Switching device and switching arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11705289-B2
Application number	US-201917261204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2019
Priority date	Jul 20, 2018
Publication date	Jul 18, 2023
Grant date	Jul 18, 2023

Abstract

A switching device includes: a first and a second fixed contact; a contact bridge; a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge; a first terminal contact on which the first fixed contact is mounted; and a second terminal contact on which the second fixed contact is mounted. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device. A path of a load current flowing through the contact bridge between the first and second movable contacts in the switched-on state extends in a first plane.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switching device, comprising:
a first fixed contact;
a second fixed contact;
a contact bridge;
a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge;
a first terminal contact on which the first fixed contact is mounted; and
a second terminal contact on which the second fixed contact is mounted,
wherein the first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device,
wherein the first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device,
wherein a path of a load current that flows through the contact bridge between the first movable contact and the second movable contact in the switched-on state extends in a first plane,
wherein a movement of the contact bridge between the switched-on state and the switched-off state has a direction that is perpendicular to the first plane,
wherein the path of the load current that flows through the contact bridge between the first movable contact and the second movable contact in the switched-on state has at least one path in the first plane comprising an S-shaped path, a zig-zag path, a Z-shaped path, a C-shape, a path comprising two connected semicircles along the first plane, or a path twice curved in opposite directions along the first plane,
wherein a main direction of the first terminal contact is parallel to a main direction of the second terminal contact;
wherein a straight line running between the first movable contact and the second movable contact is across the main direction of the first terminal contact, and
wherein the load current, which flows through the first terminal contact, flows through a first arc, which is generated between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact at a transition between the switched-on state and the switched-off state of the switching device, flows through a first outer part of the contact bridge, and flows towards at least one of a first pair of arc runners associated with the first part of the contact bridge, has a U-form.

2. The switching device according to claim 1 , Wherein the path of the load current that flows through the contact bridge in the switched on-state extends laterally and longitudinally in the first plane from the first movable contact to the second movable contact, wherein as the path traverses from the first moveable contact to the second moveable contact, at least a part of the path includes a first portion that extends in a first direction, then a second portion that extends in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and then a third portion that extends in the first direction.

3. The switching device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the first pair of arc runners, which are arranged at the first outer part of the contact bridge near the first movable contact, and which are movable with the contact bridge; and
a second pair of arc runners, which are arranged at a second outer part of the contact bridge near the second movable contact, and which are movable with the contact bridge.

4. The switching device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first pair of arc extinguishing devices configured to extinguish a first arc originating between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact; and
a second pair of arc extinguishing devices configured to extinguish a second arc originating between the second fixed contact and the second movable contact.

5. The switching device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a permanent magnet system comprising an inner pole plate, an outer pole plate, and a permanent magnet that is arranged between the inner pole plate and the outer pole plate.

6. The switching device according to claim 5 , wherein the inner pole plate is at least partially U-shaped and the outer pole plate is at least partially U-shaped.

7. The switching device according to claim 5 , wherein the first fixed contact and the first movable contact are between the inner pole plate and the outer pole plate in the switched-on state and in the switched-off state of the switching device, and
wherein the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are between the inner pole plate and the outer pole plate in the switched-on state and in the switched-off state of the switching device.

8. A switching arrangement, comprising:
the switching device according to claim 1 ;
a magnetic drive coupled to the contact bridge of the switching device; and
a control circuit having a control input, an emergency input, and at least one output coupled to the magnetic drive,
wherein the control circuit is configured to set the switching device in the switched-on state or in the switched-off state depending on a control signal provided to the control input, and
wherein the control circuit is configured to set the switching device in the switched-off state depending on an emergency signal provided to the emergency input.

9. The switching arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the control circuit comprises:
a current sensing unit configured to measure the load current flowing through the switching device; and
a trigger level detector having an input coupled to an output of the current sensing unit and an output configured to provide a trigger signal,
wherein the control circuit is configured to set the switching device in the switched-off state as a function of the trigger signal.

10. The switching arrangement according to claim 8 , further comprising:
an auxiliary switch or auxiliary contacts,
wherein the magnetic drive is additionally coupled to the auxiliary switch or the auxiliary contacts.

11. The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein the first moveable contact and the second moveable contact extend outward from a main body of the contact bridge in a direction perpendicular to the first plane, and wherein the main body of the contact bridge is, in the first plane, S-shaped, zig-zag shaped, Z-shaped, C-shaped, made of two connected semicircles along the first plane, or shaped with two curves in opposite directions along the first plane.

12. A switching device, comprising:
a first fixed contact;
a second fixed contact;
a contact bridge;
a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge;
a first terminal contact on which the first fixed contact is mounted; and
a second terminal contact on which the second fixed contact is mounted,
wherein the first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device,
wherein the first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device,
wherein a path of a load current that flows through the contact bridge between the first movable contact and the second movable contact in the switched-on state extends in a first plane,
wherein a movement of the contact bridge between the switched-on state and the switched-off state has a direction that is perpendicular to the first plane,
wherein a main body of the contact bridge is, in the first plane, S-shaped, zig-zag shaped, Z-shaped, C-shaped, made of two connected semicircles along the first plane, or shaped with two curves in opposite directions along the first plane,

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Friedrichsen Lutz
• Lang Volker
• Meissner Johannes
• Otte Julia
• Philipsohn Madeline
• Schmitz Gerd
• Schroeder Kai
• Molitor Ute

Classifications

• H01H1/20 Primary

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

• H01H9/36

  Metal parts · CPC title

• H01H9/443

  using permanent magnets · CPC title

• H01H33/187

  comprising a hollow annular arc runner and a central contact between which a radially drawn arc rotates · CPC title

• H01H50/58

  Driving arrangements structurally associated therewith; Mounting of driving arrangements on armature · CPC title