JP7617524B2 - Relay Structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a relay structure used in various electrical devices.

A conventional relay device is described below. Conventionally, in order to dissipate heat generated at the internal contacts of a relay to the outside of the relay, measures have been taken such as increasing the cross-sectional area of the conductor connected to the relay for carrying current, or connecting a heat sink or heat-conducting insulator to the conductor for carrying current.

Note that, for example, Patent Document 1 is known as prior art literature related to the invention of this application.

JP 2014-79093 A

However, in conventional relays, the thermal resistance from the heat source inside the relay to the conductor connected to the relay is large, making it difficult for heat generated inside the relay to be transferred to the heat sink outside the relay. As a result, in order to improve the heat dissipation characteristics of the relay, there were issues such as making the relay larger to reduce the thermal resistance from the heat source inside the relay to the conductor connected to the relay, and suppressing the current value that can be passed through it.

The present invention aims to improve the heat dissipation characteristics of relay structures.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a connector comprising: a first conductor, a second conductor, an outer shell portion, a first fixed contact portion and a second fixed contact portion which are cylindrical and provided on the outer shell portion with a portion exposed from the outer shell portion, a movable contact portion which is contained within the outer shell portion and provided so as to be in contact or not in contact with the first fixed contact portion and the second fixed contact portion, a first fastener which fastens the first fixed contact portion and the first conductor, and a second fastener which fastens the second fixed contact portion and the second conductor, The second fastener is composed of a rod-shaped metal having a threaded groove on its outer periphery and a canopy portion that presses the first conductor and the second conductor, and a through hole that penetrates the rod-shaped metal and the canopy portion is provided in the axial direction of the rod-shaped metal, a rod-shaped heat transfer body having a higher thermal conductivity than the first fastener and the second fastener is arranged in the through hole, an insulating heat transfer body is further arranged on the opposite side of the canopy portion to the first conductor and the second conductor, and an end of the rod-shaped heat transfer body is in contact with the insulating heat transfer body .

According to the present invention,
The thermal resistance from the first fixed contact portion, the second fixed contact portion, or the movable contact portion, which are heat generating portions, to the first conductor and the second conductor is reduced by the rod-shaped heat transfer body having high thermal conductivity. As a result, heat generated in the first fixed contact portion, the second fixed contact portion, or the movable contact portion is easily transferred to the first conductor and the second conductor, making it possible to improve the heat dissipation characteristics of the relay structure.

FIG. 1 is a first cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a relay structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a second cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a relay structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a third cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a relay structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a relay structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a relay structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the relay structure according to the embodiment of the present invention;

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
1 is a first cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a relay structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The relay structure 1 includes a first conductor 2, a second conductor 3, an outer shell 4, a first fixed contact portion 5, a second fixed contact portion 6, a movable contact portion 7, a first fastener 8, a second fastener 9, and rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B.

The first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 are cylindrical and are provided on the outer shell portion 4. A part of the first fixed contact portion 5 and a part of the second fixed contact portion 6 are exposed from the outer shell portion 4. The movable contact portion 7 is provided within the outer shell portion 4. The movable contact portion 7 is provided so as to be in contact with or out of contact with the second fixed contact portion 6 and the first fixed contact portion 5.

The first fastener 8 fastens the first fixed contact portion 5 and the first conductor 2. The second fastener 9 fastens the second fixed contact portion 6 and the second conductor 3. In detail, the first fastener 8 is composed of a rod-shaped metal 10A and a canopy portion 11A. The second fastener 9 is composed of a rod-shaped metal 10B and a canopy portion 11B. The rod-shaped metals 10A and 10B have thread grooves on their outer peripheries. The canopy portion 11A presses the first conductor 2, and the canopy portion 11B presses the second conductor 3.

The rod-shaped metal 10A and the canopy portion 11A are provided with a through hole 12A that penetrates the rod-shaped metal 10A and the canopy portion 11A in the axial direction of the rod-shaped metal 10A. Similarly, the rod-shaped metal 10B and the canopy portion 11B are provided with a through hole 12B that penetrates the rod-shaped metal 10B and the canopy portion 11B in the axial direction of the rod-shaped metal 10B. Furthermore, the through hole 12A is provided with a rod-shaped heat transfer material 13A that has a higher thermal conductivity than the first fastener 8. Similarly, the through hole 12B is provided with a rod-shaped heat transfer material 13B that has a higher thermal conductivity than the second fastener 9.

With the above configuration, the thermal resistance from the first fixed contact 5, the second fixed contact 6, or the movable contact 7, which are the heat generating parts, to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 is reduced by the rod-shaped heat transfer body with high thermal conductivity. As a result, the heat generated in the first fixed contact 5, the second fixed contact 6, or the movable contact 7 is easily transferred to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3, making it possible to improve the heat dissipation characteristics of the relay structure 1.

The details of the relay structure 1 are described below. As mentioned above, the relay structure 1 includes a first conductor 2, a second conductor 3, an outer shell 4, a first fixed contact portion 5, a second fixed contact portion 6, a movable contact portion 7, a first fastener 8, a second fastener 9, and rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B.

The first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 are tubular and are provided on the outer shell portion 4. More specifically, the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 are tubular or cylindrical with a bottom, and the openings 5A, 6A of the cylindrical with a bottom are exposed from the outer shell portion 4. The movable contact portion 7 is provided so as to be in contact or not in contact with the bottom 5B of the first fixed contact portion 5 and the bottom 6B of the second fixed contact portion 6.

The first fastener 8 fastens the first conductor 2 by sandwiching the first conductor 2 between the canopy portion 11A of the first fastener 8 and the opening portion 5A of the first fixed contact portion 5. The second fastener 9 fastens the second conductor 3 by sandwiching the second conductor 3 between the canopy portion 11B of the second fastener 9 and the opening portion 6A of the second fixed contact portion 6. The first fastener 8 is composed of a rod-shaped metal 10A provided on the outer periphery as a male screw and the canopy portion 11A. The second fastener 9 is composed of a rod-shaped metal 10B provided on the outer periphery as a male screw and the canopy portion 11B. In addition, a female screw is provided on the inner periphery of the opening 6A of the second fixed contact portion 6. In addition, a female screw is provided on the inner periphery of the opening 5A of the first fixed contact portion 5. In addition, a female screw is provided on the inner periphery of the opening 6A of the second fixed contact portion 6.

The rod-shaped metal 10A and the canopy portion 11A are provided with a through hole 12A that penetrates the rod-shaped metal 10A and the canopy portion 11A in the axial direction of an axis that extends vertically in the figure of the rod-shaped metal 10A. Similarly, the rod-shaped metal 10B and the canopy portion 11B are provided with a through hole 12B that penetrates the rod-shaped metal 10B and the canopy portion 11B in the axial direction of an axis that extends vertically in the figure of the rod-shaped metal 10B.

Furthermore, in the through hole 12A, a rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A having a higher thermal conductivity than the first fastener 8 is provided in a state of being in close contact with the inner circumference of the through hole 12A. Similarly, in the through hole 12B, a rod-shaped heat transfer body 13B having a higher thermal conductivity than the second fastener 9 is provided in a state of being in close contact with the inner circumference of the through hole 12B. Here, the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A has a higher thermal conductivity than the first fastener 8, and the thermal conductivity per unit volume of the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A is higher than the thermal conductivity per unit volume of the first fastener 8. Similarly, the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13B has a higher thermal conductivity than the second fastener 9, and the thermal conductivity per unit volume of the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13B is higher than the thermal conductivity per unit volume of the second fastener 9. Also, the electrical conductivity of the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A is higher than the electrical conductivity of the first fastener 8. Similarly, the conductivity of the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13B is higher than the conductivity of the second fastener 9.

In addition to the first fixed contact portion 5, the second fixed contact portion 6, and the movable contact portion 7, the outer shell portion 4 is provided with a drive portion 14. The drive portion 14 moves the movable contact portion 7 to switch the first fixed contact portion 5, the second fixed contact portion 6, and the movable contact portion 7 to a connected state or a disconnected state. The drive portion 14 has an iron core (not shown), a winding portion (not shown), a drive shaft (not shown), and a drive spring (not shown), but the mechanical structure of the drive portion 14 will not be described in detail here. The drive portion 14 may be completely contained within the outer shell portion 4, or a part of the drive portion 14 may be exposed from the outer shell portion 4. Alternatively, the entire drive portion 14 may be provided outside the outer shell portion 4. At least the terminal 15 described later is provided in a state exposed from the outer shell portion 4.

The drive unit 14 operates by receiving power supply from a drive circuit (not shown) provided outside the relay structure 1 through the terminal 15. For example, when the drive circuit (not shown) applies a predetermined voltage to the terminal 15, the position of the movable contact unit 7 changes, and the first fixed contact unit 5 and the second fixed contact unit 6 switch from a disconnected state to a contacted state with the movable contact unit 7. Alternatively, when the drive circuit (not shown) applies a predetermined voltage to the terminal 15, the position of the movable contact unit 7 changes, and the first fixed contact unit 5 and the second fixed contact unit 6 switch from a connected state to a disconnected state with the movable contact unit 7.

The outer shell 4 has the movable contact 7 disposed in a sealed space within the outer shell 4, and a gas such as hydrogen is sealed in the sealed space within the outer shell 4 to suppress arc discharge that may occur between the first and second fixed contacts 5 and 6 and the movable contact 7. The openings 5A and 6A of the first and second fixed contacts 5 and 6 are exposed from the outer shell 4, but the bottoms 5B and 6B of the first and second fixed contacts 5 and 6 are located in the sealed space within the outer shell 4 in an atmosphere of hydrogen or the like. The outer shell 4 is desirably made of a material with excellent insulating and heat-resistant properties, such as resin or ceramic.

Here, when a large current flows through the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 while the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 are in contact with the movable contact portion 7, heat is generated due to the contact resistance that exists at the contact portion between the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 and the movable contact portion 7. And since the outer shell portion 4 is made of a material with excellent insulating and heat resistance such as resin or ceramic, the heat is concentrated in the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 rather than in the outer shell portion 4. Here, the flow of heat is transmitted from the bottoms 5B, 6B of the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 to the openings 5A, 6A, and from the openings 5A, 6A to the first fastener 8 and the second fastener 9 to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3. Here, the through holes 12A and 12B provided in the first fastener 8 and the second fastener 9 are provided with rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B, which have high thermal conductivity.

As mentioned above, the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B have a higher thermal conductivity than the rod-shaped metals 10A and 10B. Therefore, in order to improve the thermal conductivity of the first fastener 8 and the second fastener 9 including the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B, the volume of the through holes 12A and 12B in the rod-shaped metals 10A and 10B should be larger than the volume of the rod-shaped metals 10A and 10B that are substantially cylindrical. In other words, the rod-shaped metals 10A and 10B that are substantially cylindrical should be formed in a cylindrical shape with a thin wall thickness at a level that allows the fastening strength to the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 to be maintained. This improves the heat transfer from the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 via the rod-shaped metals 10A and 10B, or from the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 via the canopy portions 11A and 11B.

This increases the thermal conductivity of the first fastener 8 and the second fastener 9 when the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B are included. As a result, the thermal resistance from the first fixed contact portion 5, the second fixed contact portion 6, or the movable contact portion 7, which are the heat generating portions, to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 is reduced by the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B, which have high thermal conductivity. Heat generated at the bottoms 5B and 6B of the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 is then easily transferred to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3, making it possible to improve the heat dissipation characteristics of the relay structure 1.

This prevents the adverse effects of heat on the drive unit 14 and drive circuit (not shown), improving the operational reliability of the relay structure 1. It also prevents the relay structure 1 from becoming too large.

As shown in the second cross-sectional view of the configuration of the relay structure 1 in the embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 2, it is preferable to use heat pipes for the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B. In other words, the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B have sealed sealed areas 16A and 16B. It is preferable that a fluid is sealed in the sealed areas 16A and 16B. For the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B, heat pipes having a higher thermal conductivity than a simple metal heat transfer body made of, for example, copper or a copper alloy are used.

As a result, the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B have a high thermal conductivity, and the thermal conductivity of the first fastener 8 and the second fastener 9 including the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B is improved. As a result, the thermal resistance from the first fixed contact part 5 and the second fixed contact part 6, or the movable contact part 7, which are the heat generating parts, to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 is reduced by the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B, which have a high thermal conductivity. Then, the heat generated at the bottom parts 5B and 6B of the first fixed contact part 5 and the second fixed contact part 6 is easily transferred to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3, and the heat dissipation characteristics of the relay structure 1 can be improved.

As mentioned above, the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 are tubular and are provided on the outer shell portion 4. More specifically, the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 are tubular or cylindrical with a bottom, and the openings 5A, 6A of the cylindrical with a bottom are exposed from the outer shell portion 4. The movable contact portion 7 is provided opposite the bottom 5B of the first fixed contact portion 5 and the bottom 6B of the second fixed contact portion 6, and is provided so as to be in contact or not in contact with the bottom 5B of the first fixed contact portion 5 and the bottom 6B of the second fixed contact portion 6.

Furthermore, as shown in the third cross-sectional view of the configuration of the relay structure 1 in the embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 3, the heat transfer end 17A, 17B, which is one end of the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A, 13B, may be in contact with the bottom 5B, 6B. When a large current flows through the first conductor 2, the second conductor 3 when the first fixed contact part 5 and the second fixed contact part 6 are in contact with the movable contact part 7, heat is generated due to the contact resistance that exists at the contact part between the first fixed contact part 5 and the second fixed contact part 6 and the movable contact part 7. Since the heat transfer end 17A, 17B is in contact with the bottom 5B, 6B, heat is transferred from the bottom 5B, 6B, which is the actual heat generating part, to the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A, 13B with high efficiency.

As a result, the thermal resistance from the first fixed contact 5, the second fixed contact 6, or the movable contact 7, which are the heat generating parts, to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3, is reduced by the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B, which have high thermal conductivity. Heat generated at the bottoms 5B and 6B of the first fixed contact 5 and the second fixed contact 6 is easily transferred to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3, making it possible to improve the heat dissipation characteristics of the relay structure 1.

Here, as shown in the fourth cross-sectional view of the configuration of the relay structure 1 in the embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 4, the insulating heat transfer bodies 18A and 18B are arranged on the upper surface of the canopy portion 11A of the first fastener 8 and the canopy portion 11B of the second fastener 9 in the figure. In other words, the insulating heat transfer bodies 18A and 18B are provided on the opposite side of the canopy portions 11A and 11B from the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3. In other words, the insulating heat transfer bodies 18A and 18B are provided in close contact with the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 on the opposite side to the side where the outer shell portion 4 of the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 is arranged. Here, the heat transfer body ends 19A and 19B, which are the other ends of the rod-shaped heat transfer bodies 13A and 13B, are in contact with the insulating heat transfer bodies 18A and 18B.

This increases the thermal conductivity of the first fastener 8 and the second fastener 9 including the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A and the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13B, and further improves the efficiency of heat transfer from the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A, 13B to the insulating heat transfer body 18A, 18B. As a result, the thermal resistance from the first fixed contact part 5 and the second fixed contact part 6, or the movable contact part 7, which are the heat generating parts, to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 is reduced by the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A, 13B, which has a high thermal conductivity. Then, the heat transferred from the first fixed contact part 5 and the second fixed contact part 6 to the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A and the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13B is easily transferred to the insulating heat transfer body 18A, 18B and the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 through the heat transfer body ends 19A, 19B, making it possible to improve the heat dissipation characteristics of the relay structure 1.

Here, as shown in the fifth cross-sectional view of the configuration of the relay structure 1 in the embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 5, a top heat sink 20 is further arranged on the opposite side of the canopy portions 11A and 11B of the insulating heat transfer bodies 18A and 18B. In other words, the top heat sink 20 is provided in close contact with the insulating heat transfer bodies 18A and 18B on the opposite side of the insulating heat transfer bodies 18A and 18B from where the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 are arranged.

As a result, the heat transferred from the first fixed contact portion 5 and the second fixed contact portion 6 to the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A and the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13B is easily transferred through the heat transfer body ends 19A and 19B to the insulating heat transfer body 18A and 18B and further to the top surface heat dissipation body 20, making it possible to improve the heat dissipation characteristics of the relay structure 1.

Here, the top surface heat sink 20 may be a metal plate or heat sink fins made of copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, or the like. The top surface heat sink 20 may also be a water cooler made mainly of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

Here, as shown in the sixth cross-sectional view of the configuration of the relay structure 1 in the embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 6, the first heat sink 21A is further arranged between the canopy portion 11A and the first conductor 2, and the second heat sink 21B is further arranged between the canopy portion 11B and the second conductor 3. In other words, starting from the side where the outer shell portion 4 is arranged, which is the lower side in the figure, the first heat sink 21A is arranged in close contact with the first conductor 2, and the insulating heat transfer body 18A is further arranged on the first heat sink 21A. Similarly, starting from the side where the outer shell portion 4 is arranged, which is the lower side in the figure, the second heat sink 21B is arranged in close contact with the second conductor 3, and the insulating heat transfer body 18B is further arranged on the second heat sink 21B.

As a result, the heat transferred from the first fixed contact 5 and the second fixed contact 6 to the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13A and the rod-shaped heat transfer body 13B is transferred through the heat transfer body ends 19A and 19B to the insulating heat transfer body 18A and 18B, and then to the first heat sink 21A and the second heat sink 21B. The transferred heat is then transferred from the first heat sink 21A and the second heat sink 21B to the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3.

As a result, the heat transferred from the outer shell 4 is transferred through the first fastener 8 and the second fastener 9 to the first conductor 2, the second conductor 3, and the first heat sink 21A and the second heat sink 21B, and is further transferred from the insulating heat sinks 18A and 18B through the heat sink ends 19A and 19B to the first heat sink 21A and the second heat sink 21B. This increases the number of paths for heat transfer and heat dissipation, making it possible to improve the heat dissipation characteristics of the relay structure 1.

Here, the first heat sink 21A and the second heat sink 21B may be metal plates such as copper or copper alloy, or aluminum or aluminum alloy.

The relay structure of the present invention has the effect of improving heat dissipation characteristics and is useful in various electrical devices.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Relay structure 2 First conductor 3 Second conductor 4 Outer shell 5 First fixed contact 5A Opening 5B Bottom 6 Second fixed contact 6A Opening 6B Bottom 7 Movable contact 8 First fastener 9 Second fastener 10A Rod-shaped metal 10B Rod-shaped metal 11A Canopy 11B Canopy 12A Through hole 12B Through hole 13A Rod-shaped heat transfer body 13B Rod-shaped heat transfer body 14 Drive section 15 Terminal 16A Sealed area 16B Sealed area 17A Heat transfer body end 17B Heat transfer body end 18A Insulated heat transfer body 18B Insulated heat transfer body 19A Heat transfer body end 19B Heat transfer body end 20 Top heat sink 21A First heat sink 21B Second heat sink

Claims (3)

A first conductor;
A second conductor;
An outer shell;
A first fixed contact portion and a second fixed contact portion each having a cylindrical shape and each being provided on the outer shell portion and partially exposed from the outer shell portion;
a movable contact portion that is contained within the outer shell portion and is provided so as to be in contact with or in non-contact with the first fixed contact portion and the second fixed contact portion;
a first fastener for fastening the first fixed contact portion and the first conductor;
a second fastener for fastening the second fixed contact portion and the second conductor;
Equipped with
the first fastener and the second fastener are each composed of a rod-shaped metal having a thread groove on an outer periphery and a top portion that presses the first conductor and the second conductor,
A through hole is provided in the axial direction of the metal rod, penetrating the metal rod and the canopy portion,
a rod-shaped heat transfer body having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the first fastener and the second fastener is disposed in the through hole ;
an insulating heat transfer body is further disposed on the canopy portion on an opposite side of the first conductor and the second conductor;
The end of the rod-shaped heat transfer body is in contact with the insulating heat transfer body.
Relay structure. A top surface heat dissipation body is further disposed on the insulating heat transfer body on the opposite side to the top portion.
The relay structure of claim 1 . a first heat sink is disposed between the canopy portion and the first conductor, and a second heat sink is disposed between the canopy portion and the second conductor;
3. The relay structure of claim 2 .