Electromagnetic switch device for starter

• US 10,641,229 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Ono, Takuma
• Primary Examiner(s): Musleh, Mohamad A
• Application Number:
  US16/070,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20190048840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/00 Starting of engines by means of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/006 Assembling or mounting of starting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0892 Two coils being used in the starting circuit, e.g. in two windings in the starting relay or two field windings in the starter
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2050/049 Assembling or mounting multiple relays in one common housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/22 for supplying energising current for relay coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/02 Bases; Casings; Covers frames for mounting two or more relays or for mounting a relay and another electric component H02B1/01, H04Q1/08, H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/04 Mounting complete relay or separate parts of relay on a base or inside a case
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 51/06 Armature is movable between two limit positions of rest and is moved in one direction due to energisation of an electromagnet and after the electromagnet is de-energised is returned by energy stored during the movement in the first direction, e.g. by using a spring, by using a permanent magnet, by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 51/065 Relays having a pair of normally open contacts rigidly fixed to a magnetic core movable along the axis of a solenoid, e.g. relays for starting automobiles details H01H50/20

Abstract

An electromagnetic switch device for a starter includes: a terminal block in which a main contact chamber that is open at an attraction coil side in an axial direction and in which a pair of main fixed contacts and a main movable contact are located, and an auxiliary relay that is open at a side opposite to the attraction coil side in the axial direction, are located; a cover provided at an opening side of the terminal block at which the auxiliary relay is located, the cover having through holes through which main fixed contacts penetrate in a state where the auxiliary relay is sealed; and an elastic member which is located between the auxiliary relay and the cover and which fixes the auxiliary relay in the axial direction together with the terminal block and the cover.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic switch device for a starter, comprising:

an electromagnetic switch which includes a pair of main fixed contacts, a main movable contact, and a main coil, which opens and closes an electric circuit for a motor via the pair of main fixed contacts, and which engages a pinion with a ring gear via a shift lever when the main coil is energized;

an auxiliary relay which includes a pair of sub fixed contacts, a sub movable contact, and a sub coil, the pair of sub fixed contacts being connected to the main coil of the electromagnetic switch, the auxiliary relay energizing the main coil of the electromagnetic switch via the pair of sub fixed contacts in response to a start signal;

a terminal block in which a main contact chamber that is open at the main coil side in an axial direction and in which the pair of main fixed contacts and the main movable contact are located, and the auxiliary relay that is open at a side opposite to the main coil side in the axial direction, are located;

a cover provided at an opening side of the terminal block at which the auxiliary relay is located, the cover having through holes through which the main fixed contacts penetrate in a state where the auxiliary relay is sealed; and

an elastic member which is located between the auxiliary relay and the cover and which fixes the auxiliary relay in the axial direction together with the terminal block and the cover.

2. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 1, wherein

the auxiliary relay includes:

a sub movable core moving the sub movable contact toward the pair of sub fixed contacts;

a sub return spring biasing the sub movable core in a direction in which the sub movable core is maintained in a stationary state;

a sub yoke serving as a magnetic circuit for a magnetic field of the sub coil; and

a pair of sub fixed cores located at both ends of the sub yoke and serving as a magnetic circuit, and

the sub yoke and the pair of sub fixed cores are integrally fixed in a state where one end of the sub return spring is in contact with one of the pair of sub fixed cores.

3. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 2, wherein the main coil includes one of or both an attraction coil and a holding coil.

4. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 3, wherein the auxiliary relay includes a holder including:

a through hole through which a rod connected with the sub movable contact penetrates; and

a bottomed cylindrical portion which is located at the cover side and in which a cover spring that is the elastic member is housed.

5. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 4, further comprising a packing on an end surface of the terminal block at the opening side at which the auxiliary relay is located, wherein

the electromagnetic switch device for a starter has a structure in which an internal wire and the auxiliary relay located in the terminal block are held among the terminal block, the packing, and the cover.

6. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 3, further comprising a packing on an end surface of the terminal block at the opening side at which the auxiliary relay is located, wherein

the electromagnetic switch device for a starter has a structure in which an internal wire and the auxiliary relay located in the terminal block are held among the terminal block, the packing, and the cover.

7. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 6, further comprising:

a connector transmitting the start signal to the auxiliary relay; and

a liquid seal material adhered in a gap at a location where the connector is exposed to the outside in a state where the connector penetrates through the packing.

8. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary relay includes a holder including:

a through hole through which a rod connected with the sub movable contact penetrates; and

a bottomed cylindrical portion which is located at the cover side and in which a cover spring that is the elastic member is housed.

9. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 8, further comprising a packing on an end surface of the terminal block at the opening side at which the auxiliary relay is located, wherein

the electromagnetic switch device for a starter has a structure in which an internal wire and the auxiliary relay located in the terminal block are held among the terminal block, the packing, and the cover.

10. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 9, further comprising:

a connector transmitting the start signal to the auxiliary relay; and

a liquid seal material adhered in a gap at a location where the connector is exposed to the outside in a state where the connector penetrates through the packing.

11. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 2, further comprising a packing on an end surface of the terminal block at the opening side at which the auxiliary relay is located, wherein

the electromagnetic switch device for a starter has a structure in which an internal wire and the auxiliary relay located in the terminal block are held among the terminal block, the packing, and the cover.

12. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 11, further comprising:

a connector transmitting the start signal to the auxiliary relay; and

a liquid seal material adhered in a gap at a location where the connector is exposed to the outside in a state where the connector penetrates through the packing.

13. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 1, wherein the main coil includes one of or both an attraction coil and a holding coil.

14. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 13, wherein the auxiliary relay includes a holder including:

a through hole through which a rod connected with the sub movable contact penetrates; and

a bottomed cylindrical portion which is located at the cover side and in which a cover spring that is the elastic member is housed.

15. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 14, further comprising a packing on an end surface of the terminal block at the opening side at which the auxiliary relay is located, wherein

the electromagnetic switch device for a starter has a structure in which an internal wire and the auxiliary relay located in the terminal block are held among the terminal block, the packing, and the cover.

16. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 15, further comprising:

a connector transmitting the start signal to the auxiliary relay; and

a liquid seal material adhered in a gap at a location where the connector is exposed to the outside in a state where the connector penetrates through the packing.

17. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 13, further comprising a packing on an end surface of the terminal block at the opening side at which the auxiliary relay is located, wherein

the electromagnetic switch device for a starter has a structure in which an internal wire and the auxiliary relay located in the terminal block are held among the terminal block, the packing, and the cover.

18. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 17, further comprising:

a connector transmitting the start signal to the auxiliary relay; and

a liquid seal material adhered in a gap at a location where the connector is exposed to the outside in a state where the connector penetrates through the packing.

19. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 1, further comprising a packing on an end surface of the terminal block at the opening side at which the auxiliary relay is located, wherein

the electromagnetic switch device for a starter has a structure in which an internal wire and the auxiliary relay located in the terminal block are held among the terminal block, the packing, and the cover.

20. The electromagnetic switch device for a starter according to claim 19, further comprising:

a connector transmitting the start signal to the auxiliary relay; and

a liquid seal material adhered in a gap at a location where the connector is exposed to the outside in a state where the connector penetrates through the packing.