Energy-efficient contact with adjustable stop

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy-efficient contact (1) comprising a fixed part (2) and a part (3) movable along a main direction (Z) between a contact position and an open position, in which the energy-efficient contact (1) comprises: a resilient blade (8) attached to the fixed part (2) forming an electrical contact; and a stop (10) mounted on the movable part (3) and arranged away from the blade (8) and against the blade (8) when the movable part (3) is in the contact position. The fixed portion (2) defines an aperture (11) opposite the blade (8) for the stopper (10) to pass through, where the aperture (11) has an inner section substantially identical to an outer section of the stopper (10), the stopper (10) being movably mounted to translate in a plane (XY) on the movable portion (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of power electronics switching assemblies.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to an energy-saving contact element for an aircraft. Background Art

[0003] A contactor is a switching component of a power electronic device that includes a movable part moved by a mechanical actuator and used to make and break an electronic circuit.

[0004] In order to limit the electrical consumption of the actuator in the contactor, one known solution is to use contacts of the so-called energy-saving type, activating a coil called holding at the end of the travel of the movable part of the contactor.

[0005] Figure 1 , this energy-saving electrical contactor 1 is shown, which consists of a fixed part 2 and a movable part 3, which is movable in translation in a direction Z between an upper electrical contact position and a lower position in which the contact is broken.

[0006] The movable part 3 is urged towards its lower position by one or more springs (not shown) in such a way that the movable part is in the lower position when at rest.

[0007] When an actuation current flows through the actuation coil, the movable part 3 is driven translationally towards its upper position by the action of the actuation coil, acting by induction on a core mounted on the movable part 3 and interposed between the turns of the actuation coil.

[0008] The translational movement of the movable part 3 serves to establish electrical contact between the auxiliary blade 5 fixed to the movable part 3 and the electric plate 6 fixed to the fixed part 2 .

[0009] The energy-saving electrical contact 1 further comprises: at least one blade 8 mounted on the fixed part 2, the fixed part supporting a contact pad 9, the contact pad forming an energy-saving contact with the fixed contact; and at least one stop 10 mounted on the movable part 3 and arranged to interact with the blade 8 during the movement of the movable part 3.

[0010] The energy-saving contact is closed at rest by the action of the contact pad 9 pushing towards the blade 8 of the fixed contact and opens when the stop 10 abuts against the blade 8 in the upper position of the movable part 3 .

[0011] The stop 10 is, for example, a pin which projects from the auxiliary blade 5 along the direction Z and passes through an orifice 11 opening in the electronic card 6 facing the blade 8 .

[0012] The interaction between the blade 8 and the stop 10 serves to open the economizer contacts and to change the operation of the electrical contactor by disconnecting the current in the actuating coil and by holding the current in the holding coil, which consumes less energy.

[0013] The regulation of the interaction between blade 8 and stop 10 is important in the sense that if switching of the holding coil occurs too quickly during the travel of movable part 3, this part may not have the power to reach the end of the travel and the energy-saving contact 1 may open again under the restoring force.

[0014] If the interaction between the blade 8 and the stop 10 occurs too late, the separation distance of the economizer contact between the pad 9 and the fixed contact may be too short and bouncing or even sticking may occur, thereby preventing normal operation of the economizer.

[0015] A cover is usually assembled around the assembly formed by blades and energy-saving contact pieces in order to protect it from external influences.

[0016] Examples of energy-saving contacts are described in documents CN208352212U, CN89211913U and CN211376540U.

[0017] However, a problem not taken into account by the known energy-saving contact systems is the problem associated with the possible presence of dust in the vicinity of the energy-saving contacts despite the presence of the cover.

[0018] In fact, the orifice in the electrical plate for the passage of the stop is much larger than the circumference of said stop, in order to accept the greater positioning tolerances of the energy-saving contact stop.

[0019] The size required for this orifice allows dust to enter the closed space in the cover around the energy-saving contact, which may make it impossible for the current to pass. Therefore, the command for closing the energy-saving contact, and therefore the current passing in the two coils (call and hold), prevents the energy-saving contact from closing. Summary of the invention

[0020] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an energy-saving electrical contactor, comprising a fixed part and a part that is movable in translation relative to the fixed part along a main direction between a contact position of the electrical contactor and a disconnected position of the electrical contactor, wherein the energy-saving electrical contactor comprises: an elastic blade, which is attached to the fixed part by a first end and whose second end forms an energy-saving contact; and a stopper, which is mounted on the movable part and is arranged to move away from the elastic blade when the movable part is in its disconnected position, wherein the energy-saving contact then closes and, when the movable part is in the contact position, abuts against the elastic blade, the energy-saving contact then disconnects,

[0021] The energy-saving electrical contactor is characterized in that the fixed part defines an opening for the stop member to pass through along the main direction facing the elastic blade, wherein the opening has an inner section transverse to the main direction that is substantially the same as an outer section of the stop member, and wherein the stop member is movably mounted to translate in a plane perpendicular to the main direction on the movable part.

[0022] This electrical contact is used to prevent dust from contaminating the energy-saving contact while avoiding the constraints associated with tolerances of very small manufacturing dimensions.

[0023] When the movable part is at the end of the stroke and the energy-saving contact is closed, the energy-saving contact can transfer the actuation current from the contactor to the holding coil.

[0024] Substantially identical is understood to mean that the profile of a section of the aperture follows the profile of a section of the stop, wherein the offset creates a reduced play between the stop and the sides of the aperture, wherein the chosen play is small enough to block the passage of dust.

[0025] The play is, for example, less than or equal to 0.5 mm, in particular less than or equal to 0.3 mm.

[0026] The fixed portion may include an electric plate on which the blade is mounted via a first end of the blade, and a fixed contact disposed proximate to a second end of the blade, wherein the aperture is defined in the electric plate facing the blade.

[0027] By this feature, the energy-saving contacts can be kept closed when stationary and can be opened at the end of the travel of the movable part.

[0028] The stopper may comprise a foot including a flat portion slidably mounted between a support and an auxiliary blade of the movable part.

[0029] By this feature, the stop can be freely moved in the transverse plane for easy dynamic adjustment of the position of the stop.

[0030] The support may include a groove receiving the flat portion, wherein the auxiliary blade defines an aperture facing the groove, and wherein the stopper extends through the opening toward the aperture for passing.

[0031] By this feature, the stopper can be securely held in place while having a simple assembly and without affecting the arrangement of parts with small manufacturing tolerances.

[0032] The stop may comprise a threaded rod extending along the main direction and a head mounted on the rod and adjustable in height relative to the rod along the main direction.

[0033] By means of this feature, the height of the stop can be adjusted and in this way the point of travel of the movable part at which the energy-saving contact opens can be varied.

[0034] The stop may include a threaded ring engaged on the threaded rod and supporting the head.

[0035] This feature allows the height of the head to be adjusted simply and precisely.

[0036] The ring may have a circular outer section with a first radius, wherein the aperture for passing through has a circular inner section with a second radius, and wherein the first radius is smaller than the second radius to form a clearance suitable for hindering the passage of dust.

[0037] By means of this property, a good correspondence between the sections of the orifice and the stop can be achieved, wherein the outer surface of the ring is easy to machine precisely.

[0038] The head may have a knob oriented along the main direction towards the blade.

[0039] This characteristic allows to benefit from an almost point-like contact with the blade.

[0040] The knob may be rounded or pointed.

[0041] The head may be made of insulating material.

[0042] The insulating material is, for example, polyamide-imide polymer.

[0043] By this property, the formation of parasitic currents in the stopper can be prevented.

[0044] The stop may comprise means for locking movement of the head relative to the rod.

[0045] By this feature, once the head is adjusted, the adjustment of the height of the head can be maintained. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an energy-saving contact of the prior art;

[0047] Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an energy-saving contact according to the present invention;

[0048] Figure 3 Is from Figure 2 a detailed cross-sectional view of a contact stop of a contact; and

[0049] Figure 4 Is from Figure 3 A transverse cross-sectional view of the attachment of the stopper. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figure 2 The energy-saving electric contact 1 according to the present invention is partially shown in FIG. The electric contact comprises a fixed part 2, which comprises an electric plate 6, and a movable part 3, which comprises an auxiliary blade 5, as described previously.

[0051] The movable part 3 can be moved by the actuating coil ( Figure 2 Under the action of (not shown) the electric plate 6 and the auxiliary blade 5 are moved translationally along the main direction Z so as to bring the electric plate 6 and the auxiliary blade 5 closer.

[0052] The electric plate 6 and the auxiliary blades 5 extend perpendicularly to the main direction Z and substantially parallel to each other.

[0053] The electric board 6 comprises a support 7 supporting an elastic blade 8 , wherein said blade 8 is attached to the support 7 by a first end and supports a contact pad 9 at its free end.

[0054] The contact pad 9 is pushed by the blade 8 towards a fixed contact 12 fixed to the electric board 6 so as to form an energy-saving contact which is closed at rest.

[0055] An aperture 11 is defined in the electronic board 6 , facing the blade 8 along the main direction Z, wherein the aperture 11 has, for example, a substantially circular lateral section.

[0056] The stopper 10 is coupled to the auxiliary blade 5 and protrudingly extends along the main direction Z from the auxiliary blade 5 towards the blade 8 .

[0057] The stop 10 is mounted movably relative to the auxiliary blade 5 according to a translational movement in a plane XY perpendicular to the main direction Z.

[0058] The stop 10 can be positioned facing the orifice 11 in such a way as to pass through said orifice 11 and to abut against the blade 8 during the travel of the movable part 3 .

[0059] The stopper 10 comprises four distinct parts: a foot 13 , a ring 14 , a head 15 and a support 16 .

[0060] A cover 17 is attached to the electronic board 6 and surrounds the blades 8 , the support 7 and the fixed contacts 12 in order to confine and protect the energy-saving contacts from external influences.

[0061] The cover 17 is attached to the electronic board 6 in an airtight manner, for example by means of screws 18 , to prevent the passage of dust.

[0062] Figure 3 and 4 The stopper 10 and its attachment to the auxiliary blade 5 are shown in more detail in FIG.

[0063] The foot 13 has a screw shape and comprises a flat portion 21 extending in a plane XY perpendicular to the main direction and a threaded rod 22 protruding along the main direction Z from the flat portion 21 towards the fixing portion 2 .

[0064] The auxiliary blade 5 defines a through opening 23 through which the rod 22 passes, along the main direction Z. The flat portion 21 is situated on the side of the auxiliary blade 5 opposite to the side in which the electric plate 6 is located.

[0065] The opening 23 has a lateral dimension, measured in a plane XY perpendicular to the main direction Z, smaller than the lateral dimension of the flat portion 21 , so that the flat portion 21 has its lateral end abutting against the auxiliary blade 5 along the main direction Z. In other words, the flat portion 21 is larger than the opening 23 transversely to the main direction Z and, therefore, cannot pass through the opening 23 .

[0066] The support 16 is a plate attached by crimping below the auxiliary blade 5 , which is supported in the main direction Z, for example by two attachment members 25 engaged in corresponding attachment orifices 26 of the support 16 and the auxiliary blade 5 .

[0067] Alternatively, the support 16 may be attached to the auxiliary blade 5 by any other known means, for example by bolting, screwing, welding, etc.

[0068] A non-through groove 27 is arranged in the upper surface 28 of the support, facing the auxiliary blade 5 . The groove 27 has a depth measured along the main direction Z which is substantially constant over its entire lateral extent and slightly greater than the thickness of the flat portion 21 of the foot 13 .

[0069] The flat portion 21 is arranged in the groove 27 and is held along the main direction Z between the intermediate plate 5 and the support 16 .

[0070] The depth of the groove 27 is such that there is still a play 33 between the auxiliary blade 5 and the flat portion 21 , so that the flat portion 21 can move by sliding between the auxiliary blade 5 and the support 16 in the transverse plane XY.

[0071] The play 33 for sliding is, for example, less than or equal to 0.5 mm, in particular less than or equal to 0.2 mm.

[0072] Figure 4 The flat portion 21 and the groove of the support are shown in section in a transverse plane XY. Both the flat portion 21 and the groove have, in this plane XY, a shape elongated along the same transverse direction X, which is the direction of alignment of the attachment orifice 26 by crimping, for example.

[0073] The flat portion 21 is for example substantially rectangular in the transverse plane XY, while the recess has a substantially oblong profile in the plane XY. The flat portion 21 has a movement amplitude 34 along the first transverse direction X and a movement amplitude 35 along the second transverse direction Y, wherein these amplitudes are sufficient to adjust the position of the stop 10.

[0074] The ring 14 has a generally annular nut shape comprising an internal thread that engages on the thread of the stem 22 , thereby allowing the height of the ring 14 on said stem 22 to be adjusted.

[0075] The height of the head 15 mounted on the ring 14 can be adjusted by modifying the height of the ring 14 on the rod 22 and in this way the moment of opening or closing of the economizer contacts in the travel of the movable part 3 relative to the fixed part 2 can be modified.

[0076] The ring 14 has an outer section transverse to the main direction Z, which is very close to the transverse inner section of the orifice 11 for the passage of the stopper 10. In this way, during the passage of the stopper 10 through the orifice 11, the very small residual play between the outer wall of the ring 14 and the inner wall of the orifice 11 hinders the entry of dust into the space defined by the cover 17 around the energy-saving contact.

[0077] The transverse outer section of the ring 14 is in particular circular.

[0078] The play between the outer wall of the ring and the inner wall of the orifice is, for example, less than 0.5 mm, in particular less than 0.3 mm.

[0079] In order to compensate for the very small positioning tolerances of the stop 10 due to this very small play, the position of the stop 10 relative to the orifice 11 can be adjusted by a translational movement of the stop 10 in the transverse plane XY.

[0080] The head 15 has a generally crown-like shape and defines a central recess 29 in which the upper end of the stem 22 engages at an apex 30 facing the blade 8 .

[0081] It allows an almost point-like contact between the stop 10 and the blade 8 , which improves the repeatability of the opening and closing of the energy-saving contacts during the displacement dynamics of the movable part 3 .

[0082] The head 15 also defines a transverse edge having a substantially cylindrical shape for retaining said head in a radial position by the ring 14 .

[0083] The head 15 is advantageously made of an electrically insulating material in order to avoid any parasitic currents in the energy-saving contact.

[0084] The ring 14 advantageously has two deformable ends for attachment by respectively crimping the ring to the rod and the head to the ring.

[0085] For example, the lower end 31 of the ring 14 comprises a thin cylindrical wall surrounding the rod 22 along an axis parallel to the main direction Z, said thin cylindrical wall being irreversibly and radially deformable for fastening on the lower portion of said rod extending below the ring 14 so as to prevent the helical movement of the ring on the rod on its corresponding thread. This allows to ensure that the height of the ring 14 and of the head 15 is maintained once the latter has been adjusted.

[0086] Advantageously, this lower portion of the rod defines a flat area so as to improve the attachment of the ring 14 by tightening.

[0087] Similarly, for example, the upper end 32 of the ring 14 comprises a second thin cylindrical wall which radially surrounds the head 15 and whose upper edge extends beyond the lateral sides of said head 15. This second wall is irreversibly deformable around the lateral edges of the head 15 so as to lock said head 15 in position axially along the main direction Z and radially.

Claims

1. An energy-saving electric contactor (1), comprising a fixed part (2) and a part (3) capable of translational movement relative to the fixed part (2) along a main direction (Z) between a contact position of the electric contactor and a disconnection position of the electric contactor, wherein: The energy-saving electrical contactor (1) comprises: an elastic blade (8) and a stopper (10), wherein the elastic blade (8) is attached to the fixed part (2) via a first end and its second end forms an energy-saving contact; the stopper (10) is mounted on the movable part (3) and is arranged to be away from the blade (8) when the movable part (3) is in its disconnected position, wherein the energy-saving contact is then closed, and when the movable part (3) is in the contact position, it abuts against the blade (8), and the energy-saving contact is then disconnected, Characterized in that the fixing portion (2) defines a portion facing the blade (8) along the main direction (Z) An orifice (11) for the stop member (10) to pass through, wherein the orifice (11) has an inner section transverse to the main direction (Z) that is substantially identical to an outer section of the stop member (10), wherein the stop member (10) is movably mounted so as to translate in a plane (XY) perpendicular to the main direction (Z) on the movable part (3).

2. Energy-saving electrical contactor (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The fixed part (2) comprises: an electric plate (6) on which the blade (8) is mounted via a first end of the blade (8); and a fixed contact (12) arranged close to a second end of the blade (8), wherein the orifice (11) is defined in the electric plate (6) facing the blade (8).

3. The energy-saving electric contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The stopper (10) comprises a foot (13) comprising a flat portion (21) slidably mounted between a support (16) and an auxiliary blade (5) of the movable part (3).

4. Energy-saving electrical contactor (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The support (16) comprises a groove (27) receiving the flat portion (21), wherein the auxiliary blade (5) defines an orifice (23) facing the groove (27), and wherein the stop (10) extends through the opening (23) towards the orifice (11) for passing through.

5. Energy-saving electrical contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The stopper (10) comprises a threaded rod (22) extending along the main direction (Z) and a head (15), wherein the threaded rod (22) extends along the main direction (Z); the head (15) is mounted on the rod (22) and can be adjusted in height relative to the rod (22) along the main direction (Z).

6. Energy-saving electrical contactor (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The stopper (10) comprises a threaded ring (14) which engages on the threaded rod (22) and supports the head (15).

7. Energy-saving electrical contactor (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The ring (14) has a circular outer section with a first radius, wherein the orifice (11) for passage has a circular inner section with a second radius, and wherein the first radius is smaller than the second radius to form a clearance suitable for hindering the passage of dust.

8. The energy-saving electric contactor (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that: The head (15) can have a knob (30) oriented along the main direction (Z) towards the blade (8).

9. The energy-saving electric contactor (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that: The head (15) is made of insulating material.

10. The energy-saving electric contactor (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that: The stopper (10) comprises means (31, 32) for locking the movement of the head (15) relative to the rod (22).

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