Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
  • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
  • H01H3/022—Emergency operating parts, e.g. for stop-switch in dangerous conditions
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a switching device of the emergency stop type.
• an emergency stop type switching device comprises a control assembly carrying an actuating member and at least one switching assembly also called a contact block intended to be mounted at the rear of the set of switches. ordered.
• the switching assembly comprises a movable bridge supporting movable contacts actuated by the actuating member with respect to fixed contacts from a closed position to an open position to open an electrical circuit in an emergency.
• the main contacts are therefore of normally closed type.
• the control assembly and the switching assembly are mounted mechanically on either side of a wall.
• the switching assembly is therefore invisible to the user. It is therefore impossible for the user to know continuously whether the control assembly is properly mounted on the switching assembly. But a stall of one of the sets relative to the other no longer allows the device to work properly. Since an emergency stop device is intended to exercise a safety function, it is necessary that this device functions properly. For this, it is necessary to ensure that the switching assembly is hooked to the control assembly when the emergency stop device is operated.
• US Pat. No. 6,198,058 and DE4101493 disclose devices for monitoring the attachment of the control assembly to the switching assembly.
• a set of normally closed contacts and a set of normally open contacts are placed in series on the electrical circuit to be controlled. As long as the switching assembly is mechanically disconnected from the control assembly, the normally open contacts remain open and when mounting the switching assembly on the control assembly these normally open contacts close. In normal operation, when pressing on the actuator, the normally closed contacts open.
• these solutions of the state of the art are only intended to monitor the attachment of a single switching assembly.
• an emergency stop device to have a plurality of adjacent switch assemblies, i.e., a master control assembly and one or more auxiliary type switch assemblies that are attached to the master switch assembly.
• the object of the invention is to provide an emergency stop type switching device in which it is possible to secure the attachment of its switching assemblies reliably, simply and inexpensively.
• an emergency stop type switching device comprising a control unit provided with an actuating member that can assume a rest position and an actuating position, a first switching assembly and a second set. switching devices intended to be mechanically assembled along a fixing axis by their front face on the control assembly, the second switching assembly being positioned adjacent to the first switching assembly, the first switching assembly comprising:
• a normally closed type operating switch intended to control an electrical circuit according to the position of the actuating member
• the first switching assembly comprises a housing and the mechanical means comprise a projecting part made on the housing and cooperating with a rear face of the second switching assembly when the first switching assembly is mechanically hooked onto the control assembly. .
• the projecting portion consists of a fin made perpendicular to the axis of attachment.
• the device comprises a second fin made symmetrically to the first fin and intended to cooperate with a rear face of a third switching assembly to ensure that it latches when the first switch assembly is mechanically hooked on the control assembly, said third switching assembly being positioned adjacent the first switching assembly.
• FIGS. 1A and 1B show diagrammatically the switching device of the invention provided at the rear of three adjacent switching assemblies, respectively before securing and after securing the hooking,
• FIGS. 2A to 5B show, in two perpendicular axial transverse sections, the switching assembly of the device in its different operating phases
• FIG. 6 shows, in perspective and in exploded view, the switching assembly of Figures 2A to 5B.
• an emergency stop-type switching device also called a punch switch, comprises at least two sets 1, 2 separate formed of a control unit 1 and one or more switching assemblies 2a, 2b, 2c.
• control assembly 1 comprises an actuating member 10 to be depressed in an emergency by the operator along a control axis (X) to open an electrical circuit.
• the actuating member 10 can thus take a rest position, in which it is not depressed, leaving the electric circuit closed and an actuating position in which it is depressed to open the electric circuit.
• the switching assemblies 2a, 2b, 2c are intended to be hooked by their front face f1, f10, f20 along an axis of attachment coinciding with the control axis (X) at the rear of the control unit 1.
• the emergency stop type switching device comprises a main switching assembly 2a for controlling the electric circuit and for example one or two auxiliary switching assemblies 2b, 2c adjacent to the main switching assembly 2a and intended for for example, to provide signaling functions.
• One of the two auxiliary switching assemblies comprises for example a set of normally closed electrical contacts (called NC for "Normally Closed”), also called open contacts, while the other auxiliary switching assembly comprises a set of electrical contacts. normally open (called NO for "Normally Opened”), also called closed contacts.
• the principle of the invention is to be able to secure the attachment of at least one switching assembly by means of another switching assembly whose attachment is monitored by a specific device.
• a first switching assembly that is hooked to the rear of the control assembly comprises a device for monitoring that it is hooked to the control assembly and mechanical means able to act on a second set adjacent switch to ensure mechanical attachment of this switching assembly on the control assembly.
• the main switching assembly 2a thus makes it possible to secure the assembly of one or two auxiliary switching assemblies 2b, 2c on the control unit 1.
• each auxiliary switching assembly 2b, 2c must be positioned adjacent to the main switching assembly 2a. If the device comprises two auxiliary switching assemblies 2b, 2c, these sets must be positioned on either side of the main switching assembly 2a (FIGS. 1A and 1B).
• the main switching assembly 2a is for example of the type shown in FIGS. 2A to 6.
• FIGS. 2A to 6 thus represent an alternative embodiment to the solutions described in these prior patents.
• the main switching assembly 2a is a contact block for controlling the electric circuit.
• This assembly 2a comprises a housing 20 (FIG. 6), for example made of plastic, having hooking means 21a, 21b to the control assembly 1.
• the housing 20 contains an actuating switch for controlling the electrical circuit according to the position of the actuating member 10.
• the housing 20 also contains a detection switch for monitoring that the switching assembly main 2a is hooked on the control assembly 1 by keeping the electrical circuit open as the command set is mechanically disconnected from the main switching assembly 2a.
• the operation switch has a set of normally closed operating contacts and the detection switch has a set of normally open sense contacts. The operation switch and the detection switch are connected in series to the electrical circuit to be controlled.
• the actuating switch comprises a movable actuating support 3 and a main spring 4 positioned between the movable actuating support 3 and the housing 20.
• the movable actuating support 3 consists of two conductive half-plates. 30, 31 assembled on a central piece 32 which is made of insulating material, for example plastic, this central piece 32 being mounted on the main spring 4.
• Each half-plate 30, 31 carries at its end an actuating contact 300, 310 movable adapted to cooperate with a corresponding fixed actuating contact 200, 210 for controlling the electrical circuit.
• the movable actuating support 3 is initially in a closed position of the contacts and is able to move to an open position when the actuating member 10 is depressed in its actuating position.
• the detection switch comprises, for its part, a mobile detection support 5, an opening spring 6 and a contact pressure spring 7.
• the mobile detection medium 5 comprises a conductive piece 50 of electricity having a hat-shaped cross-section carrying at each end a movable detection contact 501, 51 1.
• the detection contacts 301, 31 1 corresponding to the two movable detection contacts 501, 51 1 are said "fixed" detection contacts and are made on the mobile actuating support 3, so that they are integral in movement with each other. mobile movable support 3.
• These contacts 301, 31 1 are in fact fixed on the mobile operating support when the latter is in the closed position or in the open position but move with the mobile actuating support 3 when this one changes position.
• the set of detection contacts is placed between the two sets each formed of a fixed actuating contact and a movable actuating contact.
• the mobile actuating support 3 and the movable detection support 5 are displaceable in translation along the control axis (X).
• the movable actuating support 3 is initially in a closed position in which its actuating contacts are closed and is able to move to an open position in which its actuating contacts are open.
• the mobile detection support 5 is initially in an open position in which its detection contacts are open and is able to move to a closed position in which its detection contacts are closed.
• the conductive part 50 provides, via the detection contacts, the electrical continuity between the two conductive half-plates 30, 31 of the mobile operating support 3.
• the electric circuit is closed.
• the main switching assembly 2a comprises an actuating device cooperating with the actuating member 10 of the control unit 1.
• This device comprises an actuating pusher 8 and a pusher detection 9 arranged to act respectively on the mobile operating support 3 and on the mobile detection support 5.
• the actuating pusher 8 can be actuated by the actuating member 10 to open the electric circuit.
• the sensing pusher 9 is operable when the control assembly 1 is mechanically connected to the main switching assembly 2a, so as to move the movable sensing support 5 to close the electrical circuit.
• the two pushers 8, 9 are coaxial and nested, the detection pushbutton 9 being able to slide in the actuating pusher 8.
• the two pushers 8, 9 are each capable of taking a rest position in which they protrude outside the contact block and a working position in which they are moved inwardly of the contact block.
• the detection pusher 9 (FIG. 6) comprises an upper part consisting of a head 90 against which the actuating member 10 of the control assembly 1 can be supported, extended by an intermediate portion formed of two parallel uprights providing a slide mechanism for the conductive part 50 of the mobile detection support 5, the contact pressure spring 7 bearing on the one hand against the movable detection support 5 and on the other hand against the head 90 of the pusher 9.
• the detection pusher 9 ends with a lower part in which the opening spring 6 is housed, the latter being arranged between the mobile actuating support 3 and the detection pusher 9.
• the detection pusher 9 and the movable detection support 5 are thus arranged so as to slide relative to each other along the control axis (X).
• the actuating pusher 8 (FIG. 6) comprises a parallelepipedal main body provided on two opposite faces with two symmetrical fins 80 intended to bear against the body 20 of the contact block when it is urged by the opening spring 6. towards his rest position. It also comprises a central opening 81 inside which the detection pusher 9 is arranged, the head 90 of the detection pusher 9 comprising a collar held in abutment against the actuating pusher by means of the opening spring 6.
• the actuating pusher 8 also comprises two symmetrical members 82 protrudingly extending, parallel to the control axis (X), in the direction of the movable actuating support.
• the operating principle of the invention is as follows:
• the detection pushbutton 9 is biased towards its rest position by the opening spring 6 and drives the actuating pusher 8 towards its rest position.
• the detection push-button 9, biased towards its rest position by the opening spring 6, keeps the mobile detection support 5 in the open position.
• the control assembly 1 is mechanically assembled on the main switching assembly 2a, which causes the detection push-button 9 towards the inside of the contact block to meet the opening spring 6. Under the action of the push-button detection 9 and the contact pressure spring 7, the movable detection support 5 goes down in the closed position. The actuating pusher 8, released from the pressure exerted by the detection pusher 9 via the opening spring 6, descends to come to bear via its members 82 on the mobile actuating support 3.
• FIG. 5A and 5B Continuing to press the actuating member 10 of the control unit 1, the latter drives the assembly formed by the actuating pusher 8 and the detection pusher 9 towards the inside of the block of contacts.
• the actuating pusher 8 is then already resting on the movable actuating support 3 (see FIG. 3B), which then bears against the movable actuating support 3 and drives it to its position. opening against main spring 4.
• the actuating switch is thus open.
• the detection switch remains in the closed position.
• the main switching assembly 2a comprises mechanical means cooperating with the rear face f1 1, f21 of each auxiliary switching assembly 2b, 2c.
• These mechanical means comprise for example a protruding part made on the housing 20 of the main switching assembly 2a and intended to come into contact with the rear face f1 1, f21 of each adjacent auxiliary switching assembly 2b, 2c.
• This protruding portion is for example constituted by at least one fin 220, 221 (two fins in the figures) made on a lateral face f3, f4 of the housing 20 of the main switching assembly 2a and forming a bearing surface.
• the emergency stop device may comprise two auxiliary switching assemblies whose attachment must be secured
• the main switching assembly 2a comprises a fin 220, 221 on each of its lateral faces f3, f4.
• the two fins 220, 221 are made symmetrically on each side face f3, f4 of the housing of the main switching assembly 2a and thus make it possible to secure at the same time the attachment of the two auxiliary switching assemblies 2b, 2c.
• the presence of these fins 220, 221 on the main switching assembly 2a makes it necessary to first hook up the switching assemblies.
• auxiliaries 2b, 2c on the control assembly 1 and then hook the main switching assembly 2a which, if it is hooked, secures the attachment of adjoining auxiliary switching assemblies 2b, 2c.

Landscapes

• Push-Button Switches (AREA)
• Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
• Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=43128044

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2010
  • 2010-04-29 FR FR1053329A patent/FR2959591B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2011
  • 2011-04-14 CN CN201180014897.8A patent/CN102804305B/zh active Active
  • 2011-04-14 WO PCT/FR2011/050855 patent/WO2011135225A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2011-04-14 EP EP11720148.3A patent/EP2564409B1/de active Active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events