electrical switches

Abstract

An electrical switch includes a neutral contact adjustment system (610) adapted to adjust a position of a neutral contact disconnect surface (631) relative to at least one phase contact disconnect surface (632) such that the neutral contact adjustment system (610) has a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein the first operating state is adapted to provide a synchronous disconnection operation in which a movable neutral contact (131) is disconnected synchronously with at least one movable phase contact (132) during a disconnection event, and the second operating state is adapted to provide a delayed disconnection operation in which the movable neutral contact (131) is disconnected later than at least one movable phase contact (132) during a disconnection event.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to electrical switches. Background Art

[0002] There are two types of electrical switches provided with a neutral pole. In an electrical switch with a synchronous disconnect mechanism, the neutral pole is adapted to disconnect synchronously with the phase poles during a disconnection event. In an electrical switch with a delayed disconnect mechanism, the neutral pole is adapted to disconnect later than the phase poles during a disconnection event.

[0003] It is known in the art to manufacture an electrical switch having a synchronous disconnection mechanism and an electrical switch having a delayed disconnection mechanism so that both are based on the same phase pole unit, and the type of electrical switch depends on the type of neutral pole unit connected to the phase pole unit. The electrical switch having a synchronous disconnection mechanism is provided by combining a phase pole unit with a synchronous disconnection type neutral pole unit, and the electrical switch having a delayed disconnection mechanism is provided by combining a phase pole unit with a delayed disconnection type neutral pole unit.

[0004] One of the disadvantages associated with the above-mentioned known electrical switches is that two different types of neutral pole units have to be manufactured and kept available. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an electrical switch so as to alleviate the above-mentioned disadvantages. The object of the present invention is achieved by the following electrical switch, which comprises: a frame; a movable contact system, the movable contact system having a plurality of movable contacts, the plurality of movable contacts including a movable neutral contact and at least one movable phase contact, each movable contact being movable relative to the frame between a connected position and a disconnected position; a bridge assembly, the bridge assembly comprising a bridge body, a neutral contact disconnect surface and a phase contact disconnect surface, the phase contact disconnect surface being used for each movable phase contact of at least one movable phase contact, the bridge assembly being movable relative to the frame in a depth direction between a first bridge position and a second bridge position, wherein during a disconnection event in which the electrical switch is switched from a connected state to a disconnected state, the bridge assembly moves from the first bridge position to the second bridge position, the neutral contact disconnect surface and the movable neutral contact are in contact with each other. The movable neutral contact is in contact with the head to move the movable neutral contact from the connected position to the disconnected position, and each phase contact disconnect surface contacts the corresponding movable phase contact to move the movable phase contact from the connected position to the disconnected position, characterized in that the electrical switch includes a neutral contact adjustment system, which is suitable for adjusting the position of the neutral contact disconnect surface relative to at least one phase contact disconnect surface, so that the neutral contact adjustment system has a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein the first operating state is suitable for providing a synchronous disconnection operation, in which the movable neutral contact is disconnected synchronously with at least one movable phase contact during a disconnection event, and the second operating state is suitable for providing a delayed disconnection operation, in which the movable neutral contact is disconnected later than at least one movable phase contact during a disconnection event.

[0006] The invention is based on the idea of ​​providing an electrical switch with a neutral contact adjustment system having a first operating state adapted to provide a synchronized disconnection operation and a second operating state adapted to provide a delayed disconnection operation.

[0007] An advantage of the electrical switch of the present invention is that one and the same electrical switch can be adapted to operate as either a synchronized disconnect switch or a delayed disconnect switch without adding or removing any components from the electrical switch.

[0008] In an embodiment, the type of the electrical switch can be changed between synchronous cutoff and delayed cutoff by rotating the operating head using a tool such as a screwdriver. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0010] Figure 1 An electrical switch according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0011] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 Exploded view of the electrical switch shown in ;

[0012] Figures 3A to 3C Shown from different directions Figure 1 A portion of a mechanism of an electrical switch as shown in , wherein the neutral contact adjustment system is in a first operating state adapted to provide a synchronized disconnect operation;

[0013] Figure 4 The cross-sectional view shows Figure 3C that part of the institution shown in;

[0014] Figures 5A to 5C Shown from different directions Figure 1 A portion of the mechanism of the electrical switch shown in , wherein the neutral contact adjustment system is in a second operating state adapted to provide a delayed disconnect operation;

[0015] Figure 6 The cross-sectional view shows Figure 5C that part of the institution shown in;

[0016] Figure 7 Shown Figure 1 A neutral contact adjustment system for an electrical switch as shown in;

[0017] Figure 8 Shown Figure 1 A side view of the electrical switch shown in FIG. 1 in a connected state of the electrical switch; and

[0018] Figure 9 Shown Figure 1 A side view of the electrical switch shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2 in a disconnected state of the electrical switch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Figure 1 An electrical switch is shown, and Figure 2 The electrical switch comprises a frame 2 , an operating mechanism, a bridge assembly 6 , a movable contact system, a fixed contact system, a neutral contact adjustment system 610 and a return spring system 300 .

[0020] The frame 2 comprises a first frame portion 21 and a second frame portion 22. The mechanism of the electrical switch is mounted in the frame 2.

[0021] The movable contact system has four movable contacts, including a movable neutral contact 131 and three movable phase contacts 132. The movable contacts are electrically insulated from each other. Each movable contact is movable relative to the frame 2 between a connected position and a disconnected position, such that the connected position corresponds to the connected state of the electrical switch, and the disconnected position corresponds to the disconnected state of the electrical switch.

[0022] The fixed contact system has a fixed phase contact pair for each movable phase contact 132 and a fixed neutral contact pair for the movable neutral contact 131. Each fixed phase contact pair and each fixed neutral contact pair includes a first fixed contact 11 and a second fixed contact 12. The fixed contact system is fixedly mounted relative to the frame 2.

[0023] In the connected state of the electrical switch, each fixed phase contact pair is electrically conductively connected via the corresponding movable phase contact 132, and the fixed neutral contact pair is electrically conductively connected via the movable neutral contact 131. In the disconnected state of the electrical switch, each fixed phase contact pair is electrically isolated, and the fixed neutral contact pair is electrically isolated.

[0024] The bridge assembly 6 includes a bridge body 61, a neutral contact disconnect surface 631, and a phase contact disconnect surface 632 for each movable phase contact 132. The bridge assembly 6 is movable in the depth direction relative to the frame 2 between a first bridge position and a second bridge position by means of an operating mechanism. When the electrical switch is in a connected state, the bridge assembly 6 is in the first bridge position, and when the electrical switch is in a disconnected state, the bridge assembly 6 is in the second bridge position.

[0025] During an opening event in which the electrical switch transitions from a connected state to a disconnected state, the bridging assembly 6 moves from a first bridging position to a second bridging position, the neutral contact disconnect surface 631 contacts the movable neutral contact 131 to move the movable neutral contact 131 from the connected position to the disconnected position, and each phase contact disconnect surface 632 contacts the corresponding movable phase contact 132 to move the movable phase contact 132 from the connected position to the disconnected position.

[0026] The operating mechanism has a first operating position and a second operating position, such that movement of the operating mechanism from the first operating position to the second operating position is suitable for providing a disconnection event. The operating mechanism includes an operating shaft 4 that is rotatable relative to the frame 2 such that a first axial position of the operating shaft 4 corresponds to the first operating position of the operating mechanism, and a second axial position of the operating shaft 4 corresponds to the second operating position of the operating mechanism. The rotation axis of the operating shaft 4 is parallel to the depth direction. During the rotation of the operating shaft 4 between the first axial position and the second axial position, the operating shaft 4 is suitable for remaining fixed in the depth direction.

[0027] During a disconnection event, the operating shaft 4 is adapted to apply a first disconnection force to the bridge assembly 6 to move the bridge assembly 6 from the first bridging position to the second bridging position. The operating shaft 4 includes a first threaded surface 51, and the bridge body 61 includes a second threaded surface adapted to cooperate with the first threaded surface 51 during a disconnection event, such that the cooperation provides the first disconnection force.

[0028] The bridge body 61 is made of an electrically insulating material. The phase contact breaking surface 632 is fixed relative to the bridge body 61. The phase contact breaking surface 632 is an integral part of the bridge body 61.

[0029] The neutral contact adjustment system 610 is adapted to adjust the position of the neutral contact break surface 631 relative to the phase contact break surface 632. Therefore, the neutral contact adjustment system 610 is also adapted to adjust the position of the neutral contact break surface 631 relative to the bridge body 61.

[0030] The neutral contact adjustment system 610 has a first operating state and a second operating state. The first operating state is adapted to provide a synchronized disconnection operation, in which the movable neutral contact 131 is disconnected synchronously with the movable phase contact 132 during an opening event. The second operating state is adapted to provide a delayed disconnection operation, in which the movable neutral contact 131 is disconnected later than the movable phase contact 132 during an opening event.

[0031] Figures 3A to 3C Shown from different directions Figure 1 , a portion of a mechanism of an electrical switch is shown in FIG, with the neutral contact adjustment system 610 in a first operating state. Figure 4 The cross-sectional view shows Figure 3C That part of the mechanism shown in . Figures 5A to 5C Shown from different directions Figure 1 , with the neutral contact adjustment system 610 in a second operating state. Figure 6 The cross-sectional view shows Figure 5C That part of the mechanism shown in . Figure 7 An enlarged view of the neutral contact adjustment system 610 is shown.

[0032] The neutral contact adjustment system 610 includes a first adjustment member 611, a second adjustment member 612, and a retaining spring 633. The first adjustment member 611 and the second adjustment member 612 are made of an electrically insulating material. The retaining spring 633 is a coil spring.

[0033] The first adjustment member 611 is rotatable relative to the bridge body 61 between a synchronous disconnection position and a delayed disconnection position. The angle between the synchronous disconnection position and the delayed disconnection position is 90°. The second adjustment member 612 includes a neutral contact disconnection surface 631. Rotation of the first adjustment member 611 between the synchronous disconnection position and the delayed disconnection position allows the second adjustment member 612 to move depthwise relative to the bridge body 61 between the synchronous disconnection position and the delayed disconnection position. The neutral contact disconnection surface 631 is an integral part of the second adjustment member 612.

[0034] The first adjustment member 611 is an eccentric member that includes a first contact surface 161 and a second contact surface 162. The distance between the rotation axis of the first adjustment member 611 and the first contact surface 161 is greater than the distance between the rotation axis of the first adjustment member 611 and the second contact surface 162. The rotation axis of the first adjustment member 611 is fixed relative to the bridge body 61, so that the first adjustment member 611 is only adapted to rotate relative to the bridge body 61.

[0035] The second adjustment member 612 includes an opposing surface 163 such that in the synchronized disconnection position of the first adjustment member, the opposing surface 163 contacts the first contact surface 161, and in the delayed disconnection position of the first adjustment member, the opposing surface 163 contacts the second contact surface 162. The opposing surface 163 is an integral part of the second adjustment member 612.

[0036] The first contact surface 161 and the second contact surface 162 are formed as recessed portions, and the opposing surface 163 is formed as a protruding portion. Figure 4 、 Figure 6 and Figure 7 As best seen in FIG, the first setting member 611 includes two first contact surfaces 161 and two second contact surfaces 162 such that a cross-section of the first setting member 611 in a plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation somewhat resembles a butterfly or a four-leaf clover.

[0037] The retaining spring 633 applies a first spring force to the bridge body 61 and a second spring force to the second adjustment member 612. The second spring force presses the second adjustment member 612 against the first adjustment member 611 to resist movement of the first adjustment member 611 between the synchronous cut-off position and the delayed cut-off position.

[0038] The first adjustment member 611 and the second adjustment member 612 are shaped so that the first adjustment member 611 has an intermediate position between the synchronized cut-off position and the delayed cut-off position. In this intermediate position of the first adjustment member 611, the retaining spring 633 presses the second adjustment member 612 against the first adjustment member 611 with a greater force than in the synchronized cut-off position and the delayed cut-off position. Therefore, the shapes of the first adjustment member 611 and the second adjustment member 612 are adapted to resist movement of the first adjustment member 611 between the synchronized cut-off position and the delayed cut-off position, so that the first adjustment member 611 cannot rotate from the synchronized cut-off position to the delayed cut-off position, nor vice versa, without an external force being applied to the first adjustment member 611.

[0039] The first adjustment member 611 comprises an operating head 688 adapted to rotate the first adjustment member 611 between the synchronized cut-off position and the delayed cut-off position. The operating head 688 is adapted to be rotated by means of a screwdriver.

[0040] Figure 8 A side view showing the electrical switch in a connected state, and Figure 9 A side view of an electrical switch is shown in a disconnected position. Figure 8 and Figure 9 , the depth direction is the horizontal direction. Figure 8 and Figure 9 The frame 2 is shown to be provided with an adjustment aperture 210, so that in the connected state of the electrical switch, the operating head 688 can be accessed through the adjustment aperture 210, and in the disconnected state of the electrical switch, the frame 2 blocks access to the operating head 688. In other words, the operating head 688 is accessible in the first bridging position and inaccessible in the second bridging position.

[0041] The first adjustment member 611 is adapted to provide a visual position indication, which is used to indicate whether the first adjustment member 611 is in the synchronous cut-off position or the delayed cut-off position. The operating head 688 has a slotted head adapted to be driven by a flat-blade screwdriver, and thus the direction of the slotted head indicates whether the first adjustment member 611 is in the synchronous cut-off position or the delayed cut-off position.

[0042] The return spring system 300 is adapted to apply a return force to the movable contact system so as to return the movable neutral contact 131 and the movable phase contact 132 to their connected positions when the movable neutral contact 131 and the movable phase contact 132 are deflected from their connected positions in the direction of their disconnected positions. The return spring system 300 includes four return springs 301, 302, 303, and 304. Each of the return springs 301, 302, and 303 contacts a corresponding movable phase contact 132. The return spring 304 contacts the movable neutral contact 131.

[0043] It should be noted that in Figures 3A to 3C 、 Figure 4 、 Figures 5A to 5C and Figure 6 In FIG, return springs 301, 302, 303, and 304 are depicted in their rest position, meaning that the return springs are neither compressed nor extended. In a complete, operational electrical switch, return springs 301, 302, 303, and 304 are slightly compressed in the connected state of the electrical switch and are compressed to a greater extent in the disconnected state of the electrical switch. In other words, in a complete, operational electrical switch, return springs 301 through 304 are equally tensioned in the connected state of the electrical switch, thereby pressing the movable contact against the corresponding fixed contact.

[0044] The first and second fixed contacts 11, 12 of the electrical switch are located on the same plane. In the connected state of the electrical switch, the movable neutral contact 131 and the movable phase contact 132 are in contact with the first and second fixed contacts 11, 12, so that a small gap exists between the neutral contact opening surface 631 and the movable neutral contact 131, and between each phase contact opening surface 632 and the corresponding movable phase contact 132.

[0045] In the connected state of the electrical switch, the operating state of the neutral contact adjustment system 610 affects the size of the gap between the neutral contact opening surface 631 and the movable neutral contact 131. In the second operating state of the neutral contact adjustment system 610, the gap is larger than the gap in the first operating state. This larger gap provides a delayed disconnection operation.

[0046] In the disconnected state of the electrical switch, regardless of the operating state of the neutral contact adjustment system 610 , the neutral contact opening surface 631 contacts the movable neutral contact 131 , and each phase contact opening surface 632 contacts the corresponding movable phase contact 132 .

[0047] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways.The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An electrical switch comprising: Frame (2); A movable contact system, the movable contact system having a plurality of movable contacts, the plurality of movable contacts including a movable neutral contact (131) and at least one movable phase contact (132), each of the movable contacts being movable relative to the frame (2) between a connected position and a disconnected position; A bridge assembly (6), the bridge assembly (6) comprising a bridge body (61), a neutral contact disconnect surface (631), and a phase contact disconnect surface (632), the phase contact disconnect surface (632) being used for each movable phase contact of the at least one movable phase contact (132), the bridge assembly (6) being movable in a depth direction relative to the frame (2) between a first bridge position and a second bridge position, wherein, during a disconnection event in which the electrical switch switches from a connected state to a disconnected state, the bridge assembly (6) moves from the first bridge position to the second bridge position, the neutral contact disconnect surface (631) contacts the movable neutral contact (131) to move the movable neutral contact (131) from the connected position to the disconnected position, and each phase contact disconnect surface (632) contacts the corresponding movable phase contact (132) to move the movable phase contact (132) from the connected position to the disconnected position, The electrical switch is characterized in that the electrical switch includes a neutral contact adjustment system (610), the neutral contact adjustment system (610) being suitable for adjusting the position of the neutral contact disconnect surface (631) relative to the at least one phase contact disconnect surface (632) so that the neutral contact adjustment system (610) has a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein the first operating state is suitable for providing a synchronous disconnection operation, in which the movable neutral contact (131) is disconnected synchronously with the at least one movable phase contact (132) during the disconnection event, and the second operating state is suitable for providing a delayed disconnection operation, in which the movable neutral contact (131) is disconnected later than the at least one movable phase contact (132) during the disconnection event, Wherein, the neutral contact adjustment system (610) comprises: a first adjustment member (611) rotatable relative to the bridge body (61) between a synchronous cut-off position and a delayed cut-off position; and A second adjustment member (612), the second adjustment member (612) includes the neutral contact disconnection surface (631), and the second adjustment member (612) can be moved relative to the bridging body (61) along the depth direction between the synchronous disconnection position and the delayed disconnection position by rotating the first adjustment member (611) between the synchronous disconnection position and the delayed disconnection position.

2. The electrical switch according to claim 1, wherein The first adjustment member (611) is an eccentric member, the eccentric member includes a first contact surface (161) and a second contact surface (162), so that the distance between the rotation axis of the first adjustment member (611) and the first contact surface (161) is greater than the distance between the rotation axis of the first adjustment member (611) and the second contact surface (162), and the second adjustment member (612) includes an opposing surface (163), so that in the synchronous cut-off position of the first adjustment member, the opposing surface (163) contacts the first contact surface (161), and in the delayed cut-off position of the first adjustment member, the opposing surface (163) contacts the second contact surface (162).

3. The electrical switch of claim 2, wherein: The neutral contact adjustment system (610) includes a retaining spring (633), which applies a first spring force to the bridging body (61) and a second spring force to the second adjustment member (612), wherein the second spring force presses the second adjustment member (612) against the first adjustment member (611) so as to resist movement of the first adjustment member (611) between the synchronized disconnection position and the delayed disconnection position.

4. The electrical switch of claim 3, wherein: The first adjustment member (611) and the second adjustment member (612) are formed so that the first adjustment member (611) has an intermediate position between the synchronous cut-off position and the delayed cut-off position, so that in the intermediate position of the first adjustment member (611), the retaining spring (633) causes the second adjustment member (612) to be pressed against the first adjustment member (611) with a greater strength than in the synchronous cut-off position and in the delayed cut-off position.

5. The electrical switch of claim 4, wherein: The first contact surface (161) and the second contact surface (162) are formed as recessed portions, and the opposing surface (163) is formed as a protruding portion.

6. The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein: The angle between the synchronous cut-off position and the delayed cut-off position is 90°.

7. The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein: The first adjustment member (611) includes an operating head (688), which is suitable for rotating the first adjustment member (611) between the synchronous cut-off position and the delayed cut-off position, and the operating head (688) can be touched in the first bridging position and cannot be touched in the second bridging position.

8. The electrical switch of claim 7, wherein: The frame (2) is provided with an adjustment aperture (210) such that in the first bridging position the operating head (688) is accessible via the adjustment aperture (210), and in the second bridging position the frame (2) blocks access to the operating head (688).

9. The electrical switch of claim 8, wherein: In the first bridging position, the first adjustment member (611) is adapted to provide a visible position indication, wherein the visible position indication is used to indicate whether the first adjustment member (611) is in the synchronized cut-off position or the delayed cut-off position.

10. The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein: The electrical switch includes an operating mechanism having a first operating position and a second operating position, such that movement of the operating mechanism from the first operating position to the second operating position is adapted to provide the opening event.

11. The electrical switch of claim 10, wherein: The operating mechanism comprises an operating shaft (4) which is rotatable relative to the frame (2) such that a first shaft position of the operating shaft (4) corresponds to the first operating position and a second shaft position of the operating shaft (4) corresponds to the second operating position, wherein the operating shaft (4) is adapted to apply a first disconnecting force to the bridge assembly (6) during the disconnection event.

12. The electrical switch of claim 11, wherein: The operating shaft (4) includes a first threaded surface (51), and the bridging assembly (6) includes a second threaded surface, the second threaded surface being adapted to cooperate with the first threaded surface (51) during the disconnection event such that the cooperation provides the first disconnection force, wherein the depth direction is parallel to the rotation axis of the operating shaft (4), and the operating shaft (4) is adapted to remain fixed in the depth direction during rotation of the operating shaft (4) between the first shaft position and the second shaft position.

13. The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein: The electrical switch comprises a return spring system (300) adapted to apply a return force to the movable contact system so as to return the movable neutral contact (131) and the at least one movable phase contact (132) to their connected position when the movable neutral contact (131) and the at least one movable phase contact (132) are deflected from their connected position in the direction of their disconnected position.

14. The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein: The electrical switch comprises a fixed contact system having a fixed phase contact pair for each of the at least one movable phase contact (132) and a fixed neutral contact pair for the movable neutral contact (131), the fixed contact system being fixedly mounted relative to the frame (2), wherein in the connected state, each fixed phase contact pair is electrically conductively connected via the corresponding movable phase contact (132) and the fixed neutral contact pair is electrically conductively connected via the movable neutral contact (131), and in the disconnected state, each fixed phase contact pair is electrically insulated and the fixed neutral contact pair is electrically insulated.

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