FR2916899A1 - CONTACT DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRICAL AND AUXILIARY SIGNALING APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical contact device for an electrical device housed in a housing, comprising at least one so-called fixed contact and at least one so-called mobile contact between an open position of the contacts in which the contact (s) is fixed ( s) are separated from the movable contact (s) and a closed position of the contacts in which the movable contact (s) is (are) in contact with the contact (s) fixed (s), and a contact pressure spring adapted to bring the (the) contact (s) movable (s) in contact with the (the) contact (s) fixed (s). This device is characterized in that the movable contact (s) (6,7) is (are) mounted at the end of an arm (8) mounted in a so-called first support part , said arm (8) being articulated with respect to a so-called second support piece, and in that it comprises a blade contact pressure spring (10) mounted in said first support piece and having an end portion resting on the arm (8) and a second end resting on the first support piece so as to recall the movable contact (s) (6,7) in the position of contact with the contact (s) (s) fixed (16,17).

Description

1 CONTACT DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRICAL AND AUXILIARY APPARATUS

  SIGNALING COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE.

  The present invention relates to an electrical contact device for an electrical device housed in a housing, comprising at least one so-called fixed contact and at least one so-called mobile contact between an open position of the contacts in which the contact (s) is fixed ( s) are separated from the movable contact (s) and a closed position of the contacts in which the movable contact (s) is (are) in contact with the contact (s) fixed (s), and a contact pressure spring adapted to bring the (the) movable contact (s) in position of contact with the (the) contact (s) fixed (s). A contact device is known for a signaling auxiliary for motor circuit breakers as described in DE 20 2005 015 448 U1, in which the double contacts are of the type supported by a bridge with two contacts switching from the open position to the position. closed by translation. In this device, the contact pressure spring is helical and is placed on the translation axis. This embodiment has a large footprint given the use of a coil spring.

  The present invention solves these problems and provides a contact device for an electrical apparatus, as well as a signaling aid comprising it, having improved performance in a very small imposed volume.

  For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is an electrical contact device for an electrical appliance of the kind mentioned above, this device being characterized in that the movable contact (s) is (are) mounted ) at the end of an arm mounted in a so-called first support part, said arm being articulated relative to a second support part and in that it comprises a blade contact pressure spring mounted in said first part support and having an end portion resting on the arm and a second end portion resting on the first support piece so as to recall the movable contact (s) in the position of contact with the ( the fixed contact (s). According to a particular characteristic, the aforementioned leaf spring is shaped so as to present a uniform deformation over its entire length. According to another characteristic, the aforementioned leaf spring is folded so as to form a U.

  According to another characteristic, the leaf spring has a lower portion cooperating with the first support and having two branches forming a V, each leg having a variable width so that the deformation of this lower part of the spring is uniform over the entire length of the spring. this part.

  According to another characteristic, the upper part of the spring cooperating with the contact arm is folded so as to form a U, and has a variable profile so that its deformation is uniform over its entire length.

  According to another characteristic, the aforementioned spring comprises a base cooperating with the first support piece so as to ensure the lateral positioning of the spring with respect to said first piece and, via the spring, the lateral positioning of the arm relative to said first support part.

  According to another characteristic, the point of application of the force of the spring on the arm is close to the point of articulation of the contact support arm with respect to said first support part.

  According to another characteristic, the arm supports two so-called mobile contacts intended to cooperate with respectively two fixed contacts.

  According to another feature, the two contacts are supported by a portion of the contact support arm extending parallel to the hinge axis of said arm relative to said first support member.

  According to another characteristic, the arm is mounted hinged about two axes substantially perpendicular to each other, the rotation of the arm about the first axis allowing the passage of the contact support arm from the position separated from the contacts to the closed position of the contacts, and the rotation of the arm about the second axis to compensate for any discrepancy between the two fixed contacts or between the two movable contacts in a direction substantially parallel to the depth of the envelope.

  According to another characteristic, the contact arm is articulated relative to the second support part by means of a ball joint.

  According to another characteristic, the contact pressure spring comprising a base cooperating with the first support part so as to ensure the lateral positioning of the spring with respect to the first support part and, via the spring, of the arm relative to at the first support member, this mechanical connection of the base and the first support piece is made so as to prevent rotation of the contact support arm around a third axis perpendicular to the first two.

  According to another characteristic, the ball joint is formed by a spherical hollow shape provided in the arm cooperating with a conjugate shape provided in the second support piece.

  According to another characteristic, the spring in the form of a blade comprises a rectilinear opening adapted to slide cooperatively with a part of the first support piece so as to allow the translational movement of the leaf spring with respect to said first support piece during the rotation of the contact support arm so as to avoid a hyperstatic positioning of the spring.

  According to a particular feature, the first support member is formed by the cover 25 of the apparatus, while the second support member is formed by the housing of the apparatus.

  In another embodiment, the first and second support members are formed in a contact carrier shaft rotatably mounted in the housing of the apparatus.

  The present invention further relates to a signaling auxiliary housed in an envelope comprising a housing and a cover, this auxiliary being characterized in that it comprises a contact-carrier shaft rotatably mounted in the housing of the device (or the 4 cover), fixed contacts integral with the housing (or respectively of the cover), at least one contact device comprising the previously mentioned features taken alone or in combination, mounted in the contact-carrying shaft, comprising a mounted contact support arm articulated with respect to the contact-carrying shaft, said shaft constituting the aforementioned first and second support pieces, and at least one contact device comprising the aforementioned features taken alone or in combination, mounted in the cover, said cover constituting the first aforementioned contact support part. the second support part being constituted by the housing.

  According to another characteristic, the above-mentioned contact-carrying shaft comprises means for driving the contact-carrying arm (s) of the contact device (s) mounted in the cover in the separation position of the fixed and movable contacts, said (said) arms being recalled (s) in the contact position of the fixed and movable contacts by the (the) spring (s) of contact pressure.

  According to another characteristic, the contact device (s) assembled on the shaft is (are) said to be normally open, that is to say that the contact (s) closes (s) during the maneuvering of the shaft, and the contact device (s) assembled on the cover is (are) said normally closed, that is to say that the (the) contact (s) ( s) opens (s) during the maneuver.

  According to a particular characteristic, this auxiliary is controlled by a motor circuit breaker.

  But other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent in the detailed description which follows and refers to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example and in which:

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor circuit breaker equipped with a signaling auxiliary according to the invention and a connector; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover of said signaling auxiliary according to FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing of said auxiliary, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rotary shaft according to the invention,

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the housing of the signaling auxiliary in which said rotary shaft is mounted,

  - Figures 6,7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of said signaling auxiliary, illustrating the contact device respectively in a closed contact position, in a position of the contacts being opened and in an open contact position ,

  FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate, in a perspective view, a conductive bridge according to the invention, respectively in two inverted positions respectively showing the two faces of said bridge,

  FIG. 10a is an enlarged view of the part of the conductive bridge cooperating with the spring, and

  FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate, in two perspective views, a blade-shaped contact pressure spring in two different orientations making it possible to show the front face and the rear face of said spring.

  In FIG. 1 is illustrated a motor circuit breaker D in which a signaling auxiliary A and a connector C may be mounted. This signaling auxiliary A is intended on the one hand to signal the available or unavailable state of the contactor and on the other hand, to signal the triggering of the electrical protection. The available state of the contactor allows the closing of the contacts while the unavailable state prevents this closing of the contacts. The transition from an available state to an unavailable state and vice versa is done by means of a manual command. This auxiliary A is housed in an envelope 1 of substantially parallelepipedal shape comprising a housing 2 and a cover 3. As illustrated in Figure 2, the cover 3 comprises means for supporting a contact device 4 according to the invention. This contact device 4 comprises a conductive bridge 5 having two movable contacts 6, 7, said bridge 5 being supported by a contact arm 8 integral with said bridge 5. This arm is mounted inside a support piece 9, said first, integral with the cover 3. A contact pressure spring 10 in the form of a blade, is also placed in the support part between the arm 8 and the cover 3. This contact pressure spring 10 comprises a first portion 11, said lower, having two branches 11a, 1bb V-shaped, and a second portion 12, said upper, folded so as to form a U. This first part 1 l comprises two parts 11c, 1d 1d of different widths connected by an oblique part l 1 d. The second portion 12 has a different width over its entire length, and the two parts have a central opening 13,14, the two openings together forming an arrow, this shape allowing an equal deformation of the spring. This opening 13, 14 provided in the leaf spring co-operates with a slide 25 provided in the cover 3 (FIGS, 6, 7 and 8), so as to allow the leaf spring to slide in relation to the cover, in order to to leave said spring a degree of freedom allowing the operation of the system. This lower portion 11 of the spring 10 has at its free end 11c a base 15 intended to cooperate with a recess provided in the cover to prevent the lateral displacement of the spring 10 in the cover 3, and thus of the arm on which the spring is support. The free end 12a of the second portion 12 of the spring is intended to bear on the conductive bridge 5 so that it is biased by the spring towards the fixed contacts 16,17 integral with the housing 2 (Figure 3) while the portion 12b of the spring cooperating with the lid 3 is supported on said lid 3. For this purpose, said end 12a of the spring is shaped fork and cooperates with a notch 5a having a curved bottom (fig.5a) provided in the conductive bridge 5, said notch 5a being surrounded by two openings for receiving the two ends of the foregoing fork. 7 This notch allows the conductor bridge to rotate around the longitudinal centerline axis Y of the conductor bridge so as to allow the catch of any offset between the two fixed contacts or the two movable contacts depending on the depth of the housing.

  The arm 8 supporting the conductive bridge 5, is rotatably mounted relative to a ball portion 20 formed at the end of a rod 21 projecting from the inner surface of the housing 2, constituting a second support piece, by the intermediate of a recess 22 of partially spherical shape provided at the end of said arm and cooperating with said ball 20. The arm 5 can thus pivot about a first axis X parallel to the plane of the cover and allowing the pivoting of the door bridge contact between the separated position of the contacts and the closed position of the contacts, and the aforementioned second axis Y, the latter being perpendicular to the first axis X and passing through the aforementioned rod 21. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, a contact carrier shaft 23 is rotatably mounted inside the housing 2 and supports a contact device 4 according to the invention. This contact device comprises, as already described above, a conductive bridge 5 (FIGS. 9 and 10) comprising two movable contacts 6, 7 supported by a contact arm 8 integral with said bridge 5. This arm 8 is mounted in a housing provided in the shaft and is rotatably mounted, by its end located on the opposite side to the movable contacts, relative to a portion (not shown) of the rotary shaft 23. For this purpose, the arm 8 has a recess 22 cooperating with a ball (not shown) forming an integral part of the tree. A leaf spring 10 as described above (Figs.11,12), is also mounted in the aforementioned housing provided in the contact shaft. This spring is interposed between the shaft and the bridge. It comprises an opening 13,14 cooperating with a slide formed in the contact-carrying shaft and bears on the one hand on said shaft 23 and on the other hand on the conductive bridge 5 so as to recall the two movable contacts 6 , 7 of the conductor bridge 5 in contact with the fixed contacts 16,17. Thus, in this case, the contact-carrier shaft 23 serves as a support member with respect to which the conductive bridge is rotatably mounted and a support member for the spring. As shown in the figures, the apparatus comprises a contact device 4 according to the invention mounted in the cover (as shown in FIG. 2) and a device according to the invention mounted in the rotary shaft (such as illustrated in Figure 5). With regard to the device associated with the cover, the conductive bridge 5 and the spring 10 are mounted in the cover, and the conductive bridge is rotatably mounted relative to the ball formed at the end of the rod belonging to the housing 2. Concerning the device mounted in the rotary shaft, the bridge and the spring are mounted in a housing of said shaft. The leaf spring is supported on said shaft and the conductive bridge is rotatably mounted relative to said shaft. In addition, the above-mentioned contact-holder shaft 23 comprises means 24 for driving the contact-carrying arm 8 of the contact device mounted in the cover 3 in the position of separation of the fixed and mobile contacts, said arm being recalled in the contact position. fixed and movable contacts by the contact pressure spring. In FIG. 6, the contact device 4 associated with the cover 3 is in the closed contact position, the spring 10 being decompressed. In FIG. 7, after a counter-clockwise movement of the rotary shaft 23, the spring 10 is slightly compressed by the slight displacement of the spring 10. When this movement of the shaft 23 is continued, as shown in FIG. Figure 8, the spring 10 is in a state of maximum compression and the contacts are open. The contact device assembled on the shaft is said normally open (the electrical signal does not pass), that is to say that the (the) contact (s) closes (ent) during the operation of the shaft. The contact device assembled on the cover is said normally closed (the electrical signal passes), that is to say that the contacts open during the operation of the shaft (the electrical signal no longer passes). The device mounted in the contact-carrier shaft makes it possible to signal the available or unavailable state of the contactor. The device provided in the cover makes it possible to signal only that the protection is triggered. The function performed by the device provided on the cover traditionally requires a so-called return spring penalizing for the overall functional chain, because this spring is a consumer of mechanical energy. By assembling it on the cover, the return spring is no longer needed, which reduces the energy consumed in the overall functional chain.

  The use of a blade contact pressure spring reduces the size of the contact pressure spring. The articulation of the arm makes it possible to use a leaf spring which is less bulky than a coil spring in particular when it is desired to produce a force of very low value. Indeed, to obtain a coil spring of low strength and low stiffness, it takes a large number of turns, which generates a large footprint. The use of a uniformly flexed leaf spring reduces the size of the spring and makes it possible to create a leaf spring entering the available volume.

  The articulation of the contact arm around two axes makes it possible to obtain a certain mobility between the two contacts. The articulation of the arm is formed by a ball joint. The rotation guidance is carried out along three axes. The rotation around the third axis is blocked by the base on the support part. This mobility between the contacts makes it possible to establish the contact between the fixed and mobile contacts regardless of the relative offset of the fixed or moving contacts depending on the depth of the envelope. The articulation around the two axes is performed without additional parts. The fact of providing two contacts on a conductive bridge makes it possible to distribute the isolation distance on the two contacts. Thus, the height of the contact is reduced by half. The fact that the functions contact-holder and articulating arm are performed in the same room simplifies the mechanism. The contact carrier is guided transversely without friction. This is made possible by the fact that the lower support of the spring is positioned, by a base, in the support part, the spring transmitting this positioning to the contact arm. Thus, there is no creation of parasitic friction or use of additional parts.

  The force of the leaf spring is divided by the fact that the point of application of the spring force is close to the patella. The geometry of the articulated arm and leaf spring system is designed in such a way that the spring is manipulable.

  The invention makes it possible to produce high-performance contact devices of very small size. These devices can be actuated by motor circuit breakers having a force of low value imposed by construction. The invention is advantageously applicable to contact devices for signaling auxiliaries for motor circuit breakers and can also be implemented for example in circuit breakers, switches, contactors, disconnectors, so-called ultra-terminals devices. Of course, the invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments which have been given by way of example only.

  On the contrary, the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the described means as well as their combinations if these are carried out according to its spirit.

Claims (21)

  1. Electrical contact device for an electrical device housed in a housing, comprising at least one so-called fixed contact and at least one so-called mobile contact between an open position of the contacts in which the fixed contact (s) are separated from the movable contact (s) and a closed position of the contacts in which the movable contact (s) is (are) in contact with the contact (s) ) and a contact pressure spring adapted to return the movable contact (s) to the position of contact with the fixed contact (s), characterized in that the (les) movable contact (s) (6,7) is (are) mounted (s) at the end of an arm (8) mounted in a so-called first support piece (3,23), said arm (8) being hingedly mounted relative to a support member (2,23) said second and in that it comprises a blade contact pressure spring (10) mounted in said first support piece (3,23) and having a first end portion (12a) pressing on the arm (8) and a second end portion (12b) resting on the first support piece (3,23) so as to recall the movable contact (s) (6,7) in the position of contact with the fixed contact (s) (16, 17).   2. Contact device according to claim 1, characterized in that the said leaf spring (10) is shaped so as to have a uniform deformation over its entire length.   3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said leaf spring (10) is bent to form a U.   4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the leaf spring (10) has a lower portion (11) cooperating with the first support part (3,23) and having two branches (11a V), each leg having a variable width so that the deformation of this lower portion of the spring is uniform over the entire length of this portion. 12   5. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the upper part (12) of the spring (10) cooperating with the contact arm (5), is folded so as to form a U, and present a variable profile so that its deformation is uniform over its entire length.   6. Contact device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned spring (10) comprises a base (15) cooperating with the first support part (3,23) so as to ensure the lateral positioning of the spring (10) relative to said first support member (3,23) and, through the spring (10), the lateral positioning of the arm (5) relative to said first support member (3,23).   7. Contact device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the point of application of the force of the spring (10) on the arm (5) is close to the point of articulation of the arm (5) by relative to said first support member (3,23).   8. Contact device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm (5) supports two so-called mobile contacts (6,7) for cooperating with respectively two fixed contacts (16,17).   9. Contact device according to claim 8, characterized in that the two movable contacts (6,7) are supported by a portion of the contact support arm extending parallel to the axis of articulation X of said arm relative to said first support member (3,23).   10. Contact device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm (5) is mounted articulated about two axes X, Y substantially perpendicular to each other, the rotation of the arm ( 5) around the first axis X allowing the passage of the contact support arm (5) from the open position of the contacts to the closed position of the contacts, and the rotation of the arm (5) around the second axis Y to compensate for a possible offset between the two 13 fixed contacts or between the two movable contacts, in a direction substantially parallel to the depth of the envelope.   11. Contact device according to claim 10, characterized in that the free end of the leaf spring 10 is shaped fork and cooperates with a notch 5a having a domed bottom, said notch being surrounded by two openings provided in the support arm. contact 5.   12. Contact device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact arm (5) is pivotally mounted relative to the second support member (2) by means of a ball joint (20).   13. Contact device according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the contact pressure spring (10) having a base (15) cooperating with the first support part (3,23) so as to ensure the lateral positioning of the spring (10) relative to the first support part and, through the spring, of the arm (5) relative to the housing (2), this mechanical connection of the base (15) and the first support piece (3,23) is formed so as to prevent the rotation of the support arm (5) of contact around a third axis perpendicular to the first two X, Y.   14. Contact device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the aforementioned ball joint connection (20) is formed by a spherical hollow shape (22) provided in the arm cooperating with a conjugate shape provided in the second support piece ( 2).   15. Contact device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the leaf spring (10) has a rectilinear opening (13, 14) adapted to slide together with a part of the first support piece ( 1) so as to allow the translation movement of the leaf spring relative to said first support member during the rotation of the contact support arm (5) so as to avoid a hyperstatic positioning of the spring. 14   16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first support part is formed by the cover (3) of the device, while the second support part is formed by the housing (2) of the apparatus.   17. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the first and the second support part are formed for a contact-carrying shaft (23) rotatably mounted in the housing (2) of the apparatus.   18. A signaling aid housed in an envelope comprising a housing and a cover, characterized in that it comprises a contact-carrying shaft (23) rotatably mounted in the housing (2) of the device (or the cover), fixed contacts (16, 17) integral with the housing (2) (or respectively of the cover (1)), at least one contact device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, mounted in the contact-carrying shaft (23). ), comprising a contact support arm (5) articulated with respect to the contact-carrying shaft (23), said shaft constituting the aforementioned first and second support parts, and at least one contact device according to any one of the Claims 1 to 14, mounted in the cover (3), said cover constituting the first aforementioned contact support part, the second support part consisting of the housing (2).   19. A signaling aid according to claim 18, characterized in that the aforementioned contact carrier shaft (23) comprises means (24) for driving the portecontact arm (s) (5) of the device (s) ( s) mounted in the cover (1) in the position of separation of the fixed and movable contacts, said (said) arms being returned to the position of contact of the fixed and movable contacts by the spring (s) of contact pressure (10).   20. signaling aid according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the (s) contact device (s) assembled (s) on the shaft (23) is (are) said normally open, ie that the contact (s) closes during the operation of the shaft, and the contact device (s) assembled on the cover is (are) said normally closed (s) ), ie the contact (s) opens (s) during the maneuver.15   21. Auxiliary signaling, characterized in that it is controlled by a motor circuit breaker.