ENERGY-SAVING CONTACT WITH ADJUSTABLE END STOP

Description

Technical field of the invention

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

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to an aircraft energy-saving contact. Prior art

[0003] A contactor is a switching device for power electronics, comprising a moving part displaced by a mechanical actuator to make and break an electric current. Such a contactor is described, for example, in document DE 757 577 C.

[0004] To limit the electrical consumption of actuators in contactors, a known solution is to use a so-called saver contact, activating a so-called holding coil at the end of the travel of the moving part of the contactor.

[0005] Such an energy-saving electrical contactor 1 is shown on the figure 1, composed of a fixed part 2 and a moving part 3 which performs a translational movement in the Z direction between a high position of electrical contact and a low position where the contact is broken.

[0006] The moving part 3 is forced towards its lower position by one or more springs (not shown), so that the moving part is in the lower position at rest.

[0007] The moving part 3 is driven in translation towards its upper position by the action of an actuating coil when an actuating current flows through it, acting by induction on a core mounted on the moving part 3 and engaged between the turns of the actuating coil.

[0008] The translational movement of the moving part 3 allows the electrical contact to be established between an auxiliary blade 5 attached to the moving part 3 and an electrical card 6 attached to the fixed part 2.

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

[0010] The economizer contact is closed at rest by the action of the blade 8 which forces the contact pad 9 towards the fixed contact, and opens when the stop 10 comes to rest against the blade 8 in the upper position of the moving part 3.

[0011] The stop 10 is for example a pin projecting along the Z direction from the auxiliary blade 5 and passing through an orifice 11 opening in the electrical board 6 opposite the blade 8.

[0012] The interaction between the blade 8 and the stop 10 allows the saver contact to be opened and the operation of the electrical contactor to be switched by cutting the current in the actuating coil and keeping the current in a holding coil, which consumes less energy.

[0013] Adjusting the interaction between the blade 8 and the stop 10 is important because if the switch to the holding coil occurs too early in the stroke of the moving part 3, the latter may lack the power to reach the end of the stroke and the saver contact 1 may reopen under the effect of the return.

[0014] If the interaction between the blade 8 and the stop 10 occurs too late, the separation distance of the saver contact, between the pad 9 and the fixed contact, may be too short and cases of rebound or even sticking may occur, preventing the saver from functioning properly.

[0015] A cover is usually assembled around the assembly formed by the blade and the energy-saving contact, in order to protect it from the outside.

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

[0017] However, one problem not addressed by known economizer contact systems is that related to the potential presence of dust at the economizer contact, despite the said cover.

[0018] Indeed, the passage hole of the stop in the electrical board is much larger than the circumference of said stop, in order to accept large positioning tolerances of the economizer contact stop.

[0019] The dimensions of this opening allow dust to enter the enclosed space in the cover around the energy-saving contact, potentially blocking the current flow. Therefore, when the energy-saving contact is closed, the current flowing through both the inrush and holding coils prevents the contact from closing. Presentation of the invention

[0020] The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks. To this end, the invention relates to an energy-saving electrical contactor comprising a fixed part and a movable part that translates relative to the fixed part along a principal direction, between a contact position of the electrical contactor and a breaking position of the electrical contactor. The energy-saving electrical contactor comprises an elastic blade fixed to the fixed part at one end and whose second end forms an energy-saving contact, as well as a stop mounted on the movable part and arranged to be away from the elastic blade when the movable part is in its breaking position, the energy-saving contact being then closed, and to bear against the elastic blade when the movable part is in the contact position, the energy-saving contact being then open.characterized in that the fixed part defines a passage orifice for the stop opposite the elastic blade along the principal direction, the orifice having an internal section transverse to the principal direction substantially identical to an external section of the stop, the stop being mounted on the moving part in a manner that allows it to translate in a plane perpendicular to the principal direction.

[0021] Such an electrical contact makes it possible to prevent contamination of the economizer contact by dust while avoiding the constraints related to very small manufacturing dimensional tolerances.

[0022] The energy-saving contact is adapted to switch the contactor actuation current to a holding coil when the moving part is at the end of its travel and the energy-saving contact is closed.

[0023] By substantially identical, we mean that a contour of the orifice section follows a contour of the stop section with a gap forming a reduced clearance between the stop and the edges of the orifice, the clearance being chosen sufficiently small to prevent the passage of dust.

[0024] The clearance is for example less than or equal to 0.5 mm, in particular less than or equal to 0.3 mm.

[0025] The fixed part may include an electrical board on which the blade is mounted, by a first end of the blade, and a fixed contact disposed at a second end of the blade, the orifice being defined in the electrical board, opposite the blade.

[0026] Such a feature allows the economizer contact to remain closed at rest and to open at the end of the moving part's travel.

[0027] The stop may include a foot comprising a flat part mounted to slide between a support and an auxiliary blade of the moving part.

[0028] This feature allows the stop to be moved freely in the transverse plane, making it easy to adjust the stop's position dynamically.

[0029] The support may include a recess receiving the flat part, the auxiliary blade defining an opening opposite the recess, the stop extending through the opening towards the passage orifice.

[0030] This feature allows for robust retention of the stop while offering simple assembly without impacting part arrangements with tight manufacturing tolerances.

[0031] The stop may include a threaded rod extending in the main direction and a head mounted on the rod and adjustable in height relative to the rod in the main direction.

[0032] This feature allows the height of the stop to be adjusted, thus changing the point in the stroke of the moving part at which the energy-saving contact opens.

[0033] The stop may include a threaded ring engaged on the threaded rod and carrying the head.

[0034] This feature allows for simple and precise adjustment of the head height.

[0035] The ring may have an external circular section having a first radius, the passage orifice having an internal circular section having a second radius, the first radius being less than the second radius by a clearance adapted to prevent the passage of dust.

[0036] This feature ensures a good match between the orifice and stop sections, as the outer surface of the ring is easy to machine precisely. The head may have a boss oriented towards the blade along the main direction.

[0037] This feature allows for almost point-by-point contact with the blade.

[0038] The bump can be rounded or pointed.

[0039] The head can be made of insulating material.

[0040] The insulating material is, for example, a polyamide-imide polymer.

[0041] This feature helps prevent the formation of parasitic currents in the stop. The stop may include means for blocking the movement of the head relative to the rod.

[0042] This feature allows the head height setting to be maintained once it has been made. Brief description of the figures

[0043] There figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state-of-the-art energy-saving contact, the figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a heat-saving contact according to the invention, the figure 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a contact stop for the contact of the figure 2 , and the figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a stop fixing of the figure 3 . Detailed description of the invention

[0044] An energy-saving electrical contactor 1 according to the invention is partially shown on the figure 2 The electrical contactor comprises a fixed part 2 including an electrical board 6 and a moving part 3 including an auxiliary blade 5, as described previously.

[0045] The moving part 3 is deflectable in translation along a principal direction Z under the action of an actuating coil (not visible on the figure 2 ), so as to bring the electrical board 6 and the auxiliary blade 5 closer together.

[0046] The electrical card 6 and the auxiliary blade 5 extend substantially parallel to each other, perpendicular to the main direction Z.

[0047] The electrical card 6 includes a support 7 carrying an elastic blade 8, said blade 8 being fixed to the support 7 by a first end and carrying a contact pad 9 at its free end.

[0048] The contact pad 9 is induced by the blade 8 towards a fixed contact 12 attached to the electrical board 6, so as to form a closed economizer contact at rest.

[0049] An orifice 11 is defined in the electrical card 6 opposite the blade 8 along the main direction Z, the orifice 11 having for example a substantially circular cross section.

[0050] A stop 10 is attached to the auxiliary blade 5 and extends projecting from the auxiliary blade 5 along the main direction Z, towards the blade 8.

[0051] The stop 10 is mounted movable relative to the auxiliary blade 5 according to a translational movement in an XY plane perpendicular to the principal direction Z.

[0052] The stop 10 is thus able to be positioned opposite the orifice 11 in order to pass through said orifice 11 and to press on the blade 8 during the stroke of the moving part 3. The stop 10 comprises four separate parts: a foot 13, a ring 14, a head 15 and a support 16.

[0053] A cover 17 is attached to the electrical board 6 and surrounds the blade 8, the support 7 and the fixed contact 12, so as to confine them and protect the energy-saving contact from the outside.

[0054] The cover 17 is hermetically fixed to the electrical board 6 to prevent the passage of dust, for example by means of a bolt 18.

[0055] The stop 10 and its attachment to the auxiliary blade 5 are shown in more detail on the figures 3 and 4 .

[0056] The foot 13 has a screw shape and includes a flat portion 21 extending in the XY plane perpendicular to the main direction and a threaded rod 22 projecting from the flat portion 21 along the main direction Z towards the fixed part 2.

[0057] The auxiliary blade 5 defines a through opening 23 along the main direction Z, through which the rod 22 passes. The flat portion 21 is located on the side of the auxiliary blade 5 opposite to that where the electrical card 6 is located.

[0058] The opening 23 has transverse dimensions, measured in an XY plane perpendicular to the principal direction Z, that are smaller than the transverse dimensions of the flat part 21, so that the flat part 21 has its transverse ends in contact with the auxiliary blade 5 along the principal direction Z. In other words, the flat part 21 is wider than the opening 23, transversely to the principal direction Z, and therefore cannot pass through the opening 23.

[0059] The support 16 is a plate fixed by crimping under the auxiliary blade 5, supported along the main direction Z, for example by two fixing members 25 engaged in corresponding fixing holes 26 of the support 16 and the auxiliary blade 5.

[0060] Alternatively, the support 16 can be fixed to the auxiliary blade 5 by any other known method, for example by bolting, screwing, welding, etc.

[0061] A non-through recess 27 is provided in an upper face 28 of the support, opposite the auxiliary blade 5. The recess 27 has a depth, measured along the principal direction Z, substantially constant over its entire transverse extent and slightly greater than a thickness of the flat portion 21 of the foot 13.

[0062] The flat part 21 is arranged in the recess 27 and held along the main direction Z between the intermediate card 5 and the support 16.

[0063] The depth of the evident 27 is such that a play 33 remains between the auxiliary blade 5 and the flat portion 21, so that the flat portion 21 is mobile by sliding, in the transverse plane XY between the auxiliary blade 5 and the support 16.

[0064] The sliding clearance 33 is for example less than or equal to 0.5 mm, in particular less than or equal to 0.2 mm.

[0065] There figure 4The figure represents, in cross-section in the transverse plane XY, the flat portion 21 of the support and the recess. Both the flat portion 21 and the recess have elongated shapes in this plane XY along the same transverse direction X, which is, for example, the alignment direction of the crimping fixing holes 26.

[0066] The flat part 21 is, for example, substantially rectangular in the transverse plane XY, while the recess has a substantially oblong profile in the XY plane. The flat part 21 has a range of motion 34 along the first transverse direction X and a range of motion 35 along the second transverse direction Y, these ranges being sufficient for adjusting the position of the stop 10.

[0067] The ring 14 has a general shape of annular nut comprising an internal thread engaged on that of the rod 22, allowing the height of the ring 14 to be adjusted on said rod 22.

[0068] Changing the height of the ring 14 on the rod 22 allows the height of the head 15, which is mounted on the ring 14, to be adjusted, and thus the opening or closing time of the saver contact in the stroke of the moving part 3 relative to the fixed part 2.

[0069] The ring 14 has an external section, transverse to the main direction Z very close to an internal cross-section of the orifice 11 for the passage of the stop 10. Thus, a very small residual play between the external wall of the ring 14 and the internal walls of the orifice 11 when the stop 10 passes through the orifice 11 prevents the passage of dust into the escape defined by the cover 17 around the saver contact.

[0070] The external cross-section of ring 14 is notably circular.

[0071] The gap between the outer walls of the ring and the inner walls of the orifice is, for example, less than 0.5 mm, in particular less than 0.3 mm.

[0072] To compensate for the very small positioning tolerances of the stop 10 due to this very small play, an adjustment of the position of the stop 10 with respect to the orifice 11 is possible thanks to the translational movement of the latter in the transverse plane XY.

[0073] The head 15 has a generally convex shape and defines a central recess 29 in which the upper end of the rod 22 is engaged, and a summit 30 facing the blade 8.

[0074] It allows for near-point contact between the stop 10 and the blade 8, which improves the repeatability of the opening and closing of the economizer contact during the movement kinematics of the moving part 3.

[0075] The head 15 also defines lateral edges of substantially cylindrical shape for its radial retention in position by the ring 14.

[0076] The head 15 is advantageously made of an electrically insulating material, to avoid any parasitic current in the energy-saving contact.

[0077] The ring 14 advantageously has two deformable ends for fixing by crimping respectively the ring to the rod and the head to the ring.

[0078] For example, the lower end 31 of the ring 14 comprises a thin cylindrical wall surrounding the rod 22 along an axis parallel to the principal direction Z, which is radially deformable in an irreversible manner to clamp a lower portion of the rod extending beneath the ring 14, thus blocking the helical movement of the ring on the rod on their respective threads. This ensures that the height of the ring 14 and the head 15 is maintained once this height has been set.

[0079] Advantageously, this lower part of the stem defines a flat surface which improves the fixing of the ring 14 by clamping.

[0080] Similarly, for example, the upper end 32 of the ring 14 includes a second thin cylindrical wall radially surrounding the head 15 and whose upper edges extend beyond lateral edges of said head 15. This second wall is irreversibly deformable around the lateral edges of the head 15 in order to lock said head 15 in position both axially along the principal direction Z and radially.

Claims

1. An economizing electric contactor (1) comprising a fixed part (2) and a part (3) movable in translation relative to the fixed part (2) along a main direction (Z), between a contact position of the electric contactor and a break position of the electric contactor, where the economizing electric contactor (1) comprises an elastic blade (8) attached to the fixed part (2) by a first end and whose second end forms an economizing contact, as well as a stop (10) mounted on the movable part (3) and arranged for being away from the blade (8) when the movable part (3) is in the break position thereof, where the economizing contact is then closed, and coming to bear on the blade (8) when the movable part (3) is in contact position, the economizing contact then being open, characterized in that the fixed part (2) defines an orifice (11) for passage of the stop (10) facing the blade (8) along the main direction (Z), where the orifice (11) has an inner section transverse to the main direction (Z) substantially identical to an outer section of the stop (10), where the stop (10) is movably mounted in translation in a plane (XY) perpendicular to the main direction (Z) on the movable part (3).

2. The economizing electric contactor (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the fixed part (2) comprises an electric board (6) on which are mounted the blade (8), by a first end of the blade (8), and a fixed contact (12) arranged near a second end of the blade (8), where the orifice (11) is defined in the electric board (6), facing the blade (8).

3. The economizing electric contactor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop (10) comprises a foot (13) comprising a flat part (21) slidably mounted between a support (16) and an auxiliary blade (5) of the movable part (3).

4. The economizing electric contactor (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the support (16) comprises a recess (27) receiving the flat part (21), where the auxiliary blade (5) defines an orifice (23) facing the recess (27), and where the stop (10) extends through the opening (23) towards the orifice (11) for passage.

5. The economizing electric contactor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop (10) comprises a threaded rod (22) extending along the main direction (Z) and a head (15) mounted on the rod (22) and adjustable in height relative to the rod (22) along the main direction (Z).

6. The economizing electric contactor (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the stop (10) comprises a threaded ring (14) engaged on the threaded rod (22) and bearing the head (15).

7. The economizing electric contactor (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the ring (14) has a circular outer section having a first radius, where the orifice (11) for passage has an inner circular section having a second radius, and where the first radius is less than the second radius by a clearance lower than or equal to 0,5 mm, notably lower than or equal to 0,3 mm.

8. The economizing electric contactor (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the head (15) may have a knob (30) oriented towards the blade (8) along the main direction (Z).

9. The economizing electric contactor (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the head (15) is made of insulating material.

10. The economizing electric contactor (1) according to one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the stop (10) comprises means for locking (31, 32) the movement of the head (15) relative to the rod (22).