Switching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10049827-B2
Application number	US-201515529088-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2015
Priority date	Nov 28, 2014
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A switching device has a switching chamber; a plate-like switching element, which can be moved in the switching chamber along a linear movement axis (Z) between an ON position in which the switching element connects fixed contacts to one another, and an OFF position in which the switching element is at a distance from the fixed contacts; an actuator for linear movement of the switching element inside the switching chamber; and spring(s) which prestress the switching element in the direction of the movement axis (Z). Guides are provided and configured so the switching element in the switching chamber is guided along the movement axis (Z) in a linearly movable manner and held so a main axis (N) of the switching element, which runs perpendicularly with respect to the two main extension directions (X, Y) of the switching element, is oriented at least substantially parallel to the movement axis (Z).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switching device, comprising:
a switching chamber;
a switching element, which can be moved in the switching chamber along a linear movement axis (Z) between an ON position in which the switching element connects fixed contacts to one another, and an OFF position in which the switching element is at a distance from the fixed contacts;
an actuator configured to move the switching element linearly inside the switching chamber;
a spring which prestresses the switching element in a direction of the movement axis (Z); and
a guide configured such that the switching element in the switching chamber is guided along the movement axis (Z) in a linearly movable manner,
wherein the guide forms a tilt protection for the switching element so that if forces are applied to the switching device from outside, the switching element can only tilt to such an extent that it cannot be overtilted in the switching chamber or slip beneath the spring,
wherein the guide includes a guide body arranged between the spring and the switching element,
wherein the switching element is designed in a form of a plate,
wherein the guide is configured such that the switching element is held in the switching chamber along the movement axis (Z) such that a main axis (N) of the switching element, which runs perpendicular to both main extension directions (X, Y) of the switching element, is oriented at least substantially parallel to the movement axis (Z),
wherein the guide body is substantially plate-like and has an external cross-section corresponding at least substantially to an internal cross-section of the switching chamber, and
wherein a plurality of guide elements extend in the direction of the main axis (N) and are arranged on the guide body and protrude on a side of the guide body opposite the switching element.

2. The switching device of claim 1 , wherein a ratio between an extension of the guide in the direction of the main axis (N) and an extension of the switching element in the direction of the main axis (N) is greater than or equal to 1.5:1.

3. The switching device of claim 1 , wherein the guide body is in contact with the switching element in a non-fixed manner.

4. The switching device of claim 1 , wherein the guide elements are substantially column-shaped and are arranged on edges of the guide body.

5. The switching device of claim 1 , wherein the guide and the switching element are separate components.

6. The switching device of claim 1 , wherein the guide is connected to the switching element.

7. The switching device of claim 1 , wherein the guide elements define a holding area therebetween, in which the spring is held.

8. The switching device of claim 1 , wherein the switching element includes at least one projection on each of two opposite side surfaces thereof; the switching chamber includes at least one recess on each side wall thereof, and the projections engage in the recesses so as to guide the switching element along the movement axis (Z) in the switching chamber.

Assignees

• Eaton Electrical Ip Gmbh & Co
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Thar Ralf
• Molitor Ute

Classifications

• H01H1/20 Primary

  Bridging contacts {(for circuit breakers H01H73/045)} · CPC title

• H01H1/2008 Primary

  Facilitate mounting or replacing contact bridge and pressure spring on carrier (H01H11/0012 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01H1/30

  within supporting guides · CPC title