Electromagnetic drive unit for a switching device and switching device

An electromagnetic drive unit for a switching device, comprising:

• a magnetic core with a first, a second, and a third magnetic path each arranged transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the electromagnetic drive unit and coupled to longitudinal magnetic struts at respective ends to form a magnetic frame structure;
• an armature configured to be movable along the longitudinal axis between a first and a second state;
• and
• a first and a second magnetic coil configured to move the armature based on excitation of the first and/or the second magnetic coil,
• wherein the first magnetic coil is arranged between the first and the second magnetic path and the second magnetic coil is arranged between the second and the third magnetic path with respect to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the magnetic core and the magnetic coils are configured in coordination with each other such that a magnetic flux that flows through the magnetic paths to move the armature between the first and the second state is adjustable,
• wherein the armature at one end comprises an inclined pole surface with respect to the longitudinal axis which is configured to interact with an inclined magnetic surface of the magnetic core to set the second state of the armature,
• wherein a gap having a predetermined width is defined between the inclined pole surface and the inclined magnetic surface between the armature and the magnetic core in the second state of the armature,
• wherein the second magnetic coil is configured to face away from a contact unit with respect to an assembled configuration of the switching device and to move the armature into the second state based on excitation,
• wherein the magnetic paths are configured such that the second magnetic path is arranged between the first and the third magnetic path with respect to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the first magnetic path is configured to face the contact unit and the third magnetic path is configured to face away from the contact unit, and
• wherein the magnetic paths and the magnetic coils are configured in coordination with each other such that when the first magnetic coil is de-excited and the second magnetic coil is excited, the magnetic flux flows through the magnetic paths resulting in a magnetic force that acts in a direction from the first magnetic path to the second magnetic path to move or hold the armature in the second state.

An electromagnetic drive unit for a switching device, comprising:

• a magnetic core with a first, a second, and a third magnetic path each arranged transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the electromagnetic drive unit and coupled to longitudinal magnetic struts at respective ends to form a magnetic frame structure;
• an armature configured to be movable along the longitudinal axis between a first and a second state;
• and
• a first and a second magnetic coil configured to move the armature based on excitation of the first and/or the second magnetic coil,
• wherein the first magnetic coil is arranged between the first and the second magnetic path and the second magnetic coil is arranged between the second and the third magnetic path with respect to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the magnetic core and the magnetic coils are configured in coordination with each other such that a magnetic flux that flows through the magnetic paths to move the armature between the first and the second state is adjustable,
• wherein the armature at one end comprises an inclined pole surface with respect to the longitudinal axis which is configured to interact with an inclined magnetic surface of the magnetic core to set the second state of the armature,
• wherein a gap having a predetermined width is defined between the inclined pole surface and the inclined magnetic surface between the armature and the magnetic core in the second state of the armature,
• wherein the armature comprises a flat pole surface at one end and the inclined pole surface at an opposite end with respect to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the flat pole surface is configured to interact with a flat magnetic surface of the magnetic core to set the first state of the armature, and
• wherein the inclined pole surface is configured to interact with an inclined magnetic surface of the magnetic core to set the second state of the armature.

An electromagnetic drive unit for a switching device, comprising:

• a magnetic core with a first, a second, and a third magnetic path each arranged transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the electromagnetic drive unit and coupled to longitudinal magnetic struts at respective ends to form a magnetic frame structure;
• an armature configured to be movable along the longitudinal axis between a first and a second state;
• and
• a first and a second magnetic coil configured to move the armature based on excitation of the first and/or the second magnetic coil,
• wherein the first magnetic coil is arranged between the first and the second magnetic path and the second magnetic coil is arranged between the second and the third magnetic path with respect to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the magnetic core and the magnetic coils are configured in coordination with each other such that a magnetic flux that flows through the magnetic paths to move the armature between the first and the second state is adjustable,
• wherein the armature at one end comprises an inclined pole surface with respect to the longitudinal axis which is configured to interact with an inclined magnetic surface of the magnetic core to set the second state of the armature,
• wherein a gap having a predetermined width is defined between the inclined pole surface and the inclined magnetic surface between the armature and the magnetic core in the second state of the armature,
• wherein the magnetic paths are configured such that the second magnetic path is arranged between the first and the third magnetic path with respect to the longitudinal axis and comprises two separated segments each facing the armature on opposite sides, and
• wherein a non-magnetic gap between a respective segment of the second magnetic path and the armature has a predetermined width.

An electromagnetic drive unit for a switching device, comprising:

• a magnetic core with a first, a second, and a third magnetic path each arranged transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the electromagnetic drive unit and coupled to longitudinal magnetic struts at respective ends to form a magnetic frame structure;
• an armature configured to be movable along the longitudinal axis between a first and a second state;
• and
• a first and a second magnetic coil configured to move the armature based on excitation of the first and/or the second magnetic coil,
• wherein the first magnetic coil is arranged between the first and the second magnetic path and the second magnetic coil is arranged between the second and the third magnetic path with respect to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the magnetic core and the magnetic coils are configured in coordination with each other such that a magnetic flux that flows through the magnetic paths to move the armature between the first and the second state is adjustable,
• wherein the armature at one end comprises an inclined pole surface with respect to the longitudinal axis which is configured to interact with an inclined magnetic surface of the magnetic core to set the second state of the armature,
• wherein a gap having a predetermined width is defined between the inclined pole surface and the inclined magnetic surface between the armature and the magnetic core in the second state of the armature, and
• wherein the magnetic core comprises a plurality of metal sheets, each sheet being electrically and magnetically isolated.

A switching device, comprising:

• an electromagnetic drive unit, comprising:
• a magnetic core with a first, a second, and a third magnetic path each arranged transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the electromagnetic drive unit and coupled to longitudinal magnetic struts at respective ends to form a magnetic frame structure;
• an armature configured to be movable along the longitudinal axis between a first and a second state;
• and
• a first and a second magnetic coil configured to move the armature based on excitation of the first and/or the second magnetic coil,
• wherein the first magnetic coil is arranged between the first and the second magnetic path and the second magnetic coil is arranged between the second and the third magnetic path with respect to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the magnetic core and the magnetic coils are configured in coordination with each other such that a magnetic flux that flows through the magnetic paths to move the armature between the first and the second state is adjustable,
• wherein the armature at one end comprises an inclined pole surface with respect to the longitudinal axis which is configured to interact with an inclined magnetic surface of the magnetic core to set the second state of the armature, and
• wherein a gap having a predetermined width is defined between the inclined pole surface and the inclined magnetic surface between the armature and the magnetic core in the second state of the armature;
• and
• a contact unit, comprising:
• a first and a second fixed contact,
• a contact bridge, and
• a first and a second movable contact arranged at the contact bridge,
• wherein the first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device,
• wherein the first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device, and
• wherein the armature of the electromagnetic drive unit is coupled to the contact bridge to set the switching device in a switched-on state based on excitation of the first magnetic coil, or in a switched-off state based on de-excitation of the first magnetic coil and respective movement of the armature along the longitudinal axis.