EP3349232B1 - Electromechanical contactor - Google Patents

Electromechanical contactor Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3349232B1
EP3349232B1 EP17151115.7A EP17151115A EP3349232B1 EP 3349232 B1 EP3349232 B1 EP 3349232B1 EP 17151115 A EP17151115 A EP 17151115A EP 3349232 B1 EP3349232 B1 EP 3349232B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coil
instant
pole
actuating
movable
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
EP17151115.7A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3349232A1 (en
Inventor
Alain Portier
Hugo GUILHEM-DUCLEON
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.)
ABB Schweiz AG
Original Assignee
ABB Schweiz AG
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ABB Schweiz AG filed Critical ABB Schweiz AG
Priority to EP17151115.7A priority Critical patent/EP3349232B1/en
Publication of EP3349232A1 publication Critical patent/EP3349232A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3349232B1 publication Critical patent/EP3349232B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

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
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/44—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet
    • 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
    • H01H9/50—Means for detecting the presence of an arc or discharge
    • 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
    • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of electromechanical contactors, suitable in particular, but not exclusively, for the protection of high voltage electrical installations such as, for example, those used in rail transport networks.
  • Known electromechanical contactors usually include at least one fixed pole and at least one movable pole. These poles are in contact to let the current pass and are separated to interrupt it.
  • An electromechanical actuator is usually used to move the movable contact so as to separate it from the fixed contact. An electric arc is created between the two contacts, which must be extinguished as effectively as possible.
  • the known means for extinguishing this electric arc comprise devices for electromagnetically blowing the arc towards means configured to separate and disperse the arc into a multitude of arcs which eventually extinguish.
  • Electromagnetic blowing results from the effect of the Lorentz force produced by a magnetic field on the electric arc, the magnetic field being able to be created by a permanent magnet or by a coil crossed by a current of intensity adapted to the effect. research.
  • the effectiveness of these electromagnetic blowing devices depends very much on the quality of the synchronization between the start of contact separation, and therefore the appearance of the electric arc, and the start of the blowing effect.
  • the document EP 2,230,678 B1 discloses an electromechanical contactor according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the first arc blowing means of the electromechanical contactor of said document can be a coil supplied permanently.
  • the present invention aims to solve all or part of the drawbacks mentioned above, by making the triggering of the electromagnetic blowing depend on the precise moment when the movable and fixed contacts begin to separate.
  • the present invention relates to an electromechanical contactor according to claim 1.
  • the blowing is started substantially simultaneously at the instant of separation between the at least one fixed pole and the at least one movable pole.
  • the trigger is configured to trigger a magnetic field with the discharge of a capacitor in the at least one coil.
  • the direction of the discharge current of the capacitor in the at least one coil is determined by a device for detecting the direction of the current in the electromechanical contactor.
  • the electric arc will be blown by the magnetic field of the at least one coil always in the same direction, regardless of the direction of the current in the electromechanical contactor.
  • the detector is a position sensor of the actuation means of the at least one movable pole.
  • the position sensor is a photoelectric sensor, in particular a transmissive photo-switch, configured to cooperate with the mobile part of the actuating means so as to determine the instant of separation of the at least one mobile pole and at least one fixed pole.
  • the detector is a signal processing means configured to detect the instant when the intensity in the actuating coil reaches a minimum value after the cancellation of the voltage across the terminals of the coil d actuation.
  • the separation instant is determined by applying a predetermined delay to the instant when the intensity in the actuating coil reaches a minimum value after the cancellation of the voltage across the terminals of the coil. actuation.
  • the contactor shown in the figure 1 is inserted between terminals 1, 2 of a main circuit supplied with voltages which can be between 0 and 3000 V, preferably between 0 and 1500 V, the dimensions of which allow the contactor to be inserted inside a rectangular parallelepiped of about 350 mm in length, 250 mm in width, and 70 mm in thickness, according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the contactor according to the embodiment of the invention described in detail below is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry passing through the axis AA 'shown in the figure 1 and perpendicular to the section plane of the figure 1 .
  • the description below may not systematically detail the configuration of the contactor on each side of this plane of symmetry, but those skilled in the art will understand that everything that is described on one side of this plane is found identically on the other. side.
  • the contactor comprises an electromechanical breaking member provided with a movable contact support 3 and with a fixed contact support 4, 5 on each side of the above-mentioned plane of symmetry.
  • the mobile contact support is a bridge which moves in translation in the direction of arrow 6 indicated on the figure 1 ; this bridge carries two contact pads 31, 32, which will be called poles 31, 32 in the following description; the poles 31, 32, depending on the position of the mobile contact support, establish or interrupt contact with two corresponding poles 41, 51 located respectively on the two fixed contact supports.
  • Each fixed contact support 4, 5 is electrically connected to a terminal of the main circuit 1, 2 by a first end.
  • an electric arc guide 7, 8 made of conductive material.
  • One end of the arc guide 7, 8 is located near but not in electrical contact with the second end of the fixed contact support 4, 5, in the extension of which it is located; the other end of the arc guide joins an extinction zone of the electric arc, which in particular comprises extinction fins 9, 10 made of ferromagnetic material.
  • the figure 3 illustrates the means which ensures the displacement of the mobile contact support 3, in order to close the main circuit on the one hand by putting in electrical contact the corresponding poles of the fixed contact support with those of the mobile contact support, on the other hand open main circuit separating the corresponding poles of the fixed contact support and those of the mobile contact support.
  • the movable contact support 3 is inserted between two substantially parallel walls of a hollow slide 11 of substantially parallelepiped shape, closed at the top by an upper face transverse to the axis of symmetry of the slide, at the bottom by a lower face transverse to the 'axis of symmetry of the slide, and at an intermediate level between the top and the bottom, by an intermediate plane transverse to the axis of symmetry of the slide; the mobile contact support 3 rests on this intermediate plane 12, on which it is pressed by the pressure of a spring 16, one end of which rests on the mobile contact support, and the other end of which rests on the upper face of the slide.
  • the slide is secured to a movable ferromagnetic part 13 fixed to its lower base.
  • This movable ferromagnetic part 13 cooperates with an induction coil 14, called the actuation coil 14, supplied by a second circuit independent of the main circuit.
  • An electronic power supply card 33 for the actuating coil provides voltage and intensity regulation for this supply.
  • This electronic card and the regulation it provides not only allow the actuator to be dimensioned as accurately as possible, thereby considerably reducing the volume and weight of the entire contactor, but also to directly treat the intensity of the current in this coil to implement a second embodiment of the detector according to the invention which will be described in more detail below.
  • the electronic card 33 can also, as is the case in the embodiment shown in the appended figures, be divided into a part 33 more particularly dedicated to supplying the actuating coil, and a part 33a, bringing together especially the components described in more detail below.
  • This actuating coil when it is supplied, draws down the part 13 and the slide 11 which are integrally movable until the upper head of this movable part 13 comes into contact with a second fixed ferromagnetic part, which is integral the actuating coil; the lower base of the slide then crushes at least one spring 15 which is supported by its upper end on a part of the lower base of the slide, and whose lower end is in contact with the bottom of the contactor.
  • This downward translation of the slide also drives the mobile contact support downward until the poles of the mobile contact support come into contact with their counterparts on each fixed contact support.
  • the at least one spring 15 under the lower base of the slider deploys and pushes the slider upwards, as well as the spring 16 which deploys simultaneously and adds its own pressure on the slide, to that exerted by the at least one spring 15, until the movable contact support 3 abuts on the intermediate plane 12 of the slide as indicated figure 5 ; during this first part of the upward movement of the slide, the poles of the mobile contact support 3 have remained in contact with the poles of the fixed contact supports; under the effect of at least one spring 15, the slide then continues its upward movement, causing, in this second part of its upward movement, the support of mobile contact, the poles of which then only begin to separate from their homologous poles on the two fixed contact supports.
  • the detection of the moment of separation of the fixed and mobile poles is carried out by means of a photoelectric sensor 34 fixed on the power supply board 33bis.
  • This sensor 34 is positioned so as to be able to receive and cooperate with the end 35 of a protuberance integral with the slide.
  • the end 35 is inserted inside a suitable recess of the sensor 34, as illustrated figure 8 , so that the photoelectric cell of the sensor 34 detects the presence of the end of the slider.
  • the movement of the slide upwards, as described above, has the effect of bringing this end 35 out of the sensor 34, which the photoelectric cell detects immediately.
  • the precise moment of the separation of the two fixed and mobile poles is detected by processing the profile of the time course of the current in the actuating coil 14 of the slide 11.
  • the electronic power supply card 33 of the actuating coil 14 which regulates the voltage and intensity of this supply makes it possible to directly treat the intensity of the current in this coil to implement this second embodiment of the detector according to the invention.
  • the figure 6 represents on the abscissa the time, and ordered U the supply voltage of the actuating coil, and I the intensity of the supply current of the actuating coil.
  • Curve 64, on the staircase represents the evolution of the voltage U as a function of time; at time T1, the voltage U is canceled in the actuating coil.
  • Curve 61 represents the evolution of the current flowing through the actuating coil from T1; the intensity begins to decrease, due to the presence of a freewheeling diode across the actuating coil, to reach a first low point at T2. This low point marks the moment when the magnetic attraction force of the slider towards the actuating coil 14 becomes less than the pushing force exerted on the slider 11 in the opposite direction by the at least one spring 15 and the spring 16.
  • T2 therefore marks the beginning of the movement of the ram upwards, under the effect of the differential between the pressure exerted on the ram upwards by the springs 15 and 16 and the attraction exerted on the ram in opposite directions by the coil d 'actuation 14; this movement moves the slide from the position shown on the figure 4 at the position shown on the figure 5 , which it reaches at time T3, then at the position represented on the figure 3 . It is at instant T3 that the blowing of the secondary coil 19, 20 should be triggered. This instant T3 is offset by T2 by a constant delay related to the time of movement of the slide between the position shown in the figure 4 up to that shown in figure 5 ; this constant T3-T2 is determined empirically by calibration tests of the device.
  • An appropriate electronic circuit is placed on the electronic control-command card of the actuating coil 14 and makes it possible to process the measurement of the current intensity by detecting the instant of appearance T2 from the low point of the intensity curve, and deduce T3 from it. Thus it is possible to synchronize optimally the start of the blowing action of the electric arc with the appearance of this electric arc between the fixed and mobile poles.
  • a so-called secondary coil 19, 20 is positioned under each fixed contact part.
  • the supply of the secondary coils is independent of that of the main coils. It is provided by a capacitor 38 placed under the electronic card 33bis which controls the supply of the at least one secondary coil 19,20.
  • the capacitor 38 can be supplied with power by applying to the latter, as well as to the at least one secondary coil 19, 20, a voltage lower than that which is applied to the actuating coil 14. This justifies to dedicate to this function a separate part 33bis of the electronic card 33.
  • the capacitor 38 is charged by a voltage derived from that which supplies the actuating coil 14 when the latter keeps the contactor closed; this charge is carried out in a very short time, typically less than 1 second, as soon as the contactor closes.
  • the discharge of the capacitor 38 which will supply the at least one secondary coil 19, 20 is triggered by the component 42, here called the trigger, preferably a MOSFET bridge, at the instant which will have been determined as indicated above by the detector 34, after application of an appropriate delay by the component 41 to take account, if necessary, of the offset T3-T2 indicated above.
  • the trigger 42 which initiates the discharge of the capacitor also determines the direction of the discharge current as a function of the direction of the current in the contactor as measured by the device 39.
  • Each secondary coil 19, 20 is associated with a pair of planar ferromagnetic plates 21, 22 which face each other on both sides of the coil and which are connected together by a core 36, 37, also ferromagnetic and located at the inside the coil.
  • the figure 1 represents only one of the two ferromagnetic plates of each pair associated with the coil, as well as the core. The second part faces the first in a plane parallel to the section plane of the figure.
  • These pairs of plates 21, 22, associated with each secondary coil will also be called pairs of secondary plates 21, 22.
  • This pair of secondary plates 21, 22 is intended, when the secondary coil 19, 20 is energized, to promote the creation of a magnetic field in a direction transverse to the cutting plane of the figure 1 , between the two parts of this pair of secondary plates.
  • This magnetic field is configured to interact with the arc current created between the separate poles to create an oriented force as a function of the direction of the current and the direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil.
  • the direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil is itself a function of the direction of the current flowing through this coil.
  • a known electronic device 39 is provided for detecting the direction of the current in the main circuit and for consequently fixing the direction of the current which is discharged from the capacitor 38 to pass through the secondary coil 19 so that the direction of the induced magnetic field by the secondary coil 19 between the two parts of the pair of secondary plates 21 blows the arc current in the direction 23 of the arc extinction zone 9.
  • the extension of the zone of influence of the magnetic field produced by a secondary coil stops at the limit of the ferromagnetic part associated with this coil. During its movement towards this limit, the arc lengthens, until it extinguishes if the intensity of the arc current is weak.
  • the dimensioning of the at least one secondary coil and its ferromagnetic core makes it possible to ensure an almost constant field between the plates for a period of approximately 30 to 70 ms; this duration is consistent with the arc extinction duration for contactors whose circuit has a high time constant greater than 15 ms.
  • the blowing extension zone of the secondary coil is configured so that low intensity arc currents, typically less than 1 or even 2 A, are extinguished under the sole effect of the magnetic blowing due to the secondary coil 19, without that it is necessary to blow them up to the zone of the fins for extinguishing arcs of greater intensity.
  • predetermined extinction threshold the intensity of the arc current is above a certain predetermined threshold, which we will call “predetermined extinction threshold”
  • predetermined extinction threshold the arc current will not extinguish before having reached, in direction 23, the limit of the surface of the ferromagnetic plates 21 associated with the coil 19.
  • the arc current will have started to feed a main coil 24, 25, which is located there. made in series in the main circuit.
  • This main coil is placed above the movable pole 31, 32 on the movable contact support 3, between this pole 31, 32 and a second arc guide 26, 27 which defines with the first arc guide 7, 8 the blowing zone towards the extinguishing fins 9, 10 of the high intensity arcs; this main coil 24 is in electrical contact at one of these ends with this second arc guide 26 and at the other end with the second main coil 25 of the contactor, so that the main current arriving through one of the parts of fixed contact 4 jumps to the first arc guide 7 in the extension of this fixed contact part then, following the electric arc blown at first by the effect of the secondary coil 19 as far as the limits of the first plate secondary 21 associated with this secondary coil 19, joins the second arc guide 26 to which the main coil 24 is connected and continues on its way to the second main coil 25 of the second part of the symmetrical contactor of the first.
  • each main coil 24, 25 is associated with a ferromagnetic core and a pair of ferromagnetic plates, called main, 28, 29 to favor the creation of a magnetic field in the same direction as that induced by the secondary coil 19, but in a zone which extends the blowing zone of the secondary coil.
  • At least a pair of main plates 28,29 is arranged in the extension of the at least one pair of secondary plates 21,22 associated with the at least one secondary coil, so that the distance between their respective edges is between 2 and 4 mm .
  • the at least one main coil 24.25 and their ferromagnetic core is dimensioned to ensure, when it is traversed by a current of intensity at least equal to the “predetermined extinction threshold” mentioned above, a field magnetic between the plates of the at least one pair of plates 28, 29 of sufficient intensity to continue the elongation of the arc beyond the limit of the zone of influence of the at least one secondary coil 19,20 corresponding.
  • the “predetermined extinction threshold” which characterizes the intensity of the arc current below which the arc lengthens and extinguishes under the effect of the only secondary coil before reaching the zone of influence of the main coil varies in opposite direction to the voltage across the contactor: the higher the voltage, the lower the intensity corresponding to this “predetermined extinction threshold”.
  • the “predetermined extinction threshold” chosen for the dimensioning of at least one secondary and main coil is that corresponding to the highest voltage allowed at the terminals of the contactor.

Description

La présente invention concerne le domaine des contacteurs électromécaniques, adaptés notamment, mais pas exclusivement, à la protection des installations électriques à hautes tensions telles que, par exemple, celles utilisées dans les réseaux de transports par voies ferrées.The present invention relates to the field of electromechanical contactors, suitable in particular, but not exclusively, for the protection of high voltage electrical installations such as, for example, those used in rail transport networks.

Ces réseaux nécessitent l'utilisation de tensions continues comprises habituellement entre 750 et 3000 V. Un contacteur électromécanique est nécessaire pour permettre d'interrompre ou laisser passer le courant. Il est de plus en plus fréquent que le courant soit bidirectionnel, et que son intensité varie de 0 ampères jusqu'à une valeur nominale.These networks require the use of DC voltages usually between 750 and 3000 V. An electromechanical contactor is necessary to allow interrupting or letting the current flow. It is more and more frequent that the current is bidirectional, and that its intensity varies from 0 amps up to a nominal value.

Les contacteurs électromécaniques connus comprennent habituellement au moins un pôle fixe et au moins un pôle mobile. Ces pôles sont en contact pour laisser passer le courant et sont séparés pour interrompre celui-ci. Un actionneur électromécanique est habituellement utilisé pour déplacer le contact mobile de manière à le séparer du contact fixe. Un arc électrique se crée alors entre les deux contacts, qui doit être éteint le plus efficacement possible.Known electromechanical contactors usually include at least one fixed pole and at least one movable pole. These poles are in contact to let the current pass and are separated to interrupt it. An electromechanical actuator is usually used to move the movable contact so as to separate it from the fixed contact. An electric arc is created between the two contacts, which must be extinguished as effectively as possible.

Les moyens connus pour éteindre cet arc électrique comprennent des dispositifs de soufflage électromagnétique de l'arc vers des moyens configurés pour séparer et disperser l'arc en une multitude d'arcs qui finissent par s'éteindre. Le soufflage électromagnétique résulte de l'effet de la force de Lorentz produite par un champ magnétique sur l'arc électrique, le champ magnétique pouvant être créé par un aimant permanent ou par une bobine traversée par un courant d'intensité adaptée à l'effet recherché. L'efficacité de ces dispositifs de soufflage électromagnétique dépend beaucoup de la qualité de la synchronisation entre le début de la séparation des contacts, et donc de l'apparition de l'arc électrique, et le début de l'effet de soufflage. Les dispositifs connus, notamment ceux qui font dépendre le début de l'alimentation de la bobine de soufflage du moment où l'actionneur électromécanique cesse d'être alimenté en courant pour permettre l'ouverture du contacteur, présentent l'inconvénient de ne pas être parfaitement synchronisés avec le début proprement dit de l'ouverture du contacteur, et donc avec l'apparition de l'arc électrique. En effet, il peut s'écouler un délai variable, dépendant de différents facteurs tels que les caractéristiques de certains accessoires montés sur le contacteur, ou les valeurs de la tension principale à l'intérieur de sa plage de variation normalisée, de la température ambiante, etc..., entre le moment où le courant est interrompu dans l'actionneur électromécanique du ou des contacts mobiles, et le moment où le ou les contacts mobiles commencent effectivement à se séparer du ou des contacts fixes.The known means for extinguishing this electric arc comprise devices for electromagnetically blowing the arc towards means configured to separate and disperse the arc into a multitude of arcs which eventually extinguish. Electromagnetic blowing results from the effect of the Lorentz force produced by a magnetic field on the electric arc, the magnetic field being able to be created by a permanent magnet or by a coil crossed by a current of intensity adapted to the effect. research. The effectiveness of these electromagnetic blowing devices depends very much on the quality of the synchronization between the start of contact separation, and therefore the appearance of the electric arc, and the start of the blowing effect. Known devices, in particular those which make the start of the supply of the supply coil depend on the moment when the electromechanical actuator ceases to be supplied with current to allow the contactor to open, have the drawback of not being perfectly synchronized with the actual start of the opening of the contactor, and therefore with the appearance of the electric arc. Indeed, a variable delay may elapse, depending on different factors such as the characteristics of certain accessories mounted on the contactor, or the values of the main voltage within its normalized variation range, of the ambient temperature , etc ..., between the moment when the current is interrupted in the electromechanical actuator of the movable contact (s), and the moment when the movable contact (s) actually start to separate from the fixed contact (s).

Le document EP 2 230 678 B1 divulgue un contacteur électromécanique selon le préambule de la revendication 1. Le premier moyen de soufflage d'arc du contacteur électromécanique dudit document peut être une bobine alimentée en permanence.The document EP 2,230,678 B1 discloses an electromechanical contactor according to the preamble of claim 1. The first arc blowing means of the electromechanical contactor of said document can be a coil supplied permanently.

La présente invention vise à résoudre tout ou partie des inconvénients mentionnés ci-dessus, en faisant dépendre le déclenchement du soufflage électromagnétique du moment précis où les contacts mobiles et fixes commencent à se séparer.The present invention aims to solve all or part of the drawbacks mentioned above, by making the triggering of the electromagnetic blowing depend on the precise moment when the movable and fixed contacts begin to separate.

A cet effet, la présente invention concerne un contacteur électromécanique selon la revendication 1.To this end, the present invention relates to an electromechanical contactor according to claim 1.

Grâce à ces dispositions, le soufflage est déclenché sensiblement simultanément à l'instant de séparation entre le au moins un pôle fixe et le au moins un pôle mobile.Thanks to these arrangements, the blowing is started substantially simultaneously at the instant of separation between the at least one fixed pole and the at least one movable pole.

Selon un aspect de l'invention le déclencheur est configuré pour déclencher un champ magnétique avec la décharge d'un condensateur dans la au moins une bobine.According to one aspect of the invention the trigger is configured to trigger a magnetic field with the discharge of a capacitor in the at least one coil.

Selon un aspect de l'invention, le sens du courant de décharge du condensateur dans la au moins une bobine est déterminé par un dispositif de détection du sens du courant dans le contacteur électromécanique.According to one aspect of the invention, the direction of the discharge current of the capacitor in the at least one coil is determined by a device for detecting the direction of the current in the electromechanical contactor.

Grâce à ces dispositions, l'arc électrique sera soufflé par le champ magnétique de la au moins une bobine toujours dans la même direction, quelle que soit la direction du courant dans le contacteur électromécanique.Thanks to these provisions, the electric arc will be blown by the magnetic field of the at least one coil always in the same direction, regardless of the direction of the current in the electromechanical contactor.

Selon un aspect de l'invention, le détecteur est un capteur de position du moyen d'actionnement du au moins un pôle mobile.According to one aspect of the invention, the detector is a position sensor of the actuation means of the at least one movable pole.

Selon un aspect de l'invention, le capteur de position est un capteur photoélectrique, notamment un photo-interrupteur transmissif, configuré pour coopérer avec la partie mobile du moyen d'actionnement de manière à déterminer l'instant de la séparation du au moins un pôle mobile et du au moins un pôle fixe.According to one aspect of the invention, the position sensor is a photoelectric sensor, in particular a transmissive photo-switch, configured to cooperate with the mobile part of the actuating means so as to determine the instant of separation of the at least one mobile pole and at least one fixed pole.

Selon un aspect de l'invention, le détecteur est un moyen de traitement du signal configuré pour détecter l'instant où l'intensité dans la bobine d'actionnement atteint une valeur minimum après l'annulation de la tension aux bornes de la bobine d'actionnement.According to one aspect of the invention, the detector is a signal processing means configured to detect the instant when the intensity in the actuating coil reaches a minimum value after the cancellation of the voltage across the terminals of the coil d actuation.

Selon un aspect de l'invention, l'instant de séparation est déterminé en appliquant un retard prédéterminé à l'instant où l'intensité dans la bobine d'actionnement atteint une valeur minimum après l'annulation de la tension aux bornes de la bobine d'actionnement.According to one aspect of the invention, the separation instant is determined by applying a predetermined delay to the instant when the intensity in the actuating coil reaches a minimum value after the cancellation of the voltage across the terminals of the coil. actuation.

L'invention sera bien comprise à l'aide de la description qui suit en références aux dessins annexés représentant, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, une forme d'exécution de l'invention.

  • Figure 1 est une vue en coupe schématique d'un contacteur selon l'invention.
  • Figure 2 est une vue de dessus du même contacteur.
  • Figure 3 est une vue schématique du coulisseau qui assure le déplacement de le support de contact mobile ; cette vue présente cette partie du dispositif en position circuit ouvert.
  • Figure 4 est une vue schématique du coulisseau qui assure le déplacement de le support de contact mobile ; cette vue présente cette partie du dispositif en position circuit complètement fermé, après la mise en compression des pôles.
  • Figure 5 est une vue schématique du coulisseau qui assure le déplacement de le support de contact mobile ; cette vue présente cette partie du dispositif en position circuit fermé au moment précis où les pôles entrent en contact, avant leur mise en compression.
  • Figure 6 représente le profil d'évolution temporelle du courant dans la bobine d'actionnement des pôles mobiles lors de la coupure de son alimentation.
  • Figure 7 est une vue en perspective du coulisseau et du capteur photoélectrique selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, avec le contacteur en position ouverte.
  • Figure 8 est la même vue que la figure 7, avec ce contacteur en position fermée.
  • Figure 9 est une vue en coupe agrandie autour de la carte de contrôle-commande de la bobine d'actionnement, de la bobine secondaire et du dispositif de détection du sens du courant dans le contacteur.
  • Figure 10 est une vue schématique d'une partie de la carte d'alimentation des bobines secondaires.
The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings representing, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a contactor according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a top view of the same contactor.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic view of the slide which ensures the displacement of the movable contact support; this view shows this part of the device in the open circuit position.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic view of the slide which ensures the displacement of the movable contact support; this view shows this part of the device in the completely closed circuit position, after the poles have been compressed.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic view of the slide which ensures the displacement of the movable contact support; this view presents this part of the device in closed circuit position at the precise moment when the poles come into contact, before they are compressed.
  • Figure 6 represents the temporal evolution profile of the current in the actuating coil of the movable poles when its power supply is cut off.
  • Figure 7 is a perspective view of the slide and of the photoelectric sensor according to an embodiment of the invention, with the contactor in the open position.
  • Figure 8 is the same view as the figure 7 , with this contactor in the closed position.
  • Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view around the control-command card of the actuating coil, the secondary coil and the device for detecting the direction of the current in the contactor.
  • Figure 10 is a schematic view of part of the power supply board of the secondary coils.

Le contacteur représenté sur la figure 1 est inséré entre les bornes 1, 2 d'un circuit principal alimenté en tensions qui peuvent être comprises entre 0 et 3000 V, de préférence entre 0 et 1500 V, dont les dimensions permettent d'inscrire le contacteur à l'intérieur d'un parallélépipède rectangulaire d'environ 350 mm de longueur, par 250 mm de largeur, et 70 mm d'épaisseur, selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention.The contactor shown in the figure 1 is inserted between terminals 1, 2 of a main circuit supplied with voltages which can be between 0 and 3000 V, preferably between 0 and 1500 V, the dimensions of which allow the contactor to be inserted inside a rectangular parallelepiped of about 350 mm in length, 250 mm in width, and 70 mm in thickness, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Le contacteur selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention décrit en détail ci-dessous est symétrique par rapport à un plan de symétrie passant par l'axe AA' représenté sur la figure 1 et perpendiculaire au plan de coupe de la figure 1. La description ci-dessous pourra ne pas détailler systématiquement la configuration du contacteur de chaque côté de ce plan de symétrie, mais l'homme du métier comprendra que tout ce qui est décrit d'un côté de ce plan se retrouve identiquement de l'autre côté.The contactor according to the embodiment of the invention described in detail below is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry passing through the axis AA 'shown in the figure 1 and perpendicular to the section plane of the figure 1 . The description below may not systematically detail the configuration of the contactor on each side of this plane of symmetry, but those skilled in the art will understand that everything that is described on one side of this plane is found identically on the other. side.

Le contacteur comprend un organe de coupure électromécanique muni d'un support de contact mobile 3 et d'un support de contact fixe 4, 5 de chaque côté du plan de symétrie précité.The contactor comprises an electromechanical breaking member provided with a movable contact support 3 and with a fixed contact support 4, 5 on each side of the above-mentioned plane of symmetry.

Le support de contact mobile est un pont qui se déplace en translation dans le sens de la flèche 6 indiquée sur la figure 1; ce pont porte deux pastilles de contact 31, 32 , qu'on appellera pôles 31, 32 dans la suite de la description ; les pôles 31,32, selon la position de le support de contact mobile, établissent ou interrompent le contact avec deux pôles correspondants 41, 51 situés respectivement sur les deux supports de contacts fixes. Chaque support de contact fixe 4, 5 est raccordée électriquement à une borne du circuit principal 1, 2 par une première extrémité. A l'autre extrémité de chaque support de contact fixe, dans son prolongement, est positionné un guide d'arc électrique 7, 8, en matériau conducteur. Une extrémité du guide d'arc 7, 8 est située à proximité de, mais pas en contact électrique avec la deuxième extrémité du support de contact fixe 4, 5, dans le prolongement de laquelle elle se trouve ; l'autre extrémité du guide d'arc rejoint une zone d'extinction de l'arc électrique, qui comprend notamment des ailettes d'extinction 9, 10 en matériau ferromagnétique.The mobile contact support is a bridge which moves in translation in the direction of arrow 6 indicated on the figure 1 ; this bridge carries two contact pads 31, 32, which will be called poles 31, 32 in the following description; the poles 31, 32, depending on the position of the mobile contact support, establish or interrupt contact with two corresponding poles 41, 51 located respectively on the two fixed contact supports. Each fixed contact support 4, 5 is electrically connected to a terminal of the main circuit 1, 2 by a first end. At the other end of each fixed contact support, in its extension, is positioned an electric arc guide 7, 8, made of conductive material. One end of the arc guide 7, 8 is located near but not in electrical contact with the second end of the fixed contact support 4, 5, in the extension of which it is located; the other end of the arc guide joins an extinction zone of the electric arc, which in particular comprises extinction fins 9, 10 made of ferromagnetic material.

La figure 3 illustre le moyen qui assure le déplacement du support de contact mobile 3, pour d'une part fermer le circuit principal en mettant en contact électrique les pôles correspondants du support de contact fixe avec ceux du support de contact mobile, d'autre part ouvrir le circuit principal séparant les pôles correspondants du support de contact fixe et ceux du support de contact mobile. Le support de contact mobile 3 est inséré entre deux parois sensiblement parallèles d'un coulisseau 11 creux de forme sensiblement parallélépipédique, fermé en haut par une face supérieure transversale à l'axe de symétrie du coulisseau, en bas par une face inférieure transversale à l'axe de symétrie du coulisseau, et à un niveau intermédiaire entre le haut et le bas, par un plan intermédiaire transversal 12 à l'axe de symétrie du coulisseau ; le support de contact mobile 3 repose sur ce plan intermédiaire 12, sur lequel il est plaqué par la pression d'un ressort 16 dont une première extrémité s'appuie sur le support de contact mobile, et dont l'autre extrémité s'appuie sur la face supérieure du coulisseau.The figure 3 illustrates the means which ensures the displacement of the mobile contact support 3, in order to close the main circuit on the one hand by putting in electrical contact the corresponding poles of the fixed contact support with those of the mobile contact support, on the other hand open main circuit separating the corresponding poles of the fixed contact support and those of the mobile contact support. The movable contact support 3 is inserted between two substantially parallel walls of a hollow slide 11 of substantially parallelepiped shape, closed at the top by an upper face transverse to the axis of symmetry of the slide, at the bottom by a lower face transverse to the 'axis of symmetry of the slide, and at an intermediate level between the top and the bottom, by an intermediate plane transverse to the axis of symmetry of the slide; the mobile contact support 3 rests on this intermediate plane 12, on which it is pressed by the pressure of a spring 16, one end of which rests on the mobile contact support, and the other end of which rests on the upper face of the slide.

Le coulisseau est solidaire d'une partie ferromagnétique mobile 13 fixée à sa base inférieure. Cette partie ferromagnétique mobile 13 coopère avec une bobine à induction 14, dite bobine d'actionnement 14, alimentée par un deuxième circuit indépendant du circuit principal. Une carte électronique d'alimentation 33 de la bobine d'actionnement assure la régulation en tension et en intensité de cette alimentation. Cette carte électronique et la régulation qu'elle assure, permettent non seulement de dimensionner au plus juste le dispositif d'actionnement en réduisant ainsi considérablement le volume et le poids de l'ensemble du contacteur, mais également de traiter directement l'intensité du courant dans cette bobine pour mettre en œuvre un deuxième mode de réalisation du détecteur selon l'invention qui sera décrit plus en détail ci-après. La carte électronique 33 peut également, comme c'est le cas dans le mode de réalisation représenté sur les figures annexées, être scindée en une partie 33 plus particulièrement dédiée à l'alimentation de la bobine d'actionnement, et une partie 33bis, rassemblant plus spécialement les composants décrits plus en détails ci-dessous.The slide is secured to a movable ferromagnetic part 13 fixed to its lower base. This movable ferromagnetic part 13 cooperates with an induction coil 14, called the actuation coil 14, supplied by a second circuit independent of the main circuit. An electronic power supply card 33 for the actuating coil provides voltage and intensity regulation for this supply. This electronic card and the regulation it provides not only allow the actuator to be dimensioned as accurately as possible, thereby considerably reducing the volume and weight of the entire contactor, but also to directly treat the intensity of the current in this coil to implement a second embodiment of the detector according to the invention which will be described in more detail below. The electronic card 33 can also, as is the case in the embodiment shown in the appended figures, be divided into a part 33 more particularly dedicated to supplying the actuating coil, and a part 33a, bringing together especially the components described in more detail below.

Cette bobine d'actionnement, lorsqu'elle est alimentée, attire vers le bas la partie 13 et le coulisseau 11 solidairement mobiles jusqu'à ce que la tête supérieure de cette partie mobile 13 vienne au contact d'une seconde partie ferromagnétique fixe, solidaire de la bobine d'actionnement; la base inférieure du coulisseau écrase alors au moins un ressort 15 qui s'appuie par son extrémité supérieure sur une partie de la base inférieure du coulisseau, et dont l'extrémité inférieure est en appui sur le fond du contacteur. Cette translation vers le bas du coulisseau entraîne vers le bas également le support de contact mobile jusqu'à ce que les pôles du support de contact mobile entrent en contact avec leurs homologues sur chaque support de contact fixe. Lorsque ce contact est établi le mouvement vers le bas du coulisseau se poursuit de manière à ce que le ressort placé à l'intérieur du coulisseau entre le support de contact mobile et la face supérieure du coulisseau soit suffisamment comprimé pour exercer une pression appropriée sur le support de contact mobile comme indiqué sur la figure 4. Dans cette configuration du contacteur, en position circuit fermé, la position du support de contact mobile relativement au coulisseau est décalée d'une distance d au-dessus de sa position lorsque le contacteur est en configuration circuit ouvert. Cette distance caractérise la course de compression des contacteurs, i.e. la distance que doit effectuer le coulisseau à partir de l'instant où les pôles arrivent en contact et jusqu'à la fermeture complète du contacteur.This actuating coil, when it is supplied, draws down the part 13 and the slide 11 which are integrally movable until the upper head of this movable part 13 comes into contact with a second fixed ferromagnetic part, which is integral the actuating coil; the lower base of the slide then crushes at least one spring 15 which is supported by its upper end on a part of the lower base of the slide, and whose lower end is in contact with the bottom of the contactor. This downward translation of the slide also drives the mobile contact support downward until the poles of the mobile contact support come into contact with their counterparts on each fixed contact support. When this contact is established, the downward movement of the slide continues so that the spring placed inside the slide between the movable contact support and the upper face of the slide is sufficiently compressed to exert an appropriate pressure on the mobile contact support as shown on the figure 4 . In this configuration of the contactor, in the closed circuit position, the position of the movable contact support relative to the slide is offset by a distance d above its position when the contactor is in the open circuit configuration. This distance characterizes the compression stroke of the contactors, ie the distance that the slide must make from the moment the poles come into contact and until the contactor is completely closed.

Lorsque l'alimentation de la bobine d'actionnement 14 est coupée, le au moins un ressort 15 sous la base inférieure du coulisseau se déploie et repousse le coulisseau vers le haut, ainsi que le ressort 16 qui se déploie simultanément et ajoute sa propre pression sur le coulisseau, à celle exercée par le au moins un ressort 15, jusqu'à ce que le support de contact mobile 3 vienne buter sur le plan intermédiaire 12 du coulisseau comme indiqué figure 5; au cours de cette première partie du mouvement vers le haut du coulisseau, les pôles du support de contact mobile 3 sont restés en contact avec les pôles des supports de contact fixes; sous l'effet du au moins un ressort 15, le coulisseau poursuit ensuite son mouvement vers le haut en entraînant, dans cette deuxième partie de son mouvement vers le haut, le support de contact mobile, dont les pôles commencent alors seulement à se séparer de leurs pôles homologues sur les deux supports de contact fixes.When the power supply to the actuating coil 14 is cut, the at least one spring 15 under the lower base of the slider deploys and pushes the slider upwards, as well as the spring 16 which deploys simultaneously and adds its own pressure on the slide, to that exerted by the at least one spring 15, until the movable contact support 3 abuts on the intermediate plane 12 of the slide as indicated figure 5 ; during this first part of the upward movement of the slide, the poles of the mobile contact support 3 have remained in contact with the poles of the fixed contact supports; under the effect of at least one spring 15, the slide then continues its upward movement, causing, in this second part of its upward movement, the support of mobile contact, the poles of which then only begin to separate from their homologous poles on the two fixed contact supports.

A partir de ce moment, un arc électrique 17, 18 commence à se former entre le pôle de chaque pièce de contact fixe et son pôle correspondant sur le support de contact mobile.From this moment, an electric arc 17, 18 begins to form between the pole of each fixed contact piece and its corresponding pole on the movable contact support.

C'est à ce moment précisément qu'il convient de déclencher l'action de soufflage de l'arc afin de l'éteindre.It is precisely at this moment that the arc blowing action should be triggered in order to extinguish it.

Selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, la détection du moment de la séparation des pôles fixes et mobile, est réalisée grâce à un capteur photoélectrique 34 fixé sur la carte d'alimentation 33bis. Ce capteur 34 est positionné de manière à pouvoir accueillir et coopérer avec l'extrémité 35 d'une excroissance solidaire du coulisseau. Lorsque le coulisseau se trouve dans la position représentée schématiquement sur la figure 4, l'extrémité 35 se trouve insérée à l'intérieur d'un renfoncement adapté du capteur 34, comme cela est illustré figure 8, de sorte que la cellule photoélectrique du capteur 34 détecte la présence de l'extrémité du coulisseau. Le mouvement du coulisseau vers le haut, tel que décrit précédemment, a pour effet de faire sortir cette extrémité 35 du capteur 34, ce que la cellule photoélectrique détecte aussitôt. En dimensionnant l'épaisseur de l'extrémité 35 du coulisseau qui coopère avec le capteur, et en calibrant de manière appropriée un délai de retard à partir de la détection par le capteur du début mouvement vers le haut du coulisseau, il est possible d'en déduire précisément le moment où le coulisseau sera dans la position correspondant à la figure 5 et où les pôles fixes et mobiles vont se séparer. Ainsi il est possible de synchroniser de manière optimale le début de l'action de soufflage de l'arc électrique avec l'apparition de cet arc électrique entre les pôles fixes et mobiles.According to a first embodiment of the invention, the detection of the moment of separation of the fixed and mobile poles is carried out by means of a photoelectric sensor 34 fixed on the power supply board 33bis. This sensor 34 is positioned so as to be able to receive and cooperate with the end 35 of a protuberance integral with the slide. When the slide is in the position shown schematically on the figure 4 , the end 35 is inserted inside a suitable recess of the sensor 34, as illustrated figure 8 , so that the photoelectric cell of the sensor 34 detects the presence of the end of the slider. The movement of the slide upwards, as described above, has the effect of bringing this end 35 out of the sensor 34, which the photoelectric cell detects immediately. By dimensioning the thickness of the end 35 of the slider which cooperates with the sensor, and by appropriately calibrating a delay period from the detection by the sensor of the start of the upward movement of the slider, it is possible to deduce precisely when the slide will be in the position corresponding to the figure 5 and where the fixed and mobile poles will separate. Thus it is possible to synchronize optimally the start of the blowing action of the electric arc with the appearance of this electric arc between the fixed and mobile poles.

Selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, le moment précis de la séparation des deux pôles fixes et mobiles est détecté grâce à un traitement du profil d'évolution temporelle du courant dans la bobine d'actionnement 14 du coulisseau 11. Comme cela a déjà été indiqué plus haut, la carte électronique d'alimentation 33 de la bobine d'actionnement 14, qui assure la régulation en tension et en intensité de cette alimentation permet de traiter directement l'intensité du courant dans cette bobine pour mettre en œuvre ce deuxième mode de réalisation du détecteur selon l'invention. La figure 6 représente en abscisse le temps, et ordonnée U la tension d'alimentation de la bobine d'actionnement, et I l'intensité du courant d'alimentation de la bobine d'actionnement. La courbe 64, en marche d'escalier, représente l'évolution de la tension U en fonction du temps ; à l'instant T1, la tension U est annulée dans la bobine d'actionnement. La courbe 61 représente l'évolution du courant qui traverse la bobine d'actionnement à partir de T1; l'intensité commence par décroître, à cause de la présence d'une diode roue-libre aux bornes de la bobine d'actionnement, pour atteindre un premier point bas à T2. Ce point bas, marque le moment où la force d'attraction magnétique du coulisseau vers la bobine d'actionnement 14 devient inférieure à la force de poussée exercée sur le coulisseau 11 en sens opposé par le au moins un ressort 15 et le ressort 16. T2 marque donc le début du mouvement du coulisseau vers le haut, sous l'effet du différentiel entre la pression exercée sur le coulisseau vers le haut par les ressorts 15 et 16 et l'attraction exercée sur le coulisseau en sens opposé par la bobine d'actionnement 14; ce mouvement déplace le coulisseau de la position représentée sur la figure 4 à la position représentée sur la figure 5, qu'il atteint à l'instant T3, puis à la position représentée sur la figure 3. C'est à l'instant T3 qu'il convient de déclencher le soufflage de la bobine secondaire 19, 20. Cet instant T3 est décalé de T2 d'un retard constant lié au temps de déplacement du coulisseau entre la position représentée à la figure 4 jusqu'à celle représentée à la figure 5 ; cette constante T3-T2 est déterminée de manière empirique par des essais d'étalonnage du dispositif. Un circuit électronique approprié, connu par l'homme du métier, est disposé sur la carte contrôle-commande électronique de la bobine d'actionnement 14 et permet de traiter la mesure de l'intensité du courant en détectant l'instant d'apparition T2 du point bas de la courbe d'intensité, et d'en déduire T3. Ainsi il est possible de synchroniser de manière optimale le début de l'action de soufflage de l'arc électrique avec l'apparition de cet arc électrique entre les pôles fixes et mobiles.According to a second embodiment of the invention, the precise moment of the separation of the two fixed and mobile poles is detected by processing the profile of the time course of the current in the actuating coil 14 of the slide 11. As this has already been indicated above, the electronic power supply card 33 of the actuating coil 14, which regulates the voltage and intensity of this supply makes it possible to directly treat the intensity of the current in this coil to implement this second embodiment of the detector according to the invention. The figure 6 represents on the abscissa the time, and ordered U the supply voltage of the actuating coil, and I the intensity of the supply current of the actuating coil. Curve 64, on the staircase, represents the evolution of the voltage U as a function of time; at time T1, the voltage U is canceled in the actuating coil. Curve 61 represents the evolution of the current flowing through the actuating coil from T1; the intensity begins to decrease, due to the presence of a freewheeling diode across the actuating coil, to reach a first low point at T2. This low point marks the moment when the magnetic attraction force of the slider towards the actuating coil 14 becomes less than the pushing force exerted on the slider 11 in the opposite direction by the at least one spring 15 and the spring 16. T2 therefore marks the beginning of the movement of the ram upwards, under the effect of the differential between the pressure exerted on the ram upwards by the springs 15 and 16 and the attraction exerted on the ram in opposite directions by the coil d 'actuation 14; this movement moves the slide from the position shown on the figure 4 at the position shown on the figure 5 , which it reaches at time T3, then at the position represented on the figure 3 . It is at instant T3 that the blowing of the secondary coil 19, 20 should be triggered. This instant T3 is offset by T2 by a constant delay related to the time of movement of the slide between the position shown in the figure 4 up to that shown in figure 5 ; this constant T3-T2 is determined empirically by calibration tests of the device. An appropriate electronic circuit, known to a person skilled in the art, is placed on the electronic control-command card of the actuating coil 14 and makes it possible to process the measurement of the current intensity by detecting the instant of appearance T2 from the low point of the intensity curve, and deduce T3 from it. Thus it is possible to synchronize optimally the start of the blowing action of the electric arc with the appearance of this electric arc between the fixed and mobile poles.

Le moment du déclenchement de l'action de soufflage ayant été déterminé, la description va maintenant porter sur les conditions particulières de l'action de soufflage destinée à éteindre l'arc électrique. Une bobine dite secondaire 19, 20 est positionnée sous chaque pièce de contact fixe.The moment of initiation of the blowing action having been determined, the description will now relate to the particular conditions of the blowing action intended to extinguish the electric arc. A so-called secondary coil 19, 20 is positioned under each fixed contact part.

L'alimentation des bobines secondaires est indépendante de celle des bobines principales. Elle est assurée par un condensateur 38 placé sous la carte électronique 33bis qui contrôle l'alimentation de la au moins une bobine secondaire 19,20. L'alimentation de la charge du condensateur 38 peut être réalisée en appliquant à ce dernier, ainsi qu'à la au moins une bobine secondaire 19,20 , une tension inférieure à celle qui est appliquée à la bobine d'actionnement 14. Cela justifie de dédier à cette fonction une partie distincte 33bis de la carte électronique 33. Comme cela est représenté sur la figure 10, le condensateur 38 est chargé par une tension dérivée de celle qui alimente la bobine d'actionnement 14 lorsque celle-ci maintient le contacteur fermé ; cette charge est effectuée en un temps très court, typiquement inférieur à 1 seconde, dès la fermeture du contacteur. La décharge du condensateur 38 qui va alimenter la au moins une bobine secondaire 19,20 est déclenchée par le composant 42, appelé ici déclencheur, de préférence un pont MOSFET, à l'instant qui aura été déterminé comme indiqué ci-dessus par le détecteur 34, après application d'un retard approprié par le composant 41 pour tenir compte, le cas échéant, du décalage T3-T2 indiqué plus haut. Le déclencheur 42 qui assure le déclenchement de la décharge du condensateur, détermine également le sens du courant de décharge en fonction du sens du courant dans le contacteur tel que mesuré par le dispositif 39.The supply of the secondary coils is independent of that of the main coils. It is provided by a capacitor 38 placed under the electronic card 33bis which controls the supply of the at least one secondary coil 19,20. The capacitor 38 can be supplied with power by applying to the latter, as well as to the at least one secondary coil 19, 20, a voltage lower than that which is applied to the actuating coil 14. This justifies to dedicate to this function a separate part 33bis of the electronic card 33. As shown in the figure 10 , the capacitor 38 is charged by a voltage derived from that which supplies the actuating coil 14 when the latter keeps the contactor closed; this charge is carried out in a very short time, typically less than 1 second, as soon as the contactor closes. The discharge of the capacitor 38 which will supply the at least one secondary coil 19, 20 is triggered by the component 42, here called the trigger, preferably a MOSFET bridge, at the instant which will have been determined as indicated above by the detector 34, after application of an appropriate delay by the component 41 to take account, if necessary, of the offset T3-T2 indicated above. The trigger 42 which initiates the discharge of the capacitor, also determines the direction of the discharge current as a function of the direction of the current in the contactor as measured by the device 39.

A chaque bobine secondaire 19, 20 est associée une paire de plaques ferromagnétiques planes 21, 22 qui se font face de part et d'autre de la bobine et qui sont reliées entre elles par un noyau 36, 37, ferromagnétique également et situé à l'intérieur de la bobine. La figure 1 ne représente qu'une des deux plaques ferromagnétiques de chaque paire associée à la bobine, ainsi que le noyau. La deuxième pièce fait face à la première dans un plan parallèle au plan de coupe de la figure. Ces paires de plaques 21,22, associées à chaque bobine secondaire seront également appelées paires de plaques secondaires 21,22. Cette paire de plaques secondaires 21, 22 est destinée, lorsque la bobine secondaire 19, 20 est alimentée, à favoriser la création d'un champ magnétique dans une direction transversale au plan de coupe de la figure 1, entre les deux parties de cette paire de plaques secondaires. Ce champ magnétique est configuré pour interagir avec le courant d'arc créé entre les pôles séparés pour créer une force orientée en fonction du sens du courant et de la direction du champ magnétique induit par la bobine secondaire. La direction du champ magnétique induit par la bobine secondaire est lui-même fonction du sens du courant qui traverse cette bobine. L'objectif étant de souffler l'arc en direction des ailettes d'extinction 9, 10 de l'arc, dans le sens indiqué par la flèche 23 sur la figure 1, un dispositif électronique connu 39 est prévu pour détecter le sens du courant dans le circuit principal et pour fixer en conséquence le sens du courant qui est déchargé du condensateur 38 pour traverser la bobine secondaire 19 de manière à ce que la direction du champ magnétique induit par la bobine secondaire 19 entre les deux parties de la paire de plaques secondaires 21 souffle le courant d'arc dans la direction 23 de la zone d'extinction de l'arc 9.Each secondary coil 19, 20 is associated with a pair of planar ferromagnetic plates 21, 22 which face each other on both sides of the coil and which are connected together by a core 36, 37, also ferromagnetic and located at the inside the coil. The figure 1 represents only one of the two ferromagnetic plates of each pair associated with the coil, as well as the core. The second part faces the first in a plane parallel to the section plane of the figure. These pairs of plates 21, 22, associated with each secondary coil will also be called pairs of secondary plates 21, 22. This pair of secondary plates 21, 22 is intended, when the secondary coil 19, 20 is energized, to promote the creation of a magnetic field in a direction transverse to the cutting plane of the figure 1 , between the two parts of this pair of secondary plates. This magnetic field is configured to interact with the arc current created between the separate poles to create an oriented force as a function of the direction of the current and the direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil. The direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil is itself a function of the direction of the current flowing through this coil. The objective being to blow the arc in the direction of the extinguishing fins 9, 10 of the arc, in the direction indicated by the arrow 23 on the figure 1 , a known electronic device 39 is provided for detecting the direction of the current in the main circuit and for consequently fixing the direction of the current which is discharged from the capacitor 38 to pass through the secondary coil 19 so that the direction of the induced magnetic field by the secondary coil 19 between the two parts of the pair of secondary plates 21 blows the arc current in the direction 23 of the arc extinction zone 9.

L'extension de la zone d'influence du champ magnétique produit par une bobine secondaire s'arrête à la limite de la pièce ferromagnétique associée à cette bobine. Au cours de son déplacement vers cette limite, l'arc s'allonge, jusqu'à s'éteindre si l'intensité du courant d'arc est faible. Le dimensionnement de la au moins une bobine secondaire et de son noyau ferromagnétique permet d'assurer un champ à peu près constant entre les plaques pendant une durée d'environ 30 à 70 ms ; cette durée est cohérente avec la durée d'extinction des arcs pour des contacteurs dont le circuit est à constante de temps élevée, supérieure à 15 ms.The extension of the zone of influence of the magnetic field produced by a secondary coil stops at the limit of the ferromagnetic part associated with this coil. During its movement towards this limit, the arc lengthens, until it extinguishes if the intensity of the arc current is weak. The dimensioning of the at least one secondary coil and its ferromagnetic core makes it possible to ensure an almost constant field between the plates for a period of approximately 30 to 70 ms; this duration is consistent with the arc extinction duration for contactors whose circuit has a high time constant greater than 15 ms.

Ainsi la zone d'extension du soufflage de la bobine secondaire est configurée pour que des courants d'arc de faibles intensité, typiquement inférieure à 1 voire 2 A, soient éteints sous le seul effet du soufflage magnétique dû à la bobine secondaire 19, sans qu'il soit besoin de les souffler jusqu'à la zone des ailettes d'extinction des arcs d'intensité plus importante.Thus, the blowing extension zone of the secondary coil is configured so that low intensity arc currents, typically less than 1 or even 2 A, are extinguished under the sole effect of the magnetic blowing due to the secondary coil 19, without that it is necessary to blow them up to the zone of the fins for extinguishing arcs of greater intensity.

Si l'intensité du courant d'arc est supérieure à un certain seuil prédéterminé, que nous appellerons « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction », le courant d'arc ne s'éteindra pas avant d'avoir atteint, dans la direction 23, la limite de la surface des plaques ferromagnétiques 21 associées à la bobine 19. Dans ce cas, avant que l'arc n'atteigne cette limite, le courant d'arc aura commencé à alimenter une bobine principale 24, 25, qui se trouve de ce fait en série dans le circuit principal. Cette bobine principale est placée au dessus du pôle mobile 31, 32 sur le support de contact mobile 3, entre ce pôle 31, 32 et un deuxième guide d'arc 26, 27 qui délimite avec le premier guide d'arc 7, 8 la zone de soufflage vers les ailettes d'extinction 9, 10 des arcs de forte intensité ; cette bobine principale 24 est en contact électrique à l'une de ces extrémités avec ce deuxième guide d'arc 26 et à l'autre extrémité avec la deuxième bobine principale 25 du contacteur, de sorte que le courant principal arrivant par une des pièces de contact fixe 4 saute vers le premier guide d'arc 7 dans le prolongement de cette pièce de contact fixe puis, suivant l'arc électrique soufflé dans un premier temps par l'effet de la bobine secondaire 19 jusque vers les limites de la première plaque secondaire 21 associée à cette bobine secondaire 19, rejoint le deuxième guide d'arc 26 auquel est raccordée la bobine principale 24 et poursuit son chemin vers la deuxième bobine principale 25 de la deuxième partie du contacteur symétrique de la première. Comme les bobines secondaires, chaque bobine principale 24, 25 est associée à un noyau ferromagnétique et une paire de plaques ferromagnétiques, dites principales, 28, 29 pour favoriser la création d'un champ magnétique dans la même direction que celui induit par la bobine secondaire 19, mais dans une zone qui prolonge la zone de soufflage de la bobine secondaire. La au moins une paire de plaques principales 28,29 est disposée dans le prolongement de la au moins une paire de plaques secondaires 21,22 associée à la au moins une bobine secondaire, de sorte que la distance entre leurs bordures respectives est comprise entre 2 et 4 mm. Ainsi, les courants de plus forte intensité qui après avoir été soufflés par la bobine secondaire ne se sont pas éteints, sont soufflés par le champ magnétique créé par la bobine principale, dont l'influence s'étend jusqu'à proximité des ailettes d'extinction 9, 10 des arcs de fortes intensités. A cet effet, la au moins une bobine principale 24,25 et leur noyau ferromagnétique est dimensionné pour assurer, lorsqu'elle est parcourue par un courant d'intensité au moins égale au « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction » mentionné plus haut, un champ magnétique entre les plaques de la au moins une paire de plaques 28, 29 d'intensité suffisante pour poursuivre l'allongement de l'arc au-delà de la limite de la zone d'influence de la au moins une bobine secondaire 19,20 correspondante. Il faut noter que le « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction » qui caractérise l'intensité du courant d'arc en dessous de laquelle l'arc s'allonge et s'éteint sous l'effet de la seule bobine secondaire avant d'avoir atteint la zone d'influence de la bobine principale, varie en sens inverse de la tension aux bornes du contacteur : plus la tension est élevée plus l'intensité correspondant à ce « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction » est faible. Le « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction » choisi pour le dimensionnement des au moins une bobine secondaire et principale est celui correspondant à la tension la plus élevée admise aux bornes du contacteur.If the intensity of the arc current is above a certain predetermined threshold, which we will call "predetermined extinction threshold", the arc current will not extinguish before having reached, in direction 23, the limit of the surface of the ferromagnetic plates 21 associated with the coil 19. In this case, before the arc reaches this limit, the arc current will have started to feed a main coil 24, 25, which is located there. made in series in the main circuit. This main coil is placed above the movable pole 31, 32 on the movable contact support 3, between this pole 31, 32 and a second arc guide 26, 27 which defines with the first arc guide 7, 8 the blowing zone towards the extinguishing fins 9, 10 of the high intensity arcs; this main coil 24 is in electrical contact at one of these ends with this second arc guide 26 and at the other end with the second main coil 25 of the contactor, so that the main current arriving through one of the parts of fixed contact 4 jumps to the first arc guide 7 in the extension of this fixed contact part then, following the electric arc blown at first by the effect of the secondary coil 19 as far as the limits of the first plate secondary 21 associated with this secondary coil 19, joins the second arc guide 26 to which the main coil 24 is connected and continues on its way to the second main coil 25 of the second part of the symmetrical contactor of the first. Like the secondary coils, each main coil 24, 25 is associated with a ferromagnetic core and a pair of ferromagnetic plates, called main, 28, 29 to favor the creation of a magnetic field in the same direction as that induced by the secondary coil 19, but in a zone which extends the blowing zone of the secondary coil. At least a pair of main plates 28,29 is arranged in the extension of the at least one pair of secondary plates 21,22 associated with the at least one secondary coil, so that the distance between their respective edges is between 2 and 4 mm . Thus, the currents of higher intensity which after being blown by the secondary coil have not died out, are blown by the magnetic field created by the main coil, whose influence extends to near the fins of extinction 9, 10 of high intensity arcs. To this end, the at least one main coil 24.25 and their ferromagnetic core is dimensioned to ensure, when it is traversed by a current of intensity at least equal to the “predetermined extinction threshold” mentioned above, a field magnetic between the plates of the at least one pair of plates 28, 29 of sufficient intensity to continue the elongation of the arc beyond the limit of the zone of influence of the at least one secondary coil 19,20 corresponding. It should be noted that the “predetermined extinction threshold” which characterizes the intensity of the arc current below which the arc lengthens and extinguishes under the effect of the only secondary coil before reaching the zone of influence of the main coil varies in opposite direction to the voltage across the contactor: the higher the voltage, the lower the intensity corresponding to this “predetermined extinction threshold”. The “predetermined extinction threshold” chosen for the dimensioning of at least one secondary and main coil is that corresponding to the highest voltage allowed at the terminals of the contactor.

La continuité de l'action de soufflage est donc assurée sur l'ensemble du spectre des intensités d'utilisation du contacteur selon l'invention.The continuity of the blowing action is therefore ensured over the entire spectrum of the intensities of use of the contactor according to the invention.

Claims (5)

  1. An electromechanical contactor, intended to interrupt or to allow a direct current to pass in a main circuit, the electromechanical contactor comprising at least one fixed pole (41, 51) and at least one movable pole (31, 32) and one means for actuating at least one movable pole (31, 32), the actuating means comprising a movable portion (11) and an actuating coil (14), and being configured to separate or put into contact the at least one movable pole (31, 32) and the at least one fixed pole (41, 51), the electromechanical contactor also comprising at least one secondary coil (19, 20), characterized in that the electromechanical contactor further comprises a detector (34) configured to detect the instant of separation of the at least one fixed pole (41, 51) and the at least one movable pole (31, 32) and a trigger (42) configured to trigger with the at least one secondary coil (19, 20) a magnetic field for blowing the at least one electrical arc (17) generated between the at least one fixed pole (41, 51) and the at least one movable pole (31, 32) from the instant of their separation.
  2. The electromechanical contactor according to the preceding claim, wherein the detector is a position sensor (34) of the actuating means (11) of at least one movable pole (31, 32).
  3. The contactor according to the preceding claim, wherein the position sensor (34) is a photoelectric sensor configured to cooperate with the movable portion (11) of the actuating means so as to determine the instant of separation of at least one movable pole (31, 32) and at least one fixed pole (41, 51).
  4. The electromechanical contactor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detector is a signal processing means configured to determine an instant of separation depending on a detection of the instant when the intensity (I) in the actuating coil (14) reaches a minimum value after cancelling the voltage (U) at the actuating coil terminals.
  5. The electromechanical contactor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the instant of separation is determined by applying a predetermined time delay to the instant when the intensity (I) in the actuating coil (14) reaches a minimum value after cancelling the voltage (U) at the actuating coil terminals.
EP17151115.7A 2017-01-12 2017-01-12 Electromechanical contactor Active EP3349232B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17151115.7A EP3349232B1 (en) 2017-01-12 2017-01-12 Electromechanical contactor

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17151115.7A EP3349232B1 (en) 2017-01-12 2017-01-12 Electromechanical contactor

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3349232A1 EP3349232A1 (en) 2018-07-18
EP3349232B1 true EP3349232B1 (en) 2020-05-06

Family

ID=57794167

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17151115.7A Active EP3349232B1 (en) 2017-01-12 2017-01-12 Electromechanical contactor

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3349232B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2576338A (en) 2018-08-15 2020-02-19 Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd Switching device and method for operating a switching device

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US967280A (en) * 1910-02-04 1910-08-16 Gen Electric Magnetic blow-out.
FR1296346A (en) * 1960-08-03 1962-06-15 Brown Switch for cut-off under load
US5548461A (en) * 1994-07-11 1996-08-20 Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation Arc suppressor
DE19522603A1 (en) * 1995-06-19 1997-01-09 Siemens Ag Protective device against overloading the switching contacts of a switching device
WO2006133726A1 (en) * 2005-06-16 2006-12-21 Secheron S.A. Blow-out device for an electromechanical dc circuit breaker
DE102009013337B4 (en) * 2009-03-16 2011-01-27 Schaltbau Gmbh Arc-resistant contactor
PL2431989T3 (en) * 2010-09-20 2015-03-31 Secheron Sa Electromechanical circuit breaker
DE102013112297B4 (en) * 2013-11-08 2022-02-10 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Circuit arrangement for a switching device and switching device with such a circuit arrangement
DE102013114171B4 (en) * 2013-12-17 2020-01-02 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Switching chamber for guiding and separating electrical currents by means of movable switch contacts

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3349232A1 (en) 2018-07-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0326449B1 (en) Electromagnetic trip device with an adjustable trip level
CA1182156A (en) Contactor with self-protection means against the effects of the repulsion forces between contacts, and related short-circuit current interrupting and limiting apparatus
EP0366519B1 (en) Security device for a switching apparatus made by the assembly of several removable modular elements
EP3014645B1 (en) Electrical contactor and method for controlling such a contactor
EP0486389A1 (en) Protective switch
EP3349232B1 (en) Electromechanical contactor
EP3349231B1 (en) Electromechanical contactor
EP2333805A1 (en) Remotely controlled switchgear and power distribution device provided with such a switchgear
EP0013642A1 (en) Low voltage current limiting circuit breaker
EP2270829B1 (en) Controlling via a device for magnetic compensation of repulsion forces and contactor comprising such a device
FR2676587A1 (en) Circuit breaker with high cut off capability
FR2595865A1 (en) ELECTRIC SWITCH, PARTICULARLY HIGH-SPEED CONTACT MAGNETIC ACTUATOR
FR2919109A1 (en) Mobile part's position e.g. closing position, detecting device for e.g. circuit breaker, has electrical quantity processing units for processing measured electrical quantity so as to determine position of mobile part
EP0841670A1 (en) Current transformer, trip device and circuit breaker comprising such a transformer
FR2682533A1 (en) ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH INSERTION OF MAGNETIC TRIGGER SPIERS.
EP2333804B1 (en) Switching device having a contact welding indicator
EP0797232A1 (en) Thermal tripping device with bimetal
FR2595866A1 (en) High-speed contact drive device for circuit breaker
FR2475290A1 (en) Electrode chamber for LV isolating switch - has two-part arc guide plates and parallel metallic deionising electrodes
FR2570869A1 (en) Improvement to contact sets for switches with cutout
FR2958447A1 (en) Electromagnetic tripping device for double-break low voltage multi-polar type breaker, has airgap between heads and adjustable core maximum to rest position, and adjustment units adjusting airgap value along displacement axis of core
EP0105816B1 (en) Device for automatically grounding structures accidentally being under tension
FR3093226A1 (en) Actuation system for a vacuum interrupter
EP1850361B1 (en) Fast overcurrent actuator, and its application
FR2953979A1 (en) Switchgear for starting circuit in electrical terminal distribution panel, has triggering mechanism acting on main contacts via actuator, and button for closing movable contact to allow order to close main contacts and resetting switchgear

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20190115

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20200123

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1268151

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200515

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602017015913

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: LANGUAGE OF EP DOCUMENT: FRENCH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: TRGR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200807

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200806

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200906

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200907

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200806

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1268151

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602017015913

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20210209

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20210112

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210112

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20210131

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210112

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210131

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210131

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210112

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210131

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20230124

Year of fee payment: 7

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20230119

Year of fee payment: 7

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20230120

Year of fee payment: 7

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20230123

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20170112