CA1152544A - Electromagnetically operated control device having auxiliary contacts - Google Patents
Electromagnetically operated control device having auxiliary contactsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1152544A CA1152544A CA000371916A CA371916A CA1152544A CA 1152544 A CA1152544 A CA 1152544A CA 000371916 A CA000371916 A CA 000371916A CA 371916 A CA371916 A CA 371916A CA 1152544 A CA1152544 A CA 1152544A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- movable
- control device
- stationary
- operating member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
- H01H50/54—Contact arrangements
- H01H50/541—Auxiliary contact devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
- H01H51/02—Non-polarised relays
- H01H51/04—Non-polarised relays with single armature; with single set of ganged armatures
- H01H51/06—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
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
Abstract
13 47,615 A B S T R A C T
ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE
The invention relates to an electric control device, such as an electromagnetic contactor, relay or the like, including auxiliary contact means.
The auxiliary contact means include stationary contact and terminal assemblies (29-33) supported in the insulating structure (1, 3) containing the operating coil of the device, and an auxiliary contact operating member (25) which is mounted in the insulating contact carrier (5) of the device as an integral part thereof sufficiently movable relative to the contact carrier to permit over-travel of the movable assembly (5, 8) following closure of the auxiliary contacts, the operating member (25) being spring-loaded in a contact-pressure providing sense.
The novel auxiliary contact means are suitable for use with control devices too small or otherwise not adapted to utilize unitary interlocking assemblies, and also for increasing the interlocking capability of control devices which are designed to employ such unitary inter-locking assemblies.
ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE
The invention relates to an electric control device, such as an electromagnetic contactor, relay or the like, including auxiliary contact means.
The auxiliary contact means include stationary contact and terminal assemblies (29-33) supported in the insulating structure (1, 3) containing the operating coil of the device, and an auxiliary contact operating member (25) which is mounted in the insulating contact carrier (5) of the device as an integral part thereof sufficiently movable relative to the contact carrier to permit over-travel of the movable assembly (5, 8) following closure of the auxiliary contacts, the operating member (25) being spring-loaded in a contact-pressure providing sense.
The novel auxiliary contact means are suitable for use with control devices too small or otherwise not adapted to utilize unitary interlocking assemblies, and also for increasing the interlocking capability of control devices which are designed to employ such unitary inter-locking assemblies.
Description
~ ~. .~ 3 ;~ 5 ~ ~
ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE
This invention relates generally to electric control devices and, more particularly, to control devices utilizing auxiliary contact means.
Auxiliary contacts are commonly employed in con-junction with electric con~rol devices, such as contact-ors, relays, and the like, to serve as electrical inter-locks, for example for holding a control device energized after initial energization thereof through momentary closure of a switch, for providing undervoltage protection by disconnecting the operating coil of such device from its energizing source when the coil voltage undesirably drops to an extent causing the main contacts of the de~ice to open, or for performing other circuit interlocking functions.
15A typical apparatus designed for use with auxil-iary contact structures is described in Applicant's ~.S.
patent specification No. 3,296,567 showing an electric control device, the insulating housing of which is pro-vided with outwardly open cavities each ada.ted to receive a mechanical or electrical interlock. The interlocks used with this known device are not integral parts of the latter but are separate structural units of an add-on type which, when placed into the respective caviti?s, are in a position to be actuated by portions of the contact carrier or crossbar, of the control device extending into said cavities.
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The present invention has for its principal object to provide auxiliary contact means suitable for use both with control devices too small or otherwise not adapted to employ interlocking units of-the add-on type, and with control devices which are designed to employ add-on type interlocks but require additional interlocking capability.
The invention accordingly resides in an electric control device comprising stationary contacts; movable contacts cooperable with the stationary contacts; a sta-tionary assembly comprising an insulating structure and, disposed therein, a magnetic core and an electric coil associated with the core; a movable assem~ly comprising an - insulating contact carrier carrying said movable contacts, and a magnetic armature mounted in said contact carrier, said movable assembly moving to an actuated position upon energization of said coil and returning to a normal posi-tion upon deenergization of the coil, thereby to move the movable contacts to one and the other of contact open and contact closed positions with respect to the stationary contacts; and at least one auxiliary contact structure comprising contact and terminal assemblies including stationary contact means, movable contact means, and an operating member acting upon the movable contact means to effect movement thereof into and from contact engagement with said stationary contact means upon movement of said movable assembly to one and the other, respectively, of said actuated and normal positions, said contact and terminal assemblies being fixedly mounted on said insulat-ing structure, and said operating member being supportedin said contact carrier as an integral part thereof and being mounted therein in such manner as to ~llow suffi-cient freedom of relative movement between the operating member and the contact carrier to permit overtravel of said movable assembly ~ollowing engagement of said movable -contact means with the stationary contact means, said operating member being spring-biased in a direction pro-' .
viding contact pressure between the movable and stationary contact means when engaged.
This arrangement of the auxiliary stationary contact means mounted on the insulating suppor~ structure of the stationary assembly, and of t`ne operating member mounted on the contact carrier effectively utilizes space ordinarily available in control devices but heretofore left unused. Moreover, the auxiliary contact means thus arranged will not interfere in the proper operation of a control device designed to use interlock units of the above-mentioned add-on type and, hence, can be applied to such device to increase its interlocking capability.
A further advantage of the novel control device is derived from the auxiliary stati~nary contact means being supported on the same insulating support structure as the electric coil, thus permitting t'ne stationary contact means to be directly and permanently wired to the coil, if desired.
In order to render the auxiliary contact struc-ture more shock and vibration resistant, it preferably includes means effective, when the auxiliary contacts are closed, to resiliently maintain contact engagement there-between under shock and vibration.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by t~ay of example, witn reference to the accompanying drawings, in whicn:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one part of an electric control device embodying the invention, including the movable assembly thereof;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view oE anoth-er part of the control device showing a portion of the stationary assembly thereof;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the base plate and magnetic core forming the remaining portion of the stationary assembly; and ~ig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled control device.
..
S4~
The control device to Which the invention is shown applied, by way of example, is of the general type disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. patent specification No. 3,296,567, and therefore wiLl be described herein only to an extent deemed desirable to impart a clear under-standing of the invention. Thus, and referring in partic-ular to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the control device illustrated therein is an electromagnetic contactor comprising a lower or stationary assembly which comprises a base plate 2, a generally U-shaped magnetic core 7 (Fig.
3) supported on the base plate, a coil structure 1 (Fig.
ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE
This invention relates generally to electric control devices and, more particularly, to control devices utilizing auxiliary contact means.
Auxiliary contacts are commonly employed in con-junction with electric con~rol devices, such as contact-ors, relays, and the like, to serve as electrical inter-locks, for example for holding a control device energized after initial energization thereof through momentary closure of a switch, for providing undervoltage protection by disconnecting the operating coil of such device from its energizing source when the coil voltage undesirably drops to an extent causing the main contacts of the de~ice to open, or for performing other circuit interlocking functions.
15A typical apparatus designed for use with auxil-iary contact structures is described in Applicant's ~.S.
patent specification No. 3,296,567 showing an electric control device, the insulating housing of which is pro-vided with outwardly open cavities each ada.ted to receive a mechanical or electrical interlock. The interlocks used with this known device are not integral parts of the latter but are separate structural units of an add-on type which, when placed into the respective caviti?s, are in a position to be actuated by portions of the contact carrier or crossbar, of the control device extending into said cavities.
r .
- :. ' ', :
,' ' ~
The present invention has for its principal object to provide auxiliary contact means suitable for use both with control devices too small or otherwise not adapted to employ interlocking units of-the add-on type, and with control devices which are designed to employ add-on type interlocks but require additional interlocking capability.
The invention accordingly resides in an electric control device comprising stationary contacts; movable contacts cooperable with the stationary contacts; a sta-tionary assembly comprising an insulating structure and, disposed therein, a magnetic core and an electric coil associated with the core; a movable assem~ly comprising an - insulating contact carrier carrying said movable contacts, and a magnetic armature mounted in said contact carrier, said movable assembly moving to an actuated position upon energization of said coil and returning to a normal posi-tion upon deenergization of the coil, thereby to move the movable contacts to one and the other of contact open and contact closed positions with respect to the stationary contacts; and at least one auxiliary contact structure comprising contact and terminal assemblies including stationary contact means, movable contact means, and an operating member acting upon the movable contact means to effect movement thereof into and from contact engagement with said stationary contact means upon movement of said movable assembly to one and the other, respectively, of said actuated and normal positions, said contact and terminal assemblies being fixedly mounted on said insulat-ing structure, and said operating member being supportedin said contact carrier as an integral part thereof and being mounted therein in such manner as to ~llow suffi-cient freedom of relative movement between the operating member and the contact carrier to permit overtravel of said movable assembly ~ollowing engagement of said movable -contact means with the stationary contact means, said operating member being spring-biased in a direction pro-' .
viding contact pressure between the movable and stationary contact means when engaged.
This arrangement of the auxiliary stationary contact means mounted on the insulating suppor~ structure of the stationary assembly, and of t`ne operating member mounted on the contact carrier effectively utilizes space ordinarily available in control devices but heretofore left unused. Moreover, the auxiliary contact means thus arranged will not interfere in the proper operation of a control device designed to use interlock units of the above-mentioned add-on type and, hence, can be applied to such device to increase its interlocking capability.
A further advantage of the novel control device is derived from the auxiliary stati~nary contact means being supported on the same insulating support structure as the electric coil, thus permitting t'ne stationary contact means to be directly and permanently wired to the coil, if desired.
In order to render the auxiliary contact struc-ture more shock and vibration resistant, it preferably includes means effective, when the auxiliary contacts are closed, to resiliently maintain contact engagement there-between under shock and vibration.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by t~ay of example, witn reference to the accompanying drawings, in whicn:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one part of an electric control device embodying the invention, including the movable assembly thereof;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view oE anoth-er part of the control device showing a portion of the stationary assembly thereof;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the base plate and magnetic core forming the remaining portion of the stationary assembly; and ~ig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled control device.
..
S4~
The control device to Which the invention is shown applied, by way of example, is of the general type disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. patent specification No. 3,296,567, and therefore wiLl be described herein only to an extent deemed desirable to impart a clear under-standing of the invention. Thus, and referring in partic-ular to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the control device illustrated therein is an electromagnetic contactor comprising a lower or stationary assembly which comprises a base plate 2, a generally U-shaped magnetic core 7 (Fig.
3) supported on the base plate, a coil structure 1 (Fig.
2) comprising an insulating body provided with windows and having an electric coil (not seen) encapsulated tnerein, and a lower insulating housing part 3 supported on the base plate 2 and surrounding the magnetic core 7 as well as the coil structure 1 which is retained in the housing part 3 in such position that the two Iegs of the U-shaped core 7 extend through the two windows formed in the coil structure.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, the upper part of the contactor comprises an insulating housing part 4, stationary contact and terminal assemblies 14 including stationary contacts and supported in the housing part 4, and a movable assembly guided in the housing part 4 for reciprocating movement between contact closed and contact open positions. The movable assembly comprises an insu-lating contact carrier 5 and a magnetic armature 8 sup-ported therein. For each pole unit of the contactor, the contact carrier 5 has a contact-carrying portion with a window formed therein in which are disposed a movable contact member 15, and a compression spring 21 acting, through a spring seat 40, upon the movable contact member 15 to keep the latter seated against a ledge portion of the associated window when the movable assembly is not in its contact closed position, and to provide contact pres-sure between the movable contact member 15 and the asso-ciated stationary contacts 14 when closed.
S~
The insulating contact carrier 5 includes furth-er a portion, often referred to in the axt as a crossbar, defining a cavity in which is seated the magnetic armature 8, the latter being securely retained in place within the cavity in a suitable manner, such as by means of a sup-porting pin or rod 12 extending through an opening in the armature and resting upon ledges formed in the contact carrler.
The upper and lower parts of the contactor are held securely together by means of bolts 35 which extend through aligned passages formed in the two housing parts 3 and 4, and which are tnreadedly engaged in tapped holes 36 formed in the base plate 2.
There are two compression or kickout springs 22 (Fig. 2) which are seated at their lower ends in apertures 23 formed in the lower housing part 3, and which act at their other ends upon the contact carrier 8 so as to bias the movable assembly toward a normal or unactuated ~osi-tion which, in the particular embodiment illustrated, happens to be its contact o2en position. The contact carrier 8 has formed thereon two spring retaining portions 24 which extend axially into the helical ~ickout springs 22 so as to stabili2e them during compression.
With the movable assembly disposed in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, energization of the operat-ing coil in the coil structure 1 will magneti~e the mag-netic core 7 sufficiently to attract the armature 8 and thereby effect movement of the movable assembly to the other or actuated position thereof in which the movable contact members 15 are engaged with the stationary con-tacts 14. O~ course, subsequent deenergization of the operating coil will enable the kickout springs 22 to return the movable assembly to the normal, tha~ is, in this case, the contact open position thereof.
Ag described thus far, the control device and its operation are conventional.
Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the draw-- ings, the control device shown -therein as embodying the '. - ' , ::
, - : :
:
, . .
invention includes auxiliary contact structures each com~rising a pair of stationary contact and terminal assemblies 29-33 which are disposed in spaced relationship side-by-side and include stationary contact means 30, movable contact means 27 cooperating with the stationary contact means 30, and an operating member 25 for the movable contact means 30. As seen best from Fig. 2, each stationary contact and terminal asse~bly comprises a generally Z-shaped terminal member 29 which carries a pressure plate 33 together with a terminal screw 31 on one end portion thereof, and a stationary contact 30 secured, e.g. brazed, to the intermediate portion of the terminal member 29. The stationary contact and terminal assemblies are supported on the insulating support structure which comprises the insulating body of the coil structure 1 and the lower housing part 3. ~lore particularly, each term-inal member 29 has its end portion, opposite to the one carrying the terminal screw 31, lodged in a suitable recess or pocket formed in the insulating body of the coil structure 1, has its contact-carrying intermediate portion disposed adjacent a wall portion of the housing part 3, which wall portion thus prevents the terminal member from slipping from its retaining pocket in the coil structure 1, and has its terminal-screw carrying end portion seated in a recess formed in said wall portion of the housing part 3. An opening 32 extending froln the recess into said wall portion is provided to accommodate the free end of the associated terminal screw 31, as best shown in the left-hand portion of Fig. 4.
The operating member 25 of each auxiliary con-tact structure is supported in the contact carrier 5 as an integral part thereof, moving together with the carrier to open and close the associated auxiliary contact means.
The operating member 25 is mounted on the contact carrier 5 in such manner that there is sufficient freedom of relative movement between the two to permit overtravel of .
i44 the movable assembly following engagement of the movable contact means 27 with the stationary contact means 30, and the operating member is spring-biased in a direction to provide contact pressure between the auxiliary contact means when closed.
More specifically, the operating me~nber 25 of each auxiliary contact structure, preferably molded from a suitable insulating material, is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 as a slide or plunger slidably retained in a guide slot which is formed in the contact carrier 5 adjacent the cavity thereof containing the armature 8, and in which slot there is also disposed a s~ring 26 biasing the operating member in the above-mentioned direction to provide contact pres-sure between the closed auxiliary contacts and ther~by also resist contact lift-off during vibration or shock.
In the particular embodiment illustrated, the movable contact means 27 of each auxiliary contact struc-ture is represented as a bridging contact secured to the operating member 25. Preferably, the bridging contact 27 is made of resilient stock and is so constructed that, when in bridging engagement with the stationary contact means 30, it will remain en~aged and maintain contact pressure sven under conditions of heavy vibration and/or shock.
Of course, the movable contact means of each auxiliary contact structure, sho~n herein as a bridging contact secured to and carried by the operating member 25, could also be a contact arm tnot shown) separate from the operating member. Such contact arm would have one end thereof connected to one of the two terminal members 29 of the associated pair, and would be pivotable to permit its opposite end to be moved into and from contact engagement with the stationary contact 30 on the other terminal member 29, actuation of the contact arm being ef~ected by
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, the upper part of the contactor comprises an insulating housing part 4, stationary contact and terminal assemblies 14 including stationary contacts and supported in the housing part 4, and a movable assembly guided in the housing part 4 for reciprocating movement between contact closed and contact open positions. The movable assembly comprises an insu-lating contact carrier 5 and a magnetic armature 8 sup-ported therein. For each pole unit of the contactor, the contact carrier 5 has a contact-carrying portion with a window formed therein in which are disposed a movable contact member 15, and a compression spring 21 acting, through a spring seat 40, upon the movable contact member 15 to keep the latter seated against a ledge portion of the associated window when the movable assembly is not in its contact closed position, and to provide contact pres-sure between the movable contact member 15 and the asso-ciated stationary contacts 14 when closed.
S~
The insulating contact carrier 5 includes furth-er a portion, often referred to in the axt as a crossbar, defining a cavity in which is seated the magnetic armature 8, the latter being securely retained in place within the cavity in a suitable manner, such as by means of a sup-porting pin or rod 12 extending through an opening in the armature and resting upon ledges formed in the contact carrler.
The upper and lower parts of the contactor are held securely together by means of bolts 35 which extend through aligned passages formed in the two housing parts 3 and 4, and which are tnreadedly engaged in tapped holes 36 formed in the base plate 2.
There are two compression or kickout springs 22 (Fig. 2) which are seated at their lower ends in apertures 23 formed in the lower housing part 3, and which act at their other ends upon the contact carrier 8 so as to bias the movable assembly toward a normal or unactuated ~osi-tion which, in the particular embodiment illustrated, happens to be its contact o2en position. The contact carrier 8 has formed thereon two spring retaining portions 24 which extend axially into the helical ~ickout springs 22 so as to stabili2e them during compression.
With the movable assembly disposed in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, energization of the operat-ing coil in the coil structure 1 will magneti~e the mag-netic core 7 sufficiently to attract the armature 8 and thereby effect movement of the movable assembly to the other or actuated position thereof in which the movable contact members 15 are engaged with the stationary con-tacts 14. O~ course, subsequent deenergization of the operating coil will enable the kickout springs 22 to return the movable assembly to the normal, tha~ is, in this case, the contact open position thereof.
Ag described thus far, the control device and its operation are conventional.
Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the draw-- ings, the control device shown -therein as embodying the '. - ' , ::
, - : :
:
, . .
invention includes auxiliary contact structures each com~rising a pair of stationary contact and terminal assemblies 29-33 which are disposed in spaced relationship side-by-side and include stationary contact means 30, movable contact means 27 cooperating with the stationary contact means 30, and an operating member 25 for the movable contact means 30. As seen best from Fig. 2, each stationary contact and terminal asse~bly comprises a generally Z-shaped terminal member 29 which carries a pressure plate 33 together with a terminal screw 31 on one end portion thereof, and a stationary contact 30 secured, e.g. brazed, to the intermediate portion of the terminal member 29. The stationary contact and terminal assemblies are supported on the insulating support structure which comprises the insulating body of the coil structure 1 and the lower housing part 3. ~lore particularly, each term-inal member 29 has its end portion, opposite to the one carrying the terminal screw 31, lodged in a suitable recess or pocket formed in the insulating body of the coil structure 1, has its contact-carrying intermediate portion disposed adjacent a wall portion of the housing part 3, which wall portion thus prevents the terminal member from slipping from its retaining pocket in the coil structure 1, and has its terminal-screw carrying end portion seated in a recess formed in said wall portion of the housing part 3. An opening 32 extending froln the recess into said wall portion is provided to accommodate the free end of the associated terminal screw 31, as best shown in the left-hand portion of Fig. 4.
The operating member 25 of each auxiliary con-tact structure is supported in the contact carrier 5 as an integral part thereof, moving together with the carrier to open and close the associated auxiliary contact means.
The operating member 25 is mounted on the contact carrier 5 in such manner that there is sufficient freedom of relative movement between the two to permit overtravel of .
i44 the movable assembly following engagement of the movable contact means 27 with the stationary contact means 30, and the operating member is spring-biased in a direction to provide contact pressure between the auxiliary contact means when closed.
More specifically, the operating me~nber 25 of each auxiliary contact structure, preferably molded from a suitable insulating material, is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 as a slide or plunger slidably retained in a guide slot which is formed in the contact carrier 5 adjacent the cavity thereof containing the armature 8, and in which slot there is also disposed a s~ring 26 biasing the operating member in the above-mentioned direction to provide contact pres-sure between the closed auxiliary contacts and ther~by also resist contact lift-off during vibration or shock.
In the particular embodiment illustrated, the movable contact means 27 of each auxiliary contact struc-ture is represented as a bridging contact secured to the operating member 25. Preferably, the bridging contact 27 is made of resilient stock and is so constructed that, when in bridging engagement with the stationary contact means 30, it will remain en~aged and maintain contact pressure sven under conditions of heavy vibration and/or shock.
Of course, the movable contact means of each auxiliary contact structure, sho~n herein as a bridging contact secured to and carried by the operating member 25, could also be a contact arm tnot shown) separate from the operating member. Such contact arm would have one end thereof connected to one of the two terminal members 29 of the associated pair, and would be pivotable to permit its opposite end to be moved into and from contact engagement with the stationary contact 30 on the other terminal member 29, actuation of the contact arm being ef~ected by
3~ the ooerating member 25 cooperating therewith. The con-tact arm could be a resilient spring contact naturally biased toward one contact position, and actuated by the associated operating member 25 to its other contact posi-tion upon a corresponding movement of the movable assem-bly.
As initially mentioned herein, the control device to which the invention is shown applied, by way of example, is generally as disclosed in U.S. patent speci-fication No. 3,296,567. Accordingly, and as also prev-iously explained herein, it i5 adapted for use with auxil-iary contact or interlock units to be inserted into cavi-ties formed, as appears from Fig. 2, in the corners of theinsulating support or housing structure. It will be noted, especially upon referring to Fig. 2, that the a~xiliary contact means of the invention will not inter-fere with the operation of any auxiliary contact or inter-lock units disposed in said cavities, and therefore theycan be used in combination therewith to increase the interlocking capability of the control device.
Of course, the number of auxiliary contact structures utilized (two, as shown, or just one) and the manner of connecting them will depend upon the inter-locking functions desired. Thus, the two auxiliary con-tact structures shown in the drawings on opposite sides of the control device can be connected each to a different external circuit to be controlled. Or one of these may be connected to such circuit and the other omitted altogeth-er, if not needed. Alternatively, the two auxiliary contact structures together may be employed as an elec-trical interlock for the operating coil of the control device itself, in which event the opposite ends of the coil will be connected each to the stationary contact 30 of one of the two contact and terminal assemblies of the respective contact structure, and the other contact and terminal assembly of the respective contact structure will be used for connection to the external coil energizing circuit. If to be used in this manner, the auxiliary contact structures according to the invention offer an additional advantage derived from their close proximity to :
54~
the coil which enables the contact means and the coil to be directly wired together to provide a compact, unitary assembly comprising the insulating structure 1, 3 and the auxiliary contact and terminal assemblies 29-33 disposed thereon.
It will be appreciated that certain modifica-tions may be made to the control device illustrated here-in, such as, for instance, converting the normally open auxiliary contacts shown into normally closed auxiliary contacts, without departing from the teachings of the invention.
As initially mentioned herein, the control device to which the invention is shown applied, by way of example, is generally as disclosed in U.S. patent speci-fication No. 3,296,567. Accordingly, and as also prev-iously explained herein, it i5 adapted for use with auxil-iary contact or interlock units to be inserted into cavi-ties formed, as appears from Fig. 2, in the corners of theinsulating support or housing structure. It will be noted, especially upon referring to Fig. 2, that the a~xiliary contact means of the invention will not inter-fere with the operation of any auxiliary contact or inter-lock units disposed in said cavities, and therefore theycan be used in combination therewith to increase the interlocking capability of the control device.
Of course, the number of auxiliary contact structures utilized (two, as shown, or just one) and the manner of connecting them will depend upon the inter-locking functions desired. Thus, the two auxiliary con-tact structures shown in the drawings on opposite sides of the control device can be connected each to a different external circuit to be controlled. Or one of these may be connected to such circuit and the other omitted altogeth-er, if not needed. Alternatively, the two auxiliary contact structures together may be employed as an elec-trical interlock for the operating coil of the control device itself, in which event the opposite ends of the coil will be connected each to the stationary contact 30 of one of the two contact and terminal assemblies of the respective contact structure, and the other contact and terminal assembly of the respective contact structure will be used for connection to the external coil energizing circuit. If to be used in this manner, the auxiliary contact structures according to the invention offer an additional advantage derived from their close proximity to :
54~
the coil which enables the contact means and the coil to be directly wired together to provide a compact, unitary assembly comprising the insulating structure 1, 3 and the auxiliary contact and terminal assemblies 29-33 disposed thereon.
It will be appreciated that certain modifica-tions may be made to the control device illustrated here-in, such as, for instance, converting the normally open auxiliary contacts shown into normally closed auxiliary contacts, without departing from the teachings of the invention.
Claims (7)
1. An electric control device comprising sta-tionary contacts; movable contacts cooperable with the stationary contacts; a stationary assembly comprising an insulating structure and, disposed therein, a magnetic core and an electric coil associated with the core; a movable assembly comprising an insulating contact carrier carrying said movable contacts, and a magnetic armature mounted in said contact carrier, said movable assembly moving to an actuated position upon energization of said coil and returning to a normal position upon deenergiza-tion of the coil, thereby to move the movable contacts to one and the other of contact open and contact closed positions with respect to the stationary contacts; and at least one auxiliary contact structure comprising contact and terminal assemblies including stationary contact means, movable contact means, and an operating member acting upon the movable contact means to effect movement thereof into and from contact engagement with said sta-tionary contact means upon movement of said movable assem-bly to one and the other, respectively, of said actuated and normal positions, said contact and terminal assemblies being fixedly mounted on said insulating structure, and said operating member being supported in said contact carrier as an integral part thereof and being mounted therein in such manner as to allow sufficient freedom of relative movement between the operating member and the contact carrier to permit overtravel of said movable assembly following engagement of said movable contact means with the stationary contact means, said operating member being spring-biased in a direction providing con-tact pressure between the movable and stationary contact means when engaged.
2. An electric control device according to claim 1, wherein said operating member is slidable and retained in a slot formed in said contact carrier.
3. An electric control device according to claim 2, wherein said slot has disposed therein a spring which biases the operating member in said direction.
4. An electric control device according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said movable contact means comprises a resilient member adapted, when engaged with said stationary contact means, to resiliently remain in contact engagement therewith under shock and vibration.
5, An electric control device according to claim 1, wherein said insulating structure comprises an in-sulating housing part, and an insulating body which has said electric coil encapsulated therein and is supported in said insulating housing part, the latter and said in-sulating body cooperating to hold said contact and terminal assemblies securely in place.
6. An electric control device according to claim 5, wherein each of said contact and terminal assem-blies includes a terminal member which has an end portion thereof lodged in a retaining pocket formed in said in-sulating body, and has an intermediate portion thereof disposed adjacent an interior surface portion of said insulating housing part preventing dislodgement of the terminal member from said retaining pocket.
7. An electric control device according to claim 6 including two said auxiliary contact structures, wherein said coil is connected between and directly to the stationary con-tact means of said two auxiliary contact structures.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US12609580A | 1980-02-29 | 1980-02-29 | |
| US126,095 | 1980-02-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1152544A true CA1152544A (en) | 1983-08-23 |
Family
ID=22422978
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000371916A Expired CA1152544A (en) | 1980-02-29 | 1981-02-27 | Electromagnetically operated control device having auxiliary contacts |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS56136424A (en) |
| BE (1) | BE887729A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8101148A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1152544A (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8204875A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2071419B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX149443A (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ196373A (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3143430C2 (en) * | 1981-11-02 | 1984-05-24 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | Three-phase switching device for a consumer to be connected to three phases |
| FR2737604B1 (en) * | 1995-08-04 | 1997-08-29 | Schneider Electric Sa | CONTACTOR APPARATUS HAVING A TWO-WINDING COIL |
| CN200956329Y (en) * | 2006-10-20 | 2007-10-03 | 郑州中实赛尔科技有限公司 | Direct-push high-current on-load switch |
-
1981
- 1981-02-25 BR BR8101148A patent/BR8101148A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1981-02-27 GB GB8106218A patent/GB2071419B/en not_active Expired
- 1981-02-27 MX MX18615281A patent/MX149443A/en unknown
- 1981-02-27 CA CA000371916A patent/CA1152544A/en not_active Expired
- 1981-02-27 NZ NZ19637381A patent/NZ196373A/en unknown
- 1981-02-27 ES ES499873A patent/ES8204875A1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-02-27 BE BE0/203962A patent/BE887729A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1981-02-28 JP JP2931081A patent/JPS56136424A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS645732B2 (en) | 1989-01-31 |
| GB2071419A (en) | 1981-09-16 |
| BR8101148A (en) | 1981-09-01 |
| NZ196373A (en) | 1983-12-16 |
| ES499873A0 (en) | 1982-05-01 |
| BE887729A (en) | 1981-08-27 |
| JPS56136424A (en) | 1981-10-24 |
| ES8204875A1 (en) | 1982-05-01 |
| MX149443A (en) | 1983-11-07 |
| GB2071419B (en) | 1983-11-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |