Electromagnetic switching device

An electromagnetic switching device includes: a housing; first contacts coupled to the housing; a second contact which is brought into contact with the first contacts and separated from the first contacts; and an actuator for driving the second contact such that the second contact is brought into contact with the first contacts and separated from the first contacts, wherein any one of the first contacts and the second contact includes an elastic deformation portion elastically deformed when the first contacts and the second contact are brought into contact. Vibration and noise generated when contacts are brought into contact can be suppressed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0100895, filed on Oct. 15, 2010, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic switching device and, more particularly, to an electromagnetic switching device capable of restraining vibration and noise generated when contacts come in contact.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

As known, an electromagnetic switching device is a type of electrical contact opening and closing device for supplying or cutting current, which may be used in various industrial facilities, mechanics, vehicles, or the like.

FIG. 1is a sectional view of the related art electromagnetic switching device.

As shown inFIG. 1, the electromagnetic switching device100includes an arc extinguishing unit100and a driving unit120.

The arc extinguishing unit110may include fixed contacts111and a movable contact112.

A housing114may be provided at an outer side of the fixed contacts111and the movable contact112.

The driving unit120may be configured, for example, as an electrical actuator120generating driving force (or power) by electric force.

In detail, the driving unit120may be configured as a solenoid including a coil121and a fixed core122and a movable core123disposed to be approached or separated.

The coil121may generate magnetic force when power is applied thereto.

The fixed core122and the movable core123may be disposed within the coil121. One end portion of an operation rod125may be coupled to the movable core123. The other end of the operation rod125may be connected to the movable contact112through the fixed core122. A through hole124may be provided at the center of the fixed core122in order to allow the operation rod125to pass therethrough. A contact spring113may be provided on the operation rod125to allow the movable contact112and the fixed contacts111to be brought into contact, with a certain contact pressure.

A yoke plate127and a yoke body128forming a magnetic path along with the fixed core122and the movable core123may be provided in the vicinity of the coil121.

A spring126may be provided between the fixed core122and the movable core123. Accordingly, the movable core123may be separated from the fixed core122.

The operation of the related art electromagnetic switching device100will be briefly described.

When power is applied to the coil121, the coil121generates magnetic force.

The movable core123may be moved in a direction in which it approaches the fixed core122. At the same time when the movable core123is moved, the operation rod125is moved, and the movable contact122may be brought into contact with the fixed contacts111. The operation rod125may be continuously moved in the same direction even after it comes into contact with the fixed contacts111. According to the movement of the operation rod125, the contact spring113is compressed, and the movable contact112may pressurize the fixed contacts111so as to be in contact with the fixed contacts1311with a certain contact pressure. Accordingly, the contact state between the movable contact112and the fixed contacts111can be stably maintained.

Meanwhile, when power supply to the coil is stopped, the generation of magnetic force may be stopped. When power supply to the coil121is stopped, the movable core123may be separated from the fixed core122by the elastic force of the spring126. Accordingly, the movable contact can be separated from the fixed contacts111.

However, in the related art electromagnetic switching device, when the movable contact112performs an opening and closing operation, vibration and noise may be generated. In particular, when the electromagnetic switching device100is installed to open and close power of a component within a vehicle, vibration and noise generated when the electromagnetic switching device100is driven may be transmitted to the internal space of the vehicle, interfering with quietness of the internal space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides an electromagnetic switching device capable of suppressing vibration and noise generated when contacts come in contact.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic switching device including: a housing; first contacts coupled to the housing; a second contact which is brought into contact with the first contacts and separated from the first contacts; and an actuator for driving the second contact such that the second contact is brought into contact with the first contacts and separated from the first contacts, wherein any one of the first contacts and the second contact includes an elastic deformation portion elastically deformed when the first contacts and the second contact are brought into contact.

The elastic deformation portion may have a shape of a circular arc.

The elastic deformation portion may be configured to be disposed to be convex toward the other contact.

The elastic deformation portion may be configured to be disposed to be sloped to the other contact.

The elastic deformation portion may include a contact portion disposed to be parallel to a direction in which the second contact moves and a connection portion connecting the contact portion.

The first contact may be configured to be coupled to be slidable with respect to the housing.

The electromagnetic switching device may further include: an elastic member providing elastic force allowing the first contacts to be protruded toward the second contact.

The elastic member may be configured to include a compressive coil spring.

The elastic deformation portion may be configured to be formed at the second contact.

The elastic deformation portion may be formed at the first contacts, the first contacts may include a coupling portion coupled to the housing and a contact portion which is brought into contact with the second contact, and the elastic deformation portion may be configured between the coupling portion and the contact portion such that the contact portion is supportedly separated from the coupling portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The like reference numerals will be used for the same or equivalent elements of the configurations for the sake of brevity.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, an electromagnetic switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a housing210; first contacts220coupled to the housing210; a second contact240which comes in contact with the first contacts220and separated from the first contacts220; and an actuator120for driving the second contact240such that the second contact240is brought into contact with the first contacts220and separated from the first contacts220. Any one of the first contacts220and the second contact240may include an elastic deformation portions242which is elastically deformed when the first and second contact220and240are brought into contact.

The housing210may include an accommodation space therein.

For example, the housing210may substantially have a shape of rectangular parallelepiped.

The first contacts220may be provided at one side (an upper face in the drawings) of the housing210.

A plurality of first contacts220may be provided. In the present embodiment, a case in which a pair of first contacts220are provided is illustrated, but the number of first contacts may be appropriately adjusted.

The first contacts220may be disposed to be spaced apart.

The first contacts220may be drawn out of the housing210and connected to the load or the power source.

The first contacts220may include contact end portions222which are in contact with the second contact240. For example, contact end portions222may be configured to be outwardly convex.

The second contact240may be provided at one side of the first contacts220such that they are brought into contact with the first contacts220and separated therefrom. When the second contact240is brought into contact with the first contacts220, the first contacts220may be electrically connected by the second contact240. Accordingly, the load and the power source connected to the first contacts220may be electrically connected.

For example, the second contact240may be disposed to be spaced apart by a certain distance from the first contacts220at a lower side of the first contacts220. In the present embodiment, the second contact240moves in a vertical direction so as to be brought into contact with the first contacts220and separated therefrom.

The actuator120may be provided at one side of the second contact240in order to drive the second contact240such that the second contact240is brought into contact with the first contacts220and separated therefrom. As shown inFIG. 1, the actuator12may be configured as a so-called solenoid including a coil121, a yoke plate127and a yoke body128forming a magnetic path, a fixed core122and a movable core123disposed at an inner side of the coil121, an operation rod125having one end coupled to the movable core121and the other end connected to the second contact240to move the second contact240, and a spring126applying elastic force in a direction in which the fixed core122and the movable core123become away from each other.

Meanwhile, the second contact240may include elastic deformation portions242elastically deformed when the second contact240is brought into contact with the first contacts220. Accordingly, an impactive force when the first contacts220and the second contact240are brought into contact may be lessened and a generation of vibration and noise when the first contacts220and the second contact240are brought into contact can be suppressed.

The elastic deformation portions242may be formed to be simultaneously brought into contact with the plurality of first contacts220.

The elastic deformation portions242may be made of a conductive material which can be elastically deformed. Accordingly, when the elastic deformation portions242come in contact with the first contacts220, the first contacts220can be electrically connected.

The elastic deformation portions242may have a curved shape. In detail, the elastic deformation portions242may have a shape of a circular arc.

The elastic deformation portions242may be disposed to be convex toward the first contacts220.

Here, as shown inFIG. 4, second contact260may include linear elastic deformation portions262. For example, the elastic deformation portions262may be disposed to be sloped to the first contacts220. The linear elastic deformation portions262are integrally connected to have a substantially V-shape. With such a configuration, when the elastic deformation portions262are brought into contact with the first contacts, they are outwardly widened so as to be elastically deformed.

The second contact260may be configured to include the pair of elastic portions262which are brought into contact with the first contacts220, respectively, and a connection portion264connected to the actuator120.

Also, as shown inFIG. 5, second contact270may be configured to include a pair of contact portions272disposed to be parallel to a direction in which the second contact270moves, and an elastic deformation portion274integrally connecting the contact portions272and elastically deformed. Here, the elastic deformation portion274may have a U shape.

The elastic deformation portion274may be configured to be connected with the operation rod125of the actuator120.

The elastic deformation portion274may have a connection portion276connected to the operation rod125.

Meanwhile, the first contacts220may be configured to be coupled to be slidable with respect to the housing210. Accordingly, when the second contact270is brought into contact with the first contacts220, an impact applied between the first contacts220and the second contact270may be lessened, and a generation of vibration and noise can be further suppressed.

An elastic member225may be provided at one side of the first contacts220in order to provide elastic force to allow the first contacts220to be protruded toward the second contact270. Accordingly, when the first contacts220and the second contact270are brought into contact, impactive force between the first contacts220and the second contact270can be lessened, and a generation of vibration and noise can be more effectively suppressed.

The elastic member225may be configured as a compressive coil spring.

The elastic member225may be coupled to the circumference of the first contacts220.

An elastic member support portions224may be formed on the first contacts220, with which one end portion of the elastic member224is in contact. The other end portion of the elastic member225may be configured to be supported by the housing210.

With such a configuration, when power is applied to the actuator120, the movable core123moves toward the fixed core122, and accordingly, the second contact270moves toward the first contacts220so as to be in contact with each other.

When the second contact270moves toward the first contacts220, the elastic deformation portions272may be brought into contact with the contact end portions222of the first contacts220, respectively. Accordingly, the power source and the load connected to the first contacts220may be electrically connected.

When the elastic deformation portions272are brought into contact with the contact end portions222of the first contacts220, they may be elastically deformed.

When the second contact240keeps moving, the first contacts220may be slidably moved with respect to the housing210in a state in which the elastic deformation portions272are in contact with the first contacts220. Namely, as the elastic member225is pressed, the first contacts220may be moved to an upper area of the housing210. Here, the elastic deformation portions272and the elastic member225may be elastically deformed while their elastic force is appropriately changed. Accordingly, when the first contacts220and the second contact270are brought into contact with each other, an impactive contact therebetween can be suppressed, thus restraining a generation of vibration and noise stemming from the impactive contact.

Meanwhile, when power supply to the actuator120is stopped, the second contact270may be separated from the first contacts220and returned to their initial position by the elastic force of the spring126of the actuator120. Accordingly, the power source and the load connected to the first contacts220can be electrically separated. At this time, the elastic deformation portions272of the second contact270may be recovered to their initial position (initial shape) by virtue of self-elastic force. Also, the first contacts220may be returned to their initial position by virtue of the elastic force of the elastic member225.

As shown inFIG. 6, an electromagnetic switching device according to another embodiment of the present invention may include: the housing210; first contacts280coupled to the housing210; a second contact290which come in contact with the first contacts280and separated thereform; and an actuator120for driving the second contact290such that the second contact290is brought into contact with the first contacts280and separated from the first contacts280. Any one of the first contacts280and the second contact290may include an elastic deformation portion286which is elastically deformed when the first and second contacts280and290are brought into contact.

The housing210may include an accommodation space therein.

In detail, the housing210may have a shape of rectangular parallelepiped with the accommodation space formed therein.

The first contacts280may be provided at one side of the housing210(e.g., an upper face of the housing210).

A plurality of first contacts280may be provided.

In detail, a pair of first contacts280may be configured to be protruded downwardly on an inner upper face of the housing210.

The second contact290may be provided at a lower side of the first contacts280such that the second contact290is brought into contact with the first contacts280or separated from the first contacts280.

The second contact290may have a linear shape (or a shape of a straight line).

In detail, the second contact290may include a linear contact portion292which comes simultaneously in contact with the first contacts280.

The second contact290may be configured to further include a connection portion294connecting the contact portion292and the actuator120.

Meanwhile, the first contacts280may include an elastic deformation portion286which is elastically deformed when the first contacts280are in contact with the second contact290, respectively.

In detail, the first contacts280may be configured to include a coupling portion282coupled to the housing210, a contact portion284which comes in contact with the second contact290, and the elastic deformation portion286supporting the contact portion284such that it is separated from the coupling portion282in a horizontal direction.

The respective elastic deformation portions286of the first contacts280may be formed to be bent to extend from the coupling portion282so as to be parallel to the direction in which the second contact290moves.

The contact portions284may be formed on end portions of the respective elastic deformation portions286and protruded toward the second contact290.

The elastic deformation portions286may be configured to have a thickness smaller than those of the coupling portions282and the contact portions284in the vertical direction so as to be easily elastically deformed in the vertical direction in the drawing. Accordingly, the elastic deformation portion286can be easily elastically deformed. Here, in order to prevent electric resistance from increasing due to the reduction in the thickness of the elastic deformation portions286, the elastic deformation portions286may have an increased width. Accordingly, the elastic deformation portions286may have a sectional area, thus preventing an increase in the electric resistance.

In the present embodiment, the case in which the first contacts280include the elastic deformation portions286and the second contact290has a linear shape is taken as an example, but as described above with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the second contact240may be configured to include the elastic deformation portion242.

With such a configuration, when power is supplied to the coil121of the actuator120, the movable core123may move in a direction in which the movable core123approaches the fixed core122. Accordingly, the operation rod125moves upward in the drawing, and the second contact290moves toward the first contacts280so as to be brought into contact with the first contacts280. At this time, the contact portions284of the first contacts280are in contact with the contact portion292of the second contact290and upwardly pressurized, and accordingly, the elastic deformation portions286are elastically deformed to be maintained in contact with the first contacts280, thus lessening impactive force. Accordingly, vibration and noise resulting from the contact between the first contacts280and the second contact290may be lessened.

Meanwhile, when the power supply to the coil of the actuator120is stopped, the operation rod125may be moved downwardly by virtue of the elastic force of the spring126. Accordingly, the second contact290is separated from the first contacts280and the first contacts280may be returned to their initial shape by virtue of their self-elastic force.

As shown inFIG. 7, an electromagnetic switching device according to another embodiment of the present invention may include: a housing210; first contacts310coupled to the housing210; a second contact240which comes in contact with the first contacts310and separated thereform; and an actuator120for driving the second contact240such that the second contact240is brought into contact with the first contacts310and separated from the first contacts310. Any one of the first contacts310and the second contact240may include an elastic deformation portions242which are elastically deformed when the first and second contact310and240are brought into contact.

The housing210may have a shape of rectangular parallelepiped with an accommodation space formed therein.

The first contacts310may be provided at one side of the housing210(e.g., an upper face in the drawing).

The second contact240may be provided at one side (e.g., at a lower side) of the first contacts310such that the second contact240is brought into contact with the first contacts310and separated from the first contacts310.

The second contact240may have the elastic deformation portions242elastically deformed when it is brought into contact with the first contacts310.

The elastic deformation portion242of the second contact240may have a shape of a circular arc.

In detail, the elastic deformation portions242of the second contact point240may have a shape of a circular arc and disposed to be convex toward the first contacts310.

The second contact240may include two elastic deformation portions242connected to be simultaneously brought into contact with the first contacts310.

The second contact point240may include a connection portion244connected to the actuator120. The connection portion244may be configured to be protruded from a connection area of the two elastic deformation portions242toward the actuator120.

Meanwhile, the first contacts310may be configured to be slidable with respect to the housing210. Accordingly, when the first contact points310and the second contact240are brought into contact, the first contacts310slidably move with respect to the housing210, thus lessening impactive force generated by the contact between the first contacts310and the second contact240.

For example, the first contacts310may be configured to include a coupling portion312slidably coupled to the housing210, a contact portion314which comes in contact with the second contact240, and a connection portion316integrally connecting the coupling portion312and the contact portion314.

An elastic member321may be provided at one side of the first contacts310in order to provide elastic force to allow the first contacts310to be protruded toward the second contact240. For example, the elastic member225may be configured as a compressive coil spring. Accordingly, when the first contacts310and the second contact240are brought into contact, impactive force between the first contacts310and the second contact240can be lessened, and a generation of vibration and noise resulting from the impactive force can be more effectively suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the case in which the first contact310includes the coupling portion312, the contact portion314, and the connection portion316is taken as an example, but the elastic deformation portion286may be provided between the coupling portion312and the contact portion314as described above with reference toFIG. 6.

In the present embodiment, the case in which the first contact310slides with respect to the housing210and the second contact240includes the elastic deformation portions242is taken as an example, but the first contacts280may be fixedly disposed in the housing210and have the elastic deformation portion286as in the former embodiment described above with reference toFIG. 6.

With such a configuration, when power is applied to the coil121of the actuator120, the movable core123may move in a direction in which the movable core123approaches the fixed core122. Accordingly, the operation rod125moves, and the second contact240moves toward the first contacts310so as to be brought into contact.

The elastic deformation portions242of the second contact240may be elastically deformed when it is brought into contact with the first contact points310. Also, when the first contacts310are in contact with the second contact240, the first contacts310may slide with respect to the housing210. Accordingly, when the first contacts310and the second contact240are brought into contact, an impactive contact therebetween can be lessened, and a generation of vibration and noise resulting from the impactive contact can be suppressed.

Meanwhile, when the power supply to the coil of the actuator120is stopped, the operation rod125may move to its initial position by the elastic force of the spring126of the actuator120.

Accordingly, the second contact240is separated from the first contacts310. At this time, the elastic deformation portions242of the second contact240can be recovered to the initial position (shape) by self-elastic force. Also, the first contacts310may be returned to their initial shape by the elastic force of the elastic member321.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since at least any one of the first contacts and the second contact has the elastic deformation portion which is elastically deformed when the first contacts and the second contact are brought into contact, a generation of vibration and noise when the first contacts and the second contact are brought into contact can be suppressed.

Also, since the second contact includes the elastic deformation portions and the first contacts are coupled to be slidable with respect to the housing, a generation of vibration and noise when the first contacts and the second contact are brought into contact can be further suppressed. Here, since the first contacts includes the elastic member in order to provide elastic force to allow the first contacts to be protruded toward the second contact, so a generation of vibration and noise when the first contacts and the second contact are brought into contact can be further suppressed.

In addition, since the first contacts include the elastic deformation portions, the second contact may use the related configuration as it is.