FR2652947A1 - ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED SWITCHING APPARATUS WITH OPENING POLE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The switch device according to the invention comprises, in a housing, an electromagnet whose movable armature (25) is linked to a movable contact carrier (16) provided with a row of recesses (34) housing, for each opening pole, a bridge of moving opening contacts (PR) biased by a spring (2). The recesses (34) are U-shaped opening outwards, on the side of the mobile frame (25), and are topped by a perforated plate (39) fixedly mounted in the housing and constituting a fixed support for each spring. (2) so as to obtain, at the start of the electromagnet, a resistive force strictly identical to that of a normally closed contact, thus allowing the use of a single return spring for the electromagnet, whatever the composition of the contacts associated with the contact holder.

Description

- i -

  The present invention relates to an electromagnetic control switch device of the contactor type, comprising in a case: - an electromagnet composed of an excitation coil and a magnetic circuit formed by a fixed armature and a movable armature solicited by a return spring; - A plurality of opening poles each provided with a bridge of movable contacts cooperating with fixed contacts; a contact block having a row of identical parallel recesses, in number equal to or greater than the number of opening poles, in which the movable contact bridges are engaged, each subject to a contact pressure spring, the contact carrier being integral with the movable armature of the electromagnet and being movable in translation between a rest position in which the contacts are normally closed and a working position in which the contacts

  open by attraction of the movable frame by the arma-

  fixed ture during excitation of the coil.

  Such a multi-pole opening switch device, for example four in number, is described in the patent.

  FR - 1 523 839. According to this patent, the recesses of the holder

  - 2 - contacts have a rectangular shape and house, for each pole with opening, an auxiliary part fixed relative to the case and on which is applied one end of the contact pressure spring, the other end of said spring being applied on the mobile contact bridge. These auxiliary parts have the function of constituting fixed supports for the associated contact pressure springs and therefore of wedging the contact bridges so as to annihilate, at the start of the displacement of the contact carrier actuated by the electromagnet and before opening of

  contacts, the resistant forces due to the compression springs

contact information.

  However, these individual auxiliary parts in number equal to the number of poles with opening, are generally

  manually mounted one by one in the recesses of the holder

  contacts, hence a relatively long overall assembly time.

  In addition, the mounting of auxiliary parts as well as that of the contact pressure springs and contact bridges

  mobile in housings of rectangular shape

  kill a particularly difficult operation every time

to execute.

  The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to produce a multi-pole switch with opening of the type mentioned above by equipping it with the same piece of

  simple structure which is common to all open poles -

  re to serve as a fixed support for the contact pressure springs associated with movable opening contact bridges, and which allows, by its design and that of the contact carrier, easy mounting, capable of automation, of contact bridges opening and their respective springs in

the recesses of the contact carrier.

  According to the invention, an electrically controlled switch device

  tromagnetic of the type described above, is more particularly

  specifically characterized in that: - 3 - - the recesses in the contact carrier are U-shaped opening outwards, on the side of the movable armature of the electromagnet, these U-shaped recesses forming partitions between them isolation; - a plate for wedging the movable contact bridges is interposed between the contact carrier and the movable armature of the electromagnet, so as to cap the recesses

  U-shaped contact carrier, this plate being fixedly mounted-

  ment in the housing in order to constitute a fixed support for

  the contact pressure springs housed in the recesses

  elements and placed in support of associated mobile contact bridges, and being pierced with cells allowing passage

  isolation walls of the contact carrier when moving

  cementing of the latter, which contact carrier being linked to the movable armature of the electromagnet by means

suitable for assembly.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear

  will be better understood in the detailed description which follows and

  refers to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example

  ple and in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the housing of a multipole contactor according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view, after removal of the housing cover, of the components of the contactor; Figure 3 is a schematic front elevational view of the contactor in the rest position, a closing pole being shown in dashes; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the contact carrier / electromagnet assembly, in the rest position of the contactor of Figure 3; - 4 -

  Figures 5 and 6 are identical views respectively.

  vement to Figures 3 and 4, the switch being in the working position; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view on a larger scale of the contact holder / wedge plate assembly of the opening contact bridges; Figure 8 is a schematic elevational view of the contactor housing in the assembly phase of its cover with its base; and FIG. 9 shows, as a function of the travel of the movable armature of the electromagnet, the diagram of the resistant forces in the case of the opening contacts once set and for a motor torque

given electromagnet.

  In an exemplary embodiment, the electromagnetic control switch device illustrated in the figures is a four-pole contactor with two opening poles and two

closing poles.

  For the sake of clarity for the rest of the presentation, we describe

  first of all, the constitution of the two opening poles and the two closing poles, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4. Each of the two opening poles consists of a contact bridge marked PR and constituted by a stressed bar 1 by a contact pressure spring 2 and carrying in bridge two movable contacts with opening R occupying a so-called normally closed position with two fixed contacts R 'when the contactor is in the rest state (electromagnet not

excited).

  As for the two closing poles, each of them consists of a contact bridge denoted PP and constituted by a bar 3 -5- urged by a contact pressure spring 4 and carrying in bridge two movable contacts with closing P occupying a so-called normally open position with two contacts

  fixed P 'when the contactor is in the rest state.

  The four-pole contactor illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a modular housing 10 composed of a base 11 and a cover 12 molded in plastic and mutually snap-on. The base 11 of the shoemaker includes a bottom 13 provided with means suitable for mounting in particular on a standardized profile. The shoemaker 10 is moreover provided with power terminals

  A1 - A4 and B1 - B4, and control terminals A5, B5.

  In Figure 2, the cover 12 has been 8té and we see the

  various constituent elements of the contactor, namely main

  also a control electromagnet 15 and a block

movable contacts 16.

  Power terminals A1 - A4 and B1 - B4 and control

  A5, B5 have 17 screw clamping parts

  seated with fixed contact parts 18 (Figures 3 and 5) and separated from each other by partitions 20 of the base 11. As seen in Figure 2, the electromagnet 15 is composed of a coil 22 wound on a carcass molded 23 and a magnetic circuit formed by a fixed armature 24 and a

  movable frame 25. The two frames 24, 25 are identified

  have an E shape and are made of magnet sheets

  ques cut and assembled, for example by rivets. A spiral return spring 26 is mounted between the frame

  mobile 25 and the coil holder carcass 23.

  The contact block 16, better visible in Figures 4, 6 and

  7, comprises a molded insulating cage 28 of approximately

  parallelepipedic with two super rows

- 6 -

  posed of recesses or windows, four in number per

  row in this embodiment.

  The recesses in the lower row, identified at 30 in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, have a rectangular shape and are intended to receive the two movable contact bridges with PP closure. In this example, the two contact bridges PP are engaged respectively in the two intermediate recesses 30 of said row, contacts P directed upwards, and are each supported by the associated contact pressure spring 4 hooked on a stud 31 provided at the

base of the recess 30.

  On the other hand, the recesses in the upper row, identified

  at 34 in Figures 4, 6 and 7, are U-shaped

  edge towards the outside, as visible in FIG. 7, and are intended to receive the two movable contact bridges with opening PR. In this example, the two PR contact bridges are engaged respectively in the two end recesses 34 of said row, contacts R directed downwards, and each support, by their face opposite to the

  contacts, the associated contact pressure spring 2.

  As shown in Figure 7, the cage 28 of the contact carrier 16

  is laterally bordered by two external walls 35 extending

  vertically and has vertical internal partitions

  isolation wedges 36, here three in number, separating between them the recesses 34 in U.

  The U shape of these recesses 34 of the contact carrier present

  the advantage of facilitating the mounting, by simple descent, of the movable contact bridges with opening PR and of the compression springs 2 in these recesses, as can be seen

in Figure 7.

  In accordance with the invention, an insulating plate 39, for example of rectangular shape, is arranged in the form of a cap or cap over the recesses 34 in U of the contact carrier 16 and is fixedly mounted in the case 10,

  so that the contact pressure springs 2 asso-

  ciés to the movable contact bridges with PR opening each take support, on the one hand, on the PR contact bridge, on the other hand, on the underside 39a of the wafer

fixed 39.

  As can be seen in FIG. 7, the plate 39 is pierced with cells 40, here three in number, of the same shape as the isolation partitions 36 of the contact carrier 16 and intended for

  allow the free passage of these during a move-

  ment in translation of the contact carrier 16 under the action of the electromagnet. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the perforated plate 39 extends on either side of the contact carrier 16 and is applied flat by its underside 39a on fixed supports 42 provided in the base of the housing. In one embodiment, the cover 12 of the shoemaker, FIG. 8, is provided

  internally with vertical retaining legs 44 which come

  nent apply on the upper face 39b of the plate 39 when installing the cover so as to maintain

  place the plate 39, see Figures 3 and 5.

  It should be noted that the plate 39 could be made integral with the base of the shoemaker using other suitable means of fixing such as, for example,

  screw, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  The plate 39 therefore constitutes a simple part serving as a fixed support common to the contact pressure springs associated with the movable contact bridges with opening PR, which opening contact bridges are thus

  wedged, in order to allow a reduction of the resistive forces

  aunties at the start of the movement of the contact carrier.

  When assembling the contactor, FIG. 2, the movable armature 25 at E of the electromagnet 15 is mounted over the plate 39, being oriented in the direction of the length of the base ll of the shoemaker. and is made integral of

  contact carrier 16 using suitable means of assembly

  ge. In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5

  and 6, these assembly means comprise a transverse key

  versale 46 (FIGS. 3, 5) which is mounted integrally in a groove 47 provided at the foot of the central branch of

  the movable frame 25 at E and which is provided with two conforma-

  appropriate support 48 (Figures 4, 6) projecting on either side of the frame 25 and being housed in abutment under two retaining wings 49 respectively overcoming two

  isolation walls 36 of the contact carrier 16.

  It should be noted that an insulating film (not shown) can be interposed between the movable armature 25 of the electromagnet and

  the plate 39 in order to increase the vanishing lines.

  As shown in Figure 2, the plate 39 further comprises, on either side of the contact carrier 16, retaining orifices 51 intended to receive latching tabs

  52 molding comings with the coil holder carcass 23.

  Thus, the plate 39 also acts as a support for

  fixing the spool holder 23.

  In FIG. 2, there is shown at 54 a pivoting display lever having an arm carrying at the end a display element 55 capable of appearing opposite a window 56 (FIG. 1) formed in a central part

  protruding or nose 12a of the cover 12 and intended to indi-

  check the operating status of the contactor. The pivoting lever 54, FIG. 2, is mounted, on the one hand, by means of two pins 58 on a piece in the form of a fork 59 secured to the assembly key provided on the movable frame 25 and, on the other hand , by means of two studs 60, of which

  only one is visible in FIG. 2, on an attachment piece

  chage 61 with two claws 61a vertically surmounting the plate 39 while being integral with the latter; the pivoting lever 54 is shaped so that a displacement in translation of the movable armature 25 of the electromagnet of the

  contactor causes the display element to rotate

  tion 55 in order to wear it next to window 56 or

clear it from this window.

  Preferably, the attachment piece 61 secured to the

  perforated plate 39 comes from molding with the latter.

  Thus, the plate 39 therefore also serves, by its attachment piece 61, as a support for the viewing lever 54. During assembly of the contactor, the contact carrier 16 housing the movable contact bridges with PP closure and opening PR associated with their respective compression springs is capped by the perforated plate 39, which is immobilized by the attachment of the movable frame 25 at E with the contact carrier 16 using the

  assembly key 46; the pivoting visualization lever

  tion 54 is mounted on parts 59, 61 and the spiral return spring 26 is engaged around the central branch

  of the movable frame 25 at E, see FIG. 2.

  The subassembly thus formed is then introduced into its housing of the base 11, the plate 39 lying flat on the fixed supports 42 of the base (Figures 3 and 5); the coil-holder carcass 23, FIG. 2, is placed on the spring 26 and is then snapped in with the aid of the elements 51, 52 on the

  plate 39 with spring compression 26.

  After fitting the fixed frame 24 at E on the carcass 23, the central branch of the E being introduced into a recess 63 (FIG. 2) provided in the carcass 23, and introduction of the fixed contact pieces 18 and of the clamping pieces 17 in their housings in the base, the cover 12 is placed as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 8 with the tabs

- 10 -

  holding 44 applying to the wafer 39 (Figures 3 and); at the end of mounting the cover on the base, the frame

  fixed 24 at E is housed in the nose 12a of the cover 12.

  It will be indicated that the plate 39 may also include

  insulating skirts (not shown) acting as a barrier

  rings between switching chambers in order to establish an effect

chicane at these.

  In the rest position illustrated in FIG. 3, the contacts R, R 'are normally closed with a contact pressure exerted by the springs 2, and the contacts P, P'

are normally open.

  The contactor reaches the working position shown in FIG. 5 when the coil 22 of the electromagnet is excited 15. By this excitation, the fixed armature 24 of the magnetic circuit attracts towards it the movable armature 25 which rises and drives , in translation, the contact carrier 16 and therefore the PR and PP bridges, the partitions 36 of the contact carrier passing through the cells 40 of the fixed plate 39, until the opening of the contacts R, R 'and the closing of the contacts P, P ', then the crushing of the springs 2, 4 associated respectively with the bridges PR, PP. FIG. 9 shows, as a function of the stroke C of the movable armature of the electromagnet, the forces F to be overcome in order to pass the contactor from its rest position (FIG. 3) to its working position (FIG. 5) attaching only to movable contacts with opening R, and this, for

  a given motor torque of the electromagnet as shown

tee in I in figure 9.

  In this same figure 9, the diagram is shown in II

  corresponding resistant efforts to be overcome by the elect

  three-magnet which firstly decompose into a first force F1 due solely to the spiral spring 26 at the start of the movement of the contact carrier driven by the armature

- he -

  mobile, and this, until the opening of the contacts R, R 'at the point noted O in FIG. 9; the movable contact bridges with opening being wedged, that is to say supported by the contact pressure springs mounted as fixed support on the wafer, the forces due to these springs are completely

  annihilated at the start of the movement of the contact carrier.

  It should be noted that, thanks to the fixed wedging plate of the movable opening contacts, a resistant force is obtained at the start of the electromagnet which is

  strictly identical to that of a mobile contact with closure-

  re, which makes it possible to use a single return spring of the electromagnet whatever the composition of the contacts

retained for the contactor.

  After opening of the contacts R, R ', the electromagnet must then overcome a second force noted F2 in FIG. 9 and equal to the sum of the force due to the spiral spring 26 and the forces due to the associated compression springs 2 to the bridges

  of movable contacts with PR opening.

  It goes without saying that the invention described above is not limited to a four-pole contactor with two opening poles and two closing poles. It also applies to a four-pole contactor with four opening poles and,

  more generally, to any electromagnetic switch

  that multipolar comprising several poles with opening with

  or without a mix of closing poles.

- 12 -

Claims (6)

Claims   1. Electromagnetic control switch device   that, comprising in a housing: - an electromagnet (15) composed of an excitation coil (22) and a magnetic circuit formed by a fixed armature (24) and a movable armature (25) biased by a return spring (26); - a plurality of opening poles each provided with a movable contact bridge (PR) cooperating with fixed contacts (R ');   - a contact carrier block (16) having a row of recesses -   identical (34) parallel, equal or greater numbers   less than the number of open poles in which the subject movable contact bridges (PR) are engaged   each with a contact pressure spring (2), the holder   contacts (16) being integral with the movable armature (25) of the electromagnet and being movable in translation between a rest position in which the contacts (R, R ') are normally closed and a working position in which the contacts (R, R ') open attraction of the movable armature (25) by the fixed armature (24) during the excitation of the coil (22); characterized in that: - the recesses (34) of the contact carrier (16) are U-shaped opening towards the outside, on the side of the movable frame of the electromagnet, these U-shaped recesses forming between them isolation walls (36); - a plate (39) for wedging the movable contact bridges (PR) is interposed between the contact carrier (16) and the movable frame (25) of the electromagnet, so as to cap the recesses (34) U-shaped contact carrier, this plate (39) being fixedly mounted in the housing to form a fixed support for the contact pressure springs (2) housed in the recesses (34) and - 13 -   placed in support of associated mobile contact bridges   (PR), and being pierced with cells (40) allowing the passage   ge of the isolation partitions (36) of the contact carrier (16) during movement of the latter, which contact carrier being linked to the movable armature of the electromagnet by suitable means of assembly.   2. Switching device according to claim 1, for which the shoemaker consists of a base (11) and a cover (12), characterized in that the plate (39) extends on either side of the contact carrier (16), in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the contact carrier, that the base (11) of the shoemaker has fixed supports (42) on which is applied flat, on either side of the door -contacts, a first face (39a) of the plate (39) located on the contact side, and that the cover (12) has internally holding tabs (44) applying to a second   face (39b) of the plate (39) opposite the first.   3. Switching device according to claim 2, in which the fixed (24) and mobile (25) armatures of the electromagnet are E-shaped, characterized in that the E-shaped armatures (24, 25) are arranged in the direction of the length of the base (11), and that the means for assembling the movable frame (25) at E with the contact carrier (16) comprise a transverse key (46) which is mounted integrally in a groove (47) provided at the foot of the central branch of the frame (25) at E and which is provided with two appropriate conformations (48) projecting on either side of the frame (25) and being housed in abutment under two retaining wings (49) surmounting   respectively two isolation partitions (36) of the carrier contacts (16).   4. Switching device according to claim 3, wherein the cover (12) of the shoemaker has a face - 14 -   front (12a) provided with a window (56) for displaying the state of the device, characterized in that a pivoting display lever (54), known per se, is carried by two hooking members ( 59, 61) one of which (59) is integral with one of the configurations of the key (46) of the movable frame (25) at E and the other (61) of which is integral with the plate (39), said lever (54) being provided with a display element (55) capable of being carried opposite the window (56) or to be free from it.   5. Switching device according to one of the claims   tions 2 to 4, in which the excitation coil (22) is carried by a carcass (23), characterized in that the plate (39) further comprises, on either side of the contact carrier, orifices retaining (51) into which are latched tabs (52) formed on the coil holder carcass (23), so that the plate (39) also serves as   carcass fixing support (23).   6. Switching device according to claims 4   and 5, characterized in that the perforated plate (39) as well as   the attachment member (61) which is integral with it, consisting of   kill a single piece made by molding in an insulating material.