JPH0447855Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a contact element used in an electric circuit switching device such as a relay.

(Prior Art) A movable contact element (contact bridge) comprising a trough-shaped substrate and an intermediate plate (contact element) made of a conductive material fixed to the substrate is disclosed in West German Patent Publication No. 2647888. Known from the number. Two contacts are soldered to this intermediate plate. The intermediate plate extends starting from the contact point and has an end adjacent the front side of the substrate. This end serves as an arc quencher.

Apart from the fact that this device does not guarantee rapid movement of the arc foot from the contact to the arc extinguishing section, the sticking point between the contact and the intermediate plate is affected by the arc moving to the arc extinguishing section. There is a risk of corrosion. This significantly shortens the life of the movable contact element.

In addition, a movable contact element is known in which contacts are directly attached to the bottom of a U-shaped substrate and conductively coupled to each other by a web (West German Patent Publication No.
No. 1175776). An arc guide protruding from the bottom of the substrate in a direction away from the contacts is fixed to the substrate at the front surface of the substrate. Since this arc guide is made of steel, the arc leg moves away from the contact more quickly than in the case of the movable contact elements described above. However, even with this solution, the joint between the contact and the substrate is corroded by the arc whose legs move laterally along the contact towards the arc guide. The damage caused by this corrosion is particularly noticeable at high breaking currents and makes replacement of the movable contact element unavoidable after a relatively short period of use.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) In view of these circumstances, the present invention has developed a contact element that quickly moves the leg of the arc from the contact surface to the arc guide in order to prevent the contact from burning out due to the arc. is intended to provide.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a contact element for use in electrical switches, particularly solenoid-operated contactors, in which a conductive material is provided on the bottom surface of a trough-shaped substrate having a U-shaped cross section. A contact point is formed on at least one end surface of the intermediate plate opposite to the surface in contact with the substrate, and a strong member is fixed to the end surface of the substrate for guiding an arc in proximity to the contact point. An arc guide made of a magnetic material is provided, and the arc guide is engaged with and supported by the facing flanges of the substrate, and both ends of the guide protrude in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the substrate. is arranged so as to be approximately at the same height as the edge of the contact point facing the contact point.

(Function) With this configuration, the arc guide is made of ferromagnetic material and the edge of the arc guide is close to and at the same height as the edge of the contact surface facing it, so the arc guide has good arc transfer characteristics. You will be prepared. Therefore, the leg of the arc caused by the opening of the contact goes directly from the contact to the arc guide without moving laterally along the contact. Therefore, no arc is guided to the stuck location, and the contacts themselves are effectively protected from the corrosive effects of the arc by the arc guide. In addition, the arc guide quickly moves the arc leg point from the contact, is burnout resistant, and has good arc transfer characteristics, so even if the breaking current is relatively large, there is little wear and tear on the contact, and the contact element It can extend the lifespan. It is also possible to manufacture the substrate from a material with high mechanical strength, and the contacts only need to be provided primarily for sufficient electrically conductive coupling between the contacts. This makes it possible to provide a low-mass contact element that can withstand high electrical and mechanical loads both when the contacts are closed and when the contacts are opened and closed.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

Illustrated contact element or contact bridge 1
has a trough-shaped substrate 2 with a U-shaped cross section and made of steel, for example. The bottom part of the substrate 2 is designated by reference numeral 3 and the flange part by reference numeral 4. An intermediate plate 5 as a contact is attached to the bottom 3 of the substrate 2 on the underside of the substrate 2.
It is preferably fixed by brazing.
This intermediate plate 5 is made of an electrically conductive material, preferably steel, and is provided with projections 6 and 7 on the side facing the substrate 2. The protrusions each correspond to a centering recess 8 in the bottom part 3.
Or engage 9. By means of the centering recesses 8 and 9, the intermediate plate 5 is positioned when the intermediate plate is fixed to the substrate 2.

The intermediate plate 5 has convex portions 10 and 11 on both ends of the surface opposite to the protrusions 6 and 7, and a contact point 1 is provided on the convex portion.
2, 13 are arranged, the contacts being connected on the intermediate plate 5 by a suitable method, for example by brazing. Contacts 12 and 13 are made of a suitable contact material, e.g.
Consists of AgCdO.

Since the substrate 2 has a stronger mechanical strength than the conductive material of the intermediate plate 5, it provides sufficient mechanical strength to the contact element 1. The intermediate plate 5 therefore mainly only needs to provide a sufficient electrically conductive connection between the two contacts 12, 13. By suitable construction and/or material selection, it is therefore possible to obtain a contact element 1 of low mass that can withstand strong electrical and mechanical loads.

Plate-shaped arc guides 14 and 15 are provided on the front surface of the board 2.
is connected to the substrate 2, for example also by brazing, and each of the arc guides 14, 15 protrudes from the substrate 2 on opposite sides of the substrate 2 and extends approximately at right angles to the bottom 3 of the substrate 2. . The arc guides 14, 15 are made of ferromagnetic material, for example steel. The upper end 14a of the arc guides 14, 15,
15a protrudes from the upper edge of the flange portion 4 of the substrate 2. Lower end 14 of arc guides 14 and 15
b, 15b extend towards the contacts 12, 13 and extend laterally to the contacts as close to their surfaces 12a or 13a. Therefore, the arc guides 14 and 15 are
Connection point 16 between contacts 12, 13 and intermediate plate 5
or extends beyond 17.

The arc generated when the contacts are opened first burns on the surfaces 12a and 13a of the contacts 12, 13, and then on the arc guides 14 and 14 adjacent to the contacts 12, 13.
Move on to 15. Since the arc guide, as already mentioned, consists of a ferromagnetic material, this movement of the arc leg from the surfaces 12a, 13a to the arc guides 14, 15 takes place quickly and burnout of the contacts 12, 13 is reduced to a minimum. Ru. The arc guides 14, 15 have sufficient burnout resistance so that the arc burning in the arc guides will not cause any significant damage until the arc is extinguished.

The arc is caused by the surface 12 of the contacts 12 and 13 as described above.
Direct movement from a and 13a to their neighboring arc guides 14 and 15, respectively, causes the arc legs to move along the sides of the contacts to the joining points 16, 17, thereby preventing undesired burnout or joining of the contacts 12, 13. Damage to points 16, 17 is prevented. Therefore, by providing the arc guides 14 and 15, the contact element 1 is protected from rapid wear and tear even when the breaking current is high, and this has an advantageous effect on the life of the contact element 1. do.

It is obvious that the parts of the contact can also be constructed in other ways than those described above. For example, contact 12,
13 can be of any suitable shape. Two possible embodiments of contacts 12, 13 are shown in FIG. Furthermore, the lower ends 14b, 15b of the arc guides 14, 15 may be bent to approach the contacts 12, 13 if necessary.

The contact elements or contact bridges described above are particularly suitable for relay switches.

(Effects of the invention) The present invention uses the above-mentioned configuration to generate an arc between the contacts, and quickly moves the arc leg points at the contacts to the arc guide. No arc flows, reducing corrosion and damage to the contacts and improving the life of the contacts.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a movable contact piece for an electric circuit switchgear, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the - line in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side view of the movable contact piece, and Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of a movable contact piece for an electric circuit switchgear.
It is a sectional view along the - line of a figure. 2... Board, 3... Bottom of board, 5... Intermediate plate (contact), 6, 7... Protrusion, 8, 9... Recess, 1
2, 13... Contact, 12a, 13a... Contact surface, 14, 15... Arc guide.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A contact element used in an electric switch, especially a solenoid-operated contactor, which comprises a trough-shaped substrate 2 having a U-shaped cross section, an intermediate plate 5 made of a conductive material fixed to the bottom surface of the substrate 2, and an intermediate plate 5 made of a conductive material. A contact point 1 is provided on at least one end surface of the intermediate plate opposite to the surface in contact with
2, 13, and are provided with arc guides 14, 15 made of ferromagnetic material fixed to the end face of the substrate 2 in order to guide the arc close to the contact point, the arc guides The arc guide is engaged with and supported by the opposing flanges 4, 4, and has both guide end portions 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b protruding in a direction perpendicular to the bottom portion 3 of the substrate, so that the edge of the arc guide faces the A contact element for an electrical switch, characterized in that the contact element is arranged at approximately the same height as the edge of the contact.