Contactor with movable contact arrangement and contactor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a movable contactor contact arrangement and a contactor.The movable contactor contact arrangement comprises: a mounting frame (1) with a magnetic upper plate (11) and an insulating lower part (12); a movable terminal (4) which is movably provided in the mounting frame (1) for electrical contact with a static terminal of a contactor; a spring (6) which is provided in the mounting frame (1) and supports the movable terminal (4) floating on the insulating lower part (12) of the mounting frame (1); an insulating upper part (2) which is fastened to the magnetic upper plate (11) of the movable terminal (4) or the mounting frame (1); a movable auxiliary contact (3) which is fastened to the insulating upper part (2) for electrical contact with a static auxiliary contact of the contactor; and a drive shaft (5) connected to the insulation base (12) of the mounting frame (1) and used to drive the mounting frame (1) to move along an axial direction (Z) of the drive shaft (5).The insulating upper part (2) comprises a first insulating element (21) and a second insulating element (22) for electrically insulating the movable auxiliary contact (3) from the magnetic upper plate (11). The first insulating element (21) has a comparative tracking resistance value that is lower than the maximum operating voltage permitted by the contactor, and the second insulating element (22) has a comparative tracking resistance value that is higher than the maximum operating voltage permitted by the contactor. Therefore, the present invention can achieve higher electrical insulation performance without increasing the size, and can safely and reliably insulate the low-voltage movable auxiliary contact from the high-voltage conductive components.

Description

Cross-reference to a related application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. CN202410124716.6, filed on January 29, 2024, with the State Intellectual Property Office of China, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background of the inventionField of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a movable contact arrangement for a contactor and a contactor incorporating the movable contact arrangement for a contactor. Description of the state of the art

[0003] In the fields of new energy such as photovoltaics and energy storage, increasingly higher requirements are placed on the operating voltage of the contactors used in these fields. From the widely used 1000V to 1500V, we are now considering upgrading to 2000V or even higher voltages. The current state of the art generally uses only ordinary insulating materials to electrically insulate the low-voltage auxiliary moving contacts from the high-voltage components (e.g., magnetic top plate, movable terminal, and spring) in the auxiliary moving contact assembly. With the increase of the operating voltage, the requirements for the insulation distance according to safety regulations increase, which inevitably requires an increase in the size of the internal insulator or a more complex insulator design to meet the requirements. In this way, the overall volume, manufacturing difficulty, and even cost of the product increase significantly. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention has been made to overcome or mitigate at least one aspect of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a movable contact assembly for a contactor is provided.The movable contact assembly of the contactor consists of: a mounting frame having a magnetic upper plate and an insulating base; a movable terminal movably provided in the mounting frame for electrical contact with a static terminal of a contactor; a spring provided in the mounting frame and floatingly supporting the movable terminal on the insulating base of the mounting frame; an insulating upper plate fixed to the magnetic upper plate of the movable terminal or the mounting frame; a movable auxiliary contact fixed to the insulating upper plate for electrical contact with a static auxiliary contact of the contactor; and a drive shaft connected to the insulating base of the mounting frame and used to drive the mounting frame to move along an axial direction of the drive shaft.The insulating upper part comprises a first insulating element and a second insulating element for electrically isolating the movable auxiliary contact from the magnetic upper plate, wherein the first insulating element has a comparative value for the tracking resistance that is lower than the maximum operating voltage allowed by the contactor, and the second insulating element has a comparative value for the tracking resistance that is higher than the maximum operating voltage allowed by the contactor.

[0006] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulating top part is fixed to the magnetic top plate of the mounting frame, and the part of the movable auxiliary contact closest to the magnetic top plate is housed in the second insulating member to electrically insulate the part of the movable auxiliary contact closest to the magnetic top plate from the magnetic top plate by the second insulating member.

[0007] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first insulating member has a first accommodating chamber, and the movable auxiliary contact and the second insulating member are accommodated in the first accommodating chamber of the first insulating member.

[0008] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first insulation member comprises: a pair of side plates facing each other in a first direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft; and a bottom plate connected between the bottoms of the pair of side plates. The first accommodation chamber is defined by the pair of side plates and the bottom plate, and the movable auxiliary contact and the second insulation member are fixed to the bottom plate.

[0009] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the movable auxiliary contact includes a fixed part fixed to the bottom plate and an elastic part suspended in the first receiving chamber; the second insulating member has a second receiving chamber, and the fixed part of the movable auxiliary contact is closest to the magnetic top plate and is housed in the second receiving chamber.

[0010] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first insulating member has a first port and a second port opposite each other in a second direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction, the second insulating member is disposed in the second port of the first insulating member and closes the second port, and the fixed part of the movable auxiliary contact is disposed in the second receiving chamber of the second insulating member.

[0011] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second insulation member comprises: a pair of side walls facing each other in the first direction; a bottom wall connected between the bottom of the pair of side walls; and an end wall connected between one end of the pair of side walls. The second receiving chamber is defined by the pair of side walls, the bottom wall, and the end wall.

[0012] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a positioning post is formed on the inner side of the bottom plate of the first insulating member, and positioning holes are formed in the bottom wall of the second insulating member and in the fixed part of the movable auxiliary contact, which cooperate with the positioning post.

[0013] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first insulating member has a pair of fixing portions respectively connected to the lower outer sides of the pair of side plates, and a fixing hole is formed in the fixing portion; a fixing post corresponding to the fixing hole is formed on the surface of the magnetic top plate, and the fixing post is inserted into the fixing hole to install the first insulating member on the magnetic top plate.

[0014] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the mounting frame further comprises a pair of conductive side plates fixed to the insulation base, wherein the magnetic top plate is fixed between the top surface of the pair of conductive side plates.

[0015] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a mounting slot is formed on the top surface of the conductive side plate, and the two ends of the magnetic top plate are respectively inserted into the mounting slots of the pair of conductive side plates.

[0016] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulation base comprises a pair of insulation side walls and an insulation bottom wall connected between the bottoms of the pair of insulation side walls. The lower ends of the pair of conductive side plates are respectively fixed to the pair of insulation side walls of the insulation base, and the upper end of the drive shaft is fixed to the insulation bottom wall of the insulation base.

[0017] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulation base is directly molded onto the lower ends of the pair of conductive side plates and the upper end of the drive shaft by an embedded injection molding process, so that the insulation base, the mounting frame, and the drive shaft are formed into an integral part.

[0018] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the movable contact assembly of the contactor further comprises a floating seat provided in the mounting frame and assembled with the movable terminal to float with the movable terminal, wherein the spring is compressed between the floating seat and the insulation base to keep the floating seat and the movable terminal floating on the insulation base.

[0019] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, installation notches are formed on both sides of the movable clamp, respectively, and installation flanges are formed on both sides of the floating seat, respectively, which are embedded in the installation notches.

[0020] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a first positioning post is formed on the bottom surface of the floating seat, and a second positioning post is formed on the inner side of the insulation bottom wall of the insulation base; the first positioning post and the second positioning post are axially opposed and are respectively inserted into the upper and lower ends of the spring to position the spring.

[0021] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the movable terminal is adapted to be moved between a closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal and an open position separated from the static terminal under the drive of the drive shaft; the movable auxiliary contact is adapted to be moved between a closed position in electrical contact with the static auxiliary contact and an open position separated from the static auxiliary contact under the drive of the drive shaft.

[0022] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the movable terminal is moved to the closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal, the movable auxiliary contact is moved to the closed position in electrical contact with the static auxiliary contact; when the movable terminal is moved to the open position separately from the static terminal, the movable auxiliary contact is moved to the open position separately from the static auxiliary contact.

[0023] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the movable contact assembly of the contactor further comprises a lower insulation element mounted on the underside of the insulation base and surrounding the drive shaft, wherein the comparative value for the tracking resistance of the insulation base is lower than the maximum operating voltage that the contactor allows, and the comparative value for the tracking resistance of the lower insulation element is higher than the maximum operating voltage that the contactor allows.

[0024] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an insulation post is formed on the lower surface of the insulation bottom wall of the insulation base, and the upper end of the drive shaft is connected to the insulation bottom wall and the insulation post of the insulation base; an annular groove is formed on the insulation post of the insulation base, and the lower insulation member is annular and engages with the annular groove on the insulation post.

[0025] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulation base is molded directly onto the upper end of the drive shaft by an injection molding process, and the lower insulation member is molded directly onto the bottom of the insulation base by a secondary injection molding process.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, a contactor is provided. The contactor comprises: a pair of static terminals; a coil for generating an electromagnetic field; and the aforementioned movable contact assembly of the contactor. The drive shaft is configured to move the movable terminal from an open position separated from the static terminal to a closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal under the action of the electromagnetic force applied by the electromagnetic field.

[0027] In the aforementioned exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a special second insulation element is added to the conventional first insulation element. The comparative tracking resistance value of the second insulation element is higher than the maximum allowable operating voltage of the contactor. Therefore, it is possible to achieve higher electrical insulation performance without increasing the size of the insulation top, and to safely and reliably insulate the low-voltage auxiliary movable contact from the high-voltage conductive components.

[0028] In the aforementioned exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a special lower insulation element is added to the standard insulation base. The comparative tracking resistance value of the lower insulation element is higher than the maximum allowable operating voltage of the contactor. Therefore, it is possible to achieve higher electrical insulation performance without increasing the size of the insulation base, and to safely and reliably insulate the low-voltage drive shaft from the conductive high-voltage components. Short description of the drawings

[0029] The above and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows an illustrative perspective view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention when viewed from an angle; Fig. 2 shows an axial sectional view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows an illustrative perspective view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention from a different angle; Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 shows an exploded sectional view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of the insulation base and lower insulation element of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention

[0030] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concepts of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0031] In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown schematically to simplify the drawing.

[0032] According to a general concept of the present invention, a movable contact assembly for a contactor is provided.The movable contact assembly of the contactor consists of: a mounting frame having a magnetic upper plate and an insulating base; a movable terminal movably provided in the mounting frame for electrical contact with a static terminal of a contactor; a spring provided in the mounting frame and floatingly supporting the movable terminal on the insulating base of the mounting frame; an insulating upper plate fixed to the magnetic upper plate of the movable terminal or the mounting frame; a movable auxiliary contact fixed to the insulating upper plate for electrical contact with a static auxiliary contact of the contactor; and a drive shaft connected to the insulating base of the mounting frame and used to drive the mounting frame to move along an axial direction of the drive shaft.The insulating top comprises a first insulating element and a second insulating element for electrically isolating the movable auxiliary contact from the magnetic top plate, wherein the first insulating element has a comparative tracking index lower than the maximum operating voltage allowed by the contactor, and the second insulating element has a comparative tracking index higher than the maximum operating voltage allowed by the contactor.

[0033] According to another general concept of the present invention, a movable contact assembly for a contactor is provided. The movable contact assembly for a contactor includes: a mounting frame having an insulating base; a movable terminal movably provided in the mounting frame for electrical contact with a static terminal of a contactor; a spring provided in the mounting frame and floatingly supporting the movable terminal on the insulating base of the mounting frame; a drive shaft connected to the insulating base of the mounting frame for driving the mounting frame to move along an axial direction of the drive shaft; and a lower insulating member provided on the bottom of the insulating base and surrounding the drive shaft.The insulation base and the lower insulation element are used to electrically insulate the drive shaft from the spring, whereby a comparative value for the tracking resistance of the insulation base is lower than the maximum operating voltage allowed by the contactor and a comparative value for the tracking resistance of the lower insulation element is higher than the maximum operating voltage allowed by the contactor.

[0034] According to another general concept of the present invention, a contactor is provided. The contactor consists of: a pair of static terminals; a coil for generating an electromagnetic field; and the aforementioned movable contact assembly of the contactor. The drive shaft is configured to move the movable terminal from an open position separated from the static terminal to a closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal under the action of the electromagnetic force applied by the electromagnetic field.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows an illustrative perspective view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention when viewed from an angle; Fig. 2 shows an axial sectional view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows an illustrative perspective view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention when viewed from a different angle; Fig. 4 shows an illustrative exploded view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 shows an exploded sectional view of a movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows an illustrative exploded view of the insulation base 12 and the lower insulation element 8 of the movable contactor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a movable contactor contact assembly is disclosed. The movable contactor contact assembly includes a mounting frame 1, an insulating top plate 2, a movable auxiliary contact 3, a movable terminal 4, a drive shaft 5, and a spring 6. The mounting frame 1 includes a magnetic top plate 11 and an insulating bottom plate 12. The movable terminal 4 is provided in the mounting frame 1 for electrical contact with static terminals (not shown) of the contactor. The spring 6 is built into the mounting frame 1 and floatingly supports the movable terminal 4 on the insulating bottom plate 12 of the mounting frame 1. The insulating top plate 2 is attached to the magnetic top plate 11 of the movable terminal 4 or the mounting frame 1. The movable auxiliary contact 3 is attached to the insulating top plate 2 for electrical contact with a static auxiliary contact (not shown) of the contactor.The drive shaft 5 is connected to the insulation base 12 of the mounting frame 1, which serves to move the mounting frame 1 along the axial direction Z of the drive shaft 5.

[0037] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, the insulating upper part 2 is attached to the magnetic upper plate 11 of the mounting frame 1. The insulating upper part 2 comprises a first insulating element 21 and a second insulating element 22 for electrically insulating the movable low-voltage auxiliary contact 3 from the magnetic high-voltage upper plate 11. The comparative value for the tracking resistance of the first insulating element 21 is lower than the maximum permissible operating voltage of the contactor, and the comparative value for the tracking resistance of the second insulating element 22 is higher than the maximum permissible operating voltage of the contactor.

[0038] As in the Fig. As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, a special second insulation element 22 is added to the first insulation element 21. The comparative value for the leakage current index of the second insulation element 22 is higher than the maximum allowable operating voltage of the contactor. Therefore, it is possible to achieve higher electrical insulation performance without increasing the size of the insulation upper part 2 and to safely and reliably insulate the low-voltage auxiliary movable contact 3 from the high-voltage conductive components.

[0039] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, the part of the movable auxiliary contact 3 closest to the magnetic top plate 11 is housed in the second insulating member 22 to electrically insulate the part of the movable auxiliary contact 3 closest to the magnetic top plate 11 from the magnetic top plate 11 by the second insulating member 22.

[0040] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the first insulating member 21 in the illustrated embodiment has a first receiving chamber 210, and the movable auxiliary contact 3 and the second insulating member 22 are accommodated in the first receiving chamber 210 of the first insulating member 21.

[0041] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the first insulating member 21 in the illustrated embodiment includes a pair of side plates 211 and a bottom plate 212. The two side plates 211 oppose each other in the first direction X perpendicular to the axial direction Z of the drive shaft 5. The bottom plate 212 is connected between the lower surfaces of the pair of side plates 211. The first receiving chamber 210 is defined by the pair of side plates 211 and the bottom plate 212, and the movable auxiliary contact 3 and the second insulating member 22 are fixed to the bottom plate 212.

[0042] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the movable auxiliary contact 3 in the illustrated embodiment includes a fixed part 3a attached to the bottom plate 212 and an elastic part 3b suspended in the first receiving chamber 210. The second insulating member 22 has a second receiving chamber 220, and the fixed part 3a of the movable auxiliary contact 3 is closest to the magnetic top plate 11 and is housed in the second receiving chamber 220.

[0043] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the first insulating element 21 in the illustrated embodiment has a first port and a second port 202, which are opposite each other in a second direction Y perpendicular to the axial direction Z and the first direction X. The second insulating element 22 is arranged in the second port 202 of the first insulating element 21 and closes the second port 202. The fixed part 3a of the movable auxiliary contact 3 is located in the second receiving chamber 220 of the second insulating element 22.

[0044] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the second insulation member 22 in the illustrated embodiment includes a pair of side walls 221, a bottom wall 222, and an end wall 223. The two side walls 221 are opposite each other in the first direction X. The bottom wall 222 is connected to the bottom of the two side walls 221. The end wall 223 is connected between one end of the pair of side walls 221. The second receiving chamber 220 is formed by the pair of side walls 221, the bottom wall 222, and the end wall 223.

[0045] As in the Fig. As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, a positioning post 21a is formed on the inner side of the bottom plate 212 of the first insulating member 21, and positioning holes 22a that cooperate with the positioning post 21a are formed in the bottom wall 222 of the second insulating member 22 and the fixed part 3a of the movable auxiliary contact 3, respectively.

[0046] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the first insulating member 21 in the illustrated embodiment has a pair of fixing portions 213, each of which is connected to the lower outer sides of the pair of side plates 211, and fixing holes 12b are formed in the fixing portions 213. On the upper surface of the magnetic top plate 11, there is a fixing post 11b corresponding to the fixing hole 12b. The fixing post 11b is inserted into the fixing hole 12b to install the first insulating member 21 on the magnetic top plate 11.

[0047] As in the Fig. As shown, the mounting frame 1 in the illustrated embodiment also includes a pair of conductive side plates 13 attached to the insulating base 12. The magnetic top plate 11 is attached between the top of the pair of conductive side plates 13.

[0048] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, a mounting slot 13a is formed on the top surface of the conductive side plate 13, and the two ends of the magnetic top plate 11 are respectively inserted into the mounting slots 13a of the pair of conductive side plates 13.

[0049] As in the Fig. As shown, the insulating base 12 in the illustrated embodiment includes a pair of insulating side walls 121 and a lower insulating wall 122. The insulating bottom wall 122 is disposed between the lower ends of the pair of insulating side walls 121. The lower ends of the pair of conductive side plates 13 are respectively fixed to the pair of insulating side walls 121 of the insulating base 12, and the upper end of the drive shaft 5 is fixed to the insulating bottom wall 122 of the insulating base 12.

[0050] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the embodiment shown, the insulation base 12 is molded directly onto the lower ends of the pair of conductive side plates 13 and the upper end of the drive shaft 5 by an injection molding process, so that the insulation base 12, the mounting frame 1 and the drive shaft 5 are formed into an integral part.

[0051] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the movable contact assembly of the contactor in the illustrated embodiment further includes a floating seat 7. The floating seat 7 is provided in the mounting frame 1 and assembled with the movable terminal 4 to float with the movable terminal 4. The spring 6 is compressed between the floating seat 7 and the insulation base 12 to keep the floating seat 7 and the movable terminal 4 floating on the insulation base 12.

[0052] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the embodiment shown, fastening notches 4a are formed on both sides of the movable clamp 4 and fastening flanges 7a are formed on both sides of the floating seat 7, which are embedded in the fastening notches 4a.

[0053] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, a first positioning post 7b is formed on the underside of the floating seat 7, and a second positioning post 12b is formed on the inside of the insulation bottom wall 122 of the insulation base 12. The first positioning post 7b and the second positioning post 12b are axially opposite and are inserted into the upper and lower ends of the spring 6, respectively, to position the spring 6.

[0054] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the movable terminal 4 in the illustrated embodiment is designed to be movable, under the drive of the drive shaft 5, between a closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal and an open position separated from the static terminal. The movable auxiliary contact 3 can be moved, under the drive of the drive shaft 5, between a closed position in electrical contact with the static auxiliary contact and an open position separated from the static auxiliary contact.

[0055] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, when the movable terminal 4 is moved to the closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal, the movable auxiliary contact 3 is moved to the closed position in electrical contact with the static auxiliary contact. When the movable terminal 4 is moved to the open position separated from the static terminal, the movable auxiliary contact 3 is moved to the open position separated from the static auxiliary contact.

[0056] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the movable contact arrangement of the contactor in the illustrated embodiment further comprises a lower insulation element 8, which is arranged on the underside of the insulation base 12 and surrounds the drive shaft 5. The comparative tracking resistance value of the insulation base 12 is lower than the maximum permissible operating voltage of the contactor, and the comparative tracking resistance value of the lower insulation element 8 is higher than the maximum permissible operating voltage of the contactor.

[0057] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, an insulation post 123 is formed on the underside of the insulation bottom wall 122 of the insulation base 12, and the upper end of the drive shaft 5 is connected to the insulation bottom wall 122 and the insulation post 123 of the insulation base 12. An annular groove 12a is formed on the insulation post 123 of the insulation base 12, and the lower insulation member 8 is annular and engages the annular groove 12a on the insulation post 123.

[0058] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the embodiment shown, the insulation base 12 is molded directly onto the upper end of the drive shaft 5 by an injection molding process, and the lower insulation element 8 is molded directly onto the underside of the insulation base 12 by a secondary injection molding process.

[0059] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention also discloses a contactor. The contactor comprises a pair of static terminals, a coil, and a movable contactor contact assembly. The drive shaft 5 is adapted to control the aforementioned movable terminal 4 from the open position separated from the static terminal to the closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal, under the action of the electromagnetic force applied by the electromagnetic field.

[0060] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention also discloses a movable contactor contact assembly. The movable contact assembly of the contactor comprises a mounting frame 1, a movable terminal 4, a drive shaft 5, a spring 6, and a lower insulating member 8. The mounting frame 1 includes an insulating base 12. The movable terminal 4 is provided in the mounting frame 1 for electrical contact with the static terminal (not shown) of the contactor. The spring 6 is installed in the mounting frame 1 and supports the movable terminal 4 floatingly on the insulating base 12 of the mounting frame 1. The drive shaft 5 is connected to the insulating base 12 of the mounting frame 1 and serves to move the mounting frame 1 along the axial direction Z of the drive shaft 5. The lower insulating member 8 lies on the underside of the insulating base 12 and surrounds the drive shaft 5.

[0061] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, the insulating base 12 and the lower insulating element 8 are used to electrically insulate the low-voltage drive shaft 5 from the conductive high-voltage components (such as the movable terminal 4, the conductive side plate 13, and the spring 6). The comparative tracking resistance value of the insulating base 12 is lower than the maximum allowable operating voltage of the contactor, while the comparative tracking resistance value of the lower insulating element 8 is higher than the maximum allowable operating voltage of the contactor.

[0062] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, a special lower insulation element 8 is inserted into the insulation base 12. The comparative tracking resistance value of the lower insulation element 8 is higher than the maximum allowable operating voltage of the contactor. Therefore, it is possible to achieve higher electrical insulation performance without increasing the size of the insulation base, and to safely and reliably insulate the low-voltage drive shaft 5 from the conductive high-voltage components.

[0063] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, an insulation post 123 is formed on the underside of the insulation base 12, and the upper end of the drive shaft 5 is connected to the insulation post 123 of the insulation base 12. An annular groove 12a is formed on the insulation post 123 of the insulation base 12, and the lower insulation member 8 is annular and engages the annular groove 12a on the insulation post 123.

[0064] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the embodiment shown, the insulation base 12 is molded directly onto the upper end of the drive shaft 5 by an injection molding process, and the lower insulation element 8 is molded directly onto the underside of the insulation base 12 by a second, embedded injection molding process.

[0065] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the mounting frame 1 in the illustrated embodiment further includes a pair of conductive side plates 13 and a magnetic top plate 11. The pair of conductive side plates 13 are fixed to the insulation base 12. The magnetic top plate 11 is fixed between the top surfaces of the pair of conductive side plates 13. A mounting slot 13a is formed on the top surface of the conductive side plate 13, and the two ends of the magnetic top plate 11 are respectively inserted into the mounting slots 13a of the pair of conductive side plates 13.

[0066] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the insulating base 12 in the illustrated embodiment includes a pair of insulating side walls 121 and an insulating bottom wall 122. The insulating bottom wall 122 is disposed between the lower ends of the pair of insulating side walls 121. The lower ends of the pair of conductive side plates 13 are respectively fixed to the pair of insulating side walls 121 of the insulating base 12, and the upper end of the drive shaft 5 is fixed to the insulating bottom wall 122 of the insulating base 12.

[0067] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, the insulation base 12 is molded by an injection molding process directly onto the lower ends of the pair of conductive side plates 13 and the upper end of the drive shaft 5, and the lower insulation member 8 is molded by a secondary injection molding process directly onto the bottom of the insulation base 12.

[0068] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the movable contact assembly of the contactor in the illustrated embodiment further includes a floating seat 7 provided in the mounting frame 1 and assembled with the movable terminal 4 to float with the movable terminal 4. The spring 6 is compressed between the floating seat 7 and the insulating base 12 to keep the floating seat 7 and the movable terminal 4 floating on the insulating base 12.

[0069] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, fastening notches 4a are formed on both sides of the movable clamp 4 and fastening flanges 7a are formed on both sides of the floating seat 7, the fastening notches 4a being recessed into the fastening notches 4a.

[0070] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, a first positioning post 7b is formed on the underside of the floating seat 7, and a second positioning post 12b is formed on the inside of the insulation bottom wall 122 of the insulation base 12. The first positioning post 7b and the second positioning post 12b are axially opposite and are inserted into the upper and lower ends of the spring 6, respectively, to position the spring 6.

[0071] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the movable contact arrangement of the contactor in the embodiment shown further comprises an insulating upper part 2 and a movable auxiliary contact 3. The insulating upper part 2 is attached to the magnetic upper plate 11 of the mounting frame 1. The movable auxiliary contact 3 is attached to the insulating upper part 2 for electrical contact with the static auxiliary contact (not shown) of the contactor. The insulating upper part 2 comprises a first insulating element 21 and a second insulating element 22 for electrically insulating the movable auxiliary contact 3 from the magnetic upper plate 11. The comparative value for the tracking resistance of the first insulating element 21 is lower than the maximum permissible operating voltage of the contactor, and the comparative value for the tracking resistance of the second insulating element 22 is higher than the maximum permissible operating voltage of the contactor.

[0072] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, the part of the movable auxiliary contact 3 closest to the magnetic top plate 11 is housed in the second insulating member 22 to electrically insulate the part of the movable auxiliary contact 3 closest to the magnetic top plate 11 from the magnetic top plate 11 by the second insulating member 22.

[0073] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the first insulating member 21 in the illustrated embodiment has a first receiving chamber 210, and the movable auxiliary contact 3 and the second insulating member 22 are accommodated in the first receiving chamber 210 of the first insulating member 21.

[0074] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the first insulating member 21 in the illustrated embodiment includes a pair of side plates 211 and a bottom plate 212. The two side plates 211 oppose each other in the first direction X perpendicular to the axial direction Z of the drive shaft 5. The bottom plate 212 is connected between the lower surfaces of the pair of side plates 211. The first receiving chamber 210 is defined by the pair of side plates 211 and the bottom plate 212, and the movable auxiliary contact 3 and the second insulating member 22 are fixed to the bottom plate 212.

[0075] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the movable auxiliary contact 3 in the illustrated embodiment includes a fixed part 3a attached to the bottom plate 212 and an elastic part 3b suspended in the first receiving chamber 210. The second insulating member 22 has a second receiving chamber 220, and the fixed part 3a of the movable auxiliary contact 3 is closest to the magnetic top plate 11 and is housed in the second receiving chamber 220.

[0076] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, the first insulating element 21 in the illustrated embodiment has a first port and a second port 202, which are opposite each other in a second direction Y perpendicular to the axial direction Z and the first direction X. The second insulating element 22 is arranged in the second port 202 of the first insulating element 21 and closes the second port 202. The fixed part 3a of the movable auxiliary contact 3 is located in the second receiving chamber 220 of the second insulating element 22.

[0077] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the second insulation member 22 in the illustrated embodiment includes a pair of side walls 221, a bottom wall 222, and an end wall 223. The two side walls 221 are opposite each other in the first direction X. The bottom wall 222 is connected to the bottom of the two side walls 221. The end wall 223 is connected between one end of the pair of side walls 221. The second receiving chamber 220 is formed by the pair of side walls 221, the bottom wall 222, and the end wall 223.

[0078] As in the Fig. 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, a positioning post 21a is formed on the inner side of the bottom plate 212 of the first insulating member 21, and positioning holes 22a that cooperate with the positioning post 21a are formed in the bottom wall 222 of the second insulating member 22 and in the fixed part 3a of the movable auxiliary contact 3, respectively.

[0079] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the first insulation member 21 in the illustrated embodiment has a pair of fixing portions 213 connected to the lower outer sides of the pair of side plates 211, and fixing holes 12b are formed in the fixing portions 213. On the upper surface of the magnetic top plate 11, there is a fixing post 11b corresponding to the fixing hole 12b. The fixing post 11b is inserted into the fixing hole 12b to install the first insulation member 21 on the magnetic top plate 11.

[0080] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the movable terminal 4 in the illustrated embodiment is designed to be movable, under the drive of the drive shaft 5, between a closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal and an open position separated from the static terminal. The movable auxiliary contact 3 can be moved, under the drive of the drive shaft 5, between a closed position in electrical contact with the static auxiliary contact and an open position separated from the static auxiliary contact.

[0081] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, when the movable terminal 4 is moved to the closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal, the movable auxiliary contact 3 is moved to the closed position in electrical contact with the static auxiliary contact. When the movable terminal 4 is moved to the open position separated from the static terminal, the movable auxiliary contact 3 is moved to the open position separated from the static auxiliary contact.

[0082] As in the Fig.1 to 6, a contactor is also disclosed in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The contactor includes a pair of static terminals, a coil, and the aforementioned contactor movable contact assembly. The coil is used to generate an electromagnetic field. The drive shaft 5 is adapted to drive the movable terminal 4 from the open position separated from the static terminal to the closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal under the action of the electromagnetic force induced by the electromagnetic field.

[0083] Those skilled in the art should be aware that the above embodiments are intended as illustrations and not as limitations. For example, many modifications to the above embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art, and various features described in different embodiments can be freely combined without causing conflicts in configuration or principle.

[0084] Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

[0085] An element mentioned in the singular and introduced with the word "a" or "an" does not exclude the plurality of those elements or steps unless such exclusion is expressly stated. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" of the present invention should not be understood to exclude the existence of further embodiments that also have the recited features. Furthermore, embodiments that "comprise" or "have" an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional elements that do not have that property, unless expressly stated otherwise. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CN 202410124716.6

[0001]

Claims

[1] A movable contactor contact assembly comprising: a mounting frame (1) with a magnetic top plate (11) and an insulating base (12); a movable terminal (4) provided in the mounting frame (1) for electrical contact with a static terminal of a contactor; a spring (6) provided in the mounting frame (1) which supports the movable terminal (4) in a floating manner on the insulating base (12) of the mounting frame (1); an insulating top part (2) which is attached to the magnetic top plate (11) of the movable terminal (4) or the mounting frame (1); a movable auxiliary contact (3) attached to the insulating upper part (2) for electrical contact with a static auxiliary contact of the contactor; and a drive shaft (5) which is connected to the insulating base (12) of the mounting frame (1) and serves to move the mounting frame (1) along an axial direction (Z) of the drive shaft (5), wherein the insulating upper part (2) comprises a first insulating element (21) and a second insulating element (22) for electrically insulating the movable auxiliary contact (3) from the magnetic upper plate (11), wherein the first insulating element (21) has a comparative value for the tracking resistance which is lower than the maximum operating voltage permitted by the contactor, and the second insulating element (22) has a comparative value for the tracking resistance which is higher than the maximum operating voltage permitted by the contactor. [2] The movable contactor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the insulation top (2) is fixed to the magnetic top plate (11) of the mounting frame (1), and the portion of the movable auxiliary contact (3) closest to the magnetic top plate (11) is housed in the second insulation member (22) to electrically insulate the portion of the movable auxiliary contact (3) closest to the magnetic top plate (11) from the magnetic top plate (11) by the second insulation member (22). [3] The movable contactor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first insulating member (21) has a first receiving chamber (210) and the movable auxiliary contact (3) and the second insulating member (22) are accommodated in the first receiving chamber (210) of the first insulating member (21). [4] The movable contactor assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first insulation element (21) comprises: a pair of side plates (211) facing each other in a first direction (X) perpendicular to the axial direction (Z) of the drive shaft (5); and a bottom plate (212) connected between the bottom of the pair of side plates (211), wherein the first receiving chamber (210) is defined by the pair of side plates (211) and the bottom plate (212), and the movable auxiliary contact (3) and the second insulation member (22) are fixed to the bottom plate (212). [5] The movable contactor arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the movable auxiliary contact (3) comprises a fixed part (3a) fixed to the base plate (212) and an elastic part (3b) suspended in the first receiving chamber (210); wherein the second insulation element (22) has a second receiving chamber (220) and the fixed part (3a) of the movable auxiliary contact (3) is closest to the magnetic top plate (11) and is received in the second receiving chamber (220). [6] The movable contactor assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first insulating member (21) has a first port and a second port (202) opposite each other in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the axial direction (Z) and the first direction (X), the second insulating member (22) is positioned in the second port (202) of the first insulating member (21) and closes the second port (202), and the fixed part (3a) of the movable auxiliary contact (3) is positioned in the second receiving chamber (220) of the second insulating member (22). [7] The movable contactor assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second insulation element (22) comprises: a pair of side walls (221) facing each other in the first direction (X); a bottom wall (222) connected between the bottom of the pair of side walls (221); and an end wall (223) connected between one end of the pair of side walls (221), wherein the second receiving chamber (220) is defined by the pair of side walls (221), the bottom wall (222) and the end wall (223). [8] The movable contactor assembly according to claim 7, wherein a positioning post (21a) is formed on the inner side of the bottom plate (212) of the first insulating member (21), positioning holes (22a) for cooperating with the positioning post (21a) are formed in the bottom wall (222) of the second insulating member (22) and the fixed part (3a) of the movable auxiliary contact (3), respectively. [9] The movable contactor arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the first insulation member (21) has a pair of fixing portions (213) each connected to the lower outer sides of the pair of side plates (211), and a fixing hole (12b) is formed in the fixing portion (213); wherein a fixing post (11b) corresponding to the fixing hole (12b) is formed on the upper surface of the magnetic top plate (11), and the fixing post (11b) is inserted into the fixing hole (12b) to install the first insulation member (21) on the magnetic top plate (11). [10] The movable contactor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting frame (1) further comprises: a pair of conductive side plates (13) attached to the insulation base (12), wherein the magnetic top plate (11) is fixed between the top of the pair of conductive side plates (13), wherein a mounting slot (13a) is formed on the top of the conductive side plate (13), and the two ends of the magnetic top plate (11) are respectively inserted into the mounting slots (13a) of the pair of conductive side plates (13). [11] The movable contactor assembly according to claim 10, wherein the insulation base (12) comprises: a pair of insulation side walls (121); and an insulating bottom wall (122) connected between the lower end of the pair of insulating side walls (121), wherein the lower ends of the pair of conductive side plates (13) are each fixed to the pair of insulation side walls (121) of the insulation base (12), and the upper end of the drive shaft (5) is fixed to the insulation bottom wall (122) of the insulation base (12), wherein the insulation base (12) is molded directly at the lower ends of the pair of conductive side plates (13) and the upper end of the drive shaft (5) by an embedded injection molding process, so that the insulation base (12), the mounting frame (1) and the drive shaft (5) are molded into an integral part. [12] The movable contactor assembly of claim 11, further comprising: a floating seat (7) provided in the mounting frame (1) and assembled with the movable clamp (4) to float with the movable clamp (4), wherein the spring (6) is compressed between the buoyant seat (7) and the insulating base (12) to keep the buoyant seat (7) and the movable clamp (4) floating on the insulating base (12), wherein installation notches (4a) are formed on both sides of the movable clamp (4) respectively and installation flanges (7a) are formed on both sides of the floating seat (7), the installation flanges (7a) being embedded in the installation notches (4a) respectively. [13] The movable contactor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the movable terminal (4) is adapted to be moved under the drive of the drive shaft (5) between a closed position in electrical contact with the static terminal and an open position separated from the static terminal; wherein the movable auxiliary contact (3) can be moved under the drive of the drive shaft (5) between a closed position in electrical contact with the static auxiliary contact and an open position separated from the static auxiliary contact. [14] The movable contactor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising: a lower insulation element (8) which is attached to the underside of the insulation base (12) and surrounds the drive shaft (5), wherein the comparison value for the tracking resistance of the insulation lower part (12) is lower than the maximum operating voltage permitted by the contactor and the comparison value for the tracking resistance of the lower insulation element (8) is higher than the maximum operating voltage permitted by the contactor. [15] The movable contactor arrangement according to claim 14, wherein an insulation post (123) is formed on the lower surface of the insulation bottom wall (122) of the insulation base (12), and the upper end of the drive shaft (5) is connected to the insulation bottom wall (122) and the insulation post (123) of the insulation base (12); wherein an annular groove (12a) is formed on the insulation post (123) of the insulation lower part (12), and the lower insulation element (8) is annular and engages in the annular groove (12a) on the insulation post (123). [16] The movable contactor contact assembly according to claim 14, wherein the insulation base (12) is molded directly onto the upper end of the drive shaft (5) by an injection molding process, and the lower insulation element (8) is molded directly onto the bottom of the insulation base (12) by a secondary injection molding process. [17] A contactor comprising: a pair of static clamps; a coil for generating an electromagnetic field; and the movable contactor arrangement according to one of claims 1-16, wherein the drive shaft (5) is arranged to drive the movable clamp (4) under the action of the electromagnetic force applied by the electromagnetic field from an open position separated from the static clamp to a closed position in electrical contact with the static clamp.

Images