Process for detection of degradation of a switching device comprising an electromagnetic actuator

A process for detecting degradation of a switching device comprising an electromagnetic actuator configured to unlock a control mechanism, the control mechanism comprising an elastic member configured to move an electrical contact to open or close an electrical circuit, the process comprising:

• commanding the electromagnetic actuator;
• measuring an electrical current circulating in the electromagnetic actuator during the command of the electromagnetic actuator;
• determining, from the measured electrical current, a reaction time of the electromagnetic actuator and a quantity representative of the electrical current circulating in the electromagnetic actuator during the command of the electromagnetic actuator;
• determining a parameter in a form of a polynomial of the reaction time and of the quantity representative of the electrical current circulating in the electromagnetic actuator during the command of the electromagnetic actuator, the parameter being written:
• P
• =
• ∑
• i
• =
• 0
• H
• A
• i
• *
• (
• ta
• )
• k
• i
• *
• (
• i
• ⁢
• 1
• )
• L
• i
• wherein ta represents the reaction time, i1 represents the quantity, k0, . . . , kH have rational values, coefficients L0, . . . , LH have rational values, a coefficient Ai has a rational value, and H is a positive integer;
• iterating the commanding, the measuring, the determining of the reaction time and the quantity, and the determining of the parameter for a set of successive commands of the electromagnetic actuator to obtain a set of values of the parameter;
• determining a degradation of the electromagnetic actuator from an evolution of values of the set of values during successive commands of the electromagnetic actuator;
• displaying an alarm signal as a message on a monitor to indicate the degradation of the electromagnetic actuator in response to the determination of the degradation;
• and
• maintaining or replacing the switching device based on the alarm signal.