Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Electromagnetically actuated switches – Multiple contact type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-05
2001-05-29
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Electromagnetically actuated switches
Multiple contact type
C335S131000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239678
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a starter magnet switch that permits/inhibits the supply of electric power to a starter motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 11
is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional starter magnet switch, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 11-182390. In the figure, a switch case
2
is connected to one end portion of a cylindrical solenoid case
1
. A pair of fixed contacts
3
and
4
are fixed at a given interval within the switch case
2
. A pair of conductors
5
and
6
are electrically connected to the fixed contacts
3
and
4
, respectively.
A cylindrical bobbin
7
is accommodated within the solenoid case
1
. A coil
8
is held on the outer peripheral portion of the bobbin
7
. A fixed iron core
9
is fixed within the solenoid case
1
. The fixed iron core
9
includes a flange portion
9
a
which is in contact with an end surface of the bobbin
7
at the switch case
2
side and a cylindrical portion
9
b
which is inserted into the bobbin
7
.
A movable iron core
10
that slidably reciprocates is inserted into the bobbin
7
. One end portion of the movable iron core
10
is brought in or out of contact with the end surface of the cylindrical portion
9
b
. Also, the other end portion of the movable iron core
10
projects externally from the solenoid case
1
. An opening spring
11
that urges the movable iron core
10
in a direction where the movable iron core
10
is dissociated from the fixed iron core
9
is disposed between the other end portion of the movable iron core
10
and the solenoid case.
One end portion of the movable iron core
10
is fixed with a rod
12
that extends axially of the movable iron core
10
and reciprocates together with the movable iron core
10
. The rod
12
includes a large-diameter portion
12
a
fixed onto the movable iron core
10
and a small-diameter portion
12
b
adjacent to the large-diameter portion
12
a.
FIG. 12
is a front view showing a leading portion of the rod
12
shown in
FIG. 11
, and
FIG. 13
is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIII—XIII of FIG.
12
. The small-diameter portion
12
b
of the rod
12
is equipped with a holding member
13
that can reciprocate in an axial direction of the small-diameter portion
12
b
. The holding member
13
includes a flange portion
13
a
and a cylindrical portion
13
b
. A ring-shaped holding plate
14
is abutted against an end surface of the cylindrical portion
13
b.
A plate-shaped movable contact
15
, which is brought in or out of contact with the pair of fixed contacts
3
and
4
, is supported by the rod
12
. The movable contact
15
is disposed between the flange portion
13
a
and the holding plate
14
. A contact spring
16
that urges the movable contact
15
toward the fixed contacts
3
and
4
is disposed between the large-diameter portion
12
a
of the rod
12
and the holding member
13
.
An annular mounting groove
12
c
is defined in the outer periphery of the leading portion of the small-diameter portion
12
b
. The mounting groove
12
c
is equipped with a metallic C-shaped stopper (stopper ring)
17
that regulates the movement of the movable contact
15
toward the axial direction of the rod
12
. The stopper
17
is hardened by quenching or the like. A washer
18
is inserted into the small-diameter portion
12
b
between the stopper
17
and the holding plate
14
.
A cover
19
is made of a metal softer than that of the stopper
17
and inserted into the small diameter portion
12
b
between the washer
18
and the stopper
17
. The cover
19
includes a ring portion
19
a
that intervenes between the stopper
17
and the washer
18
and a cover body
19
b
that surrounds the stopper
17
. The cover body
19
b
is provided with a plurality of caulking portions
19
c
that are engaged with the stopper
17
. With this structure, the stopper
17
is prevented from being disengaged from the small-diameter portion
12
b.
In the conventional starter magnet switch structured as described above, because no means are provided for sufficient regulating the movement of the stopper
17
radially of the rod
12
, there is a fear that the stopper
17
will move radially due to vibrations or the like. Then, where the stopper
17
is repeatedly moved, it will come into contact with the cover
19
made of soft iron material, to wear the cover
19
worn from the inside. As a result, there is a fear that the cover
19
may be damaged by use over a long period of time, and the stopper
17
may be come disengaged due to the damaged cover
19
.
Also, because the caulking portions
19
c
are formed in the cover body
19
b
, there is a fear that portions
19
d
between the respective caulking portions
19
c
(
FIG. 12
) will expand radially, shortening the creepage distances between the fixed contacts
3
,
4
as well as the movable contact
15
and the cover body
19
b
with the result that the cover body
19
b
and the fixed contacts
3
,
4
as well as the movable contact
15
are short-circuited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and therefore has an object to provide a starter magnet switch with which movement of the stopper can be more surely prevented, thereby preventing the cover from being damaged and the stopper from being disengaged. Further, with this starter magnet switch, short-circuits due to the cover can also be prevented.
To this end, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a starter magnet switch, comprising: a fixed iron core; a movable iron core which is allowed to reciprocate in a direction in which the movable iron core is brought in or out of contact with the fixed iron core; an opening spring which urges the movable iron core in a direction where the movable iron core is dissociated from the fixed iron core; a coil which moves the movable iron core by excitation in a direction where the movable iron core is brought in contact with the fixed iron core against the opening spring; a rod which includes an annular mounting groove defined in an outer periphery of a leading portion thereof and reciprocates together with the movable iron core; a plurality of fixed contacts disposed at given intervals; a movable contact which is supported by the rod in a state where the movable contact can reciprocate in an axial direction of the rod, which is brought in or out of contact with the fixed contacts by the reciprocation of the rod, and which electrically connects/disconnects the fixed contacts; a contact spring which is disposed between the rod and the movable contact and urges the movable contact toward the fixed contacts; a stopper which includes a pair of semicircular pieces which are semi-annular and mounted on the mounting grooves so as to surround the rod in a state where the semicircular pieces are opposed to each other, and which regulates the movement of the movable contact in the axial direction of the rod; and a cover which includes a ring portion disposed between the movable contact and the stopper and a cylindrical cover body that surrounds the stopper, and which prevents the stopper from being disengaged from the rod.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a starter magnet switch, comprising: a fixed iron core; a movable iron core which is allowed to reciprocate in a direction in which the movable iron core is brought in or out of contact with the fixed iron core; an opening spring which urges the movable iron core in a direction where the movable iron core is dissociated from the fixed iron core; a coil which moves the movable iron core by excitation in a direction where the movable iron core is brought in contact with the fixed iron core against the opening spring; a rod which includes an annular mounting groove defined in an outer periphery of a leading portion thereof and reciprocates together with the movable iron core; a plurality of fixed contacts disposed at given inte
Donovan Lincoln
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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