Contact bridge arrangement for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay, and high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay comprising 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) and a bottom side surface (U) and 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) has at least one anti-rotation means (32) that engages into a corresponding recess (22) on the bottom side surface (U) of the contact bridge (20). According to the invention, the anti-rotation means (32) is formed by an embossing (34) that is introduced into the contact spring (30) and raised in the direction of the contact bridge (20), thereby providing anti-rotation protection that prevents any 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 and a bottom surface and, on the top surface, two electrically conductive contact elements which are arranged, pointing in a contacting direction, at the longitudinal lateral ends of the top surface of the contact bridge, an actuating element which is displaceable in and against the contacting direction along a movement axis, with which the contact bridge is displaceable in and against the contacting direction, 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 prestressed between the holding element and the bottom surface of the contact bridge and prestresses the contact bridge in the contacting direction,wherein the contact spring has at least one anti-twist means which engages in a corresponding recess on the underside surface of the contact bridge.,

[0004] Such a contact bridge arrangement is known, for example, from CN 115527809. The contact spring of the disclosed contact bridge arrangement has two cylindrical anti-twist means that are placed or applied to the surface of the contact spring facing the contact bridge and engage in corresponding recesses in the contact bridge. Applying the anti-twist means requires additional manufacturing steps, which lead to relatively high manufacturing costs for the contact spring.

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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 and a bottom surface, and 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 contacting 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 that is displaceable in and against the contacting direction along the movement axis and by means of which the contact bridge can be displaced in and against the contacting direction.

[0008] 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, whereby an electrical connection is established 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.

[0009] 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.

[0010] According to the invention, the contact spring has at least one anti-rotation device that engages in a corresponding recess in the underside of the contact bridge. The anti-rotation device thus projects axially into the recess extending axially from the underside into the contact bridge, thereby forming an anti-rotation device in both directions of rotation that prevents the contact bridge from rotating relative to the contact spring about the axis of movement. The anti-rotation device is formed by a hollow embossing introduced into the contact spring and raised in the direction of the contact bridge. This can be produced by a embossing process during the production or forming of the contact spring sheet metal blank into the finished part in one work step or in the same forming tool.This is particularly advantageous because the spring base body, which is made from a stamped sheet metal blank, for example, needs to be formed into a curved or arched shape typical of a leaf spring using a forming process. This means that the additional effort required to produce the anti-twist device is relatively low, meaning that inserting the anti-twist device does not require any additional manufacturing steps or tool changes. 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, ensuring the positioning of the contact elements on the contact bridge side in relation to the opposite contact elements. Overall, the contact bridge is therefore particularly robust and, thanks to its simple geometry, can be manufactured relatively inexpensively.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the hollow embossing is rotationally symmetrical. The hollow embossing can therefore be produced relatively easily using a cylindrical embossing die, which is pressed into the sheet metal blank of the contact spring from one side during production. On the side of the contact spring opposite the embossing die, a corresponding die is provided, into which the section of the contact spring to be embossed is pressed. As a result, the sheet material is pressed out of the sheet plane according to the shape of the embossing die and die and is plastically deformed. The hollow embossing process is particularly well suited for relatively thin sheet metal parts such as the contact spring and can be incorporated into the forming process of the contact spring in the same working stroke by inserting the embossing die and die into the forming tool.

[0012] In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the recess in the contact bridge is formed by a blind hole. The blind hole can, for example, be cylindrical with a circular cross-section, but can also have other shapes, such as an elongated hole or a teardrop shape. This makes the recess particularly easy to produce, for example by means of a machining process such as drilling, or else in a non-machining process, for example as part of a casting process, which does not incur any significant additional costs. In a further embodiment of the invention, the depth of the blind hole is less than 50% of the axial thickness of the contact bridge. Thus, the contact bridge is not structurally weakened in a relevant way, so that it can reliably and permanently withstand the forces exerted by the contact spring and the actuator.

[0013] In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact spring contacts the contact bridge by means of two contact sections, which, with respect to the movement axis, rest 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.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact spring has two anti-twist means. The anti-twist means are arranged remote from one another, preferably in the region of the two longitudinal ends of the contact spring, thereby creating redundancy with regard to the anti-twist protection, which increases its reliability compared to a contact spring with only one anti-twist means. In a further embodiment of the invention, the two anti-twist means are arranged in the region of the contact sections, with one anti-twist means being arranged in each contact section. The anti-twist means are thus located directly at the force transmission points where the contact spring is pressed against the contact bridge with a relatively high contact force, so that the anti-twist means are securely seated in the recesses and cannot slip out of them.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the anti-twist device and the recess are arranged centrally with respect to the transverse direction of the contact bridge. The transverse direction is oriented perpendicular to the movement axis and denotes the shorter of the two extension directions of the contact bridge in the radial direction relative to the movement axis. As a result, the contact spring rests on the contact bridge on both sides of the anti-twist device over the same length, relative to the transverse direction of the contact bridge, ensuring uniform force application at all four contact points of the contact spring.

[0016] In a further particularly advantageous 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 therefore 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.Additionally, an adjustment device can be provided that allows this distance to be varied and thus the preload force to be adjusted. Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay with a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention having the features of claim 15.

[0023] 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.

[0024] For the sake of simplicity, only the term high-voltage contactor is used below, although this also includes the term high-voltage relay.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] An embodiment of an inventive

[0028] 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.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a side view of a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention in a sectional view.

[0030] Figure 2 shows the contact bridge arrangement according to the invention from Figure 1 in a bottom view. Figure 3 shows a high-voltage contactor with the contact bridge arrangement according to the invention from Figure 1 in a side view in a sectional representation.

[0031] 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 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 an upper side surface O and a lower side surface U, the normals of which are oriented opposite to each other in the direction of movement. The contact bridge 20 is plugged through the bore 21 onto a cylindrical actuating element 12, which can be moved along a movement axis B by means of an actuator.

[0032] 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 disc-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 point, just like the normal to the upper side surface O, in the axial direction 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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, a tangential linear contact exists between the fastening section 31 of the contact spring 30 and the holding element 16. The contact spring 30 further 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.

[0035] In each contact section 36, 38, an anti-rotation device 32 is arranged, each formed by a rotationally symmetrical hollow embossing 34 raised in the direction of the contact bridge 20. When the contact spring 30 is preloaded, each anti-rotation device 32 projects into a corresponding recess 22 formed as a cylindrical blind hole 23, thereby forming an anti-rotation device that prevents relative movement between the contact bridge 20 and the contact spring 30 in the direction of rotation. The blind hole 23 extends over approximately 20% of the axial extent of the contact bridge 20, so that it is not structurally weakened.

[0036] 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, apart from the anti-twist means 32, a tangential, linear contact exists between the contact sections 36, 38 and the contact bridge 20.

[0037] 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,

[0038] 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. The anti-twist means 32 are arranged centrally with respect to the transverse direction Q, i.e. on the axis of symmetry S of the contact spring 30. Thus, the contact spring 30 rests in the contact sections 36, 38 with respect to the transverse direction away from the anti-twist means 32 over the same length, so that a uniform force introduction along the contact sections 36,

[0039] 38, which prevents the contact spring 30 from tilting on the shaft of the actuating element 12.

[0040] The high-voltage contactor 100 shown in Figure 3 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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. In addition, a circumferential housing wall 86 extends from the return plate 128 as an extension of the plastic surrounding the actuator 112. This circumferential housing wall 86 radially delimits the contact chamber 42 and is also produced in one piece during the overmolding of the actuator 112, thus forming four side walls of the contact chamber 42 in the present exemplary embodiment.

[0047] 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

[0048] Laser welding, ultrasonic welding or rotational vibration welding can be used to join them together, creating a high-strength housing.

[0049] 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 the contact bridge, in the switched state, 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.

[0050] Contact elements 54, 56 are lifted and the circuit is interrupted. In this non-switched state, the contact spring 30 is still pre-tensioned and presses the contact bridge 20 against the end stop 13 of the fastening element 12, whereby the contact spring 30 is axially supported against the holding element 16. The contact spring 30 is

[0051] Geometry designed such that its spring constant is greater than 70 N / mm, so that the contact elements 24, 26 in the switched state rest securely on the opposite contact elements 54, 56 of the high-voltage contactor 100.

Claims

Pierburg GmbH, 41460 Neuss 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) having an upper side surface (O) and a lower side surface (U) and having two electrically conductive contact elements (24, 26) on the upper side surface (O), which are arranged pointing in a contacting direction (K) at the longitudinal lateral ends (202, 204) of the upper side surface (O) of the contact bridge (20), an actuating element (12) which is displaceable in and against the contacting direction (K) along a movement axis (B), with which the contact bridge (20) is displaceable in and against the contacting direction (K), a holding element (16) which is fixedly 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 in a prestressed manner 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 anti-twist means (32) which engages in a corresponding recess (22) on the underside surface (U) of the contact bridge (20), characterized in that the anti-twist means (32) is formed by a hollow embossing (34) introduced into the contact spring (30) and raised in the direction 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 hollow embossing (34) is rotationally symmetrical.

3. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the recess (22) in the contact bridge (20) is formed by a blind hole (23).

4. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to claim 3, characterized in that the depth of the blind hole (23) is less than 50% of the axial thickness of the contact bridge (20).

5. 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) by means of two contact sections (36, 38) which, with respect to the axis of movement (B), bear against the side of the contact bridge (20) axially opposite the contact elements (24, 26).

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 contact spring (30) has two anti-twist means (32).

7. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to claim 6, characterized in that the two anti-twist means (32) are arranged in the region of the contact sections (36, 38), wherein one anti-twist means (32) is arranged in each contact section (36, 38).

8. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anti-rotation means (32) and the recess (22) are arranged centrally with respect to a transverse direction (Q) of the contact bridge (20).

9. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of claims 5-8, 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).

10. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to one of claims 5-9, characterized in that the contact spring (30) is arranged between a holding element (16) adjacent fastening section (31) and the two contact sections (36, 38) are tapered in the transverse direction (Q).

11. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or high-voltage relay according to claim 10, characterized in that with respect to the transverse direction (Q), 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).

12. Contact bridge arrangement (10) for a high-voltage contactor or High-voltage relay according to claim 10 or 11, 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).

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) is designed such that its spring constant has a value greater than 70 N / mm.

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 contact spring (30) has a central opening (39) by means of which the contact spring (30) is plugged onto the actuating element (12).

15. 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).

16. 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) can be moved, characterized in that the high-voltage contactor (100) has a contact bridge arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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