Contact device for an electrical switch, and electrical switch

Abstract

A contact device for an electrical switch, and an electrical switch are disclosed. In an embodiment the contact device includes a first connection element, a second connection element, a movable contact bridge, at least two magnets configured to quench arcs which arise during a switching of the electrical switch, wherein the magnets are configured to generate a magnetic field in a first region which comprises at least one first contact region and one second contact region, in which, when the electrical switch is in a closed switching position, the first connection element and the second connection element are in contact with the contact bridge and at least one deflection element configured to distort the magnetic field such that a first arc when formed between the first connection element and the contact bridge, and a second arc when formed between the second connection element and the contact bridge, are forced into different directions, pointing away from each other.

Claims

1. A contact device for an electrical switch, the device comprising: a first connection element; a second connection element; a movable contact bridge; at least two magnets configured to quench arcs which arise during a switching of the electrical switch, wherein the magnets are configured to generate a magnetic field in a first region which comprises at least one first contact region, in which, when the electrical switch is in a closed switching position, the first connection element is in contact with the contact bridge, and at least one second contact region, in which, when the electrical switch is in the closed switching position, the second connection element is in contact with the contact bridge; and at least one deflection element configured to distort the magnetic field such that a first are when formed between the first connection element and the contact bridge, and a second are, when formed between the second connection element and the contact bridge, are forced into different directions, pointing away from each other, independently of a current direction in the connection elements, wherein the at least one deflection element is situated partially around the first region in which the first connection element and the second connection element and the contact bridge are situated, wherein at least one of the magnets is situated on a first side of the first region in which the first connection element, the second connection element and the contact bridge are situated, wherein at least one of the magnets is situated on a second side of the first region, which is opposite the first side, wherein the at least one deflection element comprises: a first deflection element including a first bracket having a first bracket section and a second bracket section, wherein the first bracket section extends at least partially along a first end face of the first region and the second bracket section extends at least partially along the first side of the first region; and a second deflection element including a second bracket having a first bracket section and a second bracket section, wherein the first bracket section extends at least partially along a second end face of the first region, wherein the second end face is opposite the first end face, and the second bracket section extends partially along the second side of the first region, and wherein the first and second brackets are arranged diagonally to each other.

2. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein a first directional vector representing a direction into which the first are is forced, encloses an angle with a connection axis, which connects a center of the first contact region to a center of the second contact region, within a range of greater than 90 to less than 270, wherein a second directional vector representing a direction into which the second are is forced, encloses an angle with the connection axis within a range of less than 90 to greater than 90, wherein the first directional vector comprises a directional component along the connection axis, which points away from the second contact region, and wherein the second directional vector comprises a directional component along the connection axis, which points away from the first contact region.

3. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the second bracket section of the first bracket or the second bracket section of the second bracket is designed and situated such that it at least partially overlaps the at least one magnet of the first side or the at least one magnet of the second side.

4. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one deflection element comprises magnetically conductive material.

5. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one magnet of the first side and the at least one magnet of the second side are situated such that homopolar sides of the magnets face each other.

6. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein a first magnet is situated on the first side of the first region in which the first connection element and the second connection element and the contact bridge are situated, wherein a second magnet is situated on the second side of the first region, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet each covers a second region which extends from the first contact region of the first connection element to the second contact region of the second connection element.

7. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the two magnets are situated and designed such that they overlap at least the first contact region and the second contact region.

8. An electrical switch comprising: the contact device according to claim 1; and a drive unit configured to move the contact bridge of the contact device back and forth between a first position, in which the contact bridge conductively connects the first connection element and the second connection element, and a second position, in which the first connection element and the second connection element are insulated.

9. The electrical switch according to claim 8, wherein the first deflection element comprises an L-shaped form.

10. The electrical switch according to claim 9, wherein the second deflection element comprises an L-shaped form.

11. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the first deflection element comprises an L-shaped form.

12. The contact device according to claim 11, wherein the second deflection element comprises an L-shaped form.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in the following with reference to the schematic drawings.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of an electrical switch which comprises a contact device;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one exemplary contact device;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the contact device having a first magnetic field profile; and

(6) FIG. 4 shows the top view of the contact device having a second magnetic field profile.

(7) Elements having the same design or function are provided with the same reference numbers in all the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of an electrical switch. The electrical switch is designed as a relay 10, for example.

(9) The relay 10 comprises a drive unit 20 and a contact device 30. The drive unit 20 comprises, for example, a solenoid actuator including at least one coil 24 and a plunger 26 which is situated in the at least one coil 24. The coil 24 can be acted upon from the outside with a voltage, in order to generate a magnetic field in the plunger 26, whereby the plunger 26 is movable along its longitudinal axis in the direction of the contact device 30. The coil 24 and the plunger 26 are preferably situated within a magnetizable yoke 28.

(10) The contact device 30 comprises a first connection element 31, a second connection element 32, and a movable contact bridge 33.

(11) The drive unit 20, in particular the plunger 26, is situated and designed for switching the contact bridge 33 of the contact device 30, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (but not shown in FIG. 1), between a first position, in which the contact bridge 33 conductively connects the first connection element 31 and the second connection element 32, and a second position, in which the first connection element 31 and the second connection element 32 are insulated, depending on an energization of the coil 24.

(12) The contact device 30 comprises at least two magnets, for example, a first magnet 35 and a second magnet 36, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (but not shown in FIG. 1), for quenching arcs which arise during the switching of the electrical switch, wherein the magnets 35, 36 generate a magnetic field in a first region which includes at least a first contact region and a second contact region, in which contact regions, with the electrical switch in a closed switching position, the first connection element 31 and the second connection element 32 are in contact with the contact bridge 33.

(13) Furthermore, the contact device 30 comprises at least one deflection element which is situated and designed for distorting the magnetic field in such a way that a first are, which forms between the first connection element 31 and the contact bridge 33, and a second are, which forms between the second connection element 32 and the contact bridge 33, are forced into different directions, which extend pointing away from each other, independently of a particular current direction in the connection elements 31, 32.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a part the contact device 30. FIGS. 3 and 4 each show a top view of the contact device 30 as further explained below.

(15) The contact device 30 comprises, for example, a frame which delimits a space in which the first connection element 31 and the second connection element 32 as well as the contact bridge 33 are at least partially situated. The frame can be part of a housing or a contact cavity, for example, a ceramic cavity. The frame facilitates a stable arrangement of the magnets 35, 36 and of the deflection elements and, therefore, is optional for the contact device 30. A particular arrangement of the magnets 35, 36 and of the deflection elements with respect to the connection elements 31, 32 and the contact bridge 33 is crucial for the function of the are quenching.

(16) The frame comprises, for example, the at least one deflection element of the contact device 30. For example, the contact device 30 comprises a first deflection element and a second deflection element, which are part of the frame. The first and the second deflection elements preferably comprise a magnetically conductive material or consist of a magnetically conductive material.

(17) The frame comprises, for example, a first side wall 37 and a second side wall 38 which is opposite the first side wall 37. The first and the second side walls 37, 38 are preferably designed to be magnetically non-conductive.

(18) The first magnet 35 is situated, for example, on the first side wall 37. Alternatively, the first side wall 37 comprises a recess in which the first magnet 35 is situated.

(19) The second magnet 36 is situated, for example, on the second side wall 38. Alternatively, the second side wall 38 comprises a recess in which the second magnet 36 is situated.

(20) The first magnet 35 and the second magnet 36 are situated on the first side wall 37 and on the second side wall 38, respectively, in such a way that homopolar sides of the magnets 35, 36 face each other. Preferably, the first magnet 35 and the second magnet 36 are situated directly opposite each other on an inner side of the frame.

(21) The first deflection element has, for example, a first bracket 39 having a first and a second bracket section 41, 42. The first bracket section 41 extends along a first end face of the frame and the second bracket section 42 is situated at least partially along the first side wall 37.

(22) The second deflection element has, for example, a second bracket 40 having a first bracket section 43 and a second bracket section 44, wherein the first bracket section 43 extends along a second end face of the frame, which is opposite the first end face, and the second bracket section 44 is situated partially along the second side wall 38.

(23) The second bracket sections 42, 44 of the first bracket 39 and of the second bracket 40 are situated, for example, on an outer side of the first side wall 37 and of the second side wall 38, respectively.

(24) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the contact device 30. A first magnetic field profile is shown. A current through the first connection element 31 and the second connection element 32 has a first current direction. Furthermore, a first and a second directional vector FL1, FL2 are shown. The first directional vector FL1 represents, by way of example, the direction into which the first are is forced. The second directional vector FL2 represents, by way of example, the direction into which the second are is forced. The two directional vectors FL1, FL2 point away from each other. The directional vectors FL1, FL2 each represent force vectors of the Lorentz force which acts on the ionized air, i.e., the arcs, at the corresponding point.

(25) In particular, the first directional vector FL1 comprises a direction component along a connection axis which connects a center of the first contact region to a center of the second contact region, which points away from the second contact region. The second directional vector FL2 comprises a directional component along the connection axis, which points away from the first contact region.

(26) FIG. 4 shows a top view of the contact device 30. A second magnetic field profile is shown. A current through the first connection element 31 and the second connection element 32 has a second current direction which is opposite the first current direction. The first are and the second arcs are forced into directions other than those in the case shown in FIG. 3. In this case as well, however, the first directional vector FL1 comprises a directional component along the connection axis, which points away from the second contact region, and also the second directional component FL2 comprises a directional component along the connection axis, which points away from the first contact region.