EP2248141B1 - Dual-contact contactor and arc blowout chimney - Google Patents

Description

• un corps isolant comportant :
• au moins un premier contact fixe par rapport au corps ;
• au moins un deuxième contact fixe par rapport au corps.

le contacteur comportant au moins un équipage mobile déplaçable par rapport au premier et au deuxième contacts fixes et présentant un premier et un deuxième contacts mobiles propres à être amenés en contact sélectivement respectivement avec le premier contact fixe et le deuxième contact fixe.The present invention relates to a contactor, of the type comprising:

• an insulating body comprising:
• at least a first fixed contact with the body;
• at least one second fixed contact with the body.

the contactor comprising at least one moving element movable relative to the first and second fixed contacts and having first and second movable contacts adapted to be brought into selective contact respectively with the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact.

Contactors are used for isolation and reconfiguration of high voltage power networks for train power. These contactors are used in particular to supply or set a reference potential successive sections of power rails, so that the rail sections are fed only when they are covered by the tramway to prevent passersby do not can be electrocuted.

A number of contactors, such as those described in the documents, are known. FR 2,287,765 , FR 2,308,188 and FR 2 110 421 A .

It is known that when opening a live electrical circuit, an electric arc is likely to be created between the contacts apart from each other.

When the contactor comprises at least two fixed contacts and two movable contacts carried by a moving element movable between the first and second fixed contacts, it is proposed in the aforementioned documents to isolate the corresponding fixed contact and moving contact pairs, in order to avoid that a possible electric arc spreads to another pair of contacts. Thus, the pairs of electrical contacts are isolated in chambers which are as far apart as possible, in particular by distributing the pairs of contacts in two directions perpendicular to each other.

The object of the invention is to allow a better extinction of the arc in a contactor with a plurality of movable contacts.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a contactor of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the body is provided with an arc extinction chimney common to the first and second pairs of fixed and movable contacts, the first and second fixed contacts and the first and second movable contacts being arranged in the same room facing the base of the common chimney.

• il comporte un troisième et un quatrième contacts fixes et l'équipage mobile comporte un troisième et un quatrième contacts mobiles propres à être amenés en contact sélectivement respectivement avec le troisième et le quatrième contacts fixes, le premier et le troisième contacts mobiles sont connectés électriquement pour former un premier pont de connexion et les deuxième et quatrième contacts mobiles sont connectés électriquement pour former un second pont de connexion, le corps est pourvu d'une seconde cheminée d'extinction d'arc commune aux troisième et quatrième paires de contacts fixe et mobile, les troisièmes et quatrième contacts fixes et les troisième et quatrième contacts mobiles étant disposés dans une même chambre en regard de la base de la deuxième cheminée commune.
• les premier et deuxième contacts mobiles sont connectés électriquement l'un à l'autre.
• la cheminée comporte des plaques de coupure d'arc disposées transversalement suivant l'axe de la cheminée.
• l'équipage mobile est mobile en translation et la cheminée s'étend transversalement à l'axe de déplacement en translation de l'équipage mobile.

According to particular embodiments, the contactor comprises one or more of the following characteristics:

• it comprises a third and a fourth fixed contacts and the moving element comprises third and fourth movable contacts capable of being brought into selective contact with the third and fourth fixed contacts respectively, the first and the third movable contacts are electrically connected to forming a first connecting bridge and the second and fourth movable contacts are electrically connected to form a second connecting bridge, the body is provided with a second common arc extinguishing stack at the third and fourth pairs of fixed and movable contacts the third and fourth fixed contacts and the third and fourth movable contacts being arranged in the same chamber facing the base of the second common chimney.
• the first and second movable contacts are electrically connected to each other.
• the chimney has arc cutting plates arranged transversely along the axis of the chimney.
• the moving element is movable in translation and the chimney extends transversely to the axis of displacement in translation of the moving element.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale d'un contacteur selon l'invention, le contacteur étant au repos ;
• la figure 2 est une vue identique à celle de la figure 1, le contacteur étant dans un état activé ; et
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues d'un détail des figures 1 et 2 illustrant la propagation et l'extinction d'un arc formé entre les contacts lors du basculement du contacteur vers son état des figures 1 et 2 respectivement.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a contactor according to the invention, the contactor being at rest;
• the figure 2 is a view identical to that of the figure 1 the contactor being in an activated state; and
• the Figures 3 and 4 are views of a detail of figures 1 and 2 illustrating the propagation and extinction of an arc formed between the contacts when switching the contactor to its state of figures 1 and 2 respectively.

The contactor 10 illustrated on the figure 1 comprises, in a housing 11, a connection module 12 and an actuator 14 adapted to control the switching of the connection module 12 from a first state to a second state.

The connection module 12 comprises first and second input terminals 16, 18 adapted to be connected to unrepresented electrical cables. Each terminal is secured to a first and a second fixed contact 20, 22 respectively.

Similarly, output terminals 24, 26 disposed symmetrically at the input terminals 16, 18 with respect to the X-X axis of symmetry of the contactor. The two terminals 24, 26 comprise third and fourth fixed contacts 28, 30 respectively. These contacts are symmetrical with the first and second contacts 20 and 22 respectively with respect to the X-X axis. Thus, the contacts 20, 28 and 22, 30 are coplanar.

A moving assembly 32 is slidably movable along the axis X-X between the fixed contacts 20, 28 on the one hand and 22, on the other hand under the control of the actuator 14.

The moving element 32 comprises an insulating body 34 carrying a conductive plate 36 mounted to slide relative to the body 34. The body 34 comprises a main rod 38 extending along the X-X axis and slidably mounted along this axis.

At its end facing the actuator 14, the rod 34 has a transverse abutment surface 40 adapted to limit the displacement of the plate 36 to the terminals 18 and 26 integral with the housing and to ensure a displacement of the plate 36 to the contacts fixed 20, 28 when the mobile equipment redeploys these same contacts.

At its other end, the rod 38 comprises a collar 42 for supporting a helical spring 44 interposed between the flange 42 and the plate 36. The spring 44 is able to elastically bias the plate 36 against the abutment 40.

The plate 36 comprises a conductive bar 46 extending transversely to the rod 38. The bar has a median bore through which the rod 38 is threaded so that the bar slides along the rod 38 between the two stops 42 and 40 while being retained by the jurisdiction 44. The Bar 46 is movable between the planes respectively defined by the first and third fixed contacts 20, 28 and the second and fourth fixed contacts 22, 30.

In view of these fixed contacts, the plate 36 has at the ends of the bar 46 first, second, third and fourth movable contacts respectively noted 50, 52 and 58, 60.

The movable contacts 50, 52, 58, 60 are electrically connected to the conductive bar 46 and are able to bear on the fixed facing contacts 20, 22, 28 and 30 and thus provide an electrical connection between them.

The actuator 14 comprises an electromagnet 62 comprising a coil 64 surrounded by a carcass 66 both fixedly held in the housing 11 of the contactor.

The winding and the carcass are centered along the X-X axis. The electromagnet 62 comprises a magnetic core 68 slidably mounted along the X-X axis inside the carcass 66 and the coil 64.

The core 68 is integral with a shaft 70 axially connected to the rod 38 of the moving assembly 32. A return spring 72 is disposed between the moving assembly and the casing 66 to urge the moving assembly 32 away of the actuator, that is to say in a position in which the conductive plate 36 is in contact with the first and third fixed contacts. More specifically, the spring 72 is held compressed between the carcass 66 and a flange 73 forming a stop formed on the rod 38.

The coil 64 is connected by a control circuit to a suitable voltage source 74 via a switch 76.

As illustrated on the figure 1 the first and second pairs of movable and stationary contacts facing each other on the same side of the bar 46 are contained in the same chamber open towards the outside by a chimney 80 common to the two pairs of contacts. Thus, two opposite chimneys are formed.

Each chimney originates at a pair of movable and fixed contacts. Thus, two fixed contacts, 20, 22 or 28, 30 and two movable contacts 50, 52 or 58, 60, are facing the chimney.

Each chimney extends generally radially with respect to the direction XX. It has plates 82 of fragmentation of an electric arc extending substantially parallel to each other being directed along the axis of the chimney.

The contactor operates as follows.

At rest, and as illustrated on the figure 1 , the switch 76 is open so that the electromagnet does not act on the moving element 32. Under these conditions, the spring 72 holds the moving element so that the stop 40 bears against the plate 36, itself bearing against the output terminal 24 and the input terminal 16. the terminals 18 and 26. In this position, the spring 44 is compressed. A connection between the first and third terminals 16, 24 is then ensured. Indeed, under these conditions, a first contact bridge is established between the first and third movable contacts 50, 58 which are themselves applied against the first and third fixed contacts 20, 28.

When the switch 76 is closed, and as illustrated on the figure 2 , the core 68 is biased inside the windings so as to compress the spring 72. The moving element is then moved towards the electromagnet and the plate 36 is pressed against the second and fourth fixed contacts 22, 30, the abutment 40 has been erased, advancing so that the plate 36 is no longer supported against the stop 40. In this position, the plate 36 is held pressed by the spring 44 compressed between the plate 36 and In this case, the plate 36 forms a second contact bridge between the second and fourth movable contacts 52, 60 themselves applied against the second and fourth fixed contacts 22, 30.

When moving the moving equipment to the position shown on the figure 1 , or to the position shown on the figure 2 , an electric arc is created between the fixed and mobile contacts initially in contact, as shown respectively on the Figures 3 and 4 . This electric arc blooms radially away from the contacts initially in contact and spreads in the chimney.

When the electric arc reaches the plates 82 of rupture, the electric arc splits into several successive segments, thus promoting its extinction.

It is understood that the same chimney being used for cutting and extinguishing the arc created by one or the other pair of movable and fixed contacts arranged opposite the chimney, or is free from the use two additional chimneys.

Claims (5)

1. Contactor (10) comprising:

   - an insulating body (11) comprising:

   - at least a first contact (20) which is fixed relative to the body (11);

   - at least a second contact (22) which is fixed relative to the body (11),

   the contactor comprising at least one movable item of equipment (32) which can be moved relative to the first and the second fixed contacts (20, 22) and which has a first and
   a second movable contact (50, 52) which are capable of selectively being brought into contact with the first fixed contact (20) and the second fixed contact (22), respectively, characterised in that the body (11) is provided with an arc blowout chimney (80) which is common to the first and second pairs of fixed contacts (20, 22) and movable contacts (50, 52), the first and second fixed contacts (20, 22) and the first and second movable contacts (50, 52) being arranged in the same chamber opposite the base of the common chimney (80).
2. Contactor according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a third and a fourth fixed contact (28, 30) and the movable equipment (32) comprises a third and a fourth movable contacts (58, 60) which are capable of selectively being brought into contact with the third and the fourth fixed contacts (28, 30), respectively, in that the first and the third movable contacts (50, 58) are electrically connected in order to form a first connection bridge and the second and fourth movable contacts (52, 60) are electrically connected in order to form a second connection bridge, and in that the body (11) is provided with a second arc blowout chimney (80) common to the third and fourth pairs of fixed contacts (28, 30) and movable contacts (58, 60), the third and fourth fixed contacts and the third and fourth movable contacts (58, 60) being arranged in the same chamber opposite the base of the second common chimney (80).
3. Contactor according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the first and second movable contacts (50, 52) are electrically connected to each other.
4. Contactor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the chimney (80) comprises arc cut-off plates (82) which are arranged along the axis of the chimney (80).
5. Contactor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the movable equipment (32) can be moved in translation and the chimney (80) extends transversely relative to the translation movement axis of the movable equipment (32).

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