JPH06215679A - Auxiliary breaker for main breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an auxiliary switch device containing a movable element which is connected to a member connected to a moving contact of a main switch device, through a connecting means, and capable of turning current between two connecting terminals, within a casing forming an additional device of a main switch, and fixed to the side surface of the main switch. CONSTITUTION: An auxiliary switch device contains at least one proximity detector type circuit 3 or 4 mounted on the inside of a casing 11. The circuit 3 or 4 detects the motion of a movable element 14, corresponding to the position of a movable member 28 of a main switch 2, and ensures turning flow between two connecting terminals 12, 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device connected to a movable contact of a main switch device in a casing fixed to a side surface of the main switch, which constitutes an additional device of the main switch device. The present invention relates to an auxiliary switchgear device including a movable element that is connected via a connecting means and can transfer a current between two connection terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, auxiliary contact blocks or switch blocks mounted on the front or side of a main contactor have been proposed. These auxiliary contact blocks are auxiliary electrodes of the contactor and are controlled simultaneously with the main contacts. These auxiliary contacts serve various auxiliary functions. That is, self power feeding, insertion of additional resistance of electromagnet for direct current, control command and signal command, control transmission between different contactors, connection with programmable automat, etc.

Thermal relays or section switches can also be provided with auxiliary contacts.

A distinction is made between a momentary opening / closing auxiliary contact that operates simultaneously with the pole of the main contact and a timing contact that operates with a certain delay with respect to the opening / closing of the main contact.

[0005]

Each auxiliary contact, like the main contact, consists of a fixed contact and a movable contact which may or may not be crimped onto this fixed contact. The drive contact piece of the movable contact is connected to the movable portion of the main contact. Patent FR-2,5
55,804 and EP-86,698 disclose conventional auxiliary contact blocks. These prior art auxiliary contacts create aging or life issues in harsh environments.

An object of the present invention is to provide a commutation device that acts as an auxiliary device for a switchgear and uses a static (contactless) output detector instead of a normal auxiliary contact (movable contact). Auxiliary contact blocks using such sensing technology show many advantages. Besides its cost of manufacture, the commutation device does not age or wear regardless of the number of operations. This device is fully compatible with electronic automation, especially the input characteristics of 24V DC programmable automats. This device is durable to industrial environments, especially hazardous atmospheres. The device according to the invention is able to commutate high amperage currents at 250 V or higher with the addition of an output stage. The device of the present invention allows the use of semiconductor technology in other applications in place of conventional active-quiet timing type auxiliary contacts.

[0007]

According to the invention, the auxiliary switchgear device comprises at least one circuit of the proximity detector type mounted in a casing, said circuit being the position of the movable member of the main switchgear. Accordingly, the motion of the movable element for controlling the switch is detected to guarantee the commutation between the two connection terminals.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the detector mounted in the casing is an inductive detector, the movable element being at least partially metallic and cooperating with the detector. And

According to another embodiment of the invention, the printed wiring board is characterized in that it comprises at least one conductive path winding forming a self-induction coil of an oscillator of an induction circuit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, it is characterized by including a detector circuit connected to the self-induction winding for opening and closing a terminal.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is characterized in that it comprises an output stage controlled by the detector circuit for commutating the current between the connection terminals.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the programmable electronic timing circuit is inserted between the detector circuit and the output stage.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS.

The auxiliary switch 1 of the present invention is mounted on the main switch 2. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this switch 2 comprises a contactor.

The auxiliary switch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a front block. As a modification, it can be a horizontal type.

The main switch 2 has a pedestal or base 22 for fixing it on a support.

The casing 21 of the main switch 2 comprises side plates 23 which extend perpendicularly to the front of the main switch and which clamp an output terminal 24 associated with a fastening screw. There is. The front of the casing shows the assembly means 27 for receiving the casing of the auxiliary switch 1.

An electromagnet for controlling the movement of the movable contact is arranged in the casing 21. When the electromagnet is energized, the movable contact contacts the fixed contact connected to the output terminal. The movable member 28 carrying the movable contacts and connected to the movable contact piece of the electromagnet makes a translational movement, these contacts being of the double-break type. The movable means 28 is provided with a connecting means 29 protruding outside the casing.

The casing 11 of the auxiliary switch 1 is provided with an assembly lock means corresponding to the assembly means 27 of the main switch 2. These assembling locking means consist of dovetail type grooves that allow the casing 11 to slide on the slider forming the fixing means 27. The lock locks the casing 11 onto the casing 21. The casing 11 includes auxiliary terminals 12 and 13 for external connection.

The auxiliary switch 1 includes a movable slider 14,
This slider 14 comprises a connecting means 16 for engaging said connecting means 29 when the auxiliary switch 1 is mounted on the main switch 2. The movable slider 14 is translationally guided in the casing 11 so as to slide on the translational surface of the movable member 28. The slider 14 is mounted in the casing 11 and is connected to the connection terminals 12, 13
It moves in parallel to the switching circuit 3 connected to. The switching circuit 3 includes a proximity detection type circuit, which detects the movement of the slider 14 and diverts a current between the terminals 12 and 13.

In the embodiment shown in the attached drawing, this circuit 3 is of the inductive proximity detection type. This circuit 3 is shown in FIGS.
The details are shown in FIG.

The switching circuit 3 of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 6 comprises an alternating field oscillation generator. The movable slider 14 comprises a metal screen 15, which carries a Foucault current when it is placed in a magnetic field. The electrical energy converted in this metal screen damps the vibration of the circuit.

The switching circuit 3 is arranged in a casing 11 on a printed wiring board 6, which contains the electronic elements necessary for carrying out the switching function. Printed wiring board 6
Includes a conductive path coil 31, which forms part of the electronic switching circuit 3 shown in detail in FIG.
It is connected to both terminals 12 or 13. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the printed wiring board 6 has a second conductive path coil 41 forming part of the second switching circuit 4. That is, the device includes two switches. The printed wiring board 6 has two coils 31 and 41 connected to the electronic circuits 3 and 4, respectively. The number and type of these switches (normally open, normally closed) can be adapted.

The conductive path coil 31 or 41 forms a self-induction coil that generates an alternating electromagnetic field with which the metal screen 15 moves.

The circuit 3 comprises an analog circuit for the inductive proximity detector 32, whose pins 1 and 6 are respectively the connection terminals 1.
It is connected to 2 and 13. The detector circuit 32 includes an output stage that opens and closes the circuit between the terminal 12 (0V) and the terminal 13 (+ Vcc). This circuit 32 is connected to the self-induction coil 31 by its terminals 3 and 7,
A capacitor 33 is mounted in parallel on the top. The damping of this oscillator by the metal screen 15 ensures the commutation of the output stage of the circuit 32.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the device includes an output amplifier 34, which diverts current between terminals 12,13. The output amplifier 34 is controlled by the detection circuit 32. This output stage 34 includes output transistors in the case of direct current and uses thyristors or triacs in the case of alternating current. This output stage 34
Are capable of commutating multi-amp currents of 250V or higher.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the device has a timing function. Programmable electronic timing circuit 35 processes the output signal of detector circuit 32. The timing circuit 35 also controls the output stage 34, which diverts the current between the terminals 12 and 13. This device uses semiconductor technology in place of the known active-quiet timing type auxiliary contacts.

The device according to the invention is always used in the above-mentioned applications.
It should be noted that only the connection terminals are shown.

The operation of the device of the present invention will be described below.

In the normally open state, the electrical energy required for the operation of the switching circuit 3 or 4 is obtained at the terminals 12 and 13 in the form of an allowable leakage current for charging (connected to the terminals 12 and 13).

When the screen-carrying slider 14 is translated by the main unit 2, the detector 3 causes the terminal 1 to move.
Utilizing the circuit between 2 and 13, the energy required for operation is obtained in the form of a residual voltage that is acceptable for charging.

FIG. 7 is a chronograph relating to the normal release contact (NO) and the normal close contact (NC) of the timing device of FIG.

The present invention is not limited to the above description, but can be arbitrarily modified and implemented within the scope of the gist thereof.

Proximity detector 32 provided in the auxiliary device
Can be other types, such as the Hall effect type, instead of the inductive type.

The auxiliary device according to the invention can also be a thermal relay.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an auxiliary switch block according to the present invention mounted on the front side of a main contactor.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing a configuration of an auxiliary switch block according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a printed wiring board mounted in the auxiliary switch block of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an auxiliary switch block according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a circuit including an output stage of an auxiliary switch block of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a circuit having a timing contact function of the auxiliary switch block of the present invention.

7 is a correlation chronograph of the timing device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Auxiliary Switch 2 Main Switch 3, 4 Switching Circuit 11 Casing 12, 13 Auxiliary Terminal 14 Movable Element (Slider) 15 Metal Screen 16 Coupling Means 28 Movable Means 29 Coupling Means 31, 41 Winding 32 Proximity Detector Circuit 33 Capacitor 34 Output stage (amplifier) 35 Programmable timing circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A main switchgear (2) is provided with an additional device and is connected to a movable contact of the main switchgear device (2) in a casing fixed to a side surface of the main switchgear (2). An auxiliary switchgear device comprising a movable element (14) connected to a member (28) via a connecting means (15) and capable of commutating a current between two connection terminals (12, 13), This auxiliary switchgear device comprises at least one circuit (3 or 4) of the proximity detector type mounted in a casing (11), said circuit (3 or 4) being a movable member of the main switchgear (2). Corresponding to the position of (28), the movement of the movable element (14) is detected to detect the two connection terminals (1
Auxiliary switchgear device characterized by ensuring commutation between 2, 13). 2. The detector mounted in the casing (11) is an inductive type detector, and the movable element (1)
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that 4) is at least partly a metal (15) for cooperating with the detector. 3. A printed wiring board (6) comprising at least one conductive path winding (31, 41) forming a self-induction coil of an oscillator of an induction circuit. The apparatus according to 2. 4. A detector circuit (32) connected to said self-induction winding (31) for opening and closing terminals (12, 13).
An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: 5. An output stage (3) controlled by the detector circuit (32) for commutating current between the connection terminals.
Device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises 4). 6. A programmable electronic timing circuit (35) inserted between the detector circuit (32) and the output stage (34) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. apparatus.