Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches – Electrothermally actuated switches – Fusible element actuated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-17
2002-06-18
Vortman, Anatoly (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches
Electrothermally actuated switches
Fusible element actuated
C337S208000, C337S186000, C337S004000, C361S104000, C361S642000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06407656
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a breaker device used for changing over a power cable connected to a battery of an automobile between a state of continuity and a state of non-continuity.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to Japanese Patent Application No. 10-47920 applied by the present applicant, there is disclosed a structure in which the breaker device
1
and the fuse
4
are separately arranged in the middle of a power cable of an electric automobile as shown in FIG.
16
.
On the other hand, according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-223439, there is disclosed a structure in which the fuse
4
is accommodated in the breaker device
3
as shown in FIG.
17
. In this breaker device
3
, the fuse
4
is accommodated in the case body
5
A, and two columnar electrodes
2
,
2
rise from the bottom face of the case body
5
A. On the cover
5
B which covers an upper face open portion of the case body
5
A, there are provided a pair of holes
6
,
6
corresponding to the stationary electrodes
2
,
2
. When both cylindrical legs
8
,
8
provided in the movable electrode
7
are inserted into these holes
6
,
6
, both the stationary electrodes
2
,
2
and both the legs
8
,
8
are engaged with each other, so that both the stationary electrodes
2
,
2
can be electrically communicated with each other. Therefore, electrical wire “e” can be changed over from a state of non-continuity to a state of continuity.
In this connection, both the breaker devices
1
,
3
described above have both advantages and disadvantages. Concerning the breaker device
1
shown in
FIG. 16
, the breaker device
1
is provided separately from the fuse
4
. Therefore, the breaker device
1
shown in
FIG. 16
is advantageous in that it is possible to reduce the size compared with a breaker device in which the breaker device and the fuse are integrated with each other into one body. However, this breaker device
1
shown in
FIG. 16
is disadvantageous as follows. The fuse
4
can be exposed under the condition that the breaker device
1
is turned on. Therefore, for example, when an operator touches the fuse in the case of replacing the fuse, it is necessary for him to make sure that the breaker device
1
has already been turned off, that is, it is necessary for the operator to pay close attention to the fuse.
On the other hand, concerning the latter breaker device shown in
FIG. 17
, it is impossible to replace the fuse unless the movable electrode is disconnected and the breaker device
3
is turned off. Therefore, this breaker device is advantageous in that the breaker device
3
is necessarily turned off in the case of replacing the fuse. However, the breaker device
3
is composed in such a manner that the stationary electrodes
2
,
2
are separately raised. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the size of the breaker device. Further, since the movable electrode
7
and the stationary electrode
2
are connected with each other, the movable electrode must penetrate the cover
5
B at two positions, which deteriorates the operation property.
Moreover, when the size of the breaker device is reduced, in order to enhance the reliability of contact of the stationary electrode with the movable electrode, it is necessary to ensure the contact pressure of the stationary electrode with the movable electrode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a breaker device, the sizes of which is reduced, the contact pressure of the stationary electrode with the movable electrode of which can be ensured sufficiently high.
A first aspect of the invention provides a breaker device comprising: a pair of sheet-shaped stationary electrodes arranged on a front and a rear side of a protruding wall rising from a breaker body; a recess-shaped plug to be attached to the protruding wall; and a movable electrode arranged in a recess of the plug into which the protruding wall proceeds, the movable electrode including a first and a second pinching piece respectively coming into contact with the stationary electrodes, the base end portions of which are connected with each other by a continuity section, wherein the continuity section rises from the base end portion of the first pinching piece toward the second pinching piece, and the continuity section on the second pinching piece side is gently curved so that it continues to the second pinching piece.
In the structure described in the first aspect of the invention, the pair of stationary electrodes are arranged on the front and the rear side of the protruding wall, that is, the pair of stationary electrodes are collected at one place. Therefore, the pair of stationary electrodes have a space round both the stationary electrodes in common. Accordingly, the size of the breaker device can be reduced. When the plug is attached to the protruding wall, the protruding wall is interposed between the first and the second pinching piece of the movable electrode accommodated in the plug, and each stationary electrode comes into contact with each pinching piece. In this case, it is enough that the plug is attached at one position. Therefore, compared with the conventional structure in which the plug is attached at two positions, the attaching work of the plug of this structure can be made simple.
In this connection, when the plug is attached to the protruding wall, both the pinching pieces are expanded by the protruding wall. As a specific example is shown in
FIG. 10A
, the continuity section for connecting both the pinching pieces rises from the base end portion of the first pinching piece (K
1
), and the continuity section on the second pinching piece (K
2
) side curves gently and continues to the second pinching piece (K
2
). Therefore, as a comparative structure is shown in
FIG. 10B
, compared with the structure in which the continuity section is symmetrically formed and the pinching pieces (K
1
, K
2
) are connected with each other, the radius of curvature of the continuity section in the structure of the present invention is decreased (shown by marks r
1
, r
2
in the drawing). Accordingly, concentration of stress caused in the continuity section can be relieved. Due to the foregoing, pinching forces of both the pinching pieces can be increased. Accordingly, the contact pressure between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode can be ensured sufficiently high.
A second aspect of the invention provides a breaker device, wherein the recess in the plug is formed in such a manner that the inside of the recess is larger than the opening, end portions of the first and the second pinching piece of the moveable electrode come into contact with the opening edge of the recess when the first and the second pinching piece are in the natural condition so that the movable electrode can not be drawn out from the recess. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the movable electrode from coming off.
A third aspect of the invention provides a breaker device, wherein a portion of the peripheral wall of the recess of the plug is formed and incorporated into the peripheral wall differently from other portions of the peripheral wall, and the movable electrode is capable of being accommodated into the recess from a portion into which the portion of the peripheral wall is incorporated.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides a breaker device comprising: a protruding wall rising from a base section of a breaker body; a pair of sheet-shaped stationary electrodes arranged on a front and a rear side of the protruding wall; a recess-shaped plug to be attached to the protruding wall; a U-shaped movable electrode accommodated in the plug, electrically communicating both the stationary electrodes by pinching the protruding wall from the front and the reverse face; a fuse accommodating section arranged inside a surrounding wall rising from the base section in parallel with the protruding wall, accommodating a f
Konda Kazumoto
Muta Junji
Oka Yoshito
Sano Ichiaki
Sumida Tatsuya
Autonetworks Technologies Ltd.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Vortman Anatoly
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