Electric receptacle apparatus with replaceable protection module

A thermal protection module includes a surge absorber, a switch unit, and a pyrocondensation belt connected to the surge absorber and the switch unit. The switch includes a casing, at least one conductive pin, at least one conductive portion, and a moving part. The conductive portion is disposed on the moving part. The moving part is stuck in the casing movably. The conductive pins are stuck in the casing. The pyrocondensation belt is configured to shrink according to the heat conduction from the surge absorber, so as to change the position of the moving part. The conductive portion is in contact with or separated from the conductive pin according to the position of the moving part.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a protection module for protecting a load, especially to a thermal protection module.

2. Description of Related Art

To avoid the electronic components from being damaged by the transient voltage spikes of the power supply system, the conventional solution adds thermal cutoff fuses connected between the surge absorber and the power supply system. By melting the thermal cutoff fuse while absorbing too much heat, the electrical circuit and the power supply system are disconnected. However, the temperature of the surge absorber may be actually higher than that of the thermal cutoff fuse. Besides, the lifetime of the surge absorber is finite. Accordingly, it may have risky possibility of damages of surrounding electronic components while the surge absorber is on fire and the thermal cutoff fuse then melts, or while the surge absorber is on fire and the thermal cutoff fuse melts at the same time.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure describes a thermal protection module including a surge absorber, a switch unit, and a pyrocondensation belt. The switch unit includes a casing, a first conductive pin, a moving part, and a first conductive portion. The moving part is stuck in the casing movably. The first conductive pin is stuck in the casing. The first conductive portion is disposed on the moving part, and the first conductive portion is in contact with or separated from the first conductive pin. The pyrocondensation belt is connected to the surge absorber and the moving part.

For further understanding of the present disclosure, reference is made to the following detailed description illustrating the exemplary embodiments and examples of the present disclosure. The description is only for illustrating the present disclosure, not for limiting the scope of the claim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Refer toFIG. 1A.FIG. 1Aillustrated a schematic diagram of a thermal protection module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 1A, the thermal protection module1comprises a switch unit10, a surge absorber12, and a pyrocondensation belt14. The surge absorber12and the pyrocondensation belt14are disposed on a circuit board16, and electrically connected to each other. The pyrocondensation belt14is connected with the switch unit10and the surge absorber12.

The switch unit10comprises a casing101, a plurality of conductive pins103, and a moving part105. The switch unit10may further include a guide rail1011and an opening1013. The moving part105has a protruding portion1051. The surge absorber12includes a body120and a plurality of leads121.

In this exemplary embodiment, the pyrocondensation belt14is connected to the casing101, the protruding portion1051, and the body120of the surge absorber12. The moving part105is stuck in the casing101movably. The moving part105passes through the opening1013, and the protruding portion1051is stuck out or embedded in the casing101according to the position of the moving part105respected to the opening1013. The conductive pins103are stuck in the casing101. In the other words, the conductive pins103are extended from the inside of the casing101to the outside of the casing101. The switch unit10is disposed on the circuit board16via the conductive pins103, and electrically connected between a power source (not shown) and the surge absorber12. The leads121are stuck in the body120of surge absorber12. The surge absorber12is disposed on the circuit board16via the leads121, and electrically connected between the conductive pins103and a load (not shown).

Generally, the surge absorber12may have at least two leads121. The power source has at least two terminals including a live terminal and a neutral terminal, or including a live terminal, a neutral terminal and a ground terminal. The two conductive pins103are connected to the live terminal and the neutral terminal respectively, or connected to the live terminal and the ground terminal respectively. Another two conductive pins103are connected to the two leads121of the surge absorber12.

The pyrocondensation belt14is configured to shrink according to the heat conduction from the body120of the surge absorber12. When the shrinkage degree of the pyrocondensation belt14is enough to change the position of the moving part105respected to the casing101and to convert the relationship of the two terminals of the power source (the live terminal and the neutral terminal, or the live terminal and the ground terminal) and the surge absorber12from connection to disconnection. As a result, the thermal protection module1is capable of cutting off the connection between the power source and the surge absorber12when the temperature of the surge absorber12is excessive or before the surge absorber12is failed, and protecting the load from the surges.

In practice, the casing101is located between the protruding portion1051and the surge absorber12. The body120of the surge absorber12is wrapped with and insulating material such as silicon resin. The body120of the surge absorber12may be close to the casing101of the switch unit10or adhered to the outside lateral of the casing101via viscose. The moving part105may be made of material with good heat resistance and high tensile strength properties. The pyrocondensation belt14may be in a strip or a circle shape. In one implementation, the pyrocondensation belt14is in the strip shape, the pyrocondensation belt14may be connected to the body120of the surge absorber12and the protruding portion1051of the moving part105via viscose. If the pyrocondensation belt14is in the circle shape, the pyrocondensation belt14may be a pyrocondensation sleeve, and the pyrocondensation belt14encircles the casing101of the switch unit10and the body120of the surge absorber12. In particular, the pyrocondensation belt14is passed through the guide rail1011.

Please refer toFIG. 1Band associated withFIG. 1C.FIG. 1BandFIG. 1Care illustrates cross-section diagrams of the thermal protection module according to the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 1A. The following descriptions further explain how the switch unit10can change relationship between the two terminals of the power source and the surge absorber12. As shown inFIG. 1B, the casing101includes a first lateral plate1015, a second lateral plate1016, a third lateral plate1017, and a fourth lateral plate1018. The conductive pins103include a first conductive pin1031, a second conductive pin1032, a third conductive pin1033, and a fourth conductive pin1034. The switch unit10further includes a first conductive portion107and a second conductive portion108.

In one implementation, the first lateral plate1015and the second lateral plate1016are opposite to each other, and the moving part105is disposed between the first lateral plate1015and the second lateral plate1016movably. The third lateral plate1017and the fourth lateral plate1018are opposite to each other, and the third plate1017and the fourth lateral plate1018are intersected the first lateral plate1015and the second lateral plate1016respectively. In addition, the moving part105has a slot1053, and the casing101has a projection hook1019, wherein the position on the moving part105where the slot1053disposed is corresponding to the position on the casing101where the projection hook1019disposed. In practice, the projection hook1019is disposed on the fourth lateral plate1018. The opening1013is disposed on the third lateral plate1017.

In one implementation, the first conductive pin1031and the third conductive pin1033are disposed on the first lateral plate1015. The second conductive pin1032and the fourth conductive pin1034are disposed on the second lateral plate1016. The first conductive portion107and the second conductive portion108are disposed on the opposite sides of the moving part105immovably. In particular, the position on the moving part105where the first conductive portion107is disposed is corresponding to the positions on the casing101where the first conductive pin1031and the third conductive pin1033disposed, and the position on the moving part105where the second conductive portion108is disposed is corresponding to the positions on the casing101where the second conductive pin1032and the fourth conductive pin1034are disposed. The management of the first conductive portion107and the second conductive portion108make the switch unit10to be a switch with the double-pole switch structure.

In practice, the first conductive pin1031is coupled to the live terminal, and the second conductive pin1032is coupled to the neural terminal or the ground terminal. The third conductive pin1033and the fourth conductive pin1034are coupled to the surge absorber12.

When the temperature of the surge absorber12does not reach the critical temperature, the pyrocondensation belt14does not shrink or the degree of the shrinkage is not enough, the protruding portion1051is stuck out from the opening1013, the first conductive portion107is in contact with the first conductive pin1031and the third conductive pin1033, and the second conductive portion108is in contact with the second conductive pin1032and the fourth conductive pin1034as shown inFIG. 1B. As the result, the surge absorber12is electrically connected to the power source.

In one implementation, the first conductive portion107has two conductive contact points, such as a first contact point1071and a second contact point1073. The first contact point1071and the second contact point1073would be in contact with the first conductive pin1031and the third conductive pin1033respectively when the temperature of the surge absorber12does not reach the critical temperature. The second conductive portion108has two conductive contact points, such as a third contact point1081and a fourth contact point1083. The third contact point1081and the fourth contact point1083would be in contact with the second conductive pin1032and the fourth conductive pin1034respectively when the temperature of the surge absorber12does not reach the critical temperature.

When the temperature of the surge absorber12reaches the critical temperature, the shrinkage degree of the pyrocondensation belt14is enough to lead the moving part105to move forward to the inside of the casing101as shown inFIG. 1C. The moving direction of the moving part105is the same as the moving directions of the first conductive portion107and the second portion208, and in other words, the first conductive portion107and the second portion208are moved along with the motion of the moving part205. Therefore, the first conductive portion107would be disconnected from the first conductive pin1031and the third conductive pin1033according to the position of the moving part105, and the second conductive portion108would be disconnected from the second conductive pin1032and the fourth conductive pin1034respectively. As the result, the surge absorber12is electrically disconnected from the power source. When the power source has the third terminal, the above two terminals thereof are still open without forming a loop since the two terminals are disconnected from the surge absorber12.

It is worthy to notice that, because the pyrocondensation belt14is irreversible after shrinking, the moving part105may be moved on one-way. Moreover, the projection hook1019is accommodated in the slot1053after the moving part105has moved. The shape and the structure of the slot1053and the projection hook1019are not restricted inFIG. 1BandFIG. 1C. The slot1053is configured to provide a guide way for the projection hook1019, and also latch the projection hook1019in the casing101after the moving part105has moved.

Refer toFIG. 2A.FIG. 2Aillustrates a schematic diagram of a thermal protection module according to another one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 2A, the thermal protection module2and the thermal protection module1inFIG. 1Aare roughly the same. The thermal protection module2comprises a switch unit20, a surge absorber22, and a pyrocondensation belt24. The switch unit20is disposed on the circuit board26via a plurality of conductive pins203. The surge absorber22is disposed on the circuit board26via a plurality of leads221.

It is different betweenFIG. 1AandFIG. 2A. The protruding portion2051of the moving part205is located between the surge absorber22and the casing201, and the protruding is adjacent to the body220of the surge absorber22. The pyrocondensation belt24is connected to the body220and the protruding portion2051. When the temperature of the surge absorber22does not reach the critical temperature, the pyrocondensation belt24does not shrink or the degree of the shrinkage is not enough, the protruding portion2051is stuck out from the opening2013, and there is a gap between the protruding portion2051and the body220of the surge absorber22. When the temperature of the surge absorber22reaches the critical temperature, the shrinkage degree of the pyrocondensation belt24is enough to move the moving part205, and the moving part205is moved forward to the outside of the casing201.

In one implementation, the protruding portion2051has a guide rail2052. The pyrocondensation belt24may be in a strip or a circle shape. If the pyrocondensation belt24is in the strip shape, the pyrocondensation belt24may be connected to the body220of the surge absorber22and the protruding portion2051of the moving part205via viscose. If the pyrocondensation belt24is in the circle shape, the pyrocondensation belt24may be a pyrocondensation sleeve, and the pyrocondensation belt24encircles the body220of the surge absorber22, and is passed through the guide rail2052.

Please refer toFIG. 2BandFIG. 2C.FIG. 2BandFIG. 2Cillustrate cross-section diagrams of the thermal protection module according to the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2A. As shown inFIG. 2B, the thermal protection module2and the thermal protection module1inFIG. 2Aare roughly the same. The conductive pins203include a first conductive pin2031, a second conductive pin2032, a third conductive pin2033, and a fourth conductive pin2034. Each two conductive pins203are disposed on the first lateral plate2015and the second lateral plate2016respectively. The moving part205is disposed between the first lateral plate2015and the second lateral plate2016movably. The difference betweenFIG. 2BandFIG. 1Bis that the moving part205has a plurality of projection hooks2053, and the casing201has a plurality of slots2019disposed on the first lateral plate2015and the second lateral plate2016. The positions on the moving part205where the projection hooks2053are disposed are adjacent to the positions on the casing201where the slots2019are disposed.

When the temperature of the surge absorber22does not reach the critical temperature, the pyrocondensation belt24does not shrink or the degree of the shrinkage is not enough, the protruding portion2051is stuck out from the opening2013, the first conductive portion207is in contact with the first conductive pin2031and the third conductive pin2033, and the second conductive portion208is in contact with the second conductive pin2032and the fourth conductive pin2034as shown inFIG. 2B. As the result, the surge absorber22is electrically connected to the power source.

When the temperature of the surge absorber22reaches the critical temperature, the shrinkage degree of the pyrocondensation belt24is enough to lead the moving part205to move forward to the outside of the casing201as shown inFIG. 2C. The moving direction of the moving part205is the same as the moving directions of the first conductive portion207and the second portion208, and in other words, the first conductive portion207and the second portion208are moved along with the motion of the moving part205. Therefore, the first conductive portion207would be disconnected from the first conductive pin2031and the third conductive pin2033according to the position of the moving part205, and the second conductive portion208would be disconnected from the second conductive pin2032and the fourth conductive pin2034respectively. As the result, the surge absorber22is electrically disconnected from the power source. When the power source has the third terminal, the above two terminals thereof are still open without forming a loop since the two terminals are disconnected from the surge absorber22.

It is worthy to notice that, because the pyrocondensation belt24is irreversible after shrinking, the moving part205may be moved on one-way. Moreover, the projection hooks2053are accommodated in the slots2019after the moving part205has moved. The shape and the structure of the slots2019and the projection hooks2053are not restricted inFIG. 2BandFIG. 2C. The slots2019are configure to provide a guide way for the projection hooks2053, and also latch the projection hooks2053in the casing201after the moving part205has moved.

Please refer toFIG. 2D.FIG. 2Dillustrates a characteristic curves of a pyrocondensation belt of the thermal protection module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The x-axis denotes the temperature T(° C.), and the y-axis denotes the shrinkage rate S(%).

Please refer toFIG. 3.FIG. 3illustrates an explosive diagram of a thermal protection module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular,FIG. 3illustrates a switch unit30, which may be applied for the thermal protection module1or the thermal protection module2.

The switch unit30comprises a casing301, a plurality of conductive pins303, a moving part305, a first conductive portion307, and a second conductive portion (not shown). The casing301includes a frame301aand a cover301b. The frame301ahas a guide rail3011. The cover301bhas an opening3013and a plurality of stopping holes3018. The moving part305has a salient point3053.

Each two conductive pins303are disposed on the opposite inner sides of the frame301a. The first conductive portion307and the second conductive portion are disposed on two sides of the moving part305. The positions on the frame301awhere the conductive pins303are disposed are corresponding to the positions on the moving part305where the first conductive portion307and the second conductive portion are disposed respectively. The position on the moving part305where the salient point3053is disposed is corresponding to the positions on the cover301bwhere the stopping holes3018are disposed.

In one implementation, the first conductive portion307and the second conductive portion may be the conductive sheets with physical resilience. The first conductive portion307and the second conductive portion are in contact with the conductive pins303respectively via a plurality of contact points (not shown) disposed on the first conductive portion307and the second conductive portion. The relationship between the contact points and the conductive pins303can be known by the above exemplary embodiments, therefore omitting the redundant descriptions.

The pyrocondensation belt (not shown) may encircle the casing301and surge absorber (not shown) through the guide rail3011disposed on the casing301. The pyrocondensation belt may also be connected to the surge absorber and the moving part305. In another one implementation, the pyrocondensation belt may pass through the guide rail (not shown) disposed on the moving part305without encircling the casing301.

When the shrinkage degree of the pyrocondensation belt is enough to move the moving part305due to the temperature of the surge absorber, the moving part305may be moved in the casing301for changing the relationship between the first conductive portion307and the conductive pins303and the relationship between the second conductive portion and the conductive pins303from connection to disconnection. The shape and size of the stopping holes3018is consistent with the shape and size of the salient point3053. The salient point3053is accommodated in different stopping holes3018according to the position of the moving part305for stabilizing the position of the moving part305before or after moving.

Please refer toFIG. 4A.FIG. 4Aillustrates a circuit diagram of a thermal protection module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The thermal protection module4acomprises a switch unit40aand a surge absorber42. The switch unit40ais electrically connected to the power source45. The surge absorber42is electrically connected to the switch unit40aand the load48.

In one complementation, the surge absorber42has at least one surge absorber device, such as three surge absorber devices in a parallel connection or series connection one another. The switch unit40aincludes a first switch unit401aand a second switch unit402aas a switch unit with a double-pole switch structure. The first switch unit401aand the second switch unit401bare electrically connected to the live terminal L and the ground terminal G respectively. When the voltage spikes passing through the live terminal L or the ground terminal G are higher than the rated voltage of one of the surge absorber devices, the first switch unit401aand the second switch unit402aare operated on the off state for cutting off the connection between the surge absorber42and the power source45for protection the load48from the voltage spikes.

Please refer toFIG. 4B.FIG. 4Billustrates a circuit diagram of a thermal protection module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The thermal protection module4band the thermal protection module4aare roughly the same. The difference betweenFIG. 4BandFIG. 4Ais that the first switch unit401band the second switch unit402bof the switch unit40bare electrically connected to the live terminal L and the neutral terminal N respectively. When the voltage spikes passing through the live terminal L or the neutral terminal N are higher than the rated voltage of one of the surge absorber devices, the first switch unit401band the second switch unit402bare operated on the off state for cutting off the connection between the surge absorber42and the power source45for protection the load48from the voltage spikes.

To sum up, the exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure relate to the thermal protection module capable of being power off via the properties of the pyrocondensation belt associated with the structure of the switch unit. In particular, the switch unit is irreversible after the pyrocondensation belt has shrunk so as to prevent the surge absorber from being on fire.

Some modifications of these examples, as well as other possibilities will, on reading or having read this description, or having comprehended these examples, will occur to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and variations are comprehended within this present disclosure as described here and claimed below. The description above illustrates only a relative few specific exemplary embodiments and examples of the present disclosure. The present disclosure, indeed, does include various modifications and variations made to the structures and operations described herein, which still fall within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims.