Electric switching apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9911548-B2
Application number	US-201615286763-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2015
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

An electric switching apparatus including fixed contacts respectively supported by an upstream support and a downstream support and electrically connected to an upstream power line and to a downstream power line, respectively, the fixed contacts cooperating with respective upstream and downstream mobile contacts, each of the mobile contacts being supported by a support, the supports movable simultaneously in translation by a contact carrier controlled by an actuator. This apparatus includes a device for transforming, during a device opening operation in the presence of a microweld between one of the mobile contacts and the associated fixed contact, the movement in translation of the support associated with the mobile contact in a combined movement in translation and rotation of the mobile contact so as to exert at the points of contact between the mobile contact and the fixed contact a shear force capable of breaking the aforementioned microweld.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electric switching apparatus comprising:
for each phase, an upstream fixed contact and a downstream fixed contact, said fixed contacts being respectively supported by an upstream fixed contact support and a downstream fixed contact support and being electrically connected to an upstream power line and to a downstream power line respectively, said fixed contacts being configured to cooperate respectively with two respective upstream and downstream mobile contacts, each of said mobile contacts being supported by a contact support, said contact supports being configured to be moved simultaneously in translation by a contact carrier, controlled by an actuator, between a first position, as a contact opening position, in which the mobile contacts are separated from the respective fixed contacts, and a second position as a closing position, in which the mobile contacts are in contact with the respective fixed contacts, thereby establishing the electrical connection between the two power lines, and
a mechanism configured to transform, during an apparatus opening operation in a presence of a microweld between one of the mobile contacts and the associated fixed contact, the movement in translation of the contact support associated with the mobile contact into a combined movement in translation and rotation of the mobile contact so as to exert, at points of contact between the mobile contact and the fixed contact, a shear force which is capable of breaking the microweld,
wherein contact supports are each mounted in a sliding arrangement in a guide component which is integral with the contact carrier, said guide component incorporating a mechanism configured to provide angular guiding of an element which is integral with the mobile contact associated with the support said mobile contact assuming the movement in translation of its associated contact support such that, during an operation for the opening of the apparatus, a torque is transmitted to the microweld by the rotation of the mobile contact around an axis of the translation, wherein said torque generates the shear forces.

2. The switching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the element which is integral with the mobile contact associated with the support is a rod.

3. The switching apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the mechanism configured to provide the angular guiding a slot which is provided in the guide component, said slot extending in an inclined direction and forming an angle α in relation to the direction of the movement in translation, said slot cooperating with the rod which is associated with the mobile contact such that, during an operation for the opening of the apparatus in the presence of a microweld, a force is applied between the contact carrier and the guide slot at the point of contact between the rod and the guide slot, said force generating a torque on the guide component which results in the rotation of the mobile contact, said torque being transmitted to the microweld.

4. The switching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in association with each mobile contact, a spring which is configured to return said mobile contact to the opening position.

5. The switching apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said angle α is between 0 and 90 °.

6. The switching apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each slot comprises a first part extending in a longitudinal direction which is inclined in accordance with the said angle α, followed by a second part extending in a direction thich is substantially parallel to the above-mentioned direction of movement in translation, the first part being situated on the side of the fixed contacts, whereas the second part is situated on the opposite side, the first part being designed to cooperate with the rod during an opening operation in the presence of a microweld, and the second being designed to cooperate with the rod during a closing operation.

7. The switching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a circuit breaker or a contactor.

8. The switching apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the contacts are power contacts or auxiliary contacts on the apparatus.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Ind Sas

Inventors

• Dedina Gregory

Classifications

• H01H1/14

  by abutting · CPC title

• H01H3/001 Primary

  Means for preventing or breaking contact-welding · CPC title

• H01H1/18

  with subsequent sliding · CPC title

• H01H1/20

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

• H01H50/546

  for contactors having bridging contacts · CPC title