Switch and method for disconnecting a switch
AssigneeABB Power Grids Switzerland AG
InventorsHauke Peters, Horst Schalber, Michael Mann, Ralph Uhl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switch including a housing, a first contact arrangement having a first commutation contact element and a first contact, a second contact arrangement having a second commutation contact element and a second contact, and also a nominal contact arrangement. The first commutation contact element and the second commutation contact element form a snap-action connection with one another in the closed position of the commutation contact element. When the switch is closed, a distance between the first contact and the second contact is smaller than a distance between the first commutation contact element and the second commutation contact element in the direction of the axis.
Claims20
A switch, comprising:
- a housing;
- a nominal contact arrangement;
- a first contact arrangement, having a first commutation contact element and a first contact;
- and
- a second contact arrangement, having a second commutation contact element and a second contact,
- wherein the first contact is moveable along an axis between a closed contact position, in which the first contact engages with the second contact, and an open contact position, in which the first contact is separated from the second contact, and
- wherein the first commutation contact element is moveable along an axis between a closed commutation contact position, in which the first commutation contact element engages with the second commutation contact element, and an open commutation contact position, in which the first commutation contact element is separated from the second commutation contact element,
- wherein the first commutation contact element and the second commutation contact element are designed, in the closed commutation contact element position, to mutually constitute a snap-action connection, and
- wherein, when the switch s closed, a distance between the first contact and the second contact, in relation to a distance between the first commutation contact element and the second commutation contact element in the direction of the axis, is smaller, and
- wherein the first commutation contact element is coupled to the first contact via a first limit stop, a second limit stop and an elastic element such that a) when the first contact is moved to the closed contact position, the first limit stop entrains the first commutation contact element to the closed commutation contact element position,
- b) when the first contact, with the snap-action connection in place, is moved from the closed contact position in the direction of the open contact position, the elastic element applies tension to the first commutation contact element in the direction of the open commutation contact element position,
- c) when the first contact, during the movement thereof in the direction of the open contact position, overshoots a defined limit stop position, the second limit stop entrains the first commutation contact element in the direction of the open commutation contact element position, in order to release the snap-action connection.
A method for disconnecting a switch, comprising a housing, a nominal contact arrangement, a first contact arrangement, having a first commutation contact element and a first contact, and a second contact arrangement, having a second commutation contact element and a second contact wherein, upon the closing of the switch, a distance between the first contact and the second contact, in relation to a distance between the first commutation contact element and the second commutation contact element, in the direction of the axis, is smaller, wherein the first commutation contact element is moveable from a closed commutation contact element position, in which the first commutation contact element engages with the second commutation contact element, to an open commutation contact element position, in which the first commutation contact element is separated from the second commutation contact element, wherein the method comprises:
- a movement, at a first speed, of the first contact, in the presence of a snap-action connection between the first commutation contact element and the second commutation contact element, along an axis from a closed contact position, in which the first contact engages with the second contact, to an open contact position, in which the first contact is separated from the second contact,
- wherein, if the first contact, with the snap-action connection in place, is moved from the closed contact position in the direction of the open contact position, the elastic element tensions the first commutation contact element in the direction of the open commutation contact element position, and,
- wherein if the first contact, during the movement in the direction of the open contact position, overshoots a defined limit stop position, the snap-action connection is released, and the first commutation contact element moves in the direction of the open commutation contact element position at a second speed, wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.