Classifications

• • 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
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
  • H01H2036/0093—Micromechanical switches actuated by a change of the magnetic field
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
  • H01H50/005—Details of electromagnetic relays using micromechanics
  • H01H2050/007—Relays of the polarised type, e.g. the MEMS relay beam having a preferential magnetisation direction
• • 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
  • H01H71/04—Means for indicating condition of the switching device
  • H01H2071/046—Means for indicating condition of the switching device exclusively by position of operating part, e.g. with additional labels or marks but no other movable indicators
• • 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
  • H01H71/04—Means for indicating condition of the switching device
  • H01H2071/048—Means for indicating condition of the switching device containing non-mechanical switch position sensor, e.g. HALL sensor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
  • H01H36/0006—Permanent magnet actuating reed switches
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
  • H01H36/008—Change of magnetic field wherein the magnet and switch are fixed, e.g. by shielding or relative movements of armature
• • 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
  • H01H71/02—Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings
  • H01H71/0264—Mountings or coverplates for complete assembled circuit breakers, e.g. snap mounting in panel
  • H01H71/0271—Mounting several complete assembled circuit breakers together
• • 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
  • H01H71/04—Means for indicating condition of the switching device
• • 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
  • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
  • H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
• • 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"
  • H01H9/168—Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off" making use of an electromagnetic wave communication

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for monitoring the position of a moving part of an electrical switch device.
• the moving part is for example the handle of a circuit breaker, for example a mini-circuit breaker.
• the invention also relates to a panel that can receive a plurality of electrical switch devices such as circuit breakers equipped with a monitoring device of the invention.
• the Hall effect sensor can easily be subjected to disturbances and external influences by approaching another magnet near the sensor.
• the variation of the magnetic flux thus generated may cause nuisance tripping of the alarm while the circuit breaker handle is not in the tripped position.
• it requires the establishment of expensive and complex electronic means for measuring the variation of the magnetic flux.
• the implementation of several devices of this type to detect the state of several circuit breakers present on the same electrical board is therefore unattractive.
• the object of the invention is to propose a device for monitoring the position of a moving part of a circuit breaker which is very precise, insensitive to external magnetic fields and which can be used in large numbers to monitor in a simple manner. and inexpensive a plurality of circuit breakers on a switchboard.
• a device for monitoring the position of a moving part mounted on a housing of a switch electrical apparatus said movable part being able to take at least two predetermined positions
• said device comprising: a permanent magnet; detecting the position of the moving part, characterized in that the detection device comprises a reader equipped with an antenna for exchanging contactless electromagnetic coupling data with a receiver element associated with the electrical switch device, - the element receiver comprises an antenna controlled by a microswitch switched between two states depending on the position of the moving part, to establish or interrupt the electromagnetic coupling between the reader and the receiving element, the microswitch is controlled by magnetic effect and comprises a mobile element that can be aligned along the field lines of a magnet field generated by the permanent magnet.
• the device according to the invention is particularly accurate because the method of actuation of the microswitch requires the presence of the permanent magnet in a specific position. If the permanent magnet is not in a precise position, the microswitch does not switch.
• the device according to the invention is therefore less subject to disturbances and does not risk switching unexpectedly.
• the permanent magnet is movable and set in motion by the mobile part and the receiver element is mounted on the housing of the electrical switch device.
• the permanent magnet is for example carried by the moving part.
• the device comprises a fixed permanent magnet having field lines imposing on the movable element to take a state.
• the change of position of the moving part causes a change of direction of the magnetic field lines created by said fixed and mobile permanent magnets in the vicinity of the movable element, causing its change of state.
• the permanent magnet is mounted on the housing of the switch electrical apparatus and the receiving element is set in motion by the movable part.
• the receiving element is for example carried by the moving part.
• the device comprises a moving part forming a mask set in motion by the mobile part and capable of interrupting the magnetic effect produced by the permanent magnet on the microswitch when the moving part. is in one of his at least two positions.
• the mobile part of the electrical switch device can take three positions, two extreme positions in each of which at least one receiving element is controlled by the permanent magnet to establish or interrupt an electromagnetic coupling with the reader and a position intermediate in which the permanent magnet does not control the receiver element.
• the microswitch is for example mounted in series with an antenna of the receiver element. In the closed state, the microswitch allows the establishment of the electromagnetic coupling between the reader and the receiver element.
• the microswitch is for example mounted in parallel with respect to an antenna of the receiver element. In the closed state, the microswitch makes it possible to short-circuit the antenna and thus to interrupt the electromagnetic coupling between the reader and the receiver element.
• the receiving element is for example an RFID electronic tag positioned on the electrical apparatus.
• the reader is for example a reading station of this type of label.
• the movable part is for example a pivoting actuating lever.
• the monitoring device may be in the form of an independent module that can be adapted to an electrical switch device.
• the monitoring device is particularly suitable for use on a switch electrical appliance such as a circuit breaker and more particularly a mini-breaker.
• the monitoring device may in particular be implemented on each circuit breaker of a switchboard.
• the reader On the electrical panel, the reader may for example be common to all electrical devices switches present.
• Figures 1 and 2 show the monitoring device of the invention implemented on a mini-breaker with two positions.
• FIGS 3 and 4 schematically illustrate the operating principle of the monitoring device according to the invention.
• FIGS 5 and 6 schematically illustrate an alternative embodiment of the monitoring device according to the invention.
• FIGS 7 and 8 show schematically another embodiment of the monitoring device of the invention.
• Figures 9 to 1 1 show a variant of the monitoring device according to the invention applied to a three-position circuit breaker.
• FIG. 12 represents an alternative embodiment of the receiver element according to the invention.
• Figure 13 shows a microswitch as used in the monitoring device of the invention.
• FIGS. 14A and 14B show the microswitch of FIG. 13 respectively in the open position and in the closed position, actuated by a permanent magnet.
• FIG. 15 represents an electrical panel comprising a row of mini-circuit breakers equipped with the monitoring device according to the invention.
• the device according to the invention is applied to monitor the position of the moving part of an electrical switch device.
• the electrical switch device is more particularly a switching device such as for example a switch, a fuse holder or a circuit breaker 1, more particularly a mini-breaker.
• a circuit breaker 1 comprises a housing 10 on which is mounted the movable portion consisting of a pivoting lever 11 or rotating.
• the handle 1 1 can be set in motion between at least two positions, an ON position (M) and an OFF position (A).
• the movement between the two positions ON (M) and OFF (A) can be intentionally performed by a user or automatically when an electrical fault such as a short circuit is detected.
• Some circuit breakers 1 ' may be provided in three positions, with an intermediate position (S) of the handle located midway between the ON position (M) and the OFF position (A) to indicate the electrical fault or indicate the welding of the contacts ( Figures 9 to 1 1).
• the monitoring device comprises a reader consisting of a station 4 for transmitting / receiving electromagnetic waves.
• a station 4 comprises a clean antenna 40 for transmitting / receiving electromagnetic waves in a given action zone.
• Such a station 4 also comprises a radio frequency transmission / reception device transmitting at a determined carrier frequency, an electronic processing unit and a memory associated with the processing unit. For reasons of simplification, these known elements are not shown in the figures.
• the device according to the invention also comprises a receiver element 5 such as an electronic tag ("Tag" in English) comprising an own antenna 50.
• a receiver element 5 such as an electronic tag ("Tag" in English) comprising an own antenna 50.
• Such a label also includes a radio frequency transmission / reception device, as well as an electronic processing unit and an information storage memory on an electronic chip 51.
• the tag may also include its own power source.
• an antenna 40, 50 is formed by an inductance possibly associated with a resistor and a capacitance for adapting the impedance of the antenna and tuning the desired carrier frequency.
• the antenna of the receiver element may be of the dipole type or constituted by a winding of copper wire (FIGS.
• the antenna 40 of the station 4 can be integrated inside the station 4 or offset with respect to the station 4 by being connected to the housing of the station 4 by an electric cable.
• the antenna 50 of the receiver element 5 is integrated inside the the label. In FIGS. 3 to 8, the receiving element 5 is shown with an antenna 50 consisting of a winding of copper wire. However, the invention must be understood as if the antenna 50 can be of any other known type.
• the device of the invention operates according to RFID technology.
• RFID technology when an electronic tag such as the receiver element 5 is in the field of action of the station 4 and the station 4 emits an electromagnetic signal, there is electromagnetic coupling between the tag and the station 5, the antenna 40 of the station 4 and the antenna 50 of the label can be considered as the primary and secondary of a transformer.
• the electronic tag is powered by the "carrier" transmitted from the antenna 40 of the station 4 as soon as it reaches the range of said station 4.
• the label is transformed into electrical energy and feeds the internal electronic circuits mounted on the chip 51 of the label.
• the tag responds to the signal emitted by the station 4 and a dialogue can be established, the information being exchanged by amplitude or phase modulation on the carrier frequency.
• Each tag generally stores a unique identifier that it transmits to the station 4 to enable it to be recognized by the station 4.
• the value of the frequency of the transmission carrier can be chosen in a so-called low frequency zone (for example 125 KHz) or preferably high frequencies (for example 13.56 MHz) or even ultra high frequency frequencies (900 MHz and 2.45 GHz).
• the system operates in inductive coupling in the near field, that is to say usually with a range of the order of a few centimeters to a few tens of centimeters depending on the available energy.
• the receiver element 5 is mounted on the casing 10 of the circuit breaker 1, opposite the handle 1 1 when the latter is in one of its positions, for example in the OFF position (A).
• the receiving element 5 is positioned within the range of the antenna 40 of the station 4 which emits continuously or at regular intervals an electromagnetic signal to the receiving element 5.
• the station 4 and the receiving element 5 are perfectly fixed to the circuit breaker 1.
• the station 4 may for example be integrated in the electrical panel intended to support one or more circuit breakers 1.
• the receiver element 5 is controlled by a microswitch 2 connected in series (FIGS. 3 to 8) or in parallel (FIG. 12) with respect to its antenna 50.
• This microswitch 2 can be switched by an actuator enter two states, one open state ( Figure 3) and one closed state ( Figure 4). Depending on its state, the microswitch 2 makes it possible to establish or interrupt the electromagnetic coupling between the receiver element 5 and the station 4.
• the microswitch 2 is controlled by magnetic effect. It is for example a microswitch 2 sensitive to the orientation of the field lines L of a magnetic field generated by a magnetic actuator.
• This type of microswitch is for example manufactured in MEMS technology (for Micro-Electro-Mechanical System).
• FIGS. 13 to 14B An exemplary configuration of a microswitch 2 sensitive to the orientation of the field lines L is shown in FIGS. 13 to 14B.
• a microswitch 2 sensitive to the orientation of the field lines L comprises a deformable ferromagnetic movable membrane 20 which can be actuated in rotation about an axis of rotation (R) by the magnetic actuator.
• the membrane 20 is for example Fer-Nickel.
• the membrane 20 has a longitudinal axis (A) and is connected, at one of its ends, via connecting arms 22a, 22b, to one or more anchoring studs 23 integral with a substrate 3.
• the substrate 3 is, for example, the one on which the electronic chip 51 of the receiver element 5 is mounted.
• the membrane 20 is able to pivot relative to the substrate 3 along its axis (R) of rotation perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (A). .
• the linking arms 22a, 22b form an elastic connection between the membrane 20 and the anchor pad 23 and are biased during the pivoting of the membrane 20.
• the membrane At its distal end with respect to its axis of rotation, the membrane carries a movable contact 21.
• the membrane 20 can take at least two determined states, an open state (FIG. 14A) in which two fixed electric tracks 31, 32 deposited on the substrate 3 are disconnected or a closed state ( Figure 14B) in which the two tracks 31, 32 are interconnected by the movable contact 21 carried by the membrane 20 so as to close the branch of the circuit located in series or in parallel with the antenna 50 of the receiver element 5.
• One of the operating modes of the membrane 20 is to apply a magnetic field created by a permanent magnet 60.
• the ferromagnetic membrane 20 moves between its two states in alignment with the field lines L of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 60.
• the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 60 has L field lines whose orientation generates a magnetic component BP 0 , BP 1 in a ferromagnetic layer of the membrane 20 along its longitudinal axis (A).
• This magnetic component BP 0 , BP 1 generated in the membrane 20 generates a magnetic torque imposing on the membrane 20 to take one of its states closed ( Figure 14B) or open ( Figure 14A).
• the permanent magnet 60 moves at the same time as the lever 1 1.
• the permanent magnet 60 is for example mounted directly on the handle 1 1 of the circuit breaker 1 or alternatively, it can also be simply mechanically secured to the lever, for example being mounted on a moving part actuated in vertical translation with each movement of the lever 1 1.
• the membrane 20 of the microswitch 2 is under the magnetic influence or not of the permanent magnet 60 mobile.
• the lever 11 is in the ON position (M) (FIG. 3)
• the microswitch 2 is not under the influence of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 60.
• the membrane 20 is therefore in a rest position , parallel to the substrate ( Figure 13).
• the permanent magnet 60 carried by the handle 11 has L magnetic field lines whose direction requires the membrane 20 to pass in its closed state ( Figure 14B).
• the microswitch 2 is placed in series with respect to the antenna 50 of the receiver element 5, it establishes an electromagnetic coupling between the receiver element 5 and the station 4 or if it is placed in parallel by relative to the antenna 50 of the receiver element 5, it interrupts this electromagnetic coupling between the receiver element 5 and the station 4.
• the microswitch 2 When the lever 1 1 returns to the ON position (M), the microswitch 2 is no longer under the influence of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 60, which mechanically causes the return of the diaphragm 20 in the rest position and therefore the interruption of the electromagnetic coupling or the restoration of this coupling according to the mounting of the microswitch 2 with respect to the antenna 50 of the receiving element 5.
• the arrangement between the permanent magnet 60 and the receiver element 5 can be reversed, the receiver element 5 becoming mobile, mechanically secured to the handle 1 1 and the permanent magnet 60 fixed.
• the movement of the handle 1 1 brings the receiving element 5 vis-à-vis the permanent magnet 60, causing the switching of the microswitch 2 under the influence of the magnetic field created by the permanent magnet 60.
• operation of this embodiment is identical to that described just above.
• the microswitch 2 is, for example, permanently subjected to the magnetic field of a second fixed permanent magnet 61.
• This fixed permanent magnet 61 is positioned relative to the microswitch 2 in such a way that that the direction of its field lines requires the membrane 20 to be in the open state or the closed state, establishing or interrupting the electromagnetic coupling between the station 4 and the receiving element 5 according to the mounting of the microswitch 2 with respect to the antenna 50 of the receiver element 5.
• the membrane 20 is in the open state or in the closed state in the direction of the field lines of the magnetic field generated by the fixed permanent magnet 61.
• the change of position of the handle 1 1 and therefore of the moving permanent magnet 60, d e the ON position (M) at the OFF position (A) causes a change of direction of the magnetic field lines created jointly by the movable permanent magnet 60 and the fixed permanent magnet 61 and seen by the membrane 20.
• the new direction of the L field lines seen by the membrane 20 requires him to move to its other state, closed or open.
• the membrane 20 in each of its states, is therefore controlled by magnetic effect irrespective of the position of the handle 1 1 of the circuit breaker 1.
• a single fixed permanent magnet 62 is positioned vis-à-vis the receiver element 5 to act permanently on the microswitch 2 of the receiver element 5.
• This fixed permanent magnet 62 is for example mounted on the housing 10 of the circuit breaker 1 (not visible in Figures 5 and 6).
• the lever 1 1 (for the sake of simplification, not shown in Figures 5 and 6) is likely to set in motion a movable part 7 of non-magnetic material.
• This mobile part 7 is integral with the handle 1 1 and constitutes a suitable mask, depending on the position of the handle 11, to be interposed between the permanent magnet 62 and the receiving element 5 to interrupt the magnetic effect of the permanent magnet 62 on the microswitch 2 and thus according to whether the microswitch 2 is connected in parallel or in series with respect to the antenna 50 of the receiver element 5, to establish or interrupt the electromagnetic coupling between the station 4 and the receiver element 5.
• circuit breakers 1 ' (FIGS. 9 to 1 1) whose handle 1 1 can take three determined positions, a ON position. (M), an OFF position (A) and an intermediate position (S) located midway between the ON position (M) and the OFF position (A), this intermediate position (S) for indicating an electrical fault or welding between the contacts.
• This three-position circuit breaker 1 ' is identical externally to the two-position circuit breaker 1 described above.
• receiving elements 5a, 5b are positioned on the housing 10, one vis-à-vis the lever 11 when it is in the ON position (M) and the other vis-à-vis the handle 11 when it is in the OFF position (A).
• These receiving elements 5a, 5b are identical to the receiving element 5 described above and can be actuated according to one of the embodiments described above. They can in particular be actuated directly by a movable permanent magnet 60 integral with the lever 11 as in FIGS.
• the station 4 in normal operation, when the lever 1 1 is in the ON (M) or OFF (A) position, the station 4 always receives a signal from one of the receiving elements 5a, 5b by electromagnetic coupling ( Figures 9 and 10).
• the receiving elements 5a, 5b store a different identifier so as to be distinguishable by the station 4.
• the lever 11 In case of electrical fault or welding between the contacts, the lever 11 is in the intermediate position (S) ( Figure 11).
• the receiving elements 5a, 5b and / or the permanent magnet 60 are arranged in such a way that in this position of the lever 1 1, the magnetic field created by the permanent magnet 60 has no influence on each of the microswitches 2 of the two receiving elements 5a, 5b.
• the receiving elements 5a, 5b emit no signal towards the station 4, which can then warn of the presence of an electrical fault or welding of the contacts.
• the microswitch 2 is connected in series with the antenna 50 but the parallel connection can be envisaged.
• the station 4 receives no signal when the controller
• two ON and OFF positions of the joystick 1 1 can be used.
• the same signal will be sent to the station 4 that the lever 11 is in the ON or OFF position.
• the microswitch 2 By mounting the microswitch 2 in parallel with the antenna 50 of the receiving element, a single signal can be sent to the station when the lever 1 1 is in the intermediate position (S).
• the monitoring device described above can be implemented in each circuit breaker 1 of an electrical panel 8 comprising a plurality of circuit breakers 1.
• the station 4 can be common to all the circuit breakers 1 to read all the receiving elements 5 of all circuit breakers 1 of the table.
• the circuit breakers are covered by a plastron 80 on which is arranged for example the antenna 40 of the station 4.
• This table 8 comprises for example one or more rows of circuit breakers 1 each having a handle January 1 whose position is monitored by a monitoring device according to the invention. Since a unique identifier is assigned to each receiver element 5 of a circuit breaker 1, the station 4 is able, from processing means possibly implementing anti-collision methods, to know the status of each handle 1 1 circuit breakers 1 mounted in Table 8.
• the processing means can be coupled to the organs of signaling consisting of LEDs intended to indicate the state of each circuit-breaker 1 of the switchboard.
• each receiver element 5 can also store information relating to the circuit breaker 1 to which it is associated, such as, for example, the name of the electric circuit it is responsible for controlling.
• Each receiver element 5 may be accessible for reading and possibly for writing.
• the monitoring device according to the invention is particularly easy to set up and does not require to deeply transform the electrical switch device which limits the cost of its implementation.

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• Breakers (AREA)
• Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
• Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (18)

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• 2006
  • 2006-05-19 FR FR0651833A patent/FR2901426B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-05-14 BR BRPI0712669-7A patent/BRPI0712669A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-05-14 EP EP07729102A patent/EP2018645A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-05-14 US US12/301,568 patent/US20090242367A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-05-14 CN CN2007800211759A patent/CN101467225B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-05-14 WO PCT/EP2007/054650 patent/WO2007135011A2/fr not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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