JP2006331782A - Electromagnetic relay - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electromagnetic relay which suppresses a temperature rise and enables it to flow a large current. <P>SOLUTION: This is the electromagnetic relay which is constituted of a core (not shown on the field of vision) 1, a coil 2, a yoke 3, an armature 4, an electromagnetic block 7 composed of a movable spring 6 loaded by a movable contact 5 mechanically engaged with the armature 4, a base 9 to mount and fix a set of fixed contacts 8 composed of a normally-closed fixed contact 8a and a normally-open contact 8b contacted with the movable contact 5 and the electromagnetic block 7, and a sheath cover 10, and in which a flexible thermal conductor 13 is loaded between the yoke 3 and an inner side wall face of the sheath cover 10, and in which the thermal conductor 13 is contacted with the yoke 3 and the inner side wall face of the sheath cover 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay mounted on a printed circuit board or the like, and more particularly to an electromagnetic relay that controls a relatively large current of about several tens of A, such as automobile electrical equipment, industrial equipment, and home appliances.

  Conventionally, there is a relay (electromagnetic relay) disclosed in Patent Document 1 as an electromagnetic relay that switches a conduction state in control of a motor, a solenoid, and the like. The structure includes an electromagnet composed of a coil, a core, and a yoke, an armature attracted by the electromagnet, a movable contact spring that applies a restoring force to the armature, a movable contact connected to the tip of the armature, and the movable contact A fixed contact disposed at a position opposite to the fixed contact, a fixed contact terminal conducted to the fixed contact, and a movable contact terminal conducted to the movable contact. Further, as shown in FIG. 8 of Patent Document 1, there is a structure in which a movable contact terminal is integrated with a movable contact spring.

  However, in the control of motors, solenoids, etc., in an electromagnetic relay energizing several tens of A, the temperature rises due to heat generated from contacts, terminals, movable springs, etc. that form a current-carrying path, or heat generated from a coil.

  On the other hand, in recent years, in response to the conflicting demands of miniaturization and high capacity (large current) of relays, there is a concern about malfunction due to temperature rise, and it is necessary to reduce the temperature rise inside the relay. . In order to meet this requirement, it is necessary to radiate the heat generated inside the relay to the outside and dissipate it, and various structures have been devised.

  For example, there is an electromagnetic relay disclosed in Patent Document 2. This electromagnetic relay has a structure in which a movable contact spring having a movable contact at the tip and a movable contact terminal having a plate-like portion are coupled by caulking the base end portion of the movable spring and the plate-like portion of the movable contact terminal on one surface of the yoke. Therefore, it is expected that internal heat can be conducted to the substrate by using a material having good thermal conductivity (hereinafter referred to as a thermal conductor material) for the movable contact terminal.

Japanese Utility Model Publication 3-86545 JP 2004-172036 A

  However, in the electromagnetic relay of the present invention, even if a heat conductor material is used for the movable contact terminal, the portion exposed to the outside of the relay is only the board connection portion, and the connection portion with the movable contact spring inside the relay is used. On the other hand, since the volume and the surface area are extremely small, sufficient heat conduction to the substrate and heat dissipation from the terminal surface cannot be expected.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic relay that is sufficiently manufacturable while ensuring sufficient heat dissipation, high capacity (large current), and good manufacturability.

  According to the present invention, an electromagnetic block comprising a core, a coil, a yoke, an armature (movable iron piece), and a movable spring mechanically engaged with the armature, and a fixed contact with which the electromagnetic block and the movable contact abut. An electromagnetic relay comprising a base for mounting and fixing a set and an outer cover covering them, and the movable spring, the armature, and the yoke forming part of a current path, between the yoke and the outer cover Thus, an electromagnetic relay characterized in that a flexible heat conductor is provided so that the yoke and the outer cover are in thermal contact with each other can be obtained.

  Moreover, according to this invention, the said heat conductor is a foam metal, The electromagnetic relay characterized by the above-mentioned is obtained.

  According to the present invention, there is obtained an electromagnetic relay characterized in that the heat conductor is a plate-like metal material processed into a spring shape.

  In addition, according to the present invention, an electromagnetic relay is obtained in which the heat conductor is mechanically fixed and held on the yoke.

  In addition, according to the present invention, an electromagnetic relay is obtained in which the heat conductor is mechanically fixed and held on the exterior cover.

  According to the present invention, an electromagnetic relay is obtained in which at least one of the outer surfaces of the exterior cover has striped or island-shaped irregularities.

  The electromagnetic relay according to the present invention has the following advantageous effects from the above configuration. First, since a flexible heat conductor is interposed between a part of the yoke and the wall surface of the outer cover and is in contact with the yoke and the outer cover, the heat generated inside the relay passes through the heat conductor. Conducted by the exterior cover, heat dissipation from the exterior cover is promoted. Further, since the heat conductor has flexibility, contact between the heat conductor and the yoke and the exterior cover is formed closely, so that heat conduction is performed efficiently.

  In addition, when the heat conductor is a foam metal, the contact with the exterior cover surface is formed by a flexible surface, so that the inner wall surface of the exterior cover is not damaged and the generation of foreign matter can be avoided. Maintains sex.

  In addition, since the heat conductor is mechanically fixed and held on the yoke or the outer cover, the outer cover can be easily attached to the base on which the electromagnetic block and the fixed contact set are mounted and fixed. However, since it does not move inside the electromagnetic relay, the operation of the amateur and the movable contact is not hindered.

  In addition, by providing striped or island-shaped irregularities on at least one surface of the exterior cover, it is possible to effectively dissipate the heat transferred to the exterior cover via the flexible thermal conductor. It becomes.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described by way of examples.

Example 1
1 is an exploded perspective view of an electromagnetic relay according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view of the electromagnetic block of the electromagnetic relay according to the present invention. 1 and 2, an electromagnetic block 7 including a movable spring 6 in which a movable contact 5 is mechanically engaged with a core 1, a coil 2, a yoke 3, an armature 4 and an armature 4, and a normally closed contact with the movable contact 5. A fixed contact set 8 composed of a fixed contact 8a and a normally open fixed contact 8b, a base 9 on which the electromagnetic block 7 is mounted and fixed, and an outer cover 10 are configured. The electromagnetic block 7 and the fixed contact set 8 are configured on the base 9. The external connection terminal 11 (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) is connected to the outside.

  Further, the movable spring 6, the armature 4 and the yoke 3 form a part of the current path, and the end (not shown in the field of view) of the yoke 3 is welded or caulked to the movable contact external connection terminal 11a. Etc. are electrically connected. Further, the coil terminal 12 and the external connection terminal 11d for the coil 2 are joined. Further, a heat conductor 13 made of foam metal is fixed and held by welding to a projection portion 14 provided in a part of the yoke 3.

  Here, the foam metal used for the heat conductor 13 is a kind of porous metal material having a sponge-like three-dimensional network structure, and has a porosity as high as 70 to 97% as compared with a sintered metal or a metal nonwoven fabric. It is characterized by this. As the foam metal, for example, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation has commercialized a foam metal having a porosity of 80 to 97% made of copper, nickel, stainless steel, or nickel alloy.

  When the exterior cover 10 is attached to the base 9 on which the electromagnetic block 7 and the fixed contact set 8 are mounted and fixed, the heat conductor 13 comes into contact with the inner top surface of the exterior cover 10. The thickness of the heat conductor 13 is set to be larger than the gap distance when the yoke 3 and the inner top surface of the outer cover 10 are mounted, and the inner side of the yoke 3 and the outer cover 10 when the outer cover 10 is mounted. It is deformed up to the gap distance at the time of attachment with the top surface, and the contact with the inner top surface of the exterior cover 10 is performed closely.

  As a result, heat generated in the relay due to the load current and the drive current is conducted to the exterior cover 10 via the heat conductor 13 and is effectively released from the surface of the exterior cover 10.

(Example 2)
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an electromagnetic relay according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 3A is an external perspective view of the second embodiment, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is B of FIG. —B ′ cut surface (inner top view of exterior cover 10).

  In FIG. 3, the basic structure of the electromagnetic block 7, the fixed contact group 8, and the base 9 is the same as that of the first embodiment, but is made of a plate-like metal material such as phosphor bronze or beryllium copper processed into a spring shape. The heat conductor 13 is fixed and held on the inner surface of the outer cover 10. The heat conductor 13 is provided with a through hole in the frame portion of the plate-like metal material and is heat caulked by the protrusion 15 provided on the exterior cover 10, but can be fixed by an insert mold or the like.

  Further, in the heat conductor 13, the plate-shaped metal spring-shaped tip bending portion 16 rising from the inner surface of the outer cover 10 contacts the yoke 3 and functions as a heat conduction path to the inner wall of the outer cover 10.

  Further, by providing the concavo-convex portion 17 on the outer side of the exterior cover 10, the heat dissipation effect is promoted by increasing the surface area of the exterior cover 10. The outer shape of the outer cover 10 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 3A, but may be a protrusion such as a stripe shape, an island shape, or a needle shape.

(Example 3)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an electromagnetic relay according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, a heat conductor 13 made of a plate-shaped metal material is fixed and held inside the side surface of the exterior cover 10 and is in contact with the yoke 3. In this structure, since the heat conductor 13 is not present at the upper part, it is advantageous for reducing the height.

  In addition, by arranging the spring-shaped tip bending portion 16 of the heat conductor 13 on the upper side, the mounting operation of the exterior cover 10 to the basic structure of the electromagnetic block 7, the fixed contact set 8, and the base 9 is improved. Can do.

  The electromagnetic relay according to the present invention needs to be driven and controlled with a relatively large current of about several tens A, such as a motor and a solenoid. It can also be used for equipment.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an electromagnetic relay according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The partial cutaway view of the electromagnetic block of the electromagnetic relay by Example 1 of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the electromagnetic relay by Example 2 of this invention. 3A is an external perspective view, FIG. 3B is an AA ′ cut surface, and FIG. 3C is a BB ′ cut surface. Explanatory drawing of the electromagnetic relay by Example 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Core 2 Coil 3 Yoke 4 Amateur 5 Movable Contact 6 Movable Spring 7 Electromagnetic Block 8 Fixed Contact Set 8a Normally Closed Fixed Contact 8b Normally Open Fixed Contact 9 Base 10 Exterior Cover 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d External Connection Terminal 12 Coil Terminal 13 Thermal conductor 14 Projection portion 15 (Exterior cover) Projection portion 16 Tip bent portion 17 (Exterior cover) Concavity and convexity

Claims (6)

  An electromagnetic block comprising a core, a coil, a yoke, an armature, and a movable spring in which a movable contact is mechanically engaged with the armature; a base for mounting and fixing a fixed contact set on which the electromagnetic block and the movable contact abut; and an exterior cover In the electromagnetic relay in which the movable spring, the armature, and the yoke form a part of the energization path, the yoke and the outer cover are in thermal contact with each other between the yoke and the outer cover. An electromagnetic relay comprising a flexible heat conductor.   The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1, wherein the heat conductor is made of a foam metal.   The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1, wherein the heat conductor is made of a plate-like metal material processed into a spring shape.   The electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heat conductor is mechanically fixed and held on the yoke.   The electromagnetic relay according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heat conductor is mechanically fixed and held on the exterior cover.   6. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1, wherein at least one surface of the outer surface of the exterior cover has stripe-shaped or island-shaped irregularities.

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