JP7720548B2 - electromagnetic relay - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an electromagnetic relay.

Conventionally, electromagnetic relays have been known that include a fixed contact portion having a fixed contact and a movable contact portion having a movable contact that moves relative to the fixed contact and can be brought into contact with or separated from the fixed contact, as disclosed in the following Patent Document 1.

In Patent Document 1, the fixed contact and the movable contact can be brought into and out of contact with each other, thereby switching between electrical continuity and non-conduction between the fixed contact portion and the movable contact portion.

JP 2012-104277 A

As in the conventional technology described above, when switching between electrical continuity and non-conduction between the fixed contact portion and the movable contact portion by engaging and disengaging the fixed contact and the movable contact, it is preferable to prevent the movable contact and the fixed contact from being affected by the arc that occurs when the contacts are opened.

The present disclosure therefore aims to provide an electromagnetic relay that can more reliably prevent contacts from being affected by arcs.

The electromagnetic relay according to the present disclosure comprises an electromagnet device having a coil, a first contact, a second contact that faces the first contact along a first axis and is movable relative to the first contact to move toward and away from it, a first body portion having the first contact, a second body portion having the second contact, a yoke disposed on the body side of at least one of the first body portion and the second body portion, and a fixing portion that fixes the yoke to the body portion on which the yoke is disposed, and the body portion on which the yoke is disposed has an opposing surface located on the side where the first contact and the second contact face each other, and an arrangement surface located on the opposite side of the opposing surface along the first axis, and the arrangement The mounting surface has a specific region that overlaps with the mating main body when viewed along the first axis with the first contact and the second contact in contact, the yoke is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the specific region when viewed along the first axis, and the main body on which the yoke is positioned is configured so that current flows along a second axis that intersects with the first axis in the specific region, and the fixing portion has a protrusion formed on at least one of the main body on which the yoke is positioned and the contacts of the main body on which the yoke is positioned, and an abutment portion provided on the yoke with which the protrusion can abut.

This disclosure makes it possible to obtain an electromagnetic relay that can more reliably prevent contacts from being affected by arcs.

1 is a perspective view of an electromagnetic relay according to a first embodiment, viewed from a first obliquely upward direction. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electromagnetic relay according to the first embodiment, as viewed from a second obliquely upward direction. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the electromagnetic relay according to the first embodiment, and is an exploded perspective view seen from a first obliquely upward direction with the cover removed. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the electromagnetic relay according to the first embodiment, and is an exploded perspective view seen from a second obliquely upward direction with the cover removed. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing members other than a cover of the electromagnetic relay according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electromagnetic relay according to the first embodiment, showing members other than a cover, as viewed from a first obliquely upward direction. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electromagnetic relay according to the first embodiment, showing members other than the cover, as viewed from a second obliquely upward direction. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electromagnet device provided in an electromagnetic relay according to a first embodiment, viewed obliquely from above; 1 is an exploded perspective view of a moving member, a moving portion, and a main moving contact portion provided in an electromagnetic relay according to a first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a moving member, a moving portion, and a main moving contact portion provided in the electromagnetic relay according to the first embodiment, as viewed from a second obliquely upward direction. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an auxiliary contact portion provided in the electromagnetic relay according to the first embodiment, viewed obliquely from above in a first direction. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing contact and separation of the main contact portion and the auxiliary contact portion according to the first embodiment, in which the main contact portion and the auxiliary contact portion are in a second position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing contact and separation of the main contact portion and the auxiliary contact portion according to the first embodiment, in which the main contact portion and the auxiliary contact portion are in a first position. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing contact and separation of the main contact portion and the auxiliary contact portion according to the first embodiment, in a state where the main contact portion and the auxiliary contact portion are in a second position. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing contact and separation of the main contact portion and the auxiliary contact portion according to the first embodiment, in a state where the main contact portion and the auxiliary contact portion are in a first position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the cover according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the cover according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main fixed contact portion according to the first embodiment, as viewed from a first obliquely upward direction. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main fixed contact portion according to the first embodiment, as viewed from a second obliquely upward direction. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a main fixed contact portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the main fixed contact portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main fixed contact portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main fixed contact portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main contact portion according to the first embodiment, as viewed from a first obliquely upward direction. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the main contact portion according to the first embodiment. 3 is a perspective view of the movable contactor according to the first embodiment, seen from a first obliquely upward direction, in a state before a yoke is attached to the movable contactor; FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the movable contactor according to the first embodiment, seen from a second obliquely upward direction, before the yoke is attached to the movable contactor. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state before a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the first embodiment. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating specific regions provided on the arrangement surface of the movable contactor according to the first embodiment. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating magnetic fluxes generated when a current flows in one direction through the movable contactor according to the first embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating magnetic fluxes generated when a current flows in another direction through the movable contactor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the fixed contact portion, the movable contactor, and the yoke according to the first embodiment, in which the contacts are in a first position. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the fixed contact portion, the movable contactor, and the yoke according to the first embodiment, in which the contacts are in a second position. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a state in which an arc moves toward a protruding portion in the electromagnetic relay according to the first embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which an arc moves toward a protruding portion in an electromagnetic relay according to a first modified example. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a movable contactor according to a second modified example, seen from a first obliquely upward direction, before a yoke is attached to the movable contactor; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a movable contactor according to a second modified example before a yoke is attached thereto, as viewed from a second obliquely upward direction. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state before a yoke is attached to a movable contactor according to a second modified example. FIG. 10 is a rear view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the second modified example. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to a movable contactor according to a second modified example. FIG. 10 is a rear view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the second modified example. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to a movable contactor according to a second modified example. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to a movable contactor according to a second modified example, as viewed obliquely from below. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a main contact portion according to a second modified example. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a movable contactor according to a third modified example, seen from a first obliquely upward direction, before a yoke is attached to the movable contactor. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a movable contactor according to a third modified example, viewed from a second obliquely upward direction, before a yoke is attached to the movable contactor. FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state before a yoke is attached to a movable contactor according to a third modified example. FIG. 11 is a rear view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the third modified example. FIG. 11 is a front view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to a movable contactor according to a third modified example. FIG. 11 is a rear view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to the movable contactor according to the third modified example. FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state in which a yoke is attached to a movable contactor according to a third modified example. FIG. 11 is a side view showing a main contact portion according to a third modified example. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an electromagnetic relay according to a second embodiment, and is an exploded perspective view seen from a second obliquely upward direction with the cover removed. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a partly cutaway electromagnetic relay according to a second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that, below, the vertical axis, front-rear axis, and width axis of the electromagnetic relay 1 are defined with the pull-out terminal 414 pulled out from the housing 10 below the vertical axis. These vertical axis, front-rear axis, and width axis are defined merely for the sake of convenience in explaining each configuration, and do not define the actual layout of the electromagnetic relay 1. Furthermore, the vertical axis, front-rear axis, and width axis are imaginary configurations, and do not mean that the electromagnetic relay 1 actually has an axis such as a vertical axis.

The direction in which the main fixed contact and main movable contact face each other will be referred to as the X-axis (first axis: front-to-rear axis).

In the first embodiment, the direction in which a pair of main fixed contacts (a pair of fixed contacts) are arranged side by side is described as the Y axis (second axis: width axis: longitudinal direction of the movable contactor). The axis intersecting the X and Y axes is described as the Z axis (third axis). In the second embodiment, the vertical axis is described as the Z axis (second axis), and the axis intersecting the X and Z axes is described as the Y axis (third axis).

In addition, in this embodiment, the axis extending along the Z axis in the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system is the up-down axis, the axis extending along the X axis is the front-rear axis, and the axis extending along the Y axis is the width axis. In other words, the axis perpendicular to the front-rear axis (direction extending along the X axis) is the width axis (direction extending along the Y axis), and the axis perpendicular to the front-rear axis (direction extending along the X axis) and the width axis (direction extending along the Y axis) is the up-down axis (direction extending along the Z axis).

In addition, the lower side of the vertical axis will be defined as the first end side of the Z axis, and the upper side will be defined as the second end side of the Z axis. Furthermore, the side where the main fixed contact (fixed contact) is located will be defined as the front on the front-to-rear axis, and the side where the main movable contact (movable contact) is located will be defined as the rear on the front-to-rear axis.

Furthermore, the following multiple embodiments and their variations include similar components. Therefore, in the following, these similar components will be given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

(First embodiment)
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electromagnetic relay 1 according to this embodiment includes a housing 10 formed of a resin material in the shape of a hollow box. In this embodiment, the housing 10 includes a base 110 and a case 120 that covers the base 110, and has an outer surface that is substantially rectangular parallelepiped in shape. Furthermore, when the case 120 is attached to the base 110, an internal space S1 is formed within the housing 10. Note that the shape of the outer surface of the housing 10 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape and may be any shape.

An electromagnet device (drive unit) 20 is disposed rearward on the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) within the internal space S1 of the housing 10, and a main contact unit 40 is disposed forward of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). Furthermore, an auxiliary contact unit 60 is disposed rearward of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) within the internal space S1 of the housing 10 and above (on the second end side) the up-down axis (Z axis: third axis).

In this embodiment, the main contact unit 40 is a so-called normally open contact unit that is initially in the off state, and the auxiliary contact unit 60 is a so-called normally closed contact unit that is initially in the on state. It is also possible for the main contact unit 40 to be a so-called normally closed contact unit that is initially in the on state, and the auxiliary contact unit 60 to be a so-called normally open contact unit that is initially in the off state.

The base 110 comprises a substantially rectangular plate-shaped base portion 111 extending along a substantially horizontal plane (a plane intersecting the Z axis: the XY plane), and a peripheral wall 112 connected to the periphery of the base portion 111 and extending along the vertical axis (the Z axis: the third axis) (see Figures 3 to 7).

A step is formed around the opening edge at the upper end of the peripheral wall 112, making the outer circumference smaller than that at the lower end. Furthermore, a pair of protrusions 112a are arranged side by side along the width axis (extending left and right) on the front and rear surfaces of the peripheral wall 112 above the step.

On the other hand, the case 120 has a roughly box-like shape that opens downward, and this case 120 is attached to the base 110 from above.

The case 120 comprises a generally rectangular plate-shaped top wall 121 extending along a generally horizontal plane (a plane intersecting the Z axis: the XY plane), and a peripheral wall 122 extending from the periphery of the top wall 121 downward (to the first end) along the vertical axis (the Z axis: the third axis) (see Figures 3 to 5).

The peripheral wall 122 has a front wall 1221 located in front of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) and extending along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and the up-down axis (Z axis: third axis). The peripheral wall 122 also has a rear wall 1222 located behind the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) and extending along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and the up-down axis (Z axis: third axis). The peripheral wall 122 also has a pair of side walls 1223 connected to the front wall 1221 and rear wall 1222 on both sides of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and extending along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) and the up-down axis (Z axis: third axis).

A pair of insertion holes 122a are arranged side by side along the width axis (extending from side to side) at the bottom of each of the front wall 1221 and rear wall 1222, into which the protrusions 112a of the base 110 are inserted when attaching the case 120 to the base 110.

In this embodiment, the base 110 has a first side wall 131 that extends upward from the bottom surface 111a of the base portion 111 and along the width axis (Y axis: second axis). The base 110 also has a pair of second side walls 132 that extend from both ends of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the first side wall 131 toward the rear of the front-to-rear axis (X axis: first axis). These second side walls 132 also extend upward from the bottom surface 111a of the base portion 111. The yoke 240 of the electromagnet device 20 is held by the first side wall 131 and the pair of second side walls 132 that extend upward from the bottom surface 111a of the base portion 111, and three sides (at least a portion) of the side surface 210a of the coil 210 are enclosed.

In this manner, in this embodiment, the electromagnet device 20 is arranged rearward of the first side wall 131. The main contact portion 40 is arranged forward of the first side wall 131 (see Figures 2 to 4). In other words, in this embodiment, the electromagnet device 20 and the main contact portion 40 are arranged in the internal space S1, separated front and rear by the first side wall 131.

In addition, a protruding wall 113 is formed forward of the first side wall 131 of the base 110, and this protruding wall 113 ensures a creepage distance between the pair of main fixed contact portions 410, 410, which will be described later.

In addition, the base 110 is formed with a raising member 114 to provide a gap between the base 110 and a printed circuit board (not shown) when the electromagnetic relay 1 is placed on the printed circuit board.

The electromagnet device (drive unit) 20 is a device that generates electromagnetic force and includes a coil 210 that generates magnetic flux when current is applied, and a hollow cylindrical coil bobbin 220 around which the coil 210 is wound (see Figure 8).

The coil 210 may be, for example, a conductive wire. In this embodiment, the coil 210 is disposed in the internal space S1 of the housing 10 with the base 110 positioned below the case 120, so that its axial direction extends along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis).

The coil bobbin 220 is made of resin, an insulating material, and has a cylindrical tubular portion 221 formed in the center of the coil bobbin 220, extending along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis: axial direction of the coil). A through-hole 2211 is formed inside the tubular portion 221, penetrating vertically.

The coil bobbin 220 is connected to the upper end of the cylindrical portion 221, around whose outer surface the coil 210 is wound, and is provided with a generally rectangular upper flange portion (upper collar portion) 222 that protrudes radially outward from the cylindrical portion 221. The coil bobbin 220 is connected to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 221 and is provided with a generally rectangular lower flange portion (lower collar portion) 223 that protrudes radially outward from the cylindrical portion 221.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper flange portion 222 is formed with upper auxiliary contact holders 2221 that hold the auxiliary contact portion 60. These upper auxiliary contact holders 2221 are formed on both ends of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) at the rear end of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) of the upper flange portion 222. Each upper auxiliary contact holder 2221 is formed with a press-fit opening 2221a that opens outward on the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and into which the press-fit pieces 6141a, 6241a (described later) of the auxiliary contact portion 60 are press-fitted (see Figures 6 to 8). Furthermore, around the press-fit opening 2221a in the upper auxiliary contact holder 2221, a restricting wall 2221b is formed to restrict the removal and rotation of the press-fit pieces 6141a, 6241a (see Figures 6 to 8).

On the other hand, the lower flange portion 223 is formed with a lower auxiliary contact holder 2231 that holds the auxiliary contact portion 60. In this embodiment, the lower flange portion 223 is formed so that the rear end side of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) is wider than the front end side, and lower auxiliary contact holders 2231 are formed on both ends of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) at the front end side of this wider portion. Each lower auxiliary contact holder 2231 also has a press-fit opening 2231a that opens outward on the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and into which the press-fit pieces 6143a, 6243a of the auxiliary contact portion 60, described below, are press-fitted (see Figures 6 to 8). Furthermore, around the press-fit opening 2231a in the lower auxiliary contact holder 2231, a restricting wall 2231b is formed to restrict the removal and rotation of the press-fit pieces 6143a, 6243a (see Figures 6 to 8).

The electromagnet device 20 also includes an iron core 230 that is inserted into a through-hole 2211 formed in the cylindrical portion 221 of the coil bobbin 220 and is magnetized (through which magnetic flux passes) by the energized coil 210. The iron core 230 is disposed inside the coil 210.

The iron core 230 has a generally cylindrical shaft portion 231 extending along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis), and a generally cylindrical head portion 232 formed with a larger diameter than the shaft portion 231 and connected to the upper end of the shaft portion 231 (see Figure 8).

The electromagnet device 20 also includes a yoke 240 arranged around the coil 210 wound around the cylindrical portion 221. In this embodiment, the yoke 240 is a generally plate-shaped member made of a magnetic material, and is generally L-shaped in side view (as viewed along the Y-axis). That is, the yoke 240 includes a vertical wall portion (standing portion) 241 arranged to extend along a generally vertical plane in front of the coil 210 wound around the cylindrical portion 221, and a horizontal wall portion 242 extending rearward from the lower end of the vertical wall portion 241 (see Figure 8). Such a yoke 240 can be formed, for example, by bending a single plate.

As described above, this yoke 240 is supported by a first side wall 131 and a pair of second side walls 132 that extend upward from the bottom surface 111a of the base portion 111 (see Figures 3 and 4). A pair of protrusions (extensions) 2411 that protrude upward are formed on both ends of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the vertical wall portion (standing portion) 241 of the yoke 240, and the armature 310 is arranged between the pair of protrusions (extensions) 2411.

Furthermore, the electromagnet device 20 includes a pair of coil terminals 250 to which both ends of the coil 210 are connected, respectively. The electromagnet device 20 is driven by passing current through the coil 210 via the pair of coil terminals 250. In this embodiment, the coil terminal 250 is fixed to the coil bobbin 220 with its tip (connection piece) 251 protruding downward (outward: toward the first end) from the housing 10 along the vertical axis (Z-axis: third axis). Specifically, the coil terminal 250 is held in a pair of coil terminal holding grooves 223a formed in a pair of extension portions 2232 (see Figure 8).

The moving member 30 is moved by switching the drive state of this electromagnet device 20.

In this embodiment, the moving member 30 includes an armature 310 arranged to face the head 232 of the iron core 230 along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis), and a hinge spring 320 attached across the armature 310 and the yoke 240.

The armature 310 is made of a conductive metal and is positioned so that it can swing along the vertical axis (Z-axis: third axis) relative to the head 232 of the iron core 230 depending on whether the coil 210 is excited or de-excited.

In this embodiment, the armature 310 includes a horizontal wall portion 311 that faces the head portion 232 of the iron core 230 along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis), and a vertical wall portion 312 that extends downward from the front end of the horizontal wall portion 311 along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) (see Figures 9 and 10).

The horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310 is attached to the upper end of the vertical wall portion 241 so that it can swing along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis), allowing the armature 310 to rotate along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) around the point where it is supported by the yoke 240.

Specifically, notches 3111 are formed on both ends of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) at the front end of the horizontal wall portion 311's front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). The protrusion (extension) 2411 of the yoke 240 is inserted into these notches 3111, so that the armature 310 is supported by the yoke 240. In this manner, in this embodiment, the notches 3111 are the portions of the armature 310 that are supported by the yoke 240.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a through-hole 313 that penetrates vertically is formed at the front end of the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis) of the armature 310. A hinge spring 320 is inserted into this through-hole 313 and attached across the armature 310 and the yoke 240. At this time, the hinge spring 320 biases the armature 310 in a direction such that the horizontal wall portion 311 moves away from the head 232 of the iron core 230.

When current is applied to the coil 210, the armature 310 rotates so that the horizontal wall portion 311 approaches the head 232 of the iron core 230. Specifically, when current is applied to the coil 210, the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310 is attracted to the head 232 of the iron core 230, causing the armature 310 to rotate so that the horizontal wall portion 311 approaches the head 232 of the iron core 230. In other words, when current is applied to the coil 210 via a pair of coil terminals 250, the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310 rotates downward along the vertical axis (Z-axis: third axis). At this time, the vertical wall portion 312 connected to the horizontal wall portion 311 rotates forward along the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis).

The swing range of this armature 310 is set between the position where the horizontal wall portion 311 is farthest from the head 232 of the iron core 230 and the position where the horizontal wall portion 311 is closest to the head 232 of the iron core 230.

In this embodiment, the swing range of the armature 310 is set between an initial position in which the horizontal wall portion 311 is positioned a predetermined distance above the head portion 232 of the iron core 230, and an abutment position in which the horizontal wall portion 311 abuts against the head portion 232 of the iron core 230.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when current is applied to the coil 210, the armature 310 moves to a contact position where the horizontal wall portion 311 contacts the head portion 232 of the iron core 230, and when current is stopped from being applied to the coil 210, the armature 310 returns to its initial position due to the biasing force of the hinge spring 320.

In this way, the armature 310 in this embodiment is positioned opposite the head 232 of the iron core 230 across a predetermined gap when the coil 210 is not energized, and when the coil 210 is energized, it swings so as to be attracted to the head 232 of the iron core 230.

By switching the drive state of the electromagnet device 20 and swinging the armature 310, it is possible to switch between electrical continuity and non-conduction between the paired main fixed contact portion (fixed contact portion) 410 and main movable contact portion (movable contact portion) 420 (which have main contacts that move in and out of contact with each other).

In this embodiment, a main contact unit 40 is provided in front of the electromagnet device 20, which opens and closes the main contact depending on whether the coil 210 is energized or deenergized.

The main contact portion 40 comprises a main fixed contact portion 410 and a main movable contact portion 420. The main fixed contact portion 410 comprises a main fixed contact (fixed contact: first contact) 411 and a main body portion (first body portion) 412 having the main fixed contact 411. Meanwhile, the main movable contact portion 420 faces the main fixed contact 411 along the first axis and comprises a main movable contact (movable contact: second contact) 421 that moves relative to the main fixed contact 411 and can be brought into contact with or separated from the main fixed contact 411. The main movable contact portion 420 also comprises a movable contactor (second body portion) 422 having the main movable contact 421.

In addition, in this embodiment, the main contact portion 40 includes only one pair of a main fixed contact portion 410 and a main movable contact portion 420 (which have main contacts that come into contact with and separate from each other) (see Figures 6 and 7).

In this embodiment, a set of a main fixed contact portion 410 and a main movable contact portion 420 having main contacts that come into contact with and separate from each other is composed of a pair of main fixed contact portions 410 and one main movable contact portion 420.

Specifically, two main fixed contact parts 410 shaped symmetrically with respect to the XZ plane are used as a pair of main fixed contact parts 410. The two paired main fixed contact parts 410 are fixed to the base 110 (housing 10) with a gap between them along the width axis (Y axis: second axis).

In this embodiment, each main fixed contact portion 410 includes a main body portion 412 having one main fixed contact 411 (see Figures 6 and 7). The two paired main fixed contact portions 410 are fixed to the base 110 (housing 10), so that the pair of main fixed contacts 411 are aligned along the width axis (Y axis: second axis).

As such, in this embodiment, the main fixed contact (fixed contact: first contact) 411 has a first fixed contact 411A and a second fixed contact 411B. Furthermore, the main body (first main body) 412 has a first fixed contact side terminal 412A having the first fixed contact 411A, and a second fixed contact side terminal 412B having the second fixed contact 411B.

In this embodiment, for convenience, the main body portion (first main body portion) 412 located on the right side of FIG. 6 is designated as the first fixed contact side terminal 412A having the first fixed contact 411A. In other words, the first fixed contact side terminal 412A having this first fixed contact 411A can also be designated as the main body portion (first main body portion) 412 located on the left side of FIG. 6.

In this embodiment, the component intended to become the main fixed contact (first contact member 4111) is inserted into an insertion hole 412a formed in the main body 412 so as to penetrate the body in the thickness direction, and the main body 412 is riveted to hold the main fixed contact 411 (see Figures 14 and 15). In this way, in this embodiment, the main body 412 functions as a fixed-side main contact holder that holds the main fixed contact 411.

The main fixed contact 411 does not have to be formed on the main body 412 by riveting, but can be formed by a variety of methods. For example, it is possible to dowel the main body 412 to create a protruding portion that functions as the main fixed contact. Furthermore, by configuring the main movable contact 421 to come into contact with part of the flat surface of the main body 412, it is also possible to have part of the flat surface of the main body 412 function as the main fixed contact.

The main fixed contact portion 410 is also provided with a pull-out terminal 414 that is pulled out below (to the outside of) the base 110 (housing 10) when the main fixed contact portion 410 is fixed to the base 110 (housing 10). Furthermore, the main fixed contact portion 410 is provided with a terminal connection portion 413 that is connected to the pull-out terminal 414 below (on the first end side of) the vertical axis relative to the main fixed contact 411. The main fixed contact portion 410 is fixed to the base 110 (housing 10) with the tip (connection portion) of the pull-out terminal 414 protruding below (outside) the base 110 (housing 10).

In this embodiment, the base 110 has an insertion hole 115 that penetrates vertically. The tip (connection portion: lower end) of the draw-out terminal 414 is inserted into this insertion hole 115 from above. The base 110 also has an inner press-fit groove 116 and an outer press-fit groove 117, into which the main fixed contact portion 410 is press-fit. This allows the main fixed contact portion 410 to be fixed to the base 110 (housing 10) with the tip (connection portion: lower end) of the draw-out terminal 414 protruding downward (outward) from the base 110 (see Figures 14 and 15). The main fixed contact portion 410 may also be fixed to the base 110 (housing 10) with an adhesive or the like.

At this time, the main fixed contact portion 410 is fixed to the base 110 (housing 10) with the main fixed contact 411 facing rearward along the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis). In other words, the main fixed contact portion 410 is fixed to the base 110 (housing 10) with the surface 410a (front surface: opposing surface: surface facing the main movable contact portion 420) on the side of the main body portion 412 on which the main fixed contact 411 is formed facing rearward.

The main fixed contact 411, main body 412, terminal connection portion 413, and draw-out terminal 414 can be formed from a conductive material such as a silver-based material or a copper-based material.

In this manner, in this embodiment, the two main fixed contacts 411 are arranged side by side along the Y axis, which is a direction perpendicular to (intersecting with) the direction in which the main fixed contact 411 and the main movable contact 421 move relative to each other. One of the two main bodies 412 (first fixed contact side terminal 412A) has one main fixed contact (first fixed contact 411A) 411. The other main body (second fixed contact side terminal 412B) has the other main fixed contact (second fixed contact 411B) 411.

On the other hand, one main movable contact portion 420 has one movable contactor (second main body portion) 422, and this one movable contactor 422 has a pair of main movable contacts (second contacts) 421 arranged side by side on the width axis (Y axis: second axis) (see Figures 9 and 10).

As such, in this embodiment, the second main body portion is the movable contactor 422, and the main movable contact (second contact) 421 provided on this movable contactor 422 has a first movable contact 421A and a second movable contact 421B arranged side by side along the second axis. In other words, the main movable contact (second contact) 421 has a first movable contact 421A that comes into contact with and separates from the first fixed contact 411A, and a second movable contact 421B that comes into contact with and separates from the second fixed contact 411B.

In this embodiment, the member intended to become the main movable contact (second contact member 4211) is inserted into insertion holes 422a formed on both longitudinal sides of the approximately rectangular plate-shaped movable contactor 422 in the plate thickness direction, and riveted. In this way, the movable contactor 422 has the main movable contact 421 (see Figures 14 and 15). In this way, in this embodiment, the movable contactor 422 functions as a movable-side main contact holder that holds the main movable contact 421.

The main movable contact 421 does not have to be formed on the movable contactor 422 by riveting, but can be formed by a variety of methods. For example, it is possible to dowel the movable contactor 422 so that the protruding portion functions as the main movable contact. Also, by configuring the movable contactor 422 so that part of its flat surface comes into contact with the main fixed contact 411, it is possible to have part of the flat surface of the movable contactor 422 function as the main movable contact.

Each main movable contact portion 420 is positioned rearward of its paired two main fixed contact portions 410 along the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis), with its thickness direction approximately aligned with the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis) and its longitudinal direction approximately aligned with the width axis (Y-axis: second axis). The main movable contact portion 420 is positioned with its main movable contact 421 facing the main fixed contact 411 along the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis). Specifically, the movable contactor 422 is positioned such that the main movable contact 421 formed at the first end of the width axis (Y-axis: second axis) faces the main fixed contact 411 of the main fixed contact portion 410 positioned at the first end of the width axis (Y-axis: second axis) along the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis). Similarly, the movable contactor 422 is arranged so that the main movable contact 421 formed on the second end side of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) faces the main fixed contact 411 of the main fixed contact portion 410 arranged on the second end side of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis).

This allows one main movable contact (first movable contact 421A) 421 to come into contact with and separate from one of the two main fixed contacts 411 (first fixed contact 411A) 411. The other main movable contact (second movable contact 421B) 421 comes into contact with and separates from the other main fixed contact (second fixed contact 411B) 411. Furthermore, one movable contactor 422 has two main movable contacts 421.

In this embodiment, for convenience, the main movable contact (first movable contact 421A) 421 located on the left side of Figure 7 is the first movable contact 421A that comes into contact with and separates from the first fixed contact 411A. In other words, the first movable contact 421A that comes into contact with and separates from the first fixed contact 411A can also be the main movable contact (second contact) 421 located on the right side of Figure 7.

The main movable contact 421 and the movable contactor 422 can also be formed from a conductive material such as a silver-based material or a copper-based material.

A set consisting of a pair of main fixed contacts 410 and one main movable contact 420 configured in this way is housed in the internal space S1, forward of the first side wall 131 along the front-to-rear axis (X axis: first axis) (see Figures 12 to 15).

Here, the main movable contact portion 420 is arranged so that it can swing relative to the pair of main fixed contact portions 410 along the front-to-rear axis (X axis: first axis).

In this embodiment, the main contact portion 40 is connected to the armature 310 via the movable portion 50. The movable portion 50 is caused to swing along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis) in conjunction with the swing of the armature 310, so that the main movable contact portion 420 swings along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis) in conjunction with the movement of the movable portion 50. In other words, by holding the main movable contact portion 420 on the movable portion 50, the main movable contact portion 420 swings relative to the pair of main fixed contact portions 410 along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis).

In this embodiment, the movable part 50 is made of an insulating resin material and includes a holder part 51 having an insertion hole 511 formed at the top, into which the vertical wall part 312 of the armature 310 is inserted and held. The movable part 50 also includes a movable plate 52 connected to the bottom of the holder part 51, and a movable spring (connecting member) 53 that connects the movable plate 52 to the movable contactor 422.

In this embodiment, a through-hole 521 that penetrates in the plate thickness direction is formed above the vertical axis (Z-axis: third axis) of the movable plate 52. Then, with the upper end of the movable plate 52 inserted into an insertion hole (not shown) formed at the lower end of the holder part 51, a protrusion formed in the insertion hole (not shown) of the holder part 51 is inserted into the through-hole 521, thereby holding the movable plate 52 in the holder part 51.

A protrusion 522 that protrudes rearward is formed in the center of the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) of the movable plate 52, and an upper through-hole 531 that penetrates in the plate thickness direction is formed at the top of the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) of the movable spring 53. By inserting the protrusion 522 of the movable plate 52 into the upper through-hole 531 of the movable spring 53, the movable spring 53 is held by the movable plate 52.

Furthermore, a lower through-hole 532 that penetrates in the plate thickness direction is formed below the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) of the movable spring 53, and a protrusion 422b that protrudes toward the rear is formed in the center of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the movable contactor 422. Furthermore, notches 422c are formed on both sides of the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) at the center of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the movable contactor 422. The protrusions 422b of the movable contactor 422 are inserted into the lower through-holes 532 of the movable spring 53, so that the movable contactor 422 is held by the movable spring 53.

In this way, the main contact portion 40 is connected to the armature 310 via the movable portion 50.

With this configuration, the main movable contact 420 swings relative to the pair of main fixed contacts 410 along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis) as the armature 310 swings. Therefore, the main movable contact 421 swings in an arc centered on the upper end of the vertical wall 312.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, an auxiliary contact unit 60 is disposed within the internal space S1 of the housing 10, separate from the main contact unit 40. This auxiliary contact unit 60 is disposed within the internal space S1 such that the auxiliary contacts (auxiliary fixed contact 611 and auxiliary movable contact 621) are located rearward of the longitudinal axis (X axis: first axis) and toward the upper end of the coil 210. Specifically, the auxiliary fixed contact 611 and auxiliary movable contact 621 of the auxiliary contact unit 60 are disposed closer to the second end (rearward) of the longitudinal axis (X axis: first axis) than the axis of the coil 210, and are disposed at the upper axial end (second end) of the coil 210 with the coil 210 positioned such that its axial direction extends along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) and the tip (connecting piece) 251 of the coil terminal 250 is positioned below the coil 210 (first end).

This auxiliary contact portion 60 comprises an auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 and an auxiliary movable contact portion 620. The auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 comprises an auxiliary fixed contact 611 and a first auxiliary contact terminal 612 having the auxiliary fixed contact 611. On the other hand, the auxiliary movable contact portion 620 comprises an auxiliary movable contact 621 that moves relative to the auxiliary fixed contact 611 and can be brought into contact with or separated from the auxiliary fixed contact 611, and a second auxiliary contact terminal 622 having the auxiliary movable contact 621.

In addition, in this embodiment, the auxiliary contact portion 60 includes only one pair of auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 and auxiliary movable contact portion 620 (which have auxiliary contacts that come into contact with and separate from each other) (see Figures 6 and 7).

In this embodiment, a pair of auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 and auxiliary movable contact portion 620, which have auxiliary contacts that come into and out of contact with each other, is composed of one auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 and one auxiliary movable contact portion 620. One auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 is formed with one auxiliary fixed contact 611, and one auxiliary movable contact portion 620 is formed with only one auxiliary movable contact 621 that comes into and out of contact with one auxiliary fixed contact 611.

In this embodiment, as described above, the auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 includes a first auxiliary contact terminal 612 having one auxiliary fixed contact 611.

The first auxiliary contact terminal 612 also has an upper piece 613 extending along the width axis (Y-axis: second axis) at the upper end of the coil 210. An auxiliary fixed contact 611 is formed on this upper piece 613. In this embodiment, a member intended to serve as the auxiliary fixed contact is inserted into an insertion hole 613a formed in the upper piece 613 so as to penetrate the plate thickness direction, and the upper piece 613 is riveted to form the auxiliary fixed contact 611 (see Figure 11). In this way, in this embodiment, the upper piece 613 functions as a fixed-side auxiliary contact holder that holds the auxiliary fixed contact 611.

The auxiliary fixed contact 611 does not have to be formed on the upper piece 613 by riveting, but can be formed by various methods. For example, it is possible to dowel the upper piece 613 so that the protruding portion functions as the auxiliary fixed contact. It is also possible to have the auxiliary movable contact 621 come into contact with part of the flat surface of the upper piece 613, so that part of the flat surface of the upper piece 613 functions as the auxiliary fixed contact. It is also possible for multiple auxiliary fixed contacts 611 to be provided on the upper piece 613 (first auxiliary contact terminal 612).

The first auxiliary contact terminal 612 is connected to the outer end of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the upper piece 613, extends along the XZ plane, and has a vertically elongated side piece 614. In this embodiment, this side piece 614 is connected to the upper piece 613 so as to extend downward from the upper piece 613 along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis), and is positioned to the side of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the coil 210.

The first auxiliary contact terminal 612 also has a connecting piece 615 that extends downward from the lower end of the side piece 614. This connecting piece 615 is formed to protrude downward (outward) from the base 110 when the side piece 614 is held by the coil bobbin 220 placed on the base 110.

The side piece 614 also includes a first side piece 6141 connected to the outer end of the upper piece 613 along the width axis (Y axis: second axis), and a connecting portion 6142 extending from the lower end of the first side piece 6141 toward the front of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). The side piece 614 also includes a second side piece 6143 extending from the lower front end of the connecting portion 6142 toward the bottom of the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis). A connecting piece 615 is connected to the bottom end of the second side piece 6143 so as to protrude downward (outward) from the housing 10. In this embodiment, the tip 6151 of this connecting piece 615 is positioned lower (toward the first end) than the coil 210 along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis).

As such, in this embodiment, the side piece 614 comprises a first side piece 6141 connected to the upper piece 613, a second side piece 6143 connected to the connecting piece 615 and positioned forward of the first side piece 6141 along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis), and a connecting portion 6142 connecting the first side piece 6141 and the second side piece 6143, and has a crank-shaped bent shape when viewed along the width axis (Y-axis: second axis).

In this embodiment, the auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 is held by the coil bobbin 220.

Specifically, press-fit pieces 6141a that protrude inward along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) are provided on both ends of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) of the first side piece 6141. The pair of press-fit pieces 6141a are press-fit into a pair of press-fit openings 2221a in the upper auxiliary contact holder 2221 formed in the upper flange portion 222.

A press-fit piece 6143a that protrudes inward along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) is provided at the lower end of the front end of the second side piece 6143 on the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). This press-fit piece 6143a is press-fit into the press-fit opening 2231a of the lower auxiliary contact holder 2231 formed in the lower flange portion 223.

In this way, the pair of press-fit pieces 6141a are press-fitted into the pair of press-fit openings 2221a, respectively, and the press-fit piece 6143a is press-fitted into the press-fit opening 2231a, so that the auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 is held in place on the coil bobbin 220.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 is held by the coil bobbin 220 with the auxiliary fixed contact 611 facing downward along the vertical axis (Z-axis: third axis). In other words, the auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 is held by the coil bobbin 220 with the surface of the upper piece 613 on which the auxiliary fixed contact 611 is formed (the lower surface: the surface facing the auxiliary movable contact 621) facing downward.

Furthermore, the auxiliary fixed contact 611 and the first auxiliary contact terminal 612 can be formed from a conductive material such as a silver-based material or a copper-based material.

On the other hand, the auxiliary movable contact portion 620, as described above, is equipped with a second auxiliary contact terminal 622 having one auxiliary movable contact 621.

The second auxiliary contact terminal 622 also has an upper piece 623 extending along the width axis (Y-axis: second axis) at the upper end of the coil 210. An auxiliary movable contact 621 is formed on this upper piece 623.

In this embodiment, the upper piece 623 includes a substantially rectangular plate-shaped main body 6231 and a thin leaf spring 6232 that extends horizontally and is elongated along the width axis (Y axis: second axis). The leaf spring 6232 has an auxiliary movable contact 621.

In this embodiment, the leaf spring 6232 is bent in a crank shape so that its tip (the end on the inside of the Y-axis) is positioned downward. A member intended to serve as the auxiliary movable contact is inserted into an insertion hole 6232a formed at the tip of the leaf spring 6232 so as to penetrate through the plate thickness direction, and the leaf spring 6232 is riveted to hold the auxiliary movable contact 621 (see Figure 11). In this way, in this embodiment, the leaf spring 6232 functions as a movable-side auxiliary contact holder that holds the auxiliary movable contact 621.

The auxiliary movable contact 621 does not have to be formed on the leaf spring 6232 by riveting, and can be formed by various methods. For example, it is possible to dowel the leaf spring 6232, so that the protruding portion functions as the auxiliary movable contact. Furthermore, by configuring the auxiliary movable contact 621 to come into contact with part of the flat surface of the leaf spring 6232, it is also possible to have part of the flat surface of the leaf spring 6232 function as the auxiliary movable contact. Note that multiple auxiliary movable contacts 621 may be provided on the leaf spring 6232 (upper piece 623: second auxiliary contact terminal 622).

The main body 6231 is connected to the outer end of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the leaf spring 6232. Specifically, a pair of insertion holes 6232b are formed at the outer end of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the leaf spring 6232, aligned along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). The main body 6231 is also formed with a pair of protrusions 6231a aligned along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). The pair of protrusions 6231a are inserted into the pair of insertion holes 6232b, respectively, and then riveted together, thereby connecting the leaf spring 6232 to the main body 6231.

The second auxiliary contact terminal 622 is connected to the outer end of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the main body 6231 (upper piece 623), extends along the XZ plane, and has a vertically elongated side piece 624. In this embodiment, this side piece 624 is connected to the main body 6231 (upper piece 623) so as to extend downward from the main body 6231 (upper piece 623) along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis), and is positioned to the side of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the coil 210.

The second auxiliary contact terminal 622 also has a connecting piece 625 that extends downward from the lower end of the side piece 624. This connecting piece 625 is formed to protrude downward (outward) from the base 110 when the side piece 624 is held by the coil bobbin 220 placed on the base 110.

The side piece 624 also includes a first side piece 6241 connected to the outer end of the main body 6231 (upper piece 623) along the width axis (Y axis: second axis), and a connecting portion 6242 extending from the lower end of the first side piece 6241 toward the front of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). The side piece 624 also includes a second side piece 6243 extending from the lower front end of the connecting portion 6242 toward the bottom of the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis). A connecting piece 625 is connected to the bottom end of the second side piece 6243 so as to protrude downward (outward) from the housing 10. In this embodiment, the tip 6251 of this connecting piece 625 is positioned lower (toward the first end) than the coil 210 along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis).

As such, in this embodiment, the side piece 624 comprises a first side piece 6241 connected to the main body 6231 (upper piece 623), a second side piece 6243 connected to the connecting piece 625 and positioned forward of the first side piece 6241 along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis), and a connecting portion 6242 connecting the first side piece 6241 and the second side piece 6243, and has a crank-shaped bent shape when viewed along the width axis (Y-axis: second axis).

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the auxiliary movable contact portion 620 is held by the coil bobbin 220.

Specifically, press-fit pieces 6241a that protrude inward along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) are provided on both ends of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) of the first side piece 6241. The pair of press-fit pieces 6241a are press-fit into a pair of press-fit openings 2221a in the upper auxiliary contact holder 2221 formed in the upper flange portion 222.

A press-fit piece 6243a that protrudes inward along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) is provided at the lower end of the front end of the second side piece 6243 on the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). This press-fit piece 6243a is press-fit into the press-fit opening 2231a of the lower auxiliary contact holder 2231 formed in the lower flange portion 223.

In this way, the pair of press-fit pieces 6241a are press-fitted into the pair of press-fit openings 2221a, respectively, and the press-fit piece 6243a is press-fitted into the press-fit opening 2231a, so that the auxiliary movable contact portion 620 is held in place on the coil bobbin 220.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary movable contact portion 620 is held by the coil bobbin 220 with the auxiliary movable contact 621 facing upward along the vertical axis (Z-axis: third axis). In other words, the auxiliary movable contact portion 620 is held by the coil bobbin 220 with the surface of the leaf spring 6232 on which the auxiliary movable contact 621 is formed (top surface: the surface facing the auxiliary fixed contact 611) facing upward.

Furthermore, the auxiliary movable contact 621 and the second auxiliary contact terminal 622 can be formed from a conductive material such as a silver-based material or a copper-based material.

A set consisting of one auxiliary fixed contact portion 610 and one auxiliary movable contact portion 620 configured in this way is housed within the internal space S1, behind the first side wall 131 on the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis) and toward the upper end of the coil 210 (see Figures 12 to 15). The auxiliary fixed contact 611 and auxiliary movable contact 621 are positioned above the head 232 of the iron core 230 on the up-down axis (Z-axis: third axis).

The auxiliary movable contact 620 is arranged so that the leaf spring 6232 can swing along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) relative to the auxiliary fixed contact 610. In this embodiment, the auxiliary drive unit 70 allows the leaf spring 6232 to swing along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) relative to the auxiliary fixed contact 610. In other words, by switching the drive state of the electromagnet device 20 and swinging the auxiliary drive unit 70, it is possible to switch between electrical continuity and non-conduction between the paired auxiliary fixed contact 610 and auxiliary movable contact 620 (which have auxiliary contacts that move toward and away from each other).

In this embodiment, the auxiliary drive unit 70 is made of an insulating resin material and is held by the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310. The auxiliary drive unit 70 is then swung along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) in conjunction with the swinging of the armature 310. In this way, the leaf spring 6232 is caused to swing along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) in conjunction with the swinging of the auxiliary drive unit 70 along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis).

The auxiliary drive unit 70 comprises a main body 71 and a fixed portion 72 that is connected to the main body 71 and protrudes outward along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and is held by the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310. Furthermore, the auxiliary drive unit 70 comprises a push-up portion 73 that is connected to the main body 71 and protrudes rearward along the front-to-rear axis (X axis: first axis) and pushes the leaf spring 6232 upward.

In addition, in this embodiment, the fixing portion 72 includes an arm portion 721 that protrudes outward along the width axis (Y axis: second axis), and a hook portion 722 that extends from the outer end of the arm portion 721 along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) downward (toward the first end) along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis).

Furthermore, a retained portion 3112 that retains the auxiliary drive unit 70 is formed at the rear of the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis) on the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310. The auxiliary drive unit 70 is retained on the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310 by hooking a pair of hook portions 722 onto this retained portion 3112.

In this way, in this embodiment, the auxiliary drive unit 70 is oscillated in conjunction with the oscillation of the armature 310, thereby switching between electrical continuity and non-conduction between the auxiliary fixed contact unit 610 and the auxiliary movable contact unit 620, which have auxiliary contacts that move in and out of contact with each other. In other words, one end of the armature 310 moves the main contact unit 40 in and out of contact, and the other end of the armature 310 moves the auxiliary contact unit 60 in and out of contact.

With this configuration, the auxiliary movable contact 620 swings relative to the auxiliary fixed contact 610 along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) as the armature 310 swings. At this time, the auxiliary movable contact 621 swings in an arc centered on the outer end of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the leaf spring 6232.

In this embodiment, the leaf spring 6232 is connected to the second auxiliary contact terminal 622 held by the coil bobbin 220 in a state in which, in its natural state, the auxiliary movable contact 621 is spaced apart from the auxiliary fixed contact 611. When current is stopped flowing to the coil 210, the push-up portion 73 of the auxiliary drive unit 70 comes into contact with the leaf spring 6232 and is pushed upward, so that the auxiliary movable contact 621 comes into contact with the auxiliary fixed contact 611.

On the other hand, when the coil 210 is energized, the rear end of the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310 rotates downward, and as the rear end of the horizontal wall portion 311 rotates downward, the auxiliary drive unit 70 moves downward. When the auxiliary drive unit 70 moves downward, the leaf spring 6232 moves downward due to its elastic restoring force, and the auxiliary movable contact 621 moves away from the auxiliary fixed contact 611.

Alternatively, the auxiliary drive unit 70 may use other methods to drive the leaf spring 6232. For example, one alternative method for the auxiliary drive unit 70 to drive the leaf spring 6232 is for the auxiliary drive unit 70 to move away from the leaf spring 6232, causing the auxiliary movable contact 621 to come into contact with the auxiliary fixed contact 611 due to the elastic restoring force of the leaf spring 6232, thereby establishing a conductive state, and for the auxiliary drive unit 70 to press down on the leaf spring 6232, thereby causing the auxiliary movable contact 621 to move away from the auxiliary fixed contact 611, thereby establishing a non-conductive state.

In this way, in this embodiment, the auxiliary contact unit 60 is provided so that the on and off states are opposite to those of the main contact unit 40.

Next, we will explain an example of the operation of the electromagnetic relay 1 configured as described above.

First, when the coil 210 is not energized, the elastic force of the hinge spring 320 causes the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310 to move away from the head portion 232 of the iron core 230. At this time, the vertical wall portion 312 of the armature 310 is positioned rearward of the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis), and therefore the movable portion 50 is also positioned rearward of the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis). In other words, the main movable contact portion 420 held by the movable portion 50 is separated from the main fixed contact portion 410, and the main movable contact 421 is separated from the main fixed contact 411 (see Figures 12 and 14).

Meanwhile, the auxiliary drive unit 70 also moves away from the head 232 of the iron core 230, causing the leaf spring 6232 to be pushed up by the push-up portion 73 of the auxiliary drive unit 70, bringing the auxiliary movable contact 621 into contact with the auxiliary fixed contact 611 (see Figures 12 and 14).

When the coil 210 is energized from this OFF state, the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310 is attracted downward (toward the iron core 230) by electromagnetic force and moves toward the head portion 232 of the iron core 230 against the elastic force of the hinge spring 320. As the horizontal wall portion 311 rotates downward (toward the iron core 230), the vertical wall portion 312 rotates forward, and as the vertical wall portion 312 rotates forward, the movable portion 50 rotates forward. As a result, the movable contactor 422 held by the movable portion 50 rotates forward toward the main fixed contact portion 410, and the main movable contact 421 of the movable contactor 422 contacts the main fixed contact 411 of the main fixed contact portion 410. In this way, the pair of main fixed contact portions 410 are electrically connected by the main movable contact portion 420 (see Figures 13 and 15).

Meanwhile, the auxiliary drive unit 70 also moves toward the head 232 of the iron core 230, causing the push-up portion 73 of the auxiliary drive unit 70 to move downward, separating the auxiliary movable contact 621 from the auxiliary fixed contact 611. This releases the electrical connection between the auxiliary fixed contact unit 610 and the auxiliary movable contact unit 620 (see Figures 13 and 15). (See Figures 12 and 14).

When the current to the coil 210 is stopped in this state, the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310 rotates upward (away from the iron core 230) due to the biasing force of the hinge spring 320, returning to its initial position. This upward rotation of the horizontal wall portion 311 also rotates the vertical wall portion 312 rearward, and this rearward rotation of the vertical wall portion 312 also rotates the movable portion 50 rearward. As a result, the movable contactor 422 held by the movable portion 50 rotates rearward, away from the main fixed contact portion 410, and the main movable contact 421 of the movable contactor 422 separates from the main fixed contact 411 of the main fixed contact portion 410. This releases the electrical connection between the pair of main fixed contact portions 410, 410.

Meanwhile, the auxiliary drive unit 70 also moves away from the head 232 of the iron core 230, causing the leaf spring 6232 to be pushed up by the push-up portion 73 of the auxiliary drive unit 70 and return to its initial position. As a result, the auxiliary movable contact 621 comes into contact with the auxiliary fixed contact 611, electrically connecting the auxiliary fixed contact unit 610 and the auxiliary movable contact unit 620.

In this manner, in this embodiment, when the armature 310 is in the initial position, the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 are separated from each other, and the auxiliary movable contact 621 and the auxiliary fixed contact 611 are in contact, in a second position (see Figures 12 and 14). On the other hand, when the armature 310 is in the abutting position, the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 are in contact, and the auxiliary movable contact 621 and the auxiliary fixed contact 611 are in a first position (see Figures 13 and 15).

Therefore, when the coil 210 is not energized, the pair of main fixed contacts 410, 410 are insulated from each other, and when the coil 210 is energized, the pair of main fixed contacts 410, 410 are conductive from each other. In this manner, in this embodiment, the main movable contact 421 is configured to be able to move back and forth (rotate) relative to the main fixed contact 411 along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis) between the first position and the second position.

On the other hand, when the coil 210 is not energized, the auxiliary fixed contact 610 and the auxiliary movable contact 620 are insulated, and when the coil 210 is energized, the auxiliary fixed contact 610 and the auxiliary movable contact 620 are conductive. In this manner, in this embodiment, the auxiliary movable contact 621 is configured to be able to reciprocate (rotate) relative to the auxiliary fixed contact 611 along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) between the first and second positions.

Here, when the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 are in contact with each other at the first position, current I flows through the movable contactor 422 primarily along the longitudinal direction (Y-axis: second axis intersecting the first axis).

In this case, for example, as shown in Figure 35, when current I flows from the main movable contact 421 on the left side (the front side of Figure 35) to the main movable contact 421 on the right side (the back side of Figure 35), a magnetic flux B is generated from above downward on the surface 4221 on which the main movable contact 421 of the movable contactor 422 is formed. Note that the surface 4221 on which the main movable contact 421 of the movable contactor 422 is formed refers to the surface located opposite the main fixed contact portion 410, and may be referred to as the front surface 4221 or the opposing surface 4221 below.

When the current to the coil 210 is stopped, the main movable contact 421 separates from the main fixed contact 411 (moving from the state shown in Figure 37 to the state shown in Figure 38), thereby starting the contact opening process.

When this contact opening begins, an arc A is generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 in the initial stage of the contact opening, and the current continues to flow due to the arc A (see Figure 38).

At this time, if current I flows from the main movable contact 421 on the right side of Figure 38 to the main movable contact 421 on the left side (if the current is flowing in the same direction as in Figure 35), current I will flow from the main movable contact 421 to the main fixed contact 411 in arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 on the left side of Figure 38.

On the other hand, in the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 on the right side of Figure 38, a current I flows from the main fixed contact 411 to the main movable contact 421.

As described above, magnetic flux B is generated from above to below on the front surface 4221 of the movable contact 422, i.e., in the space where arc A exists.

Therefore, a Lorentz force acts on the left (outside the Y-axis) on the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 on the left side of Figure 38 due to the current I flowing from the main movable contact 421 to the main fixed contact 411 and the magnetic flux B flowing from above to below.

As a result, arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 on the left side of Figure 38 is extended to the left side of Figure 38 (outside the Y axis).

In addition, a Lorentz force acts on the right side (outside the Y-axis) of arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and main fixed contact 411 on the right side of Figure 38 due to current I flowing from the main fixed contact 411 to the main movable contact 421 and magnetic flux B flowing from above to below.

As a result, arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 on the right side of Figure 38 is extended to the right side of Figure 38 (outside the Y axis).

The arcs A generated at the main movable contacts 421 and main fixed contacts 411 are then extended outward along the Y axis and extinguished. This cuts off the electrical current between the main fixed contact portion 410 and the main movable contact portion 420.

Although not shown, when current I flows from the main movable contact 421 on the left side of Figure 38 to the main movable contact 421 on the right side (when the current flows in the same direction as in Figure 36), current I flows from the main fixed contact 411 to the main movable contact 421 in the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 on the left side of Figure 38 and the main fixed contact 411.

In addition, an arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 on the right side of Figure 38 causes a current I to flow from the main movable contact 421 to the main fixed contact 411.

In this case, as described above, magnetic flux B is generated in the space where arc A exists, that is, on the front surface 4221 side of the movable contact 422, from below to above.

Therefore, a Lorentz force acts on the left (outside the Y-axis) on the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 on the left side of Figure 38 due to the current I flowing from the main fixed contact 411 to the main movable contact 421 and the magnetic flux B flowing from below to above.

As a result, arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 on the left side of Figure 38 is extended to the left side of Figure 38 (outside the Y axis).

In addition, a Lorentz force acts on the right side (outside the Y-axis) of arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and main fixed contact 411 on the right side of Figure 38 due to current I flowing from the main movable contact 421 to the main fixed contact 411 and magnetic flux B flowing from below to above.

As a result, arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 on the right side of Figure 38 is extended to the right side of Figure 38 (outside the Y axis).

The arc A generated at each of the main movable contacts 421 and main fixed contacts 411 is then extended outside the Y axis and extinguished.

In this way, the electromagnetic relay 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 is extended outward along the Y axis and extinguished, regardless of the direction of the current.

Therefore, even when an alternating current flows through the main contact section 40, as in an AC relay, the arc A that occurs between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 can be extended outside the Y axis and extinguished.

At this time, the arc generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 is extended within the space formed between the second side wall 132 and the side wall 1223 of the case 120. Therefore, in this embodiment, the space formed between the second side wall 132 and the side wall 1223 of the case 120 serves as an arc extension space S4 in which the arc is extended (see Figure 5).

However, if the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 is extended outward along the width axis (Y axis: second axis), consumable particles and the like may be scattered into the arc extension space S4. In this case, if the space S2 in which the main contact portion 40 is located and the space S3 in which the auxiliary contact portion 60 is located in the internal space S1 of the housing 10 are connected by a large passage, the auxiliary contact portion 60 may be affected by consumable particles and the like. In particular, in electromagnetic relays through which large currents flow, the auxiliary contact portion 60 will be significantly affected by consumable particles and the like.

In this embodiment, therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent a decrease in the contact reliability of the auxiliary contact 60 even when a large current flows through the main contact 40. Specifically, a partition 130 is formed to divide the internal space S1 into a main contact-side space S2 in which the main contact 40 is located, and an auxiliary contact-side space S3 in which the auxiliary contact 60 is located. In other words, the continuous portion of the partition 130 can define the main contact-side space S2 and the auxiliary contact-side space S3 of the internal space S1.

The provision of this partition wall 130 allows the main contact side space S2, in which the main contact unit 40 is arranged, and the auxiliary contact side space S3, in which the auxiliary contact unit 60 is arranged, to communicate with each other via a narrower gap. In other words, the provision of the partition wall 130 minimizes the possibility of the contact side space S2 and the auxiliary contact side space S3 communicating with each other via a relatively wide gap. This more reliably prevents wear particles and the like generated by the main contact unit 40 from entering the auxiliary contact side space S3, in which the auxiliary contact unit 60 is located.

In this embodiment, the partition wall 130 has a first side wall 131 that is connected to the base 110 and extends along the up-down axis (Z axis: third axis) on the front side (first end side of the first axis) of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) of the coil 210.

The partition wall 130 also has a pair of second side walls 132 that are arranged on both sides of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and are connected to the base 110 so as to extend along the up-down axis (Z axis: third axis).

In this way, in this embodiment, the first side wall 131 and the pair of second side walls 132 for supporting the yoke 240 also function as partition walls 130 that divide the space into the main contact side space S2 where the main contact portion 40 is located and the auxiliary contact side space S3 where the auxiliary contact portion 60 is located.

The first side wall 131 is connected to the base 110 so that the main contact portion 40 and the movable portion 50 are located in front of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis), and the auxiliary contact portion 60 and the coil 210 are located behind the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) (the second end side of the first axis).

The first side wall 131 and the pair of second side walls 132 surround at least a portion of the side surface 210a of the coil 210.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the partition 130 is provided with a pair of third side walls 133 arranged side by side along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and aligned along the up-down axis (Z axis: third axis) and the second side wall 132 (see Figures 16 and 17).

In this embodiment, the third side wall 133 is formed on the inside of the case 120. Specifically, the third side wall 133 extends from the inner surface of the top wall 121 along the front-to-rear axis (X axis: first axis) and the up-down axis (Z axis: third axis). The third side wall 133 is also formed so that the rear end of the front-to-rear axis (X axis: first axis) contacts the inner surface of the rear wall 1222.

Furthermore, the pair of third side walls 133 are formed so as to overlap at least a portion of the contact periphery of the auxiliary contact portion 60 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the Z axis. In this way, the arc extension space S4 of the main contact side space S2 and the auxiliary contact side space S3 are separated by the third side walls 133. The third side walls 133 further reliably prevent worn powder and the like generated in the main contact portion 40 from passing through the arc extension space S4 and entering the auxiliary contact side space S3.

In addition, in this embodiment, the main contact side space S2 is located above the main contact unit 40 and has a generally L-shaped space when viewed along the width axis (Y axis: second axis). This space serves as the armature arrangement space S5 in which the armature 310 is arranged (see Figures 14 and 15). Because the armature 310 is arranged within the armature arrangement space S5 in a state in which it is permitted to swing, a relatively large gap is formed between the armature 310 and the case 120 within the armature arrangement space S5. This raises the risk that the armature 310 may become misaligned during swinging, or that worn powder generated in the main contact unit 40 may enter the auxiliary contact side space S3 through the relatively large gap formed between the armature 310 and the case 120.

In this embodiment, therefore, the partition wall 130 is provided with a fourth side wall 134 that is provided on the case 120 so as to protrude below the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) when the base 110 is positioned below the case 120. This fourth side wall 134 is then arranged to extend along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and face the armature 310 from above and below (see Figures 14 and 15).

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fourth side wall 134 is positioned forward (toward the main contact section 40) of the vertical wall section (standing section) 241 of the yoke 240 in the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis), and has a retaining wall 1341 that can retain the armature 310. By providing the retaining wall 1341 on the case 120, the armature 310 is prevented from shifting position during oscillation. Furthermore, because the retaining wall 1341 divides the armature arrangement space S5 into front and rear sections, the retaining wall 1341 more reliably prevents worn powder and the like generated at the main contact section 40 from entering the auxiliary contact side space S3.

Furthermore, the fourth side wall 134 is positioned rearward (toward the auxiliary contact 60) of the vertical wall portion (standing portion) 241 of the yoke 240 on the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis), and has a partition wall 1342 that can divide the space S5 above the armature 310. By providing the partition wall 1342 on the case 120, this partition wall 1342 can prevent consumable powder and the like that is not completely blocked by the retaining wall 1341 from entering the auxiliary contact side space S3.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the partition wall 130 has a fifth side wall 135 that extends along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis) and is provided on the case 120 so as to be positioned outside the second side wall 132 along the width axis (Y axis: first axis).

In this embodiment, the fifth side wall 135 extends from the top wall 121 of the case 120 so as to protrude downward along the vertical axis (Z axis: third axis). When the case 120 is attached to the base 110, the lower end of the fifth side wall 135 is positioned midway between the base portion 111 of the base 110 and the top wall 121 of the case 120.

The lower end of the fifth side wall 135 only needs to be located between the base portion 111 of the base 110 and the top wall 121 of the case 120, and the amount by which the fifth side wall 135 protrudes from the top wall 121 can be set as appropriate. By providing a fifth side wall 135 with this shape, the arc extension space S4 is divided into front and rear portions, and the fifth side wall 135 can more reliably prevent worn powder and the like generated in the main contact portion 40 from entering the auxiliary contact side space S3.

In addition, in this embodiment, the second side wall 132 has an extension portion 1321 that extends outward from the width axis (Y axis: second axis). This extension portion 1321 extends from the rear end of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) of the second side wall 132 along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and the up-down axis (Z axis: third axis). In this embodiment, the extension portion 1321 is formed from the lower end to the upper end (partway to the upper end) of the second side wall 132. In other words, the extension portion 1321 is connected to the second side wall 132 such that the upper end of the second side wall 132 protrudes above the upper end of the extension portion 1321 (see Figures 6 and 7).

Furthermore, if an arc A occurs between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411, the arc heat may cause the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 to weld together. Furthermore, the arc heat may also cause deterioration of the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411.

In this way, when arc A occurs between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411, the contacts (main movable contact 421 and main fixed contact 411) may be affected by the arc. In particular, in electromagnetic relays through which large currents flow, the contacts (main movable contact 421 and main fixed contact 411) are greatly affected by the arc.

For this reason, it is preferable to more reliably and quickly extinguish the arc A that occurs between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411, thereby preventing the contacts (main movable contact 421 and main fixed contact 411) from being affected by the arc.

In this embodiment, therefore, the arc A that occurs between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 can be extinguished more reliably and more quickly. Specifically, the electromagnetic relay 1 is provided with a yoke 80 that is arranged on the side of at least one of the main body 412 (first main body) and the movable contactor 422 (second main body). In other words, the yoke 80 is arranged on the side of at least one of the main body 412 and the movable contactor 422.

In this way, by arranging the yoke 80 on at least one of the main body 412 and the movable contact 422, the strength of the magnetic flux B generated around the component on which the yoke 80 is arranged (main body 412 or movable contact 422) is increased, enabling the arc A to be extinguished more reliably and quickly.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electromagnetic relay 1 is provided with a fixing portion 90 that fixes the yoke 80 to the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed. In other words, the yoke 80 and the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed are fixed by the fixing portion 90. This makes it possible to prevent misalignment between the yoke 80 and the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 26 to 33, the yoke 80 is arranged on the side of the movable contactor 422, which is at least one of the main body 412 and the movable contactor 422. In other words, in this embodiment, the movable contactor 422 is the main body on which the yoke 80 is arranged.

The movable contactor 422, which is the main body on which the yoke 80 is disposed, has an opposing surface 4221 located on the side where the first contact 411 and the second contact 412 face each other. The movable contactor 422 also has a placement surface 4222 located on the opposite side of the opposing surface 4221 along the front-rear axis (X-axis: first axis).

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the placement surface 4222 has a specific region R1 that overlaps with the main body portion 412, which is the mating main body portion, when viewed along the front-to-rear axis (X axis: first axis) with the first contact 411 and the second contact 421 in contact.

In other words, in this embodiment, when the state in which the main fixed contact 411 and the main movable contact 421 are in contact is viewed along the direction in which the main fixed contact 411 and the main movable contact 421 move relative to each other, the area in which the main body portion (first main body portion) 412 and the movable contactor (second main body portion) 422 overlap is defined as the specific area R1 (see Figure 34).

This movable contactor 422 is configured so that current I flows along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) that intersects with the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) in the specific region R1.

The yoke 80 is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the specific region R1 when viewed along the front-to-rear axis (X axis: first axis).

Specifically, the yoke 80 comprises a generally rectangular side wall 81 that is elongated along the width axis (Y axis: second axis), a top wall 82 that is connected to the upper end of the side wall 81, and a bottom wall 83 that is connected to the lower end of the side wall 81 and extends in the same direction as the top wall 82.

The front surface 81a of the side wall 81 is positioned to face the back surface (arrangement surface) 4222 of the movable contact 422, with the tip 82b of the top wall 82 and the tip 83b of the bottom wall 83 facing forward along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis).

Therefore, in this embodiment, the side wall 81 of the yoke 80 is located on the surface (arrangement surface) 4222 opposite the side on which the main movable contact 421 of the movable contactor 422 is formed.

At this time, when viewed along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis), the side wall 81 of the yoke 80 is positioned so as to overlap the contact (main movable contact 421) of the main body part (movable contactor 422) on the side on which the yoke 80 is arranged. Therefore, when viewed along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis), the side wall 81 of the yoke 80 is positioned so as to overlap the contact region R2 where the main fixed contact (first contact) 411 and the main movable contact (second contact) 421 come into contact. In other words, the yoke 80 is positioned so as to be aligned along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) with the contact (main movable contact) 421 of the movable contactor 422, which is the main body part on which the yoke 80 is arranged.

In this embodiment, therefore, when viewed along the direction in which the main fixed contact (first contact) 411 and the main movable contact (second contact) 421 move relative to each other, a portion of the side wall 81 of the yoke 80 overlaps with the contact region R2 where the main fixed contact (first contact) 411 and the main movable contact (second contact) 421 come into contact (see Figure 34). In this case, the side wall 81 is positioned so as to overlap the entire contact region R2.

By doing this, at least a portion of the yoke 80 is positioned so as to align with the magnetic flux B generated in the specific region R1 by the current I flowing through the movable contactor (the main body portion on which the yoke 80 is positioned) 422.

In other words, at least a portion of the yoke 80 is arranged in the space near the movable contact (second main body portion) 422 that belongs to the specific region R1, along the magnetic flux B generated around the movable contact (second main body portion) 422.

In this way, in this embodiment, by arranging the yoke 80 as described above, the magnetic flux B generated around the movable contactor (second main body portion) 422 can be concentrated within the yoke 80. This increases the strength of the magnetic flux B generated around the movable contactor (second main body portion) 422 (strengthens the magnetic field around the movable contactor 422), making it possible to more reliably and quickly extinguish the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411.

In addition, in this embodiment, the movable contactor 422, which is the main body on which the yoke 80 is disposed, has an insertion hole (through hole) 422a formed therein through which the contact member 4211 that forms the contact (main movable contact) 421 of the movable contactor 422 is inserted. Furthermore, the arrangement surface 4222 of the movable contactor 422 has a recess 4222a formed therein in which the contact member 4211 is housed.

This prevents interference with the contact member 4211 when placing the yoke 80 on the movable contactor 422. This also improves the positioning accuracy of the yoke 80 and the movable contactor 422.

The movable contactor 422, which is the main body on which the yoke 80 is disposed, has side surfaces (top surface 4223 and bottom surface 4224) that are connected to the opposing surface 4221 and the disposition surface 4222. The yoke 80 has arms that are disposed along the side surfaces (top surface 4223 and bottom surface 4224). In this embodiment, the top wall 82 is an arm that is disposed along the top surface 4223, and the bottom wall 83 is an arm that is disposed along the bottom surface 4224.

The fixed portion 90 also has a protrusion 422b and an abutment portion 81ba against which the protrusion 422b can abut. In this embodiment, the protrusion 422b is provided on the movable contactor 422, which is the main body on which the yoke 80 is disposed. In other words, the protrusion 422b is provided directly on the movable contactor 422, which is the main body on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

The abutment portion 81ba is formed on the yoke 80. Specifically, a through hole (opening) 80b is formed in the side wall 81 of the yoke 80. The protrusion 422b of the movable contactor 422 is inserted into the through hole 80b, and the yoke 80 and the movable contactor 422 are then crimped together so that a crimped portion 91 is formed at the tip of the protrusion 422b, thereby fixing the yoke 80 to the movable contactor 422. Therefore, in this embodiment, the inner surface of the through hole 80b and the peripheral portion of the through hole 80b on the back surface 81b of the side wall 81 form the abutment portion 81ba against which the protrusion 422b can abut.

When the yoke 80 is fixed to the movable contactor 422, the lower surface 82a of the top wall 82 is in surface contact with the upper surface 4223 of the movable contactor 422, and the upper surface 83a of the bottom wall 83 is in surface contact with the lower surface 4224 of the movable contactor 422.

In this embodiment, one movable contactor 422 has two main movable contacts (first movable contact 421A and second movable contact 421B) arranged side by side along the width axis (Y axis: second axis: a direction intersecting the direction in which the first contact and second contact move relative to each other). Furthermore, two main body portions (first fixed contact side terminal 412A and second fixed contact side terminal 412B) have a first fixed contact 411A and a second fixed contact 411B.

The first movable contact 421A moves in and out of contact with the first fixed contact 411A, and the second movable contact 421B moves in and out of contact with the second fixed contact 411B.

For this reason, in this embodiment, the yoke 80 has a first yoke 840 arranged on the side where the first movable contact 421A is located, and a second yoke 850 arranged on the side where the second movable contact 421B is located. The first yoke 840 and the second yoke 850 are connected by a connecting portion 860.

As such, in this embodiment, the yoke 80 is exemplified as one in which the first yoke 840 and the second yoke 850 are integrated by the connecting portion 860.

In addition, in this embodiment, the yoke 80 has a shape in which a notch 80a is provided in the center of the Y axis, and the length of the Z axis at the center of the Y axis is shorter than at both ends of the Y axis. This notch 80a is provided to prevent the yoke 80 from interfering with the movable part 50.

The portion where the notch 80a is formed in the center of the Y axis forms the connecting portion 860, and the portions at both ends of the Y axis form the first yoke 840 and the second yoke 850, respectively. In this way, by making the Z axis length of the connecting portion 860 shorter than the first yoke 840 and the second yoke 850, the magnetic flux B generated around the movable contact 422 can be more efficiently concentrated toward the first yoke 840 or the second yoke 850, thereby further increasing the strength of the magnetic flux B generated around the contacts (the main fixed contact 411 and the main movable contact 421 that move toward and away from each other).

The top wall 82 and bottom wall 83 of the yoke 80 also have notches 80a formed on each side of the Y axis, forming the arms of the first yoke 840 and the second yoke 850, respectively.

Specifically, the top wall 82 connected to the first yoke 840 and placed on the upper surface (first end surface) 4223 of the movable contactor 422 forms the first arm 841. The top wall 82 connected to the second yoke 850 and placed on the upper surface (first end surface) 4223 of the movable contactor 422 forms the second arm 851.

In this embodiment, the bottom wall 83 connected to each of the first yoke 840 and the second yoke 850 and positioned on the lower surface (second end surface) 4224 of the movable contactor 422 serves as the third arm. This bottom wall 83 is positioned below the portion of the movable contactor 422 where the notch 422c is not formed. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the main fixed contact (first contact) 411 and the main movable contact (second contact) 421 are separated from each other, the shortest distance D1 between the yoke 80 and the main body portion 412 of the main fixed contact portion 410, which is the mating main body portion, is shorter than the shortest distance D2 between the main body portion (first body portion) 412 and the movable contactor (second body portion) 422 (see Figure 25).

In addition, in this embodiment, a through-hole (opening) 80b for fixing the yoke 80 to the movable contactor 422 is formed in the connecting portion 860. In other words, the protrusion 422b is provided in a position away from the main movable contact 421 of the movable contactor 422, which is the main body portion in which the yoke 80 is disposed.

This allows the yoke 80 to be fixed to the movable contactor 422 without being obstructed by the main movable contact 421, further improving the ease of assembling the yoke 80 to the movable contactor 422.

In addition, in this embodiment, the movable contactor 422 is connected to a movable spring (connecting member) 53 that moves integrally with the movable contactor 422 in response to the excitation/de-excitation of the coil 210. The yoke 80 is also connected to the movable spring (connecting member) 53 together with the movable contactor 422. Specifically, the yoke 80 is connected to the movable spring (connecting member) 53 together with the movable contactor 422 at the connecting portion 860.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the yoke 80 and the movable contact 422 are fixed by the fixing portion 90, the movable spring (connecting member) 53 is also fixed by the fixing portion 90. At this time, the movable spring (connecting member) 53 is arranged between the movable contact 422 and the connecting portion 860.

This prevents misalignment between the movable contact 422 and the yoke 80, while also preventing misalignment between the movable contact 422 and the movable spring (connecting member) 53.

In this embodiment, the yoke 80 is disposed on the movable contactor 422, but the yoke 80 may also be disposed on the main body 412. Also, the yoke 80 may be disposed on both the movable contactor 422 and the main body 412.

Furthermore, this embodiment is configured so that the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 can be moved away from the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 more quickly.

Specifically, as shown in Figures 18 to 23, the main body 412 is formed with a protruding portion 417 that protrudes toward the movable contactor 422. In this case, the protruding portion 417 is formed so that it is positioned rearward (toward the movable contactor 422) of the tip (top) 411a of the main fixed contact 411.

In this embodiment, the main fixed contact portion 410 has an outer extension portion 415 that is positioned outside the main fixed contacts 411 that are aligned along the width axis. The protrusion portion 417 is connected to this outer extension portion 415.

In this embodiment, the protruding portion 417 has a first portion 4171 that protrudes from the upper surface (end surface) 415c of the outer extension portion 415 above the vertical axis (toward the second end). The protruding portion 417 also has a second portion 4173 that protrudes toward the main movable contact 421 from the front surface (opposing surface: the surface facing the main movable contact portion 420) of the main fixed contact portion 410. The protruding portion 417 also has a curved portion 4172 that connects the first portion 4171 and the second portion 4173.

Such a protrusion 417 can be formed, for example, by bending the upper portion of a plate-shaped member that protrudes from the upper surface (end surface) 415c of the outer extension 415 above the vertical axis (toward the second end) by 180 degrees toward the rear of the front-rear axis.

In this way, in this embodiment, a protrusion 417 bent up and down is formed in a portion of the main fixed contact portion 410 that is away from the conductive portion (the portion through which current flows between the draw-out terminal 414 and the main fixed contact 411). Furthermore, the protrusion 417 is formed outward between a pair of main fixed contacts 411 that are arranged side by side along the Y axis.

This allows a protrusion 417 to be formed near the outside between the main fixed contacts 411, allowing the arc A that occurs when the contacts open to be quickly moved from the main movable contact 421 or main fixed contact 411 to the protrusion 417.

In this embodiment, the thickness of the main fixed contact portion 410 is increased to allow a large current to flow through the electromagnetic relay 1. Therefore, when forming a protrusion by bending both ends of the width axis of the main fixed contact portion 410, it is necessary to provide a large notch in the current-carrying portion of the main fixed contact portion 410 to facilitate bending the protrusion while reducing the width dimension of the main fixed contact portion 410. Furthermore, if a large notch is provided in the current-carrying portion of the main fixed contact portion 410, the width of the current-carrying portion of the main fixed contact portion 410 will be narrower than if no notch is provided, making it difficult to pass a large current.

In contrast, in this embodiment, unlike when protrusions are formed on both ends of the width axis of the main fixed contact portion 410, the protrusions 417 are formed without providing a notch in the current-carrying portion of the main fixed contact portion 410. Specifically, the protrusions 417 are formed in a location away from the current-carrying portion of the main fixed contact portion 410.

The terminal connection portion 413 extends along the width axis so that it is located at least between the inner end (the end on the main fixed contact 411 side) 417a of the protrusion 417 and the main fixed contact 411. In this embodiment, the terminal connection portion 413 extends along the width axis so that it is located between the outer end 417b of the protrusion 417 and the main fixed contact 411.

This allows the protrusion 417 to be formed on the main fixed contact 410 without narrowing the width of the current-carrying portion of the main fixed contact 410 (reducing the terminal cross-sectional area of the current-carrying portion). Furthermore, by increasing the terminal cross-sectional area of the current-carrying portion of the main fixed contact 410, it becomes possible to more reliably suppress heat generation caused by large currents.

In this way, in this embodiment, even if the plate thickness of the main fixed contact portion 410 is increased, the terminal cross-sectional area of the current-carrying portion can be ensured while more reliably preventing the main movable contact 421 and main fixed contact 411 from being affected by the arc A that occurs when the contacts are opened.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first portion 4171 and the second portion 4173 are connected by a U-shaped curved portion 4172. The second portion 4173 faces the outer extension portion 415 at the front and rear.

This makes it possible to form the protrusion 417 simply by bending the plate 180 degrees, making it easier to form the protrusion 417. Furthermore, if the first portion 4171 and the second portion 4173 are connected by a U-shaped curved portion 4172, it becomes easier to bring the protrusion 417 closer to the main fixed contact 411. Furthermore, if the protrusion 417 is formed by bending the plate 180 degrees, the amount of protrusion of the protrusion 417 rearward of the fore-and-aft axis (X-axis: first axis) can be determined by setting the plate thickness, making it easier to control the amount of protrusion of the protrusion 417.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the width W1 of the curved portion 4172 along the Y axis is made smaller than the length L1 connecting the curved apex 4172a of the curved portion 4172 and the lower end (tip) 4173a of the second portion 4173. This makes it easier to bend the plate in the portion that will become the protrusion 417.

The second portion 4173 and the main fixed contact 411 are also arranged side by side along the width axis. That is, the protrusion 417 is formed so that the top and bottom positions of the second portion 4173 and the main fixed contact 411 are approximately the same. This makes the second portion 4173 and the main fixed contact 411 face each other along the width axis, which is the direction in which the arc A is extended. This makes it easier and more reliable to quickly move the arc A that is generated when the contacts open from the main movable contact 421 or the main fixed contact 411 to the protrusion 417.

Furthermore, the notch 4152 is formed inward on the width axis from the first portion 4171 of the outer extension portion 415. In this embodiment, the notch 4152 is formed so that it is positioned higher on the vertical axis than the main fixed contact 411. This reduces the amount of raw material required to form the main fixed contact portion 410 by stamping it out.

The second portion 4173 then has a tapered portion 4174 that narrows (narrows in width along the Y axis) toward the tip (bottom end). Specifically, when the main fixed contact portion 410 is viewed along the front-to-rear axis, the side of the second portion 4173 closer to the main fixed contact 411 on the inside of the width axis (fixed contact portion side) is inclined so that it becomes higher on the up-down axis as it approaches the inside of the width axis (fixed contact portion side). In this way, a tapered portion 4174 is formed in the second portion 4173.

This configuration allows for the device to be made smaller while still ensuring a contact gap (the distance required to maintain better insulation when the contacts are open) between the main fixed contact portion 410 and the main movable contact portion 420.

It is also possible to form the protrusion 417 without the tapered portion 4174, or to form the protrusion 417 by bending the plate that protrudes upward from the upper surface (end surface) 415c of the outer extension 415 by 90 degrees. Furthermore, it is also possible for the protrusion 417 formed by bending it by 90 degrees to have the tapered portion 4174. In other words, the shape of the protrusion 417 can be various.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the main fixed contact portion 410 is disposed between the main fixed contacts 411 and includes an inner extension portion 416 that faces the main movable contact portion 420 along the front-to-rear axis. When the main fixed contact portion 410 is fixed to the base 110 (housing 10), the inner extension portion 416 is press-fitted into the inner press-fit groove 116 formed in the base 110, and the outer extension portion 415 is press-fitted into the outer press-fit groove 117. At this time, the inner press-fit groove 116 is provided with a press-fit protrusion 116a that protrudes along the front-to-rear axis, and this press-fit protrusion 116a allows the inner extension portion 416 to be press-fitted into the inner press-fit groove 116. Similarly, the outer press-fit groove 117 is provided with a press-fit protrusion 117a that protrudes along the front-to-rear axis, and this press-fit protrusion 117a allows the outer extension portion 415 to be press-fitted into the outer press-fit groove 117.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the main fixed contact portion 410 is fixed to the base 110 (housing 10), both sides (front surface 416a and back surface 416b) of the end portion 4161 of the inner extension portion 416 come into contact with the housing 10, and both sides (front surface 415a and back surface 415b) of the end portion 4151 of the outer extension portion 415 come into contact with the housing 10.

This allows for improved positioning accuracy of the main fixed contact portion 410 relative to the housing 10. This not only makes it possible to more accurately determine the contact gap when the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 are in the second position, but also ensures the contact pressure when the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 are in the first position. Furthermore, because both sides of the width axis of the main fixed contact portion 410 are press-fitted and fixed into the housing 10, the main fixed contact portion 410 can be more firmly fixed to the housing 10.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a movable-side protrusion 4226 that protrudes toward the main body 412 is formed at the end 4225 of the width axis (Y axis: second axis) of the movable contactor 422.

In this embodiment, the Y-axis end of a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member that is elongated along the Y-axis is bent forward (toward the main body 412), thereby forming a movable-side protrusion 4226 on the movable contactor 422.

The movable-side protrusion 4226 is formed so that the tip 4226a of the movable-side protrusion 4226 is positioned forward (toward the main body 412) of the tip (top) 421a of the main movable contact 421.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the movable side protrusion 4226 is positioned further inward on the width axis (Y axis: second axis) than the protrusion 417 (see Figure 37).

Furthermore, by shaping the main body 412 and the movable contactor 422 as described above, when an arc A occurs between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411, the arc A's arcing point (discharge point) A1 is moved toward the protrusion 417 and the movable-side protrusion 4226 on the main movable contact 421 side and the main fixed contact 411 side.

Specifically, the Lorentz force acting outward from the Y axis acts on the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411, stretching it outward from the Y axis, causing the arc A generated between the main movable contact 421 and the main fixed contact 411 to move toward the protrusion 417 and the movable-side protrusion 4224.

In this embodiment, since the movable-side protrusion 4226 is positioned further inward on the Y axis than the protrusion 417, the arc A that moves toward the protrusion 417 and the movable-side protrusion 4226 is stretched outward on the Y axis and rearward on the X axis.

For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 39, when the main body 412 and the movable contact 422 are housed within the housing 10, a space is formed outward on the Y axis and behind the X axis of the protrusion 417 and the movable-side protrusion 4226.

This more reliably prevents the housing 10 and components housed within the housing 10 from being affected by arc A, which is stretched outward along the Y axis and rearward along the X axis.

As shown in Figure 40, the movable side protrusion 4226 may be positioned further outward on the Y axis than the protrusion 417.

For example, if a space is formed outside the Y axis and in front of the X axis of the protrusion 417 and the movable side protrusion 4226 when the main body 412 and the movable contact 422 are housed within the housing 10, the configuration shown in Figure 40 is preferable.

In this embodiment, protrusions are provided on both the main body 412 and the movable contact 422, but protrusions may be provided only on the main body 412.

Furthermore, the shape of the yoke 80 is not limited to the shape described in the first embodiment above, but can be various other shapes.

For example, the yoke 80 shown in Figures 41 to 49 can be used.

The yoke 80 shown in Figures 41 to 49 also includes a generally rectangular side wall 81 that is elongated along the width axis (Y axis: second axis), a top wall 82 that is connected to the upper end of the side wall 81, and a bottom wall 83 that is connected to the lower end of the side wall 81 and extends in the same direction as the top wall 82.

The front surface 81a of the side wall 81 is positioned to face the back surface (arrangement surface) 4222 of the movable contact 422, with the tip 82b of the top wall 82 and the tip 83b of the bottom wall 83 facing forward along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis).

In addition, the top wall 82 serves as an arm portion that is positioned along the upper surface 4223, and the bottom wall 83 serves as an arm portion that is positioned along the lower surface 4224.

Furthermore, the yoke 80 shown in Figures 41 to 49 also has a first yoke 840 arranged on the side where the first movable contact 421A is located, and a second yoke 850 arranged on the side where the second movable contact 421B is located. The first yoke 840 and second yoke 850 are connected by a connecting portion 860.

The yoke 80 is also fixed to the movable contact 422, which is the main body on which the yoke 80 is disposed, by the fixing portion 90.

Here, in the yoke 80 shown in Figures 41 to 49, of the first yoke 840, second yoke 850, and connecting portion 860, only the connecting portion 860 has a bottom wall (third arm portion) 83.

The bottom wall (third arm) 83 formed on the connecting portion 860 is accommodated within the notch 422c of the movable contactor 422. This prevents the third arm 83 from protruding below the movable contactor 422.

Furthermore, when the yoke 80 is fixed to the movable contact 422, the lower terminal end surface (lower end surface) 81c of the side wall 81 at the portion that becomes the first yoke 840 and the second yoke 850 is positioned above the lower surface 4224 of the movable contact 422.

By doing this, when the main fixed contact (first contact) 411 and the main movable contact (second contact) 421 are separated from each other, the shortest distance D1 between the yoke 80 and the main body 412 of the main fixed contact 410, which is the mating main body, is equal to or greater than the shortest distance D2 between the main body (first body) 412 and the movable contactor (second body) 422.

This more reliably prevents the contacts from being affected by arcs while also reducing the impact of the electrical insulation provided by the yoke 80.

It is also possible to use the yoke 80 shown in Figures 50 to 57.

The yoke 80 shown in Figures 50 to 57 has a generally rectangular side wall 81 that is elongated along the width axis (Y axis: second axis) and a top wall 82 that is connected to the upper end of the side wall 81, but this yoke 80 does not have a bottom wall 83.

The front surface 81a of the side wall 81 is positioned to face the back surface (arrangement surface) 4222 of the movable contact 422, with the tip 82b of the top wall 82 facing forward along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis). The top wall 82 also serves as an arm portion that is positioned along the upper surface 4223.

Furthermore, the yoke 80 shown in Figures 50 to 57 also has a first yoke 840 arranged on the side where the first movable contact 421A is located, and a second yoke 850 arranged on the side where the second movable contact 421B is located. The first yoke 840 and second yoke 850 are connected by a connecting portion 860.

The yoke 80 is also fixed to the movable contact 422, which is the main body on which the yoke 80 is disposed, by the fixing portion 90.

When the yoke 80 is fixed to the movable contact 422, the lower terminal end surface (lower end surface) 81c of the side wall 81 at the portion that becomes the first yoke 840 and the second yoke 850 is positioned above the lower surface 4224 of the movable contact 422.

By doing this, when the main fixed contact (first contact) 411 and the main movable contact (second contact) 421 are separated from each other, the shortest distance D1 between the yoke 80 and the main body 412 of the main fixed contact 410, which is the mating main body, is equal to or greater than the shortest distance D2 between the main body (first body) 412 and the movable contactor (second body) 422.

This more reliably prevents the contacts from being affected by arcs while also reducing the impact of the electrical insulation provided by the yoke 80.

Second Embodiment
As shown in Figures 58 and 59, the electromagnetic relay 1 according to this embodiment includes a housing 10 formed from a resin material in the shape of a hollow box. In this embodiment, the housing 10 has a base 110 and a case 120 that covers the base 110, and has an outer surface that is substantially rectangular parallelepiped in shape. Furthermore, when the case 120 is attached to the base 110, an internal space S1 is formed within the housing 10. Note that the shape of the outer surface of the housing 10 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape and may be any shape.

The electromagnet device (drive unit) 20 is located rearward on the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) within the internal space S1 of the housing 10, and the contact unit 40 is located forward of the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis).

The electromagnet device 20 includes a coil bobbin 220 around which a coil 210 is wound, an iron core 230, a yoke 240, and a coil terminal 250. In this embodiment, the electromagnet device 20 also includes a permanent magnet 260 that is clamped by the portion of the yoke 240 that extends from the base 110.

The moving member 30 is moved by switching the drive state of this electromagnet device 20.

In this embodiment, the moving member 30 includes an armature 310 arranged to face the iron core 230 along the vertical axis (Z-axis), and a hinge spring 320 attached across the armature 310 and the yoke 240.

The armature 310 is made of a conductive metal and is positioned so that it can oscillate along the vertical axis (Z-axis) relative to the iron core 230 depending on whether the coil 210 is excited or de-excited.

This armature 310 has a horizontal wall portion 311 that faces the iron core 230 along the vertical axis (Z axis), and a vertical wall portion 312 that extends downward from the front end of the horizontal wall portion 311 along the front-rear axis (X axis).

By switching the drive state of the electromagnet device 20 and swinging the armature 310, it is possible to switch between electrical continuity and non-conduction between the fixed contact portion 410 and the movable contact portion 420, which are paired together (have contacts that move in and out of contact with each other).

The contact unit 40 includes a fixed contact unit 410 and a movable contact unit 420. The fixed contact unit 410 includes a fixed contact 411 and a main body 412 having the fixed contact 411. On the other hand, the movable contact unit 420 includes a movable contact 421 that moves relative to the fixed contact 411 and can move toward and away from the fixed contact 411, and a movable spring 422 having the movable contact 421. In this embodiment, the contact unit 40 includes one main body 412 having one fixed contact 411, and one movable spring 422 having one movable contact 421.

This contact portion 40 is connected to the armature 310 via the movable portion 50. The movable portion 50 is caused to oscillate along the front-to-back axis (X-axis) in conjunction with the oscillation of the armature 310, so that the movable contact portion 420 oscillates along the front-to-back axis (X-axis) in conjunction with the movement of the movable portion 50.

The movable part 50 has a main body 54 and is disposed between the vertical wall 312 of the armature 310 and the movable contact 420 of the contact part 40. A rotation support shaft 55 provided at the lower end of the main body 54 is attached to the base 110 so as to be able to swing.

In addition, a first protrusion 56 that abuts against the vertical wall 312 is provided on the side of the main body 54 facing the vertical wall 312, and a second protrusion 57 that is positioned higher than the first protrusion 56 is provided on the side facing the contact portion 40.

When the vertical wall portion 312 moves away from the yoke 240 due to the driving of the electromagnet device 20, this moving force is input to the main body portion 54 via the first protrusion portion 56, causing the main body portion 54 to move toward the contact portion 40.

In this embodiment, the contact portion 40 is configured such that when the horizontal wall portion 311 of the armature 310 is not attracted to the iron core 230, the fixed contact 411 and the movable contact 421 are separated, and when the electromagnet device 20 is driven so that the horizontal wall portion 311 is attracted to the iron core 230, the fixed contact 411 and the movable contact 421 come into contact.

As shown in Figure 58, the case 120 is formed as a rectangular parallelepiped housing that is open downwards overall, and the case 120 is attached to the base 110 by fitting the lower open end almost tightly into a step formed on the outer periphery of the base 110. At this time, the protrusion 112a of the base 110 is inserted into the insertion hole 122a of the case 120, preventing the case 120 from coming loose.

A partition wall 130 is formed on the inside of the case 120. This partition wall 130 is positioned between the vertical wall portion 312 of the armature 310 and the movable portion 50. The partition wall 130 has a notch 130a formed therein, allowing the first protrusion 56 to pass through.

In this embodiment, too, it is possible to more reliably and quickly extinguish the arc A that occurs between the movable contact 421 and the fixed contact 411. In this embodiment, the arc A is extended upward (outside the Z axis).

Specifically, the electromagnetic relay 1 is provided with a yoke 80 that is arranged on the side of at least one of the main body portion (first main body portion) 412 and the movable spring (second main body portion) 422, 412.

Furthermore, the electromagnetic relay 1 is provided with a fixing portion 90 that fixes the yoke 80 to the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 58 and 59, the yoke 80 is disposed on the side of the main body 412, which is at least one of the main body 412 and the movable spring 422. In other words, in this embodiment, the main body 412 of the fixed contact part 410 is the main body on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

The main body 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed has an opposing surface 4121 located on the side where the first contact 411 and the second contact 412 face each other. The main body 412 also has a placement surface 4122 located on the opposite side of the opposing surface 4121 along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis).

Furthermore, when viewed along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis) with the first contact 411 and the second contact 421 in contact, the placement surface 4122 has a specific region R1 that overlaps with the movable spring 422, which is the mating main body part.

This main body 412 is configured so that current I flows along the up-down axis (Z axis: second axis) that intersects with the front-to-back axis (X axis: first axis) in the specific region R1.

The yoke 80 is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the specific region R1 when viewed along the front-to-rear axis (X axis: first axis).

Specifically, the yoke 80 comprises a generally rectangular side wall 81 that is elongated along the vertical axis (Z axis: second axis), a first wall 82 that is connected to a first end of the width axis of the side wall 81, and a second wall 83 that is connected to a second end of the side wall 81 and extends in the same direction as the first wall 82.

The front surface 81a of the side wall 81 is positioned to face the rear surface (arrangement surface) 4122 of the main body 412, with the tip of the first wall 82 and the tip of the second wall 83 facing rearward along the front-to-rear axis (X-axis: first axis).

At this time, the side wall 81 of the yoke 80 is positioned so that it overlaps the contact (fixed contact 411) of the main body portion (main body portion 412) on the side on which the yoke 80 is disposed, when viewed along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). Therefore, the side wall 81 of the yoke 80 is positioned so that it overlaps the contact region R2 where the fixed contact (first contact) 411 and the movable contact (second contact) 421 come into contact, when viewed along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis). In other words, the yoke 80 is positioned so that it is aligned along the front-rear axis (X axis: first axis) with the contact (fixed contact) 421 of the main body portion 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

In this way, in this embodiment, by arranging the yoke 80 as described above, the magnetic flux B generated around the main body portion (first main body portion) 412 can be concentrated within the yoke 80. This increases the strength of the magnetic flux B generated around the main body portion (first main body portion) 412 (strengthens the magnetic field around the main body portion 412), making it possible to more reliably and quickly extinguish the arc A generated between the movable contact 421 and the fixed contact 411.

The main body 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed has side surfaces (first surface 4123 and second surface 4124) that are continuous with the opposing surface 4121 and the placement surface 4122. The yoke 80 has arms that are disposed along the side surfaces (first surface 4123 and second surface 4124). In this embodiment, the first wall 82 is an arm that is disposed along the first surface 4123, and the second wall 83 is an arm that is disposed along the second surface 4124.

The fixed portion 90 also has a protrusion 411b and an abutment portion 81ba against which the protrusion 411b can abut. In this embodiment, the protrusion 411b is provided on a contact point 411 of the main body portion 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

Abutment portions 81ba are formed on the yoke 80. In this embodiment, the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole 80b and the peripheral edge of the through-hole 80b on the back surface 81b of the side wall 81 also serve as abutment portions 81ba with which the protrusions 422b can abut.

In this embodiment, the yoke 80 is disposed on the main body 412 of the fixed contact portion 410, but the yoke 80 may also be disposed on the movable spring 422. Also, the yoke 80 may be disposed on both the main body 412 and the movable spring 422.

[Actions and Effects]
The following describes the characteristic configurations of the electromagnetic relays shown in the above-described embodiments and their modifications, and the effects obtained thereby.

(1) The electromagnetic relay 1 shown in each of the above embodiments and their modified examples includes an electromagnet device 20 having a coil 210. The electromagnetic relay 1 also includes a first contact 411 and a second contact 421 that faces the first contact 411 along the first axis and is movable relative to the first contact 411 to engage or disengage. The electromagnetic relay 1 also includes a first body portion 412 that has the first contact 411, and a second body portion 422 that has the second contact 421. The electromagnetic relay 1 also includes a yoke 80 that is arranged on the body portion 422, 412 side of at least one of the first body portion 412 and the second body portion 422, and a fixing portion 90 that fixes the yoke 80 to the body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is arranged.

Here, the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed have opposing surfaces 4221, 4121 located on the side where the first contact 411 and the second contact 421 face each other, and arrangement surfaces 4222, 4122 located on the opposite side of the first axis from the opposing surfaces 4221, 4121.

Furthermore, the placement surfaces 4222, 4122 have a specific region R1 that overlaps with the mating main body portions 412, 422 when viewed along the first axis with the first contact 411 and the second contact 421 in contact. The yoke 80 is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the specific region R1 when viewed along the first axis.

Furthermore, the main body portions 422, 412 in which the yoke 80 is disposed are configured so that current I flows along a second axis that intersects with the first axis in the specific region R1.

Here, the fixed part 90 has protrusions 422b, 411b formed on at least one of the main body parts 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed and the contacts 421, 411 on the main body parts 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed. Furthermore, the fixed part 90 has an abutment part 81ba that is provided on the yoke 80 and against which the protrusion 422b can abut.

This allows the magnetic flux B generated around the main body portions 422, 412 on the side where the yoke 80 is arranged to be concentrated within the yoke 80. As a result, the strength of the magnetic flux B generated around the main body portions 422, 412 on the side where the yoke 80 is arranged is increased (the magnetic field is strengthened), and the arc A generated between the first contact 411 and the second contact 421 can be extinguished more reliably and quickly.

Furthermore, because the yoke 80 and the main body parts 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed are fixed by the fixing part 90, it is possible to prevent misalignment between the yoke 80 and the main body parts 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed. As a result, it is possible to more reliably increase the strength of the magnetic flux B generated around the main body parts 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

In this way, the electromagnetic relay 1 shown in each of the above embodiments and their modified examples can more reliably prevent the contacts from being affected by arcs.

(2) The yoke 80 and the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed may also be fixed by crimping using the protrusions 422b, 411b.

This allows the yoke 80 and the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is placed to be more securely fixed, making it possible to more reliably prevent the contacts from being affected by arcs.

(3) The protrusion 422b may also be formed on the main body portion 422 on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

In this way, by providing the protrusion 422b directly on the main body 422 on which the yoke 80 is disposed, it is possible to further improve the positioning accuracy between the yoke 80 and the main body 422 on which the yoke 80 is disposed. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the contacts from being affected by arcs.

(4) The protrusion 411b may also be formed on the contact 411 of the main body 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

This allows the shape of the main body 412 to be further simplified, making it easier to manufacture the main body 412. Furthermore, since the yoke 80 can be fixed in the process of attaching the contacts 411 to the main body 412, the ease of assembling the yoke 80 to the main body 412 can be further improved.

(5) The yoke 80 may also have an opening 80b in which the protrusions 422b and 411b are accommodated.

This makes it possible to further improve the positioning accuracy between the yoke 80 and the main body portions 422 and 412 on which the yoke 80 is mounted.

(6) Furthermore, the yoke 80 and the contacts 421, 411 of the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed may be arranged side by side along the first axis.

This allows magnetic flux B to be more reliably concentrated around contacts 421 and 411, more reliably preventing the contacts from being affected by the arc.

(7) Furthermore, the main body 422 on which the yoke 80 is disposed may have an insertion hole (through-hole) 422a through which the contact member 4211 that forms the contact 421 of the main body 422 on which the yoke 80 is disposed is inserted. The arrangement surface 4222 may also have a recess 4222a provided therein to accommodate the contact member 4211.

This prevents interference with the contact member 4211 when placing the yoke 80 on the main body 422, thereby further improving the positioning accuracy between the yoke 80 and the main body 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is placed.

(8) Furthermore, the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed may have side surfaces 4223, 4224, 4123, 4124 that are connected to the opposing surfaces 4221, 4121 and the placement surfaces 4222, 4122. The yoke 80 may then have arm portions 82, 83 that are disposed along the side surfaces 4223, 4224, 4123, 4124.

This allows the magnetic flux B to be more reliably concentrated around the main body portions 422 and 412, making it possible to more reliably prevent the contacts from being affected by the arc.

(9) Furthermore, the main body portion 422 on which the yoke 80 is disposed may have a cutout portion 422c that accommodates the arm portions 82, 83.

This prevents the arms 82 and 83 from protruding from the main body 422. As a result, the electromagnetic relay 1 can be made smaller.

(10) Furthermore, when the first contact 411 and the second contact 421 are spaced apart, the shortest distance D1 between the yoke 80 and the mating main body portion 412, 422 may be equal to or greater than the shortest distance D2 between the first main body portion 412 and the second main body portion 422.

This more reliably prevents the contacts from being affected by arcs while also reducing the impact of the electrical insulation provided by the yoke 80.

(11) The protrusion 422b may also be provided at a location away from the contact 421 of the main body 422 on which the yoke 80 is disposed.

This allows the yoke 80 to be fixed to the main body 422 without being obstructed by the contact 421, further improving the ease of assembling the yoke 80 to the main body 422.

(12) The first contact 411 may also have a first fixed contact 411A and a second fixed contact 411B. The second contact 421 may also have a first movable contact 421A that comes into contact with and separates from the first fixed contact 411A, and a second movable contact 421B that comes into contact with and separates from the second fixed contact 411B. The first main body 412 may also have a first fixed contact side terminal 412A that has the first fixed contact 411A, and a second fixed contact side terminal 412B that has the second fixed contact 411B. The second main body 422 may also be a movable contactor having the first movable contact 421A and the second movable contact 421B arranged side by side along the second axis. The main body 422 on which the yoke 80 is arranged may also be the movable contactor 422.

This allows the electromagnetic relay 1 to have a larger current flow than an electromagnetic relay with only one pair of first contact 411 and second contact 421.

(13) The yoke 80 may also have a first yoke 840 arranged on the side where the first movable contact 421A is located, and a second yoke 850 arranged on the side where the second movable contact 421B is located. Furthermore, the yoke 80 may have a connecting portion 860 that connects the first yoke 840 and the second yoke 850.

In this way, by connecting the two yokes 840, 850 with the connecting portion 860, it is possible to further concentrate the magnetic flux B around the first fixed contact side terminal 412A and the second fixed contact side terminal 412B. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the contacts from being affected by the arc.

(14) The device may further include a connecting member 53 that moves integrally with the movable contact 422 in response to the excitation/de-excitation of the coil 210. The connecting member 53 may be disposed between the movable contact 422 and the coupling portion 860.

This makes it possible to further improve the positioning accuracy between the movable contact 422 and the yoke 80.

(15) The movable contactor 422 may also have side surfaces 4223, 4224 connected to the opposing surface 4221 and the arrangement surface 4222. The side surfaces 4223, 4224 may then have a first end surface 4223 and a second end surface 4224 aligned along a third axis intersecting the first axis and the second axis. The first yoke 840 may also have a first arm 841 arranged on the first end surface 4223. The second yoke 850 may also have a second arm 851 arranged on the first end surface 4223.

This makes it possible to reduce the size of the electromagnetic relay 1 while more reliably preventing the contacts from being affected by arcs.

(16) The yoke 80 may also have a third arm 83 disposed on the second end surface 4224. Of the first yoke 840, the second yoke 850, and the connecting portion 860, only the connecting portion 860 may have the third arm 83.

This makes it possible to reduce the size of the electromagnetic relay 1 while more reliably preventing the contacts from being affected by arcs.

(17) Furthermore, the end 4225 of the second shaft of the movable contactor 422 may have a protrusion 4226 that protrudes toward at least one of the first fixed contact side terminal 412A and the second fixed contact side terminal 412B.

This allows the arc A that occurs when the contacts are opened to be quickly moved from the first contact 411 or the second contact 421 to the protrusion 422.

[others]
The electromagnetic relay according to the present disclosure has been described above, but it is not limited to this description, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements are possible.

For example, it is possible to appropriately combine the configurations shown in the above embodiments and their modified examples.

In addition, while the above first embodiment and its modified examples illustrate an arrangement in which the auxiliary contact unit 60 is in the OFF state when the main contact unit 40 is in the ON state, it is also possible for the auxiliary contact unit 60 to be in the ON state when the main contact unit 40 is in the ON state. In this case, the main contact unit 40 and the auxiliary contact unit 60 can be so-called normally closed contact units in which the contacts are ON in the initial state, or the main contact unit 40 and the auxiliary contact unit 60 can be so-called normally open contact units in which the contacts are OFF in the initial state.

Furthermore, while the above first embodiment and its modified examples illustrate an electromagnetic relay 1 equipped with an auxiliary contact unit 60, it is also possible to configure an electromagnetic relay 1 that does not include an auxiliary contact unit 60.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments and their modified examples, a movable spring 53 is used as an example of a connecting member, but it is also possible to form the connecting member using a member other than a spring.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments and their variations, through holes are used as examples of openings, but the shape of the openings is not limited to this and can be various shapes such as notches or recesses.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments and their modified examples, the yoke 80 and the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed are swaged together using the protrusions 422b, 411b. However, the yoke 80 and the main body portions 422, 412 on which the yoke 80 is disposed can be swaged together using methods other than swaging, such as press-fitting.

It is also possible to provide the main body portions 412, 422 shown in the second embodiment with protrusions that quickly move the arc A that is generated when the contacts open. In this case, the protrusions would be provided on the top of the main body portions 412, 422.

In addition, the fixed contact parts, movable contact parts, and other detailed specifications (shape, size, layout, etc.) can be changed as appropriate.

1 Electromagnetic relay 20 Electromagnet device 210 Coil 411 Main fixed contact (first contact)
411A: First fixed contact 411B: Second fixed contact 411b: Protrusion 412: Main body (first main body)
412A First fixed contact side terminal 412B Second fixed contact side terminal 4121 Front (opposing surface)
4122 Back (placement surface)
421 Main movable contact (second contact)
421A: First movable contact 421B: Second movable contact 4211: Second contact member (contact member)
422 Movable contactor (second main body portion)
422a Insertion hole (through hole)
422b Protrusion 422c Notch 4221 Front (opposing surface)
4222 Back (placement surface)
4222a Recess 4223 Top surface (side surface: first end surface)
4224 Bottom surface (side surface: second end surface)
4225 End 4226 Movable side protrusion (protrusion)
53 Movable spring (connecting member)
80 Yoke 80b Through-hole (opening)
81ba Contact part 82 Top wall (arm part)
83 Bottom wall (arm: 3rd arm)
840 First yoke 841 First arm 850 Second yoke 851 Second arm 860 Connecting portion 90 Fixed portion D1 Shortest distance between the first body portion and the second body portion D2 Shortest distance between the yoke and a body portion other than the body portion in which the yoke is arranged I Current R1 Specific region X Front-rear axis (first axis)
Y width axis (second axis)
Z vertical axis (3rd axis)

Claims (17)

an electromagnetic device having a coil;
A first contact point;
a second contact that faces the first contact along a first axis and is movable relative to the first contact to come into contact with or separate from the first contact;
a first body portion having the first contact;
a second body portion having the second contact;
a yoke disposed on at least one of the first body portion and the second body portion;
a fixing portion that fixes the yoke to a main body portion on which the yoke is disposed;
Equipped with
a main body portion on which the yoke is disposed has an opposing surface located on a side where the first contact and the second contact face each other, and an arrangement surface located on the opposite side of the opposing surface with respect to the first axis;
the arrangement surface has a specific area that overlaps with the mating main body portion when viewed along the first axis in a state in which the first contact and the second contact are in contact with each other;
the yoke is disposed so as to overlap at least a portion of the specific region when viewed along the first axis,
the main body portion in which the yoke is disposed is configured so that a current flows along a second axis that intersects with the first axis in the specific region;
The fixing portion is
a protrusion formed on at least one of a main body on which the yoke is disposed and a contact point of the main body on which the yoke is disposed;
a contact portion provided on the yoke and capable of contacting the protrusion;
It has
The protrusion is formed at a contact point of a main body on which the yoke is disposed.
Electromagnetic relay. an electromagnetic device having a coil;
A first contact point;
a second contact that faces the first contact along a first axis and is movable relative to the first contact to come into contact with or separate from the first contact;
a first body portion having the first contact;
a second body portion having the second contact;
a yoke disposed on at least one of the first body portion and the second body portion;
a fixing portion that fixes the yoke to a main body portion on which the yoke is disposed;
Equipped with
a main body portion on which the yoke is disposed has an opposing surface located on a side where the first contact and the second contact face each other, and an arrangement surface located on the opposite side of the opposing surface with respect to the first axis;
the arrangement surface has a specific area that overlaps with the mating main body portion when viewed along the first axis in a state in which the first contact and the second contact are in contact with each other;
the yoke is disposed so as to overlap at least a portion of the specific region when viewed along the first axis,
the main body portion in which the yoke is disposed is configured so that a current flows along a second axis that intersects with the first axis in the specific region;
The fixing portion is
a protrusion formed on at least one of a main body on which the yoke is disposed and a contact point of the main body on which the yoke is disposed;
a contact portion provided on the yoke and capable of contacting the protrusion;
It has
The main body portion on which the yoke is disposed has a through hole through which a contact member forming a contact of the main body portion on which the yoke is disposed is inserted, and a recess portion provided on the arrangement surface in which the contact member is housed.
Electromagnetic relay. The yoke and the main body on which the yoke is disposed are fixed by caulking with the protrusion.
3. An electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 or 2 . The protrusion is formed on a main body portion on which the yoke is disposed.
The electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The yoke has an opening in which the protrusion is received.
5. An electromagnetic relay according to claim 1. The yoke and a contact point of the main body on which the yoke is disposed are arranged side by side along the first axis.
6. An electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 5. the main body portion in which the yoke is disposed has a side surface connected to the opposing surface and the arrangement surface,
The yoke has an arm portion disposed along the side surface.
The electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . The main body portion in which the yoke is disposed has a notch portion for accommodating the arm portion.
8. An electromagnetic relay according to claim 7 . When the first contact point and the second contact point are separated from each other, the shortest distance between the yoke and the mating body portion is equal to or greater than the shortest distance between the first body portion and the second body portion.
The electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 8 . the protrusion is provided at a position away from a contact point of the main body on which the yoke is disposed;
The electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 9 . the first contact has a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact;
the second contact has a first movable contact that moves in contact with and separates from the first fixed contact, and a second movable contact that moves in contact with and separates from the second fixed contact,
the first main body portion has a first fixed contact side terminal having the first fixed contact and a second fixed contact side terminal having the second fixed contact,
the second body portion is a movable contactor, and has the first movable contact and the second movable contact arranged side by side along the second axis,
The main body portion in which the yoke is disposed is the movable contactor.
The electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 10 . The yoke is
a first yoke disposed on a side where the first movable contact is located;
a second yoke disposed on the side where the second movable contact is located;
a connecting portion that connects the first yoke and the second yoke;
It has
12. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 11 . The coil further includes a connecting member that moves integrally with the movable contactor in response to excitation/de-excitation of the coil,
The connecting member is disposed between the movable contact and the coupling portion.
13. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 12 . an electromagnetic device having a coil and an iron core disposed within the coil;
A first contact point;
a second contact that faces the first contact along a first axis and is movable relative to the first contact to come into contact with or separate from the first contact;
a first body portion having the first contact;
a second body portion having the second contact;
a yoke disposed on at least one of the first body portion and the second body portion;
a fixing portion that fixes the yoke to a main body portion on which the yoke is disposed;
an armature having a surface facing the upper end surface of the iron core, the armature swinging between a first position and a second position in response to excitation/de-excitation of the coil, where the distance between the upper end surface of the iron core and the facing surface is closer than at the first position;
Equipped with
a main body portion on which the yoke is disposed has an opposing surface located on a side where the first contact and the second contact face each other, and an arrangement surface located on the opposite side of the opposing surface with respect to the first axis;
the arrangement surface has a specific area that overlaps with the mating main body portion when viewed along the first axis in a state in which the first contact and the second contact are in contact with each other;
the yoke is disposed so as to overlap at least a portion of the specific region when viewed along the first axis,
the main body portion in which the yoke is disposed is configured so that a current flows along a second axis that intersects with the first axis in the specific region;
The fixing portion is
a protrusion formed on at least one of a main body on which the yoke is disposed and a contact point of the main body on which the yoke is disposed;
a contact portion provided on the yoke and capable of contacting the protrusion;
It has
the first contact has a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact;
the second contact has a first movable contact that moves in contact with and separates from the first fixed contact, and a second movable contact that moves in contact with and separates from the second fixed contact,
the first main body portion has a first fixed contact side terminal having the first fixed contact and a second fixed contact side terminal having the second fixed contact,
the second body portion is a movable contactor, and has the first movable contact and the second movable contact arranged side by side along the second axis,
the main body portion in which the yoke is disposed is the movable contactor,
The yoke is
a first yoke disposed on a side where the first movable contact is located;
a second yoke disposed on the side where the second movable contact is located;
a connecting portion that connects the first yoke and the second yoke;
It has
a connecting member disposed at a position facing the coupling portion and mechanically connecting the armature to the yoke and the movable contact,
Electromagnetic relay. the movable contactor has a side surface connected to the opposing surface and the arrangement surface,
the side surface has a first end surface and a second end surface aligned along a third axis intersecting the first axis and the second axis,
the first yoke has a first arm portion disposed on the first end surface,
The second yoke has a second arm portion disposed on the first end surface.
The electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 12 to 14. the yoke has a third arm portion disposed on the second end surface,
Of the first yoke, the second yoke, and the connecting portion, only the connecting portion has the third arm portion.
16. An electromagnetic relay according to claim 15. an end of the second shaft of the movable contactor has a protruding portion protruding toward at least one of the first fixed contact side terminal and the second fixed contact side terminal;
An electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 11 to 16.