Control device for a switching device with separate start-up and holding coils

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9698669-B2
Application number	US-201313964171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2013
Priority date	Aug 10, 2012
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A control device for a switching device with separate start-up and holding coils includes control electronics to control the current supply to the start-up and holding coils and a direct voltage supply unit for the holding coil and the control electronics with the same reference potential for the holding coil and the control electronics.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control device for a switching device, the control device comprising:
a rectifier configured to generate a rectified output voltage from an alternating voltage;
a direct voltage converter configured to receive the rectified output voltage and to generate therefrom a specified direct voltage;
a direct voltage supply unit, configured to receive the specified direct voltage and to generate a first direct voltage and a second direct voltage, wherein the first direct voltage and the second direct voltage are of different magnitudes;
control electronics configured to receive the second direct voltage and to generate control signals for a first switching element and for a second switching element;
a holding coil connected to the first switching element and configured to receive the first direct voltage generated by the direct voltage supply unit; and
a start-up coil connected to the second switching element and configured to receive the rectified output voltage generated by the rectifier.

2. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the control electronics are configured to supply, during a holding process of the switching device, a control signal to the first switching element that generates a constant direct current flow in the holding coil.

3. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the control electronics are configured to supply, during a start-up process of the switching device, a control signal to the second switching element that generates a current flow in the start-up coil.

4. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the control electronics are configured to supply, during a shut off process of the switching device, a control signal to the first switching element that prevents current flow in the holding coil.

5. The control device of claim 4 , wherein the control electronics comprise a quick shut-off unit configured to supply the control signal to the first switching element that prevents current flow in the holding coil.

6. A switching device, comprising:
a contact module; and
the control device of claim 1 ,
wherein the contact module includes the holding coil and the start-up coil.

7. The control device of claim 6 , wherein the control electronics of the control device include a microprocessor or microcontroller configured by a program stored in a memory to provide, during a start-up process of the contact module, the second switching element with a pulse width modulated voltage causing a resulting current in the start-up coil, and to provide, during a holding process of the contact module, the first switching element with a voltage causing a constant direct current to flow in the holding coil.

8. A contactor, comprising:
a contact module: and
the control device of claim 1 ,
wherein the contact module includes the holding coil and the start-up coil.

9. The control device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first switching element and the second switching element is a field-effect transistor.

10. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the control electronics are configured to provide, during a start-up process of the switching device, the second switching element with a pulse width modulated voltage causing a resulting current in the start-up coil.

11. The control device of claim 10 , wherein resulting current in the start-up coil causes switching contacts of a contactor to move one of from an open position to a closed position or from a closed position to an open position.

12. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the control electronics are configured to provide, during a holding process of the switching device, the first switching element with a voltage causing a constant direct current to flow in the holding coil.

13. The control device of claim 12 , wherein the constant direct current in the holding coil causes contacts of a contactor to remain in one of an open position or a closed position.

14. The control device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first switching element and the second switching element is connected to a reference voltage source.

15. A switching device, comprising:
a contact module including a holding coil and a separate start-up coil; and
a control device comprising:
a rectifier configured to generate a rectified output voltage from an alternating voltage;
a direct voltage converter configured to receive the rectified output voltage and to generate therefrom a specified direct voltage;
a direct voltage supply unit, configured to receive the specified direct voltage and to generate a first direct voltage and a second direct voltage, wherein the first direct voltage and the second direct voltage are of different magnitudes; and
control electronics configured to receive the second direct voltage and to generate control signals for a first switching element and for a second switching element;

wherein the holding coil is connected to the first switching element and configured to receive the first direct voltage generated by the direct voltage supply unit,
wherein the start-up coil is connected to the second switching element and configured to receive the rectified output voltage generated by the rectifier, and
wherein the control electronics of the control device include a microprocessor or microcontroller configured by a program stored in a memory to provide, during a start-up process of the contact module, the second switching element with a pulse width modulated voltage causing a resulting current in the start-up coil, and to provide, during a holding process of the contact mod We, the first switching element with a voltage causing a constant direct current to flow in the holding coil.

Assignees

• Eaton Electrical Ip Gmbh & Co

Inventors

• Meid Wolfgang

Classifications

• H01F7/1838

  by switching-in or -out impedance (for relays H01H47/10) · CPC title

• H01H47/04

  for holding armature in attracted position, e.g. when initial energising circuit is interrupted; for maintaining armature in attracted position, e.g. with reduced energising current {(with switching regulator H01H47/325)} · CPC title

• H02M1/36 Primary

  Means for starting or stopping converters · CPC title

• H01H47/325 Primary

  by switching regulator · CPC title