FR3047800A1 - POSITION SENSOR FOR MOBILE CONTACT OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a position sensor of a contact of an electrical equipment in which said contact is movably mounted with respect to another contact with which it cooperates to establish and respectively interrupt an electrical connection during an operation. closing, and respectively opening, of the electrical equipment. The sensor comprises: - a fixed part (1) which carries at least one magnetically actuated switch (5a, 5b); - A movable part (2) integral with the movably mounted contact, which carries at least one magnet (4a, 4b) which during movement of the movably mounted contact is caused to move opposite the at least one switch (5a, 5b). ) so that it is switched; and an electronic circuit (6) for providing a signal representative of the position of the at least one magnet with respect to the at least one switch.

Description

POSITION SENSOR FOR MOBILE DEVICE CONTACT

ELECTRIC

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL AREA

The field of the invention is that of switchgear, for example of the circuit-breaker or disconnector type, which have a movably mounted contact with respect to another contact with which it cooperates to establish and respectively interrupt an electrical connection. during a closing operation, and opening, the electrical equipment. The invention more particularly relates to a sensor for delivering a position information of the movable contact to the control systems for controlling such electrical equipment.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

The control systems of electrical equipment type circuit breaker or disconnector generally requires to have an all or nothing information indicating the time of establishment (or rupture) of contact between the movable contact and the other contact, usually fixed. This information, represented by the curve If in FIG. 1, makes it possible to control the closing and opening operations of the electrical equipment so that they occur at the most appropriate moment as a function of the load of the equipment. network (capacitive and / or inductive and / or resistive). This control is for example carried out by a switching control device, such as for example a point-of-wave controller.

The control systems may also need to have an all or nothing information indicative of a fully open position (represented by the curve 0 in FIG. 1) or closed complement (represented by the curve F in FIG. electrical equipment.

They may also require having a maneuver curve information representative of the position of the movable contact during its maneuver. This information, represented by the curve M in FIG. 1, makes it possible in particular to control the speed of movement of the moving contact during the closing and opening operations of the electrical equipment.

Finally, there is a need for pulse information passing at the end of counting maneuvers, or position indications for feeding a positional consistency monitoring system.

To meet these needs, it is generally used signaling contacts to which must be added additional displacement sensors, various technologies, to have the speed of maneuver.

But the signaling contacts, which are usually part of high power switchgear, are subject to wear or deformation of mechanical drive parts. They can not therefore be subjected to many opening / closing cycles, and are thus unsuitable for use by switching control devices, for example of the point-to-wave controller type.

The displacement sensors themselves can be brought to follow a rotary or linear drive according to the mechanical environment. This results in a plurality of solutions and mechanical drive systems. These sensors can also be located at several levels in the motion transmission chain. There is therefore no generic solution that can be adapted to any type of electrical equipment.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of existing solutions. It aims more particularly to provide a position sensor that is insensitive to shock and vibration, free of mechanical wear, able to deliver the various types of information desired (all or nothing, proportional) while being easily adapted to any type switchgear. The invention thus relates more to a position sensor of a contact of an electrical equipment in which said contact is movably mounted relative to another contact with which it cooperates to establish, and respectively interrupt, an electrical connection during a operation of closing, and respectively opening, the electrical equipment. The position sensor comprises: - a fixed part which carries at least one magnetically actuated switch; - A movable portion secured to the movably mounted contact, which carries at least one magnet which during movement of the movably mounted contact is caused to move with respect to the at least one magnetically actuated switch so as to make it switch; and an electronic circuit associated with the at least one magnetically actuated switch of the fixed part to provide a signal representative of the position of the at least one magnet of the moving part with respect to the at least one actuating switch magnetic.

Some preferred but non-limiting aspects of this position sensor are the following: the fixed part comprises a support and at least one set of magnetically actuated switches arranged on the support in accordance with a profile, and the at least one magnet of the mobile part is brought, during the displacement of the movably mounted contact, to move sequentially opposite the switches of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches along said profile so as to switch sequentially the switches of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches; the switches of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches are arranged in such a way as to make it possible to follow the movement of the at least one magnet during the stroke of the mobile part integral with the movably mounted contact, and the electronic circuit is configured to provide a signal proportional to the displacement portion already tracked by the magnet during the stroke of the movable portion; the electronic circuit comprises a resistive voltage divider whose output voltage is a function of the position of the at least one magnet of the mobile part along said profile; the resistive voltage divider comprises a variable number of resistors placed in series which is controlled by the position of the at least one magnet of the mobile part along said profile; the switches of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches are arranged so as to make it possible to follow the displacement of the at least one magnet during a running portion of the movable part integral with the movably mounted contact, and electronic circuit is configured to provide an all or nothing signal depending on whether or not the magnet is opposite one of the switches of said at least one set of magnetically actuated switches; the at least one magnet is dimensioned so as to switch, when moving the moving part, a switch when the at least one magnet is directly opposite said switch and two switches arranged side by side when the at least one magnet is a magnet is opposite the moving part between said two switches arranged side by side; the fixed part comprises a first and a second set of magnetically actuable switches arranged on the support, and the movable part comprises a first and a second magnet which, during the displacement of the movably mounted contact, is caused to move sequentially respectively opposite switches of the first and second sets of magnetically actuated switches. The invention also relates to an electrical apparatus comprising a position sensor according to the invention, as well as to the use of the signal supplied by the electronic circuit of the position sensor according to the invention in a control system controlling the apparatus. electric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other aspects, objects, advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, and made in reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1, already discussed above, illustrates position information of a movable switching contact that may be required by control systems of electrical equipment; FIG. 2 illustrates the position sensor according to the invention and the securing of its mobile part with a movable switching contact; FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the position sensor of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 represents an electric circuit that can be used in an exemplary embodiment of the position sensor to make it possible to provide a proportional signal representative of the position of the moving contact during its maneuver; FIGS. 5a-5c illustrate a possible dimensioning of the magnet able to increase the resolution of the sensor; FIG. 6 represents an exemplary embodiment of the fixed part of a position sensor according to the invention comprising several sets of electrically actuated switches each dedicated to the provision of a given type of position information; FIG. 7 represents an electric circuit that can be associated with several sets of switches of the fixed part of FIG. 6 in order to deliver various all-or-nothing position information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS The invention relates to a position sensor of a switching contact of an electrical equipment in which said contact is mounted to move relative to another contact with which it cooperates to establish and respectively interrupt , an electrical connection during a closing operation, and respectively opening, the electrical equipment. The invention extends to an electrical equipment equipped with such a position sensor, as well as to the use of the position information delivered by such a sensor in a control system for controlling the electrical equipment. The electrical equipment is for example a high voltage switchgear, such as a circuit breaker or a disconnector gas-insulated or air.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the position sensor C comprises a fixed part 1 which carries at least one magnetically actuated switch 5a, 5b, and a movable part 2 integral with the movably mounted switching contact. In the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, a bar 3 connects the moving part 2 to the switching contact Ce so as to give the moving part the driving of the switching contact. This training can be rotary as is the case in the figures, or linear.

The movable portion 2 carries at least one magnet 4a, 4b which during movement of the movably mounted contact Ce is caused to move opposite the at least one magnetically actuated switch 5a, 5b, thereby making it switch.

The position sensor further comprises an electronic circuit 6 which can be mounted on the fixed part 1. This circuit 6 is associated with the at least one magnetically actuated switch of the fixed part to provide, for example on an output cable 7, a signal representative of the position of the at least one magnet of the movable portion relative to the at least one magnetically actuated switch. The magnet following the travel of the movably mounted contact Ce, this signal is therefore representative of the position of the mounted mounted contact.

The fixed part 1 may comprise a printed circuit board 11, for example FR-4, on which are mounted the at least one switch 5a, 5b and optionally the components of the electronic circuit 6. The at least one switch In particular, it can be installed on the surface of the printed circuit in the same way as other electronic components by an automatic machine. The at least one magnetically actuated switch is for example a reed-type glass bulb switch. The invention is however not limited to this type of switch, and extends for example also to MEMS-type magnetic actuation switches.

The movable part 2 is mounted so that the at least one magnet 4a, 4b moves a few millimeters from the fixed part during the driving of the switching contact. The switching (typically a closure) of the at least one switch 5a, 5b is thus made without contact during the passage of the magnet 4a, 4b above the switch.

The sensor according to the invention is therefore based on the non-contact detection of the passage of the magnet above a switch. This results in a sensor that is free of mechanical wear. In addition, the presence of dirt or water does not disturb this detection, which allows a mounting without special protection.

The fixed part 1 typically carries a plurality of switches grouped together in at least one set of switches arranged on the support in accordance with a profile. This profile corresponds to the drive mode of the switching contact Ce and thus corresponds to a circular arc or to a rectilinear segment depending on whether the drive is rotary or linear.

The switches of a set of switches can be arranged side by side according to the profile, without this being for all that limiting. The at least one magnet 4a, 4b of the movable part 2 is brought, during the displacement of the movably mounted contact, to move sequentially opposite the switches of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches along said profile. so as to switch sequentially the switches of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches.

As is the case in the example of FIG. 3, the fixed part 1 can comprise a first and a second set 5a 5b of magnetically actuated switches arranged on the support 11. The mobile part 2 then comprises a first and a second a second magnet 4a, 4b which, during the displacement of the movably mounted contact, is caused to move sequentially respectively opposite the switches of the first and second sets of magnetically actuated switches. These sets are typically arranged in parallel to each other according to the profile, without this being for all that limiting.

The switch assemblies may each be dedicated to providing a type of desired position information among all-or-nothing information and proportional information.

In a possible embodiment, there is thus a first set of switches 5a dedicated to the provision of a proportional position information and a second set of switches 5b dedicated to providing an all or nothing position information.

The switches 5a of the first set of magnetically actuated switches are thus arranged so as to enable the movement of the magnet 4a to be followed during the travel of the movable part 2 integral with the movably mounted contact Ce. And the electronic circuit 6 is configured to provide a signal proportional to the displacement portion already followed by the magnet 4a during the stroke of the moving part.

The switches 5b of the second set are arranged so as to follow the movement of the magnet 4b during a running portion of the movable portion integral with the movably mounted contact. And the electronic circuit 6 is configured to provide an all or nothing signal depending on whether or not the magnet is facing one of the switches of the second set.

The switches of the second set of switches can themselves be grouped into different subsets, each dedicated to the provision of an all or nothing information relating to a given passage point during the operation of the switching contact. This point of passage may correspond to a completely open position or closed complement of the electrical equipment, or to an intermediate position between these positions, for example the position corresponding to the separation of the switching contacts.

Each subset includes at least one switch. Several switches may be grouped together in a subset to provide position information around the waypoint, for example to account for some mobility of the switch contact in the fully open or closed complement position of the switchgear.

FIG. 4 illustrates an electronic circuit 6a that can be used in the context of the invention to provide proportional information of the operating curve type. This circuit 6a can be associated with the first set of switches 5a consisting for example of 57 switches arranged side by side.

The electronic circuit 6a comprises a resistive voltage divider 8 whose output voltage is a function of the position of the magnet 4a of the moving part along said profile.

The resistive voltage divider 8 comprises a variable number of first resistors RI placed in series with a second resistor R2. This number is controlled by the position of the magnet of the moving part along said profile. The output voltage of the divider, taken across the second resistor R2, is then a function of the number of first resistors RI placed in series with the second resistor.

Each switch 5a of the first set of magnetically actuated switches comprises a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminals of the switches are connected to a common terminal, and the first resistors R1 of the resistive voltage divider 8 are arranged in such a way that each first resistor R1 connects the second terminals of two adjacent switches along said profile.

During the operation of the movably mounted switching contact, for example during a closing operation, the magnet of the mobile part of the sensor sequentially closes the switches of the first set, which causes a corresponding incrementation (or decrementation) of the number of first resistors RI put in series with the second resistor R2.

When the magnet is dimensioned so as to allow switching only one switch at a time, the ratio of the output voltage / supply voltage of the divider 8 is given, ignoring the presence of a resistance of load Rch in parallel with the second resistor, where n is the number of first resistances put in series (it is an integer between 0 and N1, N corresponding to the number of switches).

In a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5a-5c, the magnet is dimensioned so as to switch, when the moving part is moving, a switch when the at least one magnet is directly opposite said switch and two switches arranged side by side when the at least one magnet is facing the moving part between said two switches arranged side by side.

In such a way, when the switches are arranged side by side, during the movement of the magnet, at least one switch is systematically closed. This makes it possible to avoid discontinuities in the output voltage of the resistive divider that occur when a magnet opposite the moving part between two switches arranged side by side does not switch any of the switches.

Moreover, this dimensioning of the magnet makes it possible to create an intermediate point between each pair of switches, which makes it possible to increase the resolution by two.

Figure 5a shows in this regard the closure of a switch II by the presence of the magnet A opposite the switch allowing the series in series with the second resistance R2 of two first resistances RI among five possible.

In Figure 5b, the magnet A has moved and is now facing the movable portion between two switches II and 12. These two switches are then closed, resulting in the short-circuiting of the first resistor connecting the second terminals of switches II and 12. We find in the divisor putting in series with the second resistance R2 of two first resistances RI among four possible.

The displacement of the magnet continues, and in FIG. 5c, it is now opposite switch 12. Only this switch is then closed, allowing the first resistance R2 to be placed in series with three first IR resistors out of five possible.

Returning to FIG. 4, the electronic circuit 6a further includes an operational amplifier 12 making it possible to transform the image voltage of the position generated by the divider 8 into a current of amplitude proportional to the position.

The offset voltage of this amplifier 12 is set by supplying amplifier terminals Rout and Rfb with an image voltage of the number of first resistors R2 placed in series with the second resistor. The amplifier 12 makes it possible to carry out a voltage / current transformation from a reference voltage supplying the positive supply terminal "V +" of the amplifier, by delivering a current output signal, taken up by the terminal of negative power supply "V-" of the amplifier, whose amplitude is proportional to the current position of the mounted mounted contact. If necessary, an analog-to-digital converter can be integrated to provide a digital rather than analog position signal. The non-inverting input "+" and the inverting input "-" of the amplifier 12 are connected by a capacitor 13 making it possible to linearize the output signal, otherwise it would have as many stages as there are actuating switches. magnetic.

FIG. 6 shows the fixed part of the position sensor of FIG. 3. It contains the first set of switches 5a dedicated to the supply of a proportional information and the second set of switches 5b dedicated to the supply. an all or nothing information. The switches of the second set 5b are grouped into different subsets, namely: a first subassembly 8, here constituted by 4 switches, for the supply of an on-off information corresponding to the fully open position; a second subassembly 9, here consisting of 17 switches, for providing an on-off information corresponding to the position of separation of the switching contacts; and a third subassembly 10, here constituted of 4 switches and contiguous of the second subassembly 9, for the supply of an on / off information corresponding to the fully closed position.

FIG. 7 represents an electric circuit 6b that can be associated with the subsets of switches of the fixed part of FIG. 6 in order to deliver various all-or-nothing position information. In this circuit, the switches of a subassembly 8, 9, 10 are connected in parallel between two terminals 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b; 10a, 10b to be connected to a pair of twisted wires. Thus, when the magnet is facing a subassembly 8, 9, 10, a switch (or two in the case mentioned above in connection with Figures 5a-5c) is found controlled closing then ensuring the passage of the current between the two terminals and thus the provision of all or nothing information representative of a position corresponding to a given waypoint (in this case the fully open position for the subassembly 8, the corresponding position at the separation of the contacts for the subset 9, and the complement position closed for the subset 10). This information also has the advantage of being directly compatible with high impedance PLC inputs which are designed for low current signals.

According to one possible embodiment, it is possible to combine the all or nothing information coming from two subsets by associating in parallel the switches of two subsets. In FIG. 7, this is the case of the switches of the subassemblies 9 and 10 which are connected in parallel between the terminals 9a and 9b on which there is therefore an all or nothing information representative of the position of separation of the contacts or the complement position closed.

In order to keep on the terminals 10a, 10b, only one information relating to the completely closed position, a diode 14 may be interposed between the parallel arrangement of the switches of the second subassembly 9 and the parallel arrangement of the switches of the second sub. -Set 10, so as to prevent relaying to the terminals 10a, 10b an all or nothing information representative of the position of separation of the contacts.

In a possible embodiment, the position sensor is supported by a mechanical part which also supports a wedge pin of the electrical equipment. The sensor can be immediately mounted in the right place without any further adjustment. The invention allows to group on a circuit several functions, with a single technology. The functions are absolute position sensors with analog or digital output and indication of the position of the moving contact by digital signals. This helps to reduce costs. The solution also relies on widely used printed circuit manufacturing technology.

Of course, it is possible to implement only one function (for example, only the absolute position) or to combine these functions in any manner without departing from the scope of the invention (for example absolute position and fully closed position). .

The moving moving part has a low mass. The resistance to shocks and vibrations and the service life are thus important.

The sensor is also very fast in response time and the particular arrangement of the switches makes it possible to reach a high resolution.

Claims (12)

A position sensor of a contact of an electrical apparatus in which said contact is movably mounted relative to another contact with which it cooperates to establish, and respectively interrupt, an electrical connection during a closing operation, and respectively opening, of the electrical equipment, the position sensor comprising: - a fixed part (1) which carries at least one magnetically actuated switch (5a, 5b); - A movable part (2) integral with the movably mounted contact, which carries at least one magnet (4a, 4b) which during movement of the movably mounted contact is caused to move with respect to the at least one magnetically actuated switch ( 5a, 5b) so as to make it switch; and an electronic circuit associated with the at least one magnetically actuated switch of the fixed part to provide a signal representative of the position of the at least one magnet of the moving part with respect to the at least one switch with magnetic actuation. Position sensor (C) according to claim 1, in which: the fixed part (1) comprises a support and at least one set (5a, 5b) of magnetically actuated switches arranged on the support in accordance with a profile ; and the at least one magnet (4a, 4b) of the movable part is brought, during the displacement of the movably mounted contact, to move sequentially opposite the switches of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches. along said profile so as to switch the switches of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches sequentially. Position sensor according to Claim 2, in which the switches (5a) of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches are arranged in such a way as to make it possible to follow the movement of the at least one magnet (4a) during the stroke of the movable portion secured to the movably mounted contact, and wherein the electronic circuit (7) is configured to provide a signal proportional to the displacement portion already followed by the magnet during the stroke of the movable portion. 4. Position sensor according to claim 3, wherein the electronic circuit (7) comprises a resistive voltage divider (8) whose output voltage is a function of the position of the at least one magnet (4a) of the part mobile along said profile. Position sensor according to claim 4, wherein the resistive voltage divider (8) comprises a variable number of resistors (RI) placed in series which is controlled by the position of the at least one magnet of the movable part. along said profile. The position sensor according to claim 5, wherein each switch (5a) of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminals of the switches of the at least one at least one set of magnetically actuated switches are connected to a common terminal, and wherein the resistors (RI) of the resistive voltage divider (8) are arranged in series so that each resistor connects the second terminals of two adjacent switches along said profile. The position sensor according to claim 2, wherein the switches (5b) of said at least one set of magnetically actuated switches are arranged to track the movement of the at least one magnet during a portion. stroke of the movable portion integral with the movably mounted contact, and wherein the electronic circuit (6) is configured to provide an all or nothing signal depending on whether or not the magnet is facing one of the switches of said at least one switch assembly with magnetic actuation. 8. Position sensor according to one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the switches of the at least one set of magnetically actuated switches are arranged side by side on the support according to the profile. The position sensor according to claim 8, wherein the at least one magnet (5a, 5b) is sized to switch, when moving the moving part, a switch when the at least one magnet is directly opposite said switch and two switches arranged side by side when the at least one magnet is opposite the movable portion between said two switches arranged side by side. Position sensor according to one of Claims 2 to 9, in which the fixed part (1) comprises a first (5a) and a second set (5b) of magnetically actuated switches arranged on the support, and in which the movable part (2) comprises a first and a second magnet (4a, 4b) which, during the displacement of the movably mounted contact, is made to move sequentially respectively opposite the switches of the first and second sets of magnetically actuated switches. Electrical apparatus comprising a position sensor according to one of claims 1 to 10. 12. Use of the signal provided by the electronic circuit of the position sensor according to one of claims 1 to 10 in a control system of the electrical equipment control.