EP2135272A2

EP2135272A2 - Production method for an electromagnetic switching device having partition walls between primary and auxiliary contacts and an electromagnetic switching device produced according to the production method

Info

Publication number: EP2135272A2
Application number: EP08718352A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Georg Bollinger; Johann Drexler; Alexander Keintzel; Peter Schlegl
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2007-04-13
Filing date: 2008-03-31
Publication date: 2009-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-31
Also published as: ES2399456T3; WO2008125466A2; DE102007017516B3; WO2008125466A3; US20100127805A1; CN101647083A; KR20100016108A; KR101405870B1; EP2135272B1; CN101647083B; US8159321B2

Abstract

A production method for an electromagnetic switching device comprises the following steps in the sequence listed: producing a one-piece switching chamber (9), producing a contact bridge carrier (2) and equipping the contact bridge carrier (2) with movable contact bridges (3, 4), wherein the contact bridges (3, 4) comprise a plurality of primary contact bridges (3) and at least one auxiliary contact bridge (4); inserting the contact bridge carrier (2) equipped with the movable contact bridges (3, 4) into the switching chamber (9); inserting partition elements (14) into the switching chamber (9) so that each partition element (14) is arranged between a bridge contact point of one of the primary contact bridges (3) and a bridge contact point of one of the auxiliary contact bridges (4), and equipping the switching chamber (9) with fixed primary counter-contact points; fixing primary covers (15) to the switching chamber (9) so that the primary covers (15) cover the primary counter-contact points and fix the partition elements (14) in the switching chamber (9).

Description

description

Method of manufacturing an electromagnetic switching device with partitions between main and auxiliary contacts and electromagnetic switching device manufactured in accordance with the manufacturing method

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for an electromagnetic switching device. It further relates to an electromagnetic switching device.

Electromagnetic switching devices and manufacturing methods for electromagnetic switching devices are well known. In particular, an electromagnetic switching device has the following characteristics:

- The switching device has a switching chamber and a contact bridge carrier.

- The contact bridge carrier is equipped with movable contact bridges.

- The contact bridges comprise a plurality of main contact bridges and at least one auxiliary contact bridge.

- The contact bridge carrier is inserted into the switching chamber and stored there longitudinally displaceable in an actuating direction.

- The switching chamber is equipped with fixed main counter contact points and fixed auxiliary counter contact points.

Each main counter contact point cooperates with one of the bridge contact points of one of the main contact bridges, and each auxiliary counter contact point interacts with one of the bridge contact points of one of the auxiliary contact bridges.

- At the switching chamber main covers are fixed so that the main covers cover the main counter contact points.

By means of the main contacts in the prior art, a load voltage (typically three-phase current of up to 690 V nominal voltage - in some cases more - or DC clamping voltage of up to 500 V nominal voltage - in some cases even more) connected to a load. The main contacts are usually designed as normally open. By means of the auxiliary contacts, the actual switching state of the electromagnetic switching device is tapped. The auxiliary contacts switch to a monitoring voltage, which is often considerably lower than the load voltage. Typically, it is either 24 V DC or 100/110/230 V AC. In some cases higher voltage values are possible. The auxiliary contacts may alternatively be designed as a make or as an opener.

At the main contacts occurs during switching operations contact erosion. The contact erosion causes the main contacts to wear out after a certain number of switching cycles. However, the contact erosion may additionally cause the auxiliary contacts to be impaired in their function, for example by contamination or by corrosion due to the penetration of aggressive gases that arise when Kontaktabbrand the main contacts. For this reason, the main contacts should be isolated from the auxiliary contacts as well as possible.

In the prior art it is known to form the switching chamber in one piece and to form ribs on the switching chamber. Of the

Contact bridge carrier, however, has no ribs or the like in this embodiment. By this configuration, a so-called simple labyrinth can be realized.

From US Pat. No. 6,583,694 B2, an electromagnetic switching device is known in which ribs are formed on both the switching chamber and on the contact bridge carrier, so that a so-called double labyrinth can be realized. In this embodiment, however, the switching chamber is composed of two parts, so that there is a higher manufacturing and monthly expenditure. The object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method for an electromagnetic switching device and an electromagnetic switching device manufactured according to this manufacturing method, by means of which, despite one-piece design of the switching chamber a good

Isolation of the main contacts of the auxiliary contacts can be achieved.

The object is procedurally achieved by a manufacturing method for an electromagnetic switching device, in which following steps are carried out in the following order:

- Producing a one-piece switching chamber, producing a contact bridge carrier and equipping the contact bridge carrier with movable contact bridges, wherein the contact bridges comprise a plurality of main contact bridges and at least one auxiliary contact bridge;

- Introducing the equipped with the movable contact bridges contact bridge carrier in the switching chamber;

Inserting separating elements into the switching chamber so that each separating element is arranged between a bridge contact point of one of the main contact bridges and a bridge contact point of one of the auxiliary contact bridges, and equipping the switching chamber with fixed main counter contact points;

- Fixing of the main covers to the switching chamber, so that the main covers cover the main counter-contact points and fix the separating elements in the switching chamber.

Corresponding to this, the object is achieved by an electromagnetic switching device having the following features:

- The switching device has a one-piece switching chamber and a contact bridge carrier.

- The contact bridge carrier is equipped with movable contact bridges. - The contact bridges comprise a plurality of main contact bridges and at least one auxiliary contact bridge.

- Separating elements are inserted into the switching chamber, so that each separating element is arranged between a bridge contact point of one of the main contact bridges and a bridge contact point of one of the auxiliary contact bridges. - The switching chamber is equipped with fixed main counter contact points and fixed auxiliary counter contact points.

Each main mating contact point cooperates with one of the bridge contact points of one of the main contact bridges and each auxiliary mating contact point interacts with one of the bridge contact points of one of the auxiliary contact bridges.

- Main covers are fixed to the switching chamber so that the main covers cover the main counter contact points and fix the separating elements in the switching chamber. - The individual elements of the switching device are coordinated so that the insertion of the separating elements in the switching chamber and the loading of the switching chamber with the fixed main counter contact points after insertion of the equipped with the movable contact bridges contact bridge carrier must be made in the switching chamber and the

Fixing the main covers to the switching chamber after insertion of the separating elements into the switching chamber and the loading of the switching chamber must be done with the fixed main counter contact points.

As a rule, as seen in the direction of actuation, each auxiliary contact bridge is arranged above one of the main contact bridges. It is possible that in this embodiment the partitioning off of the main contacts from the auxiliary contacts is effected exclusively by the separating elements. Preferably, however, the contact bridge carrier has, per bridge contact point of each auxiliary contact bridge, in each case one tongue which extends between the bridge contact point of the respective auxiliary contact bridge. and the bridge contact point of the corresponding main contact bridge extends. By this configuration, the foreclosure effect can be further optimized. In particular, the separating elements together with the tongues can form a labyrinth.

In a preferred embodiment, the separating elements have a U-shaped cross-section. Because they are on the one hand easy to produce and on the other hand still have a good effect. Alternatively, the separators may be simple flat tongues.

The loading of the switching chamber with the stationary auxiliary contact points must be carried out after the insertion of the contact bridge carrier into the switching chamber.

Further advantages and details emerge from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. In a schematic representation:

2 shows schematically an assembled contact bridge carrier, FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of essential parts of an electromagnetic switching device, FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a contact bridge carrier shown in FIG.

6 shows a perspective view of the upper region of the electromagnetic switching device of FIG. 3, FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the complete electromagnetic switching device of FIG. 3 and FIG. 8 shows a detail of the electromagnetic switching device of FIG. 3

An electromagnetic switching device has a housing 1. In the housing 1, a contact bridge carrier 2 is mounted. Of the Contact bridge carrier 2 is equipped with movable main contact bridges 3 and with movable auxiliary contact bridges 4. The contact bridge carrier 2 is made of electrically insulating material. For example, it may be formed as a plastic injection molded part. It is connected to an anchor 5.

In the housing 1, a switching coil 6 is further arranged. When the switching coil 6 is acted upon by a sufficiently large current I, it attracts the armature 5. As a result, the contact bridge carrier 2 is displaced longitudinally in an actuating direction x. By the longitudinal displacement of the contact bridge carrier 2 bridge contact points 7 of the main contact bridges 3 are pressed against fixed main counter contact points 8, which are arranged in a switching chamber 9. In this way, a load, not shown, can be connected to a load voltage. The load voltage may be, for example, 400 V three-phase, 500 V DC, 690 V three-phase, etc. In particular, in these cases, the electromagnetic switching device is designed as a contactor.

When longitudinal displacement of the contact bridge carrier 2 not only the main contacts 3, 7, 8 are actuated, but also auxiliary contacts 4, 10, 11. As a rule, each one of the auxiliary contacts 4, 10, 11 formed as an opener or as a closer. Thus, during longitudinal displacement of the contact bridge carrier 2, for example, bridging contact points 10 of one of the auxiliary contacts 4, 10, 11 are pressed against auxiliary counter contact points 11 and bridge contact points 10 of the other of the auxiliary contacts 4, 10, 11 are lifted off corresponding auxiliary counter contact points 11. The auxiliary counter contact points 11 are fixed counter contact points, with which the switching chamber 9 is equipped.

The illustration of FIG. 1, in which all the contact bridges 3, 4 are arranged one above the other in the operating direction x, is intended more to explain in principle the mode of operation of the electromagnetic switching device. In the In practice, the main contact bridges 3 - see FIG. 2 - are usually arranged next to one another so that the following three directions define a rectangular Cartesian coordinate system:

the actuation direction x,

- The main extension direction y of the contact bridges 3, 4, hereinafter called contact bridge direction y, and

- The normal z to the first two directions x, y, called normal direction z below.

Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 2 that the contact bridges 3, 4 are held in predetermined rest positions by means of pressure springs 12. Finally, it can be seen from FIG. 2 that, viewed in the actuating direction x, each auxiliary contact bridge 4 is arranged above one of the main contact bridges 3.

For the manufacture of an electromagnetic switching device according to the invention, the switching chamber 9 is firstly produced in a customary manner on the one hand. The switching chamber 9 is integrally formed in the present invention. It consists of an electrically insulating material. For example, it may be formed as a plastic injection molded part. The production of the switching chamber 9 is well known to those skilled in the art and therefore need not be explained in detail below. The switching chamber 9 is shown in FIG.

Furthermore, the contact bridge carrier 2 is manufactured and equipped with the movable contact bridges 3, 4. The populated contact bridge carrier 2 can be seen particularly clearly in Figures 3 and 4. The contact bridges 3, 4 comprise a plurality (usually three to five) main contact bridges 3 and at least one (usually one or two) auxiliary contact bridges 4. The contact bridges 3, 4 are referred to as "movable" because they are in operation of the electromagnetic contactor together with the contact bridge carrier 2. Each contact bridge 3, 4 has two bridge contact points 7, 10, which interact with the stationary counter contact points 8, 11. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4, the contact bridge carrier 2 furthermore has one tongue 13 per bridge contact point 10 of each auxiliary contact bridge 4. In this case, the tongues 13 extend between the respective bridge contact point 10 of the respective auxiliary contact bridge 4 and the bridge contact point 7 of the corresponding main contact bridge 3. Alternatively, the contact bridge carrier 2 can be manufactured and fitted simultaneously with or after the switching chamber 9 has been manufactured.

After loading the contact bridge carrier 2, the contact bridge carrier 2 is inserted into the switching chamber 9. The insertion of the contact bridge carrier 2 in the switching chamber 9 takes place here against the actuating direction x. He is also mounted longitudinally displaceable after insertion into the switching chamber 9 in the operating direction x.

Then, dividing elements 14 are introduced into the switching chamber 9. The insertion of the separating element 14 in the switching chamber 9 takes place here in the contact bridge direction y, namely from the outside to the contact bridge carrier 2. This is particularly clear from FIG. 3. By inserting the separating elements 14 into the switching chamber 9, it is achieved that each separating element 14 is arranged between a bridge contact point 7 of one of the main contact bridges 3 and a bridge contact point 10 of one of the auxiliary contact bridges 4. This is particularly clear from Figures 5 and 6 can be seen.

Before, together with or after the insertion of the separating elements 14 in the switching chamber 9, the switching chamber 9 is further equipped with the fixed main counter-contact points 8. The main counter contact points 8 are referred to as "stationary", because they are fixed in place in the housing 1 or the switching chamber 9, ie, do not move together with the contact bridge carrier 2. The switching chamber 9 is equipped with the main counter contact points 8 - analogously to the one - lead the separating elements 14 - also in the contact bridge direction y from the outside to the contact bridge carrier 2.

Finally, 9 main covers 15 are fixed to the switching chamber. This is particularly clear from FIG. 3. The fixing of the main covers 15 is effected by pressing in the actuation direction x. For example, the main covers 15 can be latched or snapped onto the housing 1 or the switching chamber 9. In the fixed state of the main covers 15 cover the main covers 15 on the one hand, the main counter-contact points 8 from. Furthermore, they fix the separating elements 14 in the switching chamber 9. This is particularly clear from FIG. 6.

Before, together with or after inserting the dividing elements

14 in the switching chamber 9 and the equipping of the switching chamber 9 with the fixed main Gegenkontaktstellen 8, the switching chamber 9 is equipped with the fixed auxiliary counter-contact points 11. The auxiliary mating contact points 11 are referred to as "stationary" because they are stationary in the housing 1 or the switching chamber 9, ie, do not move together with the contact bridge carrier 2. The switching chamber 9 is also equipped with the auxiliary mating contact points 11 in the contact bridge direction y from the outside toward the contact bridge carrier 2. The fitting with fixed auxiliary counter contact points 11 can under certain circumstances even follow the fixing of the main cover 15 to the switching chamber 9.

After being equipped with the stationary auxiliary counter contact points 11, at least one auxiliary cover 16 is fixed to the switching chamber 9, which covers the auxiliary contact points 11 after fixing. The fixing of the auxiliary cover 16 is usually - but not necessarily - after fixing the main covers 15th

In the electromagnetic switching device according to the invention, the individual elements 1 to 16 of the switching device are such matched to one another that the insertion of the separating elements 14 into the switching chamber 9 and the loading of the switching chamber 9 with the fixed main counter contacts 8 and the stationary auxiliary counter contact points 11 after insertion of the equipped with the movable contact bridges 3, 4 contact bridge carrier 2 must be made in the switching chamber 9. Because the separating elements 14, the main counter-contact points 8 and the auxiliary counter-contact points 11 protrude into the insertion, which is required for the insertion of the fitted Kontaktbrückenträ- gers 2.

Furthermore, the individual elements 1 to 16 of the switching device are coordinated such that the fixing of the main covers 15 must be made to the switching chamber 9 after insertion of the separating elements 14 in the switching chamber 9 and after fitting the switching chamber 9 with the fixed main counter contact points 8. Because after fixing the main covers 15, insertion of the separating elements 14 and the main counter-contact points 8 in the switching chamber 9 is no longer possible. In some embodiments, the auxiliary counter contact points 11 must be used before fixing the main covers 15. In other embodiments, (or must - depending on the configuration), the loading with the fixed auxiliary counter-contact points 11 after fixing the main cover 15 done.

The tongues 13 of the contact bridge carrier 2 are - see FIG 8 - arranged between the separating elements 14 and the bridge contact points 7 of the main contact bridges 3. They form according to FIG 8 together with the separating elements 14 a - preferably double - labyrinth. The achieved Abschottungswirkung is particularly large, if the separating elements 14 have a U-shaped cross-section. This is also apparent from FIG. Alternatively, the separating elements 14 may be designed, for example, as simple tongues.

The present invention has many advantages. In particular, the result is a simpler, more reliable and cost-effective tiger structure of the electromagnetic switching device. Furthermore, the contact bridge carrier 2 can be equipped in advance (that is, even before insertion into the switching chamber 9). It is also possible in a simple way to realize a double maze. Finally, it results - see in particular FIG 7 - a compact overall structure of the electromagnetic switching device.

The above description is only for explanation of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, however, is intended to be determined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

claims

1. A method of manufacturing an electromagnetic switching device, in particular a contactor, with the following steps carried out in the order listed:

- Producing a one-piece switching chamber (9), producing a contact bridge carrier (2) and equipping the contact bridge carrier (2) with movable contact bridges (3, 4), wherein the contact bridges (3, 4) a plurality of main contact bridges (3) and at least one auxiliary contact bridge (4 );

- Introducing the equipped with the movable contact bridges (3, 4) contact bridge carrier (2) in the switching chamber (9);

Inserting separating elements (14) into the switching chamber (9) such that each separating element (14) is arranged between a bridge contact point (7) of one of the main contact bridges (3) and a bridge contact point (10) of one of the auxiliary contact bridges (4), and equipping the switching chamber (9) with fixed main counter contact points (8);

- Fixing of the main covers (15) to the switching chamber (9), so that the main covers (15) cover the main counter-contact points (8) and fix the separating elements (14) in the switching chamber (9).

2. A manufacturing method according to claim 2, characterized in that the switching chamber (9) with fixed Hilfsgegenkon- contact points (11) is fitted, and that the loading of the switching chamber (9) with the stationary Hilfsgegenkontaktstel- len (11) after insertion of the contact bridge carrier (2) into the switching chamber (9).

3. Electromagnetic switching device, in particular contactor, with the following features:

- The switching device has a one-piece switching chamber (9) and a contact bridge carrier (2).

- The contact bridge carrier (2) is equipped with movable contact bridges (3, 4). - The contact bridges (3, 4) comprise a plurality of main contact bridges (3) and at least one auxiliary contact bridge (4).

- The contact bridge carrier (2) is inserted into the switching chamber (9) and there longitudinally displaceably mounted in an actuating direction (x).

- Separating elements (14) are inserted into the switching chamber (9) so that each separating element (14) is arranged between a bridge contact point (7) of one of the main contact bridges (3) and a bridge contact point (10) of one of the auxiliary contact bridges (4).

- The switching chamber (9) is equipped with fixed main counter-contact points (8) and fixed auxiliary counter-contact points (11).

- Each main counter contact point (8) cooperates with one of the bridge contact points (7) of one of the main contact bridges (8) and each auxiliary counter contact point (11) interacts with one of the bridge contact points (10) of one of the auxiliary contact bridges (4).

- Main covers (15) are fixed to the switching chamber (9), so that the main covers (15) cover the main counter contact points (8) and fix the separating elements (14) in the switching chamber (9).

- The individual elements (1 to 16) of the switching device are coordinated such that the insertion of the separating elements (14) into the switching chamber (9) and the loading of the switching chamber (9) with the fixed main counter contact points (8) after insertion of the the contact bridge carrier (2) equipped with the movable contact bridges (3, 4) has to be inserted into the switching chamber (9) and the main covers (15) are fixed to the switching chamber (9) after the separating elements (14) have been inserted into the switching chamber (9) and the loading of the switching chamber (9) must be done with the fixed main counter contact points (8).

4. Switching device according to claim 3, characterized in that seen in the actuation direction (x) each auxiliary contact bridge (4) above each one of the main contact bridges (3) is arranged and that the contact bridge carrier (2) per bridge contact point (10) each auxiliary contact bridge (4) each have a tongue (13) extending between the bridge contact point (10) of the respective auxiliary contact bridge (4) and the bridge contact point (7) of the corresponding main contact bridge (3) extends.

5. Switching device according to claim 4, characterized in that the separating elements (14) together with the tongues (13) form a labyrinth.

6. Switching device according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the separating elements (14) have a U-shaped cross-section.

7. Switching device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the individual elements (1 to 16) of the switching device are matched to one another such that the loading of the switching chamber (9) with the stationary Hilfsgegenkontaktstel- len (11) after insertion of the contact bridge carrier (2) must be made in the switching chamber (9).