EP1418600B1 - Method and apparatus for controlling a switch - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for controlling a switch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1418600B1
EP1418600B1 EP03104051.2A EP03104051A EP1418600B1 EP 1418600 B1 EP1418600 B1 EP 1418600B1 EP 03104051 A EP03104051 A EP 03104051A EP 1418600 B1 EP1418600 B1 EP 1418600B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
actuator
slave
master
signal
control
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EP03104051.2A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1418600A1 (en
Inventor
Stéphane FOLLIC
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Schneider Electric Industries SAS
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Schneider Electric Industries SAS
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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
    • H01H9/16—Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
    • H01H9/167—Circuits for remote indication

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of controlling a slave actuator according to a master actuator in a switchgear, in particular in a relay, a contactor, a contactor-breaker, a switch or the like.
  • the invention also relates to a device for controlling and regulating the movements of a slave actuator having no mechanical connection with a master actuator, and a switch device comprising such a device.
  • Switching electrical apparatuses in particular of the relay, contactor or contactor-circuit breaker type, have, in known manner, a master main actuator linked to main contacts and constituted for example by an electromagnet comprising a fixed part and a mobile part, this one being controlled by an excitation coil in which circulates an electric control current.
  • the moving part moves between an open position and a closed position allowing the opening and closing of the main contacts.
  • the main actuator can thus feed or cut an electrical load connected downstream of the switch device.
  • the moving part of the main actuator can be manually switched between the open position and / or the closed position.
  • auxiliary actuators also called auxiliary contact blocks
  • auxiliary contact blocks for performing various basic functions such as self-sustainments, servocontrols, locks, couplings, signaling, etc. They can be instantaneous or timed.
  • auxiliary actuators are said to be slaves because their displacement is always slaved to the displacement of the main actuator, called master, so as to faithfully reproduce the state of the latter.
  • a slave actuator comprises a movable element carrying the movable auxiliary contacts. This movable element makes it possible to open and close the auxiliary contacts according to the position of the main contacts.
  • the movable element of a slave auxiliary actuator is mechanically driven by the movable portion of the master main actuator, so that its movement is slaved to that of the master main actuator.
  • mechanical servoing has various disadvantages. First, it can cause premature wear of moving parts. Then, the slave actuators being optional, they must be able to connect and disconnect easily from the master actuator. This imposes mechanical constraints to be foreseen during the design and construction of the housing of the switch device to allow a mechanical connection easy to achieve but reliable, for example either on the front of the device or on the sides. In addition, the number of slave actuators connectable to a master actuator is often limited for congestion problems or problems of strength of the mechanical link.
  • the master actuator must also be powerful enough to be able to mechanically drive not only its own moving part but also the moving parts of the associated slave actuator (s).
  • the setting up of a variable number of slave actuators may then modify the dynamics of the master actuator, thus modifying its overall performance.
  • the slave actuator or actuators are necessarily placed close to the master actuator and are therefore not remote.
  • the slave actuator (s) must have a shape adapted to the master actuator, it is frequent that a change in size of the master actuator in order to cover a wide range of power also causes a change in the slave actuators. associative, which generates a large multiplicity of different products and therefore problems of manufacture, storage, compatibility and ease of use for users, etc ...
  • the document FR2384373 proposes a mounting to know the two open / closed positions of a main circuit breaker, with two limit switches that give electrical information that can be amplified and deported. However, this information does not allow to slave the position of an auxiliary actuator relative to the main actuator.
  • EP-A-0592302 discloses a device for controlling a slave actuator with respect to the position of a master actuator. However, this device does not regulate the position of the slave actuator.
  • the invention aims to avoid these disadvantages by removing, in an electrical switch device, the mechanical link ensuring the transmission of the control of the master actuator to one or more associated slave actuators.
  • the method and the device described in the invention advantageously make it possible to take into account any disturbance in the movement of the moving part of the master actuator, such as mechanical blocking, welding, speed and / or stroke modification. of displacement (wear of the contacts for example), in order to ensure a good servocontrol between the auxiliary contacts of the slave actuator (s) and the main contacts of the master actuator, so that the movement of the contacts auxiliaries follow as closely as possible the movement of the main contacts.
  • the invention proposes a control method according to claim 1.
  • control method also comprises a phase for regulating the position of the mobile element by the control unit during which the position of the mobile element of the slave actuator is determined and the control is regulated. control order, according to said position measurement of the movable member, so as to improve the positioning of the movable member.
  • the determination of the position of the moving part of the master actuator is either performed using a position sensor, or calculated in a processing unit of the switch device from a measurement of the voltage and current flowing in an excitation coil of the master actuator, the latter solution advantageously avoiding the use of a position sensor.
  • the invention also proposes a control device for implementing this method.
  • the control device comprises means for determining the position of the moving part of the master actuator, means for transmitting a signal representative of said position to the control unit, and means for generating by the unit. controlling a control command of the mobile element of the slave actuator as a function of said signal.
  • the slave actuator is for example a voice-coil type actuator, brushless motor type, stepper motor type or linear motor type, whose response time can achieve the desired performance.
  • This invention will find a first application in the control of auxiliary contact blocks of the same electrical switch device.
  • Other applications are also proposed, in particular the control of several separate switchgear units slaved to each other, so as to perform functions such as inverter control, star-delta motor starter or other.
  • the slave actuators no longer have a mechanical connection with the master actuator of the switch device, they become compatible with devices of different size and caliber.
  • the number of auxiliary contact blocks associated with the same device has no influence on the performance and dynamics of the master actuator of the device.
  • some auxiliary contact blocks can be easily deported at a significant distance from the device without changing performance.
  • a plurality of separate switchgear units controlled by one another according to the invention are not necessarily located close to one another.
  • a switch electrical apparatus comprises a master actuator with a fixed part 15, such as a fixed yoke, cooperating with a movable part 10, such as a movable armature.
  • the movable portion 10 moves alternately between an open position and a closed position and directly or indirectly carries one or more movable main contacts, not shown in the figures.
  • the movable part is for example in the closed position, the movable main contacts are pressed against corresponding fixed main contacts of the switch device thus allowing the passage of a main electric current in the different poles of the device.
  • the moving part is in the open position, the moving contacts are separated from the fixed contacts, so as to cut off the passage of the main electric current.
  • the master actuator is an electromagnet.
  • the moving part 10 of the master actuator is in this case magnetic material and can move under the action of an excitation coil electromagnetic 13 traversed by an excitation electric current, continuous or alternating, and possibly under the action of a return spring.
  • Such a well-known apparatus is responsible for supplying and cutting a downstream connected electrical load, such as an electric motor.
  • the mobile part 10 can move under the action of a manual control and possibly a return spring.
  • the switch device also comprises at least one slave actuator, such as a block of auxiliary contacts.
  • a slave actuator such as a block of auxiliary contacts.
  • the switch device also comprises at least one slave actuator, such as a block of auxiliary contacts.
  • a slave actuator such as a block of auxiliary contacts.
  • the movable element 20 carries directly or indirectly one or more movable auxiliary contacts, not shown schematically in the figures, and moves alternately between an open position and a closed position .
  • the moving auxiliary contacts are pressed against fixed auxiliary contacts.
  • the moving contacts are separated from the fixed contacts.
  • auxiliary contact blocks such as Normally Open, Normally Closed, Time Delay Contacts, etc.
  • the moving part of the master actuator is mechanically connected to the movable element of the slave actuator (s) of the switch device, so as to mechanically slave the movement of the slave actuator (s) with that of the master actuator.
  • This mechanical control can generate the disadvantages mentioned above.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to replace this mechanical servocontrol by an electrical servocontrol.
  • the slave actuator comprises an electronic control unit 22 which comprises means for generating a control command 26 sent to the mobile element 20, allowing the displacement of this mobile element 20 with respect to the fixed element 25.
  • the slave actuator is a voice-coil actuator with a voice coil 20 traversed by a control current 26 emitted by the control unit 22.
  • the voice coil 20 is associated with a fixed support 25 incorporating a permanent magnet and a core of magnetic material.
  • the intensity and the direction of the control current flowing through the voice coil 20 make it possible to fix the speed and the direction of the displacement of the coil 20 with respect to the fixed support 25.
  • a linear actuator of the Voice-coil type is particularly suitable for such control / command applications: high travel, effort and acceleration, short response time, simplicity of control (regulation).
  • the slave actuator could also be a brushless motor, a stepper motor, a linear motor, etc.
  • the control device comprises means for determining the position of the mobile part 10 of the master actuator.
  • These determination means provide an electrical signal 5 to know at any time and in real time the position of the movable part 10 during all closing and opening movements of the master actuator.
  • these determination means comprise an analog sensor 11 capable of measuring in real time the position of the moving part 10 and of providing a signal representative of this position.
  • Various types of known sensors are possible, such as Hall effect sensor, magneto-resistive sensor, eddy current sensor or others.
  • the determination means do not include a position sensor but include a processing unit 12 in the switch device.
  • This processing unit 12 comprises for example a microcontroller or microprocessor, in particular a DSP type processor, and can be implemented in an integrated circuit, for example in an ASIC component, mounted on a printed circuit inside the switch device.
  • the master actuator is an electromagnet and the processing unit 12 has conventional means for measuring the voltage U at the terminals of the excitation coil 13 and for measuring the intensity of the driving current I flowing. in the coil 13.
  • the processing unit 12 of the switching device is able to calculate at any instant the inductance H of the coil of excitation 13 and then derive by calculation the real time position of the mobile part 10 of the master actuator relative to the fixed part 15, according to a method described in the application document FR 02 00952 .
  • a sampling frequency of the order of 20 KHz or more gives satisfactory results in the context of this invention.
  • the processing unit 12 could calculate other quantities, such as the coil flux, which would also allow it to determine in real time the position of the movable portion 10 of the master actuator.
  • the determination means provide an electrical signal representative of the position of the mobile part 10 of the master actuator, either by a direct measurement or by calculation, depending on the variant chosen.
  • the signal 5 is therefore either an analog signal, for example if it comes from a sensor, or a sampled digital signal. A sampling frequency of the order of 20 KHz or more gives satisfactory results in the context of this invention.
  • this electrical signal 5 is transmitted in real time to the control unit 22 of each slave actuator associated with the master actuator by transmission means.
  • the transmission means comprise a simple electrical connection between the determination means and the control unit 22.
  • other connection supports can be used to transmit the signal 5, for example an optical fiber link, a wireless link using the Bluetooth protocol or other.
  • An optical type connection makes it possible to avoid possible risks of electromagnetic disturbances of the signal 5 over long distances.
  • a wireless link makes it easy to remove the slave actuator (s) from the master actuator.
  • the signal transmission means 5 advantageously replace the usual mechanical connection means existing between the master actuator and the slave actuator (s), while maintaining a satisfactory response time between the appearance of a movement effected by the movable portion 10 of the master actuator and its reproduction by the movable member 20 of the slave actuator.
  • the signal 5 is used as input by the generating means of the electronic control unit 22 of the slave actuator so as to generate a control command 26 for the mobile element 20, which constitutes a so-called phase. of generation.
  • the slave actuator is a Voice-coil type actuator
  • the control command 26 corresponds to the control current traveled by the voice coil 20.
  • the regulation of the position of the mobile element 20 is then performed in an open loop.
  • control device may comprise means 21 for determining the position of the mobile element 20 with respect to the fixed element 25.
  • These means consist, for example, of a sensor of position 21.
  • the control unit 22 then comprises regulating means that use the feedback from these determination means 21 to perform a closed-loop control of the position of the movable member 20.
  • This arrangement allows to 'get a better accuracy of the positioning of the mobile element 20 as a function of the signal 5.
  • the generation means and the regulation means are implemented by program inside the electronic control unit 22, which comprises by example a DSP processor with a sampling frequency of at least 20 kHz.
  • the control unit 22 is able to easily generate the commands corresponding to all types of auxiliary contacts desired (NO, NC, timed, ).
  • any displacement of the movable portion 10 of the master actuator is permanently detected by the determination means 11, 12 during the determination phase, and is then sent via the signal 5 to the unit of measurement.
  • control 22 of the slave actuator during the transmission phase.
  • the unit 22 is then able, during the generation and regulation phase, to control the mobile element 20 so as to slave the position of the auxiliary contacts to the position of the main contacts of the switch device and thus to faithfully reproduce this displacement with a dynamic equivalent to that which can be obtained using a conventional mechanical connection between the movable portion 10 and the movable member 20.
  • the signal 5 provided only two Boolean information on the open / closed positions of the moving part 10 of the master actuator (for example with the aid of two all-or-nothing sensors), then it would not be possible to execute position control and one would have to wait for the closed position (respectively open) of the master actuator before being able to send a closing order (respectively opening) of the slave actuator. It would follow a delay in the control of the slave actuator incompatible with the objective of the invention which is to replace the usual mechanical servocontrol. Any anticipation of this delay in the control of the slave actuator would be seriously detrimental to the operational safety (risk of closure or opening of the slave actuator before the master actuator).
  • the electronic control unit 22 can perform various additional functions, such as a delay function, closing and / or opening, which gives the possibility of voluntarily reintroducing a delay between the movements of the master actuator and those of the or slave actuators associated, depending on the desired applications.

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Description

La présente invention se rapporte à une méthode de pilotage d'un actionneur esclave en fonction d'un actionneur maître dans un appareil électrique interrupteur, en particulier dans un relais, un contacteur, un contacteur-disjoncteur, un commutateur ou autres. L'invention concerne également un dispositif de pilotage et de régulation des mouvements d'un actionneur esclave ne comportant pas de liaison mécanique avec un actionneur maître, ainsi qu'un appareil interrupteur comportant un tel dispositif.The present invention relates to a method of controlling a slave actuator according to a master actuator in a switchgear, in particular in a relay, a contactor, a contactor-breaker, a switch or the like. The invention also relates to a device for controlling and regulating the movements of a slave actuator having no mechanical connection with a master actuator, and a switch device comprising such a device.

Les appareils électriques interrupteurs, notamment du type relais, contacteur ou contacteur-disjoncteur, disposent de façon connue d'un actionneur principal maître lié àdes contacts principaux et constitué par exemple d'un électroaimant comprenant une partie fixe et une partie mobile, celle-ci étant commandée par une bobine d'excitation dans lequel circule un courant électrique de commande. La partie mobile se déplace entre une position ouverte et une position fermée permettant l'ouverture et la fermeture des contacts principaux. L'actionneur principal peut ainsi alimenter ou couper une charge électrique reliée en aval de l'appareil interrupteur. Dans d'autres appareils interrupteurs connus, notamment du type commutateur ou bouton-poussoir, la partie mobile de l'actionneur principal peut être commutée manuellement entre la position ouverte et/ou la position fermée.Switching electrical apparatuses, in particular of the relay, contactor or contactor-circuit breaker type, have, in known manner, a master main actuator linked to main contacts and constituted for example by an electromagnet comprising a fixed part and a mobile part, this one being controlled by an excitation coil in which circulates an electric control current. The moving part moves between an open position and a closed position allowing the opening and closing of the main contacts. The main actuator can thus feed or cut an electrical load connected downstream of the switch device. In other known switch devices, in particular of the switch or push button type, the moving part of the main actuator can be manually switched between the open position and / or the closed position.

Ces appareils interrupteurs disposent parfois en outre d'un ou plusieurs actionneurs auxiliaires, appelés aussi blocs contacts auxiliaires, permettant de réaliser différentes fonctions de base comme des auto-maintiens, des asservissements, des verrouillages, des couplages, de la signalisation, etc... Ils peuvent être instantanés ou temporisés. Ces actionneurs auxiliaires sont dits esclaves parce que leur déplacement est toujours asservi au déplacement de l'actionneur principal, appelé maître, de façon à reproduire fidèlement l'état de celui-ci. Un actionneur esclave comporte un élément mobile portant les contacts auxiliaires mobiles. Cet élément mobile permet d'ouvrir et de fermer les contacts auxiliaires en fonction de la position des contacts principaux. Pour cela, dans les solutions habituellement connues, l'élément mobile d'un actionneur auxiliaire esclave est entraîné mécaniquement par la partie mobile de l'actionneur principal maître, de sorte que son mouvement est asservi à celui de l'actionneur principal maître.These switchgear devices also sometimes have one or more auxiliary actuators, also called auxiliary contact blocks, for performing various basic functions such as self-sustainments, servocontrols, locks, couplings, signaling, etc. They can be instantaneous or timed. These auxiliary actuators are said to be slaves because their displacement is always slaved to the displacement of the main actuator, called master, so as to faithfully reproduce the state of the latter. A slave actuator comprises a movable element carrying the movable auxiliary contacts. This movable element makes it possible to open and close the auxiliary contacts according to the position of the main contacts. For this, in the solutions usually known, the movable element of a slave auxiliary actuator is mechanically driven by the movable portion of the master main actuator, so that its movement is slaved to that of the master main actuator.

Cependant, un asservissement mécanique comporte divers inconvénients. Tout d'abord, il peut entraîner une usure prématurée des pièces en mouvement. Ensuite, les actionneurs esclaves étant optionnels, ils doivent pouvoir se connecter et se déconnecter aisément de l'actionneur maître. Cela impose des contraintes mécaniques àprévoir lors de la conception et de la construction du boîtier de l'appareil interrupteur pour permettre une liaison mécanique facile à réaliser mais fiable, par exemple soit sur le devant de l'appareil, soit sur les côtés. De plus, le nombre d'actionneurs esclaves raccordables àun actionneur maître est souvent limité pour des problèmes d'encombrement ou des problèmes de solidité de la liaison mécanique.However, mechanical servoing has various disadvantages. First, it can cause premature wear of moving parts. Then, the slave actuators being optional, they must be able to connect and disconnect easily from the master actuator. This imposes mechanical constraints to be foreseen during the design and construction of the housing of the switch device to allow a mechanical connection easy to achieve but reliable, for example either on the front of the device or on the sides. In addition, the number of slave actuators connectable to a master actuator is often limited for congestion problems or problems of strength of the mechanical link.

L'actionneur maître doit aussi être suffisamment puissant pour être capable d'entraîner mécaniquement non seulement sa propre partie mobile mais également les éléments mobiles du ou des actionneurs esclaves associés. La mise en place d'un nombre variable d'actionneurs esclaves risque alors de modifier la dynamique de l'actionneur maître, modifiant ainsi ses performances globales.The master actuator must also be powerful enough to be able to mechanically drive not only its own moving part but also the moving parts of the associated slave actuator (s). The setting up of a variable number of slave actuators may then modify the dynamics of the master actuator, thus modifying its overall performance.

Par ailleurs, dans cette configuration habituelle, le ou les actionneurs esclaves sont forcément placés àproximité directe de l'actionneur maître et ne sont donc pas déportables. Enfin, comme le ou les actionneurs esclaves doivent avoir une forme adaptée à l'actionneur maître, il est fréquent qu'un changement de calibre de l'actionneur maître en vue de couvrir une large gamme de puissance, entraîne aussi un changement des actionneurs esclaves associables, ce qui engendre une multiplicité importante de produits différents et donc des problèmes de fabrication, de stockage, de compatibilité et de facilité d'emploi pour les utilisateurs, etc...Moreover, in this usual configuration, the slave actuator or actuators are necessarily placed close to the master actuator and are therefore not remote. Finally, since the slave actuator (s) must have a shape adapted to the master actuator, it is frequent that a change in size of the master actuator in order to cover a wide range of power also causes a change in the slave actuators. associative, which generates a large multiplicity of different products and therefore problems of manufacture, storage, compatibility and ease of use for users, etc ...

Le document FR2384373 propose un montage permettant de connaître les deux positions ouverte/fermée d'un disjoncteur principal, à l'aide de deux fins de course qui donnent une information électrique susceptible d'être amplifiée et déportée. Cependant, cette information ne permet pas d'asservir la position d'un actionneur auxiliaire par rapport à l'actionneur principal.The document FR2384373 proposes a mounting to know the two open / closed positions of a main circuit breaker, with two limit switches that give electrical information that can be amplified and deported. However, this information does not allow to slave the position of an auxiliary actuator relative to the main actuator.

Le document EP-A-0592302 décrit un dispositif permettant de commander un actionneur esclave par rapport à la position d'un actionneur maître. Cependant ce dispositif ne permet pas de réguler la position de l'actionneur esclave.The document EP-A-0592302 discloses a device for controlling a slave actuator with respect to the position of a master actuator. However, this device does not regulate the position of the slave actuator.

C'est pourquoi l'invention a pour but d'éviter ces inconvénients en supprimant, dans un appareil électrique interrupteur, la liaison mécanique assurant la transmission de la commande de l'actionneur maître vers un ou plusieurs actionneurs esclaves associés. La méthode et le dispositif décrits dans l'invention permettent avantageusement de prendre en compte toute perturbation dans le déplacement de la partie mobile de l'actionneur maître, tel qu'un blocage mécanique, un soudage, une modification de vitesse et/ou de course de déplacement (usure des contacts par exemple), afin d'assurer un bon asservissement entre les contacts auxiliaires du(des) actionneur(s) esclave(s) et les contacts principaux de l'actionneur maître, de sorte que le mouvement des contacts auxiliaires suive le plus fidèlement possible le mouvement des contacts principaux.This is why the invention aims to avoid these disadvantages by removing, in an electrical switch device, the mechanical link ensuring the transmission of the control of the master actuator to one or more associated slave actuators. The method and the device described in the invention advantageously make it possible to take into account any disturbance in the movement of the moving part of the master actuator, such as mechanical blocking, welding, speed and / or stroke modification. of displacement (wear of the contacts for example), in order to ensure a good servocontrol between the auxiliary contacts of the slave actuator (s) and the main contacts of the master actuator, so that the movement of the contacts auxiliaries follow as closely as possible the movement of the main contacts.

Pour cela, l'invention propose une méthode de pilotage selon la revendication 1.For this, the invention proposes a control method according to claim 1.

Selon l'invention la méthode de pilotage comporte en outre une phase de régulation de la position de l'élément mobile par l'unité de pilotage durant laquelle on détermine la position de l'élément mobile de l'actionneur esclave et on régule l'ordre de pilotage, en fonction de ladite mesure de position de l'élément mobile, de façon à améliorer le positionnement de l'élément mobile.According to the invention, the control method also comprises a phase for regulating the position of the mobile element by the control unit during which the position of the mobile element of the slave actuator is determined and the control is regulated. control order, according to said position measurement of the movable member, so as to improve the positioning of the movable member.

Selon une caractéristique, la détermination de la position de la partie mobile de l'actionneur maître est soit réalisée à l'aide d'un capteur de position, soit calculée dans une unité de traitement de l'appareil interrupteur àpartir d'une mesure de la tension et du courant circulant dans une bobine d'excitation de l'actionneur maître, cette dernière solution permettant avantageusement d'éviter l'utilisation d'un capteur de position.According to one characteristic, the determination of the position of the moving part of the master actuator is either performed using a position sensor, or calculated in a processing unit of the switch device from a measurement of the voltage and current flowing in an excitation coil of the master actuator, the latter solution advantageously avoiding the use of a position sensor.

L'invention propose aussi un dispositif de pilotage pour mettre en oeuvre cette méthode. Le dispositif de pilotage comprend des moyens de détermination de la position de la partie mobile de l'actionneur maître, des moyens de transmission d'un signal représentatif de ladite position vers l'unité de pilotage, et des moyens de génération par l'unité de pilotage d'un ordre de pilotage de l'élément mobile de l'actionneur esclave en fonction dudit signal.The invention also proposes a control device for implementing this method. The control device comprises means for determining the position of the moving part of the master actuator, means for transmitting a signal representative of said position to the control unit, and means for generating by the unit. controlling a control command of the mobile element of the slave actuator as a function of said signal.

Selon une caractéristique, l'actionneur esclave est par exemple un actionneur de type Voice-coil, de type moteur brushless, de type moteur pas à pas ou de type moteur linéaire, dont les temps de réponse permettent d'atteindre les performances voulues.According to one characteristic, the slave actuator is for example a voice-coil type actuator, brushless motor type, stepper motor type or linear motor type, whose response time can achieve the desired performance.

Enfin, l'invention propose un dispositif de pilotage selon la revendication 7.Finally, the invention proposes a control device according to claim 7.

Cette invention trouvera une première application dans la commande de blocs de contacts auxiliaires d'un même appareil électrique interrupteur. D'autres applications sont également proposées, en particulier la commande de plusieurs appareils interrupteurs séparés asservis entre eux, de manière à réaliser des fonctions telles que la commande d'inverseur, le démarrage étoile-triangle de moteur ou autre.This invention will find a first application in the control of auxiliary contact blocks of the same electrical switch device. Other applications are also proposed, in particular the control of several separate switchgear units slaved to each other, so as to perform functions such as inverter control, star-delta motor starter or other.

Grâce à l'invention, les actionneurs esclaves n'ayant plus de liaison mécanique avec l'actionneur maître de l'appareil interrupteur, ils deviennent compatibles avec des appareils de dimension et de calibre différents. Le nombre de blocs contacts auxiliaires associés àun même appareil n'a plus d'influence sur les performances et la dynamique de l'actionneur maître de l'appareil. De plus, certains blocs de contacts auxiliaires peuvent être facilement déportés à une distance importante de l'appareil sans modification des performances. De même, plusieurs appareils interrupteurs séparés asservis entre eux grâce àl'invention ne sont pas forcément placés àproximité les unes des autres.Thanks to the invention, the slave actuators no longer have a mechanical connection with the master actuator of the switch device, they become compatible with devices of different size and caliber. The number of auxiliary contact blocks associated with the same device has no influence on the performance and dynamics of the master actuator of the device. In addition, some auxiliary contact blocks can be easily deported at a significant distance from the device without changing performance. Likewise, a plurality of separate switchgear units controlled by one another according to the invention are not necessarily located close to one another.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages vont apparaître dans la description détaillée qui suit en se référant àun mode de réalisation donné àtitre d'exemple et représenté par les dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 représente un schéma fonctionnel d'un dispositif de pilotage conforme àl'invention,
  • la figure 2 schématise un autre exemple de dispositif de pilotage conforme à l'invention.
Other features and advantages will appear in the detailed description which follows with reference to an embodiment given by way of example and represented by the appended drawings in which:
  • the figure 1 represents a block diagram of a control device according to the invention,
  • the figure 2 schematizes another example of a control device according to the invention.

En référence aux figures 1 et 2, un appareil électrique interrupteur comprend un actionneur maître doté d'une partie fixe 15, telle qu'une culasse fixe, coopérant avec une partie mobile 10, telle q'une armature mobile. La partie mobile 10 se déplace alternativement entre une position ouverte et une position fermée et porte directement ou indirectement un ou plusieurs contacts principaux mobiles, non représentés sur les figures. Lorsque la partie mobile est par exemple en position fermée, les contacts principaux mobiles sont plaqués contre des contacts principaux fixes correspondants de l'appareil interrupteur permettant ainsi le passage d'un courant électrique principal, dans les différents pôles de l'appareil. inversement, quand la partie mobile est en position ouverte, les contacts mobiles sont séparés des contacts fixes, de façon àcouper le passage du courant électrique principal. Dans un appareil du type relais, contacteur ou contacteur-disjoncteur, l'actionneur maître est un électroaimant. La partie mobile 10 de l'actionneur maître est dans ce cas en matériau magnétique et peut se déplacer sous l'action d'une bobine d'excitation électromagnétique 13 parcourue par un courant électrique d'excitation, continu ou alternatif, et éventuellement sous l'action d'un ressort de rappel. Un tel appareil bien connu est chargé d'alimenter et de couper une charge électrique connectée en aval, comme un moteur électrique. Dans un appareil interrupteur du type commutateur ou bouton-poussoir, la partie mobile 10 peut se déplacer sous l'action d'une commande manuelle et éventuellement d'un ressort de rappel.With reference to Figures 1 and 2 , a switch electrical apparatus comprises a master actuator with a fixed part 15, such as a fixed yoke, cooperating with a movable part 10, such as a movable armature. The movable portion 10 moves alternately between an open position and a closed position and directly or indirectly carries one or more movable main contacts, not shown in the figures. When the movable part is for example in the closed position, the movable main contacts are pressed against corresponding fixed main contacts of the switch device thus allowing the passage of a main electric current in the different poles of the device. conversely, when the moving part is in the open position, the moving contacts are separated from the fixed contacts, so as to cut off the passage of the main electric current. In a relay-type device, contactor or contactor-breaker, the master actuator is an electromagnet. The moving part 10 of the master actuator is in this case magnetic material and can move under the action of an excitation coil electromagnetic 13 traversed by an excitation electric current, continuous or alternating, and possibly under the action of a return spring. Such a well-known apparatus is responsible for supplying and cutting a downstream connected electrical load, such as an electric motor. In a switching device of the switch or push button type, the mobile part 10 can move under the action of a manual control and possibly a return spring.

L'appareil interrupteur comprend également au moins un actionneur esclave, tel qu'un bloc de contacts auxiliaires. Dans les figures 1 et 2, un seul actionneur esclave est représenté. Il est doté d'un élément fixe 25 coopérant avec un élément mobile 20. L'élément mobile 20 porte directement ou indirectement un ou plusieurs contacts auxiliaires mobiles, non schématisés sur les figures, et se déplace alternativement entre une position ouverte et une position fermée. Lorsque l'élément mobile est en position fermée, par exemple, les contacts auxiliaires mobiles sont plaqués contre des contacts auxiliaires fixes. inversement, quand l'élément mobile est en position ouverte, les contacts mobiles sont séparés des contacts fixes. Il existe différents types connus de blocs contacts auxiliaires, tel que contacts à fermeture (ou Normally Open), à ouverture (ou Normally Closed), contacts temporisés, etc.... D'ordinaire, la partie mobile de l'actionneur maître est liée mécaniquement à l'élément mobile du ou des actionneurs esclaves de l'appareil interrupteur, de façon à pouvoir asservir mécaniquement le mouvement du ou des actionneurs esclaves avec celui de l'actionneur maître. Cet asservissement mécanique peut générer les inconvénients cités précédemment. L'invention a donc pour but de remplacer cet asservissement mécanique par un asservissement électrique.The switch device also comprises at least one slave actuator, such as a block of auxiliary contacts. In the Figures 1 and 2 only one slave actuator is shown. It is provided with a fixed element 25 cooperating with a movable element 20. The movable element 20 carries directly or indirectly one or more movable auxiliary contacts, not shown schematically in the figures, and moves alternately between an open position and a closed position . When the movable element is in the closed position, for example, the moving auxiliary contacts are pressed against fixed auxiliary contacts. conversely, when the movable member is in the open position, the moving contacts are separated from the fixed contacts. There are various known types of auxiliary contact blocks, such as Normally Open, Normally Closed, Time Delay Contacts, etc. Usually, the moving part of the master actuator is mechanically connected to the movable element of the slave actuator (s) of the switch device, so as to mechanically slave the movement of the slave actuator (s) with that of the master actuator. This mechanical control can generate the disadvantages mentioned above. The object of the invention is therefore to replace this mechanical servocontrol by an electrical servocontrol.

L'actionneur esclave comporte une unité de pilotage 22 électronique qui comporte des moyens de génération d'un ordre de pilotage 26 envoyé à l'élément mobile 20, permettant le déplacement de cet élément mobile 20 par rapport à l'élément fixe 25.The slave actuator comprises an electronic control unit 22 which comprises means for generating a control command 26 sent to the mobile element 20, allowing the displacement of this mobile element 20 with respect to the fixed element 25.

Selon un mode de réalisation préféré, l'actionneur esclave est un actionneur de type Voice-coil avec une bobine mobile 20 parcourue par un courant de commande 26 émis par l'unité de pilotage 22. La bobine mobile 20 est associée àun support fixe 25 incorporant un aimant permanent et un noyau en matériau magnétique. L'intensité et le sens du courant de commande 26 circulant la bobine mobile 20 permettent de fixer la vitesse et le sens du déplacement de la bobine 20 par rapport au support fixe 25. Un actionneur linéaire de type Voice-coil est particulièrement adapté pour de telles applications de contrôle/commande : course, effort et accélération importants, temps de réponse court, simplicité de la commande (régulation). Cependant, dans d'autres modes de réalisation équivalents, l'actionneur esclave pourrait être aussi un moteur de type brushless, un moteur pas àpas, un moteur linéaire, etc...According to a preferred embodiment, the slave actuator is a voice-coil actuator with a voice coil 20 traversed by a control current 26 emitted by the control unit 22. The voice coil 20 is associated with a fixed support 25 incorporating a permanent magnet and a core of magnetic material. The intensity and the direction of the control current flowing through the voice coil 20 make it possible to fix the speed and the direction of the displacement of the coil 20 with respect to the fixed support 25. A linear actuator of the Voice-coil type is particularly suitable for such control / command applications: high travel, effort and acceleration, short response time, simplicity of control (regulation). However, in other equivalent embodiments, the slave actuator could also be a brushless motor, a stepper motor, a linear motor, etc.

Dans une première phase dite de détermination de position, le dispositif de pilotage comprend des moyens de détermination de la position de la partie mobile 10 de l'actionneur maître. Ces moyens de détermination fournissent un signal électrique 5 permettant de connaître à tout moment et en temps réel la position de la partie mobile 10 durant tous les mouvements de fermeture et d'ouverture de l'actionneur maître. Selon une première variante représentée en figure 1, ces moyens de détermination comportent un capteur 11 analogique capable de mesurer en temps réel la position de la partie mobile 10 et de fournir un signal 5 représentatif de cette position. Différents types de capteurs connus sont envisageables, tels que capteur àeffet Hall, capteur magnéto-résistif, capteur à courant de Foucault ou autres.In a first so-called position determination phase, the control device comprises means for determining the position of the mobile part 10 of the master actuator. These determination means provide an electrical signal 5 to know at any time and in real time the position of the movable part 10 during all closing and opening movements of the master actuator. According to a first variant represented in figure 1 these determination means comprise an analog sensor 11 capable of measuring in real time the position of the moving part 10 and of providing a signal representative of this position. Various types of known sensors are possible, such as Hall effect sensor, magneto-resistive sensor, eddy current sensor or others.

Selon une seconde variante préférée représentée en figure 2, les moyens de détermination ne comportent pas de capteur de position mais comportent une unité de traitement 12 dans l'appareil interrupteur. Cette unité de traitement 12 comprend par exemple un microcontrôleur ou microprocesseur, notamment un processeur de type DSP, et peut être implantée dans un circuit intégré, par exemple dans un composant ASIC, monté sur un circuit imprimé àl'intérieur de l'appareil interrupteur. L'actionneur maître est dans ce cas un électroaimant et l'unité de traitement 12 dispose de moyens classiques de mesure de la tension U aux bornes de la bobine d'excitation 13 et de mesure de l'intensité du courant d'excitation I circulant dans la bobine 13. A partir des valeurs mesurées de la tension U et du courant I, après numérisation et échantillonnage, l'unité de traitement 12 de l'appareil interrupteur est capable de calculer à tout instant l'inductance H de la bobine d'excitation 13 et d'en déduire ensuite par calcul la position en temps réel de la partie mobile 10 de l'actionneur maître par rapport à la partie fixe 15, selon un procédé décrit dans le document de l'application FR 02 00952 . Une fréquence d'échantillonnage de l'ordre de 20 KHz ou plus donne des résultats satisfaisants dans le cadre de cette invention.According to a second preferred variant represented in figure 2 , the determination means do not include a position sensor but include a processing unit 12 in the switch device. This processing unit 12 comprises for example a microcontroller or microprocessor, in particular a DSP type processor, and can be implemented in an integrated circuit, for example in an ASIC component, mounted on a printed circuit inside the switch device. In this case, the master actuator is an electromagnet and the processing unit 12 has conventional means for measuring the voltage U at the terminals of the excitation coil 13 and for measuring the intensity of the driving current I flowing. in the coil 13. From the measured values of the voltage U and the current I, after digitization and sampling, the processing unit 12 of the switching device is able to calculate at any instant the inductance H of the coil of excitation 13 and then derive by calculation the real time position of the mobile part 10 of the master actuator relative to the fixed part 15, according to a method described in the application document FR 02 00952 . A sampling frequency of the order of 20 KHz or more gives satisfactory results in the context of this invention.

Selon d'autres variantes envisageables, l'unité de traitement 12 pourrait calculer d'autres grandeurs, comme par exemple le flux bobine, qui lui permettraient également de déterminer en temps réel la position de la partie mobile 10 de l'actionneur maître.According to other possible variants, the processing unit 12 could calculate other quantities, such as the coil flux, which would also allow it to determine in real time the position of the movable portion 10 of the master actuator.

Ainsi, les moyens de détermination fournissent un signal électrique 5 représentatif de la position de la partie mobile 10 de l'actionneur maître, soit par une mesure directe, soit par calcul, suivant la variante choisie. Le signal 5 est donc soit un signal analogique, par exemple s'il provient d'un capteur, soit un signal numérique échantillonné. Une fréquence d'échantillonnage de l'ordre de 20 KHz ou plus donne des résultats satisfaisants dans le cadre de cette invention. Durant une seconde phase dite de transmission, ce signal électrique 5 est transmis en temps réel vers l'unité de pilotage 22 de chaque actionneur esclave associé à l'actionneur maître par des moyens de transmission.Thus, the determination means provide an electrical signal representative of the position of the mobile part 10 of the master actuator, either by a direct measurement or by calculation, depending on the variant chosen. The signal 5 is therefore either an analog signal, for example if it comes from a sensor, or a sampled digital signal. A sampling frequency of the order of 20 KHz or more gives satisfactory results in the context of this invention. During a so-called second transmission phase, this electrical signal 5 is transmitted in real time to the control unit 22 of each slave actuator associated with the master actuator by transmission means.

Dans une première alternative, les moyens de transmission comportent une simple liaison électrique entre les moyens de détermination et l'unité de pilotage 22. Dans une seconde alternative, d'autres supports de liaison peuvent être utilisés pour transmettre le signal 5, comme par exemple une liaison par fibre optique, une liaison sans fil utilisant le protocole Bluetooth ou autre. On peut alors utiliser une paire de convertisseurs permettant de transformer la technologie d'acheminement du signal 5 (par exemple : convertisseur électrique/optique à une extrémité de la liaison puis convertisseur optique/électrique àl'autre extrémité). Une liaison de type optique permet d'éviter d'éventuels risques de perturbations électromagnétiques du signal 5 sur de longues distances. Une liaison sans fil permet de déporter facilement le ou les actionneurs esclaves de l'actionneur maître.In a first alternative, the transmission means comprise a simple electrical connection between the determination means and the control unit 22. In a second alternative, other connection supports can be used to transmit the signal 5, for example an optical fiber link, a wireless link using the Bluetooth protocol or other. One can then use a pair of converters to transform the signal routing technology 5 (for example: electrical / optical converter at one end of the link and optical / electrical converter at the other end). An optical type connection makes it possible to avoid possible risks of electromagnetic disturbances of the signal 5 over long distances. A wireless link makes it easy to remove the slave actuator (s) from the master actuator.

Grâce à l'invention, les moyens de transmission du signal 5 remplacent avantageusement les habituels moyens de liaison mécaniques existant entre actionneur maître et actionneur(s) esclave(s), tout en conservant un temps de réponse satisfaisant entre l'apparition d'un mouvement effectué par la partie mobile 10 de l'actionneur maître et sa reproduction par l'élément mobile 20 de l'actionneur esclave.Thanks to the invention, the signal transmission means 5 advantageously replace the usual mechanical connection means existing between the master actuator and the slave actuator (s), while maintaining a satisfactory response time between the appearance of a movement effected by the movable portion 10 of the master actuator and its reproduction by the movable member 20 of the slave actuator.

Une fois transmis, le signal 5 est utilisé comme entrée par les moyens de génération de l'unité électronique de pilotage 22 de l'actionneur esclave de façon àgénérer un ordre de pilotage 26 pour l'élément mobile 20, ce qui constitue une phase dite de génération. Si l'actionneur esclave est un actionneur de type Voice-coil, l'ordre de pilotage 26 correspond au courant de commande parcouru par la bobine mobile 20. La régulation de la position de l'élément mobile 20 est alors réalisée en boucle ouverte.Once transmitted, the signal 5 is used as input by the generating means of the electronic control unit 22 of the slave actuator so as to generate a control command 26 for the mobile element 20, which constitutes a so-called phase. of generation. If the slave actuator is a Voice-coil type actuator, the control command 26 corresponds to the control current traveled by the voice coil 20. The regulation of the position of the mobile element 20 is then performed in an open loop.

En outre, dans une phase optionnelle de régulation, le dispositif de pilotage peut comporter des moyens de détermination 21 de la position de l'élément mobile 20 par rapport à l'élément fixe 25. Ces moyens sont constitués par exemple d'un capteur de position 21. L'unité de pilotage 22 comporte alors des moyens de régulation qui utilisent le retour d'information émis par ces moyens de détermination 21 pour effectuer une régulation en boucle fermée de la position de l'élément mobile 20. Cette disposition permet d'obtenir une meilleure précision du positionnement de l'élément mobile 20 en fonction du signal 5. Préférentiellement, les moyens de génération et les moyens de régulation sont réalisés par programme à l'intérieur de l'unité électronique de pilotage 22, celle-ci comprenant par exemple un processeur de type DSP avec une fréquence d'échantillonnage d'au moins 20 kHz. De plus, il est évident que l'unité de pilotage 22 est capable de générer aisément les commandes correspondant à tous les types de contacts auxiliaires souhaités (NO, NC, temporisés, ... ).In addition, in an optional regulation phase, the control device may comprise means 21 for determining the position of the mobile element 20 with respect to the fixed element 25. These means consist, for example, of a sensor of position 21. The control unit 22 then comprises regulating means that use the feedback from these determination means 21 to perform a closed-loop control of the position of the movable member 20. This arrangement allows to 'get a better accuracy of the positioning of the mobile element 20 as a function of the signal 5. Preferably, the generation means and the regulation means are implemented by program inside the electronic control unit 22, which comprises by example a DSP processor with a sampling frequency of at least 20 kHz. In addition, it is obvious that the control unit 22 is able to easily generate the commands corresponding to all types of auxiliary contacts desired (NO, NC, timed, ...).

Ainsi, grâce à l'invention, tout déplacement de la partie mobile 10 de l'actionneur maître est détecté en permanence par les moyens de détermination 11,12 durant la phase de détermination, puis est envoyé via le signal 5 à l'unité de pilotage 22 de l'actionneur esclave durant la phase de transmission. L'unité 22 est capable alors, durant la phase de génération et de régulation, de commander l'élément mobile 20 de façon à asservir la position des contacts auxiliaires à la position des contacts principaux de l'appareil interrupteur et donc à reproduire fidèlement ce déplacement avec une dynamique équivalente à celle que l'on peut obtenir en utilisant une liaison mécanique classique entre la partie mobile 10 et l'élément mobile 20. Avantageusement, il est en particulier possible de prendre en compte toute évolution survenant dans le mouvement de l'actionneur maître (tel que ralentissement ou blocage de la partie mobile 20) dans la commande de l'actionneur esclave. En effet, si le signal 5 ne fournissait que deux informations booléennes sur les positions ouverte/fermée de partie mobile 10 de l'actionneur maître (par exemple à l'aide de deux capteurs Tout Ou Rien), alors on ne pourrait pas exécuter d'asservissement de position et l'on serait obligé d'attendre la position fermée (respectivement ouverte) de l'actionneur maître avant de pouvoir envoyer un ordre de fermeture (respectivement d'ouverture) de l'actionneur esclave. Il s'en suivrait un retard dans la commande de l'actionneur esclave incompatible avec l'objectif de l'invention qui est de remplacer l'asservissement mécanique habituel. Toute anticipation de ce retard dans la commande de l'actionneur esclave serait gravement préjudiciable à la sécurité de fonctionnement (risque de fermeture ou d'ouverture de l'actionneur esclave avant l'actionneur maître).Thus, thanks to the invention, any displacement of the movable portion 10 of the master actuator is permanently detected by the determination means 11, 12 during the determination phase, and is then sent via the signal 5 to the unit of measurement. control 22 of the slave actuator during the transmission phase. The unit 22 is then able, during the generation and regulation phase, to control the mobile element 20 so as to slave the position of the auxiliary contacts to the position of the main contacts of the switch device and thus to faithfully reproduce this displacement with a dynamic equivalent to that which can be obtained using a conventional mechanical connection between the movable portion 10 and the movable member 20. Advantageously, it is in particular possible to take into account any evolution occurring in the movement of the master actuator (such as slowing or blocking the moving part 20) in the control of the slave actuator. Indeed, if the signal 5 provided only two Boolean information on the open / closed positions of the moving part 10 of the master actuator (for example with the aid of two all-or-nothing sensors), then it would not be possible to execute position control and one would have to wait for the closed position (respectively open) of the master actuator before being able to send a closing order (respectively opening) of the slave actuator. It would follow a delay in the control of the slave actuator incompatible with the objective of the invention which is to replace the usual mechanical servocontrol. Any anticipation of this delay in the control of the slave actuator would be seriously detrimental to the operational safety (risk of closure or opening of the slave actuator before the master actuator).

Par ailleurs, l'unité de pilotage électronique 22 peut effectuer diverses fonctions supplémentaires, comme une fonction retard, àla fermeture et/ou àl'ouverture, qui donne la possibilité de réintroduire volontairement un retard entre les mouvements de l'actionneur maître et ceux du ou des actionneurs esclaves associés, suivant les applications souhaitées.Furthermore, the electronic control unit 22 can perform various additional functions, such as a delay function, closing and / or opening, which gives the possibility of voluntarily reintroducing a delay between the movements of the master actuator and those of the or slave actuators associated, depending on the desired applications.

Claims (15)

  1. Method for controlling a slave actuator for an electrical switching apparatus comprising a master actuator equipped with a moving part (10) connected to main contacts and at least one electromagnetic slave actuator equipped with a moving element (20) connected to auxiliary contacts, the method having a phase of determination of the position of said moving part (10) of the master actuator, a phase of transmission of a signal (5) representative of said position to a control unit (22) of the slave actuator, and a phase of generation, by the control unit (22), of a control order (26) for said moving element (20) of the slave actuator as a function of said signal (5), making it possible to slave the position of said moving element (20) of the slave actuator to the position of said moving part (10) of the master actuator, characterized in that the method has a phase of regulation of the position of the moving element (20) by the control unit (22), during which the position of the moving element (20) of the slave actuator is determined and the control order (26) is regulated as a function of said measurement of position of the moving element (20).
  2. Control method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the determination of the position of the moving part (10) of the master actuator is performed using an analogue position sensor (11).
  3. Control method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the determination of the position of the moving part (10) of the master actuator is calculated in a processing unit (12) of the switching apparatus on the basis of a measurement of the voltage and the current flowing in a field coil (13) of the master actuator.
  4. Control method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transmission of the signal (5) is performed by an electrical connection.
  5. Control method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transmission of the signal (5) is performed by a wireless connection.
  6. Control method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transmission of the signal (5) is performed by an optical connection.
  7. Device for controlling a slave actuator for an electrical switching apparatus comprising a master actuator equipped with a moving part (10) connected to main contacts and at least one electromagnetic slave actuator equipped with a moving element (20) connected to auxiliary contacts, the device comprising means of determination of the position of said moving part (10) of the master actuator, means of transmission of a signal (5) representative of said position to a control unit (22) for the slave actuator, and means of generation, by the control unit (22), of a control order (26) for said moving element (20) of the slave actuator as a function of said signal (5), making it possible to slave the position of said moving element (20) of the slave actuator to the position of said moving part (10) of the master actuator, characterized in that the device comprises means of determination of the position of the moving element (20) of the slave actuator and in that the control unit (22) comprises means of regulation of the slave actuator as a function of said position of the moving element (20).
  8. Control device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the means of determination of the position of the moving part (10) of the master actuator comprise an analogue position sensor (11).
  9. Control device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the means of determination of the position of the moving part (10) of the master actuator comprise a processing unit (12) in the switching apparatus that is capable of calculating said position on the basis of the measurement of the voltage and the current flowing in a field coil (13) of the master actuator.
  10. Control device according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the means of transmission of the signal (5) incorporate an electrical connection between the master actuator and the slave actuator.
  11. Control device according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the means of transmission of the signal (5) incorporate a wireless connection between the master actuator and the slave actuator.
  12. Control device according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the means of transmission of the signal (5) incorporate an optical connection between the master actuator and the slave actuator.
  13. Control device according to one of Claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the slave actuator is chosen from among a list comprising actuators of voice-coil type, brushless motor type, stepper motor type or linear motor type.
  14. Electrical switching apparatus comprising a master actuator equipped with a moving part (10) connected to main contacts and at least one electromagnetic slave actuator equipped with a moving element (20) connected to auxiliary contacts, characterized in that the switching apparatus comprises a control device according to one of Claims 7 to 13 making it possible to slave the auxiliary contacts of the slave actuator to the main contacts of the master actuator.
  15. Electrical switching apparatus according to Claim 14, characterized in that at least one of the slave actuators is remote from the master actuator.
EP03104051.2A 2002-11-06 2003-11-03 Method and apparatus for controlling a switch Expired - Lifetime EP1418600B1 (en)

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FR0214070 2002-11-06
FR0214070A FR2846783B1 (en) 2002-11-06 2002-11-06 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A SWITCH DEVICE

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Citations (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0592302A1 (en) * 1992-10-07 1994-04-13 Gec Alsthom T Et D Sa Auxiliary contacts for an electric device

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DE2711416C2 (en) * 1977-03-16 1982-12-09 Werner Turck Gmbh & Co Kg, 5884 Halver Arrangement for displaying the switching status of the switches
FR2601191B1 (en) * 1986-07-04 1988-10-21 Petercem Sa DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AND CONTROLLING A CONTACTOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME
FI84766C (en) * 1990-06-26 1992-01-10 Abb Stroemberg Kojeet Oy ELECTRONIC HJAELPKONTAKT FOER KONTAKTOR.
FR2807194B1 (en) * 2000-03-31 2002-05-31 Alstom ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF STATE INFORMATION, IN PARTICULAR OF A ROLLING RAILWAY EQUIPMENT, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCORPORATING SUCH A CIRCUIT
FR2812962B1 (en) * 2000-08-08 2004-09-24 Schneider Electric Ind Sa ELECTRICAL APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONTROL DEVICE, SUPPORT AND MONITORING DEVICE FOR SUCH AN APPARATUS, AND ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION COMPRISING SAME

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0592302A1 (en) * 1992-10-07 1994-04-13 Gec Alsthom T Et D Sa Auxiliary contacts for an electric device

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FR2846783A1 (en) 2004-05-07
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