CN101159194B

CN101159194B - A safe electric switch

Info

Publication number: CN101159194B
Application number: CN200710161681XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·福里奥特; E·雷茹
Original assignee: Legrand SA; Legrand SNC
Current assignee: Legrand SA; Legrand SNC
Priority date: 2006-10-05
Filing date: 2007-09-28
Publication date: 2010-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-28
Also published as: CN101159194A; GB2442555A; GB0718125D0; FR2906928B1; FR2906928A1; GB2442555B

Abstract

An electric switch comprising an actuator mounted to rock between an ON position and an OFF position, the positions being situated on either side of an equilibrium axis, and a moving contact element along which one end of the actuator travels to cause it to rock between a closed position and an open position that correspond to the ON and OFF positions of the actuator, the switch being characterised in that the actuator and the moving contact element include complementary abutment means comprising two rounded projections, one of the projections being on the moving contact element and the other projection being on the actuator, the curved abutment surfaces of the projections presenting parallel tangents spaced apart by a distance lying in the range 0.5 mm to 1 mm when the actuator is placed in the ON position, and in that in the ON position, the contact zone of the end of the actuator on the moving contact element is situated at a distance from the equilibrium axis that is determined in such a manner than when the moving contact element is held in the closed position and the actuator is rocked from its ON position towards its OFF position, the end of the actuator travels on the moving contact element until the abutment means come into abutment against each other before the contact zone reaches the equilibrium axis.

Description

Safe electric switch

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of electric switch, comprise that one is mounted to an actuator and a movable contact element of swinging between the connection that is positioned at trunnion shaft line both sides (ON) position and disconnection (OFF) position, an end of this actuator move on this activity contact element so that this contact element and the on-position of described actuator and corresponding make position of open position and open position between swing.

The present invention is particularly advantageous for making circuit breaker or variable connector.A kind of best application especially is to make two polar form electric switches, wherein switch enclosure has two switch gear rooms, independently movable contact element is separately contained in described two switch gear rooms, and described contact element is activated and swung by the single actuator with two control levers.

Background technology

ASTA authentication requesting electric switch must meet the part 2 and the 4th part of the sequence 9 of British Standard BS1363.

This sequence definition is remained on make position singularly when movable contact element, particularly because the safety condition that the actuator of electric switch must satisfy when being bonded on the fixedly contact element of switch, is operated in fusing.

More particularly, in order to meet these safety conditions, when movable contact element was remained on the fixing contacted make position of contact element singularly, the installed part of the swing of actuator must stop the user that actuator is rocked to open position.

Known electric switch does not meet this standard at present.

Known appliance switch is designed to, when movable contact element and fixedly contact element keep bonding and actuator when being positioned at on-position, user by the operating key of hydraulic actuator can make this actuator swing, crosses to be positioned at until the end of moving on movable contact element of this actuator to switch on and off position balance axis midway.

Has crossed after this balance axis the end of actuator, the pressure that is applied on the movable contact element by actuator will increase, arrive in its connection extreme position and the centre position between the disconnection extreme position until actuator, but very near open position, and card ends on movable contact element.Frictional force and very big by the actuator applied pressure is to such an extent as to actuator keeps card to end in the centre position near open position.

Summary of the invention

With respect to above-mentioned prior art, the present invention aims to provide a kind of novel electric switch that meets the requirement of British Standard BS1363.

More specifically, the invention provides a kind of as the electric switch defined in the introduction, wherein actuator and movable contact element comprise complementary backstop (overlap joint, butt joint) device, the stop device of described complementation comprises two projections that round (rounding), one of them projection is on movable contact element, another projection is on actuator, described projection has crooked stop surface, described crooked stop surface has parallel tangent line, when described actuator is positioned at on-position, the be separated by distance of 0.5mm-1mm of described tangent line; At this on-position, contact area and this balance axis of the described end of actuator on described movable contact element separates certain distance, this distance is determined like this: when described movable contact element remain on make position and described actuator from on-position when open position is swung, described stop device can be before described contact area arrives described balance axis overlap joint mutually.

Advantageously, in electric switch according to the present invention, actuator comprises a bar, at on-position or open position, this bar does not prop up any part by this switch, when movable contact element remained on the fixing contacted make position of contact element singularly, actuator still kept being swung the ability that moves or slide with on movable contact element.Thereby, attempt to make actuator when open position is swung when movable contact element remains on singularly with fixedly contacted make position of contact element and user, the swing of actuator is installed and is stoped described actuator to move to open position and make this actuator return on-position automatically.

In first preferred embodiment according to switch of the present invention, the balance axis is with respect to the symmetry axis deflection of the angle of oscillation of actuator, so that the stroke of actuator from the on-position to the open position is longer than the stroke of this actuator from the open position to the on-position.

In this embodiment, the angle of deviation between preferred balance axis and the described symmetry axis is about 2 °.

In second preferred embodiment according to switch of the present invention, the described end of actuator has asymmetric shape.

In this embodiment, preferably, described end has cam contour, and it has the inclined-plane of two different lengths and gradient, and assembles towards the top that rounds.

The described contact area of described end is positioned at the position that longer inclined-plane engages with the described top that rounds.

In the 3rd preferred embodiment according to switch of the present invention, actuator comprises an operating key and a bar that uses (user can touch) for the user, this bar has the free end that moves on described movable contact element, this bar has the symmetry axis with respect to the symmetry axis inclination of described operating key.

In this embodiment, preferably, the gradient of the described symmetry axis of bar is about 2 °.

The favourable non-limiting feature of other of electric switch of the present invention is as follows:

When described actuator is positioned at on-position, the be separated by distance of 0.7mm-0.8mm of the parallel tangent line of crooked stop surface;

Actuator comprises the operating key that is fixed on the bar, and this bar comprises and accommodate helical spring cylinder chamber, and this helical spring rests on the plunger with protuberance, and this protuberance constitutes the described end of actuator;

Described movable contact element comprises the metal blade (reed) that at one end carries silver contact ball (projection, projection), and described metal blade is mounted on a metal band and swings;

Electric switch is the two-photo pole switch (two-pole switch) that is used to cut off live wire and zero line, and it has two movable contact elements of independence that activated by single actuator, and this single actuator has two bearing ends and an operating key.

Description of drawings

The explanation that provides by non-limiting example clearly show that structure of the present invention and enforcement thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1A, 1B, 1C are the perspective schematic view of the box body inside of electric switch of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the partial side view of electric switch first embodiment of the present invention, and wherein actuator is in on-position;

Fig. 3 is the zoomed-in view of the local I II of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is the zoomed-in view of the local I V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is the partial side view of the electric switch of Fig. 2, and wherein actuator is positioned at and switches on and off the middle unstable position of extreme position;

Fig. 6 is the partial view of the plunger of the actuator of electric switch among Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is the partial side view that electric switch of the present invention second is executed example, and wherein actuator is in on-position;

Fig. 8 is the partial side view of the electric switch of Fig. 7, and wherein actuator is positioned at and switches on and off the middle unstable position of extreme position;

Fig. 9 is the partial view of the actuator of electric switch among Figure 10;

Figure 10 is the partial side view that electric switch the 3rd of the present invention is executed example, and wherein actuator is in on-position; And

Figure 11 is the partial side view of the electric switch of Figure 10, and wherein actuator is positioned at and switches on and off the middle unstable position of extreme position.

Embodiment

At first, from each accompanying drawing as can be seen, shown among each different embodiment same or analogous element all represent as possible with identical Reference numeral, and do not carry out repeat specification.

Figure 1A, 1B, 1C, 2,7 and 10 illustrate three embodiment of electric switch 1, this electric switch 1 for example is circuit breaker or variable connector, and comprise the box body of making by insulating material 100, this box body holds the

electric contacts

20,30 and the actuator 10 of metal, this actuator is used to form and disconnects electrically contacting between

electric contacts

20,30.

More particularly, shown in Fig. 2,7 and 10, electric switch 1 in its box body 100, accommodate at least one fixedly contact element 30 and at least one be suitable for occupying the movable contact element 20 of two extreme positions, described extreme position promptly with fixing contact element 30 contacted make positions and the open position that disengages with fixing contact element 30.

The form of shown each

contact element

20,30 all is a metal blade, and this blade at one end carries

silver contact ball

21,31.

The metal blade of movable contact element 20 is mounted to swing on the metal band 40 of pressurization, and this metal band 40 is placed on the bottom of the dimple 110 in the box body 100 (seeing Figure 1A, 1B, 1C).

Metal band 40 is connected to a terminal (not shown) that is used to connect from the supply lines of power line, so that to electric switch 1 power supply.

Metal band 40 is the form of blade, and it has a curved end 41 that comprises linear edge 42, and the core 23 of the metal blade of movable contact element 20 leans against on this linear edge.Linear edge 42 formation activity contact elements 20 around pivot with pivotal axis from an extreme position to another extreme position.

In the both sides of this core 23, movable contact element 20 all has on two vertical sides by corresponding protuberance 22, and described protuberance props up the internal rib 120 (referring to Figure 1A, 1B, 1C) by box body 100.These are used for being stabilized in the movable contact element 20 of the dimple 110 of box body 100 by protuberances 22 of internal rib 120, prop up linear edge 42 simultaneously by metal band 40 so that the contact area between metal band 40 and the movable contact element 20 be enough to make the electric current that is applicable between these two metal blades by and can not cause heating.

Shown in Fig. 2,7 and 10, electric switch 1 comprises actuator 10, and this actuator 10 is mounted to be swung between the on-position of trunnion shaft line X1 both sides and open position.

Actuator 10 has an end 17A, 17 ' A, and this end is moved on described movable contact element 20 or slided so that should the activity contact element and the on-position of described actuator 10 and corresponding make position of open position and open position between swing.

Actuator 10 is an insulating material part, its have the operating key 11 that uses for the user and comprise the

bar

13,13 of cylinder chamber 15 ', this cylinder chamber 15 accommodates helical spring 16, this helical spring one end leans against on the end wall of this cylinder chamber 15, the other end lean against plunger 17,17 ' on, front end 17A, the 17 ' A of described plunger leans against on the movable contact element 20.Front end 17A, the 17 ' A of the end of the described actuator 10 of the formation of plunger 17 have cam contour, and this cam contour has two inclined-planes assembling towards the top that rounds.

Operating key 11 can be installed in the

bar

13,13 of actuator ' on, it is integrally formed to constitute integrated part with this bar perhaps can (to pass through moulding of plastics materials).

For forming the edge 12 of backstop (docking section), this backstop is suitable for cooperating with the complementary backstop (not shown) of box body 100 actuator 10 is remained on its two respectively and switches on and off extreme position around the operating key 11.

On the contrary, switch on and off extreme position, any part that the bar 13,13 ' not of actuator 10 props up by electric switch at these two.Therefore, when movable contact element 20 remains on singularly with fixing contact element 30 contacts make position, actuator 10 still keeps the possibility of swing to move or to slide on movable contact element 20.

In the both sides of operating key 11, actuator 10 has two minor axis 11A that specialize the pivot axis of this actuator.These minor axises 11A is designed to interlock and advances in supporting member (bearing) (not shown) of box body 100 of electric switch 1 so that actuator 10 is installed in the box body 100 pivotally.

The pivot axis of actuator 10 and movable contact element 20 is parallel to each other.

Balance axis X1 extends perpendicular to the pivot axis of described actuator 10 and movable contact element 20, and the both sides of this balance axis are the position that switches on and off of actuator, the closure of just movable contact element 20 and open position.

The pivot axis of this balance axis X1 and movable contact element 20 intersects at the place, crosspoint that is called balance point I (referring to Fig. 4), and the pivot axis of this activity contact element 20 is specialized by the linear edge 42 at 41 places, curve end of metal band 40.

As Fig. 3,5, more specifically illustrate in 8 and 11, substantive characteristics according to electric switch 1, actuator 10 and movable contact element 20 have

complementary stop device

14,24, at on-position, the described end 17A of actuator 10, the contact area 17B of 17 ' A on described movable contact element 20,17 ' B and balance axis X1 are at a distance of certain distance, this distance is determined like this: when described movable contact element 20 remains on make position (for example its contact bead 21 owing to melt is bonded on the contact bead 31 of fixing contact element 30), and described actuator 10 is when on-position is flapped toward open position, described

stop device

14,24 can be at described contact area 17B, 17 ' B reaches described balance axis X1 (particularly reaching described balance point I) and overlaps mutually before.

In first embodiment of the electric switch shown in Fig. 2 to 51, balance axis X1 is with respect to the symmetry axis X2 deflection of the angle of oscillation of actuator 10, so that the stroke of actuator 10 from the on-position to the open position is longer than the stroke of this actuator 10 from the open position to the on-position.

Preferably, balance axis X1 is about 2 ° with respect to the skew of described symmetry axis X2.

Balance axis X1 (or balance point I) and be in described fixed distance between the described contact area 17B of end 17A of actuator 10 of on-position corresponding to about 11.2 ° angle A 1, this angle is formed between the symmetry axis X3 of balance axis X1 and actuator 10, and this symmetry axis X3 passes the top that rounds of the protuberance 17A of plunger 17.

At this on-position, the angle A 2 that is formed between the symmetry axis X2 of angle of oscillation of the symmetry axis X3 of actuator 10 and actuator 10 is about 9.1 °.

In second embodiment of the electric switch shown in Fig. 6 to 81, the end 17 ' A of described actuator 10 has asymmetric shape.

More specifically, this plunger 17 ' have cylindrical body and a protuberance 17 ' A that symmetry axis is X3, the top that rounds of this protuberance is with respect to described symmetry axis X3 slightly deflect.Protuberance 17 ' A has cam contour, and this cam contour has two inclined-planes, the gradient that described inclined-plane has different length and assembles towards the top that rounds.

As more specifically illustrating among Fig. 8, in this second embodiment, balance axis X1 overlaps with the symmetry axis X2 of the angle of oscillation of actuator 10.Protuberance 17 ' the A of the plunger 17 of actuator 10 is at the described contact area 17 ' B on the movable contact element 20 long inclined-plane and the joint between the described top that rounds in protuberance 17 ' A.This contact area 17 ' B with respect to plunger 17 ' cylindrical body and the symmetry axis X3 slightly deflect of the operating key 11 of actuator 10.

In the 3rd embodiment of the electric switch shown in Fig. 9 to 11 1, balance axis X1 overlaps with the symmetry axis X2 of the angle of oscillation of actuator 10, the symmetry axis X4 that the symmetry axis X3 of the described relatively operating key 11 of the bar 13 of actuator 10 ' have tilts.Bar 13 ' the angle of inclination A3 of described symmetry axis X4 preferably be about 2 °.

In addition, as can from Fig. 2 and 3, finding out more significantly, the stop device of the described complementation of movable contact element 20 and actuator 10 comprises the projection that rounds 24,14 that lays respectively on movable contact element 20 and the actuator 10, described projection has convex bending

stop surface

24A, 14A, when described actuator 10 is positioned at on-position, parallel tangents T, the T ' of described

stop surface

24A, 14A be separated by about 0.5mm (millimeter) to 1mm apart from d.

When described actuator 10 is positioned at on-position, parallel tangents T, the T ' of described

crooked stop surface

24A, 14A preferably be separated by 0.7mm-0.8mm apart from d.

The operation of above-mentioned each embodiment is as described below.

For opening fixedly electrically contacting between the contact element 30 and movable contact element 20, the user exerts pressure so that this actuator is flapped toward open position from on-position on the operating key 11 of actuator 10.

In normal running, when movable contact element 20 is not bonded to fixedly contact element 30, from on-position, the

plunger

17,17 of actuator 10 ' contact area 17B, the 17 ' B of protuberance 17A, 17 ' A at the metal blade of following of helical spring thrust by movable contact element 20, move until arriving balance point I (or balance axis X1) along described blade then.

When described contact area 17B, 17 ' B arrived balance point I, actuator 10 swung to the opposite side of balance axis X1 towards open position, and drove described movable contact element 20 to its open position swing.

In abnormal operation, when the contact ball 21 of movable contact element 20 because fusing (for example because arcing) when being bonded to the contact ball 21 of fixing contact element 30, from on-position, the plunger 17 of actuator 10,17 ' protuberance 17A, the contact area 17B of 17 ' A, 17 ' B is at following metal blade by movable contact element 20 of helical spring thrust, move up to the projection that round 14 of actuator 10 along described blade then with

movable contact element

20,24

crooked stop surface

14A, 24A overlaps mutually, the more stroke thereby prevention actuator 10 advances.

Advantageously, at lap position, the

plunger

17,17 of actuator 10 ' contact area 17B, the 17 ' B of protuberance 17A, 17 ' A against the metal blade of movable contact element 20 still do not reach balance point I, and because actuator 10 no show balance axis X1, when the user discharged the pressure that is applied on the operating key 11, actuator automatically returned to its initial on-position.

Thereby in secured fashion, the operating key 11 of actuator 10 notifies user's electric switch 1 can not be switched to open position owing to fault.

The present invention is in no way limited to embodiment illustrated and that illustrate, and those skilled in the art can spirit according to the present invention make any variations.

Especially, in a kind of modification, electric switch can be designed to act on the two-photo pole switch of fire (phase) line and zero line.The box body of this switch has two switch gear rooms (being similar to the dimple 110 of Figure 1A), and each switch gear room holds fixedly contact element 30 and the movable contact element 20 on the silver 40 of being pivoted on separately.

The actuator of this switch has single operating key and two ends that are positioned at equal height, and prop up by two parallel and independently movable contact elements, so that they swing to another extreme position from an extreme position described end.

Particularly, actuator has one and is fixed on two operating keys 11 on the parallel bar 13, each bar all has the cylinder chamber 15 of holding helical spring 16, and described helical spring props up by plunger 17, the 17 ' A with protuberance 17A, 17 ' A, and described protuberance constitutes the described end of actuator.

Actuator is mounted in the switch gear room to be swung between the on-position of single balance axis both sides and open position.The oscillating motion of this actuator activates this two movable contact elements simultaneously, so that they pivot opening between extreme position and the closed limit.

Favourable layout of the present invention can be applicable to every pair of movable contact element and actuator.

By this favourable layout, in this two-photo pole switch, one in two movable contact elements keeps the corresponding fixedly contact element of bonding, and another movable contact element is when keeping freely pivoting, because actuator returns on-position automatically, so the pivoting action of free movable contact element can not cause the risk that actuator is strayed into open position, it is that the stop device of the movable contact element of bonding and the described complementation of actuator overlaps mutually because reach described balance axis (or described balance point I) before in the described end of actuator that this actuator returns on-position automatically.

Claims

1. an electric switch (1) comprising: actuator (10), and this actuator is mounted between on-position and open position and swings, and described on-position and open position are positioned at the both sides of balance axis (X1); And movable contact element (20), an end (17A of this actuator (10); 17 ' A) move so that should swing between make position and open position by the activity contact element along this activity contact element, described make position and open position are corresponding to the on-position and the open position of described actuator (10), this switch is characterised in that described actuator (10) and movable contact element (20) comprise complementary stop device (14; 24), the stop device of described complementation comprises two projections that round (14; 24), one of them projection (24) on movable contact element (20), another projection (14) on actuator (10), the crooked stop surface (24A of described projection; 14A) have parallel tangent line (T, T '), when described actuator is positioned at on-position, the be separated by distance (d) of 0.5mm-1mm of described parallel tangent line; At this on-position, the described end (17A of actuator (10); 17 ' A) the contact area (17B on described movable contact element (20); 17 ' B) with described balance axis (X1) at a distance of certain distance, this distance is specified to feasible, when described movable contact element (20) remain on make position and described actuator (10) from on-position when open position is swung, at described contact area (17B; 17 ' B) arrive described balance axis (X1) before, the described end (17A of actuator (10); 17 ' A) can upward move until described stop device (14 at described movable contact element (20); 24) overlap mutually.

2. electric switch according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, balance axis (X1) is with respect to symmetry axis (X2) deflection of the angle of oscillation of actuator (10), so that the stroke of actuator (10) from the on-position to the open position is longer than the stroke of this actuator (10) from the open position to the on-position.

3. electric switch according to claim 2 is characterized in that, the deflection between described balance axis (X1) and the described symmetry axis (X2) is about 2 °.

4. electric switch according to claim 1 is characterized in that, (17 ' A) have asymmetric shape in the described end of actuator.

5. according to the electric switch of claim 4, it is characterized in that (17 ' A) have cam contour, and this cam contour has top and length two inclined-planes different with gradient that round, and described two inclined-planes are assembled towards this top that rounds in described end.

6. according to the electric switch of claim 5, it is characterized in that ((17 ' B) are positioned at the position that long inclined-plane and the described top that rounds engage to 17 ' A) described contact area in described end.

7. electric switch according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, this actuator (10) comprises an operating key (11) and a bar (13 ') that uses for the user, this bar (13 ') has the free end that moves on described movable contact element, and has the symmetry axis (X4) with respect to symmetry axis (X3) inclination of described operating key (11).

8. electric switch according to claim 7 is characterized in that, the described symmetry axis (X4) of described bar (13 ') is about 2 ° with respect to the angle of inclination of the symmetry axis (X3) of described operating key (11).

9. according to the electric switch of claim 1, it is characterized in that, when described actuator is positioned at on-position, described crooked stop surface (24A; Parallel tangent line (T 14A); T ') at a distance of the distance (d) of 0.7mm-0.8mm.

10. according to the electric switch of claim 1, it is characterized in that actuator (10) comprises and is fixed on bar (13; 13 ') on operating key (11), this bar (13; 13 ') comprising the cylinder chamber (15) that accommodates helical spring (16), this helical spring props up by having protuberance (17A; 17 ' A) plunger (17; 17 '), described protuberance constitutes the described end of actuator.

11. the electric switch according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described movable contact element (20) comprises metal blade, and this metal blade at one end carries silver contact ball (21), and described metal blade is mounted at metal band (40) and goes up swing.

12. electric switch according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, this electric switch is the two-photo pole switch that is used to cut off live wire and zero line, this switch has two independently movable contact elements (20) that activated by single actuator, and this single actuator has two bearing ends and only has an operating key.