CA2049462A1 - Contact spring set for high electrical currents - Google Patents
Contact spring set for high electrical currentsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2049462A1 CA2049462A1 CA 2049462 CA2049462A CA2049462A1 CA 2049462 A1 CA2049462 A1 CA 2049462A1 CA 2049462 CA2049462 CA 2049462 CA 2049462 A CA2049462 A CA 2049462A CA 2049462 A1 CA2049462 A1 CA 2049462A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- contact element
- section
- main part
- spring set
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/50—Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position
- H01H1/54—Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position by magnetic force
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In the contact arrangement, the contact pieces are not arranged between the two contact springs, but between the outside of one contact spring and a bent-off section of the second contact spring which embraces the first in bow-shaped fashion. As a result thereof, the electrodynamic forces between the two contact springs which occur given opposite current directions no longer act opposite the contacting force, but rather intensify it.
In the contact arrangement, the contact pieces are not arranged between the two contact springs, but between the outside of one contact spring and a bent-off section of the second contact spring which embraces the first in bow-shaped fashion. As a result thereof, the electrodynamic forces between the two contact springs which occur given opposite current directions no longer act opposite the contacting force, but rather intensify it.
Description
BACR~:ROUND OF THE INVE:NTION
The invention is directed to a contact spring set for high electrical currents having two elongated contact elements that have thair respective main parts arranged approximately parallel. The respective one ends of these contact elements are fastenad and their respective opposite free ends are movable relative to one another for the purpose of contacting.
Such a contact spring set of a traditional prior art type is shown in Figure 3 in terms of its fundamental structure. A
stationary contact spring 21 and a movable contact spring 22 are each respectively clamped in a carrier 23 at one side. They carry cont~ct pieces 24 and 25 in the proximity of their free ends, these contact pieces 24 and 25 touching one another in one switch position, and thus producing contact. The movable contact spring 22 is thereby pressed against the stationary contact spring 21 (in the direction of the ar--ow 27) by an actuation member 26, as a result whereof the contact force is produced. The contact force could also be produced hy a corresponding prestress of the movable contact spring 22, which would then yield a normally closed contact. An actuation memher would then have to act opposite the arrow 27 for opening the contact.
When, given a closed contact according to the illustration in Figure 3, a high current i flows across the two contact springs 21 and 22, then an electrodynamic force that is indicated by the arrow 28 results~ due to the two opposite current flows in the contact springs. This electrodynamic force attempts to press the two contact springs apart. When the contacting force exerted via the actuation member 26 or by a prestress is not adequate, then the electrodynamic forces can lead to an opening of the contacts. As 2~9~2 long as the magnet systems of high-current relays were designed correspondingly large, adequately high contacting forces were always produced in any case so that the electrodynamic open~ng forces did not take effect. Due to the general miniaturization even of relays for high breaking capacities given simultaneous reduction of the control power, the necessary contacting forces for carrying high pulsed currents may no longer be produced und~r certain circumstances with the magnet system that has been reduced in terms of its volume. As mentioned, the parallel contact springs are pressed apart by the electrodynamic forces, so that an opening of the contacts occurs during the current pulse. ~his results in a high-power arc ~,hat can lead to a welding of the contacts. Such pulse currents, for example, can be short-circuit currents of 1000 A, whereas the relay itself is designed only for a constant current of, for example ~ A.
In order to control this problem, considerably larger relays had to be previously employed than would ~lave been necessary for the constant current to be carried. The only other possibility was in accepting a welding of the contacts, given a short-circuit.
8UMMARY OF ~E _NVEN~ION
It is an object of the invention to create a contact spr'ing set of the type initially cited that resolves the aforementioned problem, whereby no opening of the contacts due to the electrodynamic forces is possible, even given the occurrence of extremely high currents.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that the contacting section of the first contact elemsnt is provided at a clip-shaped section bent off from the main part which embraces the second contact element. This is provided such that the contacting 210'~9~2 section of the second contact element lies between th2 ~ain part and the contacting section of the Eirst contact element.
In the invention, thus the contacting location between the two contact elements is turned, so to speak, toward the outside away from the parallel contact elements due to a corresponding, bow-shaped design of a contacting section. Thus, the contacting location no longer lies between the main parts of the two contact elements or contact springs, but lies at the outside of the one contact element. The switch motion and the direction of the contacting force are thus turned around, so that the electrodynamic forces between the main parts of the two contact ~lements no longer oppose the contacting force, but even internsify it.
BRIEF_DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGa Figure 1 is a contact spring set designed according to the invention, and shown schematically in a side view;
Figure 2 is a somewhat modified contact spring set shown in a perspectlve view; and Figure 3 is a side view oE a contact spring set of thP prior art already set forth above.
~CRIPTION OF THB PREFERRED ~MBODIM2N~
The contact spring set de~cribed in Figure 1 has a stationary contact spring 1 and a movable contact spring 2, both of which have their one end anchored in a carrier 3 and a main longitudinally extending part. The free end 2a of the movable contact spring is bent U-shaped around the free end la of the stationary contact spring, so that the contacting section 2b has its contact piece 5 residing opposite the outside of the stationary contact spring with its contact piece 4. The U-shaped section is thus formed of a middle segmQnt which is perpendicular to the main longitudinally ~ ~ 2~19~
extending main part of the contact element 2, and of an end segment serving as the contacting section 2b.
The closed condition of the contact shown in Figure 1 is procluced by an actuation member 6 that is moved in the direction of the arrow 7 and thus produces the contacting force. When an extremely high pulsed current i is not sent through the closed contact, electrodynamic forces 8 take effect that attempt to press the main parts of the contact springs 1 and 2 apart. Since the contacting, however, occurs between the outsides of the stationary contact spring 1 and the bent-off section 2b, the electrodynamic forces act in the direction of the contacting force and intensity it.
The principle of reversing the direction of the contactin~ force shown in Figure 1 can also be analogously applied for modified contact spring sets, and for break contacts as well.
The contact spring set of Figure 1 c70uld thus be operated as a break-contact if the contact spring 2 were pre-stressed in the direction of the arrow 7. The contact could then be opened in the direction of the arrow 7' with an actuation member 6'.
Figure 2 shows a futher example of a break-contact. Here, a stationary contact spring 11 is arranged together with a movable contact spring 12 such that a section lla bent of in bow-shaped fashion carries a contacting section llb at the outside of the movable contact spring 12. The contact pieces 14 and 15 in the illustrated example are in contacting contact with one another since this involves a break contact, i.e. a prestress in the direction of the arrow 17 holcls the contact closed in the quiescent condition. This contact can be opened with an actuation member 16 upon actuation. In this case too, a current pulse, together with the electrodynamic forces resulting therefrom, acts in the sense of closing the contact, so that a chattering or arc is also thus avoided.
Although various minor changes and modifications might be proposed by those skilled in the art, it will be understood that I wish to include within the claims of the patent warranted hereon all such changes and modifications as reasonably come within my contribution to the art.
The invention is directed to a contact spring set for high electrical currents having two elongated contact elements that have thair respective main parts arranged approximately parallel. The respective one ends of these contact elements are fastenad and their respective opposite free ends are movable relative to one another for the purpose of contacting.
Such a contact spring set of a traditional prior art type is shown in Figure 3 in terms of its fundamental structure. A
stationary contact spring 21 and a movable contact spring 22 are each respectively clamped in a carrier 23 at one side. They carry cont~ct pieces 24 and 25 in the proximity of their free ends, these contact pieces 24 and 25 touching one another in one switch position, and thus producing contact. The movable contact spring 22 is thereby pressed against the stationary contact spring 21 (in the direction of the ar--ow 27) by an actuation member 26, as a result whereof the contact force is produced. The contact force could also be produced hy a corresponding prestress of the movable contact spring 22, which would then yield a normally closed contact. An actuation memher would then have to act opposite the arrow 27 for opening the contact.
When, given a closed contact according to the illustration in Figure 3, a high current i flows across the two contact springs 21 and 22, then an electrodynamic force that is indicated by the arrow 28 results~ due to the two opposite current flows in the contact springs. This electrodynamic force attempts to press the two contact springs apart. When the contacting force exerted via the actuation member 26 or by a prestress is not adequate, then the electrodynamic forces can lead to an opening of the contacts. As 2~9~2 long as the magnet systems of high-current relays were designed correspondingly large, adequately high contacting forces were always produced in any case so that the electrodynamic open~ng forces did not take effect. Due to the general miniaturization even of relays for high breaking capacities given simultaneous reduction of the control power, the necessary contacting forces for carrying high pulsed currents may no longer be produced und~r certain circumstances with the magnet system that has been reduced in terms of its volume. As mentioned, the parallel contact springs are pressed apart by the electrodynamic forces, so that an opening of the contacts occurs during the current pulse. ~his results in a high-power arc ~,hat can lead to a welding of the contacts. Such pulse currents, for example, can be short-circuit currents of 1000 A, whereas the relay itself is designed only for a constant current of, for example ~ A.
In order to control this problem, considerably larger relays had to be previously employed than would ~lave been necessary for the constant current to be carried. The only other possibility was in accepting a welding of the contacts, given a short-circuit.
8UMMARY OF ~E _NVEN~ION
It is an object of the invention to create a contact spr'ing set of the type initially cited that resolves the aforementioned problem, whereby no opening of the contacts due to the electrodynamic forces is possible, even given the occurrence of extremely high currents.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that the contacting section of the first contact elemsnt is provided at a clip-shaped section bent off from the main part which embraces the second contact element. This is provided such that the contacting 210'~9~2 section of the second contact element lies between th2 ~ain part and the contacting section of the Eirst contact element.
In the invention, thus the contacting location between the two contact elements is turned, so to speak, toward the outside away from the parallel contact elements due to a corresponding, bow-shaped design of a contacting section. Thus, the contacting location no longer lies between the main parts of the two contact elements or contact springs, but lies at the outside of the one contact element. The switch motion and the direction of the contacting force are thus turned around, so that the electrodynamic forces between the main parts of the two contact ~lements no longer oppose the contacting force, but even internsify it.
BRIEF_DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGa Figure 1 is a contact spring set designed according to the invention, and shown schematically in a side view;
Figure 2 is a somewhat modified contact spring set shown in a perspectlve view; and Figure 3 is a side view oE a contact spring set of thP prior art already set forth above.
~CRIPTION OF THB PREFERRED ~MBODIM2N~
The contact spring set de~cribed in Figure 1 has a stationary contact spring 1 and a movable contact spring 2, both of which have their one end anchored in a carrier 3 and a main longitudinally extending part. The free end 2a of the movable contact spring is bent U-shaped around the free end la of the stationary contact spring, so that the contacting section 2b has its contact piece 5 residing opposite the outside of the stationary contact spring with its contact piece 4. The U-shaped section is thus formed of a middle segmQnt which is perpendicular to the main longitudinally ~ ~ 2~19~
extending main part of the contact element 2, and of an end segment serving as the contacting section 2b.
The closed condition of the contact shown in Figure 1 is procluced by an actuation member 6 that is moved in the direction of the arrow 7 and thus produces the contacting force. When an extremely high pulsed current i is not sent through the closed contact, electrodynamic forces 8 take effect that attempt to press the main parts of the contact springs 1 and 2 apart. Since the contacting, however, occurs between the outsides of the stationary contact spring 1 and the bent-off section 2b, the electrodynamic forces act in the direction of the contacting force and intensity it.
The principle of reversing the direction of the contactin~ force shown in Figure 1 can also be analogously applied for modified contact spring sets, and for break contacts as well.
The contact spring set of Figure 1 c70uld thus be operated as a break-contact if the contact spring 2 were pre-stressed in the direction of the arrow 7. The contact could then be opened in the direction of the arrow 7' with an actuation member 6'.
Figure 2 shows a futher example of a break-contact. Here, a stationary contact spring 11 is arranged together with a movable contact spring 12 such that a section lla bent of in bow-shaped fashion carries a contacting section llb at the outside of the movable contact spring 12. The contact pieces 14 and 15 in the illustrated example are in contacting contact with one another since this involves a break contact, i.e. a prestress in the direction of the arrow 17 holcls the contact closed in the quiescent condition. This contact can be opened with an actuation member 16 upon actuation. In this case too, a current pulse, together with the electrodynamic forces resulting therefrom, acts in the sense of closing the contact, so that a chattering or arc is also thus avoided.
Although various minor changes and modifications might be proposed by those skilled in the art, it will be understood that I wish to include within the claims of the patent warranted hereon all such changes and modifications as reasonably come within my contribution to the art.
Claims (7)
1. A contact spring set for high electrical currents, comprising:
two elongated contact elements which have respective main parts arranged approximately parallel, and which each have their respective one ends secured and their respective opposite free ends movable relative to one another so as to permit contacting;
a contacting section of the first contact element being provided at a bent bow-shaped section extending from the main part and which partially surrounds a contacting section of the second contact element; and the contacting section of the second contact element lying between the main part of the first contact element and the contacting section of the first contact element.
two elongated contact elements which have respective main parts arranged approximately parallel, and which each have their respective one ends secured and their respective opposite free ends movable relative to one another so as to permit contacting;
a contacting section of the first contact element being provided at a bent bow-shaped section extending from the main part and which partially surrounds a contacting section of the second contact element; and the contacting section of the second contact element lying between the main part of the first contact element and the contacting section of the first contact element.
2. A contact spring set according to claim 1 wherein the bent bow-shaped section of the first contact element partially surrounds the free end of the second contact element.
3. A contact spring set according to claim 1 wherein the bent bow-shaped section of the first contact element is positioned to one side of and laterally partially surrounds the contacting section of the second contact element.
4. A contact spring set for high electrical currents, comprising:
first and second longitudinally extending contact elements having respective main parts arranged approximately parallel to one another, and having respective one ends secured and respective opposite free ends movable relative to one another to permit electrical contact between the free ends via first and second contact pieces;
the second contact element having the first contact piece adjacent its free end on a surface facing away from the first contact element; and the first contact element having an approximately U-shaped end section wrapping around and partially surrounding the free end of the second contact element, an end segment of the U-shaped section having the second contact piece mounted on a surface which is facing towards and aligned with the second contact element first contact piece such that when the main part of the first contact element is moved away from the main part of the second contact element, the first and second contact pieces make contact, and when the main part of the first contact element and the main part of the second contact element are moved towards each other the first and second contact pieces break contact.
first and second longitudinally extending contact elements having respective main parts arranged approximately parallel to one another, and having respective one ends secured and respective opposite free ends movable relative to one another to permit electrical contact between the free ends via first and second contact pieces;
the second contact element having the first contact piece adjacent its free end on a surface facing away from the first contact element; and the first contact element having an approximately U-shaped end section wrapping around and partially surrounding the free end of the second contact element, an end segment of the U-shaped section having the second contact piece mounted on a surface which is facing towards and aligned with the second contact element first contact piece such that when the main part of the first contact element is moved away from the main part of the second contact element, the first and second contact pieces make contact, and when the main part of the first contact element and the main part of the second contact element are moved towards each other the first and second contact pieces break contact.
5. A contact spring set according to claim 4 wherein the second contact element U-shaped section is formed of a middle segment which is substantially perpendicular to the main part, and wherein an actuation member is connected near a junction of the V-shaped section end segment and the middle segment.
6. A contact spring set for high electrical currents, comprising:
first and second longitudinally extending contact elements which each have respective main parts arranged approximately parallel to one another, and which each have respective one ends secured and respective opposite free ends movable relative to one another so as to permit electrical contacting between first and second contact pieces of the contact elements;
the first contact element having a laterally extending approximately U-shaped bent section at the free end thereof which laterally loops around a portion of the main part of the second contact element at one side edge thereof; and the first contact piece being provided at a contact section portion of the main part of the second contact element on a surface of the second contact element facing away from the main part of the first contact element, and the second contact piece being provided at an end segment of the U-shaped bent section and on a surface thereof facing and in alignment with the first contact piece of the second contact element such that when the main parts of the first and second contact elements are spread apart from one another, the first and second contact pieces make contact, and when the first and second contact element main parts are moved towards each other, a contact is broken between the first and second contact pieces.
first and second longitudinally extending contact elements which each have respective main parts arranged approximately parallel to one another, and which each have respective one ends secured and respective opposite free ends movable relative to one another so as to permit electrical contacting between first and second contact pieces of the contact elements;
the first contact element having a laterally extending approximately U-shaped bent section at the free end thereof which laterally loops around a portion of the main part of the second contact element at one side edge thereof; and the first contact piece being provided at a contact section portion of the main part of the second contact element on a surface of the second contact element facing away from the main part of the first contact element, and the second contact piece being provided at an end segment of the U-shaped bent section and on a surface thereof facing and in alignment with the first contact piece of the second contact element such that when the main parts of the first and second contact elements are spread apart from one another, the first and second contact pieces make contact, and when the first and second contact element main parts are moved towards each other, a contact is broken between the first and second contact pieces.
7. A contact spring set according to claim 6 wherein the free end of the second contact element extends beyond the free end of the first contact element, and wherein an actuation member is provided at the free end of the second contact element.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19904026425 DE4026425C1 (en) | 1990-08-21 | 1990-08-21 | |
| DEP4026425.4 | 1990-08-21 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2049462A1 true CA2049462A1 (en) | 1992-02-22 |
Family
ID=6412627
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2049462 Abandoned CA2049462A1 (en) | 1990-08-21 | 1991-08-19 | Contact spring set for high electrical currents |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0471893A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH04233112A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2049462A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4026425C1 (en) |
| PT (1) | PT98728A (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SI9300215A (en) * | 1992-05-15 | 1993-12-31 | Siemens Ag | Contact spring arrangement for a relay for conducting and swiching high currents |
| GB9317260D0 (en) * | 1993-08-19 | 1993-10-06 | Blp Components Ltd | Solenoid operated switching devices |
| DE4409108C2 (en) * | 1994-03-17 | 1996-03-28 | Kostal Leopold Gmbh & Co Kg | Electric four-way switch |
| DE19532762A1 (en) * | 1995-09-05 | 1997-03-06 | Siemens Ag | Electromagnetic load current relay with PCB mounting |
| DE102006022912A1 (en) * | 2006-05-15 | 2007-11-22 | Gruner Ag | Relay with contact force reinforcement |
| JP5838920B2 (en) * | 2011-07-18 | 2016-01-06 | アンデン株式会社 | relay |
| CN102903576B (en) * | 2012-10-27 | 2015-06-03 | 东莞市三友联众电器有限公司 | Reed switch assembly of magnetic latching relay |
| EP2806441B1 (en) * | 2013-05-24 | 2017-07-12 | Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH | Electric switching device with enhanced Lorentz force bias |
| CN105097307A (en) * | 2014-05-15 | 2015-11-25 | 沈阳工业大学 | Novel control and protection switch contact system |
| JP7066996B2 (en) | 2017-08-10 | 2022-05-16 | オムロン株式会社 | Electromagnetic relay |
| DE102019101074B4 (en) * | 2019-01-16 | 2021-08-12 | Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg | Relay, arrangement and method for determining an armature position of a relay |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB575823A (en) * | 1943-04-16 | 1946-03-06 | British Thomson Houston Co Ltd | Improvements in and relating to electric switches with electrodynamically-reinforcedcontact |
| BE534764A (en) * | 1954-02-04 | Merlin Gerin | ||
| DE1665958A1 (en) * | 1967-06-12 | 1971-04-08 | Siemens Ag | Heavy-duty contact arrangement |
| DE1915991A1 (en) * | 1969-03-28 | 1970-10-08 | Gross Hans | Toy building set |
| GB1251902A (en) * | 1969-05-23 | 1971-11-03 | ||
| IT1038809B (en) * | 1974-06-21 | 1979-11-30 | Siemens Ag | ELECTRIC MANEUVERING DEVICE |
-
1990
- 1990-08-21 DE DE19904026425 patent/DE4026425C1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-12-18 EP EP19900124632 patent/EP0471893A3/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1991
- 1991-08-16 JP JP20533491A patent/JPH04233112A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-08-19 CA CA 2049462 patent/CA2049462A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-08-20 PT PT9872891A patent/PT98728A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0471893A2 (en) | 1992-02-26 |
| DE4026425C1 (en) | 1992-02-27 |
| JPH04233112A (en) | 1992-08-21 |
| EP0471893A3 (en) | 1992-08-05 |
| PT98728A (en) | 1993-09-30 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |