EP1998352B1 - Contact device for an electrical appliance and auxiliary signalling comprising such a device - Google Patents

Contact device for an electrical appliance and auxiliary signalling comprising such a device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1998352B1
EP1998352B1 EP20080354021 EP08354021A EP1998352B1 EP 1998352 B1 EP1998352 B1 EP 1998352B1 EP 20080354021 EP20080354021 EP 20080354021 EP 08354021 A EP08354021 A EP 08354021A EP 1998352 B1 EP1998352 B1 EP 1998352B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
arm
spring
support part
contacts
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.)
Active
Application number
EP20080354021
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1998352A1 (en
Inventor
Frédéric Marty
Samuel Faure
Gérard Dolo
Hervé Grillot
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.)
Schneider Electric Industries SAS
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Schneider Electric Industries SAS
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Publication date
Application filed by Schneider Electric Industries SAS filed Critical Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Publication of EP1998352A1 publication Critical patent/EP1998352A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1998352B1 publication Critical patent/EP1998352B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/54—Contact arrangements
    • H01H50/541—Auxiliary contact devices
    • 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
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/20—Bridging contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/32—Self-aligning contacts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrical contact device for an electrical device housed in a housing, comprising at least one so-called fixed contact and at least one so-called mobile contact between an open position of the contacts in which the contact (s) is fixed ( s) are separated from the movable contact (s) and a closed position of the contacts in which the movable contact (s) is (are) in contact with the contact (s) fixed (s), and a contact pressure spring adapted to bring the (the) movable contact (s) in position of contact with the (the) contact (s) fixed (s).
  • the present invention solves these problems and proposes a contact device for an electrical appliance, as well as a signaling auxiliary comprising it, having improved performances in a very small imposed volume.
  • the subject of the present invention is an electrical contact device for an electrical appliance of the kind mentioned above, this device being characterized in that the movable contact (s) is (are) mounted ) at the end of an arm mounted in a so-called first support part, said arm being articulated relative to a second support part and in that it comprises a blade contact pressure spring mounted in said first support piece and having an end portion bearing on the arm and a second end portion resting on the first support piece so as to recall the movable contact (s) in the position of contact with the (the) contact (s) fixed (s).
  • the aforementioned leaf spring is shaped so as to present a uniform deformation over its entire length.
  • the aforementioned leaf spring is folded so as to form a U.
  • the leaf spring has a lower portion cooperating with the first support and having two branches forming a V, each leg having a variable width so that the deformation of this lower part of the spring is uniform over the entire length of the spring. this part.
  • the upper part of the spring cooperating with the contact arm is folded so as to form a U, and has a variable profile so that its deformation is uniform over its entire length.
  • the aforementioned spring comprises a base cooperating with the first support piece so as to ensure the lateral positioning of the spring relative to said first piece and, via the spring, the lateral positioning of the arm relative to said first support piece.
  • the point of application of the force of the spring on the arm is close to the point of articulation of the contact support arm relative to said first support part.
  • the arm supports two so-called mobile contacts intended to cooperate with respectively two fixed contacts.
  • the two contacts are supported by a portion of the contact support arm extending parallel to the axis of articulation of said arm relative to said first support part.
  • the arm is mounted articulated about two axes substantially perpendicular to each other, the rotation of the arm about the first axis allowing the passage of the contact support arm from the position separated from the contacts to the closed position of the contacts, and the rotation of the arm around the second axis allowing compensating for any offset between the two fixed contacts or between the two movable contacts in a direction substantially parallel to the depth of the envelope.
  • the contact arm is articulated relative to the second support part by means of a ball joint.
  • the contact pressure spring comprising a base cooperating with the first support piece so as to ensure the lateral positioning of the spring with respect to the first support piece and, via the spring, the arm with respect to the first support part, this mechanical connection of the base and the first support part is made so as to prevent the rotation of the contact support arm around a third axis perpendicular to the first two.
  • the ball joint is formed by a spherical hollow shape provided in the arm cooperating with a conjugate shape provided in the second support piece.
  • the spring in the form of a blade comprises a rectilinear opening adapted to slide cooperating with a part of the first support piece so as to allow the translational movement of the leaf spring with respect to said first support piece during the rotation of the contact support arm so as to avoid a hyperstatic positioning of the spring.
  • the first support member is formed by the cover of the apparatus, while the second support member is formed by the housing of the apparatus.
  • first and second support members are formed in a contact carrier shaft rotatably mounted in the housing of the apparatus.
  • the present invention also relates to a signaling auxiliary housed in an envelope comprising a housing and a cover, this auxiliary being characterized in that it comprises a contact-carrier shaft rotatably mounted in the housing of the device (or the cover), fixed contacts integral with the housing (or respectively of the cover), at least one contact device comprising the previously mentioned features taken alone or in combination, mounted in the contact-carrying shaft, comprising an articulated mounted contact support arm relative to the contact-carrying shaft, said shaft constituting the aforementioned first and second support members, and at least one contact device comprising the aforementioned features taken alone or in combination, mounted in the cover, said cover constituting the first part aforementioned contact carrier, the second support member being constituted by the housing.
  • the above-mentioned contact-carrying shaft comprises means for driving the contact-carrying arm (s) of the contact device (s) mounted in the cover in the separation position of the fixed and movable contacts, said (said) arms being recalled (s) in the contact position of the fixed and movable contacts by the (the) spring (s) of contact pressure.
  • the contact device (s) assembled on the shaft is (are) said to be normally open, that is to say that the contact (s) closes (s) during the maneuvering of the shaft, and the contact device (s) assembled on the cover is (are) said normally closed (s), that is to say that the (the) contact (s) ( s) opens (s) during the maneuver.
  • this auxiliary is controlled by a motor circuit breaker.
  • a motor circuit breaker D in which can be mounted a signaling auxiliary A and a connector C.
  • This signaling auxiliary A is intended on the one hand, to signal the available or unavailable state of the contactor and on the other hand, to signal the triggering of the electrical protection.
  • the available state of the contactor allows the closing of contacts while the unavailable state prevents this closing of the contacts.
  • the transition from an available state to an unavailable state and vice versa is done by means of a manual command.
  • This auxiliary A is housed in a casing 1 of substantially parallelepipedal shape comprising a housing 2 and a lid 3. As shown in FIG. figure 2 this cover 3 comprises means for supporting a contact device 4 according to the invention.
  • This contact device 4 comprises a conductive bridge 5 having two movable contacts 6, 7, said bridge 5 being supported by a contact arm 8 integral with said bridge 5.
  • This arm is mounted inside a support piece 9, said first, integral with the cover 3.
  • a contact pressure spring 10 in the form of a blade, is also placed in the support part between the arm 8 and the cover 3.
  • This contact pressure spring 10 comprises a first portion 11, said lower, having two branches 11a, 11b V-shaped, and a second portion 12, said upper, folded so as to form a U.
  • This first portion 11 has two portions 11c, 11d of different widths connected by part diagonally 11d.
  • the second portion 12 has a different width over its entire length, and the two parts have a central opening 13,14, the two openings together forming an arrow, this shape allowing an equal deformation of the spring.
  • This opening 13, 14 provided in the leaf spring cooperates with a slide 25 provided in the cover 3 ( Figs. 6.7 and 8 ), so as to allow sliding mounting of the leaf spring relative to the cover, so as to leave said spring a degree of freedom for the operation of the system.
  • This lower portion 11 of the spring 10 has at its free end 11c a base 15 intended to cooperate with a recess provided in the cover to prevent the lateral displacement of the spring 10 in the cover 3, and thus the arm on which the spring is supported. .
  • the free end 12a of the second portion 12 of the spring is intended to bear on the conductive bridge 5 so that it is biased by the spring towards the fixed contacts 16,17 integral with the housing 2 ( figure 3 ) while the portion 12b of the spring cooperating with the lid 3 is supported on said lid 3.
  • said end 12a of the spring is shaped fork and cooperates with a notch 5a having a curved bottom (fig.5a) provided in the conductive bridge 5, said notch 5a being surrounded by two openings for receiving the two tips of the aforementioned fork.
  • This notch allows the conductor bridge to rotate around the longitudinal centerline axis Y of the conductor bridge so as to allow the catch of any offset between the two fixed contacts or the two movable contacts depending on the depth of the housing.
  • the arm 8 supporting the conductive bridge 5 is rotatably mounted relative to a ball portion 20 formed at the end of a rod 21 projecting from the inner surface of the housing 2, constituting a second support piece, by the intermediate of a recess 22 of partially spherical shape provided at the end of said arm and cooperating with said ball 20.
  • the arm 5 can thus pivot about a first axis X parallel to the plane of the cover and allowing the pivoting of the door bridge contact between the separated position of the contacts and the closed position of the contacts, and the aforementioned second axis Y, the latter being perpendicular to the first axis X and passing through the aforementioned rod 21.
  • a contact-carrying shaft 23 is rotatably mounted inside the housing 2 and supports a contact device 4 according to the invention.
  • This contact device comprises, as already described above, a conductive bridge 5 ( fig.9 and 10 ) having two movable contacts 6,7 supported by a contact arm 8 integral with said bridge 5.
  • This arm 8 is mounted in a housing provided in the shaft and is rotatably mounted by its end located on the side opposite the contacts. movable relative to a portion (not shown) of the rotary shaft 23.
  • the arm 8 has a recess 22 cooperating with a ball joint (not shown) forming an integral part of the shaft.
  • a leaf spring 10 as previously described ( figs.11,12 ), is also mounted in the aforementioned housing provided in the contact shaft. This spring is interposed between the shaft and the bridge.
  • the apparatus comprises a contact device 4 according to the invention mounted in the cover (as shown in FIG. figure 2 ) and a device according to the invention mounted in the rotary shaft (as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 ).
  • the conductive bridge 5 and the spring 10 are mounted in the cover, and the conductive bridge is rotatably mounted relative to the ball formed at the end of the rod belonging to the housing 2.
  • the bridge and the spring are mounted in a housing of said shaft.
  • the leaf spring is supported on said shaft and the conductive bridge is rotatably mounted relative to said shaft.
  • the above-mentioned contact-holder shaft 23 comprises means 24 for driving the contact-carrying arm 8 of the contact device mounted in the cover 3 in the position of separation of the fixed and mobile contacts, said arm being recalled in the contact position. fixed and movable contacts by the contact pressure spring.
  • the contact device 4 associated with the cover 3 is in the closed contact position, the spring 10 being decompressed.
  • the spring 10 is slightly compressed by the slight displacement of the spring 10.
  • the contact device assembled on the shaft is said normally open (the electrical signal does not pass), that is to say that the (the) contact (s) closes (ent) during the operation of the shaft.
  • the contact device assembled on the cover is said normally closed (the electrical signal passes), that is to say that the contacts open during the operation of the shaft (the electrical signal no longer passes).
  • the device mounted in the contact-carrier shaft makes it possible to signal the available or unavailable state of the contactor.
  • the device provided in the cover allows to signal only that the protection is triggered.
  • the function performed by the device provided on the cover traditionally requires a so-called return spring penalizing for the overall functional chain, because this spring is a consumer of mechanical energy. By assembling it on the cover, the return spring is no longer needed, which reduces the energy consumed in the overall functional chain.
  • the use of a blade contact pressure spring reduces the size of the contact pressure spring.
  • the articulation of the arm makes it possible to use a leaf spring which is less bulky than a coil spring in particular when it is desired to produce a force of very low value.
  • the use of a uniformly flexed leaf spring reduces the size of the spring and makes it possible to create a leaf spring entering the available volume.
  • the articulation of the contact arm around two axes makes it possible to obtain a certain mobility between the two contacts.
  • the articulation of the arm is formed by a ball joint.
  • the rotation guidance is carried out along three axes.
  • the rotation around the third axis is blocked by the base on the support part. This mobility between the contacts makes it possible to establish the contact between the fixed and mobile contacts regardless of the relative offset of the fixed or moving contacts depending on the depth of the envelope.
  • the articulation around the two axes is performed without additional parts.
  • the fact of providing two contacts on a conductive bridge makes it possible to distribute the isolation distance on the two contacts. Thus, the height of the contact is reduced by half.
  • the contact carrier is guided transversely without friction. This is made possible by the fact that the lower support of the spring is positioned, by a base, in the support part, the spring transmitting this positioning to the contact arm. Thus, there is no creation of parasitic friction or use of additional parts.
  • the force of the leaf spring is divided by the fact that the point of application of the spring force is close to the patella.
  • the geometry of the articulated arm and leaf spring system is designed in such a way that the spring is manipulable.
  • the invention makes it possible to produce high-performance contact devices of very small size. These devices can be actuated by motor circuit breakers having a force of low value imposed by construction.
  • the invention is advantageously applicable to contact devices for signaling auxiliaries for motor circuit breakers and can also be implemented for example in circuit breakers, switches, contactors, disconnectors, so-called ultra-terminals devices.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Contacts (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de contact électrique pour un appareil électrique logé dans un boîtier, comprenant au moins un contact dit fixe et au moins un contact dit mobile entre une position ouverte des contacts dans laquelle le(s) contact(s) fixe(s) sont séparé(s) du(des) contact(s) mobile(s) et une position fermée des contacts dans laquelle le(les) contact(s) mobile(s) est(sont) en contact avec le (les) contact(s) fixe(s), et un ressort de pression de contact apte à ramener le(les) contact(s) mobile(s) en position de contact avec le(les) contact(s) fixe(s).
On connaît un dispositif de contact pour un auxiliaire de signalisation pour disjoncteurs moteurs tel que décrit dans le document DE 20 2005 015 448 U1 , dans lequel les contacts doubles sont du type supportés par un pont à deux contacts commutant de la position ouverte à la position fermée par translation. Dans ce dispositif, le ressort de pression de contact est hélicoïdal et est placé sur l'axe de translation. Cette réalisation présente un encombrement important compte tenu de l'utilisation d'un ressort à spire.The present invention relates to an electrical contact device for an electrical device housed in a housing, comprising at least one so-called fixed contact and at least one so-called mobile contact between an open position of the contacts in which the contact (s) is fixed ( s) are separated from the movable contact (s) and a closed position of the contacts in which the movable contact (s) is (are) in contact with the contact (s) fixed (s), and a contact pressure spring adapted to bring the (the) movable contact (s) in position of contact with the (the) contact (s) fixed (s).
There is known a contact device for a signaling auxiliary for motor circuit breakers as described in the document DE 20 2005 015 448 U1 , in which the double contacts are of the type supported by a two-contact bridge switching from the open position to the closed position by translation. In this device, the contact pressure spring is helical and is placed on the translation axis. This embodiment has a large footprint given the use of a coil spring.

La présente invention résout ces problèmes et propose un dispositif de contact pour un appareil électrique, ainsi qu'un auxiliaire de signalisation le comportant, présentant des performances améliorées dans un volume imposé de très petite dimensions.The present invention solves these problems and proposes a contact device for an electrical appliance, as well as a signaling auxiliary comprising it, having improved performances in a very small imposed volume.

A cet effet, la présente invention a pour objet un dispositif de contact électrique pour un appareil électrique du genre précédemment mentionné, ce dispositif étant caractérisé en ce que le(les) contact(s) mobile(s) est (sont) monté(s) à l'extrémité d'un bras monté dans une pièce support dite première, ledit bras étant monté articulé par rapport à une seconde pièce support et en ce qu'il comporte un ressort de pression de contact à lame monté dans ladite première pièce support et comportant une partie d'extrémité en appui sur le bras et une seconde partie d'extrémité en appui sur la première pièce support de manière à rappeler le(les) contact(s) mobile (s) en position de contact avec le (les) contact(s) fixe (s).For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is an electrical contact device for an electrical appliance of the kind mentioned above, this device being characterized in that the movable contact (s) is (are) mounted ) at the end of an arm mounted in a so-called first support part, said arm being articulated relative to a second support part and in that it comprises a blade contact pressure spring mounted in said first support piece and having an end portion bearing on the arm and a second end portion resting on the first support piece so as to recall the movable contact (s) in the position of contact with the (the) contact (s) fixed (s).

Selon une caractéristique particulière, le ressort à lame précité est conformé de manière à présenter une déformation uniforme sur toute sa longueur.According to a particular characteristic, the aforementioned leaf spring is shaped so as to present a uniform deformation over its entire length.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le ressort à lame précité est plié de manière à former un U.According to another characteristic, the aforementioned leaf spring is folded so as to form a U.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le ressort à lame comporte une partie inférieure coopérant avec le premier support et comportant deux branches formant un V, chaque branche présentant une largeur variable de manière que la déformation de cette partie inférieure du ressort soit uniforme sur toute la longueur de cette partie.According to another characteristic, the leaf spring has a lower portion cooperating with the first support and having two branches forming a V, each leg having a variable width so that the deformation of this lower part of the spring is uniform over the entire length of the spring. this part.

Selon une autre caractéristique, la partie supérieure du ressort coopérant avec le bras de contact, est pliée de manière à former un U, et présente un profil variable de manière que sa déformation soit uniforme sur toute sa longueur.According to another characteristic, the upper part of the spring cooperating with the contact arm, is folded so as to form a U, and has a variable profile so that its deformation is uniform over its entire length.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le ressort précité comporte une embase coopérant avec la première pièce support de manière à assurer le positionnement latéral du ressort par rapport à ladite première pièce et, par l'intermédiaire du ressort, le positionnement latéral du bras par rapport à ladite première pièce support.According to another characteristic, the aforementioned spring comprises a base cooperating with the first support piece so as to ensure the lateral positioning of the spring relative to said first piece and, via the spring, the lateral positioning of the arm relative to said first support piece.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le point d'application de la force du ressort sur le bras est proche du point d'articulation du bras support de contact par rapport à ladite première pièce support.According to another characteristic, the point of application of the force of the spring on the arm is close to the point of articulation of the contact support arm relative to said first support part.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le bras supporte deux contacts dits mobiles destinés à coopérer avec respectivement deux contacts fixes.According to another characteristic, the arm supports two so-called mobile contacts intended to cooperate with respectively two fixed contacts.

Selon une autre caractéristique, les deux contacts sont supportés par une partie du bras support de contact s'étendant parallèlement à l'axe d'articulation dudit bras par rapport à ladite première pièce support.According to another characteristic, the two contacts are supported by a portion of the contact support arm extending parallel to the axis of articulation of said arm relative to said first support part.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le bras est monté articulé autour de deux axes sensiblement perpendiculaires l'un par rapport à l'autre, la rotation du bras autour du premier axe permettant le passage du bras support de contact de la position séparée des contacts à la position fermée des contacts, et la rotation du bras autour du second axe permettant de compenser un éventuel décalage entre les deux contacts fixes ou entre les deux contacts mobiles suivant une direction sensiblement parallèle à la profondeur de l'enveloppe.According to another characteristic, the arm is mounted articulated about two axes substantially perpendicular to each other, the rotation of the arm about the first axis allowing the passage of the contact support arm from the position separated from the contacts to the closed position of the contacts, and the rotation of the arm around the second axis allowing compensating for any offset between the two fixed contacts or between the two movable contacts in a direction substantially parallel to the depth of the envelope.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le bras de contact est monté articulé par rapport à la seconde pièce support au moyen d'une liaison rotule.According to another characteristic, the contact arm is articulated relative to the second support part by means of a ball joint.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le ressort de pression de contact comportant une embase coopérant avec la première pièce support de manière à assurer le positionnement latéral du ressort par rapport à la première pièce support et, par l'intermédiaire du ressort, du bras par rapport à la première pièce support, cette liaison mécanique de l'embase et de la première pièce support est réalisée de manière à empêcher la rotation du bras support de contact autour d'un troisième axe perpendiculaire aux deux premiers.According to another characteristic, the contact pressure spring comprising a base cooperating with the first support piece so as to ensure the lateral positioning of the spring with respect to the first support piece and, via the spring, the arm with respect to the first support part, this mechanical connection of the base and the first support part is made so as to prevent the rotation of the contact support arm around a third axis perpendicular to the first two.

Selon une autre caractéristique, la liaison rotule est réalisée par une forme en creux sphérique prévue dans le bras coopérant avec une forme conjuguée prévue dans la seconde pièce support.According to another characteristic, the ball joint is formed by a spherical hollow shape provided in the arm cooperating with a conjugate shape provided in the second support piece.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le ressort sous forme de lame comporte une ouverture rectiligne apte à coopérer à coulissement avec une partie de la première pièce support de manière à permettre le déplacement en translation du ressort à lame par rapport à ladite première pièce support lors de la rotation du bras support de contact de manière à éviter un positionnement hyperstatique du ressort.According to another characteristic, the spring in the form of a blade comprises a rectilinear opening adapted to slide cooperating with a part of the first support piece so as to allow the translational movement of the leaf spring with respect to said first support piece during the rotation of the contact support arm so as to avoid a hyperstatic positioning of the spring.

Selon une caractéristique particulière, la première pièce support est formée par le couvercle de l'appareil, tandis que la seconde pièce support est formée par le boîtier de l'appareil.According to a particular feature, the first support member is formed by the cover of the apparatus, while the second support member is formed by the housing of the apparatus.

Selon une autre réalisation, les première et seconde pièces support sont formées dans un arbre porte-contacts monté rotatif dans le boîtier de l'appareil.In another embodiment, the first and second support members are formed in a contact carrier shaft rotatably mounted in the housing of the apparatus.

La présente invention a encore pour objet un auxiliaire de signalisation logé dans une enveloppe comportant un boîtier et un couvercle, cet auxiliaire étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un arbre porte-contacts monté rotatif dans le boîtier de l'appareil (ou le couvercle), des contacts fixes solidaires du boîtier (ou respectivement du couvercle), au moins un dispositif de contact comportant les caractéristiques précédemment mentionnées prises seules ou en combinaison, monté dans l'arbre porte-contacts, comportant un bras support de contact monté articulé par rapport à l'arbre porte-contact, ledit arbre constituant les première et seconde pièces support précitées, et au moins un dispositif de contact comportant les caractéristiques précédemment mentionnée prises seules ou en combinaison, monté dans le couvercle, ledit couvercle constituant la première pièce support de contact précitée, la seconde pièce support étant constituée par le boîtier.The present invention also relates to a signaling auxiliary housed in an envelope comprising a housing and a cover, this auxiliary being characterized in that it comprises a contact-carrier shaft rotatably mounted in the housing of the device (or the cover), fixed contacts integral with the housing (or respectively of the cover), at least one contact device comprising the previously mentioned features taken alone or in combination, mounted in the contact-carrying shaft, comprising an articulated mounted contact support arm relative to the contact-carrying shaft, said shaft constituting the aforementioned first and second support members, and at least one contact device comprising the aforementioned features taken alone or in combination, mounted in the cover, said cover constituting the first part aforementioned contact carrier, the second support member being constituted by the housing.

Selon une autre caractéristique, l'arbre porte-contact précité comporte des moyens pour entraîner le(les) bras porte-contact(s) du(des) dispositif(s) de contact monté(s) dans le couvercle en position de séparation des contacts fixes et mobiles, ledit (lesdits) bras étant rappelé(s) en position de contact des contacts fixes et mobiles par le(les) ressort(s) de pression de contact.According to another characteristic, the above-mentioned contact-carrying shaft comprises means for driving the contact-carrying arm (s) of the contact device (s) mounted in the cover in the separation position of the fixed and movable contacts, said (said) arms being recalled (s) in the contact position of the fixed and movable contacts by the (the) spring (s) of contact pressure.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le(s) dispositif(s) de contact assemblé(s) sur l'arbre est (sont) dit normalement ouvert, c'est à dire que le(s) contact(s) se ferme(nt) lors de la manoeuvre de l'arbre, et le(les) dispositif(s) de contact assemblé(s) sur le couvercle est(sont) dit normalement fermé(s), c'est à dire que le(les) contact(s) s'ouvre(nt) lors de la manoeuvre.According to another characteristic, the contact device (s) assembled on the shaft is (are) said to be normally open, that is to say that the contact (s) closes (s) during the maneuvering of the shaft, and the contact device (s) assembled on the cover is (are) said normally closed (s), that is to say that the (the) contact (s) ( s) opens (s) during the maneuver.

Selon une caractéristique particulière, cet auxiliaire est commandé par un disjoncteur moteur.According to a particular characteristic, this auxiliary is controlled by a motor circuit breaker.

Mais d'autres avantages et caractéristiques de l'invention apparaîtront mieux dans la description détaillée qui suit et se réfère aux dessins annexés donnés uniquement à titre d'exemple et dans lesquels :

  • La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un disjoncteur moteur équipé d'un auxiliaire de signalisation selon l'invention et d'un connecteur,
  • La figure 2 est une vue en perspective du couvercle dudit auxiliaire de signalisation selon l'invention,
  • La figure 3 est une vue en perspective du boîtier dudit auxiliaire,
  • La figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'un arbre rotatif selon l'invention,
  • La figure 5 est une vue en perspective du boîtier de l'auxiliaire de signalisation dans lequel est monté ledit arbre rotatif,
  • Les figures 6,7 et 8 sont des vues en coupe transversale du dit auxiliaire de signalisation, illustrant le dispositif de contact respectivement dans une position des contacts fermée, dans une position des contacts en cours d'ouverture et dans une position des contacts ouverte,
  • Les figures 9 et 10 illustrent, dans une vue en perspective, un pont conducteur selon l'invention, respectivement suivant deux positions inversées montrant respectivement les deux faces dudit pont,
  • La figure 10a est une vue agrandie de la partie du pont conducteur coopérant avec le ressort, et
  • Les figures 11 et 12 illustrent dans deux vues en perspective, un ressort de pression de contact en forme de lame suivant deux orientations différentes permettant de montrer la face avant et la face arrière dudit ressort.
But other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent in the detailed description which follows and refers to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example and in which:
  • The figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor circuit breaker equipped with a signaling auxiliary according to the invention and a connector,
  • The figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover of said signaling auxiliary according to the invention,
  • The figure 3 is a perspective view of the housing of said auxiliary,
  • The figure 4 is a perspective view of a rotary shaft according to the invention,
  • The figure 5 is a perspective view of the housing of the signaling auxiliary in which is mounted said rotary shaft,
  • The Figures 6.7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of said signaling auxiliary, illustrating the contact device respectively in a closed contact position, in a position of the contacts being opened and in an open contact position,
  • The Figures 9 and 10 illustrate, in a perspective view, a conductive bridge according to the invention, respectively in two inverted positions respectively showing the two faces of said bridge,
  • The figure 10a is an enlarged view of the portion of the conductive bridge cooperating with the spring, and
  • The Figures 11 and 12 illustrate in two perspective views, a blade-shaped contact pressure spring in two different orientations for showing the front face and the rear face of said spring.

Sur la figure 1 est illustré un disjoncteur moteur D dans lequel peut être monté un auxiliaire de signalisation A et un connecteur C.
Cet auxiliaire de signalisation A est destiné d'une part, à signaler l'état disponible ou non disponible du contacteur et d'autre part, à signaler le déclenchement de la protection électrique. L'état disponible du contacteur autorise la fermeture des contacts tandis que l'état non disponible empêche cette fermeture des contacts. Le passage d'un état disponible à un état non disponible et inversement s'effectue au moyen d'une commande manuelle. Cet auxiliaire A est logé dans une enveloppe 1 de forme sensiblement parallélépipédique comportant un boîtier 2 et un couvercle 3. Comme illustré sur la figure 2, ce couvercle 3 comporte des moyens de support d'un dispositif de contact 4 selon l'invention. Ce dispositif de contact 4 comporte un pont conducteur 5 comportant deux contacts mobiles 6,7, ledit pont 5 étant supporté par un bras de contact 8 venu de matière avec ledit pont 5. Ce bras est monté à l'intérieur d' une pièce support 9, dite première, venue de matière avec le couvercle 3. Un ressort de pression de contact 10 sous forme de lame, est placé également dans la pièce support entre le bras 8 et le couvercle 3. Ce ressort de pression de contact 10 comporte une première partie 11, dite inférieure, comportant deux branches 11a,11b en forme de V, et une seconde partie 12, dite supérieure, pliée de manière à former un U. Cette première partie 11 comporte deux parties 11c,11d de largeurs différentes reliées par une partie en biais 11d. La seconde partie 12 présente une largeur différente sur toute sa longueur, et les deux parties comportent une ouverture centrale 13,14, les deux ouvertures réunies formant une flèche, cette forme permettant une égale déformation du ressort. Cette ouverture 13,14 prévue dans le ressort à lame coopère avec une glissière 25 prévue dans le couvercle 3 (figs. 6,7 et 8), de manière à permettre le montage en coulissement du ressort à lame par rapport au couvercle, ceci afin de laisser audit ressort un degré de liberté permettant le fonctionnement du système. Cette partie inférieure 11 du ressort 10 comporte à son extrémité libre 11c une embase 15 destinée à coopérer avec un logement prévu dans le couvercle pour empêcher le déplacement latéral du ressort 10 dans le couvercle 3, et donc du bras sur lequel le ressort est en appui. L'extrémité libre 12a de la seconde partie 12 du ressort est destinée à venir en appui sur le pont conducteur 5 de manière que celui-ci soit rappelé par le ressort en direction des contacts fixes 16,17 solidaires du boîtier 2 (figure 3) tandis que la partie 12b du ressort coopérant avec le couvercle 3 est en appui sur ledit couvercle 3.
A cet effet, ladite extrémité 12a du ressort est conformée en forme de fourche et coopère avec une encoche 5a présentant un fond bombé (fig.5a) prévue dans le pont conducteur 5, ladite encoche 5a étant entourée par deux ouvertures destinées à recevoir les deux pointes de la fourche précitée.On the figure 1 is illustrated a motor circuit breaker D in which can be mounted a signaling auxiliary A and a connector C.
This signaling auxiliary A is intended on the one hand, to signal the available or unavailable state of the contactor and on the other hand, to signal the triggering of the electrical protection. The available state of the contactor allows the closing of contacts while the unavailable state prevents this closing of the contacts. The transition from an available state to an unavailable state and vice versa is done by means of a manual command. This auxiliary A is housed in a casing 1 of substantially parallelepipedal shape comprising a housing 2 and a lid 3. As shown in FIG. figure 2 this cover 3 comprises means for supporting a contact device 4 according to the invention. This contact device 4 comprises a conductive bridge 5 having two movable contacts 6, 7, said bridge 5 being supported by a contact arm 8 integral with said bridge 5. This arm is mounted inside a support piece 9, said first, integral with the cover 3. A contact pressure spring 10 in the form of a blade, is also placed in the support part between the arm 8 and the cover 3. This contact pressure spring 10 comprises a first portion 11, said lower, having two branches 11a, 11b V-shaped, and a second portion 12, said upper, folded so as to form a U. This first portion 11 has two portions 11c, 11d of different widths connected by part diagonally 11d. The second portion 12 has a different width over its entire length, and the two parts have a central opening 13,14, the two openings together forming an arrow, this shape allowing an equal deformation of the spring. This opening 13, 14 provided in the leaf spring cooperates with a slide 25 provided in the cover 3 ( Figs. 6.7 and 8 ), so as to allow sliding mounting of the leaf spring relative to the cover, so as to leave said spring a degree of freedom for the operation of the system. This lower portion 11 of the spring 10 has at its free end 11c a base 15 intended to cooperate with a recess provided in the cover to prevent the lateral displacement of the spring 10 in the cover 3, and thus the arm on which the spring is supported. . The free end 12a of the second portion 12 of the spring is intended to bear on the conductive bridge 5 so that it is biased by the spring towards the fixed contacts 16,17 integral with the housing 2 ( figure 3 ) while the portion 12b of the spring cooperating with the lid 3 is supported on said lid 3.
For this purpose, said end 12a of the spring is shaped fork and cooperates with a notch 5a having a curved bottom (fig.5a) provided in the conductive bridge 5, said notch 5a being surrounded by two openings for receiving the two tips of the aforementioned fork.

Cette encoche autorise le pont conducteur à effectuer une rotation autour de l'axe médian longitudinal Y du pont conducteur de manière à permettre le rattrapage d'un éventuel décalage entre les deux contacts fixes ou les deux contacts mobiles suivant la profondeur du boîtier.
Le bras 8 supportant le pont conducteur 5, est monté rotatif par rapport à une partie formant rotule 20 formée à l'extrémité d'une tige 21 en saillie à partir de la surface intérieure du boîtier 2, constituant une seconde pièce support, par l'intermédiaire d'un évidement 22 de forme partiellement sphérique prévu à l'extrémité dudit bras et coopérant avec ladite rotule 20. Le bras 5 peut ainsi pivoter autour d'un premier axe X parallèle au plan du couvercle et permettant le pivotement du pont porte-contact 5 entre la position séparée des contacts et la position fermée des contacts, et le second axe Y précité, ce dernier étant perpendiculaire au premier axe X et passant par la tige précitée 21.
Tel qu'illustré sur les figures 3 à 5, un arbre porte-contact 23 est monté rotatif à l'intérieur du boîtier 2 et supporte un dispositif de contact 4 selon l'invention. Ce dispositif de contact comporte comme déjà décrit ci-dessus, un pont conducteur 5 (fig.9 et 10) comportant deux contacts mobiles 6,7 supportés par un bras de contact 8 venu de matière avec ledit pont 5. Ce bras 8 est monté dans un logement prévu dans l'arbre et est monté rotatif, par son extrémité située du côté opposée aux contacts mobiles, par rapport à une partie (non représentée) de l'arbre rotatif 23. A cet effet, le bras 8 comporte un évidement 22 coopérant avec une rotule (non représentée) faisant partie intégrante de l'arbre. Un ressort à lame 10 tel que décrit précédemment (figs.11,12), est monté également dans le logement précité prévu dans l'arbre porte-contact. Ce ressort est interposé entre l'arbre et le pont. Il comporte une ouverture 13,14 coopérant avec une glissière formée dans l'arbre porte-contact et est en appui d'une part sur ledit arbre 23 et d'autre part sur le pont conducteur 5 de manière à rappeler les deux contacts mobiles 6,7 du pont conducteur 5 en contact avec les contacts fixes 16,17. Ainsi, dans ce cas, l'arbre porte-contact 23 sert de pièce support par rapport à laquelle le pont conducteur est monté rotatif et de pièce support pour le ressort.
Tel que représenté sur les figures, l'appareil comporte un dispositif de contact 4 selon l'invention monté dans le couvercle (tel que représenté sur la figure 2) et un dispositif selon l'invention monté dans l'arbre rotatif (tel qu'illustré sur la figure 5).This notch allows the conductor bridge to rotate around the longitudinal centerline axis Y of the conductor bridge so as to allow the catch of any offset between the two fixed contacts or the two movable contacts depending on the depth of the housing.
The arm 8 supporting the conductive bridge 5, is rotatably mounted relative to a ball portion 20 formed at the end of a rod 21 projecting from the inner surface of the housing 2, constituting a second support piece, by the intermediate of a recess 22 of partially spherical shape provided at the end of said arm and cooperating with said ball 20. The arm 5 can thus pivot about a first axis X parallel to the plane of the cover and allowing the pivoting of the door bridge contact between the separated position of the contacts and the closed position of the contacts, and the aforementioned second axis Y, the latter being perpendicular to the first axis X and passing through the aforementioned rod 21.
As illustrated on Figures 3 to 5 , a contact-carrying shaft 23 is rotatably mounted inside the housing 2 and supports a contact device 4 according to the invention. This contact device comprises, as already described above, a conductive bridge 5 ( fig.9 and 10 ) having two movable contacts 6,7 supported by a contact arm 8 integral with said bridge 5. This arm 8 is mounted in a housing provided in the shaft and is rotatably mounted by its end located on the side opposite the contacts. movable relative to a portion (not shown) of the rotary shaft 23. For this purpose, the arm 8 has a recess 22 cooperating with a ball joint (not shown) forming an integral part of the shaft. A leaf spring 10 as previously described ( figs.11,12 ), is also mounted in the aforementioned housing provided in the contact shaft. This spring is interposed between the shaft and the bridge. It comprises an opening 13,14 cooperating with a slide formed in the contact-carrying shaft and bears on the one hand on said shaft 23 and on the other hand on the conductive bridge 5 so as to recall the two movable contacts 6 , 7 of the conductor bridge 5 in contact with the fixed contacts 16,17. Thus, in this case, the contact carrier shaft 23 serves as a support member with respect to which the conductive bridge is rotatably mounted and a support member for the spring.
As shown in the figures, the apparatus comprises a contact device 4 according to the invention mounted in the cover (as shown in FIG. figure 2 ) and a device according to the invention mounted in the rotary shaft (as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 ).

Concernant le dispositif associé au couvercle, le pont conducteur 5 et le ressort 10 sont montés dans le couvercle, et le pont conducteur est monté rotatif par rapport à la rotule formée à l'extrémité de la tige appartenant au boîtier 2. Concernant le dispositif monté dans l'arbre rotatif, le pont et le ressort sont montés dans un logement dudit arbre. Le ressort à lame est en appui sur ledit arbre et le pont conducteur est monté rotatif par rapport audit arbre.
En outre, l'arbre porte-contact précité 23 comporte des moyens 24 pour entraîner le bras porte-contact 8 du dispositif de contact monté dans le couvercle 3 en position de séparation des contacts fixes et mobiles, ledit bras étant rappelé en position de contact des contacts fixes et mobiles par le ressort de pression de contact.
Sur la figure 6, le dispositif de contact 4 associé au couvercle 3 est en position de contacts fermés, le ressort 10 étant décomprimé. Sur la figure 7, après un mouvement dans le sens anti-horaire de l'arbre rotatif 23, le ressort 10 est légèrement comprimé par le léger déplacement du ressort 10. Lorsque ce mouvement de l'arbre 23 est poursuivi, tel que représenté sur la figure 8, le ressort 10 est dans un état de compression maximum et les contacts sont ouverts.
Le dispositif de contact assemblé sur l'arbre est dit normalement ouvert (le signal électrique ne passe pas), c'est à dire que le(les) contact(s) se ferme(ent) lors de la manoeuvre de l'arbre. Le dispositif de contact assemblé sur le couvercle est dit normalement fermé (le signal électrique passe), c'est à dire que les contacts s'ouvrent lors de la manoeuvre de l'arbre (le signal électrique ne passe plus).
Le dispositif monté dans l'arbre porte-contact permet de signaler l'état disponible ou non disponible du contacteur. Le dispositif prévu dans le couvercle permet de signaler uniquement que la protection est déclenchée
La fonction réalisée par le dispositif prévu sur le couvercle nécessite traditionnellement un ressort dit de rappel pénalisant pour la chaîne fonctionnelle globale, car ce ressort est consommateur d'énergie mécanique. En l'assemblant sur le couvercle, le ressort de rappel n'est plus nécessaire, ce qui réduit l'énergie consommée dans la chaîne fonctionnelle globale.
L'utilisation d'un ressort de pression de contact à lame permet de réduire la taille du ressort de pression de contact. L'articulation du bras permet d'utiliser un ressort à lame moins encombrant qu'un ressort à spires en particulier lorsque l'on veut produire une force de très faible valeur. En effet, pour obtenir un ressort à spires de faible force et de faible raideur, il faut un grand nombre de spires, ce qui engendre un encombrement important.
L'utilisation d'un ressort à lame à flexion uniforme permet de réduire la taille du ressort et permet de créer un ressort à lame entrant dans le volume disponible.
L'articulation du bras porte-contact autour de deux axes permet d'obtenir une certaine mobilité entre les deux contacts. L'articulation du bras est formée par une rotule. Le guidage en rotation est réalisé suivant trois axes. La rotation autour du troisième axe est bloquée par l'embase sur la pièce support. Cette mobilité entre les contacts permet d'établir le contact entre les contacts fixes et mobiles quelque soit le décalage relatif des contacts fixes ou mobiles suivant la profondeur de l'enveloppe. L'articulation autour des deux axes est réalisée sans pièce supplémentaire.
Le fait de prévoir deux contacts sur un pont conducteur permet de répartir la distance d'isolement sur les deux contacts. Ainsi, la hauteur du contact est réduite de moitié.
Le fait que les fonctions porte-contact et bras d'articulation sont réalisées dans une même pièce permet de simplifier le mécanisme.
Le porte-contact est guidé transversalement sans frottement. Ceci est rendu possible par le fait que l'appui inférieur du ressort est positionné, par une embase, dans la pièce support, le ressort transmettant ce positionnement au bras de contact. Ainsi, il n'y a pas de création de frottement parasites ni d'utilisation de pièces supplémentaires.
La force du ressort à lame est divisée par le fait que le point d'application de la force du ressort est proche de la rotule.
La géométrie du système bras articulé et ressort à lame est conçue de telle manière que le ressort soit manipulable.Regarding the device associated with the cover, the conductive bridge 5 and the spring 10 are mounted in the cover, and the conductive bridge is rotatably mounted relative to the ball formed at the end of the rod belonging to the housing 2. Concerning the mounted device in the rotary shaft, the bridge and the spring are mounted in a housing of said shaft. The leaf spring is supported on said shaft and the conductive bridge is rotatably mounted relative to said shaft.
In addition, the above-mentioned contact-holder shaft 23 comprises means 24 for driving the contact-carrying arm 8 of the contact device mounted in the cover 3 in the position of separation of the fixed and mobile contacts, said arm being recalled in the contact position. fixed and movable contacts by the contact pressure spring.
On the figure 6 the contact device 4 associated with the cover 3 is in the closed contact position, the spring 10 being decompressed. On the figure 7 after a counter-clockwise movement of the rotary shaft 23, the spring 10 is slightly compressed by the slight displacement of the spring 10. When this movement of the shaft 23 is continued, as shown in FIG. figure 8 the spring 10 is in a state of maximum compression and the contacts are open.
The contact device assembled on the shaft is said normally open (the electrical signal does not pass), that is to say that the (the) contact (s) closes (ent) during the operation of the shaft. The contact device assembled on the cover is said normally closed (the electrical signal passes), that is to say that the contacts open during the operation of the shaft (the electrical signal no longer passes).
The device mounted in the contact-carrier shaft makes it possible to signal the available or unavailable state of the contactor. The device provided in the cover allows to signal only that the protection is triggered
The function performed by the device provided on the cover traditionally requires a so-called return spring penalizing for the overall functional chain, because this spring is a consumer of mechanical energy. By assembling it on the cover, the return spring is no longer needed, which reduces the energy consumed in the overall functional chain.
The use of a blade contact pressure spring reduces the size of the contact pressure spring. The articulation of the arm makes it possible to use a leaf spring which is less bulky than a coil spring in particular when it is desired to produce a force of very low value. Indeed, to obtain a coil spring of low strength and low stiffness, it takes a large number of turns, which generates a large footprint.
The use of a uniformly flexed leaf spring reduces the size of the spring and makes it possible to create a leaf spring entering the available volume.
The articulation of the contact arm around two axes makes it possible to obtain a certain mobility between the two contacts. The articulation of the arm is formed by a ball joint. The rotation guidance is carried out along three axes. The rotation around the third axis is blocked by the base on the support part. This mobility between the contacts makes it possible to establish the contact between the fixed and mobile contacts regardless of the relative offset of the fixed or moving contacts depending on the depth of the envelope. The articulation around the two axes is performed without additional parts.
The fact of providing two contacts on a conductive bridge makes it possible to distribute the isolation distance on the two contacts. Thus, the height of the contact is reduced by half.
The fact that the functions contact-holder and articulating arm are performed in the same room simplifies the mechanism.
The contact carrier is guided transversely without friction. This is made possible by the fact that the lower support of the spring is positioned, by a base, in the support part, the spring transmitting this positioning to the contact arm. Thus, there is no creation of parasitic friction or use of additional parts.
The force of the leaf spring is divided by the fact that the point of application of the spring force is close to the patella.
The geometry of the articulated arm and leaf spring system is designed in such a way that the spring is manipulable.

L'invention permet de réaliser des dispositifs de contact à haute performance de dimension très réduite. Ces dispositifs peuvent être actionnés par des disjoncteurs moteur présentant une force de faible valeur imposée par construction.
L'invention s'applique avantageusement aux dispositifs de contact pour auxiliaires de signalisation pour disjoncteurs moteurs et peut également être mise en oeuvre par exemple dans des disjoncteurs, des interrupteurs, des contacteurs, des sectionneurs, des appareils dits ultra-terminals.The invention makes it possible to produce high-performance contact devices of very small size. These devices can be actuated by motor circuit breakers having a force of low value imposed by construction.
The invention is advantageously applicable to contact devices for signaling auxiliaries for motor circuit breakers and can also be implemented for example in circuit breakers, switches, contactors, disconnectors, so-called ultra-terminals devices.

Bien entendu, l'invention n'est pas limitée aux modes de réalisation décrits et illustrés qui n'ont été donnés qu'à titre d'exemple.Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given by way of example.

Au contraire, l'invention comprend tous les équivalents techniques des moyens décrits ainsi que leurs combinaisons si celles-ci sont réalisées suivant les revendications.On the contrary, the invention comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are made according to the claims.

Claims (21)

  1. An electric contact device for an electric unit housed in a case, comprising at least one contact called stationary contact and at least one contact called movable contact movable between an open position of the contacts in which the stationary contact(s) is(are) separated from the movable contact(s) and a closed position of the contacts in which the movable contact(s) is(are) in contact with the stationary contact(s), and a contact pressure spring designed to move the movable contact(s) to the position in contact with the stationary contact, characterized in that the movable contact(s) (6,7) is (are) fitted at the end of an arm (8) fitted in a support part called first support part (3,23), said arm (8) being mounted articulated with respect to a support part called second support part (2,23) and in that it comprises a leaf contact pressure spring (10) mounted in a support part called first support part (3,23) and comprising a first end part (12a) pressing on the arm (8) and a second end part (12b) pressing on the first support part (3,23) so as to bias the movable contact(s) (6,7) to the contact position with the stationary contact(s) (16,17).
  2. The contact device according to claim 1, characterized in that the above-mentioned leaf spring (10) is shaped in such a way as to present a uniform deformation over its whole length.
  3. The contact device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the above-mentioned leaf spring (10) is folded so as to form a U.
  4. The contact device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the leaf spring (10) comprises a bottom part (11) operating in conjunction with the first support part (3,23) and comprising two branches (11a,11b) forming a V, each branch presenting a variable width so that deformation of this bottom part of the spring is uniform over the whole length of this part.
  5. The contact device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the top part (12) of the spring (10) operating in conjunction with the contact arm (5) is folded in such a way as to form a U and presents a variable profile so that deformation thereof is uniform over the whole of its length.
  6. The contact device according to any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that the above-mentioned spring (10) comprises a base part (15) operating in conjunction with the first support part (3,23) so as to perform lateral positioning of the spring (10) with respect to said first support part (3,23) and, by means of the spring (10), lateral positioning of the arm (5) with respect to said first support part (3,23).
  7. The contact device according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the application point of the force of the spring (10) on the arm (5) is close to the articulation point of the arm (5) with respect to said first support part (3,23).
  8. The contact device according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the arm (5) supports two contacts called movable contacts (6,7) designed to operate in conjunction with respectively two stationary contacts (16,17).
  9. The contact device according to claim 8, characterized in that the two contacts are supported by a part of the contact support arm extending in a parallel direction to the articulation axis X of said arm with respect to said first support part (3,23).
  10. The contact device according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the arm (5) is mounted articulated around two axes X,Y that are substantially perpendicular to one another, rotation of the arm (5) around the first axis X enabling the contact support arm (5) to move from the open position of the contacts to the closed position of the contacts, and rotation of the arm (5) around the second axis Y enabling a possible offset between the two stationary contacts or between the two movable contacts in a direction substantially parallel to the depth of the enclosure to be compensated.
  11. The contact device according to claim 10, characterized in that the free end of the leaf spring (10) is in the shape of a fork and operates in conjunction with a notch (5a) presenting a convex bottom, said notch being surrounded by two openings provided in the contact support arm (5).
  12. The contact device according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the contact arm (5) is mounted articulated with respect to the second support part (2) by means of a swivel-joint link (20).
  13. The contact device according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the contact pressure spring (10) comprising a base part (15) operating in conjunction with the first support part (3,23) so as to perform lateral positioning of the spring (10) with respect to the first support part and, by means of the spring, of the arm (5) with respect to the case (2), this mechanical connection of the base part (15) and the first support part (3,23) is achieved in such a way as to prevent rotation of the contact support arm (5) around a third axis perpendicular to the first two axes X,Y.
  14. The contact device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the above-mentioned swivel-joint link (20) is achieved by a hollow spherical shape (22) provided in the arm operating in conjunction with a conjugate shape provided in the second support part (2).
  15. The contact device according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the spring in the form of a leaf (10) comprises a straight opening (13,14) designed to cooperate by sliding with a part of the first support part (1) so as to enable translational movement of the leaf spring with respect to said first support part when rotation of the contact support arm (5) takes place so as to prevent hyperstatic positioning of the spring.
  16. The device according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the first support part is formed by the cover (3) of the unit, whereas the second support part is formed by the case (2) of the unit.
  17. The device according to any one claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the first and second support parts are formed by a contact support shaft (23) mounted rotating in the case (2) of the unit.
  18. A signalling auxiliary housed in an enclosure comprising a case and a cover, characterized in that it comprises a contact support shaft (23) mounted rotating in the case (2) of the unit (or cover), stationary contacts (16,17) securedly fixed to the case (2) (or respectively to the cover (1)), at least one contact device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, fitted in the contact support shaft (23), comprising a contact support arm (5) mounted articulated with respect to the contact support shaft (23), said shaft constituting the above-mentioned first and second support parts, and at least one contact device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, fitted in the cover (3), said cover constituting the above-mentioned first contact support part, the second support part being formed by the case (2).
  19. The signalling auxiliary according to claim 18, characterized in that the above-mentioned contact support shaft (23) comprises means (24) for driving the contact support arm(s) (5) of the contact device(s) fitted in the cover (1) to the separated position of the stationary and movable contacts, said arm(s) being biased to the contact position of the stationary and movable contacts by the contact pressure spring(s) (10).
  20. The signalling auxiliary according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the contact device(s) assembled on the shaft (23) is (are) said to be normally open, i.e. the contacts close or the contact closes when operation of the shaft takes place, and the contact device(s) assembled on the cover is (are) said to be normally closed, i.e. the contacts open or the contact opens when operation of the shaft takes place.
  21. A signalling auxiliary according to anyone claims 18 to 20, characterized in that it is controlled by a motor-driven circuit breaker.
EP20080354021 2007-06-01 2008-03-14 Contact device for an electrical appliance and auxiliary signalling comprising such a device Active EP1998352B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0703908A FR2916899B1 (en) 2007-06-01 2007-06-01 CONTACT DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRICAL AND AUXILIARY SIGNALING APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE

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EP1998352A1 EP1998352A1 (en) 2008-12-03
EP1998352B1 true EP1998352B1 (en) 2012-08-29

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CN (1) CN101315837B (en)
ES (1) ES2390185T3 (en)
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FR2981192B1 (en) * 2011-10-10 2013-11-15 Schneider Electric Ind Sas DEVICE FOR TRANSCRIPTIONING A MECHANICAL POSITION INTO AN ELECTRICAL STATE
KR20160114405A (en) 2015-03-24 2016-10-05 엘에스산전 주식회사 Apparatus for auxiliary contact of circuit braker
CN114429871A (en) * 2020-10-29 2022-05-03 施耐德电器工业公司 Moving contact pressure retaining structure, moving contact assembly and dual-power transfer switch

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DE19856678C2 (en) * 1998-12-04 2002-01-24 Moeller Gmbh Electrical switching device
FR2808119B1 (en) * 2000-04-19 2002-10-11 Abb Control Sa AUXILIARY BLOCK FOR MOUNTING ON AN ELECTRIC CONTACTOR
DE202005015448U1 (en) * 2005-09-30 2005-12-08 Siemens Ag Electromagnet actuated low voltage switch has contact carriers that can be assembled so as to operate in normally closed or normally open modes

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FR2916899A1 (en) 2008-12-05
CN101315837A (en) 2008-12-03
EP1998352A1 (en) 2008-12-03
ES2390185T3 (en) 2012-11-07
CN101315837B (en) 2012-09-26
FR2916899B1 (en) 2009-07-10

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