Vacuum contactor
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsJohann Drexler, Markus Kropp, Bardo Koppmann, Markus Meier, Norbert Mitlmeier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a vacuum contactor, the armature is initially deflected from an armature rest position through an initial movement distance, and then through a driving movement distance to an armature operating position when a pull-in current is applied to a drive coil. An operating element is deflected from an element rest position to an element operating position by the armature only while the latter is passing through the driving movement distance. This makes it possible to achieve a good tripping characteristic of the vacuum contractor.
Claims20
A vacuum contactor, comprising:
- a contactor housing;
- a drive coil;
- an armature;
- an operating element;
- and
- at least one vacuum contact, wherein the drive coil is adapted to deflect the armature from an armature rest position to an armature operating position when a pull-in current is applied, wherein the deflection of the armature is adapted to cause the operating element to be deflected from an element rest position to an element operating position, wherein the deflection of the operating element is adapted to result in closing of the at least one vacuum contact, wherein when the armature is deflected from the armature rest position to the armature operating position, the armature is adapted to first pass through an initial movement distance and is then adapted to pass through a driving movement distance, with the operating element being deflected by the armature only while the armature is passing through the driving movement distance, and wherein the vacuum contactor is adapted such that, for any current less than the pull-in current, the operating element either remains in the element rest position or is deflected completely to the element operating position, when the current is applied to the drive coil.
A method of operating a vacuum contactor including a drive coil, an armature, an operating element, and at least one vacuum contact, comprising:
- applying a pull-in current to the drive coil to deflect the armature from an armature rest position to an armature operating position;
- causing, from the deflection of the armature, the operating element to be deflected from an element rest position to an element operating position;
- causing, from the deflection of the operating element, closing of the at least one vacuum contact;
- and
- causing, when the armature is deflected from the armature rest position to the armature operating position, the armature to first pass through an initial movement distance and then pass through a driving movement distance, with the operating element being deflected by the armature only while the armature is passing through the driving movement distance, and wherein the vacuum contactor is adapted such that, for any current less than the pull-in current, the operating element either remains in the element rest position or is deflected completely to the element operating position, when the current is applied to the drive coil.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a vacuum contactor including a drive coil, an armature, an operating element, and at least one vacuum contact;
- and
- means for applying a pull-in current to the drive coil to detect the armature from an armature rest position to an armature operating position, wherein, from the deflection of the armature, the operating element is adapted to be deflected from an element rest position to an element operating position, wherein, from the deflection of the operating element, the at least one vacuum contact is adapted to be closed, wherein, when the armature is deflected from the armature rest position to the armature operating position, the armature is adapted to first pass through an initial movement distance and then pass through a driving movement distance, with the operating element being deflected by the armature only while the armature is passing through the driving movement distance, and wherein the vacuum contactor is adapted such that, for any current less than the pull-in current, the operating element either remains in the element rest position or is deflected completely to the element operating position, when the current is applied to the drive coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.