Electrical contactor with ionizing gas recirculation

Abstract

The invention relates to a contactor (1) comprising: one or two arc extinguishing zones (5a), each comprising a magnetic quenching device that moves an arc (8a) generated between a fixed contact (4a) and a movable contact (3a) of a movable bridge (2) switched to an open state towards an arc extinguishing block (9a, 9b), the arc extinguishing block comprises a plurality of stacked parallel fins (10). Each extinguishing zone is delimited in particular by two side walls (12a, 12b), an upper wall (13) and a lower wall (14), each side wall being at a distance from the fins of the arc extinguishing block, the lower wall being at a distance from the fins of the arc extinguishing block, and the lower wall being connected to each side wall by concave links (15a, 15b) which are curved in cross-section. The fins of each arc extinguishing block are inclined with respect to the inner surfaces (20a, 20b) of the closest side walls by an angle alpha of between 30 degrees and 85 degrees.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technical field of the present invention is that of high-voltage direct current transmission contactors, and more particularly that of high-voltage direct current transmission contactors including arc quenching fin blocks for segmenting an arc into a plurality of arcs.

[0002] The present invention relates to a double-break high-voltage direct current transmission contactor including an arc quenching fin block for simultaneously quenching two arcs, wherein ionized gas is generated at the arc during disconnection. The present invention more particularly relates to the arc quenching zone of such a contactor, in which means for circulating the ionized gas are provided. Technical Background

[0003] High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) is a power electronics technology for transmitting high-voltage direct current electricity.

[0004] High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) contactors include two electrical contacts for establishing, supporting, and interrupting a conductive connection of a continuous rated current in the aviation or automotive fields, where the voltage is typically around 270 volts to 3000 volts. When the contacts are separated, an arc appears, accompanied by high thermal stress and it is difficult to extinguish the electrical connection. These problems are more serious when the voltage is higher. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly extinguish these arcs.

[0005] Generally, in current contactors, the quenching of the arc is performed by moving each arc in the direction of the arc quenching zone including the arc quenching fin block by means of a magnetic field. This movement of each arc is achieved by means of the electromagnetic Laplace force. Each arc quenching block includes a plurality of stacked and spaced fins to divide the arc into a number of arcs, and each arc circulates in different fins of the same arc quenching block. Dividing the arc enables an increase in the arc voltage, thereby extinguishing the arc.

[0006] Each arc ionizes the air present in the arc quenching zone and also ionizes the particles of the internal components of the contactor (these particles detach when in contact with the arc), thereby generating a gas called arc quenching gas. These ionized arc quenching gases have extremely high temperatures and are therefore dangerous for the internal components of the contactor. In addition, after passing through the fins of the arc quenching block, the arc quenching gas impacts the wall behind the quenching block and tends to flow back along the direction of the arc. This reflux tendency of the arc quenching gas impacting the outer wall of the quenching zone tends to resist the Laplace force, which tends to move the arc along the direction of the fins. The force of this reflux is proportional to the power of the arc, and in the case of a high-power arc, the force of this reflux of the arc quenching gas may prevent such an arc from coming into contact with the quenching block.

[0007] In this way, the electric arc will not split, and the electrical connection will not go out. In addition, due to the pressure conditions and temperature conditions in the extinction zone caused by the formation of the arc-extinguishing gas, the presence of the arc-extinguishing gas in the extinction zone tends to limit the maximum cut-off current, especially values less than 1000 A.

[0008] Figure 4 This phenomenon is shown, Figure 4 Figure 1 shows a first example of an extinction zone 5a' provided in a contactor chamber 23' of a prior art contactor 1'. The extinction zone is delimited in particular by two side walls 12a', 12b' facing each other, by an upper wall 13' and by a lower wall 14' facing the upper wall 13', the lower wall being at a certain distance from the fins 10 of the arc-extinguishing blocks 9a', 9b'. The two side walls 12a', 12b' are each located in the immediate vicinity of the arc-extinguishing blocks 9a', 9b' and each have an inner surface 20a', 20b'. In this contactor 1', each arc-extinguishing block 9a', 9b' comprises a plurality of stacked and spaced fins 10'. Within the same arc-extinguishing block 9a', 9b', the fins 10' are parallel and each extend along a longitudinal axis X' which is orthogonal to the side walls 12a', 12b' and parallel to the direction of the Laplace force 18a' generated by the magnetic force 7' from a magnet or a coil. When an arc 8a' appears between the fixed contact 4a' of the fixed terminal 24a' and the movable contact 3a' of the movable bridge 2' switched to the open state, the Laplace force 18a' causes the arc 8a' to move in the direction of the arc-extinguishing blocks 9a', 9b'. In Figure 4 it can clearly be seen that the ionized arc-extinguishing gas 22' generated by the arc 8a' is directed towards the side wall 12b', strikes its inner surface 20b' and then flows back in the direction of the contacts 4a', 3a' between which the arc 8a' has appeared. Thus, these ionized arc-extinguishing gases 22' tend to resist the movement of the arc 8a' in the direction of the arc-extinguishing blocks 9a', 9b' and may deteriorate the components present in the extinction zone 5a'.

[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to circulate the ionized gas.

[0010] As Figure 5 shown, the solutions envisaged in the prior art include providing a second example of a contactor 1” which is very similar to the first example of the prior art contactor 1' but has side openings in each extinction zone 5a' facing and close to the arc-extinguishing blocks 9a', 9b' in order to discharge the ionized arc-extinguishing gas 22' from the contactor chamber 23'. In Figure 5In the prior art solution shown, the side openings are formed by simply removing the normal side walls 12a', 12b'. More elaborate solutions can be envisaged to create these side openings. Nevertheless, it can be noted that the ionized arc-extinguishing gas 22' ejected from the contactor chamber 23' is dangerous for the equipment next to the contactor 1". Therefore, with this solution, it is necessary to set a restricted area that prohibits placing other equipment next to the contactor 1". This restricted area may be about several centimeters, which limits the integration of the contactor 1", and is particularly disadvantageous in some fields, especially in the aviation field, because in the aviation field, large volume represents a critical limitation.

[0011] In the field of air-break multi-pole circuit breakers, similar problems of ionized arc-extinguishing gas may occur at high currents. Another solution disclosed in documents EP3179497A1 and EP0437151A1 consists in equipping the circuit breaker with a device for cooling and deionizing the ionized arc-extinguishing gas before it is discharged outside the circuit breaker. In this way, the equipment installed next to the circuit breaker is protected from the ionized arc-extinguishing gas, but the device for cooling and deionizing the arc-extinguishing gas greatly increases the cost, volume and mass of the circuit breaker, which is restrictive, especially in the aviation field, because the aviation field expects equipment with the smallest volume and mass.

[0012] Therefore, the current solutions are not satisfactory. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The present invention provides a solution to solve the previously discussed problems in the following way: by allowing the ionized gas to circulate in the arc extinguishing zone, without providing side openings for discharging the ionized arc-extinguishing gas, or without providing a device for cooling and deionizing the ionized arc-extinguishing gas before discharging it to the outside.

[0014] Although the prior art solutions encourage those skilled in the art to discharge the ionized arc-extinguishing gas outside the contactor so that the flow of the ionized arc-extinguishing gas does not resist the electromagnetic force aimed at guiding the arc along the fins of the arc extinguishing block, on the contrary, the solution of the present invention consists in turning these arc-extinguishing gases towards the inside of the contactor, but in such a way that their flow does not flow back after hitting the side walls of the arc extinguishing zone.

[0015] An additional effect is achieved by means of the present invention, namely, the arc-extinguishing gas flow can turn towards the arc in the return loop path in order to cross the arc along the direction of the arc extinguishing block, thereby additionally accelerating the arc along the direction of the fins dividing the arc, thereby enhancing the Laplace force that has already achieved this effect and enhancing the safety effect of the arc extinguishing device.

[0016] One aspect of the present invention relates to a double-break contactor, which comprises:

[0017] - a contactor chamber, which comprises:

[0018] - a bridging member that is movable between a closed state and an open state, the bridging member comprising a first movable contact and a second movable contact,

[0019] - a first fixed contact facing the first movable contact, and

[0020] - a second fixed contact facing the second movable contact,

[0021] - at least one arc extinguishing zone, each arc extinguishing zone comprising two arc extinguishing blocks that face each other on both sides of the movable bridging member, and each arc extinguishing block comprising a plurality of fins, each fin extending along a longitudinal axis,

[0022] - wherein:

[0023] - the contactor chamber is enclosed;

[0024] - each arc extinguishing zone is delimited in particular by:

[0025] - two side walls that face each other, are each located on the side of the arc extinguishing block, and are at a distance from the fins of the arc extinguishing block, each side wall having an inner surface,

[0026] - an upper wall located on the side of the fixed contact, and

[0027] - a lower wall facing the upper wall, the lower wall being at a distance from the fins of the arc extinguishing block and being connected to each side wall by a connecting portion having a concave inner surface with a curved cross-section; and

[0028] - the fins of each arc extinguishing block are inclined such that the longitudinal axis of the fin forms an angle α between 30 degrees and 85 degrees with respect to the inner surface of the closest side wall.

[0029] The fins are at a distance of at least between 3 mm and 20 mm from the side walls and the lower wall.

[0030] The angle α is oriented such that the edge of the fin closest to the side wall is closer to the lower wall than to the upper wall.

[0031] By virtue of the inclination of the fins with respect to the inner surface of the closest side wall, after the ionized arc-extinguishing gas impinges on this wall, the ionized arc-extinguishing gas is guided towards the lower wall. Since the side wall is at a certain distance from the fins of the closest arc-extinguishing block, there is a free volume between these walls and the fins of the extinguishing block, which advantageously allows the ionized arc-extinguishing gas to freely circulate towards the lower wall without backflow. When the ionized arc-extinguishing gas reaches a position adjacent to the lower wall, the flow is redirected by the concave inner surface with a curved cross-section in the direction of the opposite side wall to flow back towards the middle part of the arc-extinguishing zone. In this path, the ionized arc-extinguishing gas has time to cool and deionize, and thus no longer poses a danger to the components located at the center of the extinguishing zone. The inclination of the fins reduces the volume occupied by the fins in the direction of the side wall, which substantially compensates for the additional volume required between the side wall and the extinguishing block. For the sake of clarity, this volume is greatly exaggerated in Figures 6 to 8 the figure.

[0032] Thus, by imposing a new circulation path on the flow of the ionized arc-extinguishing gas, the contactor according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to eliminate the danger posed by the ionized arc-extinguishing gas without significantly increasing the volume or mass of the contactor, nor providing a restricted area that prohibits the placement of other equipment beside the contactor.

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the angle α is between 60 degrees and 80 degrees.

[0034] According to another aspect of the invention, the contactor includes at least one magnetic field emitter device having a constant direction, the at least one magnetic field emitter device generates a magnetic force, the magnetic force exerts an electromagnetic Laplace force, the electromagnetic Laplace force is capable of moving an arc that appears between a fixed contact and a movable contact of a movable bridge that switches from a closed state to an open state in the direction of the arc-extinguishing block, and these side walls extend in a plane orthogonal to the orientation of the electromagnetic Laplace force generated by the magnetic field emitter device.

[0035] According to yet another aspect of the invention, the arc-extinguishing blocks are parallel to each other.

[0036] According to one aspect of the invention, the side walls and the arc-extinguishing blocks are parallel.

[0037] According to another aspect of the invention, each connecting portion having a concave inner surface with a curved cross-section has a radius of curvature R1 between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0038] The geometric distinguishing features described previously advantageously enable the flow of the ionized arc-extinguishing gas to circulate along the desired path of the invention while minimizing the mass and volume of the contactor.

[0039] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, each arc quenching zone includes two parallel deflectors, each deflector extending from the lower wall in the direction of the movable bridge within the arc quenching zone, and each deflector is connected to the lower wall through another connecting portion having a concave inner surface with a curved cross-section on the side of the closest arc quenching block.

[0040] According to one aspect of the present invention, each arc quenching zone includes a single deflector, the single deflector extending from the lower wall in the direction of the movable bridge within the arc quenching zone, and the single deflector is connected to the lower wall through two other mirror-arranged connecting portions, and the two other mirror-arranged connecting portions have concave inner surfaces with a curved cross-section.

[0041] According to another aspect of the present invention, each of the other connecting portions having a concave inner surface with a curved cross-section has a radius of curvature R2 between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0042] Advantageously, these deflectors and their geometries enable the flow of the arc quenching gas to be redirected along a loop path such that the flow of the arc quenching gas passes through the arc in the direction of the arc quenching block. Thus, the flow of the arc quenching gas is added to the Laplace force to ensure that the arc moves timely in the direction of the arc dividing fins.

[0043] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the deflectors are parallel to the arc quenching blocks, which additionally promotes the flow of the arc quenching gas along the loop path described previously.

[0044] - In addition to the features discussed in the previous paragraph, according to one aspect of the present invention, the contactor may further have one or more of the following complementary features, which can be considered individually or in any technically feasible combination:

[0045] - In the closed state of the movable bridge, the first movable contact and the second movable contact are in contact with the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact respectively, and in the open state of the movable bridge, the first movable contact and the second movable contact are away from the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact respectively.

[0046] - Within the same arc quenching block, the fins are stacked, spaced apart from each other, and parallel.

[0047] - Each arc quenching zone includes two arc guides facing each other, and each arc guide is located between the arc quenching block and the movable contact.

[0048] - The distance between the inner surface of the side wall and the fins of the closest arc quenching block is between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0049]

[0050] ​- When each arc extinction zone includes a single deflector, the deflector is located at the middle position between the respective arc extinction blocks.

[0051] - The lower wall has an inner surface, and each deflector extends perpendicular to this inner surface.

[0052] The present invention and its different applications will be better understood by reading the following description and referring to the accompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0053] These drawings are provided to illustrate the present invention and not to limit the present invention.

[0054] Figure 1 Figure 1 is a schematic overall plan view of a contactor including two arc extinction zones, each arc extinction zone including two arc extinction blocks.

[0055] Figure 2 Figure 2 is a schematic overall plan view of a contactor including a single arc extinction zone, the arc extinction zone including two arc extinction blocks.

[0056] Figure 3 Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the contactor along Figure 1 axis III-III.

[0057] Figure 4 Figure 4 is a sectional view of a prior art contactor along Figure 1 axis IV-IV, in which the ionized arc extinguishing gas tends to flow back to resist the Laplace force guiding the arc in the direction of the fins.

[0058] Figure 5 Figure 5 is a sectional view of a prior art contactor along Figure 1 axis IV-IV, in which the ionized arc extinguishing gas is discharged from the contactor chamber.

[0059] Figure 6 Figure 6 is a sectional view of a contactor of the present invention without a deflector along Figure 1 axis IV-IV.

[0060] Figure 7 Figure 7 is a sectional view of a contactor of the present invention along Figure 1 axis IV-IV, in which each arc extinction zone includes two deflectors back to back.

[0061] Figure 8 Figure 8 is a sectional view of a contactor of the present invention along​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Figure 1 Cross-sectional view along axis IV-IV, where each arc extinguishing zone includes a single deflector. Detailed implementation

[0062] These drawings are provided to illustrate the present invention and not to limit it.

[0063] The terms "front", "rear", "upper", and "lower" used in this specification are arbitrarily chosen terms for simplifying the drawings and do not necessarily correspond to the actual situation, but rather to the position of the contactor shown in the figures. It should be understood that in use, the contactor 1 of the present invention can take any orientation and position.

[0064] The double-break contactor 1 of the present invention is preferably a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) contactor. However, the principles of the present invention are applicable to any type of contactor, including all switches and circuit breakers that may generate arcs.

[0065] Traditionally, the contactor 1 of the present invention includes: a movable bridging member 2, which includes a first movable contact 3a and a second movable contact 3b; a first fixed terminal 24a, which includes a first fixed contact 4a; and a second fixed terminal 24b, which includes a second fixed contact 4b. The first movable contact 3a faces the first fixed contact 4a, and the second movable contact 3b faces the second fixed contact 4b. Depending on how the contactor 1 is electrically connected, one of the fixed terminals 24a, 24b is the positive terminal, and the other is the negative terminal. In the figures, the first fixed terminal 24a is the positive terminal, and the second fixed terminal 24b is the negative terminal.

[0066] When the movable bridging member 2 is in the closed state, the current I flows from the first fixed contact 4a to the second fixed contact 4b through the movable bridging member 2. Of course, the electrical circulation of the current I can be reversed, so that the current I flows from the second fixed contact 4b to the first fixed contact 4a through the movable bridging member 2.

[0067] Figures 1 to 3 Indicates that the movable bridging member 2 is in the open state. In these figures, the circulation of the current I is characterized by a series of white arrows. When the movable bridging member 2 is opened, the movable contacts 3a, 3b move away from the fixed contacts 4a, 4b, and a first arc 8a may appear between the first movable contact 3a and the first fixed contact 4a, while a second arc 8b may appear between the second movable contact 3b and the second fixed contact 4b.

[0068] To quickly extinguish these electric arcs 8a, 8b, conventionally, the contactor 1 of the present invention includes an arc-blowing device to deflect each electric arc 8a, 8b towards the arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. This arc-blowing device is housed in a contactor chamber 23 that forms a closed housing. The fixed contacts 4a, 4b and the movable contacts 3a, 3b are also located within the contactor chamber 23.

[0069] The contactor chamber 23 is defined by:

[0070] - Side walls 12a, 12b, which face each other and each have an inner surface 20a, 20b,

[0071] - An upper wall 13, which is located on the side of the fixed contacts 4a, 4b,

[0072] - A lower wall 14, which is located on the side of the movable contacts 3a, 3b and faces the upper wall 13,

[0073] - A front wall 19a, which is located on the side of the first fixed terminal 24a, and

[0074] - A rear wall 19b, which is located on the side of the second fixed terminal 24b and faces the front wall 19a.

[0075] The arc-blowing device includes at least one magnetic field emitter device 6a, 6b, which has a constant direction and generates a magnetic force 7. The magnetic field emitter device 6a, 6b can, for example, include one or more magnets and / or one or more coils. The magnetic force 7 generated by the magnetic field emitter device 6a, 6b exerts an electromagnetic Laplace force 18a, 18b on each electric arc 8a, 8b to move it in the direction of the closest arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. These movements can be guided by two arc guides 11a, 11b that face each other, and each arc guide is located between the arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and the movable contacts 3a, 3b.

[0076] The arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are arranged in pairs and face each other on both sides of the movable bridge 2. Each arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d includes a plurality of stacked fins 10 that are parallel and spaced apart from each other. The function of these fins is to divide each electric arc 8a, 8b into several smaller electric arcs, making it easier to extinguish. The arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are preferably parallel to each other. Within the same arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, the fins 10 each extend along a longitudinal axis Xa, Xb.

[0077] The contactor chamber 23 includes at least one arc quenching zone 5a, 5b, and the at least one arc quenching zone includes two arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and two arc guides 11a, 11b.

[0078] In Figure 1 it is shown a type of contactor 1 which includes two arc quenching zones 5a, 5b and thus includes four arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and four arc guides 11a, 11b. These two arc quenching zones 5a, 5b can be separated by a single partition wall or by two partition walls 25a, 25b located between two pairs of arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0079] In Figure 2 it is shown a type of contactor 1 which includes a single arc quenching zone 5a and thus includes two arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b and two arc guides 11a, 11b.

[0080] In both these alternatives, the arc blowing device and the ionization arc quenching gas circulation principle according to the invention operate in the same mode.

[0081] The contactor 1 of the invention is in particular characterized in that the contactor chamber 23 is closed so that the ionized arc quenching gas 22 generated by each arc 8a, 8b cannot leave the contactor chamber 23. In fact, a closed housing means in particular a closed housing which does not have an opening through which the ionized arc quenching gas 22 can pass to leave the contactor chamber 23.

[0082] The contactor 1 of the invention also has the following characteristics: two side walls 12a, 12b facing each other are each at a distance from the closest arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d such that the inner surfaces 20a, 20b of each side wall 12a, 12b are at a distance from the fins 10 of the closest arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. The distance between the inner surfaces 20a, 20b of the side walls 12a, 12b and the fins 10 of the closest arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d is preferably between 3 mm and 20 mm. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side walls 12a, 12b extend in a plane orthogonal to the orientation of the electromagnetic Laplace forces 18a, 18b generated by the magnetic field emitter devices 6a, 6b. The side walls 12a, 12b are preferably parallel to the arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0083] Furthermore, the lower wall 14 facing the upper wall 13 is located at a distance between 3 mm and 20 mm from the fins 10 of the arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. The lower wall 14 is connected to each side wall 12a, 12b by connecting portions 15a, 15b having recessed inner surfaces 21a, 21b with a curved cross-section. Each connecting portion 15a, 15b having recessed inner surfaces 21a, 21b with a curved cross-section preferably has a radius of curvature R1 between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0084] The contactor 1 according to the invention further has the following feature: the fins 10 of each arc quenching block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are inclined such that the longitudinal axes Xa, Xb of these fins form an angle α between 30 degrees and 85 degrees with respect to the inner surfaces 20a, 20b of the closest side walls 12a, 12b. Preferably, the angle α is between 60 degrees and 80 degrees.

[0085] By means of the invention, the flow of the ionized arc quenching gas 22 generated by each arc 8a, 8b is inclinedly guided in the direction of the side walls 12a, 12b by passing through the inclined fins 10, and each arc 8a, 8b moves in this direction. Thus, the movement axis of the flow of the ionized arc quenching gas 22 forms an angle between 30 degrees and 85 degrees with respect to the inner surfaces 20a, 20b of the side walls 12a, 12b, and the flow of the ionized arc quenching gas is guided towards the inner surface, and this angle corresponds to the inclination angle α of the fins 10. Since the flow of the ionized arc quenching gas 22 does not impact the inner surfaces 20a, 20b of the side walls 12a, 12b orthogonally, the flow does not flow back, but turns towards the lower wall 14, as Figures 6 to 8 shown. The flow of the ionized arc quenching gas 22 follows a path along the free space first provided between the arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and the closest side walls 12a, 12b, and then provided between the arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and the lower wall 14, to return to the center of the arc quenching zones 5a, 5b, preferably located between the same pair of arc quenching blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0086] According to an alternative of the invention, each arc quenching zone 5a, 5b may include one or more deflectors 16a, 16b, each deflector extending inside the arc quenching zone 5a, 5b from the lower wall 14 in the direction of the movable bridging member 2, preferably perpendicular to the inner surface 26 of the lower wall 14.

[0087] Each deflector 16a, 16b is also arranged to turn the flow path of the ionized arc-extinguishing gas 22 along the lower wall 14 so that it is directed towards the upper wall 13 and towards the arcs 8a, 8b. Thus, the dynamic force of the flow of the ionized arc-extinguishing gas 22 is added to the electromagnetic Laplace force with the aim of moving each arc 8a, 8b in the direction of the arc-extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0088] According to Figure 7 An alternative of the invention as shown, each arc-extinguishing zone 5a, 5b includes two parallel deflectors 16a, 16b, each deflector extending from the lower wall 14 in the direction of the movable bridge 2 inside the arc-extinguishing zones 5a, 5b. Then each deflector 16a, 16b is connected to the lower wall 14 by another connecting portion 17a, 17b having a recessed inner surface 27a, 27b with a curved cross-section at the side of the closest arc-extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. These additional connecting portions 17a, 17b with a curved cross-section each preferably have a radius of curvature R2 between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0089] According to Figure 8 Another alternative of the invention as shown, each arc-extinguishing zone 5a, 5b includes a single deflector 16c, which extends from the lower wall 14 in the direction of the movable bridge 2 inside the arc-extinguishing zones 5a, 5b. Then the single deflector 16c is connected to the lower wall 14 by two additional mirror-arranged connecting portions 17c, 17d having recessed inner surfaces 27c, 27d with a curved cross-section, and having a radius of curvature R2 preferably between 3 mm and 20 mm. The single deflector 16c is preferably located at an intermediate position between the respective arc-extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0090] Each arc-extinguishing zone 5a, 5b having a single deflector 16c advantageously enables the contactor 1 to be simplified and the weight of the contactor 1 to be reduced, while having two deflectors 16a, 16b enables each of these deflectors 16a, 16b to be easily arranged at a desired distance from the arc-extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0091] Unless otherwise specified, the same elements appearing in different figures have a single reference numeral.

Claims

1. A double-break contactor (1), the double-break contactor comprising: - A contactor chamber (23), the contactor chamber comprising: o A bridging member (2), the bridging member being movable between a closed state and an open state, the bridging member comprising a first movable contact (3a) and a second movable contact (3b), o A first fixed contact (4a), the first fixed contact facing the first movable contact (3a), and o A second fixed contact (4b), the second fixed contact facing the second movable contact (3b), o At least one arc extinguishing zone (5a, 5b), each arc extinguishing zone comprising two arc extinguishing blocks (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), The two arc extinguishing blocks face each other on both sides of the movable bridging member (2), and each arc extinguishing block comprises a plurality of fins (10), each fin extending along a longitudinal axis (Xa, Xb), - Characterized in that: - The contactor chamber (23) is closed; - Each arc extinguishing zone (5a, 5b) is delimited in particular by: o Two side walls (12a, 12b), the two side walls facing each other, each located on the side of the arc extinguishing block (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), and at a distance from the fins (10) of the arc extinguishing block, each side wall having an inner surface (20a, 20b)， o An upper wall (13), the upper wall being located on the side of the fixed contacts (4a, 4b), and o A lower wall (14), the lower wall facing the upper wall (13), the lower wall being at a distance from the fins (10) of the arc extinguishing block (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), and connected to each side wall (12a, 12b) by a connecting portion (15a, 15b) having a concave inner surface (21a, 21b), the concave inner surface having a curved cross-section; - The fins (10) are at a distance of at least between 3 mm and 20 mm from the side walls (12a, 12b) and the lower wall (14), and - The fins (10) of each arc extinguishing block (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) are inclined such that the longitudinal axis (Xa, Xb) of the fin forms an angle α between 30 degrees and 85 degrees with the inner surface (20a, 20b) of the closest side wall (12a, 12b), wherein the angle α is oriented such that the edge of the fin (10) closest to the side wall (12a, 12b) is closer to the lower wall (14) than to the upper wall (13).

2. The contactor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The angle α is between 60 degrees and 80 degrees.

3. The contactor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The contactor includes at least one magnetic field emitter device (6a, 6b) having a constant direction, the at least one magnetic field emitter device generating a magnetic force (7), the magnetic force applying an electromagnetic Laplace force (18a, 18b) capable of moving an arc (8a, 8b) that appears between the fixed contacts (4a, 4b) and the movable contacts (3a, 3b) of the movable bridge (2) which switches from the closed state to the open state, in the direction of the arc quenching blocks (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), and the side walls (12a, 12b) extend in a plane orthogonal to the orientation of the electromagnetic Laplace force (18a, 18b) generated by the magnetic field emitter device (6a, 6b).

4. The contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The arc quenching blocks (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) are parallel to each other.

5. The contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The side walls (12a, 12b) and the arc quenching blocks (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) are parallel.

6. The contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each connecting portion (15a, 15b) having a concave inner surface (21a, 21b) with a curved cross-section has a radius of curvature R1 between 3 mm and 20 mm.

7. The contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each arc quenching zone (5a, 5b) includes two parallel deflectors (16a, 16b), each of the two parallel deflectors extending from the lower wall (14) in the direction of the movable bridge (2) inside the arc quenching zone (5a, 5b), and each deflector (16a, 16b) is connected to the lower wall (14) by another connecting portion (17a, 17b) having a concave inner surface (27a, 27b) with a curved cross-section at the side of the closest arc quenching block (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d).

8. The contactor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, Each arc quenching zone (5a, 5b) includes a single deflector (16c) extending from the lower wall (14) in the direction of the movable bridge (2) inside the arc quenching zone (5a, 5b), and the single deflector (16c) is connected to the lower wall (14) by another two mirror-image arranged connecting portions (17c, 17d) having concave inner surfaces (27c, 27d) with a curved cross-section.

9. The contactor (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, Each of the other connecting portions (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d) having a concave inner surface (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d) with a curved cross-section has a radius of curvature R2 between 3 mm and 20 mm.

10. The contactor (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, The deflectors (16a, 16b, 16c) are parallel to the arc quenching blocks (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d).

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