Contact bridge arrangement for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay, and high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay having a contact bridge arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay, comprising a contact bridge (20) having a top side surface (O), a bottom side surface (U), two longitudinal side surfaces (L1, L2) and two transverse side surfaces (Q1, Q2) and having two electrically conductive contact elements (24, 26) on the top side surface (O), said contact elements being arranged at the respective longitudinal-side lateral ends (202, 204) of the top side surface (O) of the contact bridge (20) in a manner facing in a contacting direction (K), comprising an actuation element (12), which is displaceable in and counter to the contacting direction (K) along a movement axis (B) and to which the contact bridge (20) is connected displaceably in and counter to the contacting direction (K) and rotatably in a rotation direction (R) about the movement axis (B), comprising a holding element (16), which is fixedly connected to the actuation element (12) and is arranged at a distance from the contact bridge (20) counter to the contacting direction (K) along the movement axis (B), and comprising a contact spring (30) designed as a leaf spring, which contact spring is arranged between the contact bridge (20) and the holding element (16), and is arranged in a pretensioned manner between the holding element and the bottom side surface (U) of the contact bridge (20), and pretensions the contact bridge (20) in the contacting direction (K), wherein the contact spring (30) comprises at least one stop means (32). According to the invention, the at least one stop means (32) bears against one of the longitudinal side surfaces (L1, L2) of the contact bridge (20), thereby providing anti-torsion protection that prevents a relative movement between the contact bridge (20) and the contact spring (30).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Contact bridge arrangement for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay and high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay with a contact bridge arrangement

[0003] The invention relates to a contact bridge arrangement for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay, comprising a contact bridge having a top surface, a bottom surface, two longitudinal side surfaces and two transverse side surfaces and having two electrically conductive contact elements on the top surface, which are arranged pointing in a contacting direction at the longitudinal lateral ends of the top surface of the contact bridge, an actuating element displaceable in and against the contacting direction along a movement axis, to which the contact bridge is connected displaceably in and against the contacting direction and rotatable in a rotational direction about the movement axis, a holding element which is fixedly connected to the actuating element and is arranged along the movement axis counter to the contacting direction at a distance from the contact bridge, and a contact spring designed as a leaf spring,which is arranged in a prestressed manner between the holding element and the underside surface of the contact bridge, and prestresses the contact bridge in the contacting direction, wherein the contact spring has at least one stop means.,

[0004] Such a contact bridge arrangement is known, for example, from EP 3 116 015 A1. The contact bridge of the disclosed contact bridge arrangement is formed as a sheet metal part and, starting from the base body on which the contact elements are arranged, has a longitudinal, rectangular bevel on each side forming a leg, whereby the contact bridge has a U-shaped cross-section. The contact spring lies between these two legs and abuts against them, so that the contact bridge and the contact spring are secured against each other against twisting. For force transmission, the contact spring rests on both legs at the longitudinal ends of the contact bridge.

[0005] Such a contact bridge made of sheet metal is not very robust and unsuitable for high-voltage applications. Furthermore, the design of the spring and the location of the force application points indicate that the high preload forces required in high-voltage applications cannot be applied. The contact of the flat spring end against the narrow legs can lead to deformation of the spring and thus a loss of preload, which can no longer guarantee secure pressing of the contact bridge against the contact elements to be connected.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of creating a robust contact bridge arrangement suitable for high-voltage applications, which is particularly durable and prevents a rotational relative movement between the contact bridge and the contact spring in a cost-effective manner.

[0007] This object is achieved with a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay having the features of main claim 1.

[0008] The contact bridge arrangement according to the invention for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay comprises a contact bridge having a top surface, a bottom surface, two longitudinal side surfaces, and two transverse side surfaces, and having two electrically conductive contact elements on the top surface. The contact elements are electrically connected to one another by means of the contact bridge and close an electrical circuit by contacting two opposing contact elements, for example, within a high-voltage contactor. Both contact elements point in the same contact direction and are each arranged at the longitudinal lateral ends of the top surface of the contact bridge.The contact bridge arrangement further comprises an actuating element which is displaceable in and against the contacting direction along the movement axis, and by means of which the contact bridge is displaceable in and against the contacting direction and rotatable in a rotational direction about the movement axis.

[0009] The actuating element can, for example, be connected to an electromagnetic linear actuator, by means of which the actuating element can be moved translationally, so that the contact bridge with the contact elements can be moved translationally. By moving the actuating element and the contact bridge along the movement axis (axially) in the contacting direction, the contact elements pointing in the contacting direction can be moved against the opposite contact elements of the high-voltage contactor connected to a circuit, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the contact elements of the circuit via the contact bridge-side contact elements and the contact bridge itself. This is referred to below as the switched state. By moving the actuating element and the contact bridge against the contacting direction, the connection can be broken and the circuit opened again.This is referred to below as the non-switched state.

[0010] Furthermore, the contact bridge arrangement has a holding element which is firmly connected to the actuating element and is arranged axially counter to the contacting direction, i.e. on the side of the contact bridge axially opposite the contact elements and at a distance from the contact bridge. The holding element can be designed, for example, as an annular disc which is non-positively, positively or materially connected to the actuating element. Furthermore, the contact bridge arrangement has a contact spring designed as a leaf spring which is pre-tensioned and arranged between the underside of the contact bridge and the holding element. The holding element which is firmly connected to the actuating element thus forms a first axial stop against which the contact spring bears axially counter to the contacting direction.In the opposite direction, i.e., in the contact direction, the contact bridge rests against a second axial stop in the non-switched state, against which the contact bridge is pressed by the contact spring. The contact spring thus permanently biases the contact bridge in the contact direction. During the transition from the non-switched state to the switched state, the contact bridge is moved by the actuating element toward the opposite contact elements of the high-voltage contactor until the contact elements rest against the contact elements on the housing.The stroke of the actuating element is dimensioned such that the contact bridge lifts off the second axial stop, whereby the contact bridge presses the contact elements against the opposite contact elements of the high-voltage contactor with the entire spring force of the contact spring, so that the contact elements on the contact bridge side rest securely on the opposite contact elements on the housing side and do not lift off from each other, for example in the event of vibrations or similar.

[0011] According to the invention, the contact spring has at least one stop means that rests against one of the longitudinal side surfaces of the contact bridge. The stop means forms an anti-rotation device that prevents the contact bridge from rotating relative to the contact spring about the movement axis in the direction of rotation. This ensures that the contact spring rests against the contact bridge over its entire surface at all times and that the contact bridge is preloaded in the contact direction. To prevent the contact spring and the contact bridge from rotating together about the movement axis, either the contact spring or the contact bridge is connected to the actuating element in a rotationally fixed manner, thus ensuring the positioning of the contact elements on the contact bridge side relative to the opposite contact elements.Additionally, a second stop means can be provided to secure the relative movement between the contact bridge and the contact spring in a direction of rotation opposite to that limited by the first stop means. This design eliminates the need for special geometries or recesses that would require additional machining steps on the contact bridge. Furthermore, the contact spring rests on the contact bridge over a relatively large area, ensuring particularly good force transmission and secure contact of the contact elements. Overall, the contact bridge is particularly robust and, thanks to its simple geometry, relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the stop means is formed by a bending tab directed axially in the contact direction. The stop means can be manufactured relatively easily by bending a portion of the contact spring out of the spring's base plane using a conventional bending process. This is particularly advantageous because the spring base body, which is made, for example, from a stamped sheet metal blank, already needs to be formed into a curved or arched shape typical of a leaf spring using a forming process, so the additional effort required to manufacture the stop means is relatively low.

[0013] In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, a normal of the longitudinal side surface is arranged at right angles to the movement axis and is thus oriented parallel to the direction of rotation. This creates a positive connection between the contact bridge and the contact spring in the direction of rotation, which prevents relative movement. The stop means is further arranged at a distance from the movement axis, preferably at the outer distal end of the longitudinal side surfaces, whereby the contact bridge rests against the stop means with the outer end at which the contact elements are arranged. Thus, the contact elements on the contact bridge side are precisely aligned with respect to the opposite contact elements on the housing side at all times, ensuring full-surface contact.

[0014] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the contact spring extends transversely beyond the two longitudinal side surfaces of the contact bridge, preferably at its two longitudinal lateral ends, i.e., in the region where the contact elements are arranged. The contact spring is thus wider in the transverse direction at its longitudinal lateral ends than the contact bridge. Thus, the contact spring has a total of four ends extending beyond the longitudinal side surfaces of the contact bridge.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the contact spring has four stop means, two of which each rest against one of the longitudinal side surfaces. These two stop means each rest on the sides of the respective longitudinal side surface opposite the actuating element. This positively secures the contact bridge in both directions of rotation against any relative rotational movement with respect to the contact spring.

[0016] In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact spring contacts the contact bridge at two contact sections, which, with respect to the movement axis, are located on the side of the contact bridge axially opposite the contact elements. The contact sections are thus located on the underside of the contact bridge at the same distance from the movement axis as the contact elements on the top side of the contact bridge, so that the spring force exerted by the contact spring on the contact bridge is directed to the contact elements along the shortest possible path, namely in a line parallel to the movement axis, and the contact elements on the contact bridge side are pressed by the contact spring directly against the opposite contact elements on the housing side.This prevents a bending moment from being applied to the contact bridge, which in the worst case could lead to a plastic deformation of the contact bridge and consequently to an uneven contact of the contact elements on the contact bridge side with the contact elements on the housing side.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the contact spring is convexly shaped in the area of ​​the contact sections adjacent to the contact bridge, in the direction of the contact bridge. The contact spring is thus curved in the direction of the contact bridge and thus lies in tangential linear contact with the contact bridge. The curved shape lends the contact spring relatively high stability in the area of ​​the contact sections and creates a free space radially inside the contact sections between the contact spring and the contact bridge, which allows for axial deflection.

[0018] Advantageously, the contact spring is tapered in the transverse direction between a fastening section adjacent to the holding element and the two contact sections. Thus, the width of the contact spring in the tapered section is reduced compared to the width of the fastening section or the width of the contact spring at its longitudinal end. The width of the contact spring is crucial for its stability and its spring constant. The tapered section therefore has a significant influence on the spring force and spring travel. Furthermore, the tapered section creates a clearance for the individual lifting devices, which facilitates the forming process during production of the lifting devices and enables clean forming of the material at the forming points.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the width of the tapered sections of the contact spring in the transverse direction is less than 75% of the total width of the contact spring. The width depends on the sheet thickness of the contact spring and the desired spring constant and must be individually tailored to the respective application.

[0020] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact spring is convex in the fastening section adjacent to the retaining element, extending in the direction of the retaining element. The contact spring is thus curved in the central region toward the retaining element and is therefore in tangential linear contact with the retaining element. This clearance, similar to the contact points between the contact spring and the contact bridge, forms a clearance between the retaining element and the contact spring radially outside the region adjacent to the retaining element, allowing unrestricted deflection of the contact spring.

[0021] Preferably, the contact spring is designed such that its spring constant is greater than 70 N / mm. This ensures that the contact spring exerts a sufficiently high contact force to securely hold the contact elements on the contact bridge side in contact with the opposing contact elements of the high-voltage contactor.

[0022] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact spring has a central opening through which the contact spring is attached to the actuating element. Since the actuating element is preferably cylindrical, the central opening is preferably designed as a bore. Alternatively, the actuating element could have a shape deviating from the cylindrical shape, for example, by having a flattened portion on one side to prevent rotation of the contact spring, which has a corresponding central opening. The contact spring is positioned accordingly within the high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay by means of the central opening and secured against radial displacement.

[0023] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating element has an end stop on the side of the contact bridge opposite the contact spring, against which the contact bridge rests when preloaded by the contact spring. This end stop is preferably formed integrally with the actuating element, but can alternatively also be formed by a separate component that is firmly connected to the actuating element. For example, the end stop can be formed by a flange on the actuating element, against which the contact bridge rests with its upper side when not switched. The distance between the end stop and the holding element defines the preload force exerted by the contact spring on the contact bridge in relation to the axial spring height and the axial height of the contact bridge.In addition, an adjustment device can be provided which allows a variation of this distance and thus an adjustment of the preload force.

[0024] Furthermore, the object according to the invention is achieved by a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay with a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention with the features of claim 15.

[0025] The high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay has an electromagnetic actuator with an armature that is motion-coupled to an actuating element and via which the contactor can be switched. An electromagnetic actuator refers to all actuators that generate movement due to a force caused by electromagnetism. The electromagnetic actuator therefore consists, in particular, of either a coil consisting of a coil carrier and a winding wound on it, as well as an iron circuit surrounding the coil and an armature that can be moved due to the electromagnetic force and is arranged within the coil and the iron circuit.

[0026] For the sake of simplicity, only the term high-voltage contactor is used below, although this also includes the term high-voltage relay.

[0027] Furthermore, the terms radial, axial and diametrical refer to the central axis of the high-voltage contactor along which the armature of the actuator can be moved.

[0028] The high-voltage contactor further comprises a housing with an inner contact chamber arranged axially adjacent to the actuator. The high-voltage contactor further comprises a first and second contact element fixedly arranged on the housing, which project into the contact chamber, in which the actuating element and the contact bridge are movable, and are connected outside the high-voltage contactor to two busbars, one of which leads to the battery and the other, for example, to the drive motor or which are connected to a charging station and the vehicle's battery. An electrical connection between these two contact elements can be established via the contact bridge, which is moved in the contact chamber by means of the actuator.Typically, by applying current to the winding, the contact bridge, at the ends of which two electrical contacts may be formed, is axially displaced toward the two contact elements attached to the housing, in order to establish an electrical connection between the first contact element and the second contact element via the contact bridge in a first position. For this purpose, the contact bridge is operatively connected to the armature via the actuating element and is pressed against the housing-side contact elements by the movement of the armature due to the electromagnetic force.To open this electrical connection, the contact bridge is loaded in the opposite direction, which is typically achieved by a spring force acting on the armature, the rotor, or the contact bridge in a manner opposite to the electromagnetic force, so that the contact bridge is moved to a second position in which electrical contact between the first contact element and the second contact element is interrupted. The high-voltage contactor has a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention that establishes or breaks contact between the contact elements and thus opens or closes the electrical circuit of the battery-electric vehicle.

[0029] An embodiment of an inventive

[0030] Contact bridge arrangement and a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay with a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention is shown in the figures and is described below.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a side view of a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention in a sectional view.

[0032] Figure 2 shows the contact bridge arrangement according to the invention of Figure 1 in a view from below.

[0033] Figure 3 shows the contact spring of the contact bridge arrangement according to the invention of Figure 1 in a side view.

[0034] Figure 4 shows a side view of a high-voltage contactor with a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention in a sectional view. Figure 1 shows a contact bridge arrangement 10 for a high-voltage contactor 100 of a battery-electric vehicle. The contact bridge arrangement 10 comprises a cuboid-shaped contact bridge 20 with a central bore 21 that extends through the contact bridge 20 along a movement axis B. The long side of the contact bridge 20 extends at right angles to the movement axis B in the longitudinal direction L. The short side of the contact bridge 20, oriented at right angles to the movement axis B and at right angles to the longitudinal direction L, is referred to as the transverse direction Q.The contact bridge has a top surface O, a bottom surface U, whose normals are oriented opposite to each other in the direction of movement, two longitudinal side surfaces LI, L2, whose normals are oriented perpendicular to the movement axis, and two transverse side surfaces Q1, Q2. Through the bore 21, the contact bridge 20 is attached to a cylindrical actuating element 12, which can be moved along a movement axis B by means of an actuator.

[0035] The actuating element 12 has an end stop 13 designed as a flange, against which the contact bridge 20 rests with its upper side surface O in the axial direction. A disk-like contact element 24, 26 is arranged on the upper side surface O of the contact bridge 20 at each of its longitudinal lateral ends 202, 204. Both contact elements 24, 26, like the normal to the upper side surface O, point axially in the contacting direction K. The contact bridge arrangement 10 further has a contact spring 30 designed as a leaf spring, which is arranged on the side of the contact bridge 20 axially opposite the contact elements 24, 26 and rests against the underside surface U of the contact bridge 20 axially opposite the upper side surface O.

[0036] On the axial side of the contact spring 30 opposite the contact bridge 20, the contact spring 30 rests against a disk-like retaining element 16, which is firmly connected to the fastening element 12. The contact spring 30 is thus arranged axially between the retaining element 16 and the contact bridge 20. The contact spring 30 further has a central cylindrical opening 39 through which the contact spring 30 is plugged onto the actuating element 12. The actuating element 12 thus extends axially through the contact bridge 20, the contact spring 30, and the retaining element 16.

[0037] In the region of the central opening 39, the contact spring 30 has a fastening section 31 which is convex in the direction of the holding element 16, i.e., curved in the direction of the holding element 16. Consequently, there is a tangential linear contact between the fastening section 31 of the contact spring 30 and the holding element 16. The contact spring 30 also has two contact sections 36, 38 with which the contact spring 30 bears against the contact bridge 20, wherein one of the contact sections 36, 38 is arranged at each of the two longitudinal ends of the contact spring 30. The extension of the contact spring 30 in the longitudinal direction L corresponds approximately to the extension of the contact bridge 20 in the longitudinal direction.The distance between the two contact sections 36, 38 corresponds approximately to the center-to-center distance between the two contact elements 24, 26 in the longitudinal direction L, so that the contact spring 30, with its contact sections 36, 38, contacts the contact bridge 20 on its underside U axially opposite the contact elements 24, 26. Both contact sections 36, 38 are convex in the direction of the contact bridge 20, i.e., curved in the direction of the contact bridge 20, so that a tangential, linear contact exists between the contact sections 36, 38 and the contact bridge 20.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2, the contact spring 30 has two tapered sections 35, 37 located between the fastening section 31 and the two contact sections 36, 38, wherein the tapered sections 35, 37 extend into the area of ​​the contact sections 36, 38. In these sections 35, 37, the respective width b is approximately 40% of the total width B of the contact spring 30 in the fastening section 31. In the fastening section 31, the contact spring 30 is wider in the transverse direction Q than the contact bridge 20. In the waisted sections 35, 37 and in the contact sections 36, 38, however, the contact spring 30 is narrower in the transverse direction Q than the contact bridge 20. At its longitudinal ends, the contact spring 30 is wider than the contact bridge 20 and extends at the two longitudinal lateral ends 202, 204 of the contact bridge 20 in the transverse direction beyond the two longitudinal side surfaces LI, L2.At the four ends 302 of the contact spring 30 extending transversely beyond the contact bridge 20, the contact spring 30 has four stop means 32.

[0039] The stop means 32 are designed as bending tabs 34 that extend in the contact direction K parallel to the movement axis B, as shown in Figure 3. Each bending tab 34 is connected to a respective bending tab shoulder 33, which extends from one of the four ends 302 extending transversely beyond the contact bridge 20, preferably in the longitudinal direction L, in a base plane of the contact spring 30 aligned normal to the movement axis B. From there, the respective bending tab 34 is bent by approximately 90° in the contact direction K, so that the distal end of each bending tab 34 is oriented substantially parallel to the movement axis B. The bending tabs 34 thus extend axially in the contact direction K, each to the side of the contact bridge 20.

[0040] The respective inner distance between the bending tabs 34 opposite one another in the transverse direction Q corresponds approximately to the width of the contact bridge 20 in the transverse direction Q. As a result, two bending tabs 34 each rest on the two longitudinal side surfaces LI, L2 of the contact bridge 20 opposite one another in the transverse direction Q, the normal of which is oriented orthogonal to the axis of movement B and parallel to the direction of rotation R, , wherein two bending tabs 34 each rest on the first longitudinal side surface LI and two bending tabs 34 each rest on the second longitudinal side surface L2 opposite the first longitudinal side surface LI, whereby a total of four stop means 32 acting in the direction of rotation R are formed, which prevent a rotational relative movement between the contact bridge 20 and the contact spring 30 in the direction of rotation R.

[0041] The high-voltage contactor 100 shown in Figure 4 comprises an electromagnetic actuator 112 having a coil 114 consisting of a coil carrier 116 and a winding 118 wound thereon, a ferromagnetic iron circuit 120, and an armature 122. The ferromagnetic iron circuit 120 has a U-shaped yoke 124, the legs 126 of which rest on a return plate 128 or are attached to the return plate 128, thus forming the closed iron circuit 120.

[0042] The yoke 124 has a central opening 132 at its base portion 130, the diameter of which essentially corresponds to the inner diameter of the coil carrier 116. A bushing 134 is secured in this opening 132, or rather, inside the coil carrier 116, in which the armature 122 is slidably arranged and guided. When current is applied to the coil 114, the armature 122 is drawn toward the return plate 128 in a known manner against the force of a spring 136.

[0043] Connected to the armature 122 is the actuating element 12, which projects through a further central opening 40 in the return plate 128 into a contact chamber 42 in which the contact bridge arrangement 10 is arranged. The first contact element 24 of the contact bridge 20 is arranged axially opposite a first housing-side contact element 54, which can be connected to a high-voltage battery, in particular via a busbar (not shown). The second contact element 26 of the contact bridge 20 is arranged opposite a second housing-side contact element 56, which can be connected, for example, to a drive motor of a motor vehicle via a busbar.

[0044] The entire high-voltage contactor 100 is arranged in a housing 58, which is composed of a total of three parts. For this purpose, the actuator 112 is overmolded with a plastic to form an actuator housing part 60. This plastic completely surrounds the coil 114 radially to form a radial boundary wall 66 and also fills a gap 68 radially between the coil 114 and the yoke 124. In addition, the yoke 124 itself is completely radially surrounded by this plastic and is thus shielded from the environment. Furthermore, the return plate 128, which bears against the coil carrier 116 on its side facing the coil carrier 116, is covered axially by this plastic in the direction of the contact chamber 42 and forms an axial boundary wall 69. The opening 40 of the return plate 128 is also covered radially inward by the plastic, leaving only a central guide opening 70 free, in which the actuating element 12 is guided.

[0045] On the axial outer side 72 of the actuator housing part 60 opposite the contact chamber 42, the plastic extends further radially inward along a radially outer region 74 of the base part 130 of the yoke 124 or of the actuator 112 and leaves an opening 78 free only in the central, radially inner region 76, which opening is designed symmetrically to the opening 132 but has a slightly larger diameter so that there is sufficient space for pressing in the bushing 134.

[0046] This opening 78 is closed by a plastic cover 80, which is firmly attached to the actuator housing part 60 in the opening 78, in particular by laser welding, ultrasonic welding, or rotational vibration welding. Furthermore, the actuator housing part 60, produced by overmolding the actuator 112, forms a recess 82 in the form of a plug housing 82, through which the connecting lines to the winding 118 of the coil 114 are led outward, so that the electrical connection of the coil 114 to a voltage source can be established via a plug counterpart.

[0047] In addition, a circumferential housing wall 86 extends from the return plate 128 in extension of the plastic surrounding the actuator 112, which radially delimits the contact chamber 42 and is also manufactured in one piece during the overmolding of the actuator 112 and thus forms four side walls of the contact chamber 42 in the present exemplary embodiment.

[0048] The contact chamber 42 is axially closed on the side opposite the axial boundary wall 69 by a switch housing part 88. Two axial openings 90 are formed on the switch housing part 88, in which the two contact elements 54, 56 are received and fastened, for example, by ultrasonic welding or overmolding. An outer wall 92 extends circumferentially in the axial direction from this cover-shaped switch housing part 88, which encloses the circumferential housing wall 86 of the actuator housing part 60, so that these two walls 86, 92 are connected circumferentially in a materially bonded manner, for example by

[0049] Laser welding, ultrasonic welding or rotational vibration welding can be used to join them together, creating a high-strength housing.

[0050] If the current flow between the electric motor or the charging station and the battery is to be enabled, the coil 114 is energized, pulling the armature 122 toward the return plate 128 due to the acting electromagnetic forces. This causes the high-voltage contactor 100 to switch to the switched state, in which the actuating element 12 with the contact bridge 20 and the contact bridge-side contact elements 24, 26 are pushed against the housing-side contact elements 54, 56, so that a current can flow via the contact bridge 20 from the first contact element 54 to the second contact element 56 and thus from the battery to the electric motor or from the charging station to the battery.The stroke of the armature 122 is dimensioned such that, in the switched state, the contact bridge lifts off the end stop 13 on the actuating element 12, so that the spring force of the contact spring 30 presses the contact bridge-side contact elements 24, 26 against the housing-side contact elements 54, 56. If the coil 114 is not energized, the actuating element 12 and the armature 122 are loaded in the opposite direction by the spring 136, so that the contact bridge 20 is lifted off the contact elements 54, 56 and the circuit is interrupted. In this non-switched state, the contact spring 30 remains pretensioned and presses the contact bridge 20 against the end stop 13 of the fastening element 12, with the contact spring 30 being axially supported against the holding element 16.The contact spring 30 is designed in terms of its geometry such that its spring constant is greater than 70 N / mm, so that the contact elements 24, 26 rest securely on the opposite contact elements 54, 56 of the high-voltage contactor 100 in the switched state.

Claims

P A T E N T A N S P R Ü C H E 1. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay, comprising a contact bridge (20) which has a top surface (0), a bottom surface (U), two longitudinal side surfaces (L1, L2) and two transverse side surfaces (Q1, Q2) and which has two electrically conductive contact elements (24, 26) on the top surface (0), which are arranged pointing in a contacting direction (K) at the longitudinal lateral ends (202, 204) of the top surface (0) of the contact bridge (20), an actuating element (12) which is displaceable in and against the contacting direction (K) along a movement axis (B), to which the contact bridge (20) is connected so as to be displaceable in and against the contacting direction (K) and rotatable in a rotational direction (R) about the movement axis (B), a holding element (16),which is firmly connected to the actuating element (12) and is arranged along the movement axis (B) counter to the contacting direction (K) at a distance from the contact bridge (20), and a contact spring (30) designed as a leaf spring, which is arranged prestressed between the holding element and the underside surface (U) of the contact bridge (20) and prestresses the contact bridge (20) in the contacting direction (K), wherein the contact spring (30) has at least one stop means (32), characterized in that the at least one stop means (32) bears against one of the longitudinal side surfaces (LI, L2) of the contact bridge (20).

2. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop means (32) is formed by a bending tab (34) directed axially in the contacting direction.

3. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or High-voltage relay according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a normal of the longitudinal side surface (LI, L2) is arranged at right angles to the movement axis (B).

4. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring (30) extends beyond the two longitudinal side surfaces (LI, L2) of the contact bridge (20) in the transverse direction (Q).

5. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to claim 4, characterized in that the contact spring (30) has four stop means (32), two of which each bear against one of the longitudinal side surfaces (LI, L2), wherein these two stop means (32) each bear on sides of the respective longitudinal side surface (LI, L2) opposite to the actuating element (12).

6. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop means (32) contact the contact bridge (20) longitudinally in the region of the contact elements (24, 26).

7. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring (30) contacts the contact bridge (20) at two contact sections (36, 38) which, with respect to the movement axis (B), are located on the side of the contact bridge (20) axially opposite the contact elements (24, 26).

8. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to claim 7, characterized in that the contact spring (30) is convexly shaped in the region of the contact sections (36, 38) lying against the contact bridge (20) in the direction of the contact bridge (20).

9. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the contact spring (30) is designed to be tapered in the transverse direction between a fastening section (31) resting on the holding element (16) and the two contact sections (36, 38).

10. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to claim 9, characterized in that with respect to the transverse direction, the width (b) of the waisted sections (35, 37) of the contact spring (30) is less than 75% of the total width (B) of the contact spring (30).

11. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring (30) is convex in the direction of the holding element (16) in the fastening section (31) adjacent to the holding element (16).

12. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring (30) is designed such that its spring constant has a value greater than 70 N / mm.

13. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring (30) has a central opening (39) by means of which the contact spring (30) is plugged onto the actuating element (12).

14. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (12) has an end stop (13) on the side of the contact bridge (20) opposite the contact spring (30), against which the contact bridge (20) rests in the state prestressed by the contact spring (30).

15. High-voltage contactor (100) or high-voltage relay with an electromagnetic actuator (112) with an armature (122) which is coupled in motion to an actuating element (12), a housing (58) with a contact chamber (42) in which the actuating element (12) and a contact bridge (20) are movable, two housing-side contact elements (54, 56) against which the Contact bridge (20) is movable, characterized in that the high-voltage contactor (100) has a contact bridge arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

Images