US3815063A - Interlock system for electrical contactors - Google Patents

Interlock system for electrical contactors Download PDF

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Publication number
US3815063A
US3815063A US00368146A US36814673A US3815063A US 3815063 A US3815063 A US 3815063A US 00368146 A US00368146 A US 00368146A US 36814673 A US36814673 A US 36814673A US 3815063 A US3815063 A US 3815063A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
movable
movable contact
contactors
contact carrier
interlock
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00368146A
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English (en)
Inventor
K Grunert
J Dauer
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.)
Westinghouse Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Electric Corp
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
Priority to CA168,598A priority Critical patent/CA985721A/en
Priority to GB1823373A priority patent/GB1419409A/en
Priority to DE2320069A priority patent/DE2320069A1/de
Priority to BE1004990A priority patent/BE798568A/xx
Priority to FR7314851A priority patent/FR2182029B1/fr
Priority to CH579173A priority patent/CH567789A5/xx
Application filed by Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority to US00368146A priority patent/US3815063A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3815063A publication Critical patent/US3815063A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/16—Magnetic circuit arrangements
    • H01H50/18—Movable parts of magnetic circuits, e.g. armature
    • H01H50/32—Latching movable parts mechanically
    • H01H50/323—Latching movable parts mechanically for interlocking two or more relays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/54—Contact arrangements
    • H01H50/60—Contact arrangements moving contact being rigidly combined with movable part of magnetic circuit

Definitions

  • References Cied system also includes an electrical interlock detachably UNlTED STATES PATENTS mounted on the housing of the device and comprising 3,312,797 4/1967 Harrington et al. 335/!60 Stationary and movable Contacts and being intercon- 3,592,985 7/1971 nected with the movable contacts of the movable Arneberg et al'. 200/50 C Primary Examiner-Harold Broome Attorney, Agent, or Firm-L. P. Johns contact carrier of said device.
  • This invention relates to electromagnetic contactors and, more particularly, to interlocks between such contactors for preventing one of the contactors from closing a circuit when the other contactor is closed.
  • a typical circuit includes, for example, a separate manual button for each contactor for the forward and reverse directions of a motor and for each speed of a multispeed motor.
  • actuation of one forward or reverse circuit includes an associated circuit for deactivating the other of the forward and reverse circuits.
  • an interlock comprising a pivotally mounted member between a pair of contactors, each of which contactors comprises a movable contact carrier structure, electromagnetic means for moving the movable contact carrier structure between open and closed positions with respect to stationary contact structures, the movable contact carrier structure for each contactor being movable in a path of travel parallel to that of the 'other movable contact carrier structure, the interlock being interposed between the contactors and being rotatable on an axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the parallel paths of travel and being movable by one of the movable contact carrier structures into the path of travel of the other of the movable contact carrier structures, whereby both contactors are prevented from being in closed positions simultaneously.
  • the invention also includes an electrical interlock which is detachably mounted on one or both contactors and which comprises a stationary contact structure and a movable contact structure which movable contact structure is directly attached to the movable contact structure of the contactor, whereby upon movement of the movable contact carrier structure of the contactor, the electrical interlock is a normally open or normally closed device for providing pilot duty such as a pilot light or for actuating accessory equipment such as a relay or another contactor.
  • pilot duty such as a pilot light
  • accessory equipment such as a relay or another contactor.
  • the advantage of the interlock system of the present invention is to prevent incorrect phase-to-phase line connections as well as to provide an improved mechanical interlock which avoids the development of binding interferencein the pivotal axis of the rotatable interlock member.
  • FIG. I is a plan view of a mechanical interlock disposed between a pair of contactors
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line Il-lI of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line IIl-III of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line VV of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another embodiment of a mechanical interlock.
  • an electrical control system is generally indicated at 10, and it includes a mechanical interlock generally indicated at 12 and a pair of spaced contactors I4 and 16.
  • the interlock I2 is disposed between the contactors l4 and 16, and the interlock and contactors are mounted .on a base or mounting panel 18.
  • the interlock 12 comprises a mounting bracket 20 and a movable member or lever 22.
  • the mounting bracket 20 is mounted on the base 18 by a pair of screws 24.
  • the mounting bracket 20 includes an upright support member or flange 26 and a pivot pin 28 (FIG. 5) on which the movable member is rotatably mounted.
  • the pivot pin 28 is reinforced by a support portion or web 30, which extends from the undersurface of the pin to the base of the bracket 20.
  • the pin 28 includes an enlarged portion 32 near the upright support 26.
  • the movable member 22 is preferably a solid body composed of an electrically insulating material, such as nylon, and is provided with a pin-receiving aperture 34 having a slot 36 extending from the underside thereof to the lower end 38 of the member. As shown in FIG. 2, the member 22 is rotatable about the horizontal axis of the pivot pin 28 and the sidewalls of the slot 36 limit the clockwise or counterclockwise extent of rotation when those walls contact the support web 30 below the pin 28.
  • the movable member 22 includes an upper end 40 which is a camming surface adapted to engage a crossbar 42 or 44, respectively, of the contactors l4 and 16.
  • the upper end 40 preferably includes two beveled edge surfaces 46 and 48, which extend downwardly from a ridge 50 to edge walls 52 and 54, which walls extend downwardly and include lower edge wall portions 56 and 58, which in turn terminate at lower corners formed with the lower end 38 of the member.
  • Shoulder surfaces 60 and 62 may be provided respectively between the edge walls 52 and 56 and the edge walls 54 and 58.
  • the edge walls 52 and 54 are substantially vertical, it is preferred that they be tapered downwardly and outwardly slightly to prevent binding between the walls and the corresponding crossbar particularly when the originally energized contactormechanically moves to the open position.
  • the surfaces, ridge 50, and walls 46-62 extend between opposite sidewalls 64 and 66,
  • the contactors l4 and 16 are similar in construction, although one may be a multi-pole contactor of the three or four-pole type, comprise a housing structure including a housing 68 and a base 70, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the contactor also comprises a stationary contact structure generally indicated at 72 (FIG. 3), a movable control device 74, and an electromagnet 76 (FIG. 2).
  • the housing 68 being composed of a dielectric or electrically insulating material, is a substantially rectangularbody which is mounted on the base 70 and includes similar vertical slots 78 on opposite sides thereof through which end portions of the crossbars extend.
  • the stationary contact structure includes a pair of spaced contacts 80 and 82, and similar conductors 84 on which the contacts are separately mounted.
  • the conductors 84 extend in opposite directions through the housing'68 so that external portions of the conductors are accessible for connection to a circuit for controlling, for example, a motor (not shown).
  • terminal connectors are secured to the outer ends of the conductors 84 to enable connection of each pole unit to an electric circuit.
  • the movable control device 74 comprises a bridging contact member 88 having contacts 90 and 92, an electrically insulating contact carrier 94, and a carrier base 96 which may be formed integrally with the carrier 94.
  • the movable control device 74 is vertically movable between upper and lower positions in order to provide open and closed circuits between the pairs of contacts 80, 90 and 82, 92. In the alternative, the device may provide for open circuits when the movable control device 74 is in the lowermost position.
  • the movable control device 74 is retained in the upper position as shown in FIG. 2 by suitable means, such as springs, of which one spring 98 is shown.
  • the upper end portion 100 of the contact carrier 94 extends through an opening 102 in the upper surface of the housing 68 to serve as a guide for the movable control device.
  • the contactor 14 includes electromagnetic means for pullingor actuating the contact carrierf 94 downwardly against the biasing springs 98.
  • the electromagnetic means is actuated for closing the circuit through the contacts, it may be actuated for the reverse function of opening a circuit and unactuated to close the circuit.
  • the electromagnetic means includes a stationary magnetic member 104 supported on the base 70, the electromagnetic coil 76, and an armature 106 which is secured within the carrier base 96 above the magnetic member 104.
  • the armature 106 is an inverted E- shaped laminated member which is pulled magnetically to the stationary laminated magnetic member 104 when the coil 76 is energized.
  • the movable consurface 48 and causes the movable member 22 to rotate counterclockwise to the solid line position in FIG. 2.
  • the crossbar 42 would be lowered against the beveled surface 48 to cause the member 22 to rotate clockwise to the broken line position as'shown in FIG. 2.
  • the actuated contact 14 rotates the movable member 22 by camming action on the beveled surfaces 46 and 48 to prevent or interlock the other contactor from being actuated to the closed circuit position.
  • both crossbars 42 and 44 would simultaneously engage their corresponding bevelededge surfaces 46 and 48 and hold the member 22 rigidly in place against rotation in either direction, and thereby preventboth contactors from achieving closed circuit status; or, one of the crossbars 42 and 44, moving slightly faster than the other, would influence the member 22 to rotateby the camming action between the crossbar and the corresponding beveled edge surface. and thereby permit the faster moving crossbar to close the circuit through the corresponding contactor and prevent the other contactor from achieving the same result.
  • the movable member 22 has a width between the edge walls 52 and 54 which is greater than the clearance between the crossbars 42 and 44.
  • the edge walls 52 and 54 are slightly tapered downwardly and outwardly towards the shoulders 60 and 62 so that when a contactor is deenergized, there is sufficient energy in the biasing springs 98 to raise the contactor out of a tight frictional contact with the'member.
  • FIG. 6 Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 in which the-member 22 differs from that shown in FIG. 2 only in that it is provided with an upright projection 108.
  • the purpose of the projection 108 is to prevent the upper end of the member from ever becoming jammed under one of the crossbars 42 or 44, which event could occur in the embodiment of FIG. 2 where, for example, the several parts became slightly dislodged or misaligned and the ridge 50 (FIG. 2) moved under the crossbar 42.
  • the projection 108 (FIG. 6) prevents such an occurrence.
  • an electrical interlock 110 includes a housing 112 which may be composed of two separable half-portions (FIG. 4) and is detachably mounted on the top of a contactor such as the contactor 14 by suitable means such as a hook 114 and a spring clip 116, which are suitably spaced to adapt the interlock 110 to be mounted to housing members 118 and 120.
  • the interlock structure within the housing 112 may include any suitable switching means such as that shown in FIG. 3 which comprises a stationary contact structure 122 and a movable control device 124.
  • the stationary contact structure 122 includes a pair of conductors 126 extending in opposite directions from stationary contacts 128 and terminal screws 103 at remote ends of the conductors for connection to lead wires for any suitable purpose.
  • the movable contact device 124 comprises a bridging contact member 132 having contacts 134 for engagement with corresponding contacts 128.
  • the device 124 also includes an electrically insulating contact carrier 136, which is movable vertically within the housing 110. As shown more particularly in FIG. 4, the contact carrier 136 is provided with an opening or window 138, through which the bridging contact member 132 extends and is retained in place by a coil spring 140 in a conventional manner.
  • the lower end of the contact carrier 136 is provided with interlocking means such as a knob 142 which is seated in a knob-receiving opening 144 in the upper end portion 100 of the contact carrier 94.
  • the contact carrier 196 moves with it so as to disengage the contacts 128 and 134 and open a circuit to the terminal 130. It is noted, however, that although the contact carrier 136 is actuated for opening a circuit through the terminals, it may be actuated or operated for the reverse function of closing a circuit in the unactuated position corresponding to a closed circuit.
  • the terminals 130 for the electrical interlock 100 may be used for a pilot light, which is either turned on or off to indicate opening or closing of the circuit through the contactor 114, or the wires leading from the terminals 130 may be used for actuating auxiliary equipment, such as a relay or for providing current for the contactor 16.
  • the interlock system of this invention prevents two or more contactors from being actuated in incorrect line connections simultaneously.
  • An electric control system comprising at least two control devices in spaced adjacent positions and a mechanical interlock, each control device comprising movable contact means and a stationary contact structure, a movable contact carrier movable between operated and unoperated positions, electromagnetic means for moving the movable contact carrier, the movable contact carriers comprising end portions movable in substantially parallel paths of travel, the mechanical interlock and the end portions adjacent to the mechanical interlock being substantially aligned on a longitudinal axis, the mechanical interlock being in the space between the movable contact structure and comprising a body having opposite end surfaces, opposite side surfaces, and top and bottom surfaces, the top surface comprising a pair of beveled surfaces, one beveled surface being engagable by the movable contact carrier of one control device and the other beveled surface being engagable by the movable contact carrier of the other control device, and the mechanical interlock being movable along said longitudinal axis from the end portion of one movable contact carrier into the path of travel of the other end portion upon a prior
  • each control device is enclosed within a housing having an opening, and each end portion extending into its housing opening.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
  • Trip Switchboards (AREA)
US00368146A 1972-04-24 1973-06-08 Interlock system for electrical contactors Expired - Lifetime US3815063A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA168,598A CA985721A (en) 1972-04-24 1973-04-12 Interlock system for electrical contactors
GB1823373A GB1419409A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-04-24 1973-04-16
DE2320069A DE2320069A1 (de) 1972-04-24 1973-04-19 Elektrisches steuerorgan
BE1004990A BE798568A (fr) 1972-04-24 1973-04-20 Systeme de verrouillage pour contacteurs electriques
FR7314851A FR2182029B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-04-24 1973-04-24
CH579173A CH567789A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-04-24 1973-04-24
US00368146A US3815063A (en) 1972-04-24 1973-06-08 Interlock system for electrical contactors

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US24717172A 1972-04-24 1972-04-24
US00368146A US3815063A (en) 1972-04-24 1973-06-08 Interlock system for electrical contactors

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3815063A true US3815063A (en) 1974-06-04

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ID=26938502

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00368146A Expired - Lifetime US3815063A (en) 1972-04-24 1973-06-08 Interlock system for electrical contactors

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3815063A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE798568A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA985721A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH567789A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2320069A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2182029B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1419409A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3919675A (en) * 1974-12-23 1975-11-11 Gen Electric Interlocking arrangement for a pair of electrical contactors
FR2473218A1 (fr) * 1979-12-20 1981-07-10 Cem Comp Electro Mec Dispositif de blocage mecanique de l'un de deux organes de commutation aussi longtemps que l'autre se trouve en position de fermeture
US4286242A (en) * 1979-09-17 1981-08-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Mechanical interlock for low voltage circuit breakers
US4544814A (en) * 1984-01-19 1985-10-01 Eaton Corporation Mechanical interlock for contactors
US4803587A (en) * 1986-04-23 1989-02-07 La Telemecanique Electrique Arrangement for change-over contact apparatus protection with interlocking member and module
FR2630254A1 (fr) * 1988-04-19 1989-10-20 Asea Brown Boveri Combinaison de deux appareils electriques de commutation, avec dispositif de blocage influencant leur possibilite d'enclenchement
US5164694A (en) * 1991-04-25 1992-11-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Mechanical interlock for a pair of electromagnetic switches
EP0502336A3 (en) * 1991-02-27 1993-03-10 Claus Baumgart Microswitch
US5374912A (en) * 1991-07-26 1994-12-20 Eaton Corporation Contactor floating magnet
US6002579A (en) * 1995-12-22 1999-12-14 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Switchgear unit
WO2000052718A1 (en) * 1999-03-03 2000-09-08 Abb Ab Mechanical interlocking device for electrical apparatuses, and use thereof in a motor start assembly
US20120280771A1 (en) * 2010-01-29 2012-11-08 Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co., Ltd. Reversible electromagnetic contactor
US20160126042A1 (en) * 2014-10-31 2016-05-05 Lsis Co., Ltd. Crossbar structure of electromagnetic contactor

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE7926469U1 (de) * 1979-09-18 1979-12-13 Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen Verriegelungseinrichtung für Kontaktträger
DE3411586A1 (de) * 1984-03-29 1985-10-03 Brown, Boveri & Cie Ag, 6800 Mannheim Kippschalter bzw. kipptaster mit zwei getrennt betaetigbaren schaltstoesseln

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3312797A (en) * 1965-03-29 1967-04-04 Galion Jeffrey Mfg Co Mechanical interlock for electrical switches
US3592985A (en) * 1970-02-06 1971-07-13 Square D Co Mechanical interlock for two switches that are mounted on a common support

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2348516A (en) * 1942-09-11 1944-05-09 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US3149210A (en) * 1961-03-13 1964-09-15 Allen Bradley Co Mechanical interlock
US3342958A (en) * 1965-10-11 1967-09-19 Square D Co Two-part mechanical interlock for electromagnetic contactors

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3312797A (en) * 1965-03-29 1967-04-04 Galion Jeffrey Mfg Co Mechanical interlock for electrical switches
US3592985A (en) * 1970-02-06 1971-07-13 Square D Co Mechanical interlock for two switches that are mounted on a common support

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3919675A (en) * 1974-12-23 1975-11-11 Gen Electric Interlocking arrangement for a pair of electrical contactors
US4286242A (en) * 1979-09-17 1981-08-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Mechanical interlock for low voltage circuit breakers
FR2473218A1 (fr) * 1979-12-20 1981-07-10 Cem Comp Electro Mec Dispositif de blocage mecanique de l'un de deux organes de commutation aussi longtemps que l'autre se trouve en position de fermeture
US4544814A (en) * 1984-01-19 1985-10-01 Eaton Corporation Mechanical interlock for contactors
US4803587A (en) * 1986-04-23 1989-02-07 La Telemecanique Electrique Arrangement for change-over contact apparatus protection with interlocking member and module
FR2630254A1 (fr) * 1988-04-19 1989-10-20 Asea Brown Boveri Combinaison de deux appareils electriques de commutation, avec dispositif de blocage influencant leur possibilite d'enclenchement
EP0502336A3 (en) * 1991-02-27 1993-03-10 Claus Baumgart Microswitch
EP0510985A3 (en) * 1991-04-25 1993-08-11 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Mechanical interlock for a pair of electromagnetic switches
US5164694A (en) * 1991-04-25 1992-11-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Mechanical interlock for a pair of electromagnetic switches
AU659829B2 (en) * 1991-04-25 1995-06-01 Eaton Corporation Mechanical interlock for a pair of electromagnetic switches
US5374912A (en) * 1991-07-26 1994-12-20 Eaton Corporation Contactor floating magnet
US6002579A (en) * 1995-12-22 1999-12-14 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Switchgear unit
WO2000052718A1 (en) * 1999-03-03 2000-09-08 Abb Ab Mechanical interlocking device for electrical apparatuses, and use thereof in a motor start assembly
US6411185B1 (en) 1999-03-03 2002-06-25 Abb Ab Mechanical interlocking device for electrical apparatuses, and use thereof in a motor start assembly
US20120280771A1 (en) * 2010-01-29 2012-11-08 Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co., Ltd. Reversible electromagnetic contactor
US8536961B2 (en) * 2010-01-29 2013-09-17 Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co., Ltd. Reversible electromagnetic contactor
US20160126042A1 (en) * 2014-10-31 2016-05-05 Lsis Co., Ltd. Crossbar structure of electromagnetic contactor
US9646790B2 (en) * 2014-10-31 2017-05-09 Lsis Co., Ltd. Crossbar structure of electromagnetic contactor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2320069A1 (de) 1973-11-08
FR2182029A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-12-07
FR2182029B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-02-10
CH567789A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-10-15
BE798568A (fr) 1973-10-22
CA985721A (en) 1976-03-16
GB1419409A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-12-31

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