Rotating electromechanical systems and electrical switching devices

Abstract

To provide a rotary segment electromechanical system and an electric switching device including the same, capable of performing direct rotary motion limited by a rotation angle of up to 45°, thereby capable of providing torque performance suitable for a contact system of an electromechanical relay.SOLUTION: An electromechanical system 100 comprises: a pair of pole members 150 and 160 having respective first ends 152 and 162 arranged outside respective first and second coils 110 and 120; and a rotation member 170 arranged between the pole members. The rotating member has a pair of lobes 172 and 174 that can be rotated about a central axis aligned along an intersection of a plane parallel to the first end and a plane transverse to a first coil axis by magnetic actuation applied by the pole member. The pole member and the rotating member are configured with a reluctance boost shaped profile that increases the actuating magnetic force applied to the rotating member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to electromechanical systems, and more particularly to rotating electromechanical systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Electromechanical systems are usually used to operate contactors and relays, as they present several advantages, such as simplicity of design and operational reliability, compared to other types of actuation systems. In general, a typical type of conventional electromechanical system comprises a magnetic circuit, which has an iron core, a magnetic yoke, an armature, and an excitation coil, which serves to apply a magnetic flux to the magnetic circuit by supplying an excitation current. The elements of the magnetic circuit are generally designed and arranged relative to each other, so that the magnetic flux generated by the excited coil is guided through the magnetic circuit to apply an attractive force to each side of the armature, thereby moving or rotating the armature in the direction of the attractive force. Thus, by controlling the sign and the strength of the external current supplied to the excitation coil, it is possible to induce a switching operation of the armature between different states.

[0003] Several types of electromechanical systems are commercially available, having different arrangements and designs of the basic magnetic circuit and excitation coil.

[0004] Rotary electric machine systems have advantages for use in certain applications where improved operating torque and stability, such as those provided by ball-rotating and tilting rotary electric machine systems, respectively, are desirable. For example, a ball-rotating rotary electromagnetic system is described in International Patent Application Publication No. WO2018 / 234142(A1). In this known electromagnetic system, the rush of an iron core through a conventional solenoid configuration is converted into the rotational motion of an armature via an additional mechanical element (ball) moving on an inclined plane (curved path). The electromagnetic system includes a magnetic yoke, a coil, a lower iron core, an upper plate, an upper iron core, an armature, a magnetic isolation ring that magnetically isolates the upper iron core from the upper plate, and a plurality of balls. The upper iron core can move in a vertical direction relative to the magnetic isolation ring. A plurality of first curved grooves are formed on the bottom surface of the armature, and a plurality of second curved grooves are formed on the top surface of the upper plate, each corresponding to a plurality of first curved grooves. The balls can roll in the first curved groove and the corresponding second curved groove. The depth of each first curved groove gradually deepens from the first end to the second end, so that the force exerted by the balls on the armature, inclined with respect to the central axis of the upper core, drives the armature to rotate about a central axis parallel to the vertical direction. Thus, the linear motion of the core is converted into the rotary motion of the armature by the movement of the balls on the inclined plane defined by the curved path of the grooves. This means that the transmission ratio between the vertical motion of the core and the rotary motion of the armature is very large, so that extremely precise parts must be available. On the other hand, since the linear motion of the core is converted into rotation by using additional mechanical parts, this design may exhibit very high gear ratios and therefore may require that extremely precise parts be available. The extreme demands on the accuracy of the individual parts and of the manufacturing may not be met in practice or may not be justified for all applications. Moreover, the functioning of this design is strongly dependent on the mounting direction, since the balls may lose their position, especially in the lateral assembly position. This may result in malfunctions.

[0005] Thus, a need remains for a rotating electric machine system having a design that can provide direct rotary actuation of the armature using minimal additional mechanical parts, thereby resulting in a design that is more robust than conventional rotating electric machine systems. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the shortcomings and drawbacks of the prior art, and has an object to provide an electromechanical system for an electrical switching device that can provide direct rotary actuation of an armature with a rotational motion limited by a desired maximum rotation angle, thereby providing suitable torque performance for a contact system of an electromechanical relay, such as a DC power switch. A further object is to provide an electrical switching device including the electromechanical system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0008] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rotating segment electromechanical system for an electrical switching device, the electromechanical system comprising an excitation coil assembly including a first coil and a second coil configured to generate respective magnetic fields in response to respective excitation currents, and a magnetic system configured to provide magnetic flux paths that follow the flux lines of the magnetic fields generated by the excitation coil assembly, the magnetic system including a first pole member disposed above the first coil and a second pole member disposed above the second coil, the first pole member and the second pole member being parallel to each other and aligned with a first coil axis. and a rotating member having a first lobe and a second lobe disposed between the first and second pole members and configured to perform a rotational motion about a central axis aligned along an intersection of a plane parallel to the first ends and a plane transverse to the first coil axis, the first ends of the first and second pole members being configured, upon excitation of an excitation coil assembly, to direct magnetic field lines generated by the first and second coils toward the first and second lobes, respectively, of the rotating member and to produce a resultant magnetic force that causes the first and second lobes to perform a rotational motion toward the respective first and second pole members.

[0009] According to a further development, the first coil and the second coil are aligned with their respective coil axes parallel to each other and spaced apart by a given separation distance, and / or at least one of the first ends of the first pole member and the second pole member and a lobe of the rotating member opposite said first end are designed with a matching reluctance-boost shape contour configured to reduce reluctance when the respective lobe contacts the first end during rotational motion.

[0010] According to a further development, the reluctance boost shape profile of at least one first end has the shape of a step recess with curved side walls defined by a circular segment of a given length in a plane transverse to the central axis, and the matching reluctance boost shape profile of the opposing lobe has complementary curved side walls such that overlapping contact between the opposing lobe and the first end gradually increases until the rotational movement stops at a predetermined rotation angle.

[0011] According to further developments, the rotational movement stops at a predefined maximum rotation angle at which full overlapping contact of the matching reluctance boost shape profile of the opposing lobes and the first end occurs, and / or the length and radius of the circular segment of the reluctance boost shape profile are configured to limit the rotational movement performed by the rotating member to a maximum rotation angle of 45° or less.

[0012] According to a further development, the magnetic system further includes a permanent magnet provided at at least one of the first ends of the first and second pole members, the permanent magnet being arranged opposite a respective lobe of the rotating member and being magnetically polarized to reduce reluctance across a separation gap between the first end at which the permanent magnet is located and the opposing lobe.

[0013] According to a further development, the reluctance boost shape profile is provided on only one of the first pole member and the first portion of the second pole member, and a permanent magnet is provided on the other of the first pole member and the first portion of the second pole member.

[0014] According to further developments, the rotating member is configured to assume an open state, which is a rotational orientation in which the first and second lobes are separated from the first ends of the first and second pole members, respectively, by their respective maximum separation gaps, when the excitation coil assembly is not excited, and / or the rotating member is configured to rotate a predetermined rotation angle to a closed state, when the excitation coil assembly is excited with a given excitation current, in which one of the first and second lobes of the rotating member fully abuts the opposing first ends of the respective first and second pole members.

[0015] According to a further development, the predetermined rotation angle is less than or equal to 45°.

[0016] According to a further development, each of the first pole member and the second pole member has a second end that penetrates into the internal space of each of the first coil and the second coil from the upper side of each of the first coil and the second coil.

[0017] According to a further development, at least one of the first pole member and the second pole member has a U-shape with a downward leg disposed against an upper side of the first coil and the second coil, the leg including a first end extending outside the first coil and the second coil.

[0018] According to a further development, the magnetic system further includes a main core arranged under the first coil and the second coil and configured to connect the first pole member to the second pole member, the main core, the first pole member, the rotating member and the second pole member forming the magnetic flux path provided by the magnetic system.

[0019] According to a further development, the main core has a U-shape formed by a central region and a pair of first and second legs extending upwardly from each side of the central region, the first leg penetrating the internal space of the first coil from the underside thereof and the second leg penetrating the internal space of the second coil from the underside thereof and extending upwardly until it contacts the second ends of the first and second pole members, respectively.

[0020] According to a further development, the magnetic system further includes an auxiliary core configured to increase the confinement of the magnetic flux lines within the internal space of the first coil and the second coil, the auxiliary core being configured to extend along the axial length of the first coil and the second coil and inside the main core, the main core and / or the auxiliary core can be formed as an integral piece or as multiple pieces magnetically coupled to each other, and / or the main core and / or the auxiliary core are formed from soft iron in solid or laminated form, and / or the rotating member is formed from soft iron.

[0021] There is further provided in accordance with the present invention an electrical switching device comprising a rotating segment electromechanical system.

[0022] According to a further development, the electrical switching device is a contactor or a relay.

[0023] The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification for the purpose of explaining the principles of the invention, and are not to be construed as limiting the invention, being merely illustrative and describing examples of how the invention can be made and used.

[0024] Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following more detailed description of the invention, which illustrates the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rotating segment electromechanical system in an open state with a reluctance boost profile on the poles in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the rotating segment electromechanical system shown in FIG. 1 (i.e., a cross-sectional view taken along a plane parallel to the coordinate axes Z and X shown in FIG. 1). [Diagram 3] 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the electromechanical system shown in FIG. 1 in contact with a rotating member of the electromechanical system and an opposing pole member. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of box A shown in FIG. 3, illustrating the inherent reluctance boost geometry of the rotating member and opposing pole member, as well as a schematic of the force components of the resultant reluctance force (Fr) acting on the rotating member. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a rotating segment electromechanical system in an open state according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the electromechanical system shown in FIG. 5 in contact with a rotating member of the electromechanical system and an opposing pole member. [Figure 7] 13 is a side cross-sectional view of an electromechanical system in an open state according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the electromechanical system shown in FIG. 7 in contact with a rotating member of the electromechanical system and an opposing pole member. [Figure 9] 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view (i.e., a cross-sectional view taken across the XY plane) of the electromechanical system shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0027] The general concept underlying the present invention is to provide a rotating segment electromechanical system having a magnetic system with a rotating member, e.g., a rotor made of soft iron, performing a rotational motion with a maximum rotation angle limited only by the pole plate within a special arrangement of magnetic yokes and pole plates. The electromechanical system further comprises an excitation coil assembly having two coil towers carrying pairs of coil windings, each coil winding wound on a respective tower by flyer winding or other suitable coil winding techniques known in the art to generate magnetic fields in opposite directions. At least one of the rotating member and the pole plate is designed with a special geometry, hereinafter referred to as a reluctance boost shape profile, designed such that the torque generated on the rotating member when the coil is excited matches the force curve of a conventional hinged armature magnet system, and can specifically map the high force requirements of the overtravel region of the contacts.

[0028] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rotating segment electromechanical system 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For ease of reference, the direction of the Z-axis of the XYZ coordinate axis system shown in FIG. 1 is hereinafter referred to as the vertical direction. However, the following description of the present invention and exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limited to use in any particular orientation, such as a vertical orientation defined by gravity.

[0029] The rotating segment electromechanical system 100 includes an excitation coil assembly that generates a magnetic field when excited by an external excitation current (not shown). With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the excitation coil assembly includes a first coil 110 and a second coil 120 that are aligned parallel to each other with their respective coil axes and spaced apart transversely to the coil axis by a spacing region 130. The term "coil axis" is used herein to refer to the axis of symmetry of the coils that passes through the center of the first coil 110 (or second coil 120) and is aligned along the Z-axis as shown in Figure 1.

[0030] The first coil 110 is a set of windings wound on a first coil support or tower 115 of the support 140 of the electromechanical system 100. Similarly, the second coil 120 is a set of windings wound on a second vertical tower 116 of the support 140. The windings of the first coil 110 are wound in an opposite direction to the windings of the second coil 120 to generate magnetic field lines at the interior center of the first coil 110 that preferably point in the opposite direction to the magnetic field lines generated at the interior center of the second coil 120 by the second coil 120 when both the first coil 110 and the second coil are excited by the same excitation current or separate excitation currents of the same polarity. The first coil 110 and the second coil 120 may be connected in series or in parallel to be excited by a common power source (not shown). In an alternative configuration, the first coil 110 and the second coil 120 can be excited by separate excitation currents, with the direction and strength of the magnetic field generated by each coil being determined by the respective excitation current. The first coil 110 and the second coil 120 preferably have similar characteristics, such as number of turns, impedance, coil length and cross section, so that they can generate magnetic fields of similar strength using the same excitation current.

[0031] Additionally, the electromechanical system 100 includes a magnetic system that provides selective magnetic flux paths that follow the magnetic flux lines generated by the excitation coil assembly, as described below with reference to FIGS. 2-4.

[0032] 2, the magnetic system includes a pair of poles (hereinafter referred to as first pole member 150 and second pole member 160) spaced apart above the first coil 110 and second coil 120, respectively. The first pole member 150 and second pole member 160 are configured to pass magnetic flux lines generated by the first coil 110 and second coil 120, respectively, from above the coils 120, 130 into the spacing region 130, thereby providing magnetic poles of opposite polarity at their respective first ends 152, 162.

[0033] In addition, the magnetic system 130 includes a rotating member 170, which is disposed in the spacing region 130 between the first coil 110 and the second coil 120 and can rotate due to the resultant magnetic attraction forces from the first ends 152, 162 of the first pole member 150 and the second pole member 160 for a given excitation current. The first ends 152, 162 of the pole members 150, 160 are configured to extend parallel to each other and parallel to the coil axis, i.e., perpendicularly (i.e., Z-axis direction in FIG. 2 ), outside the respective first coil 110 and second coil 120 in which the pole members 150, 160 are disposed.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating member 170 is disposed between the first ends 152, 162 at the intermediate position of the spacing region 130 and is mounted to rotate about a central axis C extending substantially along the intersection of a vertical plane parallel to both the first ends 152, 162 and a horizontal plane transverse to the coil axis. To facilitate the rotational movement, the rotating member 170 can be supported by two suitable bearings 171 (slide bearings, ball bearings, etc.). The rotating member 170 is also designed with a cross-sectional shape (cross-section taken on a vertical plane transverse to the central axis C) including a central region 176 (centered on the central axis C) and a pair of lobes 172, 174, the pair of lobes 172, 174 being disposed diametrically opposite each other with respect to the central region 176 and having respective end faces oriented to face the first ends 152, 162 of the first pole member 150 and the second pole member 160, respectively. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first lobe 172 and the second lobe 174 preferably have mirrored contour shapes.

[0035] In addition, since the first pole member 150 is configured to primarily interact with the first lobe 174 of the rotating member 170 at the upper part of the rotating member 170 (i.e., the part above the horizontal plane including the central axis C) in the open state, the first end 152 extends downward from above the first coil 110 within the spacing region 130, along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the first coil 110, and is disposed between the first coil 110 and one side (the left side in FIG. 2 ) of the rotating member 170, e.g., reaching the horizontal plane including the central axis C, thereby substantially covering the length of the first lobe 174.

[0036] The second pole member 160 is designed to mainly interact with the lower lobe 172 of the rotating member 170, which is below the horizontal plane containing the central axis C in the open state. Thus, the first end 162 of the second pole member 160 extends along the outside of the second coil 120 into the spacing region 130 and is arranged to be located on the right side of the rotating member 170. Furthermore, in order to completely overlap the length of the lower lobe 172, the first end 162 of the second pole member 160 extends a longer distance than the first end 152 of the first pole member 15, for example, to the end of the lower lobe 172 in the open state.

[0037] The open state corresponds to a rotational state of the rotating member 170 in which the first lobe 172 and the second lobe 174 are not in mechanical contact with the first pole member 110 and the second pole member 120. Furthermore, each of the lobes 172, 174 is separated from the first ends 152, 162 of the first pole member 110 and the second pole member 120, respectively, by a maximum separation gap that can be achieved during the entire rotational movement of the rotating member 170. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the lobes 172, 174 are diametrically opposed with respect to a horizontal plane XY that contains the central axis C. Thus, the open state corresponds to a rotational state in which a maximum reluctance (magnetic resistance) exists between the rotating member 170 and each of the first pole member 110 and the second pole member 120.

[0038] When the first coil 110 and the second coil 120 are excited by an excitation current of a given sign and sufficient strength, the magnetic flux lines of the magnetic field B generated by the first coil 110 and the second coil 120 are directed in opposite directions by the first ends 152, 162 to the first lobe 172 and the second lobe 174 of the rotating member 170, as shown in Figure 3. The resultant magnetic forces exerted by the first ends 152, 162 on the first lobe 172 and the second lobe 174 of the rotating member 170 cause the rotating member 170 to rotate about the central axis C towards one of the pole members 150, 160 (counterclockwise in the example of Figure 3) until it reaches a rotational state where the left lobe 174 is in mechanical contact with the first end 152 of the attracting pole member 150.

[0039] The shapes of, and the distance between, the pole members 150, 160 and the rotating member 170 are selected to reduce the reluctance along the portion of the magnetic flux path formed by the pole members 150, 160, the rotating member 170 and the separating gaps therebetween, and thus increase the resultant magnetic attractive forces acting on one or both of the first lobe 172 and the second lobe 174 at the initiation of contact, as will be described below.

[0040] To enhance the effect of the torque produced by the generated magnetic field on the rotating member 170, at least one of the pole members 150, 160 and their respective opposing lobes 174 or 172 are designed to increase the magnetic attraction between them when the coil assembly is energized.

[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first ends 152, 162 of the first and second pole members 150, 160 and the respective lobes 174, 172 of the rotating member 170 are designed with a compatible reluctance boost geometric profile that is specifically designed to reduce reluctance when the respective lobes contact the first ends during rotational motion.

[0042] For example, referring to FIG. 4, the first end 152 includes a recess 154 having a step shape with a curved sidewall 156 defined by a circular segment of a given length and radius in a plane transverse to the central axis C. In addition, the adaptive reluctance boost shape profile of the opposing lobe 174 has a complementary curved sidewall 175 at the lobe end face such that during rotation, the first lobe 174 has gradually increasing overlapping contact with the first end 152 of the pole member 150 until the rotational motion stops at a predetermined maximum rotation angle. The step recess 154 is dimensioned to establish precise mechanical contact with the lobe 174 as the rotating member 170 rotates towards the first end 152 and before reaching a final state of complete mechanical contact between the first end 152 and the lobe 174. In particular, the length of the circular segment is set based on a desired maximum rotation angle at which the rotating member 170 can rotate from an open state to a closed state where the rotational motion stops. The radius of the circular segment is defined by the size from the rotating member 170 .

[0043] This unique reluctance boost profile increases the resultant magnetic attractive force acting on lobe 174 at the initiation of contact by lowering the reluctance between first end 152 and lobe 174. The effective force increase is due to the resultant reluctance F r As shown in the box for the first pole member 150 in FIG. 4, the strongest effect of the magnetic force between the first end 152 and the opposing lobe 174 of the rotating member 170 is realized when the lobe 174 first contacts the curved side wall 156 of the recess 154. At this stage, the resultant force F r The horizontal component of F x is involved in the counterclockwise rotation. This horizontal component F x is at a maximum when the curved edge 175 of the rotating member lobe 174 and the curved segment 156 of the recess 154 of the first pole member 150 begin to overlap. As counterclockwise rotation continues, F r Only the magnitude of the normal force component F y(Y component), until the rotational motion is stopped by the base 159 of the recessed step, the horizontal component F x decreases with increasing overlap area of ​​the curved segment 156 of the recess and the curved edge 175 of the lobe. By selecting an appropriate starting overlap location of the rotating member 170 and the first end 152 of the pole member 150 relative to the ending location of the rotating member 170, the point of maximum reluctance can be selected to occur at a certain angular position.

[0044] Therefore, the reluctance force F r is based on the change in reluctance and always acts in the direction of the lowest reluctance, so the inherent characteristics of the reluctance boost profile result in a force component (the reluctance force F r ) is added, thereby precisely increasing the total attractive force. As a result, the lobes 172, 174 of the rotating member 170 describe a rotational motion in respective circular segments about the central axis C.

[0045] The rotational motion will automatically stop when a predetermined maximum rotation angle is reached where there is full overlapping contact of the matching reluctance boost geometric profile of the opposing lobes 174 and first end 152, i.e., full overlapping contact occurs between the curved side walls 156, 166 from the end faces 178 of the lobes 174 to the base 159. Thus, depending on the desired application of the electromechanical system 100, the length and radius of the circular segments 156, 166 of the reluctance boost geometric profile can be selected to limit the rotational motion performed by the rotating member 170 to a desired maximum rotation angle. For example, the curved segments 156, 166 can be designed to achieve a predetermined maximum rotation angle of 45° or less.

[0046] In this embodiment, a conformal reluctance boost shape profile is also provided on the first end 162 of the second pole member 160 and the second lobe 172 of the rotating member 170. In particular, the first end 162 also includes a step recess 164 having curved sidewalls 166 that define a circular segment in a plane transverse to the central axis C. In addition, the conformal reluctance boost shape profile of the opposing lobe 172 has complementary curved sidewalls at the lobe end faces such that during rotation, the overlapping contact between the second lobe 172 and the first end 162 of the pole member 160 gradually increases until the rotational motion is stopped at a predetermined maximum rotation angle. Similar to the first pole member 150, the step recess 164 is also sized relative to the opposing lobe 172 of the rotating member 170 to establish precise mechanical contact as the rotating member 170 rotates towards the first end 162. The curved side walls 156, 166 are preferably similar, i.e., have the same radius of curvature and length. However, to meet the tolerances of prior art manufacturing processes, the end position of the rotating member 170 in the closed state is preferably determined by the rotating member 170 making full mechanical contact with only one of the pole members 150, 160. In the example of FIG. 3, the lobe 174 makes full contact with the step recess 154 of the first end 152, but an air gap remains between the first end 162 of the second pole member 160 and the lobe 172 of the rotating member 170 even when the system 100 is closed.

[0047] Thus, upon excitation of the coil assembly with an appropriate excitation current (in strength and polarity), the rotating member 170 rotates a predetermined rotation angle to a closed state in which the first lobe 174 of the rotating member 170 fully abuts the opposing first end 152 of the first pole member 150. Resetting the electromechanical system 100, i.e., returning the rotating member 170 to the open state when the excitation of the coil assembly is stopped, can be achieved via a coil spring (not shown) incorporated in the magnetic system, which returns the rotating member 170 to its initial state when no magnetic force is applied to the rotating member 170. The open state also generally corresponds to an initial rotation state in which no excitation current is supplied to the first coil 110 and the second coil 120, and thus the pole members 150, 160 are not magnetized.

[0048] In order to facilitate assembly and improve the mechanical stability of the first and second pole members 150, 160 disposed on the first and second coils 110, 120, particularly when the electromechanical system 100 is mounted laterally (e.g., the first and second pole members 150, 160 are disposed horizontally), the first and second pole members 150, 160 have respective second ends 158, 168 which penetrate from the upper side of the first and second coils 110, 120 along the coil axis into the internal space of the first and second coils 150, 160 and extend over a portion of the overall length of the coils 110, 120. In particular, the first pole member 150 and the second pole member 160 may each be configured in a U-shape with the leg of the U corresponding to the second end 158, 168 disposed to extend downwardly through the interior space of the respective coil 110, 120. The other leg of the pole member 150 (or 160) includes the first end 152 (or 162) and is disposed to extend outside the first coil 110 (or second coil 120).

[0049] The magnetic flux path between the first pole member 150 and the second pole member 160 is closed from the underside of the first coil 110 and the second coil 120 by the main core 180. In particular, the main core 180 is disposed under the first coil 110 and the second coil 120 and partially penetrates the internal spacing of the first coil 110 and the second coil 120 to connect the second end 158 of the first pole member 150 to the second end of the second pole member. Thus, the main core, the first pole member 150, the rotating member 170, and the second pole member 160 define a main magnetic flux path provided by the magnetic system of the electromechanical system 100.

[0050] The main core 180 is also preferably configured in a U-shape formed by a central region 182 and a pair of first and second legs 184, 186 extending upward from each side of the central region 182. The first leg 184 of the main core 180 penetrates the interior space of the first coil 110 from the underside thereof, and the second leg 186 penetrates the interior space of the second coil 120. Both legs 184, 186 of the main core 180 have a sufficient length to extend upward through the respective coils 110, 120 until they contact the second ends 158, 168 disposed on the inside of the first pole member 150 and the second pole member 160, respectively. Thus, the main core 180 defines a magnetic flux path intermediate the first coil 110 and the second coil 120 at the underside of the coil assembly. Of course, the length of the legs 184, 186 of the main core may be shorter or longer than that shown in FIG. 2 depending on the length of the second portions 158, 168 of the first pole 110 and second pole 120.

[0051] To increase the containment of the magnetic flux lines within the internal space of the first coil 110 and the second coil 120, the magnetic system of the electromechanical system 100 may also include an auxiliary core 190. For example, the auxiliary core 190 may be disposed adjacent to the main core 180 with a portion partially penetrating the internal space of the first coil 110 and the second coil 120. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary core 190 may also include a U-shape with legs extending along the entire axial length of the first coil 110 and the second coil 120, thereby covering the second ends 158, 168 of the first pole member 150 and the second pole member 160. The main core 180 and / or the auxiliary core 190 may be provided as a single piece core or may be constructed from segments of core. The main core and / or the auxiliary core are preferably formed from soft iron in solid or laminated form. The rotating member 170 is also preferably formed from soft iron.

[0052] In an additional advantageous embodiment, an auxiliary permanent magnet can be added to one of the two first ends 152, 162 of the pole members 150, 160 to increase the magnetic force applied to the corresponding lobe 174, 172 of the rotating member 170, and therefore increase the resultant torque applied to the rotating member 170. In that case, a permanent magnet 195 is positioned opposite each lobe of the rotating member 170 and is magnetically polarized to reduce the reluctance across the separation gap between the respective first end and the opposing lobe.

[0053] FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a rotating segment electromechanical system 200 according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, combining a reluctance boost geometry of both poles with an auxiliary permanent magnet 195 provided on one of the pole members. In particular, the electromechanical system 200 differs mainly from the electromechanical system 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1-4 in that the magnetic system includes a second pole member 160' having a second end 162' at which the permanent magnet 195 is located. In this configuration, the second end 162' also includes a stepped recess 164'. As shown in FIG. 5, the stepped recess 164' includes a curved segment 166' similar to the curved segment 166 of the reluctance boost recess of the previous embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, which curved segment 166' protrudes from the front face of the permanent magnet 195, which is located in an additional cavity provided on the second end 162. The permanent magnet 195 is magnetically polarized relative to the direction of the magnetic flux lines through the lower lobe 172 of the rotating member and the second coil 120 to increase the magnetic attraction force on the lower lobe 172 and thus increase the counterclockwise torque of the rotating member 170. With the exception of the modified step recess 164', other features of the second pole member 160' are similar or identical to those previously described with respect to the second pole member 160.

[0054] Other features of the electromechanical system 200 shown in Figure 5 are the same or similar to those of the electromechanical system 100 described above. That is, the electromechanical system 200 maintains the first pole member 150 including the step recess 154 with the unique reluctance boost profile described in the previous embodiment. Therefore, a full description of the identical elements will be omitted for this embodiment.

[0055] In an alternative configuration, an auxiliary permanent magnet 195 can be added by eliminating the reluctance boost geometry of one of the pole members to which the permanent magnet is attached, as in the exemplary embodiment described below with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 7, the permanent magnet 195 can be provided at the first end 162 of the second pole member 160 (instead of the second pole member 160′ shown in FIG. 5) by modifying the step recess 154 to accommodate the permanent magnet 195 while maintaining the curved segment 156 that serves to realize the reluctance boost effect. In particular, the electromechanical system 300 differs mainly from the electromechanical system 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1-4 in that the magnetic system includes a second pole member 160″ having a second end 162″ at which the permanent magnet 195 is located. In this configuration, the second end 162″ simply comprises a cavity or standard step recess 164″ in which the permanent magnet 195 is located, i.e., no curved sidewall protrudes from the front face of the permanent magnet 195 as in the electromechanical system 200 described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The permanent magnet 195 is also oriented with a magnetic polarity that increases the magnetic attractive force on the lower lobe 172, thus increasing the counterclockwise torque of the rotating member 170. Other features of the second pole member 160" are similar or identical to those described above with respect to the second pole member 160, except for the modification of the second end 162" to accommodate the permanent magnet 195. Other features of the electromechanical system 300 shown in Figures 7 and 8 and indicated with the same reference numerals are also similar or identical to those of the electromechanical system 100 described above. Therefore, a full description of identical elements of the electromechanical system 300 will be omitted in this embodiment.

[0057] In conclusion, a rotating segment electromechanical system according to the principles of the present invention as described above can be advantageously used to operate the contact systems of electrical switching devices such as DC power relays by providing direct rotational motion limited by a predetermined angle, preferably a maximum of 45° of rotation, while using minimal moving parts, thereby providing a more robust design than conventional rotating electromechanical systems.

[0058] While certain features of the above exemplary embodiments have been described using terms such as "top," "bottom," and "upper," these terms are used solely to facilitate description of respective features and their relative orientation within the optical module, and should not be construed as limiting the claimed invention or any of its components to a particular spatial orientation. Additionally, while the invention has been described above with reference to mid-board optical modules, the principles of the invention also apply advantageously to other types of optical modules that include thermal, optical, and electrical interfaces to provide for high density packaging of such devices.

[0059] Certain features of the above exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the figures and using relative terms such as "vertical", "left", "right", "upper", "lower", etc., which should be understood as being defined with reference to the coordinate system XYZ shown in each figure. Unless otherwise specified in the description, the terms "vertical" or "upper" are used in the above description to describe features that are located in the positive direction of the Z coordinate axis relative to other features of the electromechanical system, and the term "right side" should be interpreted as being on the side of the positive direction of the X coordinate axis. Nevertheless, it should be understood that these terms are used solely for the purpose of facilitating the description of the respective features and how they are positioned / oriented relative to one another, and should not be interpreted as limiting the claimed invention or any of its components to mounting or use in a particular spatial orientation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 100 Electromechanical Systems 110 First coil 115 Coil Tower 120 Second coil 125 Coil Tower 130 Spacing area between the first coil and the second coil 140 Support 150 First pole member 152 first end of pole member 154 Step recess 156 Curved Sidewall 158 Second End 159 Base of step recess 160 Second pole member 162 first end of pole member 164 Step recess 166 Curved Sidewall 168 Second End 170 Rotating parts 171 Bearings 172 First Robe 174 Second Robe 175 curved sidewall 176 Central area 178 End face of first lobe 179 Curved Sidewall 180 Main core 182 Central area of ​​main core 184, 186 U-shaped legs of main core 190 Auxiliary core 195 Permanent Magnets 200 Electromechanical Systems 160' Second pole member 162' first end of pole member 164' Step recess 166” curved sidewalls 300 Electromechanical Systems 160” Second Pole Member 162" first end of pole member 164” step recess C center axis R contact point with maximum reluctance boost

Claims

1. A rotating electromechanical system for an electrical switching device, wherein the rotating electromechanical system is An excitation coil assembly including a first coil and a second coil configured to generate a magnetic field according to their respective excitation currents, A magnetic system configured to provide a magnetic flux path that travels along the magnetic flux lines of the magnetic field generated by the excitation coil assembly, The magnetic system is equipped with, A first pole member positioned above the first coil and a second pole member positioned above the second coil, wherein the first pole member and the second pole member each have first ends positioned outside the first coil and the second coil, parallel to each other and parallel to the first coil axis. A rotating member disposed between the first pole member and the second pole member, having a first lobe and a second lobe, configured to perform rotational motion about a central axis aligned along the intersection of a plane parallel to the first end and a plane crossing the first coil axis. Includes, The first pole member and the first end of the second pole member are configured such that, when the excitation coil assembly is excited, the magnetic field lines generated by the first coil and the second coil are directed toward the first lobe and the second lobe of the rotating member, respectively, and a resultant magnetic force is generated that causes the first lobe and the second lobe to perform the rotational motion toward the first pole member and the second pole member, respectively. Rotating electromechanical system.

2. The first coil and the second coil are positioned parallel to each other along their respective coil axes, separated by a given distance, and / or The rotating electromechanical system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first ends of the first pole member and the first end of the second pole member and the lobe of the rotating member facing the first end are designed to have a conforming reluctance-boosting shape contour configured to reduce reluctance when each lobe contacts the first end during the rotational motion.

3. The adapted reluctance boost shape contour of at least one of the first ends has the shape of a stepped recess having a curved side wall defined by a circular segment of a given length in a plane transverse to the central axis, The rotating electromechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the adapted reluctance boost shape contours of the opposing lobes have complementary curved sidewalls, and the overlapping contact between the opposing lobes and the first end gradually increases until the rotational motion stops at a predetermined rotation angle.

4. The rotational motion stops at a predetermined maximum rotational angle such that complete overlapping contact occurs between the opposing lobes and the first end of the adapted reluctance boost shape contour, and / or The rotating electromechanical system according to claim 3, wherein the length and radius of the circular segment of the adapted reluctance boost shape contour are configured to limit the rotational motion performed by the rotating member to a maximum rotation angle of 45° or less.

5. The magnetic system is, The present invention further includes a permanent magnet provided on at least one of the first pole member and the first end of the second pole member, The rotating electromechanical system according to claim 2, wherein the permanent magnets are positioned opposite each of the lobes of the rotating member and are magnetically polarized to reduce the reluctance across the separation gap between the first end on which the permanent magnets are positioned and the opposing lobes.

6. The conforming reluctance boost shape contour is provided only on one of the first pole member and the first end of the second pole member. The rotating electromechanical system according to claim 5, wherein the permanent magnet is provided on the other of the first pole member and the first end of the second pole member.

7. The rotating member is configured such that, when the excitation coil assembly is not energized, the first lobe and the second lobe are in an open state, which is a rotational orientation in which they are separated from the first ends of the first pole member and the second pole member, respectively, by their respective maximum separation gaps, and / or The rotating member is configured to rotate by a predetermined rotational angle to a closed state when the excitation coil assembly is excited by a given excitation current, and in the closed state, one of the first lobe and the second lobe of the rotating member is in complete contact with the opposing first ends of the respective first pole members and second pole members, the rotating electromechanical system according to claim 1.

8. The rotary electromechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined rotation angle of the rotational motion performed by the rotating member is 45° or less.

9. The rotating electromechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the first pole member and the second pole member each have a second end that penetrates from above the respective first coil and second coil into the internal space of the respective first coil and second coil.

10. The rotating electromechanical system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first pole member and the second pole member has a U-shape with downward-facing legs positioned above the first coil and the second coil, and the legs include a first end extending outward from the first coil and the second coil.

11. The magnetic system is, The present invention further includes a main iron core positioned below the first coil and the second coil, configured to connect the first pole member to the second pole member, The rotating electromechanical system according to claim 9, wherein the main core, the first pole member, the rotating member, and the second pole member form the magnetic flux path provided by the magnetic system.

12. The main iron core has a U-shape formed by a central region and a pair of first and second legs extending upward from each side of the central region. The rotating electromechanical system according to claim 11, wherein the first leg extends from below the first coil through the internal space of the first coil, and the second leg extends from below the second coil through the internal space of the second coil and extends upward until it contacts the second ends of the first pole member and the second pole member, respectively.

13. The magnetic system is, The present invention further includes an auxiliary core configured to increase the confinement of magnetic flux lines within the internal space of the first coil and the second coil, The auxiliary core is configured to extend along the axial length of the first coil and the second coil and along the inside of the main core. The main core and / or the auxiliary core can be formed as a single piece or as a plurality of pieces magnetically coupled to one another, and / or The main core and / or the auxiliary core are formed from soft iron in a solid or laminated form, and / or The rotating member is made of soft iron, as described in claim 11.

14. An electric switching device comprising a rotating electromechanical system according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The electrical switching device according to claim 14, wherein the electrical switching device is a contactor or a relay.

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