WO2018149955A1

WO2018149955A1 - Assembly consisting of a relay and an adapter

Info

Publication number: WO2018149955A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/053861
Authority: WO
Inventors: Phong Sang LY
Original assignee: Electricite De France
Priority date: 2017-02-16
Filing date: 2018-02-16
Publication date: 2018-08-23
Also published as: FR3062948A1; FR3062948B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (1) consisting of a relay (2) and an adapter (3), said relay (2) having a first two-dimensional network of pins (21) received in corresponding openings formed in a first face of said adapter (3), said adapter (3) comprising, on a second face (30) opposing said first face, a second two-dimensional network of pins (31) different from said first network, said relay (2) and said adapter (3) being secured to each other, characterised in that said relays (2) and adapter are impervious and closed on all of the faces thereof, and in that said adapter (3) has an inner space (E) that receives at least one complementary electronic device (6).

Description

ASSEMBLY CONSISTING OF A RELAY AND AN ADAPTER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an assembly consisting of a relay and an adapter, this relay and this adapter being integral with each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention finds application in any type of industry where control laws require the transmission of orders by relays. This is the case for example in nuclear power plants for the production of electricity. Such a nuclear power plant is formed of at least one nuclear production unit comprising a reactor building and a machine room.

In nuclear power plants, particularly in France, regulations are constantly evolving, particularly those that form the safety reference system. This is the case, for example, for electromechanical components such as electromagnetic relays with immediate effect, or electromagnetic relays with delayed effect, also called "delay blocks", where the relay function is effective after a predetermined delay. Thereafter, unless otherwise specified, the word "relay" will indiscriminately designate both relays with immediate effect and relays with delayed effect.

The relays are very stressed and wear out for example because of an aging coil. In these circumstances, there comes a time when they must be changed. Other relays, placed in electrical cabinets themselves placed in a place likely to be in a humid environment which can degrade their operation, must also be changed over time.

Thus, these degraded relays, which date from 20 years on average, must be replaced by new relays which are manufactured with increased requirements.

These new relays, as well as those they replace, come with different technical characteristics. Thus, while the "old" relays have male pins arranged so as to be received in openings of a female socket, the new relays present a new network of pins whose arrangement is no longer compatible with the original female docking station.

To solve this problem, one solution might be to change the female socket. But that would lead to having to dismantle the board that supports it, to redo all the wiring of the control and power circuits. Such an operation would require a requalification of the installation, base by base.

By way of example, if such operations were to be carried out, it would take approximately two hours of operation and four hours of functional requalification (since it is necessary to disconnect the cables from the electrical chain until power table and / or control). Time to add up to two to three weeks on average of the temporary shutdown) of the elementary system to which it is linked, as soon as the number of relays is large.

In a nuclear power plant, a basic system is a system that performs a function such as cooling, neutron measurement, and so on. This system which actuates equipment (pumps, measuring chambers etc.) is provided with an electrical network comprising multiple relays to ensure in particular the control and control functions.

On the basis of a change of 11,000 relays for a portion of a nuclear power plant, such a replacement relays replacement site on new bases would lead to a cost of around € 24 million.

To solve this problem, it is conceivable to propose an adapter which comprises, on a first face, pin receiving openings of the new relay and, on the opposite face, pins whose arrangement corresponds to that of the openings of the base female home host. This adapter is then, in a way, an "on-base".

Under these conditions and with such an adapter, it takes about one hour of intervention, one hour of intrinsic requalification (simple because without disconnection cables) and up to a week at most average logging of the elementary system, as soon as the number of relays is important. Thus, the costs to be incurred can be reduced by a factor of six.

The replacement in question may be simpler to implement if each "new" relay is already provided integral with the adapter. Such a solution has been described in particular in the document

US-A-557921 1.

However, in this perspective of changing a very large number of relays, it is easy to understand that the operator buys these new relays at the lowest possible rate. The consequence of this is that the relay integrates within it only the equipment that is necessary for its operation.

On the other hand, it is possible to meet many situations in which it is desired to associate with this relay other functions such as that consisting of a delay effect, a memory function, etc.

The present invention aims to provide an economical and simple solution to this problem.

A secondary object of the invention is to achieve this end while preserving the relay / adapter assembly of any external medium that would be likely to compromise its proper operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention relates to an assembly consisting of a relay and an adapter, said relay having a first two-dimensional array of pins received in corresponding openings formed in a first face of said adapter, said adapter comprising, on a second opposite side to said first face, a second two-dimensional array of pins different from said first network, said relay and this adapter being integral with each other, said relays and adapter being sealed and closed on all their faces and said adapter having a internal space that hosts at least one additional electronic equipment.

According to other nonlimiting and advantageous features of the invention taken individually or in any combination of at least two of them:

said at least one additional electronic equipment is chosen from the following group: freewheeling diode, timing equipment, memory;

said internal space is delimited by two parallel upper and lower plates which are kept apart from one another by spacers; and said spacers are divided into two distinct series and are arranged in line along the two opposite edges of said plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. This description is made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an existing relay, particularly showing its connection pins;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view and overall against-dive according to the invention, showing particularly the pins of its adapter;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention, the relays and adapter being shown detached from one another;

- Figure 4 is also a perspective view of an assembly, relays and adapter being integral and surmounting a receiving base;

- Figure 5 is a simplified diagram, in perspective, of an assembly according to the invention, its adapter being shown open;

- Finally, Figure 6 is a front view of an assembly substantially identical to that of Figure 5, the adapter is also shown open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An example of a relay that can be integrated into an assembly according to the invention is shown in particular in Figure 1 in which it bears the reference numeral 2.

This relay 2, of parallelepipedal shape, has a lower face 20 of which protrudes a first two-dimensional array of pins 21. In the example shown, these pins 21 have a cylindrical shape, but it is quite possible that they could to have another form.

As an example, this relay contains only the equipment necessary for its primary function. In other words, it contains only one electromagnet. Such a relay structure is known per se. This relay is closed on all sides and preferably comprises a hermetic metal cover.

In FIGS. 2 and 4, this relay 2 is shown while it is put in place on an adapter 3 so as to constitute an assembly 1 according to the present invention.

Although this is not visible in the figures, the pins 21 of the relay 2 are received in openings of corresponding shape and arrangement that the upper face of the adapter 3 has.

This adapter 3 also has a parallelepipedal shape but has dimensions greater than those of the relay 2. This is due in particular to the fact that the underside 30 of the adapter 3 has a second two-dimensional array of pins 31 whose arrangement is dictated by the form of the base 4 of the trade that receives the assembly 1, and more particularly by the arrangement of the openings 41 that has its upper face 40.

In the example shown, the pins 31 are in the form of flat rods. But other forms can be envisaged.

Again, the adapter 3 is closed on all sides and is waterproof.

It is provided integral with the relay 2, so that the assembly 1 they constitute is manipulated in one block.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6, the adapter 3 comprises a first upper plate 50 provided with a not shown printed circuit connected to the pins of the relay 2.

A second lower plate 51, of the same type as the first plate 50 extends parallel to and away from the first, it is from this second plate 51 that protrude the pin 31 of the adapter.

The two plates 50 and 51 are kept apart from each other by spacers 7 distributed preferentially in two series arranged in parallel, in line along two opposite sides of the plates 50 and 51.

Thus, the two plates 50 and 51 delimit with the spacers 7 a closed space E included integrally inside the adapter 3.

According to the present invention, this internal space E is used to accommodate at least one additional electronic equipment.

It may be additional equipment for improving the operation of the relay 1, such as a freewheeling diode (otherwise known as Zener diode). But it may also be a device that has a different operation, for example to record the events relating to the operation of the assembly 1, such as a memory.

Thus, thanks to the invention, one can get relays 2 low price insofar as they contain only what is necessary for their basic function. On the other hand, additional functions can be installed on a case-by-case basis within the adapters 3, as needed.

In addition, because the relay 2 and the adapter 3 are integral with each other, closed and sealed, thus ensures the proper operation of the assembly 1 without harmful interference of the external environment.

Claims

1. An assembly (1) consisting of a relay (2) and an adapter (3), said relay (2) having a first two-dimensional array of pins (21) received in corresponding apertures formed in a first face of said adapter (3). ), this adapter (3) comprising, on a second face (30) opposite to said first face, a second two-dimensional array of pins (31) different from said first network, this relay (2) and this adapter (3) being integral one of the other, characterized in that said relays (2) and adapter (3) are sealed and closed on all their faces and in that said adapter (3) has an internal space (E) which accommodates at least one complementary electronic equipment (6).

2. The assembly of claim 1, characterized in that said at least one complementary electronic equipment (6) is selected from the following group: freewheeling diode, timing equipment, memory.

3. Equipment according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said inner space (E) is delimited by two upper plates

(50) and lower (51) which are held apart from each other by spacers (7).

4. Equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that said spacers (7) are divided into two distinct series and are arranged in line along the two opposite edges of said plates (50, 51).