Low-voltage switching device with a variable design

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10217574-B2
Application number	US-201314914340-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2013
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A low-voltage switching device includes a base module, with a connection region for electrical conductors. Auxiliary contacts and a coil connection are arranged in a separate auxiliary module that is attachable to and detachable from the base module to maximize flexibility in configuration, manufacture, functionality and utility of the switching device while reducing production costs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A low-voltage switching device, comprising:
a base module having at least one connection region for electric conductors;
a separate auxiliary module having auxiliary contacts and a coil connection arranged in a separable manner from the base module, the separate auxiliary module being configured to attach to differently sized switching devices;
wherein the separate auxiliary module includes a variable configuration exchangeable surge limiter, selected for an intended application of the separate auxiliary module and arranged within the separate auxiliary module, includes an arc chamber having a variable configuration and includes an exchangeable enclosure having a variable configuration and moveable switching contacts with a contact carrier and a base plate, which are universally configured identically in each of a plurality of separate auxiliary modules; and
wherein the separate auxiliary module is selected from a group consisting of a first auxiliary module having a first configuration, a second auxiliary module having a second configuration and a third auxiliary module having a third configuration, the first, second and third configurations being different from each other.

2. The low-voltage switching device of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary module is configured as one of a standard auxiliary module, a communication auxiliary module and a capacitor switching contactor auxiliary module.

3. The low-voltage switching device of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary module further comprises one of a screw connector terminal system, a spring-loaded terminal system and a ring cable shoe connector system.

4. The low-voltage switching device of claim 1 , wherein the exchangeable enclosure is selected for an intended application of the auxiliary module.

5. The low-voltage switching device of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary module is configured with various arcing chambers and associated fixed contact pieces and coil connections in different types of connection systems, with or without cable ducts.

6. The low-voltage switching device of claim 5 , wherein the arcing chamber of the auxiliary module is configured such that said arcing chamber can accommodate up to four auxiliary or main conducting paths.

7. The low-voltage switching device of claim 1 , wherein the low-voltage switching device is a contactor.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Zimmermann Norbert

Classifications

• H01H9/0066

  Auxiliary contact devices (for arc transfer H01H9/38; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/541) · CPC title

• H01H50/545

  Self-contained, easily replaceable microswitches · CPC title

• H01H50/14 Primary

  Terminal arrangements {(for coils H01H50/443)} · CPC title

• H01H9/02 Primary

  Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26) · CPC title

• H01H9/34

  Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate · CPC title