Modular electrical switch device comprising at least one unipolar cut-off unit and a switch assembly comprising such devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9583292-B2
Application number	US-201314650452-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2013
Priority date	Dec 18, 2012
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A modular electrical switch device including: a cut-off unit including unitary cut-off units; an actuating unit of the unitary cut-off units including an electromagnetic actuator including a fixed cylinder head and a movable reinforcement; a mechanism allowing the actuating unit to be fixed to the cut-off unit; a quick attachment mechanism allowing removable fixing of the actuating unit on the cut-off unit, and including at least one coupling hook configured to fix and hold the cut-off unit to the actuating unit, and to engage with an actuating device of the unitary cut-off unit to transmit movement of the actuator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular electrical switching device comprising:
a switching block comprising unitary switching blocks respectively comprising at least one fixed contact that can collaborate with a mobile contact;
an actuation block of the unitary switching blocks comprising an electromagnetic actuator comprising a fixed yoke and a mobile keeper configured to be displaced with respect to the fixed yoke between an open position and a closed position of the electrical contacts;
means allowing the actuation block to be fixed onto the switching block;
rapid fixing means allowing a removable fixing of the actuation block onto the switching block, the rapid fixing means comprising at least one coupling hook configured:
to fix and secure the switching block to the actuation block, and
to collaborate with an actuation device of the mobile contact of a unitary switching block to transmit movement of the electromagnetic actuator to the mobile contact,
the coupling hook being secured to the mobile keeper of the electromagnetic actuator.

2. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuation device of the mobile contact of a unitary switching block comprises a mobile contact-holder secured to the mobile contact, the mobile contact-holder comprising a snug supporting an attachment head.

3. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the coupling hook comprises an edge comprising a bearing surface configured to collaborate with the attachment head to transmit movements of the mobile keeper to the mobile contact from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

4. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the coupling hook comprises a first edge comprising a slot configured to receive an attachment head of the snug, the first edge comprising a bearing surface configured to transmit movement of the mobile keeper to the mobile contact-holder of the mobile contact in a first direction of movement from the closed position to its open position.

5. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the coupling hook comprises a second edge comprising a bearing surface configured to transmit movement of the mobile keeper to the mobile contact-holder of the mobile contact in a second direction of movement, from the open position to its closed position.

6. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the attachment head of the snug is mobile relative to the mobile contact-holder, the attachment head configured to be displaced in a direction parallel to a direction of displacement of the mobile contact-holder.

7. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the attachment head is linked to the mobile contact-holder by a transmission axis of variable length.

8. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the transmission axis comprises:
a first end fixed to the attachment head, and
a second end comprising a threading configured to collaborate with a tapping produced in the mobile contact-holder secured to the mobile contact.

9. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the coupling hook comprises play take-up means for eliminating plays necessary for mounting of the actuation block on the switching block so that a reduced chain of dimensions is observed in a direction of displacement of the mobile contact-holder.

10. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the play take-up means comprises an elastic blade positioned substantially parallel to the second edge of the coupling hook, the elastic blade behaving like a blade damper by being deformed in a direction of displacement of the mobile contact-holder as soon as it enters into contact with the attachment head of a snug secured to the mobile contact-holder.

11. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1 , comprising three unitary switching blocks, actuation devices of the blocks being respectively controlled in a synchronized manner by the actuation block to control opening of the electrical contacts.

12. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the actuation block comprises a tray fixed to the mobile keeper, the tray comprising three coupling hooks configured respectively to collaborate with an attachment head of a snug of a mobile contact-holder secured to the mobile contact of a unitary switching block.

13. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a removable electrical control module positioned and fixed removably onto a casing of the actuation block, the module comprising electronic control means for ensuring a repetitive and constant operation of the actuator for a wide power supply voltage range.

14. The modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a removable thermal protection module comprising a casing in which at least one current sensor is configured to be positioned around a connection land of a unitary switching block, the module being inserted removably between the switching block and connection terminal blocks and comprising communication and electrical power supply means configured to be connected automatically with the removable electrical control module to be self-powered and to transmit measurements performed by the current sensors.

15. An electrical switching assembly comprising a first and a second modular electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1 , the devices placed side-by-side being electrically connected, and comprising electrical conductors positioned respectively in second cavities of two bases of the two modular devices.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Ind Sas

Inventors

• Larcher Patrick
• Vigouroux Didier
• Lauraire Michel

Classifications

• H01H50/002 Primary

  particular to three-phase electromagnetic relays (synchronous switching H01H9/563) · CPC title

• H01H50/16

  Magnetic circuit arrangements · CPC title

• H01H9/24

  for interlocking two or more parts of the mechanism for operating contacts · CPC title

• H01H71/0228

  having provisions for interchangeable or replaceable parts · CPC title

• H01H50/54 Primary

  Contact arrangements · CPC title