CONTACT DEVICE, HOUSING CASE USED FOR CONTACT DEVICE, AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY EQUIPPED WITH CONTACT DEVICE

• US 20180061599A1
• Filed: 08/23/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: ENOMOTO, Hideki, SAKAI, Satoshi
• Application Number:
  US15/684,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20180061599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/0015 Means for testing or for inspecting contacts, e.g. wear indicator measuring circuits G01R31/3274
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0292 Transparent window or opening, e.g. for allowing visual inspection of contact position or contact condition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2050/025 containing inert or dielectric gasses, e.g. SF6, for arc prevention or arc extinction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/06 having windows; Transparent cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/08 Indicators; Distinguishing marks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/54 Contact arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/546 for contactors having bridging contacts

Abstract

A contact device includes: a contact block including fixed contacts and movable contacts brought into contact with and separated from the fixed contacts; and a drive block configured to bring the movable contacts into contact with the fixed contacts and separate the movable contacts from the fixed contacts. The contact block includes: a contact unit including the fixed contacts and the movable contacts; a housing case having a housing space for housing the contact unit; and a window portion provided on a wall portion of the housing case and having higher light transmission than the wall portion.

Claims

1. A contact device comprising:

a contact block including fixed contacts and movable contacts brought into contact with and separated from the fixed contacts; and

a drive block configured to bring the movable contacts into contact with the fixed contacts and separate the movable contacts from the fixed contacts,

the contact block including;

a contact unit including the fixed contacts and the movable contacts;

a housing case having a housing space for housing the contact unit; and

a window portion provided on a wall portion of the housing case and having higher light transmission than the wall portion.

2. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the window portion is provided on the wall portion having a thickness in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the movable contacts.

3. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the window portion is provided on the wall portion having a thickness in a moving direction of the movable contacts.

4. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the contact unit includes a high light-reflective surface at a portion facing the window portion.

5. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the contact unit includes a diffuse reflecting surface at a portion facing the window portion.

6. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the window portion is provided on each of paired wall portions opposed to each other with the housing space provided therebetween.

7. The contact device according to claim 6, wherein the window portion is provided on each of the paired wall portions opposed to each other with the fixed contacts interposed therebetween.

8. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the window portion has a concave lens shape in cross section.

9. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the window portion has a convex lens shape in cross section.

10. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the window portion is made of a silicone material.

11. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the window portion is fixed to the wall portion via a metal frame attached to a periphery of the window portion.

12. The contact device according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit including a light-emitting portion for emitting light and a light-receiving portion for receiving light,

the detection unit being arranged such that the window portion is located between the light-emitting and light-receiving portions and the fixed contacts.

13. A housing case used for the contact device according to claim 1.

14. An electromagnetic relay equipped with the contact device according to claim 1.