FR3114435A1 - Device for monitoring a microswitch in an electrical switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

There is proposed a device for interaction with a microswitch comprising an actuator mounted for rotation about an axis between at least a first angular position and a second angular position; a microswitch comprising a body and a movable member mounted on the body and movable between an active position and a rest position; and an elastic blade adapted to maintain the movable member in the active position, so that, when the actuator rotates from the first angular position to the second angular position, the actuator presses on the movable member to maintain it in the active position in the first angular position, releases the movable member when it is not in the first angular position, moves the elastic blade so that it releases the movable member in an intermediate position, thus allowing the member movable to pass into the rest position subsequently to the release of the movable member by the actuator. Abstract Figure: Figure 2

Description

Device for monitoring a microswitch in an electrical switching device

The present disclosure relates to the field of electrical connection devices intended to be installed on a medium or high voltage electrical line. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for interaction with a microcontact of an electrical connection device.

Medium and high voltage lines are commonly equipped with electrical connection devices, including switches, circuit breakers or disconnectors. Such devices include, among other things, main electrical contacts actuated to break or make the current crossing the line. Auxiliary electrical contacts can be added to provide information on the position of the main contacts.

An auxiliary electrical contact is in particular a microswitch. The microswitch comprises a movable member for opening and closing a set of internal contacts. The actuation of the moving part generates the permutation of the set of internal contacts.

Generally, an actuator, connected to the main contacts by a kinematic chain, acts on the moving part of the microswitch. The permutation of the set of internal contacts is then representative of the movement of the main contacts. The microswitch can for example be linked to a management system to notify the position of the main contacts.

Standards, such as EDF HN 64-S-58 and IEC 62271-103, define limits in the synchronism between the change of state of the main contacts and that of the auxiliary contacts. However, it can occur in the kinematic chain inappropriate or untimely transient movements, such as backlash or elastic deformations. These movements can influence the permutation of the microswitch, leading, in certain cases of design of the kinematic chain, to not respecting the synchronism limits defined by these standards. It then appeared the need to artificially maintain the position of the mobile member of the microswitch during the changeover.

In these cases, it is known to provide components to artificially prevent the movement of the control parts, that is to say the parts of the kinematic chain between the main contacts and the auxiliary contacts, during the movement of these parts.

However, these solutions can present a certain complexity of implementation, and increase the size of the kinematic chain.

This disclosure aims to control the permutation of the microswitch by acting in direct proximity to the microswitch, in order to improve the transmission of the information provided in an economical and simple to implement manner.

Summary

To this end, the present disclosure proposes a device for interaction with a microswitch comprising:
- an actuator rotatably mounted around an axis between at least a first angular position and a second angular position;
- A microswitch comprising a body and a movable member mounted on the body and movable between an active position and a rest position; And
- an elastic blade adapted to hold the movable member in the active position,
the movable member being maintained in the active position when the actuator is moved between the first angular position and a first intermediate position, said first intermediate position being located between the first angular position and the second angular position,
said actuator being adapted to move the elastic blade so that the movable member passes into the rest position when said actuator is moved between the first intermediate position and a second intermediate position, said second intermediate position being located between the first position intermediate and the second angular position.

Thus, advantageously, the transition of the movable member to the rest position can be deferred from the separation of the movable member and the actuator. The transmission time of the information provided by the microswitch can be adapted.

The characteristics exposed in the following paragraphs can, optionally, be implemented. They can be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other:
- the actuator comprises a cam adapted to press on the movable member of the microswitch and to deform the elastic blade;
- the cam comprises a ramp adapted to allow progressive movement of the movable member;
- the elastic blade comprises a curved portion on which the actuator acts, said curved portion having a concavity facing the axis of the actuator;
- the curved portion extends towards the movable member by presenting an increasing distance with respect to said axis, so that the elastic blade is progressively deformed by pressing of the actuator on said curved portion between the first and the second intermediate position;
- the elastic blade comprises a tongue, extending in the extension of the curved portion, adapted to hold the movable member in the active position between the first angular position and the first intermediate position;
- the tongue has a substantially "V" shape comprising a top, a first branch extending from the top to a first end, a second branch extending from the top to a second end, the second end being in the vicinity of the body of the microswitch and the first end being in the vicinity of the movable member of the microswitch;
- The first branch extends in a direction tangential to the trajectory of the moving member, so that the moving member comes into contact with the first branch when the moving member moves;
- the elastic blade comprises a fixing lug, extending in the extension of the second end of the tab and secured to the body of the microcontact;
- The actuator is driven in rotation during a change of position of the main electrical contacts on an electrical line.

According to another aspect, there is proposed a set of auxiliary electrical contacts comprising a plurality of devices as described above, and a shaft securing in rotation the actuators of each device.

The following feature can optionally be implemented: the shaft is connected by gear to a main contact actuator on an electrical line.

According to yet another aspect, there is proposed an electrical connection device comprising an assembly as described above

Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which:

schematically shows in perspective an example of a control mechanism that can be implemented in an electrical connection device.

schematically represents a detail of a subset that can be implemented in the control mechanism of Figure 1, in a first angular position.

shows the detail of Figure 2, in a first intermediate position.

shows the detail of Figure 2, in a second intermediate position.

shows the detail of Figure 2, in a second angular position.

shows the detail of Figure 2, in a third intermediate position.

shows a perspective view of an elastic blade that can be implemented in the control mechanism of Figure 1.

shows a front view of the elastic blade of figure 7.

In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a control mechanism 10 for an electrical connection device located on a medium voltage or high voltage power line. In the following, the terms "medium voltage" and "high voltage" are used in their usual sense, namely that the term "medium voltage" means a voltage which is greater than 1000 volts alternating current and 1500 volts in direct current but which does not exceed 52,000 volts in alternating current and 75,000 volts in direct current, while the term "high voltage" designates a voltage which is strictly greater than 52,000 volts in alternating current and 75,000 volts in direct current.

Conventionally, such a control mechanism 10 comprises an operating member 12 of main contacts to control the opening or closing of an electric line, as well as a system 14 for transmitting the movement between the operating member 12 of the contacts main and a set of auxiliary contacts 11.

The set of auxiliary contacts 11 essentially comprises, as shown, a shaft 16, a plurality of microcontacts 18, and a support 25.

The shaft 16 is connected to the transmission system 14 of the main contacts. The shaft 16 is rotatable around an axis A. The shaft 16 is intended to be driven in rotation around its axis A by the transmission system 14 during a movement of the operating member 12. The shaft 16 may in particular comprise a toothed wheel 19 to be driven by gear during the movement of the operating member 12.

In addition, the shaft 16 is integral with a plurality of actuators 20, arranged regularly along the axis A. Each actuator 20 is arranged facing one of the microswitches 18, to mechanically actuate the microswitch 18 during rotation of shaft 16 around axis A.

The support 25 makes it possible to mount the shaft 16 and the plurality of microcontacts 18 in the control mechanism 10. The support 25 here has a first plate 22 and a second plate 24, arranged opposite the first plate 22. The shaft 16 is arranged between the plates 22, 24, in the transverse direction. Thus, the shaft 16 can be connected to the plates 22, 24, being movable in rotation relative to the plates 22, 24. The support 25 also has a base 26 extending between the plates 22, 24. The base 26 comprises a plurality of cells 28, each cell 28 defining a housing 28 for one of the microcontacts 18.

Thereafter, a device 30 for interaction between one of the actuators 20 and one of the microswitches 18 will be described in more detail. The device 30 comprises the microswitch 18, the actuator 20 and an elastic blade 32. The blade elastic 32 extends between the actuator 20 and the microswitch 18, to intervene in the actuation of the microswitch 18.

As more visible in Figure 2, the microswitch 18 essentially comprises a body 33 and a movable member 34 mounted on the body 33.

The body 33 here has three blades 35, 36, 38, projecting from a casing 40 of the body 33. A first blade 35 defines a supply terminal 35 of the microswitch 18, to be connected to a voltage or current source . A second blade 36 and a third blade 38 respectively define a normally open terminal 36 and a normally closed terminal 38 of the microswitch 18, to be connected to an electric circuit. The box 40 contains a set of internal contacts, to bring the power supply terminal 35 into electrical contact with the normally open 36 or the normally closed terminal 38 of the microswitch 18. A displacement of the movable member 34 causes the permutation of the set of internal contacts.

The movable member 34 here takes the form of a pallet 34. The pallet 34 interacts with a pusher 41, provided with a return spring, to define a rest position and an active position of the pallet 34. In the position rest, the pallet 34 exerts no force on the pusher 41. Only the spring acts on the pusher 41. The supply terminal 35 is in electrical contact with the normally closed terminal 38. In the active position, the pallet 34 is moved under the effect of a force exerted on the pallet 34, to press the pusher 41, against the action of the return spring. Power terminal 35 is electrically contacted with normally open terminal 36.

Furthermore, the actuator 20 includes a cam 42. As shown, the cam 42 takes the form of a projection extending radially outward with respect to the axis A.

The actuator 20 can adopt a first angular position, shown in Figure 2, in which the cam 42 presses on the movable member 34 of the microswitch 18, to maintain the movable member 34 in the active position. The first angular position may in particular correspond to the closing of the line and to a closed state of the electrical connection device.

In a second angular position of the actuator 20, represented in FIG. 5 obtained by rotation around the axis A, the cam 42 is separated from the movable member 34 of the microswitch 18. The microswitch 18 is released from the actuator 20. The second angular position may correspond to the opening of the line and to an open state of the electrical connection device.

The cam 42 may comprise a ramp 44. The ramp 44 extends on the side of the actuator 20 coming into contact with the movable member 34 during the rotation of the actuator 20 from the second angular position to the first position. angular. Thus, during the rotation of the actuator 20 towards the first angular position, the force exerted by the cam 42 on the movable member 34 is progressive. The changeover from the rest position to the active position of the movable member 34 can be controlled by the ramp 44.

The elastic blade 32 has, from one end in the vicinity of the actuator 20 to one end in the vicinity of the microswitch 18, a curved portion 46, a tab 48 and a fixing lug 50. The elastic blade 32 intervenes in the actuation of the movable member 34 of the microswitch 18 during the rotation of the actuator 20 from the first angular position to the second angular position. The changeover from the active position to the rest position of the movable member 34 can be controlled by the elastic blade 32.

The curved portion 46 extends around the axis A of the actuator 20. The curved portion 46 defines a concavity facing the axis A. The curved portion 46 can be elastically biased by the cam 42 of the actuator 20 The curved portion 46 extends over part of the arc of a circle traveled by the cam 42 during a rotation from one among the first and second angular positions to the other among the first and second angular positions of the actuator 20. The curved portion 46 is released from the cam 42 when the actuator 20 is in the first or the second angular position.

The free end of the curved portion 46, opposite the tongue 48, rests on the actuator 20. The curved portion 46 is bent between the free end and the tongue 48. In this case, the bending makes it possible to gradually move the curved portion 46 of the actuator 20 away from the axis A, over the entire extent of the curved portion 46.

The other end of the curved portion 46 is connected to the tongue 48 by an articulation 53. The articulation 53 is arranged facing the movable member 34. The articulation 53 is rounded. The articulation 53 defines a convexity oriented towards the mobile member 34. The articulation 53 is intended to allow the passage of the mobile member 34 during its movement towards the active position.

More particularly, as illustrated in FIG. 8, straight lines D1 and D2 define the shape of the articulation 53. The straight line D1 is tangent to the arc of a circle traversed by the movable member 34 during the permutation between the one from the active position and the rest position to the other from the rest position and the active position of the microswitch 18. The line D2 is tangent to the curved portion 46, in the vicinity of the tongue 48. The two ends of the articulation 53 connect the lines D1 and D2 along a radius R. The shape of the articulation 53 thus makes it possible to prevent the movable member 34 from remaining blocked by the elastic blade 32.

The tab 48 has a substantially "V" shape. A first branch 52 of the "V" extends from a vertex 56 of the "V" to the joint 53. The first branch 52 extends in the extension of the joint 53. The first branch 52 is intended to come into contact with the movable member 34.

During a transition from the active position to the rest position of the movable member 34, the first branch 52 blocks the passage of the movable member 34. Here, the first branch 52 blocks the movable member 34 by exerting a force on the movable member 34. The force exerted generates a holding torque of the movable member 34, greater than a release torque of the movable member 34 generated by the action of the return spring on the pusher 41. Alternatively, the movable member 34 could be blocked by friction or hooking of the movable member 34 on the first branch 52. Conversely, when passing from the rest position to the active position of the movable member 34, the first branch 52 here allows the sliding of the movable member 34 along the first branch 52.

A second branch 54 of the "V" extends from the top 56 towards an end in the vicinity of the microswitch 18. Thus, the geometry of the tongue 48 can allow the translation of the first branch 52 around the top 56 connecting the two branches 52 , 54. The translation makes it possible to separate the first branch 52 from the movable member 34. The "V" shape facilitates the manufacture of the elastic blade 32. Of course, the tongue 48 can take any other shape suitable for being moved. the first branch 52. For example, the angle formed by the first and the second branch 52, 54, can be more or less open. The vertex 56 of the "V" can also be more or less rounded.

Finally, the fixing lug 50 extends here along the body 33 of the microswitch 18. The fixing lug 50 is secured to the body 33 of the microswitch 18. The fixing lug 50 makes it possible to arrange the elastic blade 32 in the device 30. Displacement of the elastic blade 32 is thus avoided when the elastic blade 32 is stressed by the cam 42 of the actuator 20. The base 26 may be devoid of means for fixing the elastic blade 32, facilitating the manufacture of the base 26 and the assembly of the device 30.

The actuator 20 can adopt a first and a second intermediate position, illustrated respectively by FIGS. 3 and 4, by moving from the first angular position towards the second angular position. The first and second intermediate positions correspond to a position of the actuator 20 during the opening of the electrical connection device. The second intermediate position is after the first intermediate position during the movement of the actuator 20, and is associated with the release of the microswitch 18 of the elastic blade 32.

In the first intermediate position, illustrated in FIG. 3, the cam 42 of the actuator 20 comes into contact with the curved portion 46. The elastic blade 32 is not stressed by the cam 42 as long as the actuator 20 does not is not in the first intermediate position. In the second intermediate position, illustrated in Figure 4, the end of the cam 42 is close to the free end of the curved portion 46. The cam 42 presses on the curved portion 46.

The actuator 20 can also adopt a third intermediate position, illustrated by FIG. 6, by moving from the second angular position towards the first angular position. The third intermediate position corresponds to a position of the actuator 20 during closing of the electrical connection device.

Thereafter, the operation of the device 30 described above is described.

Initially, the actuator 20 is in the first angular position, illustrated in Figure 2. The cam 42 of the actuator 20 acts on the movable member 34 of the microswitch 18 to maintain the movable member 34 in the active position. Then, the supply terminal 35 of the microswitch 18 is connected to the normally open terminal 36 of the microswitch 18. The current flowing through the microswitch 18 can for example inform that the line is in the closed position.

If the line passes into the open position, the actuator 20 is driven towards the second angular position, illustrated in FIG. 5. The cam 42 of the actuator 20 releases the movable member 34. The elastic blade 32 keeps the active position movable member 34 of the microswitch 18. The movable member 34 is held in the active position under the effect of the tongue 48, in particular the first branch 52 of the tongue 48. The first branch 52 blocks the passage of the movable member 34.

When the actuator 20 reaches the first intermediate position, illustrated in Figure 3, the cam 42 of the actuator 20 comes into contact with the curved portion 46 of the elastic blade 32, then exerts an increasing force on the curved portion 46. The force exerted on the curved portion 46 by the cam 42 causes the translation of the first branch 52 of the elastic blade 32.

When the actuator 20 reaches the second intermediate position, illustrated in Figure 4, the force exerted by the cam 42 of the actuator 20 on the curved portion 46 is maximum. The translation of the first branch 52 of the tab 48 is sufficient to separate the first branch 52 from the movable member 34. The movable member 34 is released from the action of the elastic blade 32. The movable member can then reach the rest position.

As the actuator 20 continues to rotate towards the second angular position, the force exerted by the cam 42 of the actuator 20 on the curved portion 46 decreases. The ramp 44 of the cam 42 gradually brings the curved portion 46 of the elastic blade 32 back to the initial position of Figure 2.

When the actuator 20 is in the second angular position, illustrated in FIG. 5, the cam 42 of the actuator 20 is separated from the movable member 34 and from the elastic blade 32. The elastic blade 32 is in the initial position of Figure 2. The movable member 34 of the microswitch 18 is in the rest position. Then, the supply terminal 35 of the microswitch 18 is connected to the normally closed terminal 38 of the microswitch 18. The current passing through the microswitch 18 can for example inform that the line is in an open position.

If the line is returned to the closed position, the actuator 20 is driven towards the first angular position of FIG. 2. The cam 42 of the actuator 20 comes into contact with the curved portion 46 of the elastic blade 32, then exerts an effort on the curved portion 46.

When the actuator 20 reaches the third intermediate position illustrated in Figure 6, the ramp 44 comes into contact with the movable member 34, to gradually push the movable contact 34 towards the active position. The displacement of the movable member 34 brings the movable member 34 closer to the articulation 53 of the elastic blade 32. The articulation 53 allows the passage of the movable member 34. The movable member 34 can then come into contact with the second branch 52, then slide along the first branch 52.

The continued rotation of the actuator 20 causes the separation of the cam 42 and the curved portion 46. Only the movable member 34 acts on the elastic blade 32. The movable member 34, pushed by the ramp 44 of the actuator 20, exerts a force on the elastic blade 32. The force exerted by the movable member 34 causes the translation of the first branch 52. The movable member joins the active position, illustrated in Figure 2, without being blocked by the elastic blade 32. Thus, the elastic blade 32 does not hinder the permutation of the movable member from the rest position to the active position.

The invention is not limited to the examples described above but is capable of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art. For example, the second angular position of the actuator 20 may correspond to the earthing of the line. The device 30 can then inform of the grounding of the line.

Claims (13)

Device (30) for interaction with a microswitch (18) comprising:
- an actuator (20) rotatably mounted around an axis (A) between at least a first angular position and a second angular position;
- a microswitch (18) comprising a body (33) and a movable member (34) mounted on the body (33) and movable between an active position and a rest position; And
- an elastic blade (32) adapted to maintain the movable member (34) in the active position,
the movable member (34) being maintained in the active position when the actuator (20) is moved between the first angular position and a first intermediate position, said first intermediate position being located between the first angular position and the second angular position,
said actuator (20) being adapted to move the elastic blade (32) so that the movable member (34) passes into the rest position when said actuator (20) is moved between the first intermediate position and a second position intermediate, said second intermediate position being located between the first intermediate position and the second angular position. Device according to Claim 1, in which the actuator (20) comprises a cam (42) adapted to press on the movable member (34) of the microswitch (18) and to deform the elastic blade (32). Device according to Claim 2, in which the cam (42) comprises a ramp (44) adapted to allow progressive movement of the movable member (34). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the elastic blade (32) comprises a curved portion (46) on which the actuator (20) acts, the said curved portion (46) having a concavity facing the axis (A) of the actuator (20). Device according to Claim 4, in which the curved portion (46) extends towards the movable member (34) presenting an increasing distance with respect to said axis (A), so that the elastic blade (32) is progressively deformed by pressing the actuator (20) on said curved portion (46) between the first and the second intermediate position. Device according to one of Claims 4 or 5, in which the elastic blade (32) comprises a tongue (48), extending in the extension of the curved portion (46), adapted to hold the movable member (34) in the active position between the first angular position and the first intermediate position. Device according to Claim 6, in which the tongue (48) has a substantially "V" shape comprising an apex (56), a first leg (52) extending from the apex (56) to a first end, a second branch (54) extending from the top (56) to a second end, the second end being in the vicinity of the body (33) of the microswitch (18) and the first end being in the vicinity of the movable member (34) of the microswitch (18). Device according to Claim 7, in which the first branch (52) extends in a direction tangential to the trajectory of the mobile member (34), so that the mobile member (34) comes into contact with the first branch (52) when moving the movable member (34). Device according to one of Claims 6 to 8, in which the elastic strip (32) comprises a fixing lug (50), extending in the extension of the second end of the tongue (48) and secured to the body ( 33) of the microswitch (18). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the actuator (20) is driven in rotation during a change of position of main electrical contacts on an electrical line. Assembly (10) of auxiliary electrical contacts comprising a plurality of devices (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, and a shaft (16) integral in rotation with the actuators (20) of each device (30). An auxiliary electrical contact assembly (10) according to claim 10, wherein the shaft (16) is gear-connected to a main contact actuator (12) on an electrical line. Electrical connection apparatus comprising an assembly (10) according to any preceding claim.