Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H1/00—Contacts
  • H01H1/0015—Means for testing or for inspecting contacts, e.g. wear indicator
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
  • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
  • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
  • H01H71/46—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release having means for operating auxiliary contacts additional to the main contacts
• • 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
  • H01H9/0066—Auxiliary contact devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for neutralizing a switchgear, such as a contactor, a choke or a contactor-breaker, provided with one or more power poles.
• the neutralization device is implemented when the degree of wear of the contacts of a pole is greater than a determined threshold.
• the invention also relates to an electrical switch device comprising such a neutralization device.
• An electrical switching device such as a contactor has, on each power pole, movable contacts separable from fixed contacts, actuated in motion by means of an electromagnet to switch an electric charge to be controlled.
• the pads mounted on the contacts wear out more or less during each switching according to the charging current or voltage. After a large number of maneuvers, this wear can lead to a failure of the electrical switch device whose consequences can be important especially in terms of safety.
• one solution is to systematically replace either the contact pads or the electrical switch device after a certain number of maneuvers.
• electrical switchgear devices In order to avoid premature or late replacements, electrical switchgear devices have been equipped with systems to indicate to the user the actual degree of wear of the contact pads. Thus the user is alerted at the desired time of the end of life of the electrical device which can prevent failures of the electrical device and the damage that these failures could cause.
• electrical switchgear devices are provided with devices to indicate to a user the degree of wear of the pads of the contacts of the device.
• the residual life of the contactor is determined from the variation of the contact force exerted by the spring over time to press the movable contacts against the fixed contacts when contacts are closed.
• the remaining life of the pads of the contacts is determined by calculating a change in the contact pressure during a contact opening operation. The systems described in these documents can only give an indication to the user and do not protect against possible dangers if the device continues to be used while the contact pads have reached a high degree of wear.
• the object of the invention is therefore to provide a device to avoid certain risks or damage caused by the electrical switch device when the pellets of its contacts have reached a degree of excessive wear.
• a device for neutralizing an electrical switch device which comprises one or more power poles each provided with movable contacts separable from fixed contacts and actuated by an electrically actuated actuator between an open position and a closed position to switch an electric charge, said device being characterized in that it comprises mechanical actuating means cooperating with the movable contacts and able to actuate means for neutralizing the electrical switch apparatus, said neutralization means effecting a cut-off of a electrical control circuit of the actuator when the degree of wear of the pellets of the contacts is greater than a determined threshold.
• the shutdown of the control circuit of the actuator is achieved by cutting a wire of the control circuit. The cutting of the wire therefore causes the power supply of the actuator to be cut off and thus the switch-off electrical device to be put out of service.
• the neutralization means comprise a bistable elastic membrane with sudden transformation. This membrane is configured to turn abruptly under the action of the actuating means when the wear of the contacts becomes too great.
• the neutralization means comprise at least one cutting blade integral with the elastic membrane. When the diaphragm turns suddenly, this cutting blade is propelled sufficiently strong to cut the wire of the control circuit.
• the control circuit wire can be brought against a second fixed cutting blade.
• the neutralization means comprise a member for receiving the wire of the control circuit and tension it as the wear of the pellets contacts up to the section when the degree wear of the contact pads is greater than the determined threshold.
• the shutdown of the control circuit is achieved by opening the control circuit.
• the neutralization means comprise a bistable elastic membrane with abrupt transformation.
• the elastic membrane carries for example a member adapted to activate the opening of the control circuit.
• the elastic membrane plays the same role as in the first configuration of the first embodiment but it is not a cutting blade either but a simple member for pushing for example a flexible blade to open the control circuit of the actuator.
• the mechanical actuation means mentioned above comprise for example a movable piston, actuated in translation, as and when the wear of the pellets of the contacts, by the movable contacts when the contacts are in the closed position.
• the piston is mounted on a guiding device.
• the guiding device comprises, for example, flexible strips bearing against the piston and able to hold it in position. The flexible strips then form notches marking the successive positions of the piston as the wear of the contact pads.
• the electrically operated actuator used in the electrical apparatus is for example an electromagnet comprising a control coil.
• the sectioned wire may for example be the wire of the control coil or a wire of the supply circuit of this coil.
• a switch electrical apparatus comprising one or more power poles each provided with movable contacts separable from fixed contacts and actuated by an electrically actuated actuator between an open position and a closed position to switch a electric charge
• the device being characterized in that it comprises a neutralization device as described above.
• the movable contacts are mounted on a movable bridge in translation, able to actuate a piston in translation as and when the wear of the contact pads when the contacts are in the closed position.
• FIGS. 1A and 1B show in a simplified manner the device according to a first embodiment of the invention, respectively when the pellets are new and when they have reached a high degree of wear.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B show two possible configurations of the piston used in the device according to the first embodiment.
• FIGS. 3A and 3B show a first configuration of the neutralization device according to a second embodiment of the invention, respectively when the contact pads are new and when they have reached a high degree of wear.
• FIGS. 4A and 4B show another configuration of the neutralization device according to the second embodiment of the invention, respectively when the contact pads are new and when they have reached a high degree of wear.
• FIGS. 5A and 5B show two piston guiding devices that can be used in the device according to the invention.
• an electrical switch device such as an electromechanical contactor, contactor-circuit breaker or choke comprises one or more power poles, for example three power poles.
• An electrical switch device has upstream current lines
• the upstream current lines are connected or disconnected from the downstream current lines by pole contacts.
• the poles may be single-breaking or double-breaking.
• the pole is double breaking and has movable contacts disposed on a movable bridge 2 and fixed contacts 3.
• the movable bridge 2 is actuated along a main axis (A) by an electrically actuated actuator.
• An electrically actuable actuator may be for example: - Of electromagnetic type such as for example a control electromagnet.
• the control electromagnet typically comprises a fixed yoke, a moving armature, a return spring and a control coil.
• the closing movement of the moving armature is generated by the passage of an excitation current in the control coil.
• a magnetostrictive material Subject to a magnetic field, a magnetostrictive material undergoes an induced mechanical deformation.
• the invention consists in neutralizing the electrical switch device when the degree of wear of the pellets of the contacts 20, 30 of at least one pole becomes greater than a determined threshold, that is to say when their wear becomes too important .
• a determined threshold that is to say when their wear becomes too important .
• the movable bridge 2 of each of the power poles cooperates with mechanical means of actuation when the contacts are closed.
• the movable bridge 2 thus bears on the first end of a piston 1.
• the position of the piston 1 thus reflects the state of wear of the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts.
• the piston 1 is guided in translation along the main axis (A) by a guiding device comprising, for example, flexible strips 40 (FIG.
• Flexible blades 41 in the form of teeth can cooperate with corresponding flexible lamellae 42 standing on the external surface of the piston 1, the cooperation between the lamellae 41, 42 creating successive notches making it possible to mark different positions of the piston 1 during its translation and to maintain the piston 1 in its position when the contacts are open.
• control circuit wire of the electric actuator a wire connecting the electric actuator to its current source, a wire of the electric actuator itself, as a control coil wire when the actuator is an electromagnet, or a wire of the power supply of the control circuit of the electric actuator.
• the electric actuator is for example a conventional electromagnet comprising a control coil fed by a current source through the electrical control circuit (hereinafter referred to as "control circuit").
• the neutralization of the switch electrical apparatus occurs in a first shear configuration of a wire of the control circuit or in a second shear configuration of a power supply wire of an alarm circuit.
• a portion of the wire 5 of the control circuit is stretched in a direction perpendicular to the main axis (A).
• the piston 1 comprises a notch 10 in which is engaged the wire 5 of the control circuit ( Figure 2A) or an opening 1 1 through which the wire 5 of the control circuit ( Figure 2B).
• the piston 1 is able to translate through a support 12 placed under the wire 5 of the control circuit.
• the piston 1 thus bears on the wire 5 of the control circuit (FIG. 1B).
• the degree of wear of the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts is large and greater than a determined threshold, the tension of the wire 5 is too strong and it breaks.
• the control circuit of the electric actuator being cut, the electrical switch device is neutralized.
• the user can be simply alerted to the state of wear of the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts of the apparatus.
• the cutting of the wire 5 of the control circuit is replaced by that of a power supply wire of an alarm circuit.
• the alarm is inactive.
• the user receives information, for example visual (extinction of a light), indicating that the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts are worn and that the electrical switch device must be replaced.
• the second end of the piston 1 abuts against neutralization means comprising for example a membrane
• the flexible strips 40, 41, 42 of the guide device oppose the return stress exerted by the elastic membrane 6, in order to maintain the piston 1 in its position corresponding to the actual wear of the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts, even when the contacts are open.
• the reversal of the elastic membrane 6 occurs in the direction and direction of translation of the piston 1.
• the piston 1 reaches a position corresponding to a degree of wear of the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts greater than a determined threshold, the membrane 6 reaches a critical position and turns abruptly generating a frank and irreversible mechanical movement.
• a portion of the wire 5 of the control circuit is stretched in a direction perpendicular to the main axis (A) and is positioned within range of the elastic membrane 6 .
• the elastic membrane 6 carries for example a cutting blade 60 driven in translation as and when the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts.
• the membrane 6 is in the raised position (FIG. 3A).
• the elastic membrane 6, pushed by the piston 1 reaches its critical position and turns, causing the cutting blade 60 to translate rapidly to that it slices the wire 5 of the control circuit ( Figure 3B).
• a second blade 61 fixes, acting as a chisel, can be arranged under the wire 5 of the control circuit, offset from the first blade 60.
• the user can be alerted to the state of wear of the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts of the device.
• the cutting of the wire 5 of the control circuit is replaced by that of a supply wire of an alarm circuit.
• the alarm is inactive.
• the user receives information, for example visual (extinction of a light), indicating that the pellets
• the bistable elastic membrane 6 abruptly transforms a stud 62 intended to activate the opening of the control circuit 50 of the electric actuator.
• the control circuit 50 of the electric actuator is for example closed by means of a flexible blade 51.
• the piston 1 is in the high position and the elastic membrane 6 ( Figure 4A).
• the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts are worn out and have reached a high degree of wear, greater than a determined threshold, the elastic membrane 6 having reached its critical position, turns over.
• the stud 62 carried by the membrane 6 then presses on the flexible blade 51 to spread it and thus open the control circuit 50 of the electric actuator ( Figure 4B).
• the user is simply alerted to the state of wear of the pellets 20, 30 of the device contacts.
• the opening of the control circuit 50 by the pad 62 is only replaced by the opening of an alarm circuit made by the same pad 62.
• the user receives information, for example visual (extinguishing a light), indicating that the pellets 20, 30 of the contacts are worn and that the electrical switch device must be replaced.
• the opening of the alarm circuit can be completely replaced by the closing of a alarm circuit. In this case, the stud 62 rests on the flexible blade 51, not to separate it but to bring it closer to the circuit until a complete closure of the alarm circuit.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Push-Button Switches (AREA)
• Keying Circuit Devices (AREA)
• Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
• Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
• Electromagnets (AREA)
• Seats For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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• 2005
  • 2005-09-23 FR FR0552834A patent/FR2891392B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-09-21 EP EP06793704A patent/EP1927122B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2006-09-21 US US12/067,866 patent/US8289036B2/en active Active
  • 2006-09-21 JP JP2008531698A patent/JP4685168B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-09-21 WO PCT/EP2006/066581 patent/WO2007036481A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2006-09-21 CN CN2006800437981A patent/CN101313381B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-09-21 AT AT06793704T patent/ATE548741T1/de active

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