contact pairs 20a and 20b are adjacent to each other. One magnet 6a is provided between two adjacent contact pairs 20a, 20b, and one arc is generated in each of the two contact pairs 20a, 20b when the on state is switched to the off state. The magnet 6a is configured to extinguish the arc.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram of the vehicular power converter 7 using the electromagnetic relay 1 of this example. As shown in the figure, the vehicular power converter 7 includes a DC power supply 71 and an inverter 70. The DC power of the DC power supply 71 is converted into AC by the inverter 70, and a three-phase AC motor (not shown) is driven. The relay 2a is provided on the positive electrode side of the DC power supply 71, and the relay 2b is provided on the negative electrode side. As described above, these relays 2 a and 2 b are incorporated in one electromagnetic relay 1.

  On the other hand, when the relays 2a and 2b are turned on in a state where the capacitor C is not charged, a rush current flows through the capacitor C, and the relays 2a and 2b may be damaged. For this reason, a precharge relay 2c is provided which allows a low current to flow until the electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor C. When the power is connected, the precharge relay 2c and the relay 2b are turned on, and the relay 2a is turned off. Since the resistor R is connected to the precharge relay 2c, a rush current hardly flows. After the electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor C, the relays 2a and 2b are turned on and the precharge relay 2c is turned off. Operation control of these relays 2a to 2c is performed by the ECU 72.

Next, the direction of the current flowing through the electromagnetic coil 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the magnetic flux Φa generated from one electromagnetic coil 5a is indicated by a solid line, and the magnetic flux Φb generated from the other electromagnetic coil 5b is indicated by a broken line.
As shown in FIG. 6, the electromagnetic relay 1 includes two relays 2a and 2b. The magnetic flux Φa generated from the electromagnetic coil 5a of one relay 2a passes through the plunger 3a of one relay 2a and flows through the common yoke 4 and part of it passes through the plunger 3b of the other relay 2b.
Further, the magnetic flux Φb generated from the electromagnetic coil 5b of the other relay 2b passes through the plunger 3b of the other relay 2b and flows through the common yoke 4 and part of it passes through the plunger 3a of the one relay 2a.
The two relays 2a, 2b are turned on or off at the same time, and the magnetic coils 5a, 2b are strengthened so that the magnetic fluxes Φa, Φb generated from the individual electromagnetic coils 5a, 5b reinforce the attractive force of the plungers 3a, 3b. The direction of the current flowing through 5b is determined.
That is, in this example, the magnetic fluxes Φa and Φb flowing through one plunger 3a have the same direction, and the magnetic fluxes Φa and Φb flowing through the other plunger 3b have the same direction.

  In the above description, the electromagnetic relay 1 includes the two relays 2a and 2b, but the number of relays 2 may be increased. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, three relays 2a to 2c may be integrated. In the electromagnetic relay 1 of FIG. 8, in addition to the relays 2a and 2b described above, a precharge relay 2c (see FIG. 5) is also integrated. The electromagnetic relay 1 includes one common yoke 4, and the magnetic flux Φ generated from the individual electromagnetic coils 5 a to 5 c is configured to flow through the common yoke 4 in common. Further, although not shown, four or more relays can be integrated as necessary.

Next, the function and effect of this example will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the electromagnetic relay 1 of this example includes a plurality of relays 2 each having an electromagnetic coil 5 and a plunger 3, and the plurality of relays 2a and 2b are configured to share a yoke. That is, the electromagnetic relay 1 of this example has one common yoke 4, and the magnetic flux Φ generated from the electromagnetic coils 5 a and 5 b of the individual relays 2 a and 2 b flows through the common yoke 4.
This eliminates the need for forming the yoke 96 so as to surround each electromagnetic coil 93 as in the prior art (see FIG. 10), and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the plurality of electromagnetic coils 5a and 5b as a whole. Can be configured to be surrounded by one common yoke 4. This eliminates the need for a yoke, that is, a magnetic material, between the adjacent electromagnetic coils 5a and 5b. In this example, the non-magnetic air is interposed between the adjacent electromagnetic coils 5a and 5b. Further, a material cheaper than the magnetic body constituting the common yoke 4, for example, a cheap synthetic resin can be interposed. Therefore, the amount of magnetic material to be used can be reduced. Thereby, the manufacturing cost of the electromagnetic relay 1 can be reduced.

In this example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one magnet 6a is provided between two adjacent contact pairs 20a and 20b, and one arc is generated at each of the two contact pairs 20a and 20b. The magnet 6a is configured to extinguish the arc.
If it does in this way, since the magnet 6 for extinguishing an arc can be shared, the manufacturing cost of the electromagnetic relay 1 can be reduced.
That is, when the electromagnetic relay 1 is switched from the on state to the off state, an arc is generated at the contact pair 20. If the magnet 6 is provided in the vicinity of the contact pair 20, Lorentz force acts on the arc, and the arc can be extinguished quickly. Thereby, it becomes easy to interrupt | block an electric current. This magnet is expensive, and the conventional electromagnetic relay 9 (see FIG. 10) cannot reduce the number of magnets, which causes an increase in manufacturing cost.
On the other hand, in this example, the magnet 6a is shared, and the arc of the two contact pairs 20a and 20b is extinguished by one magnet 6a. Therefore, the number of magnets 6 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the electromagnetic relay 1 can be reduced.

Further, in the electromagnetic relay 1 of this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the directions of the magnetic fluxes Φa and Φb flowing through one plunger 3a are the same, and the directions of the magnetic fluxes Φa and Φb flowing through the other plunger 3b are the same. Thus, the direction of the current flowing through the electromagnetic coils 5a and 5b is determined.
In this way, the magnetic flux Φa generated from one electromagnetic coil 5a strengthens the attractive force of the other plunger 3b, and the magnetic flux Φb generated from the other electromagnetic coil 5b increases the attractive force of the one plunger 3a. Therefore, even if there is little electric current which flows into electromagnetic coil 5a, 5b, the attractive force of plunger 3a, 3b can be strengthened.

  It should be noted that the same effect can be obtained if the directions of the currents flowing through the electromagnetic coils 5a and 5b are made opposite to those shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to this example, it is possible to provide an electromagnetic relay 1 that includes a plurality of relays 2 and can be reduced in cost.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electromagnetic relay 2 Relay 20 Contact pair 21 Fixed contact part 22 Movable contact part 3 Plunger 4 Common yoke 5 Electromagnetic coil 6 Magnet

Claims (3)

And a fixed contact portion movable contact portion, an electromagnetic having a plurality the movable contact portion and the on state current flows in contact with the fixed contact portion, a relay for switching between the OFF state where no current flows separated A relay,
Each of the relay provided with a electromagnetic coil magnetic flux generated by the energization, is provided inside of the electromagnetic coil, at least partially made of a magnetic material, the axis of the electromagnetic coil by the presence or absence of energization of the said electromagnetic coil With a plunger that moves back and forth in the direction,
The movable contact portion is configured to contact and separate from the fixed contact portion in accordance with the advance / retreat operation of the plunger,
Around the plurality of adjacently disposed electromagnetic coils, there is provided a common yoke that surrounds them and through which the magnetic flux generated from each of the electromagnetic coils passes in common.
An electromagnetic relay characterized in that a magnetic body constituting the common yoke is not provided between the electromagnetic coils adjacent to each other. 2. The relay according to claim 1, wherein a contact pair is formed at a portion where the fixed contact portion and the movable contact portion are in contact with each other, and the plurality of relays are arranged so that the contact pairs are adjacent to each other. are, are one magnet between the two said contact pairs adjacent arranged, from the on state of one of the arc respectively generated in two of the contact pairs when switched to the oFF state An electromagnetic relay in which the magnet is extinguished. In Claim 1 or Claim 2, it has two said relays, and the magnetic flux which generate | occur | produced from the said electromagnetic coil of one said relay flows through the said common yoke while passing the said plunger of said one relay, and the one Pass through the plunger of the other relay,
Magnetic flux generated from the electromagnetic coil of the other of the relay as well as passes through the plunger of the other relay, a portion flows through the common yoke passes through the plunger of one of said relay,
Two of the relay becomes the ON state or the OFF state at the same time, as the magnetic flux generated from each of the electromagnetic coils mutually strengthen the attraction of the plunger from one another, the direction of the current flowing through the electromagnetic coil is defined Electromagnetic relay characterized by

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