To improve a guide and support mechanism of a shifter for linking between a bimetal and a contact opening and closing mechanism in a thermal overload relay so as to be able to display stable operation characteristics by securing straightforward movement of the shifter following bending and displacement of the bimetal and reducing slide resistance caused by sliding of the shifter.
In the guide and support mechanism of the shifter 10 (a press-punched work piece of a resin material) for linking between the bimetal 7 bent and displaced by detecting an overload current of a main circuit and the contact opening and closing mechanism 9, an engagement groove part 10e fitted to a projecting tip part 7a of the bimetal 7 is punched in the plate surface of the shifter 10 with an abutting part 10b connected, the inside width W of the engagement groove part 10e is set to a size corresponding to the lateral width of the projecting tip part 7a, the engagement groove part 10e guides and supports the shifter 10 by fitting it to the projecting tip part of the bimetal 7 using the opening fringe of the engagement groove part 10e as a slide surface, and the sliding resistance between the shifter 10 and the case 1 is eliminated with the side fringe of its outer contour is disposed separately from the wall surface of the case 1.
FURUHATA YUKIO
KAMOSAKI TAKEO
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