Switch

Abstract

switch comprising an electrical contact bank arranged to switch between a first contact state where an electric current can flow through the electrical contact bank and a second contact state where the flow of electric current through the electrical contact bank is interrupted, which switch includes another switch which is separate from the electrical contact bank, which other switch is connected to the electrical contact bank in such a way as to be actuated by a switching of the contact bank from the first contact state to the second contact state, which other switch has an output and is arranged to provide to said output an electrical signal indicating the contact state of the switch.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch comprising an electrical contact bank arranged to switch between a first contact state where an electric current can flow through the electrical contact bank and a second contact state where the flow of the electric current through the electrical contact bank is interrupted.

[0002] Such a switch is generally known. This switch serves as a safety tool in a building's electrical network. This switch can be operated manually, for example, to cut off the electrical current when work needs to be carried out on the network and thus avoid being electrocuted. The switch can also be activated mechanically and automatically in the event of overcurrent, short circuit, or leakage current on the network.

[0003] Nowadays, buildings are increasingly equipped with a domestic bus that allows data to be delivered to various locations within the building. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in collecting data relating to the operation of devices in order to improve their reliability. However, a connection between a switch and a bus on which data can circulate poses a problem, because the data must be collected at the switch itself. Such an intervention risks disrupting the operation of the switch and thus affecting safety.

[0004] Document JPH0246618A discloses a switch according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to produce a switch which makes it possible to supply information to a data bus without having to intervene directly in the operation of the switch.

[0006] For this purpose a switch according to the invention is according to claim 1.

[0007] The use of another switch, which is separate from the electrical contact bank, makes it possible to avoid having to intervene directly on the electrical contact bank and therefore considerably limits the risks of interfering with the operation of the switch. Since the other switch is connected to the electrical contact bank in such a way as to be actuated by a switch of the contact bank from the first contact state to the second contact state, it allows this other switch to follow a switch switch. Providing an electrical signal indicating the contact state of the other switch makes it possible to communicate this contact state, which corresponds to that of the switch, to a bus.

[0008] According to the invention, the electrical contact bank is housed in a housing having an outer wall, which connection between the electrical contact bank and the other switch is formed by a transmission member which is mounted between the outer wall and the other switch, which transmission member is mounted so as to be moved by a tilting of the contact bank from the first contact state to the second contact state to thereby actuate the other switch. The use of a transmission member making the connection between the housing of the electrical contact bank and the other switch allows a transmission which does not disturb the operation of the switch.

[0009] A preferred embodiment of a switch according to the invention is characterized in that the transmission member is formed by a cam. A cam forms a reliable and inexpensive transmission.

[0010] The switch according to the invention is notably characterized in that it comprises a lug projecting from the external wall of the housing, which lug is mounted so as to follow the tilting of the contact bank, which transmission member is in contact with said lug. The lug thus forms a transmission part for transmitting the tilting of the contact bank to the cam.

[0011] Another preferred embodiment of a switch according to the invention is characterized in that the other switch is provided with a control paddle placed on an external face of the other switch, the transmission member being in contact with the control paddle. The use of a control paddle allows a reliable interface between the transmission member and the other switch.

[0012] Preferably, the switch may comprise another housing inside which the transmission member and the other switch are housed.

[0013] The invention will now be described with the aid of the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of a switch according to the invention. In the drawings: There figure 1 shows the switch in the first contact state, and The figure 2 shows the switch in the second contact state.

[0014] In the drawings the same reference has been attributed to the same element or to a similar element.

[0015] Switch 10 shown in figures 1 et 2 comprises an electrical contact bank 1 arranged to switch between a first contact state, as illustrated in figure 1 , where an electric current can flow through the electrical contact bank and a second contact state, as shown in figure 2, where the flow of electric current through the electrical contact bank is interrupted. Preferably the switch is a differential switch. Such a switch is generally placed in an electrical panel of a building or premises and is used to cut off the electric current in the event of a short circuit, overcurrent, or leakage current on the electricity supply of the building or premises. The switch can thus limit the risks of fire, electrocution or electrification. The switch can also be operated manually, for example if a user wants to cut off a sector of the electrical installation of the building. For this purpose it comprises a control lever 12 accessible from the outside and which is preferably mechanically connected to the contact bank. Preferably the electrical contact bank is housed in a housing 6 having an external wall, for example made of plastic.The plastic material of the wall thus electrically insulates the electrical contact or contacts from the contact bank.

[0016] The switch also comprises another switch 2 which is separate from the electrical contact bank. As illustrated in the figures, the other switch and a transmission member 4 described below are preferably housed in another housing 13. This other housing 13 is also made of plastic so as to electrically insulate them both. Preferably the other switch is a microswitch. The advantage of a microswitch is that it can easily be housed in the housing of the switch.

[0017] This other switch is connected to the electrical contact bank in such a way as to be actuated by a switch of the contact bank from the first contact state to the second contact state. This other switch has an output 7 which is arranged to provide there an electrical signal indicating the connection contact state of the switch. This output is preferably accessible from the outside of the other housing. Preferably the other switch is provided with a control paddle 5 placed on an external face of this other switch and housed inside the other housing.

[0018] In the example illustrated in the figures, the connection between the contact bank 1 and the other switch 2 comprises a transmission member 4 which is mounted between the external wall of the housing 6 and the other switch 2. The transmission member is mounted so as to be moved by tilting the contact bank from the first contact state to the second contact state to thereby actuate the other switch. Preferably, this transmission member is formed by a cam mounted on an axis 8 so as to be able to pivot. This cam is in contact with the control paddle 5 of the other switch. According to another embodiment, the transmission member is formed by a cam mounted on a slide.

[0019] To facilitate the connection between the contact bench and the cam, a lug 3 is provided in the contact bench. This lug projects from the outer wall 6 of the housing and is mounted so as to follow the tilting of the contact bench. The lug is for this purpose mounted on another axis 9 on which the contact 1 of the contact bench is also mounted. Preferably the lug is located on a corner of the housing 6 because it can thus be applied to one end of the other axis 9.

[0020] To switch the contact(s) of the contact bank from the first contact state to the second contact state, the other axis 9 is rotated, for example through an angle of 30°. Since the lug is mounted on this other axis, a rotation of this other axis will cause the lug to rotate, which in the example illustrated tilts downwards. This rotation of the lug will cause it to come into contact with the cam 4 and thus also cause the cam to rotate. The rotation of the cam will cause it to come into contact with the control paddle 5 and therefore activate the other switch 2. The activation of this other switch will cause the signal at output 7 of the other switch to change value. This value can then be communicated to a bus where it can be distributed to a domestic central unit or a data processing unit.Thus the contact status of the contact bank can be communicated without having to intervene in the operation of the contact bank.

Claims

1. Switch (10) comprising an electrical contact bank (1) designed to switch between a first contact state, in which an electric current can flow through the electrical contact bank, and a second contact state, in which the flow of electric current through the electrical contact bank is interrupted, characterized in that it comprises another switch (2), which is separate from the electrical contact bank, which other switch is connected to the electrical contact bank in such a way as to be actuated by a switching of the contact bank from the first contact state to the second contact state, which other switch has an output (7) and is designed to provide said output with an electrical signal indicating the contact state of the other switch (2), the electrical contact bank being accommodated in a housing (6) having an external wall, which connection between the electrical contact bank and the other switch is formed by a transmission element (4), which transmission element is mounted so as to be moved by a switching of the contact bank from the first contact state to the second contact state in order thus to actuate the other switch, the switch (10) having a lug (3), which lug is mounted so as to follow the switching of the contact bank, which transmission element is in contact with said lug (3) in the second contact state, the lug (3) being provided in the contact bank (1), characterized in that the transmission element (4) is mounted between the external wall and the other switch (2) and in that said lug (3) projects from the external wall of the housing (6).

2. Switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transmission element is formed by a cam.

3. Switch according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the other switch is equipped with a control plate (5) positioned on an external face of the other switch, the transmission element being in contact with the control plate.

4. Switch according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the other switch is a microswitch.

5. Switch according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has another housing, inside which the transmission element and the other switch are accommodated.

6. Switch according to Claim 5, characterized in that the output of the other switch is accessible from the outside of the other housing.

7. Switch according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the switch is a differential switch.

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