Integration of electrical contacts in an electrical switching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10403448-B2
Application number	US-201715845191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2017
Priority date	Jan 16, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

An electrical switching device, including a socket, a holder and electrical contacts housed in the holder. The holder includes a first end and a second end. The device includes a guidance device for guiding the first end of the holder relative to the socket. The device includes a fastener including a head, a tail, a first stem extending from the head to the tail, and a second stem extending from the head. The first stem is configured for passing through the holder and for being inserted at the tail into a first orifice of the socket, in order to retain the first end of the holder relative to the socket. A retaining member is configured for retaining the fastener, in order to rigidly connect the second end of the holder to the socket.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical switching device, comprising:
a socket,
an electrical contact block including a holder and electrical contacts located in housings of the holder, the holder including a first end and a second end opposite the first end,
a shaft that is rotatably mobile relative to the socket, the shaft being configured for actuating the electrical contacts when the holder is mechanically connected to the socket,
wherein the device comprises:
a guidance means for guiding the first end of the holder relative to the socket between a separation position and a connection position, and
a fastener including a head, a tail, a first stem extending from the head to the tail, and a second stem extending from the head, the first stem being configured for passing through the holder and for being inserted at the tail into a first orifice of the socket, so as to retain the first end of the holder relative to the socket,
a retaining member rigidly connected to the socket and configured for retaining the fastener, so as to rigidly connect the second end of the holder to the socket.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the second stem extends from the head to the tail, and being configured for being inserted at the tail into a second orifice of the socket, for rigidly connecting the first end of the holder relative to the socket.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the head of the fastener has a general U shape, the first stem forming a first branch of the U, the second stem forming a second branch of the U.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the holder is configured for pivoting about the first stem when the first stem engages the retaining member, so that the retaining member engages the second stem and so that the electrical contacts may be actuated by the shaft.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the socket includes a first plate and a second plate facing the first plate, the holder being configured for extending between the plates, the first end of the holder being configured for being connected to the first plate, the second end of the holder being configured for being connected to the second plate,
the retaining member including a first groove and a second groove made in the second plate, the first groove being intended to receive the first stem, and the second groove being intended to receive the second stem.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the head of the fastener is configured for being moved in the direction of the first end of the holder, when the holder is in the connection position and the retaining member retains the head of the fastener.

7. The device according to claim 1 , including a cover configured for being connected to the socket covering the head of the fastener, the cover being preferably configured for indicating at least one item of information relating to the position of the electrical contacts relative to the holder.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the guidance means for guiding the first end is configured for guiding the first end of the holder in translation from the separation position to the connection position, preferably in rectilinear translation.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the guidance means for guiding the first end includes a notch in the socket and a protuberance of the first end of the holder which is intended to be inserted into the notch.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first stem and/or the second stem is/are configured for passing through the electrical contacts, for immobilizing the electrical contacts relative to the holder.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical contacts are auxiliary contacts configured for providing an item of information representative of the status of the main contacts, being actuated by the shaft.

12. A connection method for connecting an electrical contact block to a socket of an electrical switching device according to claim 1 , comprising:
the guidance of the first end of the holder relative to the socket from the separation position to the connection position, and
the insertion of the first stem through the holder into the first orifice, and the connection of the fastener to the retaining member, so that the holder is rigidly connected to the socket and the electrical contacts may be actuated by the shaft.

13. The connection method according to claim 12 , wherein the holder pivots about the first stem when the first stem engages the retaining member and before the second stem engages the retaining member, so that the retaining member engages the second stem and the electrical contacts may be actuated by the shaft.

14. An electrical contact block for an electrical switching device, comprising:
electrical contacts and
a holder including housings for the electrical contacts, the holder including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the electrical contacts being configured for being actuated by a shaft of the device that is rotatably mobile relative to a socket of the device, when the holder is mechanically connected to the socket,
wherein the electrical contact block includes:
a guidance means for guiding the first end of the holder relative to the socket between a separation position and a connection position, and
a fastener including a head, a tail, a first stem extending from the head to the tail, and a second stem extending from the head,
the first stem being configured for being inserted at the tail into a first orifice of the socket, so as to retain the first end of the holder relative to the socket,
the fastener being configured for being retained relative to the socket by a retaining member of the device, for rigidly connecting the second end of the holder to the socket.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Ind Sas

Inventors

• Collas Florent
• Milan Denis
• Verneau Daniel

Classifications

• H01H71/46

  having means for operating auxiliary contacts additional to the main contacts · CPC title

• H01H71/04

  Means for indicating condition of the switching device {(by means of an auxiliary contact H01H71/46)} · CPC title

• H01H50/541

  Auxiliary contact devices · CPC title

• H01H19/62

  Contacts actuated by radial cams · CPC title

• H01H9/0066 Primary

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