Contactor-circuit breaker device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9508500-B2
Application number	US-201314132439-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2013
Priority date	Dec 20, 2012
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a contactor-circuit breaker device ( 2, 102, 202 ), comprising:
a switch ( 4 ) including two pairs of contacts ( 10, 12 ) each comprising a stationary contact ( 14, 16 ) and a moving contact ( 18, 20 ), the stationary contacts ( 14, 16 ) being connected in series to an electrical circuit ( 22 ), the switch ( 4 ) being capable of switching between a closed configuration of the electrical circuit ( 22 ) and an open configuration of the electrical circuit ( 22 ); a support member ( 24 ) for the moving contacts; a current cutoff module ( 6 ) able to switch the current from the electrical circuit ( 22 ) to the cutoff module ( 6 ); and a movement apparatus ( 26 ) for moving the support member ( 24 ) comprising a armature ( 44 ) capable of translating the armature such that the support member switches between the closed configuration and the open configuration through a translational and/or rotational movement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A contactor-circuit breaker device comprising:
a mechanical switch including at least two pairs of contacts, each pair of contacts comprising a stationary contact and a moving contact configured to be in contact with each other, the stationary contacts being connected in series to an electrical circuit, the mechanical switch being configured to switch between a closed configuration of the electrical circuit, in which the stationary and moving contacts of each pair of contacts are in mechanical contact, and an open configuration of the electrical circuit, in which the stationary and moving contacts of at least one pair of contacts are separated from each other;
a support member supporting the moving contacts;
a current cutoff circuit comprising a semiconductor device, the cutoff circuit connected in parallel to one of the pairs of contacts when the mechanical switch is in the open configuration and configured to, in response to the mechanical switch being in the open configuration and an electric arc appearing in at least one of the pairs of contacts, switch the current from the electrical circuit to the cutoff circuit and interrupt the current circulating in the electrical circuit; and
a movement apparatus that moves the support member comprising an armature, the movement apparatus translating the armature such that the support member switches between the closed configuration and the open configuration of the electrical circuit through a translational and/or rotational movement, wherein the mechanical switch has a maximally open configuration, and the device includes a stop part that stops the translational and/or rotational movement of the support member when the mechanical switch reaches the maximally open configuration, and wherein the stop part is configured to be put in contact with the moving contact of the pair in which a distance between the moving contact and the stationary contact is smallest when the mechanical switch is in the maximally open configuration, the cutoff circuit being connected to the stop part.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the stop part drives a rotational movement complementary to the translational movement, such that the mechanical switch has, in the maximally open configuration, a maximum opening greater than the travel of the movement apparatus.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the support member is translatable relative to an axis of translation (X) and rotatable relative to an axis of rotation (Y), the axis of rotation (Y) being perpendicular to the axis of translation (X).

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the moving contacts are situated on either side of the axis of rotation.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the moving contacts are situated at equal distances from the axis of rotation.

6. The device according to claim 3 , further comprising:
an electrical connecting element, wherein the moving contacts are situated on the same side of the axis of rotation (Y).

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the stop part is in constant contact with the electrical connecting element.

8. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the movement apparatus comprises a connector that connects the support member to the armature, the connector comprising a pivot tilting the support member and a spring that returns the support member toward the armature, the pivot being situated in the axis of translation (X) and the return member being situated separated from the axis of translation (X).

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the connector comprises a stop bearing that limits the rotation of the support member.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein when the mechanical switch is in the maximally open configuration, the distance between each stationary contact and each moving contact is different for each pair of contacts, and the cutoff circuit is connected in parallel to the pair of contacts in which the distance between the moving contact and the stationary contact is smallest.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cutoff circuit is connected to the stop part by a rigid conductor.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the movement apparatus is an electromagnet.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a receptacle and a confinement member, the receptacle receiving the confinement member to block the mechanical switch exclusively in the maximally open configuration.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Ind Sas

Inventors

• Reymond Bruno
• Vallet Maria

Classifications

• H01H1/20 Primary

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

• H01H9/542

  Contacts shunted by static switch means · CPC title

• H01H9/547

  Combinations of mechanical switches and static switches, the latter being controlled by the former · CPC title

• H01H9/30 Primary

  Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts · CPC title

• H01H1/2016

  in which the two contact pairs commutate at substantially different moments · CPC title