EP0189689B1 - Electrical switch with screen - Google Patents

Electrical switch with screen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0189689B1
EP0189689B1 EP85402426A EP85402426A EP0189689B1 EP 0189689 B1 EP0189689 B1 EP 0189689B1 EP 85402426 A EP85402426 A EP 85402426A EP 85402426 A EP85402426 A EP 85402426A EP 0189689 B1 EP0189689 B1 EP 0189689B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
screen
arc
contact elements
contact
edge
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
Application number
EP85402426A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0189689A1 (en
Inventor
Elie Belbel
André Haury
Christian Blanchard
Michel Lauraire
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Telemecanique SA
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Telemecanique Electrique SA
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Priority to AT85402426T priority Critical patent/ATE44110T1/en
Publication of EP0189689A1 publication Critical patent/EP0189689A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0189689B1 publication Critical patent/EP0189689B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/32—Insulating body insertable between contacts

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a screen switch device having, on the one hand, two contact parts movable with respect to each other between a closed state where the contact pads touch each other, and an open state where the pads are separated and, on the other hand, an insulating screen which comes to interpose the pellets by performing from a starting position towards a working position, a movement during which the arc appearing at the opening is moved by an active edge of the screen and at the end of which the arc is completely destabilized against insulating walls.
  • Electric switches are already known using arc deflector devices, which take the form of horns placed in the vicinity of the contact pads on the free ends of the contact parts, and which have, with respect to the general direction of these parts , a change of orientation such as the natural development of the arc effected under the effect of electrodynamic repulsion forces, brings the feet of these arcs on these horns and consequently avoids their parking on said pellets.
  • the orientations, curvatures, shapes or positions given to these horns are essentially based on the assumption that the current flowing in the arc is high enough for this development to be possible; the same measures can be taken if a development or a swelling of the arc is assisted by the presence of a local magnetic field, which can be induced or permanent and which is suitably oriented to favor the speed of displacement.
  • the desired increase in the arc voltage results from its elongation, while the fact of installing the feet of these arcs on the horns avoids consumption of the noble metal of the contact pads; in these known devices, the orientations of these horns are generally divergent and the arc elongation phenomenon can be accelerated by the use of an insulating screen passing between the contact pads, as described in the patents FR-A-1 541 810 and FR-A-1 238 660.
  • the invention therefore proposes to bring to a screen switch, the general constitution of which corresponds to that which is mentioned above, improvements capable of considerably reducing the wear of the contact pads and, consequently, to practically eliminate the drawbacks which result therefrom, in particular when the size of the switch, the level of fault currents to be interrupted and the size of the device which uses it, make it difficult to implement other means.
  • the switch device comprises, on the one hand, two contact elements, respectively carried by two support parts, at least one of which is movable relative to the other, between a closed state where the contact elements touch and an open state where the contact elements are separated from each other and, on the other hand, an insulating screen which comes quickly to come between the contact elements by carrying out, from a starting position, towards a working position, a movement during which the arc appearing at the opening is moved along conductive deflectors which extend the support parts, beyond the contact elements , by an active edge of the screen, displacement at the end of which the arc is completely destabilized against insulating walls.
  • This switching device is more particularly characterized in that the above deflectors are oriented and / or shaped so that for each pair of positions of the contact elements and of the edge of the screen, following the passage of said edge between the elements contact, there is, at each instant, between two points of these extensions, a possible arc path which passes through a point of said edge and which is shorter than the path passing at the same time through the contact elements and said point from the edge, and in that it comprises means for propelling the screen designed so that said screen arrives with a high speed between the two contact elements, when these two elements are separated one of the '' by a distance slightly greater than its thickness, so that, thanks to the above-mentioned conformation of the extensions and at said speed of the screen, the arc moves with a minimum elongation up to the vicinity of said walls, following said possible path at all times.
  • a switch 1, see FIG. 1, implementing the invention mainly comprises a first contact piece 2 which, here, is fixed, and which therefore carries a fixed contact pad 4, a movable contact piece 3 which, here , is represented by a lever 5 pivoting about an axis 9 and carrying a movable contact 7, elastic means 6 which provide the necessary contact pressure, a flexible current supply conductor 11, a mechanical means 10 making it possible to operate the opening of the contacts, a thin insulating screen 17, which is guided in an insulating housing 12 for example along grooves 13 thereof to establish effective isolation between its two opposite faces, and a slot or transverse groove 14 , which is carried by a wall 15 of the housing, which is connected to an expansion channel 19, and which is placed close to the switch to receive the edge 16 of the screen when the latter moves to the left between a starting or rest point 10, and a point t arrival or work 8.
  • the screen 17 can, for example, be propelled at the moment of the appearance of an overcurrent of current J by the mechanism 10 when the latter is released by the effects of a coil 26 placed in series in the circuit 18 which also includes a conductor 27 between terminals 24, 25; in a first variant, the screen can be propelled by a previously armed elastic means 29 which is itself released by a pallet, or core, or striker 30 associated with the coil 26 or by the mechanism 10.
  • Resetting means not illustrated make it possible to restore to the mobile contact and to the screen, after automatic opening, rest positions identical to those of FIG. 1.
  • the edge of the screen arrives with a high speed between the two contact pads. when these are temporarily separated by an amount slightly greater than its thickness -e-. It then operates a destabilization of the arc when it abuts against the wall or when the front edge of the screen enters the slot 14 when it exists.
  • the contact pieces have been provided with conductive extensions, deflectors 20 and 21 respectively, which are directed in the directions of movement Q of the screen, and whose facing surfaces 22, 23, unlike the previous arrangements of the horns, do not diverge significantly, at least in regions immediately adjacent to these pellets.
  • the breaking chamber 28 and therefore the movement of the movable contact are small.
  • the surfaces where the arc feet circulate preferably extend as far as the vicinity of the slot in the housing into which the end of the screen penetrates, and that the angular travel performed by the movable contact when carried by a pivoting lever, must not be too high so as not to establish for a certain relative position of the screen and the lever, a shorter path than that existing during a immediately preceding relative position.
  • the extension 21 which is substantially parallel to the region 22 adjacent to the patch fixed contact 4 at the time of opening, forms an angle P with the general direction of the lever passing through points 9 and 7, while the deflector 20 itself has a surface 22a forming an angle 8 with the general direction of conductor support 2, itself parallel to the screen.
  • the angular travel of the lever is here also relatively small, which allows the use of a mechanism 10 of reduced volume.

Landscapes

  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
  • Current-Collector Devices For Electrically Propelled Vehicles (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
  • Input Circuits Of Receivers And Coupling Of Receivers And Audio Equipment (AREA)
  • Automatic Cycles, And Cycles In General (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
  • Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
  • Oscillators With Electromechanical Resonators (AREA)
  • Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Operating, Guiding And Securing Of Roll- Type Closing Members (AREA)
  • Automatic Disk Changers (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)

Abstract

An electric switch is provided using an isolating screen for destabilizing the arc. The pieces supporting the contacts are equipped with conducting extensions whose conformation and orientation allow the feet of the arc to circulate there without becoming stationary or coming back towards the contacts when the end of the screen moves towards a slot which receives it and when the mobile support effects an appropriate travel.

Description

L'invention concerne un appareil interrupteur à écran ayant, d'une part, deux pièces de contact mobiles l'une par rapport à l'autre entre un état fermé où les pastilles de contact se touchent, et un état ouvert où les pastilles sont séparées et, d'autre part, un écran isolant qui vient s'interposer les pastilles en effectuant à partir d'une position de départ vers une position de travail, un mouvement au cours duquel l'arc apparaissant à l'ouverture est déplacé par un bord actif de l'écran et au terme duquel l'arc est totalement déstabilisé contre des parais isolantes.The invention relates to a screen switch device having, on the one hand, two contact parts movable with respect to each other between a closed state where the contact pads touch each other, and an open state where the pads are separated and, on the other hand, an insulating screen which comes to interpose the pellets by performing from a starting position towards a working position, a movement during which the arc appearing at the opening is moved by an active edge of the screen and at the end of which the arc is completely destabilized against insulating walls.

On connaît déjà des interrupteurs électriques utilisant des dispositifs déflecteurs d'arc, qui prennent l'allure de cornes placées au voisinage des pastilles de contact sur les extrémités libres des pièces de contact, et qui présentent, par rapport à la direction générale de ces pièces, un changement d'orientation tel que le développement naturel de l'arc effectué sous l'effet des forces de répulsion électrodynamiques, amène les pieds de ces arcs sur ces cornes et évite, par suite, leur stationnement sur lesdites pastilles.Electric switches are already known using arc deflector devices, which take the form of horns placed in the vicinity of the contact pads on the free ends of the contact parts, and which have, with respect to the general direction of these parts , a change of orientation such as the natural development of the arc effected under the effect of electrodynamic repulsion forces, brings the feet of these arcs on these horns and consequently avoids their parking on said pellets.

Les orientations, courbures, formes ou positions données à ces cornes reposent essentiellement sur l'hypothèse que le courant qui circule dans l'arc est suffisamment élevé pour que ce développement soit possible; les mêmes mesures peuvent être prises si un développement ou un gonflement de l'arc est assisté par la présence d'un champ magnétique local, qui peut être induit ou permanent et qui est convenablement orienté pour favoriser la rapidité du déplacement.The orientations, curvatures, shapes or positions given to these horns are essentially based on the assumption that the current flowing in the arc is high enough for this development to be possible; the same measures can be taken if a development or a swelling of the arc is assisted by the presence of a local magnetic field, which can be induced or permanent and which is suitably oriented to favor the speed of displacement.

Dans ces dispositifs connus, l'augmentation recherchée de la tension d'arc résulte de son allongement, tandis que le fait d'installer les pieds de ces arcs sur les cornes évite une consommation du métal noble des pastilles de contact; dans ces dispositifs connus, les orientations de ces cornes sont généralement divergentes et le phénomène d'allongement de l'arc peut être accéléré grâce à l'utilisation d'un écran isolant passant entre les pastilles de contact, de la façon décrite dans les brevets FR-A-1 541 810 et FR-A-1 238 660.In these known devices, the desired increase in the arc voltage results from its elongation, while the fact of installing the feet of these arcs on the horns avoids consumption of the noble metal of the contact pads; in these known devices, the orientations of these horns are generally divergent and the arc elongation phenomenon can be accelerated by the use of an insulating screen passing between the contact pads, as described in the patents FR-A-1 541 810 and FR-A-1 238 660.

Lorsque, pour obtenir une limitation du courant d'arc, on est amené à ne pas augmenter la longueur de ce dernier de façon importante (par exemple, faute de pouvoir donner des déplacements de grande amplitude au contact mobile), ou que le courant d'arc que l'on souhaite limiter n'atteint pas les seuils à partir desquels on peut aisément exploiter la présence des forces électrodynamiques de répulsion, ou que la conformation, respectivement la constitution de la chambre de coupure ou des conducteurs voisins, empêche une libre expansion de l'arc ou respectivement son fractionnement sur des ailettes, on est amené à utiliser des moyens artificiels pour déstabiliser l'arc; un écran isolant interposé rapidement entre deux contacts qui viennent de s'ouvrir, constitue l'un de ceux-ci et présente de nombreux avantages, à condition d'opérer sur l'arc des modifications de ses caractéristiques qui seront autres que sa longueur, et qui auront encore pour résultat l'augmentation de sa tension.When, in order to obtain a limitation of the arc current, it is necessary not to increase the length of the latter significantly (for example, for want of being able to give large amplitude displacements to the movable contact), or when the current d arc which one wishes to limit does not reach the thresholds from which one can easily exploit the presence of electrodynamic forces of repulsion, or that the conformation, respectively the constitution of the breaking chamber or neighboring conductors, prevents a free expansion of the arc or respectively its fractionation on fins, it is necessary to use artificial means to destabilize the arc; an insulating screen rapidly interposed between two contacts which have just opened, constitutes one of these and has many advantages, provided that the arc changes its characteristics which will be other than its length, and which will further result in increased blood pressure.

Comme l'on a constaté que des facteurs importants de déstabilisation de l'arc nécessitaient une vitesse élevée du bord actif de l'écran et un étrangement de cet arc contre une paroi isolante, il faut dans ce cas, tenir compte du fait que les pastilles de contact n'ont pas le temps de s'écarter d'une distance notable lorsque l'écran se déplace entre elles, et que l'arc se trouve confiné au voisinage des contacts par des parois de boîtier.As it has been found that important factors of destabilization of the arc required a high speed of the active edge of the screen and a strangling of this arc against an insulating wall, it is necessary in this case to take into account that the contact pads do not have time to deviate from a significant distance when the screen moves between them, and that the arc is confined in the vicinity of the contacts by enclosure walls.

Il en résulte que, faute de mesures particulières, l'arc, qui tend alors à suivre une trajectoire de longueur minimale, risque de stationner exagérément sur ces pastilles, et de provoquer, par suite, une détérioration de celles-ci qui est néfaste pour la qualité d'une commutation ou fermeture ultérieure.It follows that, in the absence of special measures, the arc, which then tends to follow a trajectory of minimum length, is liable to park excessively on these pellets, and consequently to cause a deterioration of these which is harmful for the quality of a subsequent switching or closing.

L'invention se propose, par suite, d'apporter à un interrupteur à écran, dont la constitution générale répond à celle qui est mentionnée ci-dessus, des perfectionnements propres à réduire considérablement l'usure des pastilles de contact et, par suite, à éliminer pratiquement les inconvénients qui en découlent, en particulier lorsque le calibre de l'interrupteur, le niveau des courants de défaut à interrompre et la taille de l'appareil qui l'utilise, rendent malaisée la mise en ceuvre d'autres moyens.The invention therefore proposes to bring to a screen switch, the general constitution of which corresponds to that which is mentioned above, improvements capable of considerably reducing the wear of the contact pads and, consequently, to practically eliminate the drawbacks which result therefrom, in particular when the size of the switch, the level of fault currents to be interrupted and the size of the device which uses it, make it difficult to implement other means.

Pour parvenir à ces résultats, l'appareil interup- teur selon l'invention comprend, d'une part, deux éléments de contact, respectivement portés par deux pièces de support dont au moins l'une est mobile par rapport à l'autre, entre un état fermé où les éléments de contact se touchent et un état ouvert où les éléments de contact sont séparés l'un de l'autre et, d'autre part, un écran isolant qui vient s'interposer rapidement entre les éléments de contact en effectuant, à partir d'une position de départ, vers une position de travail, un mouvement au cours duquel l'arc apparaissant à l'ouverture est déplacé le long de déflecteurs conducteurs qui prolongent les pièces de support, audelà des éléments de contact, par un bord actif de l'écran, déplacement au terme duquel l'arc est totalement déstabilisé contre des parois isolantes.To achieve these results, the switch device according to the invention comprises, on the one hand, two contact elements, respectively carried by two support parts, at least one of which is movable relative to the other, between a closed state where the contact elements touch and an open state where the contact elements are separated from each other and, on the other hand, an insulating screen which comes quickly to come between the contact elements by carrying out, from a starting position, towards a working position, a movement during which the arc appearing at the opening is moved along conductive deflectors which extend the support parts, beyond the contact elements , by an active edge of the screen, displacement at the end of which the arc is completely destabilized against insulating walls.

Cet appareil interrupteur est plus particulièrement caractérisé en ce que les susdits déflecteurs sont orientés et/ou conformés de façon telle que pour chaque couple de positions des éléments de contact et du bord de l'écran, à la suite du passage dudit bord entre les éléments de contact, il existe, à chaque instant, entre deux points de ces prolongements, un possible trajet d'arc qui passe par un point dudit bord et qui est plus court que le trajet passant au même moment par les éléments de contact et ledit point du bord, et en ce qu'il comprend des moyens de propulsion de l'écran conçus de manière à ce que ledit écran arrive avec une vitesse élevée entre les deux éléments de contact, lorsque ces deux éléments se trouvent séparés l'un de l'autre d'une distance légèrement supérieure à son épaisseur, de manière à ce que, grâce à la susdite conformation des prolongements et à ladite vitesse de l'écran, l'arc se déplace avec un allongement minimum jusqu'au voisinage desdites parois en suivant à chaque instant ledit possible trajet.This switching device is more particularly characterized in that the above deflectors are oriented and / or shaped so that for each pair of positions of the contact elements and of the edge of the screen, following the passage of said edge between the elements contact, there is, at each instant, between two points of these extensions, a possible arc path which passes through a point of said edge and which is shorter than the path passing at the same time through the contact elements and said point from the edge, and in that it comprises means for propelling the screen designed so that said screen arrives with a high speed between the two contact elements, when these two elements are separated one of the '' by a distance slightly greater than its thickness, so that, thanks to the above-mentioned conformation of the extensions and at said speed of the screen, the arc moves with a minimum elongation up to the vicinity of said walls, following said possible path at all times.

Il apparaîtra clairement dans d'autres mesures que, si l'utilisation de cornes en vue de favoriser le gonflement des arcs et le déplacement de leurs pieds est bien connu en soi, les circonstances particulières dans lesquelles l'invention les met en oeuvre et les conformations qui leur sont données, s'opposent radicalement à celles qui sont habituellement considérées comme favorables dans les interrupteurs classiques.It will appear clearly in other measures that, if the use of horns in order to promote the swelling of the arches and the movement of their feet is well known per se, the particular circumstances in which the invention implements them and the conformations which are given to them, are radically opposed to those which are usually considered favorable in conventional switches.

Il doit enfin être compris que, si les mesures définies dans l'invention procurent un bénéfice particulier lorsqu'elles sont appliquées à un appareil interrupteur dont le calibre n'est pas très élevé, ces mêmes mesures trouvent également une raison d'être dans le cadre d'appareils de calibres supérieurs, pour lesquels la crainte d'une augmentation de la masse en mouvement résultant de la présence des prolongements n'est pas justifiée si l'on tient compte des faibles courses qui sont effectuées, d'une part, par l'écran et, d'autre part, par le contact mobile de l'interrupteur qui l'utilise.Finally, it should be understood that, if the measures defined in the invention provide a particular benefit when they are applied to a switching device whose gauge is not very high, these same measures also find a reason for being in the framework of devices of higher calibers, for which the fear of an increase in the mass in movement resulting from the presence of the extensions is not justified if one takes into account the small strokes which are carried out, on the one hand, by the screen and, on the other hand, by the movable contact of the switch which uses it.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description ci-dessous et à l'examen des figures annexées sur lesquelles:

  • La figure 1 est une vue en élévation passant par un plan contenant les deux pièces de contact d'un interrupteur à l'état fermé constituant un exemple non limitatif de mise en oeuvre de cette invention.
  • La figure 2 représente, de façon schématique et non limitative, la façon dont peut s'opérer le déplacement de l'arc dans un interrupteur selon l'invention.
The invention will be better understood on reading the description below and on examining the appended figures in which:
  • Figure 1 is an elevational view passing through a plane containing the two contact parts of a switch in the closed state constituting a non-limiting example of implementation of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 represents, in a schematic and nonlimiting manner, the way in which the displacement of the arc can take place in a switch according to the invention.

Un interrupteur 1, voir figure 1, mettant en ceuvre l'invention, comporte principalement une première pièce de contact 2 qui, ici, est fixe, et qui porte donc une pastille de contact fixe 4, une pièce de contact mobile 3 qui, ici, est représentée par un levier 5 pivotant autour d'un axe 9 et portant un contact mobile 7, des moyens élastiques 6 qui procurent la pression de contact nécessaire, un conducteur souple d'amenée de courant 11, un moyen mécanique 10 permettant d'opérer l'ouverture des contacts, un écran isolant mince 17, qui est guidé dans un boîtier isolant 12 par exemple le long de rainures 13 de celui-ci pour établir un isolement efficace entre ses deux faces opposées, et une fente ou rainure transversale 14, qui est portée par une paroi 15 du boîtier, qui est reliée à un canal de détente 19, et qui se trouve placé à proximité de l'interrupteur pour recevoir le bord 16 de l'écran lorsque celui-ci se déplacera vers la gauche entre un point de départ ou de repos 10, et un point d'arrivée ou de travail 8.A switch 1, see FIG. 1, implementing the invention, mainly comprises a first contact piece 2 which, here, is fixed, and which therefore carries a fixed contact pad 4, a movable contact piece 3 which, here , is represented by a lever 5 pivoting about an axis 9 and carrying a movable contact 7, elastic means 6 which provide the necessary contact pressure, a flexible current supply conductor 11, a mechanical means 10 making it possible to operate the opening of the contacts, a thin insulating screen 17, which is guided in an insulating housing 12 for example along grooves 13 thereof to establish effective isolation between its two opposite faces, and a slot or transverse groove 14 , which is carried by a wall 15 of the housing, which is connected to an expansion channel 19, and which is placed close to the switch to receive the edge 16 of the screen when the latter moves to the left between a starting or rest point 10, and a point t arrival or work 8.

L'écran 17 peut, par exemple, être propulsé au moment de l'apparition d'une surintensité de courant J par le mécanisme 10 lorsque celui-ci est libéré par les effets d'une bobine 26 placée en série dans le circuit 18 qui comprend également un conducteur 27 entre les bornes 24, 25; dans une première variante, l'écran peut être propulsé par un moyen élastique préalablement armé 29 qui est lui-même libéré par une palette, ou noyau, ou percuteur 30 associé à la bobine 26 ou par le mécanisme 10.The screen 17 can, for example, be propelled at the moment of the appearance of an overcurrent of current J by the mechanism 10 when the latter is released by the effects of a coil 26 placed in series in the circuit 18 which also includes a conductor 27 between terminals 24, 25; in a first variant, the screen can be propelled by a previously armed elastic means 29 which is itself released by a pallet, or core, or striker 30 associated with the coil 26 or by the mechanism 10.

Des moyens de réarmement non illustrés permettent de redonner au contact mobile et à l'écran, après une ouverture automatique, des positions de repos identiques à celles de la figure 1.Resetting means not illustrated make it possible to restore to the mobile contact and to the screen, after automatic opening, rest positions identical to those of FIG. 1.

Dans un mode de fonctionnement préféré de cet interrupteur, le bord de l'écran arrive avec une vitesse élevée entre les deux pastilles de contact. lorsque celles-ci se trouvent momentanément séparées d'une quantité légèrement supérieure à son épaisseur -e-. Il opère ensuite une déstabilisation de l'arc au moment où il vient en butée contre la paroi ou bien lorsque le bord antérieur de l'écran pénètre dans la fente 14 lorsque celle-ci existe.In a preferred mode of operation of this switch, the edge of the screen arrives with a high speed between the two contact pads. when these are temporarily separated by an amount slightly greater than its thickness -e-. It then operates a destabilization of the arc when it abuts against the wall or when the front edge of the screen enters the slot 14 when it exists.

Dans un interrupteur qui ne comprendrait que les éléments venant d'être mentionnés, le déplacement de l'écran provoquerait pour un courant d'arc donné, une déformation de celui-ci au cours de laquelle les pieds des arcs resteraient fixés sur les pastilles de contact, tandis que sa colonne serait progressivement repoussée par le bord de l'écran jusqu'à la fente.In a switch which would only include the elements just mentioned, the displacement of the screen would cause for a given arc current, a deformation of the latter during which the feet of the arcs would remain fixed on the pads of contact, while its column would be gradually pushed back by the edge of the screen to the slit.

Afin d'éviter ce phénomène de stationnement des pieds d'arc sur les pastilles de contact, les pièces de contact ont été munies de prolongements conducteurs, respectivement déflecteurs 20, 21, qui sont dirigés dans les sens du déplacement Q de l'écran, et dont les surfaces en regard 22, 23, contrairement aux dispositions antérieures des cornes, ne divergent pas de façon sensible, au moins dans des régions immédiatement voisines de ces pastilles.In order to avoid this phenomenon of parking the arc feet on the contact pads, the contact pieces have been provided with conductive extensions, deflectors 20 and 21 respectively, which are directed in the directions of movement Q of the screen, and whose facing surfaces 22, 23, unlike the previous arrangements of the horns, do not diverge significantly, at least in regions immediately adjacent to these pellets.

La longueur et la courbure de ces surfaces sont choisies, voir figure 2, pour que, à chaque couple d'état ou de positions des pièces mobiles de l'interrupteur et de position de l'écran, il existe entre deux points respectifs A et B de ces surfaces et un point C du bord de l'écran, un trajet de longueur minimum possible T, que l'arc aura tendance à choisir, plutôt que de s'installer sur un trajet hypothétique plus long T2 passant par les points DCE, où D et E se trouvent sur les pastilles de contact.The length and the curvature of these surfaces are chosen, see FIG. 2, so that, at each state or position pair of moving parts of the switch and position of the screen, there are between two respective points A and B of these surfaces and a point C of the edge of the screen, a path of minimum possible length T, which the arc will tend to choose, rather than settling on a hypothetical longer path T 2 passing through the points DCE, where D and E are on the contact pads.

L'exécution d'un tel trajet hypothétique T2 qui établirait entre les points D et E une tension d'arc V2 supérieure à la tension V" qui s'établit dans l'autre cas, n'a aucune possibilité de se vérifier compte tenu de la dépense supplémentaire d'énergie qu'elle nécessite; l'expérimentation vérifie le bien fondé de ce constat, dont on peut prévoir les résultats lorsque l'on garde en mémoire la relation liant la tension d'arc et ses dimensions géo-L métriques: V = J - où L est la longueur de l'arc, S sa section, a sa conductivité et J l'intensité du courant qui le traverse.The execution of such a hypothetical path T 2 which would establish between the points D and E an arc voltage V 2 greater than the voltage V "which is established in the other case, has no possibility of verifying itself taking into account the additional expenditure of energy which it requires; the experiment verifies the validity of this observation, the results of which can be predicted when we keep in mind the relationship between the arc voltage and its geo dimensions -L metrics: V = J - where L is the length of the arc, S its section, has its conductivity and J the intensity of the current flowing through it.

Dans une application intéressante de l'invention, où le boîtier 12 contient un interrupteur automatique de type modulaire, dont le calibre nominal est relativement bas, la chambre de coupure 28 et donc le débattement du contact mobile, sont de faibles dimensions.In an interesting application of the invention, where the housing 12 contains an automatic switch of modular type, whose nominal rating is relatively low, the breaking chamber 28 and therefore the movement of the movable contact, are small.

Il doit être compris que les dispositions matérielles qui concourent à l'obtention du résultat visé, à savoir l'existence d'un trajet possible de longueur minimum Tl, tel que défini ci-dessus, résultent notamment d'une étude approfondie ou d'un relevé expérimental des mouvements relatifs du contact mobile de l'écran, sans que pour autant l'intervention des forces de répulsion électro-dynamiques, et donc du courant d'arc, puisse être négligée.It should be understood that the material provisions which contribute to obtaining the desired result, namely the existence of a possible path of minimum length T l , as defined above, result in particular from a detailed study or from 'an experimental record of the relative movements of the mobile contact of the screen, without however the intervention of the electro-dynamic repulsion forces, and therefore of the arc current, can be neglected.

Parmi ces dispositions matérielles, on peut mentionner le fait que les surfaces où circulent les pieds d'arcs s'étendent de préférence jusqu'au voisinage de la fente du boîtier dans laquelle pénètre l'extrémité de l'écran, et que la course angulaire effectuée par le contact mobile lorsqu'il est porté par un levier pivotant, ne doit pas être trop élevée afin de ne pas établir pour une certaine position relative de l'écran et du levier, un trajet plus court que celui existant lors d'une position relative immédiatement précédente.Among these material arrangements, it may be mentioned that the surfaces where the arc feet circulate preferably extend as far as the vicinity of the slot in the housing into which the end of the screen penetrates, and that the angular travel performed by the movable contact when carried by a pivoting lever, must not be too high so as not to establish for a certain relative position of the screen and the lever, a shorter path than that existing during a immediately preceding relative position.

Dans la figure 2, où l'on suppose que le levier L pivotant autour de l'axe 0 porte le contact mobile M et un prolongement aligné P, et où le support G de contact fixe F est lui-même prolongé par un déflecteur radial D, on a montré comment un arc de courte longueur tel que ABC (en supposant que ses pieds soient normaux aux surfaces où ils s'accrochent) peut être établi et déplacé de force, sans que ses pieds intéressent les pastilles de contact, lorsqu'un bord E de l'écran S passe entre les contacts après leur ouverture. On a supposé que les couples d'états, ou de positions, de l'écran et du contact mobile sont régis par des vitesses constantes qui les font passer simultanément aux points 1, 2, 3...7; il apparaît clairement de l'examen de cet exemple simplifié d'un fonctionnement possible, que l'arc passant par BCA est forcément plus court que celui passant par MCF et que les points M et F ne seront donc pas concernés par l'arc.In FIG. 2, where it is assumed that the lever L pivoting around the axis 0 carries the movable contact M and an aligned extension P, and where the support G of fixed contact F is itself extended by a radial deflector D, we have shown how a short arc such as ABC (assuming that its feet are normal to the surfaces where they hang) can be established and moved by force, without its feet interested in the contact pads, when an edge E of the screen S passes between the contacts after they have been opened. It has been assumed that the pairs of states, or positions, of the screen and of the movable contact are governed by constant speeds which make them pass simultaneously to points 1, 2, 3 ... 7; It is clear from examining this simplified example of a possible operation, that the arc passing through BCA is necessarily shorter than that passing through MCF and that points M and F will therefore not be affected by the arc.

Si, par contre, en raison de sa vitesse d'ouverture et de son amplitude de course, le contact mobile se trouvait au point H au moment où l'extrémité de l'écran n'est pas encore engagée dans la fente R, le plus court trajet d'arc Th passerait par le contact mobile; cet exemple montre qu'un prolongement sensiblement radial et parallèle à la direction du déflecteur combiné avec une ouverture limitée des contacts, peut satisfaire le but recherché. Ainsi qu'on le voit à la figure 2, un prolongement Pm faisant avec la direction du levier L un angle a trop important et dirigé dans le sens de l'ouverture, maintiendrait également un pied d'arc sur le contact mobile M au cours de l'ouverture. Les phénomènes décrits se présentent naturellement de la même manière si les deux contacts sont mobiles, par exemple dans une symétrie de mouvement par rapport au plan de l'écran.If, on the other hand, due to its opening speed and its amplitude of travel, the movable contact was at point H when the end of the screen is not yet engaged in the slot R, the shortest arc path T h would pass through the movable contact; this example shows that a substantially radial extension parallel to the direction of the deflector combined with a limited opening of the contacts can satisfy the desired goal. As can be seen in FIG. 2, an extension P m making with the direction of the lever L an angle a too large and directed in the direction of the opening, would also maintain an arc foot on the movable contact M at during the opening. The phenomena described naturally occur in the same way if the two contacts are mobile, for example in a symmetry of movement relative to the plane of the screen.

Dans le mode de réalisation selon la figure 2, où le point de pivotement 0 du levier L est voisin du plan de déplacement de l'écran, un prolongement P passant sensiblement par ce point donne satisfaction lorsque la course du contact mobile s'arrête au point t7.In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, where the pivot point 0 of the lever L is close to the plane of displacement of the screen, an extension P passing substantially through this point is satisfactory when the travel of the movable contact stops at point t 7 .

Dans le mode de réalisation selon la figure 1, où le point de pivotement 9 du levier 3 est placé sensiblement au-dessus du plan de déplacement de l'écran 17, le prolongement 21 qui est sensiblement parallèle à la région 22 voisine de la pastille de contact fixe 4 au moment de l'ouverture, forme un angle P avec la direction générale du levier passant par les points 9 et 7, tandis que le déflecteur 20 présente lui-même une surface 22a formant un angle 8 avec la direction générale du support conducteur 2, lui-même parallèle à l'écran. La course angulaire du levier est ici également relativement faible, ce qui permet l'utilisation d'un mécanisme 10 de volume réduit.In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, where the pivot point 9 of the lever 3 is placed substantially above the plane of movement of the screen 17, the extension 21 which is substantially parallel to the region 22 adjacent to the patch fixed contact 4 at the time of opening, forms an angle P with the general direction of the lever passing through points 9 and 7, while the deflector 20 itself has a surface 22a forming an angle 8 with the general direction of conductor support 2, itself parallel to the screen. The angular travel of the lever is here also relatively small, which allows the use of a mechanism 10 of reduced volume.

Ces dispositions n'affectent pas l'apparition des phénomènes mentionnés ci-dessus lorsque l'écran se déplace avec une vitesse appropriée à celle que possède le contact mobile. La présence de la surface inclinée 22a favorise, par ailleurs, l'évacuation des gaz apparaissant au moment de la coupure vers un canal d'évacuation 19a.These provisions do not affect the appearance of the phenomena mentioned above when the screen moves with a speed appropriate to that possessed by the movable contact. The presence of the inclined surface 22a promotes, moreover, the evacuation of the gases appearing at the time of cutting to an evacuation channel 19a.

Les dispositions d'ensemble, illustrées à la figure 2, ont montré expérimentalement l'excellente qualité d'une coupure automatique sur court-circuit, bien que la forme de la boucle suivie par les conducteurs 27, 11, 5 et 2, pour des raisons constructives, ne soit réalisée que de façon imparfaite.The overall arrangements, illustrated in FIG. 2, have experimentally shown the excellent quality of an automatic short circuit break, although the shape of the loop followed by the conductors 27, 11, 5 and 2, for constructive reasons, is only carried out imperfectly.

Claims (8)

1. A switching apparatus with screen (17), comprising, on the one hand, two contact elements (4, 7) respectively supported by two support pieces one of which at least is movable with respect to the other, between a closed state in which the contact elements are applied against each other and an open state in which the contact elements are separated and, on the other hand, an isolating screen (17) which moves rapidly between the contact elements by effecting, from a starting position (10) towards a work position (8), a movement during which the arc appearing on the opening is displaced along conducting deflectors (20, 21 ) extending the support elements, beyond the contact elements, by an active edge (16) of the screen, displacement at the end of which the arc is totally destabilized against insulating walls (15), characterized in that said deflectors (20, 21 ) are oriented and/or formed in such a way that for each couple of positions of the contact elements (4, 7) and of the edge (16) of the screen (17), following the passage of said edge (16) between the contact elements (4, 7) there is, at any time, between two points of these extension (21, P) a possible path of the arc (T1) which passes through a point of said edge and which is shorter than the path passing at the same time through the contact elements (4, 7) and said point of the edge (16), and in that it comprises means (29) for propelling the screen (17) arranged so that said screen (17) is moved at high speed between the two contact elements (4, 7), when said two elements are separated from each other by a distance -e- slightly greater than its thickness, so that, due to said form of the extensions (21, P) and to said speed of the screen (17), the arc moves without appreciable lengthening to the vicinity of said walls, following at each moment said possible path.
2. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wall (15, 12) comprises a slot (14, R) into which the screen (17, S) penetrates at the end of movement.
3. The switching apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, when the switch (1) is closed, said extensions and deflectors are substantially parallel.
4. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the extension (P) is placed in the general direction of a mobile contact lever (L) whose pivoting point (0) is close to the plane of movement of the screen (S).
5. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, when the switch is closed, the extension (21 ) of the mobile contact support piece (3) forms an angle (β) with the direction passing through the mobile contact element (7) and a pivoting axis (9) of this piece which is situated substantially above the plane of movement of the screen.
6. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the deflector (20) placed in the extension of the support (2) of the fixed contact element (3) comprises in the vicinity of said element a region (22) parallel to the screen (17) and an inclined (6) region (22a) farther away.
7. The switching apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the projection (A) of the edge (E) of the screen (S) is placed at all times following the passage of this edge between the contact elements (M, F) on these conducting regions (P, D).
8. The switching apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the switch comprises two mobile contact support pieces placed on each side of the plane of the screen.
EP85402426A 1984-12-28 1985-12-06 Electrical switch with screen Expired EP0189689B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT85402426T ATE44110T1 (en) 1984-12-28 1985-12-06 ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH SHUTTER.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8419993 1984-12-28
FR8419993A FR2575589B1 (en) 1984-12-28 1984-12-28 ELECTRICAL SWITCH WITH SCREEN

Publications (2)

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EP0189689A1 EP0189689A1 (en) 1986-08-06
EP0189689B1 true EP0189689B1 (en) 1989-06-14

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EP85402426A Expired EP0189689B1 (en) 1984-12-28 1985-12-06 Electrical switch with screen

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US (1) US4659888A (en)
EP (1) EP0189689B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS61161626A (en)
AT (1) ATE44110T1 (en)
BR (1) BR8506471A (en)
CA (1) CA1250010A (en)
CH (1) CH666764A5 (en)
DE (1) DE3544864C2 (en)
ES (1) ES8703676A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2575589B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2169141B (en)
IE (1) IE57188B1 (en)
IT (1) IT1186171B (en)
ZA (1) ZA859818B (en)

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DE3680902D1 (en) * 1986-01-10 1991-09-19 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd OFF SWITCH.
EP0244276B1 (en) * 1986-04-04 1991-06-05 Telemecanique Electrical switch for a protective device such as a circuit breaker
FR2621418B1 (en) * 1987-10-02 1989-12-22 Telemecanique Electrique PROTECTION SWITCH WITH ARC SHUTDOWN SCREEN
FR2621417B1 (en) * 1987-10-02 1989-12-22 Telemecanique Electrique PROTECTION SWITCH WITH ARC SHUTDOWN SCREEN
DE3823790A1 (en) * 1988-07-14 1990-01-18 Asea Brown Boveri ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION DEVICE WITH CONTACT PARTITION
DE19710880B4 (en) * 1997-03-15 2007-11-15 Moeller Gmbh Arc quenching device
DE19735521A1 (en) * 1997-08-16 1999-02-18 Kloeckner Moeller Gmbh Arc extinction device for short circuit current limiting switch
JP5758169B2 (en) * 2011-03-31 2015-08-05 Ｎｋｋスイッチズ株式会社 Small switch for DC current interruption with arc extinguishing device

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FR570840A (en) * 1923-10-04 1924-05-07 Quick Acting Air Switch
US2020935A (en) * 1932-05-25 1935-11-12 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit interrupter
FR1238660A (en) * 1958-10-16 1960-08-12 Siemens Ag Device for lengthening electric arcs
FR1541810A (en) * 1967-09-01 1968-10-11 Comp Generale Electricite Quick-break electrical switch-off device
US3549840A (en) * 1968-07-18 1970-12-22 S & C Electric Co Switch construction with load break device
DE1957620A1 (en) * 1969-11-15 1971-05-27 Karl Ahrens Circuit breaker
US3842228A (en) * 1973-08-27 1974-10-15 Us Navy Circuit breaker assembly with interposed wedge non-conductor and complementary housing arc-prevention structure
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US3978300A (en) * 1975-02-11 1976-08-31 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Low-voltage circuit-breaker having small contact separation and small gap between cooperating parallel-arranged arcing-rails
FR2511185A1 (en) * 1981-08-07 1983-02-11 Telemecanique Electrique AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR LIMITING SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENTS
FR2540665B1 (en) * 1983-02-04 1987-02-27 Telemecanique Electrique SWITCHING DEVICE PROVIDED WITH AN INSULATING SCREEN INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE CONTACTS WHEN SWITCHING OFF AND ARC SHEAR MEANS BETWEEN THIS SCREEN AND AN INSULATING WALL

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2575589A1 (en) 1986-07-04
ES8703676A1 (en) 1987-02-16
FR2575589B1 (en) 1987-02-06
GB8530582D0 (en) 1986-01-22
DE3544864A1 (en) 1986-07-10
GB2169141A (en) 1986-07-02
IT1186171B (en) 1987-11-18
BR8506471A (en) 1986-09-02
GB2169141B (en) 1989-06-07
CH666764A5 (en) 1988-08-15
ATE44110T1 (en) 1989-06-15
ZA859818B (en) 1986-09-24
IT8523341A0 (en) 1985-12-20
DE3544864C2 (en) 1995-09-07
IE853309L (en) 1986-06-28
CA1250010A (en) 1989-02-14
US4659888A (en) 1987-04-21
JPS61161626A (en) 1986-07-22
ES550490A0 (en) 1987-02-16
EP0189689A1 (en) 1986-08-06
IE57188B1 (en) 1992-05-20

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