ES2912919T3 - Auxiliary contact set - Google Patents

Abstract

Auxiliary contact assembly comprising a casing (21) provided with a plurality of seats; each of said seats is adapted to receive a fixed contact unit (6), said fixed contact unit (6) having at least one fixed contact pad (14); at least one mobile member (7) adapted to support one or more mobile contacts (8); each of said moving contacts (8) supports a pair of moving contact pads (22); said mobile member (7) being movable between two positions, a first contact position and a second contact position; said fixed contact unit (6) being mounted in a respective place on said seat, where said fixed contact pad (14) can be oriented in different positions, said mobile contact (8) being mounted on said mobile member (7), wherein said movable contact pads (22) can be oriented in different positions; said mobile member is constituted by a slider (7) which is mounted by sliding on said casing (21); said fixed contact unit (6) comprising an electrical contact member (10), a screw (11), a movable plate (12) and said fixed contact pad (14) fixed to a flap (15); said electrical contact member (10) being a metal sheet having portions adapted to contain said movable plate (12) and said screw (11); said portions being symmetrical and allowing said screw (11) and said movable plate (12) to be mounted in opposite positions with respect to said fixed contact pad (14); said electrical contact member (10) having two parallel perforated sides (101, 102) joined by a perpendicular side (103); said screw (11) being associated with one of said parallel perforated sides (101, 102); said assembly characterized in that said flap (15) is formed by a portion of said perpendicular side (103).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Auxiliary contact set

The present invention relates to a set of auxiliary contacts.

The present invention refers, in particular, to a set of auxiliary contacts that, when connected to a rotary switch or disconnector, allow connecting auxiliary contacts that have the purpose of signaling a determined state of the system. This state can be found both in the on or off situation which, in the set of auxiliary contacts according to the invention, correspond respectively to the closed or open state of the contacts.

The most common devices of this type, called auxiliary contacts, are usually made up of a housing that is adapted to contain fixed terminals on which moving contacts are closed or opened, which are moved by a slider that is directly connected to the disconnector or switch. .

The position of the contacts with respect to the rotary switch/disconnector can be normally open, in which the moving contacts and the corresponding fixed contacts are at a certain distance; or normally closed, in which the moving contacts and the corresponding fixed contacts are in contact and close a circuit.

In a commonly used construction, the moving contacts are mounted on a slider or other moving member and the configuration of the apparatus, with normally open or normally closed contacts, is provided using fixed and moving contacts adapted for each configuration.

Document EP0393597 discloses a contact device including a shell, a fixed contact and a movable contact attached to a support frame, the movable contact and the support frame both being movable within the shell perpendicular to the fixed contact. A stop arm projects from the support frame to restrict movement of the support frame within the frame.

US3892934 discloses an auxiliary contact interlock for use with an electromagnetic contactor having an operating arm; the latch has stationary and moving contacts within a housing. The moving contacts are mounted on a moving contact carrier, each moving contact has a contact button and an adjacent flexible contact that is biased towards the corresponding stationary contact and engages the same before or after the contact buttons when the contact carrier Moving contacts move in proximity to or from the closed position with the stationary contact.

Document US6483049 discloses a contact assembly having a plurality of pairs of fixed and spaced contacts that rest on an electrically insulating body, an actuator movable with respect to the body between a first and a second position, and a plurality of movable contacts. mounted on the actuator. Each moving contact is positioned on the actuator to interconnect the contacts of one of the fixed contact pairs only when the actuator is in one of the first and second positions. Each fixed contact has two extremities that define an L-shape, one extremity that defines a single leg that extends through an opening formed in a division defined by the body, and the other extremity that extends to one side of the leg to define a head that supports a terminal for gripping a wire. Each movable contact is movable into contact with the leg of each of the respective pairs of fixed contacts on the side of the leg from which the head extends and on the side of the divider away from the head.

US4550232 discloses an electrical switching device of the type having a contact system including two stationary contact bars and movable contact bridges to interconnect the bars. To convert the switching device from a generator to a circuit breaker, or vice versa, a control member is provided in the form of a movable slider having insulating projections which, in a final position of the slider, move between a bridge and a busbar. contact while the other projection is out of the bridges range of motion; and in the other end position the other insulating projection breaks the contact between the other bridge and the assigned contact bar.

US3253092 discloses a bipolar switch with reversible contact structure designed to positively activate and deactivate electrical circuits during repeated opening and closing of the contacts during long periods of operation. The normal operating position of the unit's movable contact elements can be reversed to convert the contact and the circuits controlled by it from normally open to normally closed and vice versa.

US6114639 discloses a configurable switch having a base and interchangeable stationary contacts positioned at adjustable locations relative to the base. A plunger is slidably mounted relative to the base for the plunger to move between a first position and a second position. One or more moving contacts are mounted in a normally open position or a normally closed position. In the first or second position, the moving contacts make contact and/or break contact with the stationary contacts depending on the respective arrangement of the stationary contacts and the moving contacts. The configuration of a four-circuit switch can be modified with a minimum of several components to be, for example, a four-circuit normally closed configuration, a three-circuit normally closed and one normally open configuration, a two-circuit normally closed configuration, and a three-circuit normally closed configuration. two normally open, etc., with a minimum of expense or retrofitting.

Document US2010224467A1 discloses a switch that activates and deactivates electrical circuits, including a frame and a first electrical contact located on the frame. A block mechanism is located in the frame and includes a second electrical contact and a plug with mechanical communication regarding the second electrical contact. The plug can be positioned in the locking mechanism, where a change in the position of the plug results in a change in the contact position of the second electrical contact relative to the locking mechanism. The switch has a side block mechanism that includes two bracket assemblies and a connecting piece located between and attached to the two bracket assemblies. An electrical contact is located on one of the two support assemblies.

The constructions described above involve a relatively large number of different components to provide an apparatus for each configuration.

The object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of auxiliary contacts that can be manufactured with a reduced number of different components with respect to devices of this type that are already known.

Within the parameters of this objective, an object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary contact assembly that does not require different components to provide different configurations, that is, that allows the same components to be used for any version of the product.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an assembly that, by virtue of its particular construction characteristics, is capable of providing the greatest guarantee of reliability and safety in use.

This objective as well as these and other purposes that will become more evident from here on are achieved by means of a set of auxiliary contacts as stated in the appended claims.

Other features and advantages will become more apparent from the description of the preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the auxiliary contact assembly;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the set of auxiliary contacts of the previous figure; Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of the slider;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a set of fixed contacts;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the assembly, shown without the cover and with the slider and contacts assembled;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lower part of the casing, without the functional components;

Figure 7 is a front elevation view in longitudinal section of the assembly in the configuration with two normally closed contacts, in the closed contact position, which corresponds to the disconnector in position "I";

Figure 8 is a view similar to the previous one but showing the assembly in the open contact position, which corresponds to the disconnector in the "O" position;

Figure 9 is a front elevation view in longitudinal section of the assembly in the configuration with two normally open contacts, in the closed contact position, corresponding to the disconnector in position "I";

Figure 10 is a view similar to the previous one but showing the assembly in the closed contact position, which corresponds to the disconnector in the "O" position;

Figure 11 is a front elevation view in longitudinal section of the assembly in the configuration with a normally open contact and a normally closed contact, in the position in which the upper contact is open and the lower contact is closed, which corresponds to the disconnector in the "I" position;

Figure 12 is a view similar to the previous one but showing the assembly in the position in which the upper contact is closed and the lower contact is open, which corresponds to the disconnector in the "O" position.

In relation to the figures mentioned, the set of auxiliary contacts according to the invention, generally designated by the reference number 1, includes a casing 21 formed by a bottom 2 and a cover 3, which are mechanically joined together by means of teeth elastic bands 4 and by two self-drilling screws 5.

The casing 21 contains a plurality of fixed contact units 6, two or four, and a movable slider 7, in which one or two movable contacts 8 are installed, each of which is held in position by a respective spring 9.

Each moving contact 8 has a pair of moving contact pads 22.

Each fixed contact unit 6 includes an electrical contact member 10, a screw 11, a movable plate 12 and a fixed contact pad 14 which is attached to a flap 15.

Each fixed contact unit 6 is mounted on an adapted seat 13 which is formed in the bottom 2.

The seat 13 is designed in such a way that it is possible to mount the fixed contact with the fixed contact pad 14 directed downwards, as can be seen in figure 4, or upwards, simply by turning the fixed contact unit 180°.

The expressions "down", "up", "lower" and "upper" used in this description refer exclusively to the figures and not to the actual orientation of the components or of the set of auxiliary contacts in the working position .

The electrical contact member 10 is obtained from a suitably punched, folded and perforated metal sheet, so that the part adapted to contain the plate 12 and the screw 11 is symmetrical and allows them to be mounted both on the side of the flange 15 with the contact pad as on the opposite side.

The electrical contact member 10 is formed by two parallel perforated sides 101 and 102 joined by a perpendicular side 103.

The flap 15 is provided by cutting and folding a part of the perpendicular side 103.

The movable contacts 8 can also be mounted so that the movable contact pads 22 are directed up or down by rotating the movable contacts 8 by 180° on the slider 7.

The possibility of mounting in opposite directions the moving contact pads 22 of the fixed contacts 6 and the moving contact pads 22 of the moving contacts 8 allows to provide the desired configuration: normally open NO contacts, normally closed NC contacts, or a normally closed contact. open and a normally closed NO+NC contact.

The different functional configurations are obtained by using the same components, as highlighted in figures 7-12.

The set of auxiliary contacts 1 thus provided can be coupled to an electrical device, such as a switch or disconnector, not visible in the figures, by means of two upper dovetail engaging members 16 and a lower engaging member 17.

The assembly 1 is attached to the electrical device by means of two lower contrast members 19 and by an upper tooth 18 which is also used to release the assembly from the electrical device.

The movement of the slider 7 is achieved by coupling the slider 7 to the mobile slider of the disconnector, which is not visible in the figures.

This coupling is carried out by means of a projection 20 that is formed on the slider 7; the projection 20 fits into an adapted window provided in the contact support of the disconnector, which is not visible in the figures.

As shown schematically in Figures 7-12, the auxiliary contact assembly according to the present invention can be converted from a device with one or two normally open contacts to a device with one or two normally closed contacts, or to a device with one normally open contact. open and a normally closed contact simply by exchanging the position of the moving contacts 8 on the slider 7 by turning the electrical contact member 10 through 180°.

By mounting a single moving contact on the slider 7, for example the bottom moving contact 8, with the pads of the moving contact 22 facing upwards, the auxiliary contact assembly becomes a normally open single contact device as shown in figure 8.

At the same time, the lower fixed contacts 6 are mounted in such a way that the respective fixed contact pad 14 is directed downwards. This is achieved simply by arranging each fixed contact 6 on the respective seat 13 in the proper orientation, i.e. with the flap 15 supporting the fixed contact pad 14 facing upwards, as in the case of Figure 8. Figure 7 shows the closed contact position.

The same figure 8 shows the mounting position of the upper moving contact 8, with the pads of the moving contact 22 directed upwards, which provides a second normally open contact. Figure 7 shows the position corresponding to both mobile contacts 8 closed, that is, in contact with the respective fixed contacts 6.

Figures 9-12 show other examples of combinations of the fixed and mobile contact arrangements to obtain a structure with the required characteristics, in any case always using the same components, regardless of the desired combination.

It should be noted that, as described above, the fixed contact unit 10 is obtained from a metal sheet that has been punched and folded in such a way that the parts adapted to contain the plate 12 and the screw 11 are symmetrical and can allow the plate to be mounted both on the side of the flap 15 with the contact pad and on the opposite side. In other words, the screw 11 can be inserted both in the hole provided on the side of the flap 15 and in the hole on the opposite side, determining the orientation of the fixed contact pad 14.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing a set of auxiliary contacts, particularly usable with a switch or disconnector, provided by means of the same components for all versions, with normally open contacts or normally closed or with both normally open and normally closed contacts.

The set of auxiliary contacts, according to the invention, suitably connected to a rotary switch/disconnector, allows connecting auxiliary contacts whose purpose is to signal a certain state of the system. This state can be in the two situations ON or OFF which, in the set of auxiliary contacts according to the invention, can correspond to the respective closed or open state of the contacts.

Claims (5)

1. Auxiliary contact assembly comprising a housing (21) provided with a plurality of seats; each of said seats is adapted to receive a fixed contact unit (6), said fixed contact unit (6) having at least one fixed contact pad (14); at least one mobile member (7) adapted to support one or more mobile contacts (8); each of said moving contacts (8) supports a pair of moving contact pads (22); said mobile member (7) being movable between two positions, a first contact position and a second contact position; said fixed contact unit (6) being mounted in a respective place on said seat, where said fixed contact pad (14) can be oriented in different positions, said mobile contact (8) being mounted on said mobile member (7), wherein said movable contact pads (22) can be oriented in different positions; said mobile member is constituted by a slider (7) which is mounted by sliding on said casing (21); said fixed contact unit (6) comprising an electrical contact member (10), a screw (11), a movable plate (12) and said fixed contact pad (14) fixed to a flap (15); said electrical contact member (10) being a metal sheet having portions adapted to contain said movable plate (12) and said screw (11); said portions being symmetrical and allowing said screw (11) and said movable plate (12) to be mounted in opposite positions with respect to said fixed contact pad (14); said electrical contact member (10) having two parallel perforated sides (101, 102) joined by a perpendicular side (103); said screw (11) being associated with one of said parallel perforated sides (101, 102); said assembly characterized in that said flap (15) is formed by a portion of said perpendicular side (103). 2. The set of auxiliary contacts according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said mobile contacts (8) is held in position by a respective spring (9). 3. The set of auxiliary contacts according to claim 1, characterized in that said electrical contact member (10) is a metal sheet that is punched, folded and perforated. 4. The auxiliary contact assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing (21) comprises two upper dovetail engaging members (16) and a lower engaging member (17), which are configured to engage said assembly to an electrical device, such as a switch or disconnector; said assembly is fixed to said electrical device by means of an upper tooth (18), formed on said casing (21), and two lower contrast members (19), which are formed on said casing (21). The auxiliary contact assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that said slider (7) comprises a projection (20) protruding from said casing (21) and configured to engage a moving member of said electrical device.