EP3349231A1 - Electromechanical contactor - Google Patents

Electromechanical contactor Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3349231A1
EP3349231A1 EP17151114.0A EP17151114A EP3349231A1 EP 3349231 A1 EP3349231 A1 EP 3349231A1 EP 17151114 A EP17151114 A EP 17151114A EP 3349231 A1 EP3349231 A1 EP 3349231A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coil
zone
secondary coil
influence
contactor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP17151114.0A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3349231B1 (en
Inventor
Alain Portier
Omer KARAAGAC
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABB Schweiz AG
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ABB Schweiz AG
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Priority to EP17151114.0A priority Critical patent/EP3349231B1/en
Publication of EP3349231A1 publication Critical patent/EP3349231A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3349231B1 publication Critical patent/EP3349231B1/en
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/44—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H47/00—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
    • H01H47/001—Functional circuits, e.g. logic, sequencing, interlocking circuits
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/16—Magnetic circuit arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/54—Contact arrangements
    • H01H50/546—Contact arrangements for contactors having bridging contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/46—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using arcing horns
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/0015—Means for testing or for inspecting contacts, e.g. wear indicator
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H2009/0083—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00 using redundant components, e.g. two pressure tubes for pressure switch

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of electromechanical contactors, particularly, but not exclusively, adapted to the protection of high voltage electrical installations such as, for example, those used in rail transport networks.
  • Known electromechanical contactors usually comprise at least one fixed pole and at least one mobile pole. These poles are in contact to let the current flow and are separated to interrupt it.
  • An electromechanical actuator is usually used to move the movable contact to separate it from the fixed contact. An electric arc is created between the two contacts, which must be turned off as efficiently as possible.
  • Known means for extinguishing this electric arc include devices electromagnetic blow arc to means configured to separate and disperse the arc in a multitude of arcs that eventually go out.
  • the electromagnetic blow results from the effect of the Lorentz force produced by a magnetic field on the arc current, the magnetic field can be created by a permanent magnet or a coil traversed by a current of intensity adapted to the desired effect. So that the desired effect is obtained whatever the direction of the current in the electric arc, it is in particular known to adapt in real time the direction of the current in the blowing coil to the direction of the current in the electric arc .
  • the existing devices do not make it possible to ensure a satisfactory continuity of the blowing effect over the whole spectrum of the intensities considered, from the very low intensity to the higher intensities.
  • the present invention aims to solve all or some of the disadvantages mentioned above.
  • the invention relates to an electromechanical contactor for interrupting or passing a direct current in a circuit
  • the electromechanical contactor comprising at least one fixed pole and at least one mobile pole and at least one arc guide. associated with the at least one fixed pole, and at least one arc guide associated with the at least one mobile pole
  • the electromechanical contactor comprising also at least one secondary coil and at least one main coil, the at least one secondary coil being configured to produce a magnetic field for blowing at least one electric arc generated between the at least one fixed pole and the at least one mobile pole in a first zone of influence delimited by at least one pair of secondary plates, the movable and stationary poles being in the first zone of influence
  • the at least one main coil being configured to produce a magnetic field for blowing the at least one an electric arc in a second zone of influence delimited by at least one pair of main plates, the second zone of influence being adjacent to the first zone of influence
  • the at least one arc guide each having an end in the first zone of influence and the other end in the second zone of
  • the power supply of the at least one secondary coil is independent of the supply of the at least one main coil which is put in series in the circuit of the contactor by the at least one blown electric arc by the action of the at least one secondary coil.
  • the power supply of the at least one secondary coil is ensured by the discharge of a capacitor previously charged by a voltage derived from the voltage applied to the actuating coil.
  • the direction of the current in the at least one secondary coil is determined by the direction of the current in the contactor circuit.
  • the contactor represented on the figure 1 is inserted between the terminals 1, 2 of a main circuit supplied with voltages which may be between 0 and 3000 V, preferably between 0 and 1500 V, the dimensions of which make it possible to inscribe the contactor inside a rectangular parallelepiped of about 350 mm in length, by 250 mm in width, and 70 mm in thickness, according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • voltages which may be between 0 and 3000 V, preferably between 0 and 1500 V, the dimensions of which make it possible to inscribe the contactor inside a rectangular parallelepiped of about 350 mm in length, by 250 mm in width, and 70 mm in thickness, according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • the contactor according to the embodiment of the invention described in detail below is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry passing through the axis AA 'shown in FIG. figure 1 and perpendicular to the cutting plane of the figure 1 .
  • the description below may not systematically detail the configuration of the contactor on each side of this plane of symmetry, but the skilled person will understand that everything that is described on one side of this plane is found identically on the other side.
  • the contactor comprises an electromechanical breaking member provided with a movable contact support 3 and a fixed contact support 4, 5 on each side of the aforementioned plane of symmetry.
  • the movable contact support is a bridge which moves in translation in the direction of the arrow 6 indicated on the figure 1 ; this bridge carries two contact pads 31, 32, which will be called poles 31, 32 in the following description; the poles 31, 32, depending on the position of the movable contact support, establish or interrupt the contact with two corresponding poles 41, 51 situated respectively on the two fixed contact supports.
  • Each fixed contact support 4, 5 is electrically connected to a terminal of the main circuit 1, 2 by a first end. At the other end of each fixed contact support, in its extension, is positioned an electric arc guide 7, 8, of conductive material.
  • One end of the arc guide 7, 8 is located near but not in electrical contact with the second end of the fixed contact support 4, 5, in the extension of which it is located; the other end of the arc guide joins an extinction zone of the electric arc, which comprises in particular extinction fins 9, 10 of ferromagnetic material.
  • the figure 3 illustrates the means that ensures the displacement of the movable contact support 3, to firstly close the main circuit by electrically contacting the corresponding poles of the fixed contact support with those of the movable contact support, on the other hand open the main circuit separating the corresponding poles of the fixed contact support and those of the movable contact support.
  • the movable contact support 3 is inserted between two substantially parallel walls of a hollow slider 11 of substantially parallelepiped shape, closed at the top by an upper face transverse to the axis of symmetry of the slider, at the bottom by a lower face transverse to the axis of symmetry of the slider, and at an intermediate level between the top and the bottom, by an intermediate transverse plane 12 to the axis of symmetry of the slider; the movable contact support 3 rests on this intermediate plane 12, on which it is pressed by the pressure of a spring 16 whose first end rests on the movable contact support, and the other end of which rests on the upper face of the slider.
  • the slide is secured to a movable ferromagnetic portion 13 fixed to its lower base.
  • This moving ferromagnetic part 13 cooperates with an induction coil 14, called an actuating coil 14, powered by a second circuit independent of the main circuit.
  • An electronic supply card 33 of the actuating coil provides regulation in voltage and intensity of this power supply.
  • This electronic card and the regulation that it provides not only allow to dimension the more precisely the actuator thus significantly reducing the volume and weight of the entire switch, but also to directly deal with the current intensity in this coil to implement a second embodiment of the detector according to the invention which will be described in more detail below.
  • the electronic card 33 may also, as is the case in the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, be split into a portion 33 more particularly dedicated to the supply of the actuating coil, and a portion 33a, gathering especially the components described in more detail below.
  • This actuating coil when powered, pulls down the portion 13 and the slider 11 integrally movable until the upper head of this movable portion 13 comes into contact with a fixed second ferromagnetic part, solidary the actuating coil; the lower base of the slide then crushes at least one spring 15 which is supported by its upper end on a portion of the lower base of the slide, and whose lower end is supported on the bottom of the contactor.
  • This downward translation of the slider also drives down the movable contact support downwards until the poles of the movable contact support come into contact with their counterparts on each fixed contact support.
  • the at least one spring 15 under the lower base of the slider is deployed and pushes the slider upwards, as well as the spring 16 which is deployed simultaneously and adds its own pressure. on the slider, to that exerted by the at least one spring 15, until the movable contact support 3 abuts on the intermediate plane 12 of the slider as shown figure 5 ; during this first part of the upward movement of the slider, the poles of the movable contact support 3 have remained in contact with the poles of the fixed contact supports; under the effect of the at least one spring 15, the slider then continues its upward movement by driving, in this second part of its upward movement, the movable contact support, whose poles then begin to separate only from their homologous poles on the two fixed contact supports.
  • the detection of the moment of the separation of the fixed and mobile poles is achieved by means of a photoelectric sensor 34 fixed on the power supply card 33bis.
  • This sensor 34 is positioned so as to accommodate and cooperate with the end 35 of an integral protrusion of the slide.
  • the end 35 is inserted inside a recess adapted to the sensor 34, as illustrated figure 8 , so that the photocell of the sensor 34 detects the presence of the end of the slider.
  • the upward movement of the slider causes this end 35 to exit the sensor 34, which the photocell detects immediately.
  • the precise moment of the separation of the two fixed and mobile poles is detected thanks to a treatment of the temporal evolution profile of the current in the actuating coil 14 of the slider 11.
  • the electronic supply card 33 of the actuating coil 14 which provides voltage regulation and intensity of this power supply makes it possible to directly process the intensity of the current in this coil to implement this second embodiment of the detector according to the invention.
  • the figure 6 represents on the abscissa the time, and ordinate U the supply voltage of the actuating coil, and I the intensity of the supply current of the actuating coil.
  • the curve 64 in step, represents the evolution of the voltage U as a function of time; at time T1, the voltage U is canceled in the actuating coil.
  • Curve 61 represents the evolution of the current flowing through the actuating coil from T1; the intensity begins to decrease, because of the presence of a freewheeling diode across the actuating coil, to reach a first low point at T2.
  • This low point marks the moment when the magnetic attraction force of the slide towards the actuating coil 14 becomes smaller than the thrust force exerted on the slide 11 in the opposite direction by the at least one spring 15 and the spring 16.
  • T2 thus marks the beginning of the movement of the slider upward, under the effect of the differential between the pressure exerted on the slider upwards by the springs 15 and 16 and the attraction exerted on the slide in the opposite direction by the spool.
  • An appropriate electronic circuit is arranged on the electronic control-command card of the actuating coil 14 and makes it possible to process the measurement of the intensity of the current by detecting the moment of appearance T2 from the low point of the intensity curve, and deduce T3. Thus it is possible to optimally synchronize the beginning of the blowing action of the electric arc with the appearance of this electric arc between the fixed and mobile poles.
  • a so-called secondary coil 19, 20 is positioned under each fixed contact piece.
  • the supply of the secondary coils is independent of that of the main coils. It is provided by a capacitor 38 placed under the card electronic 33bis which controls the supply of the at least one secondary coil 19,20.
  • the capacitor 38 may be supplied with power by applying thereto, as well as to the at least one secondary coil 19, 20, a voltage less than, but derived from, that applied to the actuating coil 14. This justifies dedicating to this function a separate part 33bis of the electronic card 33.
  • the capacitor 38 is charged by a voltage derived from that which feeds the actuating coil 14 when the latter holds the contactor closed; this charge is made in a very short time, typically less than 1 second, as soon as the contactor closes.
  • the discharge of the capacitor 38 which will supply the at least one secondary coil 19,20 is triggered by the component 42, called here trigger, preferably a MOSFET bridge, at the instant which will have been determined as indicated above by the detector 34, after application of an appropriate delay by the component 41 to take into account, if necessary, the shift T3-T2 indicated above.
  • the trigger 42 which triggers the discharge of the capacitor also determines the direction of the discharge current as a function of the direction of the current in the contactor as measured by the device 39.
  • each secondary coil 19, 20 is associated a pair of flat ferromagnetic plates 21, 22 which face each other on either side of the coil and which are interconnected by a core 36, 37, which is also ferromagnetic and located at inside the coil.
  • the figure 1 represents only one of the two ferromagnetic plates of each pair associated with the coil, as well as the core. The second piece faces the first in a plane parallel to the sectional plane of the figure.
  • These pairs of plates 21,22 associated with each secondary coil will also be called pairs of secondary plates 21,22.
  • This pair of secondary plates 21, 22 is intended, when the secondary coil 19, 20 is energized, to promote the creation of a magnetic field in a direction transverse to the section plane of the figure 1 , between the two parts of this pair of secondary plates.
  • This magnetic field is configured to interact with the arc current created between the separated poles to create a force oriented according to the direction of the current and the direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil.
  • the direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil is itself a function of the direction of the current flowing through this coil.
  • the aim is to blow the arc towards the extinguishing vanes 9, 10 of the arc, in the direction indicated by the arrow 23 on the figure 1 a known electronic device 39 is provided for detecting the direction of the current in the main circuit and for setting accordingly the direction of the current which is discharged from the capacitor 38 to traverse the secondary coil 19 so that the direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil 19 between the two parts of the pair of secondary plates 21 blows the arc current in the direction 23 of the zone of extinction of the bow 9.
  • the extension of the zone of influence of the magnetic field produced by a secondary coil stops at the limit of the ferromagnetic part associated with this coil. During its movement towards this limit, the arc lengthens, until it goes out if the intensity of the arc current is weak.
  • Sizing the at least one secondary coil and its ferromagnetic core ensures a substantially constant field between the plates for a period of about 30 to 70 ms; this duration is consistent with the extinction time of the arcs for contactors whose circuit is at a constant of high time, greater than 15 ms.
  • the zone of extension of the blowing of the secondary coil is configured so that arc currents of low intensity, typically less than 1 or even 2 A, are extinguished under the sole effect of the magnetic blowing due to the secondary coil 19, without that it is necessary to blow them up to the zone of the fins of extinction of the arcs of greater intensity.
  • predetermined extinction threshold a certain predetermined threshold, which we will call “predetermined extinction threshold”
  • predetermined extinction threshold the arc current will not be extinguished until it has reached, in the direction 23, the the limit of the area of the ferromagnetic plates 21 associated with the coil 19. In this case, before the arc reaches this limit, the arc current has started to feed a main coil 24, 25, which is made in series in the main circuit.
  • This main coil is placed above the mobile pole 31, 32 on the movable contact support 3, between this pole 31, 32 and a second arc guide 26, 27 which delimits with the first arc guide 7, 8 the blowing zone towards the extinguishing vanes 9, 10 high intensity arcs; this main coil 24 is in electrical contact at one of these ends with this second arc guide 26 and at the other end with the second main coil 25 of the contactor, so that the main current arriving by one of the pieces of fixed contact 4 jumps to the first arc guide 7 in the extension of this fixed contact piece and, according to the electric arc blown at first by the effect of the secondary coil 19 to the limits of the first plate secondary 21 associated with this secondary coil 19, joins the second arc guide 26 which is connected to the main coil 24 and continues its way to the second main coil 25 of the second part of the symmetrical contactor of the first.
  • each coil 24, 25 is associated with a ferromagnetic core and a pair of ferromagnetic plates, said main, 28, 29 to promote the creation of a magnetic field in the same direction as that induced by the secondary coil 19, but in an area that extends the blowing zone of the secondary coil.
  • the at least one pair of main plates 28,29 is disposed in the extension of the at least one pair of secondary plates 21,22 associated with the at least one secondary coil, so that the distance between their respective edges is between 2 and 4 mm.
  • the at least one main coil 24,25 and their ferromagnetic core is sized to ensure, when it is traversed by a current of intensity at least equal to the "predetermined threshold of extinction" mentioned above, a field magnetic between the plates of the at least one pair of plates 28, 29 of sufficient intensity to continue the elongation of the arc beyond the limit of the zone of influence of the at least one secondary coil 19,20 corresponding.
  • predetermined extinction threshold which characterizes the intensity of the arc current below which the arc elongates and extinguishes under the effect of the single secondary coil before reaching the zone of influence of the main coil, varies in the opposite direction of the voltage across the contactor: the higher the voltage, the lower the intensity corresponding to this "predetermined threshold of extinction”.
  • the "predetermined threshold of extinction” chosen for the dimensioning of the at least one secondary and main coil is that corresponding to the highest voltage allowed across the contactor.

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  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)

Abstract

Contacteur électromécanique, destiné à interrompre ou à laisser passer un courant continu dans un circuit, le contacteur électromécanique comprenant au moins un pôle fixe (31, 32) et au moins un pôle mobile (41, 51) et au moins un guide d'arc (7) associé à l'au moins un pôle fixe (31,32) et au moins un guide d'arc (26) associé à l'au moins un pôle mobile (41,51), le contacteur électromécanique comprenant également au moins une bobine secondaire (19, 20) et au moins une bobine principale (24, 25), l'au moins une bobine secondaire étant configurée pour produire un champ magnétique pour souffler au moins un arc électrique (17) généré entre le au moins un pôle fixe (41, 51) et le au moins un pôle mobile (31, 32) dans une première zone d'influence délimitée par au moins une paire de plaques secondaires (21, 22), les pôles mobiles (31,32) et fixes (41,51) se trouvant dans la première zone d'influence, l'au moins une bobine principale (24,25) étant configurée pour produire un champ magnétique pour souffler le au moins un arc électrique (17) dans une deuxième zone d'influence délimitée par au moins une paire de plaques principales (28, 29), la deuxième zone d'influence étant adjacente à la première zone d'influence, les au moins un guide d'arc (7, 26) ayant chacun une extrémité dans la première zone d'influence et l'autre extrémité dans la deuxième zone d'influence, si le au moins un arc électrique (17) n'a pas été éteint par l'action de la au moins une bobine secondaire (19,20).

Figure imgaf001
Electromechanical contactor for interrupting or passing a direct current in a circuit, the electromechanical contactor comprising at least one fixed pole (31, 32) and at least one movable pole (41, 51) and at least one arc guide (7) associated with the at least one fixed pole (31,32) and at least one arc guide (26) associated with the at least one mobile pole (41,51), the electromechanical contactor also comprising at least a secondary coil (19, 20) and at least one main coil (24, 25), the at least one secondary coil being configured to produce a magnetic field for blowing at least one electric arc (17) generated between the at least one fixed pole (41, 51) and the at least one movable pole (31, 32) in a first zone of influence delimited by at least one pair of secondary plates (21, 22), the movable poles (31, 32) and fixed (41,51) in the first influence zone, the at least one main coil (24,25) being configured for producing a magnetic field for blowing the at least one electric arc (17) into a second zone of influence delimited by at least one pair of main plates (28, 29), the second zone of influence being adjacent to the first zone of influence, the at least one arc guide (7, 26) each having one end in the first influencing zone and the other end in the second influencing zone, if the at least one electric arc (17 ) has not been extinguished by the action of the at least one secondary coil (19,20).
Figure imgaf001

Description

La présente invention concerne le domaine des contacteurs électromécaniques, adaptés notamment, mais pas exclusivement, à la protection des installations électriques à hautes tensions telles que, par exemple, celles utilisées dans les réseaux de transports par voies ferrées.The present invention relates to the field of electromechanical contactors, particularly, but not exclusively, adapted to the protection of high voltage electrical installations such as, for example, those used in rail transport networks.

Ces réseaux nécessitent l'utilisation de tensions continues comprises habituellement entre 750 et 3000 V. Un contacteur électromécanique est nécessaire pour permettre d'interrompre ou laisser passer le courant. Il est de plus en plus fréquent que le courant soit bidirectionnel, et que son intensité varie de 0 ampères jusqu'à une valeur nominale.These networks require the use of DC voltages usually between 750 and 3000 V. An electromechanical contactor is necessary to allow to interrupt or let the current. It is more and more frequent that the current is bidirectional, and that its intensity varies from 0 amps up to a nominal value.

Les contacteurs électromécaniques connus comprennent habituellement au moins un pôle fixe et au moins un pôle mobile. Ces pôles sont en contact pour laisser passer le courant et sont séparés pour interrompre celui-ci. Un actionneur électromécanique est habituellement utilisé pour déplacer le contact mobile de manière à le séparer du contact fixe. Un arc électrique se crée alors entre les deux contacts, qui doit être éteint le plus efficacement possible.Known electromechanical contactors usually comprise at least one fixed pole and at least one mobile pole. These poles are in contact to let the current flow and are separated to interrupt it. An electromechanical actuator is usually used to move the movable contact to separate it from the fixed contact. An electric arc is created between the two contacts, which must be turned off as efficiently as possible.

Les moyens connus pour éteindre cet arc électrique comprennent des dispositifs de soufflage électromagnétique de l'arc vers des moyens configurés pour séparer et disperser l'arc en une multitude d'arcs qui finissent par s'éteindre. Le soufflage électromagnétique résulte de l'effet de la force de Lorentz produite par un champ magnétique sur le courant de l'arc, le champ magnétique pouvant être créé par un aimant permanent ou par une bobine traversée par un courant d'intensité adaptée à l'effet recherché. Pour que l'effet recherché soit obtenu quelque soit la direction du courant dans l'arc électrique, il est notamment connu d'adapter en temps-réel la direction du courant dans la bobine de soufflage à la direction du courant dans l'arc électrique. En revanche, les dispositifs existants ne permettent pas d'assurer une continuité satisfaisante de l'effet de soufflage sur tout le spectre des intensités considérées, de la très basse intensité jusqu'aux intensités plus élevées.Known means for extinguishing this electric arc include devices electromagnetic blow arc to means configured to separate and disperse the arc in a multitude of arcs that eventually go out. The electromagnetic blow results from the effect of the Lorentz force produced by a magnetic field on the arc current, the magnetic field can be created by a permanent magnet or a coil traversed by a current of intensity adapted to the desired effect. So that the desired effect is obtained whatever the direction of the current in the electric arc, it is in particular known to adapt in real time the direction of the current in the blowing coil to the direction of the current in the electric arc . On the other hand, the existing devices do not make it possible to ensure a satisfactory continuity of the blowing effect over the whole spectrum of the intensities considered, from the very low intensity to the higher intensities.

La présente invention vise à résoudre tout ou partie des inconvénients mentionnés ci-dessus.The present invention aims to solve all or some of the disadvantages mentioned above.

A cet effet, l'invention porte sur un contacteur électromécanique, destiné à interrompre ou à laisser passer un courant continu dans un circuit, le contacteur électromécanique comprenant au moins un pôle fixe et au moins un pôle mobile et au moins un guide d'arc associé à l'au moins un pôle fixe, et au moins un guide d'arc associé à l'au moins un pôle mobile, le contacteur électromécanique comprenant également au moins une bobine secondaire et au moins une bobine principale, l'au moins une bobine secondaire étant configurée pour produire un champ magnétique pour souffler au moins un arc électrique généré entre le au moins un pôle fixe et le au moins un pôle mobile dans une première zone d'influence délimitée par au moins une paire de plaques secondaires, les pôles mobiles et fixes se trouvant dans la première zone d'influence, l'au moins une bobine principale étant configurée pour produire un champ magnétique pour souffler le au moins un arc électrique dans une deuxième zone d'influence délimitée par au moins une paire de plaques principales, la deuxième zone d'influence étant adjacente à la première zone d'influence, les au moins un guide d'arc ayant chacun une extrémité dans la première zone d'influence et l'autre extrémité dans la deuxième zone d'influence, si le au moins un arc électrique n'a pas été éteint par l'action de la au moins une bobine secondaire.For this purpose, the invention relates to an electromechanical contactor for interrupting or passing a direct current in a circuit, the electromechanical contactor comprising at least one fixed pole and at least one mobile pole and at least one arc guide. associated with the at least one fixed pole, and at least one arc guide associated with the at least one mobile pole, the electromechanical contactor comprising also at least one secondary coil and at least one main coil, the at least one secondary coil being configured to produce a magnetic field for blowing at least one electric arc generated between the at least one fixed pole and the at least one mobile pole in a first zone of influence delimited by at least one pair of secondary plates, the movable and stationary poles being in the first zone of influence, the at least one main coil being configured to produce a magnetic field for blowing the at least one an electric arc in a second zone of influence delimited by at least one pair of main plates, the second zone of influence being adjacent to the first zone of influence, the at least one arc guide each having an end in the first zone of influence and the other end in the second zone of influence, if the at least one electric arc has not been extinguished by the action of the at least one bob secondary inefficiency.

Selon un aspect de l'invention, l'alimentation électrique de la au moins une bobine secondaire est indépendante de l'alimentation de la au moins une bobine principale qui est mise en série dans le circuit du contacteur par le au moins un arc électrique soufflé par l'action de la au moins une bobine secondaire.According to one aspect of the invention, the power supply of the at least one secondary coil is independent of the supply of the at least one main coil which is put in series in the circuit of the contactor by the at least one blown electric arc by the action of the at least one secondary coil.

Selon un aspect de l'invention, l'alimentation électrique de la au moins une bobine secondaire est assurée par la décharge d'un condensateur préalablement chargé par une tension dérivée de la tension appliquée à la bobine d'actionnement.According to one aspect of the invention, the power supply of the at least one secondary coil is ensured by the discharge of a capacitor previously charged by a voltage derived from the voltage applied to the actuating coil.

Selon un aspect de l'invention, le sens du courant dans la au moins une bobine secondaire est déterminé par le sens du courant dans le circuit du contacteur.According to one aspect of the invention, the direction of the current in the at least one secondary coil is determined by the direction of the current in the contactor circuit.

L'invention sera bien comprise à l'aide de la description qui suit en références aux dessins annexés représentant, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, une forme d'exécution de l'invention.

  • Figure 1 est une vue en coupe schématique d'un contacteur selon l'invention.
  • Figure 2 est une vue de dessus du même contacteur.
  • Figure 3 est une vue schématique du coulisseau qui assure le déplacement de le support de contact mobile ; cette vue présente cette partie du dispositif en position circuit ouvert.
  • Figure 4 est une vue schématique du coulisseau qui assure le déplacement de le support de contact mobile ; cette vue présente cette partie du dispositif en position circuit complètement fermé, après la mise en compression des pôles.
  • Figure 5 est une vue schématique du coulisseau qui assure le déplacement de le support de contact mobile ; cette vue présente cette partie du dispositif en position circuit fermé au moment précis où les pôles entrent en contact, avant leur mise en compression.
  • Figure 6 représente le profil d'évolution temporelle du courant dans la bobine d'actionnement des pôles mobiles lors de la coupure de son alimentation.
  • Figure 7 est une vue en perspective du coulisseau et du capteur photoélectrique selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, avec le contacteur en position ouverte.
  • Figure 8 est la même vue que la figure 7, avec ce contacteur en position fermée.
  • Figure 9 est une vue en coupe agrandie autour de la carte de contrôle-commande de la bobine d'actionnement, de la bobine secondaire et du dispositif de détection du sens du courant dans le contacteur.
The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings showing, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a contactor according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a top view of the same contactor.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic view of the slider which ensures the displacement of the movable contact support; this view shows this part of the device in open circuit position.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic view of the slider which ensures the displacement of the movable contact support; this view presents this part of the device in completely closed circuit position, after the compression of the poles.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic view of the slider which ensures the displacement of the movable contact support; this view shows this part of the device in closed circuit position at the precise moment when the poles come into contact, before they are put into compression.
  • Figure 6 represents the temporal evolution profile of the current in the coil of actuation of the mobile poles during the interruption of its power supply.
  • Figure 7 is a perspective view of the slider and the photoelectric sensor according to one embodiment of the invention, with the switch in the open position.
  • Figure 8 is the same view as the figure 7 , with this switch in closed position.
  • Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view around the control-command card of the actuating coil, the secondary coil and the sensing device of the current in the contactor.

Le contacteur représenté sur la figure 1 est inséré entre les bornes 1, 2 d'un circuit principal alimenté en tensions qui peuvent être comprises entre 0 et 3000 V, de préférence entre 0 et 1500 V, dont les dimensions permettent d'inscrire le contacteur à l'intérieur d'un parallélépipède rectangulaire d'environ 350 mm de longueur, par 250 mm de largeur, et 70 mm d'épaisseur, selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention.The contactor represented on the figure 1 is inserted between the terminals 1, 2 of a main circuit supplied with voltages which may be between 0 and 3000 V, preferably between 0 and 1500 V, the dimensions of which make it possible to inscribe the contactor inside a rectangular parallelepiped of about 350 mm in length, by 250 mm in width, and 70 mm in thickness, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Le contacteur selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention décrit en détail ci-dessous est symétrique par rapport à un plan de symétrie passant par l'axe AA' représenté sur la figure 1 et perpendiculaire au plan de coupe de la figure 1. La description ci-dessous pourra ne pas détailler systématiquement la configuration du contacteur de chaque côté de ce plan de symétrie, mais l'homme du métier comprendra que tout ce qui est décrit d'un côté de ce plan se retrouve identiquement de l'autre côté.The contactor according to the embodiment of the invention described in detail below is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry passing through the axis AA 'shown in FIG. figure 1 and perpendicular to the cutting plane of the figure 1 . The description below may not systematically detail the configuration of the contactor on each side of this plane of symmetry, but the skilled person will understand that everything that is described on one side of this plane is found identically on the other side.

Le contacteur comprend un organe de coupure électromécanique muni d'un support de contact mobile 3 et d'un support de contact fixe 4, 5 de chaque côté du plan de symétrie précité.The contactor comprises an electromechanical breaking member provided with a movable contact support 3 and a fixed contact support 4, 5 on each side of the aforementioned plane of symmetry.

Le support de contact mobile est un pont qui se déplace en translation dans le sens de la flèche 6 indiquée sur la figure 1; ce pont porte deux pastilles de contact 31, 32 , qu'on appellera pôles 31, 32 dans la suite de la description ; les pôles 31,32, selon la position de le support de contact mobile, établissent ou interrompent le contact avec deux pôles correspondants 41, 51 situés respectivement sur les deux supports de contacts fixes. Chaque support de contact fixe 4, 5 est raccordée électriquement à une borne du circuit principal 1, 2 par une première extrémité. A l'autre extrémité de chaque support de contact fixe, dans son prolongement, est positionné un guide d'arc électrique 7, 8, en matériau conducteur. Une extrémité du guide d'arc 7, 8 est située à proximité de, mais pas en contact électrique avec la deuxième extrémité du support de contact fixe 4, 5, dans le prolongement de laquelle elle se trouve ; l'autre extrémité du guide d'arc rejoint une zone d'extinction de l'arc électrique, qui comprend notamment des ailettes d'extinction 9, 10 en matériau ferromagnétique.The movable contact support is a bridge which moves in translation in the direction of the arrow 6 indicated on the figure 1 ; this bridge carries two contact pads 31, 32, which will be called poles 31, 32 in the following description; the poles 31, 32, depending on the position of the movable contact support, establish or interrupt the contact with two corresponding poles 41, 51 situated respectively on the two fixed contact supports. Each fixed contact support 4, 5 is electrically connected to a terminal of the main circuit 1, 2 by a first end. At the other end of each fixed contact support, in its extension, is positioned an electric arc guide 7, 8, of conductive material. One end of the arc guide 7, 8 is located near but not in electrical contact with the second end of the fixed contact support 4, 5, in the extension of which it is located; the other end of the arc guide joins an extinction zone of the electric arc, which comprises in particular extinction fins 9, 10 of ferromagnetic material.

La figure 3 illustre le moyen qui assure le déplacement du support de contact mobile 3, pour d'une part fermer le circuit principal en mettant en contact électrique les pôles correspondants du support de contact fixe avec ceux du support de contact mobile, d'autre part ouvrir le circuit principal séparant les pôles correspondants du support de contact fixe et ceux du support de contact mobile. Le support de contact mobile 3 est inséré entre deux parois sensiblement parallèles d'un coulisseau 11 creux de forme sensiblement parallélépipédique, fermé en haut par une face supérieure transversale à l'axe de symétrie du coulisseau, en bas par une face inférieure transversale à l'axe de symétrie du coulisseau, et à un niveau intermédiaire entre le haut et le bas, par un plan intermédiaire transversal 12 à l'axe de symétrie du coulisseau ; le support de contact mobile 3 repose sur ce plan intermédiaire 12, sur lequel il est plaqué par la pression d'un ressort 16 dont une première extrémité s'appuie sur le support de contact mobile, et dont l'autre extrémité s'appuie sur la face supérieure du coulisseau.The figure 3 illustrates the means that ensures the displacement of the movable contact support 3, to firstly close the main circuit by electrically contacting the corresponding poles of the fixed contact support with those of the movable contact support, on the other hand open the main circuit separating the corresponding poles of the fixed contact support and those of the movable contact support. The movable contact support 3 is inserted between two substantially parallel walls of a hollow slider 11 of substantially parallelepiped shape, closed at the top by an upper face transverse to the axis of symmetry of the slider, at the bottom by a lower face transverse to the axis of symmetry of the slider, and at an intermediate level between the top and the bottom, by an intermediate transverse plane 12 to the axis of symmetry of the slider; the movable contact support 3 rests on this intermediate plane 12, on which it is pressed by the pressure of a spring 16 whose first end rests on the movable contact support, and the other end of which rests on the upper face of the slider.

Le coulisseau est solidaire d'une partie ferromagnétique mobile 13 fixée à sa base inférieure. Cette partie ferromagnétique mobile 13 coopère avec une bobine à induction 14, dite bobine d'actionnement 14, alimentée par un deuxième circuit indépendant du circuit principal. Une carte électronique d'alimentation 33 de la bobine d'actionnement assure la régulation en tension et en intensité de cette alimentation. Cette carte électronique et la régulation qu'elle assure, permettent non seulement de dimensionner au plus juste le dispositif d'actionnement en réduisant ainsi considérablement le volume et le poids de l'ensemble du contacteur, mais également de traiter directement l'intensité du courant dans cette bobine pour mettre en oeuvre un deuxième mode de réalisation du détecteur selon l'invention qui sera décrit plus en détail ci-après. La carte électronique 33 peut également, comme c'est le cas dans le mode de réalisation représenté sur les figures annexées, être scindée en une partie 33 plus particulièrement dédiée à l'alimentation de la bobine d'actionnement, et une partie 33bis, rassemblant plus spécialement les composants décrits plus en détails ci-dessous.The slide is secured to a movable ferromagnetic portion 13 fixed to its lower base. This moving ferromagnetic part 13 cooperates with an induction coil 14, called an actuating coil 14, powered by a second circuit independent of the main circuit. An electronic supply card 33 of the actuating coil provides regulation in voltage and intensity of this power supply. This electronic card and the regulation that it provides, not only allow to dimension the more precisely the actuator thus significantly reducing the volume and weight of the entire switch, but also to directly deal with the current intensity in this coil to implement a second embodiment of the detector according to the invention which will be described in more detail below. The electronic card 33 may also, as is the case in the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, be split into a portion 33 more particularly dedicated to the supply of the actuating coil, and a portion 33a, gathering especially the components described in more detail below.

Cette bobine d'actionnement, lorsqu'elle est alimentée, attire vers le bas la partie 13 et le coulisseau 11 solidairement mobiles jusqu'à ce que la tête supérieure de cette partie mobile 13 vienne au contact d'une seconde partie ferromagnétique fixe, solidaire de la bobine d'actionnement; la base inférieure du coulisseau écrase alors au moins un ressort 15 qui s'appuie par son extrémité supérieure sur une partie de la base inférieure du coulisseau, et dont l'extrémité inférieure est en appui sur le fond du contacteur. Cette translation vers le bas du coulisseau entraine vers le bas également le support de contact mobile jusqu'à ce que les pôles du support de contact mobile entrent en contact avec leurs homologues sur chaque support de contact fixe. Lorsque ce contact est établi le mouvement vers le bas du coulisseau se poursuit de manière à ce que le ressort placé à l'intérieur du coulisseau entre le support de contact mobile et la face supérieure du coulisseau soit suffisamment comprimé pour exercer une pression appropriée sur le support de contact mobile comme indiqué sur la figure 4. Dans cette configuration du contacteur, en position circuit fermé, la position du support de contact mobile relativement au coulisseau est décalée d'une distance d au-dessus de sa position lorsque le contacteur est en configuration circuit ouvert. Cette distance caractérise la course de compression des contacteurs, i.e. la distance que doit effectuer le coulisseau à partir de l'instant où les pôles arrivent en contact et jusqu'à la fermeture complète du contacteur.This actuating coil, when powered, pulls down the portion 13 and the slider 11 integrally movable until the upper head of this movable portion 13 comes into contact with a fixed second ferromagnetic part, solidary the actuating coil; the lower base of the slide then crushes at least one spring 15 which is supported by its upper end on a portion of the lower base of the slide, and whose lower end is supported on the bottom of the contactor. This downward translation of the slider also drives down the movable contact support downwards until the poles of the movable contact support come into contact with their counterparts on each fixed contact support. When this contact is established, the downward movement of the slider continues so that the spring placed inside the slider between the movable contact support and the upper face of the slider is sufficiently compressed to exert an appropriate pressure on the slider. mobile contact support as shown on the figure 4 . In this configuration of the contactor, in closed circuit position, the position of the movable contact support relative to the slide is shifted by a distance d above its position when the contactor is in open circuit configuration. This distance characterizes the compression stroke of the contactors, ie the distance to be made by the slide from the moment the poles come into contact and until the contactor closes completely.

Lorsque l'alimentation de la bobine d'actionnement 14 est coupée, le au moins un ressort 15 sous la base inférieure du coulisseau se déploie et repousse le coulisseau vers le haut, ainsi que le ressort 16 qui se déploie simultanément et ajoute sa propre pression sur le coulisseau, à celle exercée par le au moins un ressort 15, jusqu'à ce que le support de contact mobile 3 vienne buter sur le plan intermédiaire 12 du coulisseau comme indiqué figure 5; au cours de cette première partie du mouvement vers le haut du coulisseau, les pôles du support de contact mobile 3 sont restés en contact avec les pôles des supports de contact fixes; sous l'effet du au moins un ressort 15, le coulisseau poursuit ensuite son mouvement vers le haut en entraînant, dans cette deuxième partie de son mouvement vers le haut, le support de contact mobile, dont les pôles commencent alors seulement à se séparer de leurs pôles homologues sur les deux supports de contact fixes.When the supply of the actuating coil 14 is cut off, the at least one spring 15 under the lower base of the slider is deployed and pushes the slider upwards, as well as the spring 16 which is deployed simultaneously and adds its own pressure. on the slider, to that exerted by the at least one spring 15, until the movable contact support 3 abuts on the intermediate plane 12 of the slider as shown figure 5 ; during this first part of the upward movement of the slider, the poles of the movable contact support 3 have remained in contact with the poles of the fixed contact supports; under the effect of the at least one spring 15, the slider then continues its upward movement by driving, in this second part of its upward movement, the movable contact support, whose poles then begin to separate only from their homologous poles on the two fixed contact supports.

A partir de ce moment, un arc électrique 17, 18 commence à se former entre le pôle de chaque pièce de contact fixe et son pôle correspondant sur le support de contact mobile.From this moment, an electric arc 17, 18 begins to form between the pole of each fixed contact piece and its corresponding pole on the movable contact support.

C'est à ce moment précisément qu'il convient de déclencher l'action de soufflage de l'arc afin de l'éteindre.It is at this moment precisely that it is necessary to trigger the action of blowing the arc in order to extinguish it.

Selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, la détection du moment de la séparation des pôles fixes et mobile, est réalisée grâce à un capteur photoélectrique 34 fixé sur la carte d'alimentation 33bis. Ce capteur 34 est positionné de manière à pouvoir accueillir et coopérer avec l'extrémité 35 d'une excroissance solidaire du coulisseau. Lorsque le coulisseau se trouve dans la position représentée schématiquement sur la figure 4, l'extrémité 35 se trouve insérée à l'intérieur d'un renfoncement adapté du capteur 34, comme cela est illustré figure 8, de sorte que la cellule photoélectrique du capteur 34 détecte la présence de l'extrémité du coulisseau. Le mouvement du coulisseau vers le haut, tel que décrit précédemment, a pour effet de faire sortir cette extrémité 35 du capteur 34, ce que la cellule photoélectrique détecte aussitôt. En dimensionnant l'épaisseur de l'extrémité 35 du coulisseau qui coopère avec le capteur, et en calibrant de manière appropriée un délai de retard à partir de la détection par le capteur du début mouvement vers le haut du coulisseau, il est possible d'en déduire précisément le moment où le coulisseau sera dans la position correspondant à la figure 5 et où les pôles fixes et mobiles vont se séparer. Ainsi il est possible de synchroniser de manière optimale le début de l'action de soufflage de l'arc électrique avec l'apparition de cet arc électrique entre les pôles fixes et mobiles.According to a first embodiment of the invention, the detection of the moment of the separation of the fixed and mobile poles is achieved by means of a photoelectric sensor 34 fixed on the power supply card 33bis. This sensor 34 is positioned so as to accommodate and cooperate with the end 35 of an integral protrusion of the slide. When the slider is in the position shown schematically on the figure 4 , the end 35 is inserted inside a recess adapted to the sensor 34, as illustrated figure 8 , so that the photocell of the sensor 34 detects the presence of the end of the slider. The upward movement of the slider, as previously described, causes this end 35 to exit the sensor 34, which the photocell detects immediately. By dimensioning the thickness of the end 35 of the slider which cooperates with the sensor, and by suitably calibrating a delay time from the detection by the sensor of the upward movement of the slider, it is possible to to deduce precisely when the slider will be in the position corresponding to the figure 5 and where the fixed and mobile poles will separate. Thus it is possible to optimally synchronize the beginning of the blowing action of the electric arc with the appearance of this electric arc between the fixed and mobile poles.

Selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, le moment précis de la séparation des deux pôles fixes et mobiles est détecté grâce à un traitement du profil d'évolution temporelle du courant dans la bobine d'actionnement 14 du coulisseau 11. Comme cela a déjà été indiqué plus haut, la carte électronique d'alimentation 33 de la bobine d'actionnement 14, qui assure la régulation en tension et en intensité de cette alimentation permet de traiter directement l'intensité du courant dans cette bobine pour mettre en oeuvre ce deuxième mode de réalisation du détecteur selon l'invention. La figure 6 représente en abscisse le temps, et ordonnée U la tension d'alimentation de la bobine d'actionnement, et I l'intensité du courant d'alimentation de la bobine d'actionnement. La courbe 64, en marche d'escalier, représente l'évolution de la tension U en fonction du temps ; à l'instant T1, la tension U est annulée dans la bobine d'actionnement. La courbe 61 représente l'évolution du courant qui traverse la bobine d'actionnement à partir de T1; l'intensité commence par décroitre, à cause de la présence d'une diode roue-libre aux bornes de la bobine d'actionnement, pour atteindre un premier point bas à T2. Ce point bas, marque le moment où la force d'attraction magnétique du coulisseau vers la bobine d'actionnement 14 devient inférieure à la force de poussée exercée sur le coulisseau 11 en sens opposé par le au moins un ressort 15 et le ressort 16. T2 marque donc le début du mouvement du coulisseau vers le haut, sous l'effet du différentiel entre la pression exercée sur le coulisseau vers le haut par les ressorts 15 et 16 et l'attraction exercée sur le coulisseau en sens opposé par la bobine d'actionnement 14; ce mouvement déplace le coulisseau de la position représentée sur la figure 4 à la position représentée sur la figure 5, qu'il atteint à l'instant T3, puis à la position représentée sur la figure 3. C'est à l'instant T3 qu'il convient de déclencher le soufflage de la bobine secondaire 19, 20. Cet instant T3 est décalé de T2 d'un retard constant lié au temps de déplacement du coulisseau entre la position représentée à la figure 4 jusqu'à celle représentée à la figure 5 ; cette constante T3-T2 est déterminée de manière empirique par des essais d'étalonnage du dispositif. Un circuit électronique approprié, connu par l'homme du métier, est disposé sur la carte contrôle-commande électronique de la bobine d'actionnement 14 et permet de traiter la mesure de l'intensité du courant en détectant l'instant d'apparition T2 du point bas de la courbe d'intensité, et d'en déduire T3. Ainsi il est possible de synchroniser de manière optimale le début de l'action de soufflage de l'arc électrique avec l'apparition de cet arc électrique entre les pôles fixes et mobiles.According to a second embodiment of the invention, the precise moment of the separation of the two fixed and mobile poles is detected thanks to a treatment of the temporal evolution profile of the current in the actuating coil 14 of the slider 11. Like this has already been indicated above, the electronic supply card 33 of the actuating coil 14, which provides voltage regulation and intensity of this power supply makes it possible to directly process the intensity of the current in this coil to implement this second embodiment of the detector according to the invention. The figure 6 represents on the abscissa the time, and ordinate U the supply voltage of the actuating coil, and I the intensity of the supply current of the actuating coil. The curve 64, in step, represents the evolution of the voltage U as a function of time; at time T1, the voltage U is canceled in the actuating coil. Curve 61 represents the evolution of the current flowing through the actuating coil from T1; the intensity begins to decrease, because of the presence of a freewheeling diode across the actuating coil, to reach a first low point at T2. This low point marks the moment when the magnetic attraction force of the slide towards the actuating coil 14 becomes smaller than the thrust force exerted on the slide 11 in the opposite direction by the at least one spring 15 and the spring 16. T2 thus marks the beginning of the movement of the slider upward, under the effect of the differential between the pressure exerted on the slider upwards by the springs 15 and 16 and the attraction exerted on the slide in the opposite direction by the spool. actuation 14; this movement moves the slider from the position shown on the figure 4 at the position shown on the figure 5 , that it reaches at the moment T3, then at the position represented on the figure 3 . It is at time T3 that the blowing of the secondary coil 19, 20 is to be triggered. This instant T3 is shifted by T2 by a constant delay related to the movement time of the slide between the position shown in FIG. figure 4 up to the one shown in figure 5 ; this constant T3-T2 is determined empirically by calibration tests of the device. An appropriate electronic circuit, known to those skilled in the art, is arranged on the electronic control-command card of the actuating coil 14 and makes it possible to process the measurement of the intensity of the current by detecting the moment of appearance T2 from the low point of the intensity curve, and deduce T3. Thus it is possible to optimally synchronize the beginning of the blowing action of the electric arc with the appearance of this electric arc between the fixed and mobile poles.

Le moment du déclenchement de l'action de soufflage ayant été déterminé, la description va maintenant porter sur les conditions particulières de l'action de soufflage destinée à éteindre l'arc électrique. Une bobine dite secondaire 19, 20 est positionnée sous chaque pièce de contact fixe.The moment of the triggering of the blowing action having been determined, the description will now relate to the particular conditions of the blowing action intended to extinguish the electric arc. A so-called secondary coil 19, 20 is positioned under each fixed contact piece.

L'alimentation des bobines secondaires est indépendante de celle des bobines principales. Elle est assurée par un condensateur 38 placé sous la carte électronique 33bis qui contrôle l'alimentation de la au moins une bobine secondaire 19,20. L'alimentation de la charge du condensateur 38 peut être réalisée en appliquant à ce dernier, ainsi qu'à la au moins une bobine secondaire 19, 20 , une tension inférieure à, mais dérivée de celle qui est appliquée à la bobine d'actionnement 14. Cela justifie de dédier à cette fonction une partie distincte 33bis de la carte électronique 33. Comme cela est représenté sur la figure 10, le condensateur 38 est chargé par une tension dérivée de celle qui alimente la bobine d'actionnement 14 lorsque celle-ci maintient le contacteur fermé ; cette charge est effectuée en un temps très court, typiquement inférieur à 1 seconde, dès la fermeture du contacteur. La décharge du condensateur 38 qui va alimenter la au moins une bobine secondaire 19,20 est déclenchée par le composant 42, appelé ici déclencheur, de préférence un pont MOSFET, à l'instant qui aura été déterminé comme indiqué ci-dessus par le détecteur 34, après application d'un retard approprié par le composant 41 pour tenir compte, le cas échéant, du décalage T3-T2 indiqué plus haut. Le déclencheur 42 qui assure le déclenchement de la décharge du condensateur, détermine également le sens du courant de décharge en fonction du sens du courant dans le contacteur tel que mesuré par le dispositif 39.The supply of the secondary coils is independent of that of the main coils. It is provided by a capacitor 38 placed under the card electronic 33bis which controls the supply of the at least one secondary coil 19,20. The capacitor 38 may be supplied with power by applying thereto, as well as to the at least one secondary coil 19, 20, a voltage less than, but derived from, that applied to the actuating coil 14. This justifies dedicating to this function a separate part 33bis of the electronic card 33. As shown in figure 10 the capacitor 38 is charged by a voltage derived from that which feeds the actuating coil 14 when the latter holds the contactor closed; this charge is made in a very short time, typically less than 1 second, as soon as the contactor closes. The discharge of the capacitor 38 which will supply the at least one secondary coil 19,20 is triggered by the component 42, called here trigger, preferably a MOSFET bridge, at the instant which will have been determined as indicated above by the detector 34, after application of an appropriate delay by the component 41 to take into account, if necessary, the shift T3-T2 indicated above. The trigger 42 which triggers the discharge of the capacitor also determines the direction of the discharge current as a function of the direction of the current in the contactor as measured by the device 39.

A chaque bobine secondaire 19, 20 est associée une paire de plaques ferromagnétiques planes 21, 22 qui se font face de part et d'autre de la bobine et qui sont reliées entre elles par un noyau 36, 37, ferromagnétique également et situé à l'intérieur de la bobine. La figure 1 ne représente qu'une des deux plaques ferromagnétiques de chaque paire associée à la bobine, ainsi que le noyau. La deuxième pièce fait face à la première dans un plan parallèle au plan de coupe de la figure. Ces paires de plaques 21,22, associées à chaque bobine secondaire seront également appelées paires de plaques secondaires 21,22. Cette paire de plaques secondaires 21, 22 est destinée, lorsque la bobine secondaire 19, 20 est alimentée, à favoriser la création d'un champ magnétique dans une direction transversale au plan de coupe de la figure 1, entre les deux parties de cette paire de plaques secondaires. Ce champ magnétique est configuré pour interagir avec le courant d'arc créé entre les pôles séparés pour créer une force orientée en fonction du sens du courant et de la direction du champ magnétique induit par la bobine secondaire. La direction du champ magnétique induit par la bobine secondaire est lui-même fonction du sens du courant qui traverse cette bobine. L'objectif étant de souffler l'arc en direction des ailettes d'extinction 9, 10 de l'arc, dans le sens indiqué par la flèche 23 sur la figure 1, un dispositif électronique connu 39 est prévu pour détecter le sens du courant dans le circuit principal et pour fixer en conséquence le sens du courant qui est déchargé du condensateur 38 pour traverser la bobine secondaire 19 de manière à ce que la direction du champ magnétique induit par la bobine secondaire 19 entre les deux parties de la paire de plaques secondaires 21 souffle le courant d'arc dans la direction 23 de la zone d'extinction de l'arc 9.At each secondary coil 19, 20 is associated a pair of flat ferromagnetic plates 21, 22 which face each other on either side of the coil and which are interconnected by a core 36, 37, which is also ferromagnetic and located at inside the coil. The figure 1 represents only one of the two ferromagnetic plates of each pair associated with the coil, as well as the core. The second piece faces the first in a plane parallel to the sectional plane of the figure. These pairs of plates 21,22 associated with each secondary coil will also be called pairs of secondary plates 21,22. This pair of secondary plates 21, 22 is intended, when the secondary coil 19, 20 is energized, to promote the creation of a magnetic field in a direction transverse to the section plane of the figure 1 , between the two parts of this pair of secondary plates. This magnetic field is configured to interact with the arc current created between the separated poles to create a force oriented according to the direction of the current and the direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil. The direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil is itself a function of the direction of the current flowing through this coil. The aim is to blow the arc towards the extinguishing vanes 9, 10 of the arc, in the direction indicated by the arrow 23 on the figure 1 a known electronic device 39 is provided for detecting the direction of the current in the main circuit and for setting accordingly the direction of the current which is discharged from the capacitor 38 to traverse the secondary coil 19 so that the direction of the magnetic field induced by the secondary coil 19 between the two parts of the pair of secondary plates 21 blows the arc current in the direction 23 of the zone of extinction of the bow 9.

L'extension de la zone d'influence du champ magnétique produit par une bobine secondaire s'arrête à la limite de la pièce ferromagnétique associée à cette bobine. Au cours de son déplacement vers cette limite, l'arc s'allonge, jusqu'à s'éteindre si l'intensité du courant d'arc est faible. Le dimensionnement de la au moins une bobine secondaire et de son noyau ferromagnétique permet d'assurer un champ à peu près constant entre les plaques pendant une durée d'environ 30 à 70 ms ; cette durée est cohérente avec la durée d'extinction des arcs pour des contacteurs dont le circuit est à constante de temps élevée, supérieure à 15 ms.The extension of the zone of influence of the magnetic field produced by a secondary coil stops at the limit of the ferromagnetic part associated with this coil. During its movement towards this limit, the arc lengthens, until it goes out if the intensity of the arc current is weak. Sizing the at least one secondary coil and its ferromagnetic core ensures a substantially constant field between the plates for a period of about 30 to 70 ms; this duration is consistent with the extinction time of the arcs for contactors whose circuit is at a constant of high time, greater than 15 ms.

Ainsi la zone d'extension du soufflage de la bobine secondaire est configurée pour que des courants d'arc de faibles intensité, typiquement inférieure à 1 voire 2 A, soient éteints sous le seul effet du soufflage magnétique dû à la bobine secondaire 19, sans qu'il soit besoin de les souffler jusqu'à la zone des ailettes d'extinction des arcs d'intensité plus importante.Thus the zone of extension of the blowing of the secondary coil is configured so that arc currents of low intensity, typically less than 1 or even 2 A, are extinguished under the sole effect of the magnetic blowing due to the secondary coil 19, without that it is necessary to blow them up to the zone of the fins of extinction of the arcs of greater intensity.

Si l'intensité du courant d'arc est supérieure à un certain seuil prédéterminé, que nous appellerons « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction », le courant d'arc ne s'éteindra pas avant d'avoir atteint, dans la direction 23, la limite de la surface des plaques ferromagnétiques 21 associées à la bobine 19. Dans ce cas, avant que l'arc n'atteigne cette limite, le courant d'arc aura commencé à alimenter une bobine principale 24, 25, qui se trouve de ce fait en série dans le circuit principal. Cette bobine principale est placée au dessus du pôle mobile 31, 32 sur le support de contact mobile 3, entre ce pôle 31, 32 et un deuxième guide d'arc 26, 27 qui délimite avec le premier guide d'arc 7, 8 la zone de soufflage vers les ailettes d'extinction 9, 10 des arcs de forte intensité ; cette bobine principale 24 est en contact électrique à l'une de ces extrémités avec ce deuxième guide d'arc 26 et à l'autre extrémité avec la deuxième bobine principale 25 du contacteur, de sorte que le courant principal arrivant par une des pièces de contact fixe 4 saute vers le premier guide d'arc 7 dans le prolongement de cette pièce de contact fixe puis, suivant l'arc électrique soufflé dans un premier temps par l'effet de la bobine secondaire 19 jusque vers les limites de la première plaque secondaire 21 associée à cette bobine secondaire 19, rejoint le deuxième guide d'arc 26 auquel est raccordée la bobine principale 24 et poursuit son chemin vers la deuxième bobine principale 25 de la deuxième partie du contacteur symétrique de la première. Comme les bobines secondaires, chaque bobine principale 24, 25 est associée à un noyau ferromagnétique et une paire de plaques ferromagnétiques, dites principales, 28, 29 pour favoriser la création d'un champ magnétique dans la même direction que celui induit par la bobine secondaire 19, mais dans une zone qui prolonge la zone de soufflage de la bobine secondaire. La au moins une paire de plaques principales 28,29 est disposée dans le prolongement de la au moins une paire de plaques secondaires 21,22 associée à la au moins une bobine secondaire, de sorte que la distance entre leurs bordures respectives est comprise entre 2 et 4 mm. Ainsi, les courants de plus forte intensité qui après avoir été soufflés par la bobine secondaire ne se sont pas éteints, sont soufflés par le champ magnétique créé par la bobine principale, dont l'influence s'étend jusqu'à proximité des ailettes d'extinction 9, 10 des arcs de fortes intensités. A cet effet, la au moins une bobine principale 24,25 et leur noyau ferromagnétique est dimensionné pour assurer, lorsqu'elle est parcourue par un courant d'intensité au moins égale au « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction » mentionné plus haut, un champ magnétique entre les plaques de la au moins une paire de plaques 28, 29 d'intensité suffisante pour poursuivre l'allongement de l'arc au-delà de la limite de la zone d'influence de la au moins une bobine secondaire 19,20 correspondante. Il faut noter que le « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction » qui caractérise l'intensité du courant d'arc en dessous de laquelle l'arc s'allonge et s'éteint sous l'effet de la seule bobine secondaire avant d'avoir atteint la zone d'influence de la bobine principale, varie en sens inverse de la tension aux bornes du contacteur : plus la tension est élevée plus l'intensité correspondant à ce « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction » est faible. Le « seuil prédéterminé d'extinction » choisi pour le dimensionnement des au moins une bobine secondaire et principale est celui correspondant à la tension la plus élevée admise aux bornes du contacteur.If the intensity of the arc current is greater than a certain predetermined threshold, which we will call "predetermined extinction threshold", the arc current will not be extinguished until it has reached, in the direction 23, the the limit of the area of the ferromagnetic plates 21 associated with the coil 19. In this case, before the arc reaches this limit, the arc current has started to feed a main coil 24, 25, which is made in series in the main circuit. This main coil is placed above the mobile pole 31, 32 on the movable contact support 3, between this pole 31, 32 and a second arc guide 26, 27 which delimits with the first arc guide 7, 8 the blowing zone towards the extinguishing vanes 9, 10 high intensity arcs; this main coil 24 is in electrical contact at one of these ends with this second arc guide 26 and at the other end with the second main coil 25 of the contactor, so that the main current arriving by one of the pieces of fixed contact 4 jumps to the first arc guide 7 in the extension of this fixed contact piece and, according to the electric arc blown at first by the effect of the secondary coil 19 to the limits of the first plate secondary 21 associated with this secondary coil 19, joins the second arc guide 26 which is connected to the main coil 24 and continues its way to the second main coil 25 of the second part of the symmetrical contactor of the first. Like the secondary coils, each coil 24, 25 is associated with a ferromagnetic core and a pair of ferromagnetic plates, said main, 28, 29 to promote the creation of a magnetic field in the same direction as that induced by the secondary coil 19, but in an area that extends the blowing zone of the secondary coil. The at least one pair of main plates 28,29 is disposed in the extension of the at least one pair of secondary plates 21,22 associated with the at least one secondary coil, so that the distance between their respective edges is between 2 and 4 mm. Thus, the currents of higher intensity which after having been blown by the secondary coil have not extinguished, are blown by the magnetic field created by the main coil, the influence of which extends to near the fins of extinction 9, 10 arcs of high intensity. For this purpose, the at least one main coil 24,25 and their ferromagnetic core is sized to ensure, when it is traversed by a current of intensity at least equal to the "predetermined threshold of extinction" mentioned above, a field magnetic between the plates of the at least one pair of plates 28, 29 of sufficient intensity to continue the elongation of the arc beyond the limit of the zone of influence of the at least one secondary coil 19,20 corresponding. It should be noted that the "predetermined extinction threshold" which characterizes the intensity of the arc current below which the arc elongates and extinguishes under the effect of the single secondary coil before reaching the zone of influence of the main coil, varies in the opposite direction of the voltage across the contactor: the higher the voltage, the lower the intensity corresponding to this "predetermined threshold of extinction". The "predetermined threshold of extinction" chosen for the dimensioning of the at least one secondary and main coil is that corresponding to the highest voltage allowed across the contactor.

La continuité de l'action de soufflage est donc assurée sur l'ensemble du spectre des intensités d'utilisation du contacteur selon l'invention.The continuity of the blowing action is therefore ensured over the entire spectrum of the intensities of use of the contactor according to the invention.

Claims (4)

Contacteur électromécanique, destiné à interrompre ou à laisser passer un courant continu dans un circuit, le contacteur électromécanique comprenant au moins un pôle fixe (31, 32) et au moins un pôle mobile (41, 51) et au moins un guide d'arc (7) associé à l'au moins un pôle fixe (31,32) et au moins un guide d'arc (26) associé à l'au moins un pôle mobile (41,51), le contacteur électromécanique comprenant également au moins une bobine secondaire (19, 20) et au moins une bobine principale (24, 25), l'au moins une bobine secondaire étant configurée pour produire un champ magnétique pour souffler au moins un arc électrique (17) généré entre le au moins un pôle fixe (41, 51) et le au moins un pôle mobile (31, 32) dans une première zone d'influence délimitée par au moins une paire de plaques secondaires (21,22), les pôles mobiles (31,32) et fixes (41,51) se trouvant dans la première zone d'influence, l'au moins une bobine principale (24,25) étant configurée pour produire un champ magnétique pour souffler le au moins un arc électrique (17) dans une deuxième zone d'influence délimitée par au moins une paire de plaques principales (28, 29), la deuxième zone d'influence étant adjacente à la première zone d'influence, les au moins un guide d'arc (7, 26) ayant chacun une extrémité dans la première zone d'influence et l'autre extrémité dans la deuxième zone d'influence, si le au moins un arc électrique (17) n'a pas été éteint par l'action de la au moins une bobine secondaire (19,20).Electromechanical contactor for interrupting or passing a direct current in a circuit, the electromechanical contactor comprising at least one fixed pole (31, 32) and at least one movable pole (41, 51) and at least one arc guide (7) associated with the at least one fixed pole (31,32) and at least one arc guide (26) associated with the at least one mobile pole (41,51), the electromechanical contactor also comprising at least a secondary coil (19, 20) and at least one main coil (24, 25), the at least one secondary coil being configured to produce a magnetic field for blowing at least one electric arc (17) generated between the at least one fixed pole (41, 51) and the at least one movable pole (31, 32) in a first zone of influence delimited by at least one pair of secondary plates (21, 22), the movable poles (31, 32) and fixed (41,51) in the first influence zone, the at least one main coil (24,25) being configured for producing a magnetic field for blowing the at least one electric arc (17) into a second zone of influence delimited by at least one pair of main plates (28, 29), the second zone of influence being adjacent to the first zone of influence, the at least one arc guide (7, 26) each having one end in the first influencing zone and the other end in the second influencing zone, if the at least one electric arc (17 ) has not been extinguished by the action of the at least one secondary coil (19,20). Contacteur électromécanique selon la revendication 1 dans lequel l'alimentation électrique de la au moins une bobine secondaire (19,20) est indépendante de l'alimentation de la au moins une bobine principale (24,25) qui est mise en série dans le circuit du contacteur par le au moins un arc électrique (17) soufflé par l'action de la au moins une bobine secondaire (19,20).Electromechanical contactor according to claim 1 wherein the power supply of the at least one secondary coil (19,20) is independent of the supply of the at least one main coil (24,25) which is put in series in the circuit the contactor by the at least one electric arc (17) blown by the action of the at least one secondary coil (19,20). Contacteur électromécanique selon la revendication 2 dans lequel l'alimentation électrique de la au moins une bobine secondaire est assurée par la décharge d'un condensateur (38) chargé par une tension dérivée de la tension appliquée à la bobine d'actionnement (14).An electromechanical contactor according to claim 2 wherein the power supply of the at least one secondary coil is provided by discharging a capacitor (38) charged by a voltage derived from the voltage applied to the actuating coil (14). Contacteur électromécanique selon la revendication 3 dans lequel le sens du courant dans la au moins une bobine secondaire (19,20) est déterminé par le sens du courant dans le circuit du contacteur.Electromechanical contactor according to claim 3 wherein the direction of the current in the at least one secondary coil (19,20) is determined by the direction of the current in the contactor circuit.
EP17151114.0A 2017-01-12 2017-01-12 Electromechanical contactor Active EP3349231B1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020035489A1 (en) * 2018-08-15 2020-02-20 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Switching device and method for operating a switching device

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FR640912A (en) * 1926-07-12 1928-07-24 Thomson Houston Comp Francaise Improvements to contactors, switches, and magnetic blow-out circuit breakers
FR1342851A (en) * 1962-09-19 1963-11-15 Cem Comp Electro Mec Double break pole for electromagnetic or pneumatic contactors mounted on bars
US5138122A (en) * 1990-08-29 1992-08-11 Eaton Corporation Bi-directional direct current switching apparatus having arc extinguishing chambers alternatively used according to polarity applied to said apparatus
DE20105432U1 (en) * 2001-03-28 2002-09-26 Schaltbau Gmbh Blow in AC operation
EP2230678A2 (en) * 2009-03-16 2010-09-22 Schaltbau GmbH Arc welding resistant contactor

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DE102006035844B4 (en) * 2006-08-01 2008-06-19 Schaltbau Gmbh Contactor for DC and AC operation

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR640912A (en) * 1926-07-12 1928-07-24 Thomson Houston Comp Francaise Improvements to contactors, switches, and magnetic blow-out circuit breakers
FR1342851A (en) * 1962-09-19 1963-11-15 Cem Comp Electro Mec Double break pole for electromagnetic or pneumatic contactors mounted on bars
US5138122A (en) * 1990-08-29 1992-08-11 Eaton Corporation Bi-directional direct current switching apparatus having arc extinguishing chambers alternatively used according to polarity applied to said apparatus
DE20105432U1 (en) * 2001-03-28 2002-09-26 Schaltbau Gmbh Blow in AC operation
EP2230678A2 (en) * 2009-03-16 2010-09-22 Schaltbau GmbH Arc welding resistant contactor

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020035489A1 (en) * 2018-08-15 2020-02-20 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Switching device and method for operating a switching device
US11521817B2 (en) 2018-08-15 2022-12-06 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Switching device and method for operating a switching device

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