Electromagnetic switching device

Comtois, Patrick; Larcher, Patrick; Moreux, Alain; Perrocheau, Regis;

Electromagnetic switching device including a movable contact-holder fitted with a set of contact bridges bearing movable power contacts that operate in conjunction with fixed contacts, and an electromagnet composed of a coil, a fixed framework and movable framework. The movable contact-holder includes an assembling device including at least one elastic clipping foot for fastening the movable contact-holder of the electromagnet to the movable contact-holder, characterized in that the assembling device is equally suitable for direct and indirect assembly of the movable framework onto the movable contact-holder according to the type of movable framework used in DC or AC electromagnets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic switching device comprising a movable contact-holder fitted with a set of contact bridges that operate in conjunction with fixed contacts, also comprising an electromagnet composed of a coil, a fixed framework and movable framework, the movable framework of the electromagnet being associated with the contact-holder and causing the contact-holder to move in translation in order to open or close the contacts.

2. Discussion of the Background

French patent FR 2518308 discloses a contactor-type electromagnetic switching device comprising an electromagnet powered by an alternating current. The contact-holder of the contactor has a lower cavity containing the movable framework of the electromagnet, the movable framework being fastened by means of a pin passing through the framework and introduced into the body of the contact-holder on each side of the cavity. The movable framework of the electromagnet is the type of E-shaped magnetic circuit commonly used for electromagnets powered by alternating currents and the way the contact-holders are assembled is consequently appropriate to the invention. However, this mode is difficult to implement for the blade-type movable framework used in electromagnets powered by direct currents, the blade being too thin to allow a fastening pin to pass through it.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,937 discloses a contactor-type electromagnetic switching device comprising a movable framework of an electromagnet consisting of a plane blade whose shape is suitable for it to be fastened to the mobile contact-holder of the contactor by means of elastic clipping feet provided on the contact-holder. However, this fastening method cannot be adapted directly to a movable framework consisting of an E-shaped magnetic circuit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention thus relates to an electromagnetic switching device in which the different types of movable electromagnet frameworks (particularly depending on whether they are AC or DC powered) may be assembled using the same movable contact-holder, this associations being advantageously achieved rapidly, thereby allowing a considerable reduction in the number of different parts required to manufacture an entire range of contactors.

According to the invention the switching device comprises a movable contact-holder fitted with a set of contact bridges and includes an electromagnet composed of a coil, a fixed framework and a movable framework. This movable framework is fitted by being clipped onto the movable contact-holder by assembling means suitable for both direct and indirect assembly. Said assembling means comprise at least one elastic clipping foot on the movable contact-holder. For example, assembly is said to be direct when the movable framework of the electromagnet is a magnetic blade comprising direct assembling means composed of two pins on the blade that clip directly into the elastic feet of the movable contact-holder. Assembly is said to be indirect when the movable framework of the electromagnet is, for example, a movable magnetic circuit comprising indirect assembly means composed of an intermediary part constructed as part of said magnetic circuit that can be clipped into the elastic feet of the movable contact-holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics of the present invention will be better understood from the following description which refers to the attached figures where:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the electromagnetic switching device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the movable contact-holder of the device associated with a first type of moveable electromagnet framework;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the assembly of FIG. 2 fitted with a second type of movable framework;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the assembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show how the contact-holder and the movable framework of FIG. 2 are assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The switching device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an electromagnetic contactor comprising various dual cutoff power poles.

Each power pole comprises a bridge of movable contacts 10 fitted with contact studs 11 and 12 that operate in conjunction with fixed contacts 13 and 14. Each contact bridge 10 is fitted in a central protective housing 21 in the body of a movable contact-holder 2. The movable contact bridges 10 are displaced by the translation movement of movable contact-holder 2 which is activated by means of an electromagnet 3.

In FIG. 1 electromagnet 3 comprises a coil 31, a fixed framework 32 and a plunging-type movable framework 30 that is subject to force provided by conical spring 37 that is mounted on the framework, the spring being slack when the said framework is in the rest position. When movable framework 30 is attracted to the fixed framework 32, it causes movable contact-holder 2 to move in translation and close the contacts. When the movable framework 30 is moved to its rest position by the spring 37 changing from its compressed to its slack position, the contacts are opened.

The body 20 of the movable contact-holder is extended towards the electromagnet 3 by two lower sections 22 located on either side of contact-holder 2. The movable framework 30 of the electromagnet is fastened to the two lower sections 22 of the contact-holder 2 by clip-type assembly means. On contact-holder 2 these assembly means consist of at least one elastic clipping foot 23. In one preferred embodiment each lower section 22 of the contact-holder 2 has an elastic clipping foot 23 each of which has a fastening notch 24 facing into the body 20 together with, located underneath said fastening notch 24, an internal oblique lateral bevel 24a. Each notch 24 also has an upper edge 24b turned towards the body 20.

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In the example shown in FIG. 2 movable framework 30 is an E-shaped laminated mobile magnetic circuit comprising a core 35 with a longitudinal axis X, a rectangular cross-section aperture 34 that runs through core 35 transversal to longitudinal axis X and three frameworks 36 perpendicular to the core designed to be attracted by the fixed framework 32 when a current is passed through coil 31. This type of movable framework is generally used for an AC electromagnet.

The means for indirectly assembling movable magnetic circuit 33 to contact-holder 2 consist of an intermediate part such as a metal key 4 that is required because the measurements of movable circuit 33 are not suitable to allow for the elastic feet 33 to separate. Key 4 is more or less rectangular in shape and has two ends 40 running lengthwise. It is fastened to movable circuit 33 by being elastically inserted into aperture 34 in core 35. Once inserted, key 4 has a longitudinal curve that enables it to stay in position by pressing against the inner surfaces of aperture 34. Lastly, key 4 is sufficiently long to be clipped between the two elastic feet 23 but with sufficiently small depth and thickness to allow its ends 40 to be housed inside notches 24.

In the example shown in FIG. 4 movable framework 30 is the type of more or less rectangular magnetic blade 38 commonly used for DC electromagnets and has a plane upper surface 38b facing contact-holder 2. The means for directly assembling the movable magnetic blade 38 onto the contact-holder 2 consist of two pins 38a located on opposite edges of blade 38. These edges have a chamfer 38c and are designed to be clipped directly into the elastic feet 23 of movable contact-holder 2.

In addition, an insulating flange 27 located under the central housings 21 and above elastic feet 23 separates the power poles from the movable framework to avoid any damage to the electromagnet during arcing when the contacts are opened.

The measurements of the lower section 22 of the movable contact-holder relative to the position of elastic feet 23 and insulating flange 27 are calculated so that the movable framework 30 is pressed against an lower surface 27a of the said flange to save space inside the device. Positioning means 50 are provided on the said flange to reinforce the abutment of the movable framework and ensure that it is pressed against insulating flange 27. These means consist of two bosses 51 placed on the lower surface 27a of flange 27. The bosses are advantageously separated by a distance equivalent to the width of the core 35 of E-shaped movable circuit 33 so that they operate in conjunction with the edges of the core so that it is positioned and fits between said two bosses.

The thickness of the magnetic blade 38 is calculated so that once it has been assembled with contact-holder 2 it can rest directly on the upper edges 24b of the notches 24 and against the lower surface 27a of flange 27. Means 52 to complement means 50 are provided on upper surface 38b of blade 38. Said complementary means 52 may consist of cavities that operate in conjunction with bosses 51 to position and anchor blade 38 against insulating flange 27.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the movable framework of the electromagnet is clipped onto movable contact-holder 2. Movable framework 30, in this case E-shaped movable circuit 33, is brought near the lower section 22 of the movable contact-holder parallel to the lower surface 27a of flange 27, key 4 being positioned in an axis Y that passes through the two elastic feet 23. The ends 40 of key 4 are then pressed against the oblique bevels 24a of elastic feet 23, then when they are pushed towards the flange in the direction indicated by arrow F, the elastic feet 23 separate towards the outside of body 20 of the movable contact-holder to enable ends 40 of the key to enter notches 24. When the ends are inserted, releasing movable circuit 33 causes the elastic feet 23 to return to the rest position, thereby retaining the framework. In order to facilitate fitting, key 4 has two apertures 41 near its ends 40. A tool designed to exert the movement required to clip the movable circuit in place fits into these two apertures.

Aperture 34, which is rectangular in cross-section, has four internal surfaces of which upper internal surface 34b is the nearest to insulating flange 27. The two ends of aperture 34 form four edges at right angles with core 35 of magnetic circuit 33, upper edge 34a matching the edge formed by upper inner surface 34b. Once movable framework 33 has been fitted into movable contact-holder 2, the shape of key 4 has a longitudinal curve which ensures that it is only maintained by three points of contact, i.e. the two ands 40 of key 4 resting on the upper edges 24b of fastening notches 24 (see FIGS. 6 and 7); in addition, the central section of key 4 rests on the upper internal surface 34b of aperture 34. Thus by bearing on the upper edges 24b of notches 24, they key 4 exerts elastic pressure on the upper inner surface 34b of aperture 34, thereby helping to press movable circuit 33 against the lower surface 27a of the flange 27 of contact-holder 2 between the two bosses 51. In addition, the longitudinal curve of key 4 prevents it coming into contact with upper edges 34a of aperture 34, thereby avoiding premature wear of the key after a certain number of movements by the electromagnet of the electromagnetic contactor.

Assembly is identical when the movable framework of the electromagnet is a blade 38. Once the blade has been brought close to the lower section 22 of the movable contact-holder parallel to lower surface 27a of flange 27, the chamfers 38c of the two pins 38a press against the oblique bevels 24a; then when the blade 38 is pushed in the direction indicated by arrow F, the elastic feet 23 separate towards the outside of body 20 of the movable contact-holder to enable the pins 38a of the blade to enter notches 24 in the elastic feet.