Electrical contactor with recirculation of ionized gases

Abstract

The invention relates to a contactor (1) comprising one or two electric arc extinguishing zones (5a) each comprising a magnetic blowout device which moves the electric arc (8a) – arising between a fixed contact (4a) and a movable contact (3a) of a movable bridge (2) switching to the open state – toward an electric arc extinguishing block (9a, 9b) comprising a plurality of stacked parallel fins (10). Each extinguishing zone is bounded in particular by two side walls (12a, 12b) each located at a distance from the fins of an electric arc extinguishing block, an upper wall (13) and a lower wall (14) which is located at a distance from the fins of the electric arc extinguishing blocks and is connected to each side wall by a concave connection (15a, 15b) of curved cross-section. The fins of each electric arc extinguishing block are inclined by an angle α of between 30 and 85 degrees with respect to the inner surface (20a, 20b) of the closest side wall.

Description

DESCRIPTION Electric contactor with ionized gas recirculation TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of high voltage direct current contactors, and more particularly that of high voltage direct current contactors comprising electric arc extinguishing fin blocks making it possible to section the electric arc into several arcs.

[0002] The present invention relates to a double-break high-voltage direct current contactor comprising electric arc extinguishing fin blocks allowing the extinction of two electric arcs simultaneously and in which ionized gases at the electric arcs are generated during the break. The present invention relates more particularly to an electric arc extinguishing zone of such a contactor in which means are provided for circulating the ionized gases. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) is a power electronics technology used for the transmission of high voltage direct current electricity.

[0004] High voltage direct current (HVDC) contactors have two electrical contacts that can establish, support, and interrupt an electrically conductive connection for direct currents with a voltage usually in the range of 270 to 3000 volts in the aeronautical or automotive fields. When the contacts separate, electric arcs occur, accompanied by high thermal stresses and difficulties in extinguishing the electrical connection. These problems are even more critical when the electrical voltage is high. It is therefore necessary that these electric arcs extinguish quickly.

[0005] Usually, in current contactors, the extinction of an electric arc is done by moving each electric arc by a magnetic field towards an arc extinction zone comprising blocks of arc extinction fins. This displacement of each electric arc is obtained thanks to the electromagnetic force of Laplace. Each electric arc extinction block comprises a plurality of fins i stacked and spaced apart from each other in order to section the electric arc into several arcs, each circulating in a different fin of the same electric arc extinguishing block. Sectioning the arc increases the arc voltage and thus extinguishes it.

[0006] Each electric arc ionizes the air present in the arc extinguishing zone and also ionizes particles of the internal components of the contactor which are torn off upon contact with the electric arc, which generates gases called cut-off gases. These ionized cut-off gases have an extremely high temperature and therefore present a danger to the internal components of the contactor. In addition, the cut-off gases, after passing through the fins of an electric arc extinguishing block, strike the wall located behind said extinguishing block and tend to return backwards in the direction of the electric arc. This reflux of the cut-off gases striking the external walls of the extinguishing zone then tends to oppose the Laplace force which tends to move the electric arc in the direction of the fins.The force of this reflux being proportional to the power of the arc, in the case of a high power electric arc, the force of this reflux of the cutting gases is likely to prevent such an electric arc from coming into contact with the extinguishing block.

[0007] The electric arc is then not divided and the electrical connection is not extinguished. In addition, due to the pressure and temperature conditions in the extinguishing zone resulting from the formation of the cutting gas, the presence of cutting gas in the extinguishing zone tends to limit the maximum breaking current, in particular to a value below 1000 A.

[0008] This phenomenon is illustrated in Figure 4 which illustrates a first example of a contactor 1' of the prior art at an extinguishing zone 5a' provided in a contactor chamber 23' and delimited in particular by two side walls 12a', 12b' facing each other, by an upper wall 13' and by a lower wall 14' located facing the upper wall 13' and at a distance from the fins 10 of the electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a', 9b'. The two side walls 12a', 12b' are each located in the immediate vicinity of an electric arc extinguishing block 9a', 9b' and each have an internal surface 20a', 20b'. In this contactor 1', each electric arc extinguishing block 9a', 9b' comprises a plurality of fins 10' stacked and spaced apart from each other. Within the same electric 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 which is parallel to the direction of the Laplace force 18a' generated by a magnetic force 7' coming from a magnet or a coil. When an electric arc 8a' appears between a fixed contact 4a' of a fixed terminal 24a' and a movable contact 3a' of a movable bridge 2' passing to the open state, the Laplace force 18a' moves this electric arc 8a' towards an electric arc extinguishing block 9a', 9b'. In Figure 4, it can be clearly seen that the ionized cutting gases 22' generated by the electric arc 8a' are directed towards the side wall 12b', strike the internal surface 20b' thereof, then return back towards the contacts 4a', 3a' between which the electric arc 8a' appeared.These ionized cutting gases 22' thus tend to oppose the movement of the electric arc 8a' towards the electric arc extinguishing block 9a' and are likely to damage the elements present within the extinguishing zone 5a'.

[0009] There is therefore a need to circulate ionized gases.

[0010] As shown in Figure 5, a solution envisaged in the prior art consists of providing a second example of contactor 1", very similar to the first example of contactor 1' of the prior art, but having lateral openings in each extinguishing zone 5a' facing and close to the electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a', 9b', so as to allow the ionized cutting gases 22' to be expelled outside the contactor chamber 23'. In the prior solution shown in Figure 5, the lateral openings are made by simply removing the usual side walls 12a', 12b'. More elaborate solutions can be envisaged to create these lateral openings. It can nevertheless be seen that the projection of ionized cutting gases 22' outside the contactor chamber 23' presents a danger for the equipment installed next to the contactor 1".With this solution, it is therefore necessary to provide an exclusion zone which prohibits the placement of other equipment next to the 1" contactor. This exclusion zone, which can be of the order of several centimeters, constrains the integration of the 1" contactor, and is particularly disadvantageous in certain fields, notably that of aeronautics where a high volume represents a critical constraint.

[0011] In the field of multi-pole air-break electrical circuit breakers, where similar ionized cut-off gas problems can arise at high currents, another solution disclosed by the documents EP 3 179 497 A1 and EP 0 437151 A1 consist of equipping said circuit breakers with a device for cooling and deionizing the ionized cut-off gases before they are discharged outside the circuit breakers. The equipment installed next to the circuit breakers is then protected from the ionized cut-off gases, but the device used to cool and deionize the cut-off gases considerably increases the cost, volume and mass of the circuit breakers, which is restrictive, and even more so in the aeronautics field where it is desired to use equipment with minimal volume and mass.

[0012] Current solutions are therefore not satisfactory. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The invention provides a solution to the problems mentioned above, by allowing ionized gases to circulate in an extinguishing zone without having to provide lateral openings for the expulsion of the ionized cutting gases, nor a device for cooling and deionizing the cutting gases before their discharge to the outside.

[0014] While prior solutions encourage the skilled person to expel the ionized cutting gases outside the contactor so that their flow does not oppose the electromagnetic force aimed at directing the electric arc towards the fins of the electric arc extinguishing blocks, the solution of the invention consists on the contrary in deflecting these cutting gases towards the inside of the contactor, but in such a way that their flow does not return backwards after having struck the side walls of the electric arc extinguishing zones.

[0015] An additional effect is achieved by the invention in that the flow of cutting gas can be diverted towards the electric arc along a return loop path, in order to cross the electric arc towards the electric arc extinguishing blocks, so as to additionally accelerate the electric arc towards the electric arc sectioning fins, thus reinforcing the Laplace force already fulfilling this role and reinforcing the safety role of the electric arc extinguishing device.

[0016] One aspect of the invention relates to a double-break contactor comprising: a contactor chamber comprising: a movable bridge between a closed state and an open state, comprising a first movable contact and a second movable contact, a first fixed contact opposite the first movable contact, and a second fixed contact opposite the second movable contact, at least one electric arc extinguishing zone, each comprising two electric arc extinguishing blocks located opposite each other on either side of the movable bridge and each comprising a plurality of fins each extending along a longitudinal axis, in which: the contactor chamber is closed;each electric arc extinguishing zone is delimited in particular by: two facing side walls each located on the side of an electric arc extinguishing block and at a distance from the fins thereof, each having an internal surface, an upper wall located on the side of a fixed contact, and a lower wall located opposite the upper wall, at a distance from the fins of the electric arc extinguishing blocks and connected to each side wall by a connection having a concave internal surface of curved section; and the fins of each electric arc extinguishing block are inclined so that their longitudinal axis forms an angle a of between 30 degrees and 85 degrees relative to the internal surface of the nearest side wall.;

[0017] The fins are spaced from the side walls and the bottom wall at least by a distance of between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0018] The angle a is oriented such that the fin edge closest to a side wall is closer to the bottom wall than to the top wall.

[0019] Due to the inclination of the fins relative to the inner surface of the nearest side wall, after hitting the said wall, the ionized cutting gases are directed towards the lower wall. Since the side walls are located at a distance from the fins of the nearest electric arc extinguishing block, there is a free volume located between these walls and the fins of the extinguishing blocks, which advantageously allows the flow of ionized cutting gases to circulate freely towards the lower wall, without returning backwards. When it arrives in the immediate vicinity of the lower wall, this flow is deflected by a concave internal surface of curved section towards the opposite side wall to return towards the middle part of the electric arc extinguishing zone. During this journey, the ionized cutting gases have time to cool and deionize, and therefore no longer represent a danger for the components located at the heart of the extinguishing zone. The inclination of the fins reduces the volume they occupy towards the side walls, which substantially compensates for the additional volume required between the side walls and the extinguishing blocks, this volume being largely exaggerated in Figures 6 to 8 for reasons of clarity of the figures.

[0020] Thus, by the new circulation path that it imposes on the flow of ionized cutting gases, the contactor according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to neutralize the danger represented by the ionized cutting gases, without having to obviously increase the volume or mass of said contactor, nor having to provide an exclusion zone which prohibits the placement of other equipment next to the contactor.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the angle α is between 60 degrees and 80 degrees.

[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, the contactor comprises at least one magnetic field emitting device of constant direction, generating a magnetic force which exerts a Laplace electromagnetic force capable of moving - in the direction of an electric arc extinguishing block - an electric arc appearing between a fixed contact and a movable contact of the movable bridge passing from the closed state to the open state, and the side walls extend along a plane orthogonal to the orientation of the Laplace electromagnetic force generated by the magnetic field emitting device.

[0023] According to a further aspect of the invention, the electric arc extinguishing blocks are parallel to each other.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the side walls and the electric arc extinguishing blocks are parallel.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, each connection having a concave internal surface of curved section has a radius of curvature R1 of between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0026] The geometric specificities previously described advantageously allow the circulation of the flow of ionized cutting gases according to the path desired for the invention, while minimizing the mass and volume of the contactor.

[0027] According to a further aspect of the invention, each electric arc extinguishing zone comprises two parallel deflectors which each extend inside the electric arc extinguishing zone from the lower wall and towards the movable bridge, each deflector being connected to the lower wall, on the side of the nearest electric arc extinguishing block, by another connection having a concave internal surface of curved section.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, each electric arc extinguishing zone comprises a single deflector which extends inside the electric arc extinguishing zone from the bottom wall and towards the movable bridge, the single deflector being connected to the bottom wall by two other connections provided in a mirror and having a concave internal surface of curved section.

[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, each of the other links having a concave internal surface of curved section has a radius of curvature R2 of between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0030] These deflectors and their geometry advantageously allow the flow of cutting gases to be redirected along a loop path in order to make it cross the electric arc towards the electric arc extinguishing blocks. Thus, the flow of cutting gases adds to the Laplace force to ensure that the electric arc is properly moved towards the electric arc sectioning fins.

[0031] According to a further aspect of the invention, the deflectors and the arc extinguishing blocks are parallel, which further encourages the flow of cutting gases to follow the previously described loop path. In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the contactor according to one aspect of the invention may have one or more additional characteristics among the following, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations: In the closed state of the movable bridge, the first and second movable contacts are in contact with the first and second fixed contacts respectively, and in the open state of the movable bridge, the first and second movable contacts are spaced apart from the first and second fixed contacts respectively, Within the same electric arc extinguishing block, the fins are stacked, spaced apart from each other and parallel. Each electric arc extinguishing zone comprises two arc guides located opposite each other and each located between an electric arc extinguishing block and a moving contact. The distance between the inner surface of a side wall and the fins of the nearest arc extinguishing block is between 3 mm and 20 mm. When each arc extinguishing zone includes a single deflector, the latter is located midway between each of the arc extinguishing blocks. The bottom wall has an internal face, and each baffle extends perpendicular to this internal face.

[0032] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0033] The figures are presented for information purposes only and in no way limit the invention.

[0034] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a contactor comprising two electric arc extinguishing zones, each comprising two electric arc extinguishing blocks.

[0035] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is an overall plan schematic view of a contactor comprising a single electric arc extinguishing zone comprising two electric arc extinguishing blocks.

[0036] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a contactor along axis III-III of Figure 1.

[0037] [Fig. 4] Figure 4 is a sectional view along axis IV-IV of Figure 1 of a prior art contactor in which the ionized cutting gases tend to return backward to oppose the Laplace force which directs the electric arc towards the fins.

[0038] [Fig. 5] The figure is a sectional view along axis IV-IV of Figure 1 of a prior art contactor in which the ionized cutting gases are expelled outside the contactor chamber.

[0039] [Fig. 6] Figure 6 is a sectional view along axis IV-IV of Figure 1 of a contactor of the invention not comprising a deflector.

[0040] [Fig. 7] Figure 7 is a sectional view along axis IV-IV of Figure 1 of a contactor of the invention in which each electric arc extinguishing zone comprises two back-to-back deflectors.

[0041] [Fig. 8] Figure 8 is a sectional view along axis IV-IV of Figure 1 of a contactor of the invention in which each electric arc extinguishing zone comprises a single deflector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The figures are presented for information purposes only and in no way limit the invention.

[0043] The terms front, rear, upper and lower used in this description are terms chosen arbitrarily for the purpose of simplifying the writing and do not necessarily correspond to reality, but rather to the position of the contactors shown in the figures, it being understood that in use, the contactor 1 of the invention can adopt any orientation and position.

[0044] The double-break contactor 1 of the invention is preferably a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) contactor. The principle of the invention can, however, be adapted to any type of contactor, including all switches and all circuit breakers in which electric arcs are likely to be generated.

[0045] Conventionally, the contactor 1 of the invention comprises a movable bridge 2 comprising a first movable contact 3a and a second movable contact 3b, a first fixed terminal 24a comprising a first fixed contact 4a and a second fixed terminal 24b comprising a second fixed contact 4b. The first movable contact 3a is opposite the first fixed contact 4a and the second movable contact 3b is opposite the second fixed contact 4b. Depending on how the contactor is electrically connected 1 , one of the fixed terminals 24a, 24b is a positive pole terminal while the other is a negative pole terminal. In the figures, the first fixed terminal 24a is a positive pole terminal while the second fixed terminal 24b is a negative pole terminal.

[0046] When the movable bridge 2 is in the closed state, a current / moves from the first fixed contact 4a to the second fixed contact 4b through the movable bridge 2. Of course, the electrical flow of current / can be reversed in such a way that the current / moves from the second fixed contact 4b to the first fixed contact 4a by crossing the movable bridge 2.

[0047] Figures 1 to 3 represent the movable bridge 2 in the open state. In these figures, the flow of current I is symbolized by a succession of white arrows. When the movable bridge 2 is opened, the movable contacts 3a, 3b are moved away from the fixed contacts 4a, 4b and a first electric arc 8a is likely to appear between the first movable contact 3a and the first fixed contact 4a while a second electric arc 8b is likely to appear between the first movable contact 3b and the first fixed contact 4b.

[0048] In order to quickly extinguish these electric arcs 8a, 8b, in a conventional manner, the contactor 1 of the invention comprises an arc blowing device provided to deflect each electric arc 8a, 8b towards an electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. This arc blowing device is housed in a contactor chamber 23 forming a closed enclosure. The fixed contacts 4a, 4b and the movable contacts 3a, 3b are also located in the contactor chamber 23.

[0049] The contactor chamber 23 is delimited by: two side walls 12a, 12b located opposite each other and each having an internal surface 20a, 20b, an upper wall 13 located on the side of the fixed contacts 4a, 4b, a lower wall 14 located on the side of the movable contacts 3a, 3b opposite the upper wall 13, a front wall 19a located on the side of the first fixed terminal 24a, and a rear wall 19b located on the side of the second fixed terminal 24b opposite the front wall 19a.

[0050] The arc blowing device comprises at least one magnetic field emitting device 6a, 6b of constant direction, generating a magnetic force 7. This magnetic field emitting device 6a, 6b may for example comprise one or more magnets and / or one or more coils. The magnetic force 7 generated by the magnetic field emitting device 6a, 6b exerts a Laplace electromagnetic force 18a, 18b on each electric arc 8a, 8b so as to move it in the direction of the nearest electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. These movements may be guided by two arc guides 11a, 11b located opposite each other and each located between an electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and a movable contact 3a, 3b.

[0051] The electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are provided in pairs and located opposite each other on either side of the movable bridge 2. Each electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d comprises a plurality of stacked fins 10, parallel and spaced apart from each other, having the role of dividing each electric arc 8a, 8b into several smaller electric arcs, and therefore easier to extinguish. The electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are preferably parallel to each other. Within the same electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d the fins 10 each extend along a longitudinal axis Xa, Xb.

[0052] The contactor chamber 23 comprises at least one electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, 5b comprising two electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and two arc guides 11a, 11b.

[0053] In Figure 1 is shown a type of contactor 1 comprising two electric arc extinguishing zones 5a, 5b, and consequently comprising four electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and four arc guides 11a, 11b. These two electric arc extinguishing zones 5a, 5b can be separated by a single separating wall or by two separating walls 25a, 25b located between the two pairs of electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0054] In Figure 2 is shown a type of contactor 1 comprising a single electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, and consequently comprising two electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b and two arc guides 11a, 11b.

[0055] In these two variants, the arc blowing device and the principle of circulation of ionized cutting gases according to the invention operate in the same mode.

[0056] The contactor 1 of the invention is characterized in particular in that the contactor chamber 23 is closed, so that the ionized cutting gases 22 generated by each electric arc 8a, 8b cannot exit said contactor chamber 23. In fact, by closed enclosure, we mean a closed enclosure not having in particular an opening through which ionized cutting gases 22 could pass to exit outside the contactor chamber 23.

[0057] The contactor 1 of the invention is also characterized in that the two facing side walls 12a, 12b are each located at a distance from the nearest electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, so that the internal surface 20a, 20b of each side wall 12a, 12b is provided at a distance from the fins 10 of the nearest electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. The distance between the internal surface 20a, 20b of a side wall 12a, 12b and the fins 10 of the nearest electric arc extinguishing block 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 along a plane orthogonal to the orientation of the Laplace electromagnetic force 18a, 18b generated by the magnetic field emitting device 6a, 6b. The side walls 12a, 12b and the electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are preferably parallel.

[0058] Likewise, the lower wall 14 located opposite the upper wall 13 is located at a distance of between 3 mm and 20 mm from the fins 10 of the electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. The lower wall 14 is connected to each side wall 12a, 12b by a connection 15a, 15b having a concave internal surface 21a, 21b of curved section. Each connection 15a, 15b having a concave internal surface 21a, 21b of curved section preferably has a radius of curvature R1 of between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0059] The contactor 1 of the invention is also characterized in that the fins 10 of each electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are inclined so that their longitudinal axis Xa, Xb forms an angle a of between 30 degrees and 85 degrees relative to the internal surface 20a, 20b of the nearest side wall 12a, 12b. The angle a is preferably between 60 degrees and 80 degrees.

[0060] Thanks to the invention, by crossing inclined fins 10, the flow of ionized cutting gases 22 generated by each electric arc 8a, 8b is directed obliquely towards the side wall 12a, 12b towards which each electric arc 8a, 8b is moved. Thus, the axis of movement of the flow of ionized cutting gases 22 forms an angle of between 30 degrees and 85 degrees relative to the internal surface 20a, 20b of the side wall 12a, 12b towards which it is directed, this angle corresponding to the angle a of inclination of the fins 10. The flow of ionized cutting gases 22 does not strike the internal surface 20a, 20b of the side wall 12a, 12b orthogonally, it does not return backwards, but is on the contrary deflected towards the lower wall 14, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.The flow of ionized cutting gas 22 follows a path along a free space provided first between the electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and the nearest side wall 12a, 12b, then provided between the electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and the lower wall 14, to return to the core of the electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, 5b, preferably between the electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d of the same pair.

[0061] According to a variant of the invention, each electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, 5b may comprise one or more deflectors 16a, 16b which each extend inside said electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, 5b from the lower wall 14 and in the direction of the movable bridge 2, preferably perpendicular to the internal face 26 of said lower wall 14.

[0062] Each deflector 16a, 16b is provided to further deflect the path of the flow of ionized cutting gases 22 along the lower wall 14 so as to direct it towards the upper wall 13 and towards the electric arc 8a, 8b. Thus, the dynamic force of the flow of ionized cutting gases 22 is added to the Laplace electromagnetic force aimed at moving each electric arc 8a, 8b towards an electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0063] According to a variant of the invention shown in Figure 7, each electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, 5b comprises two parallel deflectors 16a, 16b which each extend inside the electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, 5b from the lower wall 14 and in the direction of the movable bridge 2. Each deflector 16a, 16b is then connected to the lower wall 14, on the side of the closest electric arc extinguishing block 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, by another connection 17a, 17b having a concave internal surface 27a, 27b of curved section. These other concave connections 17a, 17b of curved section preferably each have a radius of curvature R2 of between 3 mm and 20 mm.

[0064] According to another variant of the invention shown in Figure 8, each electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, 5b comprises a single deflector 16c which extends inside the electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, 5b from the lower wall 14 and towards the movable bridge 2. The single deflector 16c is then connected to the lower wall 14 by two other concave connections 17c, 17d provided in a mirror and having a concave internal surface 27c, 27d of curved section, with a radius of curvature R2 preferably between 3 mm and 20 mm. The single deflector 16c is preferably located midway between each of the electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0065] Having a single deflector 16c per electric arc extinguishing zone 5a, 5b advantageously makes it possible to simplify and lighten the contactor 1, while having two deflectors 16a, 16b makes it possible to easily provide each of these deflectors 16a, 16b at the desired distance from the electric arc extinguishing blocks 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0066] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different figures has a single reference.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Double-break contactor (1) comprising: - a contactor chamber (23) comprising: o a movable bridge (2) between a closed state and an open state, comprising a first movable contact (3a) and a second movable contact (3b), o a first fixed contact (4a) opposite the first movable contact (3a), and o a second fixed contact (4b) opposite the second movable contact (3b), o at least one electric arc extinguishing zone (5a, 5b), each comprising two electric arc extinguishing blocks (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) located opposite each other on either side of the movable bridge (2) and each comprising a plurality of fins (10) each extending along a longitudinal axis (Xa, Xb), - characterized in that: - the contactor chamber (23) is closed; - each electric arc extinguishing zone (5a, 5b) is delimited in particular by: o two side walls (12a, 12b) facing each other, each located on the side of an electric arc extinguishing block (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) and at a distance from the fins (10) thereof, each having an internal surface (20a, 20b), o an upper wall (13) located on the side of a fixed contact (4a, 4b), and o a lower wall (14) located opposite the upper wall (13), at a distance from the fins (10) of the electric arc extinguishing blocks (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) and connected to each side wall (12a, 12b) by a connection (15a, 15b) having a concave internal surface (21a, 21b) of curved section; in that - the fins (10) are spaced from the side walls (12a, 12b) and the bottom wall (14) at least by a distance of between 3 mm and 20 mm, and in that - the fins (10) of each electric arc extinguishing block (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) are inclined so that their longitudinal axis (Xa, Xb) forms an angle a of between 30 degrees and 85 degrees with respect to the internal surface (20a, 20b) of the nearest side wall (12a, 12b), where the angle a is oriented such that the edge of the fins (10) closest to a side wall (12a, 12b) is closer to the bottom wall (14) than to the top wall (13).

2. Contactor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle a is between 60 degrees and 80 degrees. [Claim s] Contactor (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one magnetic field emitting device (6a, 6b) of constant direction, generating a magnetic force (7) which exerts a Laplace electromagnetic force (18a, 18b) capable of moving - in the direction of an electric arc extinguishing block (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) - an electric arc (8a, 8b) appearing between a fixed contact (4a, 4b) and a movable contact (3a, 3b) of the movable bridge (2) passing from the closed state to the open state, and in that the side walls (12a, 12b) extend along a plane orthogonal to the orientation of the Laplace electromagnetic force (18a, 18b) generated by the magnetic field emitting device (6a, 6b).

4. Contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric arc extinguishing blocks (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) are parallel to each other. [Claim s] Contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls (12a, 12b) and the electric arc extinguishing blocks (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) are parallel.

6. Contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each connection (15a, 15b) having a concave internal surface (21a, 21b) of curved section has a radius of curvature R1 of between 3 mm and 20 mm.

7. Contactor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each electric arc extinguishing zone (5a, 5b) comprises two parallel deflectors (16a, 16b) which each extend inside the electric arc extinguishing zone (5a, 5b) from the lower wall (14) and in the direction of the movable bridge (2), each deflector (16a, 16b) being connected to the lower wall (14), on the side of the electric arc extinguishing block (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) closest, by another connection (17a, 17b) having a concave internal surface (27a, 27b) of curved section.

8. Contactor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each electric arc extinguishing zone (5a, 5b) comprises a single deflector (16c) which extends inside the electric arc extinguishing zone (5a, 5b) from the lower wall (14) and in the direction of the movable bridge (2), the single deflector (16c) being connected to the lower wall (14) by two other links (17c, 17d) provided in a mirror and having a concave internal surface (27c, 27d) of curved section.

9. Contactor (1) according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that each of the other connections (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d) having a concave internal surface (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d) of curved section has a radius of curvature R2 of between 3 mm and 20 mm.

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

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