JPS5851369B2 - delay relay - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to thermostatic electrical switches, and more particularly to delay relays (TDRs) utilizing thermostatic switch assemblies for opening and closing electrical circuits.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a delay relay in which a thermostatic switch assembly is held in place within a housing by a retainer, and the upright legs of the retainer are inserted into an opening in the housing. The present invention relates to a structure of a delay relay that is easy and quick to assemble and is fixed in a predetermined position within the housing.

In prior art delay relays, the thermostat switch assembly is adhesively secured in place within the housing, and the electrical terminals associated with the thermostat heater are bolted to the housing.

This adhesive fixation procedure required curing of the adhesive, and this curing cycle increased device assembly time.

Both the use of adhesives and the hammering of studs are separate manufacturing steps, resulting in increased manufacturing time and cost.

Known prior art assembly procedures require assembly of the structural elements of a delay relay along different axes or planes (e.g. vertically and horizontally), thus requiring rotation of the device during assembly. This resulted in increased manufacturing time and also required complex manufacturing machinery.

It is an object of the invention to provide a delay relay having the structure described in the claims.

The present invention can be assembled without the use of studs or adhesives as in the prior art, all parts are assembled along one axis or plane (e.g. only vertically), and the terminals can be easily assembled into housings without the use of studs. The delay relay of the present invention has a construction characterized in that the terminal and thermostat switch assembly are recessed into the housing, and these constructions are robust and reliable in operation. By having the structure as claimed in the invention, the protruding gripping portion of the U-shaped lip on the bottom of the housing can be inserted into the switch through the respective opening provided in the side wall of the housing. The projecting fixing part extends into the side opening of the lower part of the assembly and is fixed by fitting into the opening in the side wall of the housing, making the assembly process easier and faster than conventional products. and
Once assembled, it has the advantage of being firmly fixed and economically manufacturable.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become clearer from what follows, and other parts will be further pointed out.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, a delay relay includes a housing having a chamber therein and an opening in a side wall that engages one another in response to actuation of a thermostatic element given predetermined temperature conditions. a thermoresponsive switch assembly having a thermostatic element and a contact movable to disconnect the Vth circuit, thereby forming a Vth circuit; a heater energized by the circuit and a portion extending through the opening in the side of the nozzle for grippingly engaging the switch assembly and retaining the assembly in its operating position; a retaining device on the outside of the housing having a portion adapted to be received and mounted in an operative position such that the switch assembly has a heat transfer relationship with the heater within the chamber. It is characterized by having one or more of the following.

The invention also includes a housing having an opening for receiving a terminal within a chamber, a thermostatic switch assembly, a heater for heating the switch assembly, and a pair of terminals for supplying power to the heater. a delay relay having a member and a clip for retaining the switch assembly relative to the housing, the delay relay being secured to the housing when inserted into the opening;
inserting the terminal member into the opening in the housing such that a portion thereof extends into the chamber; and inserting the heater and switch assembly into the housing such that the heater is in conductive electrical contact with the portion of the terminal and insertion into the chamber and snapping the clip into a side opening of the housing to engage a portion of the switch assembly in heat transfer relationship with the switch assembly, thereby attaching the switch assembly to the housing. positively securing the assembly position relative to the delay relay structure;

Identical reference numerals represent identical parts in the several accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a delay relay (TDR) according to the present invention
or is indicated by 1 overall.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the delay relay includes a housing 3 containing a chamber 5, a thermostatic switch assembly 7 inserted into the chamber, and mounted on top of the switch assembly 7. It consists of the switch assembly and an additional selector switch assembly 9, which can be actuated accordingly.

More specifically, thermostat switch assembly 7
has a switch body 11 which... has a cylindrical lower part 13 adapted to fit and be mounted within the chamber 5 of the housing 3.

Inside the switch body 11, there are generally 15a.

Two switches, designated 15b, are installed.

Attached to the bottom of the lower portion 13 of the switch body 11 is a bimetallic disk 17 of a snap-acting composite thermostatic element, such as that shown in US Pat. No. 1,448,240.

Since the bimetallic plate has an undeployed or dish-like shape, the platen reverts from one curved position to the opposite curved position in response to temperature changes, and therefore the switch t
A mechanical force is generated to bring 5a and 15b into contact or to separate them.

The bimetal board 17 is connected to the switch body 1 by the cup 19.
The cup has good electrical and thermal conductivity and is made of, for example, copper.

The outer periphery of the platen 17 rests on an internal shoulder 21 inside the cup.

The iron plate 17 has a dish shape with its convex side facing upward under a temperature condition lower than the selected warping temperature.

When the iron plate 17 is heated to a predetermined high temperature, its center portion is bent so that its upper surface becomes concave.

When the steel plate 17 is cooled down to the predetermined second selected temperature, it will return to its initial curved shape.

As mentioned above, the selection switch assembly 9 is placed on the top of the thermostatic switch assembly 7, and has two pairs of switches that can be activated in response to the movement of the center of the bimetallic plate 17 when it is turned over. It has switches 27a and 27b.

This selection switch assembly has switches 27a and 2 inside.
It includes an auxiliary switch main body 29 to which 7b is attached, and a lid 31 for enclosing the switch.

Switches 15a, 15b and 27a, 27b can control separate, independent electrical circuits or related electrical circuits.

These switches are essentially identical, each having a terminal 33a, 33b fixed to either the switch body 11 or the auxiliary switch body 29, for example by riveting.

Inside the switch body 11 or the auxiliary switch body 29, a bendable arm 35 supporting a contact 37 on its free end is fixed to each terminal 33a.
6. A housing contact 39 is mounted on each terminal 33b.

When each flexible arm 35 is heated,
The contact 37 is biased so as to come into contact with the corresponding contact 39, which is normally held closed.

In certain applications, a dual-stroke switch may be provided in the lid 31 utilizing switch contacts 43, the benefit of which is the backrest supported by the flexible arms 35 of the switches 27a, 27b. can be engaged by the contact 43 of.

Terminals 44 are provided for coupling separate or associated electrical circuitry to the dual stroke contact 41.

Any one or more of these switches may be in the opposite relationship, and their switch arms may be biased in a direction opposite to the contact-closed mode. Therefore, in this case, the switch becomes a normal time switch, and the structure of the bimetallic panel and the switch may be such that the contact arm can be raised or lowered by increasing temperature. will be understandable.

As indicated generally at 45, a device is provided for actuating the flexible arm 35 in response to the reversing movement of the central portion of the bimetallic disk 17.

The device is shown as having a yoke or bridge 47 supported on the top surface of the bimetallic disk 17 and having outwardly extending arms 49a, 49b.

The switch body 11 and the auxiliary switch body 29 are provided with holes 51a, 51b and 53a, 53b, respectively, and the flexible arms 35 of the switches 15a, 15b are provided with holes 55a, ssb.

Hole 51a. A tube 57a, 57b is operatively inserted into each of the iron tubes 51b, and the lower end of each of the iron tubes is supported on an arm 49a, 49b of the bridge 47, respectively.
Also, the upper end of the iron pipe is a switch 15a.

15b is slightly spaced from the lower surface of each flexible arm 35.

A rod 59 is inserted into the holes 53a and 53b in the auxiliary switch main body 29.
a and 59b are inserted, respectively, and these rods serve as contacts 15a.

It passes through the holes 55a, 55b of the flexible arm 35 of 15b and enters the tubes 57a, 57b.

The iron rods 59a, 59b penetrate through the pipes 57a, 57b,
Arm 49a of grip 47.

49b.

Bimetal plate 17 is heated (concave upward)
position, the ends of the rods 59a, 59b are spaced slightly below the lower surface of the flexible arms 35 of the switches 27a, 27b, the gap being spaced apart from the tubes 57a, 59b.
The upper end of 57b is equal to the gap separating each flexible arm 35.

If the upper ends of tubes 57a, 57b and rods 59a, 59b are spaced apart from their respective flexible arms 35, the platen will gradually move until the bimetallic plate is bent back from its concave position, as described above. During this period, the upper end portion is maintained so as not to come into contact with the flexible arm 35.

A heater 61 for heating the bimetal disc 17 to a predetermined high temperature is installed in a heat transfer relationship with the switch assembly 7, and the heater is bonded to the bottom tube of the cup 19 with adhesive. has been done.

The heater is disk-shaped and has a resistor temperature characteristic curve with a steep positive temperature coefficient (PTC), as shown in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,976. .

As shown in FIG.
It is a generally U-shaped member having legs 69 that stand upright with buttons at both ends of the bottom.

The top of each leg 69 is provided with a grip portion 71 that protrudes inwardly, and a central lateral extension 73 protrudes outward from both sides of the bottom portion 67, the purpose of which will be explained later. It will become clear.

An open lower portion 5 (see FIG. 3) is provided on both side walls of the housing 3, and the opening extends into the chamber 5.

The cylindrical lower portion 13 of the switch body 11 has a pair of vertical grooves 77 on opposite sides of the cylindrical portion.

Each groove 77 is closed at its lower end and forms a gripping surface or shoulder 79.

Clip 65 is made of a flexible (and preferably electrically insulating) elastic material such as natural polysulfone.

As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 3 has a cross-shaped recess formed by cross grooves 81 in its bottom surface for receiving the bottom 67 and extension 73 of the clip 65, and In order to receive the leg portion 69, a vertical recess 83 extending downward from the opening lower portion 5 is provided on both side walls of the leg portion 69.

The clip is inserted into the recesses 81 and 83 and the gripping part 7
1 into the open lower 5, and then into the groove 77 of the switch body 11.
When inserted into the housing, the handle grippingly engages the shoulder 79, thereby holding the switch body in its operating position and preventing it from becoming dislodged from the housing.

When the clip is properly seated within the housing 3, it lies flush with the exterior of the housing.

The upper end of each leg 69 is provided with a flexible fixing portion 85 which engages a portion of the maggot tag 3 near the opening lower portion 5, said portion being designated 87; The clip is positively tightened in its installed position within the housing to prevent disassembly of the delay relay assembly.

The clip 65 is made of a flexible elastic material, and the fixing part 85 is forcibly bent in the same way as the grip part 71 is pushed into the opening lower part 5.

When the gripping portion is in the clamping position engaged with the shoulder 79 of the switch body 11, the securing portion 85 springs back into engagement with the protruding portion 87 of the housing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the legs 69 may be curved outward to allow the clip to be mounted within the housing 3.

An alignment rig 88 is provided on the side wall of the chamber 5 for cooperating with an alignment groove (not shown) provided on the side of the lower part 13 of the switch body 11, and the alignment rig 88 is provided on the side wall of the chamber 5. The correct direction of rotation of the solid body 7 relative to the housing 3 can be ensured.

The terminals 63a and 63b made of elastic metal material are - Ujifugu 3
It is designed to fit snugly into the inner position.

The housing 3 is provided with a terminal opening, generally indicated at 89.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the terminal side port 89 is parallel to the centerline of the chamber 5, and
It opens at the top of the maggot tag.

Each terminal has a shank portion 91 and contact portions 93a, 93b.

The attachment portions of each terminal 63a, 63b are essentially the same.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, a contact terminal 95 is formed in the upper part of the shank 91, and the contact terminal 9
5 extends horizontally outward of the maggot tag and is perpendicular to the shank portion 91 when the terminal is installed in the maggot tag 3.

At the upper end of the shank portion 91.O, a tag or jaw portion 99 is branched from the shank portion and protrudes from the shank portion at an angle, and a contact portion 93 extends from the lower end of the shank portion. It's starting.

As shown in FIG. 5, the contact portion 93 of the terminal portion 63a
a reaches into the chamber 5 and is in direct electrical contact with the lower surface of the heater 61.

The contact portion 93b of the terminal 63b has an external shape such that it makes indirect electrical contact with the heater 61 by means of a contact cup 19 close to the wall of the chamber 5, thereby providing an electrical circuit for excitation of the heater.

In this way, the contact portions 93a, 93b are in direct or indirect contact with the heater 61 and are in conductive electrical contact with each other.

Terminal 63a. 63b can resiliently engage the heater and cup, thereby maintaining good electrical contact therebetween.

The terminal apertures 89 for each terminal 63a, 63b are identical, each having a shank receptacle slot 101 and a contact receptacle slot 103.

The terminal openings 89 are open at the bottom of the housing 3 (see FIG. 4), but are covered by the extensions 73 of the clips 85 when the clips are in place, thereby allowing the terminals 63a, 63b to This prevents access to the bottom of the

Contact portion of terminal opening 89 Slot 103//' for receiving lightning
The opening is opened into the i-chamber 5, and the terminal 63a is thereby opened.
, 63b can extend into the chamber to make conductive electrical contact with the heater 61.

In Figure 15 it can be seen that the upper end of the terminal opening 89 opens into the chamber 5 and that the shank receiving slot is provided with an internal shoulder 105 at its upper end.

When installing terminals 63a, 63b into their respective terminal openings 89, shank portions 91 are received in shank receptacle slots 101 and contact portions 9 of the terminals are received.
3a.

93b is grounded in the corresponding contacting slot 103 of the terminal opening 89 which opens into the chamber 5.

When further inserted between the terminals 089, the tab 99 is
When the terminal is fully inserted into the terminal opening, generally aligned with the shank 97, the tag springs out and engages the internal shoulder 105, thereby locking the terminal. It can be firmly fixed at the mounting position inside the No-Uji Pufferfish 3.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the method of assembling the delay relay includes first attaching the terminals 63a, 63b to the housing 3 as described above.
5 into the terminal aperture 89 of the terminal, which causes the tab 99 to spring outward against the inner shoulder 105.
The terminal is to be engaged with the lower surface of the terminal to secure the terminal in place.

The thermostatic switch assembly 7 is then installed by inserting the lower portion 13 of the switch body 11 into the chamber 5, so that the heater 61 is in electrical contact with the contact portion 93a of the terminal 63a and the cup 19 is in electrical contact with the contact portion 93a of the terminal 63b. The contact portion 93b will be in electrical contact.

The clip 65 is then moved into position and its bottom 67
is seated within the cross-shaped recess 81, while the legs 69 are seated within the cross-shaped recess 81.
It slides into the side recess 83 of the Uzi tag 3.

The gripping part 71 of the clip...enters into the open lower part 5 in the Uzi tag, and the gripping part 71 of the clip fits into each shoulder part 79 on the switch body 11.
, thereby holding the switch body in position relative to the housing.

When the gripping portion is inserted into the open lower portion 5 of the housing 3 and into the groove 77 of the switch body 11, the fixing portion 8
5 projects in a spring-like manner and engages with the portion 87 of the maggot tag 3, thereby fixing the clip to the housing and preventing it from being dislodged from the housing.

When the clip 65 is properly seated within the recesses 81, 83 of the housing 3, it is seated substantially flush with the shapes of the maggot tags.

It will be appreciated that various shapes can be used for the clip 65, including one that crosses the bottom.
A clip that wraps around the side of the Uzi tag is also contemplated.

All parts of the delay relay assembly when using a clip that crosses the bottom of the housing as shown here.
It can be brought into position for assembly along a single axis or in a single plane, thus allowing for a simpler and faster assembly process.

Also, since there is no clip on the top of the housing 3, additional switches, such as those shown at 9, can be mounted on top of the switch assembly 7 without interference from the clip.

According to what has been described above, several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results are also obtained.

Various changes may be made to the structural button and method described above without departing from the scope of the present invention. All matters contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings are intended to be illustrative only. Therefore, it can be said that there is no limited meaning.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 illustrates a clip for attaching a thermostat switch assembly into a UziTag and illustrates a terminal inserted into an opening in the housing and mounted in position relative to the UziTag. , FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the delay relay according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the delay relay according to the present invention in an assembled state, and FIG. In order to explain the opening in the housing, Figure 4 is a top view of the housing with the thermostat switch assembly removed, and Figure 4 is a bottom view of the housing with the clip and terminal removed. , FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3 with the switch assembly installed;
FIG. 6 illustrates the gripping engagement of the thermostat switch assembly with the clip to secure the thermostat switch assembly in an operative position within the UziTag.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the clip; FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of one of the terminals;
9 is a side view of the terminal shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a plan view of another terminal, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the terminal shown in FIG. 10. In the diagram, 3...--Ujitahu, 5...
... Chamber, 7... Switch assembly, 17...
... thermostat element, 61 ... heater,
63a, 63b... terminal, 65... clip, 67... bottom of clip, 69...
... Clip leg portion, 71 ... Gripping portion, 75
...Opening on the side of the housing, 85...
・Fixed part, 89...Terminal opening, 93a, 93
b...Contact part, 99...Tough", 1
[)1...Slot), 103...Slot.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A switch having eleven thermostat elements and a plurality of contacts that operate to engage or disengage each other depending on the operation of the thermostat elements when the thermostat elements establish or break a circuit at a predetermined temperature. In a delay relay having an assembly, a heater for heating the thermostat element, and a housing for housing the thermostat element and heater and for mounting a switch assembly, the housing includes a chamber open at the top and a housing for housing the thermostat element and heater and for mounting the switch assembly. a plurality of openings in the side wall; the switch assembly has a bottom lower portion that fits within the chamber of the housing; the thermostatic element is adjacent in heat transfer relationship with the heater; A switch assembly is configured to operate in response to operation of the thermoswitch element, and a lower portion of the heater, the thermostat element, and a bottom of the switch assembly are housed within the chamber of the nozzle, and the switch assembly is configured to operate in response to the operation of the thermoswitch element. The holding device for holding and fixing the housing in the room includes two upright legs that fit into each other along a pair of opposing grooves provided on the outer side wall of the housing and a groove on the bottom of the housing. a generally U-shaped clip having a base portion comprising: at each upper end the upright legs;
a protruding gripping portion and a locking portion, the gripping portion attaching the lower portion of the bottom of the switch assembly through respective openings in the side walls of the housing for securing the switch assembly; The delay relay extends into the opening, and the protruding fixing part is fitted into the opening in the side wall of the housing.