Field configurable contacts and contactor

In combination, a contactor for receiving contact modules and a contact module receivable in the contactor, the combination comprising:

• a contactor having a cover, the cover having cam openings, each cam opening providing access to first and second cam profiles raised from first and second sides of a flat surface, respectively, each cam profile including a raised surface and a sloped surface connecting the raised surface to the flat surface;
• a contact module having a housing, a stationary contact positioned within the housing, a spring-biased cam follower protruding from the housing, a spring for biasing the cam follower, a plunger extending from the cam follower and through the housing, the plunger movable with the cam follower, a module plate extending from the plunger, the module plate movable with the plunger and cam follower, a movable contact on the module plate, the movable contact movable with the module plate, wherein the cam follower is movable along its longitudinal axis from a first position where the movable contact abuts the stationary contact to a second position where the movable contact is separated from the stationary contact,
• wherein initially positioning the cam follower of the contact module upon the first cam profile results in a normally closed contact module with the cam follower placed on a raised surface forcing the cam follower into the second position, and initially positioning the cam follower of the contact module upon the second cam profile results in a normally open contact module with the cam follower resting on a flat surface and allowing the cam follower to be in the first position.

A latch assembly for mechanically holding a contactor during de-energization of the contactor, the latch assembly comprising:

• a latching bar having a first end and a second end;
• a latch plunger, the latch plunger having a head portion, a neck portion, and main body portion;
• the head portion of the latch plunger for connecting with a connector extending from an electromagnetically driven portion of the contactor;
• the neck portion of the latch plunger having a slot for receiving the first end of the latching bar;
• the main body portion containing a closed loop pathway for receiving the second end of the latching bar;
• and,
• a latch assembly base and a latch assembly cover forming a chamber for receiving the latch plunger therein, the latch plunger slidable from a bottom end to a top end of the chamber;
• wherein the first end of the latching bar extends through an opening in the latch assembly cover and the second end of the latching bar extends through an aperture in the latch assembly cover.

A contactor comprising:

• a top side and a bottom side;
• a main cam biased towards the bottom side and having a cam profile leg and a pair of supporting arms;
• an armature positioned between the pair of supporting arms;
• an electromagnet positioned adjacent the armature, energization of the electromagnet moving the armature towards the electromagnet and towards the top side of the contactor, the armature pushing the main cam towards the top side of the contactor against its bias;
• and,
• a latch assembly for mechanically latching the contactor when the electromagnet is de-energized and unlatching when the electromagnet is re-energized.