DESCRIPTION
TITI3 OF INVENTION
DISCONNECTING SWITCH
5 TECHNICALF1ELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a disconnecting switch.
BACKGROUND ART
[00021 In the past, there has been proposed a manual disconnecting switch used for a
circuit provided with a hqh-voltage battery (for example, see Japanese Patent
10 Application Publication No. 2011-134698). This disconnecting switch includes: a
contact part that is disposed in a closed vessel and that has a stationary contact and a
movable contact configured to be brought into contact with and separate fi-om the
stationary contact freely; a shaft which is &posed so that a part thereof protrudes
outward h m the closed vessel; and a metal bellows for ensuring air tightness of the
15 closed vessel. This disconnecting switch further includes: an opedclose mechanism
part codgured to move the shaft back and forth freely between a closed contact
position at which the movable contact is in contact with the stationary contact and an
open contact position at which the movable contact is out of contact h m the stationary
contact; and a housing that houses above components. The opedclose mechanism
20 part is constituted by an operation lever which is disposed so that an operation portion
thereof protrudes outward fi-om the housing, and two rod-shaped arms which connect
the operation lever and the shaft so as to move the shaft between the closed contact
position and the open contact position accordmg to an operation of the operation lever.
[0003] In this disconnecting switch, when the operation lever is positioned at an OFF
25 position where the contact part is in an open contact state, the two arms are held in a
state of forming a V-shape under an inner pressure of the closed vessel and a spring
force of the metal bellows, and the contact part is thereby held in the open contact
state. Further, when the operation lever is positioned at an ON position where the
contact part is in a closed contact state, the two arms are held in a state of forming a
reversed V-shape under the inner pressure of the closed vessel and the spring force of
the metal bellows, and the contact part is thereby held in the closed contact state.
5 [00044 However, in the &sconnecting switch shown in an above Patent Document 1,
there has been a problem that the disconnecting switch has a large size because there
needs a moving space for the two arms which connect the operation lever and the shaft
and which are designed to rotate in opposite directions in conjunction with each other.
10 SuRmkU€Y OF INVENTION
[0005] In view of the above problem, a present invention has aimed to provide a
small disconnecting switch.
[0006] A disconnecting switch of the present invention includes a contact part that
includes a stationary contact and a movable contact configured to be brought into
15 contact with and separate from the stationary contact freely, a shaft configured to
move the movable contact back and forth freely relative to the stationary contact, an
opedclose mechanism part configured to move the shaft back and forth freely between
a closed contact position at which the movable contact is in contact with the stationary
contact and an open contact position at which the movable contact is out of contact
20 from the stationary contact, and a housing in which at least the contact part and the
shaft is housed. The opedclose mechanism part is constituted by an operation lever
which is disposed so that an operation portion protrudes outward from the housing, an
arm configured to rotate accorchng to an operation of the operation lever to move the
shaft between the open contact position and the closed contact position, and a wheel
25 whch is rotatably attached to the housing, and the arm is provided with a rotation slot
in which the wheel is placed so that the wheel moves when the arm rotates.
[0007] In this disconnecting switch, a fusion detection part configured to detect a
fusion of the contact part is constituted by the operation lever, the arm, and the wheel,
and it is preferable that the wheel is brought into contact with a side wall of the
rotation slot and restricts a rotational movement of the arm at an intermediate
5 position when the arm rotates from an ON position to an OFF position in a state
where the contact part is fused, and thereby the fusion detection part detects the
fusion of the contact part.
[0008] Moreover, in this disconnecting switch, it is also preferable that the rotation
slot is provided with an engaging protrusion configured to engage with the wheel in a
10 state where the shaft is in the closed contact position.
[0009] Further, in this disconnecting switch, it is also preferable that the shaft is
hectly connected to the arm.
[0010] In this disconnecting switch, it is also preferable that the shaft includes a first
end and a second end, the arm is rotatably connected to the first end of the shaR via a
15 support shaft, the rotation slot includes a first end region and a second end region, and
a &stance between the first end region of the rotation slot and the support shaft is
different £rom a &stance between the second end region of the rotation slot and the
support shaft, and that a relative distance between the wheel and the support shaR
changes according to a movement of the wheel between the first end region and the
20 second end region within the rotation slot, and thereby a rotation of the arm is
converted into a movement of the shaft between the open contact position and the
closed contact position.
[0011] According to the invention, it is possible to provide a small disconnecting
switch.
BRIEF DESCmION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a hsconnecting switch according to a present embodiment in a
state where a contact part is in an open contact position, where FIG. lA is a schematic
internal structure hagram of the hsconnecting switch, FIG. 1B is a detailed view of a
main part of FIG. lA, and FIG. 1C is a schematic internal structure diagram of the
5 disconnecting switch viewed fiom an opposite side of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 2 shows the hsconnecting switch according to the present embodiment
in a state where the contact part is in an closed contact position, where FIG. 2A is a
schematic internal structure diagram of the hsconnecting switch, FIG. 2B is a detailed
view of a main part of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C is a schematic internal structure diagram
10 of the disconnecting switch viewed fiom an opposite side of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3 shows the disconnecting switch according to the present embedment
in a state where the contact part is fused, where FIG. 3A is a schematic internal
structure diagram of the disconnecting switch, and FIG. 3B is a detaded view of a
main part of FIG. 3A;
15 FIG. 4 is a top view of the disconnecting switch according to the present
embodiment;
FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the hsconnecting switch according to
the present embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an arm that is included in the hsconnecting
20 switch accordmg to the present embodiment; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a base member that is included in the
disconnecting switch according to the present embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT
25 [00131 In the following, an embodiment of the disconnecting switch accordmg to the
present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7. This
disconnecting switch is a manual disconnecting switch, and is configured such that a
contact part housed in a housing is opened and closed accordmg to an operation of an
operating lever provided at an upper surface side of the housing (a &ont surface side of
the ksconnectmg switch). ms disconnecting switch can be used for a circuit
5 provided with a high-voltage battery, for example. FIG. 1C is an internal structure
diagram in which the disconnecting switch shown in FIG. 1A is viewed &om the
opposite side, and FIG. 2C is an internal structure kagram in whch the disconnecting
switch shown in FIG. 2A is viewed &om the opposite side.
[00141 The ksconneding switch according to the present embodiment includes a
10 contact part 2, a shaft 3, a metal bellows 4, an opedclose mechanism part 5, a
regulating part 8, and a case 1 for housing these components whch is made of
synthetic resin, as main components. Further, the ksconnecting switch according to
the present embodiment includes a closed vessel 6 which houses the contact part 2,
and a base member 9. In the present embodiment, the housing is constituted by the
15 case 1 and the base member 9.
[00151 The case 1 is, as shown in FIG. 5, constituted by housing pieces 11 and 12 (a
hst housing piece 11 and a second housing piece 12), each of which is shaped like a
thin rectangular box with one open surface, and the case 1 is constituted by
assembling the housing pieces 11 and 12 in a state where openings thereof face each
20 other. The case 1 has a movement guide window 13 at an upper surface thereof (an
upper surface shown in FIG. 5), in which an operation lever 51 of the opedclose
mechanism part 5 is placed so as to move freely, and further has a display window 14
which is formed continuously to the movement guide window 13. The display
window 14 is for showing a state of the contact part 2 the state of which is changed in
25 conjunction with an operation of the operation lever 51, and it is possible to grasp
whether the contact part 2 is in an open contact state or in a closed contact state
accordmg to display contents (for example, "OFF' in the open contact state and "ON"
in the closed contact state, and the hke) shown in the display window 14. The
housing piece 11 includes attachment pieces lla at both opposite side walls in a width
dnection (a leR and right dnection in FIG.51, respectively. Each of the attachment
5 pieces lla has a screw insertion hole l:Lb in which a h g screw (not shown) is
inserted to fix the hsconnecting switch to an installation site (not shown). The base
member 9 is attached inside the case 1.
[0016I The contact part 2 is, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, constituted by stationary
contacts 22 and a movable contact 21, and housed in the closed vessel 6 in a state of
10 ensuring air tightness. The stationary contacts 22 are provided at respective tips of a
pair of stationary terminals TB1. The movable contact 21 is configured to be brought
into contact with and separate from both stationary contacts 22 freely. Thus, the
movable contact 21 is configured to electrically connect between the stationary
contacts 22. In the present embodiment, although copper contacts are used for the
15 stationary contacts 22 and the movable contact 21, other metal contacts may be used
as well. Moreover, the stationary terminals TI31 also may be made by copper or other
metal materials.
[0017] The shaft 3 is, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, formed of a rod 31 of which
lengthwise direction corresponds to an upward and downward dwection, and the
20 movable contact 21 is attached at one end side of the rod 31 (a second end side of the
rod 31; a second end side of the shaft 3; a lower end side in FIG.lA) so as to move freely
in the upward and downward dnection. Namely, the second end of the shaft 3 is
connected to the movable contact 21. That is, the shaft 3 is configured to move the
movable contact 21 back and forth freely relative to the stationary contacts 22.
25 Further,therod31isprovidedwithasupportshaft32integrallyattheotherendside
of the rod 31 (a first end side of the rod 31; a first end side of the shaft 3; an upper end
side in F'1G.l-A). The support shaft 32 supports an arm 52 (described below) so that
the arm 52 can rotate fieely. Namely, the arm 52 is rotatably connected to the fist
end of the shaft 3 via the support shaft 32.
[0018] The support shaft 32 is formed into a columnar shape which is long in a
5 thickness duection of the case 1 (a chedion perpendicular to a paper surface in
FIG.1A). Further, the base member 9 (the housing) has a guide groove 9a which
regulates a moving direction of the support shaft 32. The guide groove 9a is formed
into a long shape in the upward and downward direction. An end of the support shaft
32 is inserted into the guide groove 9a, and the support shaft 32 moves in the upward
10 and downward direction along the guide groove 9a. The shaft 3 is codgured to move
fieely in the upward and downward direction between a closed contact position at
which the movable contact 21 is in contact with the stationary contacts 22 (a position
shown in FIG. 2) and an open contact position at which the movable contact 21 is out
of contact h m the stationary contacts 22 (a position shown in FIG. 1).
15 [0019] Further, in the present embodiment, the disconnecting switch is provided with
a pressure spring 7 formed into a coil-shape and codgured to bias the movable contact
21 that is attached at the fiont end side of the rod 31 toward the stationary contacts
22. Moreover, the disconnecting switch is provided with a flange (not shown) at an
intermediate position in the upward and downward direction of the rod 31. An upper
20 end in FIG. 2A (not shown) of the pressure spring 7 is fixed to this flange. Alower end
in FIG. 2A of the pressure spring 7 is in contact with the movable contact 21 h m an
upper side. Thereby, in the closed contact state where the movable contact 21 is in
contact with the stationary contacts 22 (a state where the shaft 3 is in a lower
position), contacts 21 and 22 are held firmly in contact with each other due to a spring
25 force of the pressure spring 7.
[00201 The metal bellows 4 is formed into a bellows shape as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
3, and has a function of ensuring air tightness of the closed vessel 6. The metal
bellows 4 has one end side in the upward and downward direction (a first end side of
the metal bellows 4; a lower end side in FIG.1-A) which is fixed around a portion of the
closed vessel 6 where the shaft 3 protrudes from the closed vessel 6, and the other end
5 side (a second end side of the metal bellows 4; an upper end side in FIG. 1A) which is
fixed around a protruding portion of the shaft 3 (a portion of the shaft 3 exposed to an
outside from the closed vessel 6). Thus, it is possible to ensure air tightness of the
closed vessel 6 and also the shaft 3 can move freely relative to the closed vessel 6.
Namely, the metal bellows 4 is configured to expand and contract freely in the upward
10 and downward direction according to a movement of the shaft 3.
[0021] In detail, the closed vessel 6 has an insertion hole (not shown) at an upper
surface (an upper surface in FIG. lA) thereof. The shaft 3 is inserted in the insertion
hole. The metal bellows 4 is shaped like a hollow bellows. The first end of the metal
bellows 4 is fixed to the upper surface of the closed vessel 6 so as to cover the insertion
15 hole. The second end of the metal bellows 4 is fixed to the rod 31 at a vicinity of the
first end of the rod 31 so as to surround the rod 31 circumferentially. Thus, a closed
space is formed by an inner part of the closed vessel 6 and an inner part of the metal
bellows 4.
LO0221 In the present embodiment, a gas containing hydrogen as a main component,
20 is 5lled in the closed vessel 6. The main component of the gas is not limited to
hydrogen, and may be nitrogen or carbon &oxide.
LO0231 The openlclose mechanism part 5 is, as shown in FIG.l to FIG. 3, constituted
by the operation lever 51, the arm (a link member) 52, and a wheel 53. The operation
lever 51 is disposed so that an operation portion thereof protrudes outward from the
25 case 1. The arm 52 is configured to rotate according to the operation of the operation
lever 51 to move the shaft 3 between the open contact position and the closed contact
position. The openlclose mechanism part 5 is configured to move the shaft 3 back and
forth freely between the closed contact position at which the movable contact 21 is in
contact with the stationary contacts 22 and the open contact position at which the
movable contact 21 is out of contact h m the stationary contacts 22.
5 Lo0241 The operation lever 51 is rotatably attached to the base member 9 which is
installed in the case 1, via a support shaft 54 whch penetrates the operation lever 51
in a thickness direction thereof (the direction perpenhcular to the paper surface in
FIG.1A. The wheel 53 is also rotatably attached to the base member 9 via a support
shaft 55. Thus, the operation lever 51 is configured to rotate fieely between an ON
10 position (a position shown in FIG. 2A) where the shaft 3 is moved to the closed contact
position and an OFF position (a position shown in FIG. 1A) where the shaft 3 is moved
to the open contact position.
LO0251 The arm 52 is rotatably connected to the shaft 3 via the support shaft 32 as
described above. The arm 52 has a rotation slot 52a in which the wheel 53 is placed
15 so that the wheel 53 can move, and a movement slot 52b in which the support shaft 54
is placed so that the shaft 54 can move, as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 2B. Further,
the rotation slot 52a includes an engaging protrusion 52c that is configured to engage
with the wheel 53 in a state where the shaft 3 is in the closed contact position. Then,
in the state where the shaft 3 is in the closed contact position (see FIG. 2A), the arm 52
20 is held in a non-rotatable state (a state shown in FIG. 2B) with the wheel 53 engaging
with the engaging protrusion 52c. The arm 52 is further provided with an abutment
portion 52d integrally which is configured to abut on an abutment piece 83b included
in a regulating body 83 (described below), as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 2C.
Lo0261 The rotation slot 52a includes a &st end region 52al (a right end region in
25 FIG. 1B) at whch the wheel 53 is placed when the shaft 3 is in the open contact
position, and a second end region 52a2 (a lee end region in FIG. 2B) at which the
wheel 53 is placed when the shaft 3 is in the closed contact position. A &stance
between the fist end region 52al and the support shaft 32 is Merent h m a &stance
between the second end region 52a2 and the support shaft 32 (in other words, a
&stance between a center of the wheel 53 and the support shaft 32 in a state where
5 the wheel 53 is placed at the fist end region 52a1, is Merent &om a distance between
the center of the wheel 53 and the support shaft 32 in a state where wheel 53 is placed
at the second end region 52a2). In the present embodiment, the distance between the
first end region 52al and the support shaft 32 is shorter than the distance between the
second end region 52a2 and the support shaft 32. Accordingly, a relative &stance
10 between the wheel 53 and the support shaft 32 changes according to a movement of
the wheel 53 between the fist end region 52al and the second end region 52a2 w i t h
the rotation slot 52a. Thereby, in the present embodiment, a rotation of the arm 52 is
converted into a movement of the shaft 3 between the open contact position and the
closed contact position.
15 [00271 As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. lC, the operation lever 51 in the openlclose
mechanism part 5 of the present embodiment includes a fist fan piece 511, a second
fan piece 512, a partial cylinder piece 513, and an operating lug 514. The fist fan
piece 511 and the second fan piece 512 are facing each other in the direction
perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG.lA, and the first fan piece 511 is positioned
20 at a side of the housing piece 11 and the second fan piece 512 is positioned at a side of a
housing piece 12. The fist fan piece 511 and the second fan piece 512 are integrally
combined together via the partial cyhder piece 513. The operating lug 514 is
integrally connected to the partial cyhder piece 513. In a vicinity of a connecting
part of the operating lug 514 in the partial cylinder piece 513,, a fist rib (not shown)
25 and a second rib (not shown) are formed on an inner surface of the partial cylmder
piece 513. The fist rib and the second rib each protrudes inward in a radial direction
f?om the inner surface of the partial cyhder piece 513. The first rib protrudes f?om a
left side of the operating lug 514 in FIG. lA, and the second rib protrudes from a right
side of the operating lug 514 in FIG. lA. Further, the partial cylinder piece 513 is
provided with displays such as "ON" and "OFF' on an outer side surface thereof. The
5 support shaft 54 is arranged so as to penetrate centers of the first h piece 511 and the
second h piece 512, and &xed to the housing. The operation lever 51 is codgured
to rotate about the support shaft 54 relative to the housing.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 6, the arm 52 integrally includes a first arm piece 521
positioned at the side of the housing piece 11, a second arm piece 522 positioned at the
10 side of the housing piece 12, and a connecting piece 523. The first arm piece 521 and
the second arm piece 522 are integrally combined together via the connecting piece
523. Each of the first arm piece 521 and the second arm piece 522 has the rotation
slot 52a and the movement slot 52b, and includes the engaging protrusion 52c. The
abutment portion 52d is formed so as to protrude toward the housing piece 11 &om an
15 outer side swtkce of the first arm piece 521. The second arm piece 522 is provided at
an outer side surface thereof with an engaging portion 5% whch protrudes toward the
housing piece 12. Each of the first arm piece 521 and the second arm piece 522
further has an insertion hole 52f in which the support shaft 32 is inserted. Each of
the first arm piece 521 and the second arm piece 522 further includes a protrudmg
20 piece 52g. The arm 52 is placed so that the protruding piece 52g is positioned
between the first rib and the second rib of the operation lever 51. (That is, the
protruding piece 52g is positioned at a right side of the first rib in FIG. lA, and the
protruding piece 52g is positioned at a left side of the second rib in FIG. Lk)
Further as shown in FIG. 7, the base member 9 integrally includes a first
25 plate 91 positioned at the side of the housing piece 11, a second plate 92 positioned at
the side of the housing piece 12, and a connectmg piece 93. The first plate 91 and the
second plate 92 are integrally combined together via connecting piece 93. Each of the
first plate 91 and the second plate 92 has the guide groove 9a. Each of the first plate
91 and the second plate 92 further has an insertion hole 9b in which the support shaft
54 is inserted. Each of the first plate 91 and the second plate 92 further has an
5 insertion hole 9c in which the support shaft 55 is inserted, and the wheel 53 is
attached to the base member 9 via the support shaft 55. Note that, among
components of the base member 9, the first plate 91 is shown and the second plate 92
is not shown in FIG. lA, FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3A. Further, the base member 9 is not
shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 2C.
10 [0029] Further in the present embodiment, the disconnecting switch is provided with
a positioning spring 10 that restricts the operation lever 51 moving fiom the ON
position (see FIG. 2) toward the OFF position (see FIG.l). Ths positioning spring 10
includes a spring body 10a formed into a coil-shape, and integrally includes a pair of
arms lob1 and 10b2 (a first arm lob1 and a second arm 10b2) whch are extended in
15 Merent directions to each other fiom both ends of the spring body 10a. The
positioning spring 10 is biased in a direction that enlarges a diameter of the center hole
thereof. The operation lever 51 is provided, at one outer side surface in a penetrating
direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG.1A) of the support
shaft 54, with a spring attachmg portion 51a which is shaped like a cyhder and which
20 protrudes toward the penetrating hection. With inserting the spring attachmg
portion 51a into the center hole of the spring body 10a, and loclung one arm lob1 (the
first arm 10bl) in a recess (not shown) formed in the operation lever 51 while
attaching the other arm lob2 (the second arm 10b2) to the arm 52 (to the engaging
portion 5243 of the second arm piece 522, in d e t d , the positioning spring 10 becomes
25 attached to the operation lever 51 and the arm 52.
[0030] The regulating part 8 includes a lock button 81, a regulating body 83, and a
return spring 82 as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 2C. The lock button 81 is formed into
a bar shape and operated when releasing the restriction of the operation lever 51.
The regulating body 83 is provided integrally with the lock button 81 and placed so as
to be able to move back and forth freely between a restricting position (a position
5 shown in FIG. 1C) in which a movement of the operation lever 51 is restricted, and a
releasing position (a position shown in FIG. 2C) in whch a restriction of the operation
lever 51 is released. The return spring 82 biases the lock button 81 and the
regulating body 83 toward the restricting position (upper sides in FIG. 1C and PIG.
2C). Moreover, the partial cylinder piece 513 of the operation lever 51 includes an
10 abutment portion 51b at a side of the regulating part 8. The regulating body 83
includes a regulating piece 83a and the abutment piece 83b. The regulating piece 83a
is configured to restrict the movement of the operation lever 51 by abutting on the
abutment portion 51b included in the operation lever 51 in a state where the
regulatmg body 83 is in the restricting position. The abutment piece 83b is
15 configured to abut on the abutment portion 52d of the arm 52 in a state where the
regulating body 83 is in the releasing position. The regulating body 83 further
includes a regulating arm 8% which is configured to restrict a rotation of the operation
lever 51 by abutting on a projection provided at an outer side swrface of the first fan
piece 511. Thus, the movement of the operation lever 51 is restricted in a state where
20 the regulating piece 83a of the regulating body 83 is abutting on the abutment portion
51b of the operation lever 51, and a movement of the regulating part 8 is restricted in a
state where the abutment piece 83b of the regulating body 83 is abutting on the
abutment portion 52d of the arm 52. Moreover, the movement of the operation lever
51 is restricted in a state where the regulating arm 8% of the regulating part 8 is
25 abutting on the projection of the operation lever 51.
[0031] Next, a movement of the disconnecting switch is described with reference to
FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. FIG. lA shows a state in which the contact part 2 is opened (a state
where the movable contact 21 is out of contact from the stationary contacts 22; the
open contact state), and the wheel 53 is positioned at a right end of the rotation slot
52a of the arm 52 in FIG. 1B (the first end region 52al) in this state. In this state, the
5 regulating piece 83a of the regulating body 83 is abutting on the abutment portion 51b
of the operation lever 51, and the regulating arm 8% is abutting on the projection of
the operation lever 51, and therefore it is impossible to operate the operation lever 51
in this state (see FIG. 1C).
[00321 In order to shift the contact part 2 from the open contact state to the closed
10 contact state (a state shown in FIG. 2A), a user should move the regulating body 83 to
the releasing position by pushing the lock button 81 of the regulating part 8
downwardly first. When the user turns the operation lever 51 in a clockwise direction
in FIG. lA (a counterclochse direction in FIG. 1C; a first rotating direction) while
keeping the regulating body 83 at the releasing position, the protruding piece 52g of
15 the arm 52 is pushed by the first rib of the operation lever 51 in a right direction in
FIG. 1B. Thereby, the arm 52 rotates in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1B (the first
rotating direction) about the support shaft 32, and the wheel 53 moves inside the
rotation slot 52a of the arm 52 while rotating. When the user moves the operation
lever 51 to the ON position (the position shown in FIG. 2A), the wheel 53 is moved to a
20 left end of the rotation slot 52a in FIG. 2B (the second end region 52a2). At this time,
due to the rotation of the arm 52 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1A (the first
rotating direction), the support shaft 32 is moved downward along the guide groove 9a
and the shaft 3 is pushed downward. Thereby, the contact part 2 becomes into the
closed contact state shown in FIG. 2A (a state where the movable contact 21 is in
25 contact with the stationary contacts 22).
[0033] In the state shown in FIG. 2A, the movable contact 21 is held M y in contact
with the stationary contacts 22 by a spring force of the pressure spring 7. In ths
state, the arm 52 is applied with an upward force via the shaft 3 fiom the pressure
spring 7. The arm 52 is held in a non-rotatable state without rotating in an open
contact dwection because the wheel 53 engages with the engaging protrusion 52c of the
5 rotation slot 52a as shown in FIG. 2B. Further in ths state, the operation lever 51 is
held in the ON position because the operation lever 51 is applied with a spring force
toward a clockwise dwection in FIG. 2A (a spring force toward the first rotating
direction) by the positioning spring 10. In this state, the lock button 81 integrally
provided at the regulating body 83 is held to be pushed into the case 1 because the
10 abutment piece 83b of the regulating body 83 is abutting on the abutment portion 52d
of the arm 52 and thereby an upward movement of the regulating body 83 is restricted
by the arm 52 (see FIG. 2C). Further, a display of "ON" which is formed on the outer
side surface of the partial cylinder piece 513 of the operation lever 51 is shown through
the display window 14.
15 Lo0341 On the other hand, when the user turns the operation lever 51 fiom a position
of the closed contact state shown in FIG. 2A in a counterclochse direction in FIG. 2A
(a second rotating direction), since the protruding piece 52g of the arm 52 is pushed by
the second rib of the operation lever 51 in a left direction in FIG. 2B, the arm 52
rotates and thereby the wheel 53 climbs over the engaging protrusion 52c.
20 Thereafter, the arm 52 rotates in a counterclockwise dwection in FIG. 2B (the second
rotating direction), about the support shaft 32, and the wheel 53 moves inside the
rotation slot 52a of the arm 52 while rotating. When the user moves the operation
lever 51 to the OFF position (the position shown in FIG. lA), the wheel 53 is moved to
a right end of the rotation slot 52a in FIG. 1B (the first end region 52al). At this time,
25 due to the rotation of the arm 52 in the counterclockwise dnection in FIG. 2B (the
second rotating direction), the shaft 3 is pulled upward, and thereby the contact part 2
becomes into the open contact state shown in FIG. 1A.
[00351 In the state shown in FIG. lA, the arm 52 is held in a non-rotatable state
without rotating in a closed contact dwection due to receiving an inner pressure of the
closed vessel 6 and a spring force of the metal bellows 4. Further in this state, an
5 abutting state of the abutment portion 52d of the arm 52 and the abutment piece 83b
of the regulating body 83 is released (that is, a restriction to the regulating body 83 of
the arm 52 is released), and thereby the lock button 81 and the regulating body 83 is
returned to the restricting position receiving a spring force of the return spring 82, and
as a result the movement of the operation lever 51 is restricted (see FIG. 1C). In this
10 state, the operation lever 51 is applied with a spring force toward the clockwise
direction in FIG. lA (the spring force toward the first rotating direction) &om the
positioning spring 10, and the operation lever 51 will attempt to rotate in the clockwise
direction in FIG. lA (the first rotating hction). However, the movement of the
operation lever 51 is restricted because the operation lever 51 is abutting on the arm
15 52 of which position is held by the inner pressure of the closed vessel 6 and a spring
force of the metal bellows 4 (because the first rib of the operation lever 51 is abutting
on the protrudmg piece 52g of the arm 52, in detail), and thereby the operation lever
51 is held in the OFF position. Further, a display of "OFF' which is formed on the
outer side s h c e of the partial cyhnder piece 513 of the operation lever 51 is shown
20 through the display window 14.
[00361 Next, FIG. 3A shows a state where the contact part 2 is fused due to an
overcurrent, for example. In the state where the contact part 2 is fused, when the
operation lever 51 and the arm 52 attempt to rotate in the counterclochse h c t i o n
in FIG. 2A (the second rotating drrection) receiving a manual force or a force h m a
25 mechanical mechanism, the shaft 3 cannot move upper than a state shown in FIG 3A,
and thereby the arm 52 can only rotate up to a position shown in FIG. 3B, because of
the fusion of the contact part 2. That is, the wheel 53 is brought into contact with a
side wall of the rotation slot 52a and restricts a rotational movement of the arm 52 at
an intermediate position (a position between a position that makes the contact part 2
open and a position that makes the contact part 2 closed) as shown in FIG. 3B. At
5 this time, even though the user tries to turn the operation lever 51 to the OFF position,
but the operation lever 51 can only move up to a position shown in FIG 3A, due to a
spring force of the positioning spring 10 or the second rib abutting on the protruding
piece 52g. On the other hand, the upward movement of the regulating body 83 is
restricted by the arm 52 in a state shown in FIG. 3A, and accordmgly a rotation in a
10 clockwise chection in FIG. 3A (the hst rotating direction) of the operation lever 51 is
restricted, because the regulating arm 83c of the regulating body 83 is abutting on the
projection of the &st fan piece 511. As a result, the operation lever 51 is held in the
position shown in FIG 3A. In this state, the &splay of "ON" (or "FUSION") which is
formed on the outer side surface of the partial cylinder piece 513 of the operation lever
15 51 is shown through the display window 14.
[00371 The disconnecting switch may include a trip mechanism codgured to turn
the operation lever 51 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2A (the second rotating
direction) before the contact part 2 causes a fusion.
[00381 Incidentally, in the state of fusion described above, upward movement of the
20 lock button 81 and the regulating body 83 is restricted by the arm 52 as shown in FIG.
3A, as described above. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the fusion of the contact
part 2 &om that the lock button 81 is positioned at the releasing position (a position
shown in FIG. 3A) and that the operation lever 51 is positioned at a position close to
the OFF position (the position shown in FIG. 3A). Further in the present
25 embodiment, the display window 14 is formed on an upper surface of the case 1 as
shown in FIG. 4, and it is possible to detect the fusion of the contact part 2 by checking
a display of the &splay window 14.
[00391 Further in the state of fusion, when the user tries to turn the operation lever
51 kom the ON position to the OFF position in the counterclochse direction in FIG.
2A (the second rotating direction), an upper portion of the wheel 53 and the side wall of
5 the rotation slot 52a are brought into abutting on each other as shown in FIG. 3B in a
middle of its rotation. Even though the user further tries to turn the operation lever
51 horn ths state in a direction toward the OFF position (a counterclockwise dmction
in FIG. 3A), the wheel 53 cannot move in the rotation slot 52a while the upper portion
of the wheel 53 and an inner surface of the rotation slot 52a are merely pushing each
10 other, and thereby the operation lever 51 cannot be turned in the direction toward the
OFF position any further. That is, it is possible for the user to know that the fusion of
the contact part 2 is occurring kom the state of the operation lever 51 that cannot be
turned any further than the position shown in FIG. 3A.
[0040] In the present embodiment, a fusion detection part is constituted by the
15 operation lever 51, the arm 52, and the wheel 53.
[00411 According to the present embodiment, since there can only have a space for
one arm 52 to rotate and there is no need to have a space for two arms to move like
conventional examples, it is possible to provide a small disconnecting switch relative to
conventional examples. Moreover, it is possible to provide the small chsconnecting
20 switch that is possible to detect the fusion of the contact part 2 by the operation lever
51, the arm 52, and the wheel 53. Further, it is possible to hold the shaft 3 in the
closed contact position and keep the closed contact state of the contact part 2 by
engaging the wheel 53 with the engaging protrusion 52c formed in the rotation slot
52a of the arm 52. In a configuration in which the shaft 3 is directly connected to the
25 arm 52 like the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce parts that connect the
shaft 3 and the arm 52 with each other, and moreover, it is possible to reliably convey a
small change such as the fusion of the contact part 2 to the arm 52, by connecting the
shaft 3 and the arm 52 dnectly with each other.
Lo0421 According to the present embodunent, there is no need to include a latch
mechanism that is generally included in a conventional disconnecting switch, because
5 the abutment piece 83b of the regulating body 83 abuts on the abutment portion 52d of
the arm 52 and the regulating body 83 is held in the releasing position when the
operation lever 51 is in the ON position. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a number
of parts and improve assembhg workability. Moreover, it is possible to reduce a size
of the case 1 in which parts of the disconnecting switch are housed, and therefore it is
10 also possible to reduce a size of the hsconnecting switch.
[0043] Although it has been shown a structure of the operation lever 51 that includes
a pair of fan pieces 511 and 512 in the present embodunent, the operation lever 51 may
not include the h s t fan piece 511. Further, although it has been shown a structure in
whch the arm 52 includes a pair of arm pieces 521 and 522 and each of the arm pieces
15 521 and 522 is provided with a wheel 53, it may be a structure in which the arm 52
only includes the h s t arm piece 521 (or a structure in which the arm 52 only includes
the second arm piece 522).
Lo0441 Moreover, structures (shapes) of an arm and a wheel are not lunited to the
present embodiment, and it may be another structure as long as the wheel is
20 coniigured to move inside a rotation slot formed in the arm while rotating.

1. A disconnecting switch comprising:
a contact part that includes a stationary contact and a movable contact
5 configured to be brought into contact with and separate fkom the stationary contact
fkeely;
a shaft configured to move the movable contact back and forth fkeely relative
to the stationary contact;
an openlclose mechanism part configured to move the shaft back and forth
10 fkeely between a closed contact position at which the movable contact is in contact with
the stationary contact and an open contact position at which the movable contact is out
of contact fkom the stationary contact; and
a housing in which at least the contact part and the shaft is housed, wherein
the openlclose mechanism part includes an operation lever which is disposed
15 so that an operation portion thereof protrudes outward fkom the housing, an arm
configured to rotate according to an operation of the operation lever to move the shaft
between the open contact position and the closed contact position, and a wheel which is
rotatably attached to the housing, and
the arm is provided with a rotation slot in whch the wheel is placed so that
20 the wheel moves when the arm rotates.
2. The disconnecting switch accordmg to claim 1, wherein
a fusion detection part configured to detect a fusion of the contact part is
constituted by the operation lever, the arm, and the wheel, and
the wheel is brought into contact with a side wall of the rotation slot and
restricts a rotational movement of the arm at an intermehate position when the arm