Process for detecting degradation of a switching device

A process for detecting degradation of a switching device comprising:

• an electrical contact movable between a closed position of an electrical circuit and an open position of the electrical circuit;
• a control mechanism comprising:
• a driving element configured to displace the mobile electrical contact so as to open an electrical circuit;
• an elastic member connected to the driving element;
• an unlocking member configured to transition from a locking position, in which the elastic member is held in a tensioned state, to a release position, in which the elastic member is free to slacken, so as to displace the electrical contact from the closed position to the open position of the electrical circuit, or from the open position to the closed position;
• an actuator configured to displace the unlocking member from the locking position to the release position, the process comprising the following steps:
• (i) commanding the actuator so as to displace the unlocking member from the locking position to the release position;
• (ii) determining a first instant corresponding to a predetermined position of the unlocking member;
• (iii) determining a second instant corresponding to a predetermined position of the driving element;
• (iv) determining an elapsed duration between the first instant and the second instant;
• (v) iterating steps (i) to (iii) for a set of successive commands of the actuator, so as to obtain a set of values of the elapsed duration between the first instant and the second instant;
• (vi) determining degradation of the unlocking member of the switching device from the change in the values of the set during successive commands of the actuator.