RAPID SAFETY SWITCH AND RAPID SAFETY SWITCH SYSTEM

Abstract

A rapid safety switch has a switch housing. The switch housing has six outer housing faces, including a front housing face, an open rear housing face, an upper housing face, a lower housing face, a first housing face, and a second housing face. An operating tool interface can be operated through one of the outer housing faces. The switch further includes one or more connection elements for controlling the rapid safety switch. The rapid safety switch can be unlatched by an electromagnetic trigger, and the rapid safety switch has a moving contact.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A rapid safety switch, comprising: a switch housing, said switch housing having: six housing external sides, including a housing front side, an open housing rear side, a housing upper side, a housing lower side, a first housing side, and a second housing side; an operating-tool interface to be operated through one of said housing external sides; and one or more connection elements for controlling the rapid safety switch; an electromagnetic release mechanism configured to unlatch the rapid safety switch and a moving contact to be moved by a spring accumulator, said spring accumulator being latched in a biased position, and to be released from being latched by said electromagnetic release mechanism; said moving contact being movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein, in the first position, said moving contact: is connected electrically conductively to a fourth terminal; and is electrically isolated from a first terminal and from a second terminal and from a third terminal; and in the second position, said moving contact: is connected electrically conductively to the fourth terminal; and is in electrically conductive contact with the first terminal and with the second terminal and with the third terminal; and said moving contact of the rapid safety switch, upon being unlatched by the electromagnetic release mechanism, moving from the first position to the second position, and said moving contact of the rapid safety switch being configured to be moved from the second position to the first position by way of said operating-tool interface.

12. The rapid safety switch according to claim 11, which comprises: a first fixed contact assembly, a second fixed contact assembly, and a third fixed contact assembly, wherein said first fixed contact assembly is connected electrically conductively to the first terminal, said second fixed contact assembly is connected electrically conductively to the second terminal, and said third fixed contact assembly is connected electrically conductively to the third terminal; said moving contact being configured, when transitioning from the first position to the second position, to contact substantially simultaneously said first fixed contact assembly, said second fixed contact assembly, and said third fixed contact assembly.

13. The rapid safety switch according to claim 12, wherein: said moving contact has a first extent lying parallel to moving directions of said moving contact, a second extent, and a third extent; and said moving contact along the first extent is formed with a thickening in the third extent, and wherein, in the second position, said first fixed contact assembly, said second fixed contact assembly and said third fixed contact assembly electrically contact said moving contact on said thickening.

14. The rapid safety switch according to claim 13, wherein, in the first position, said first fixed contact assembly, said second fixed contact assembly and said third fixed contact assembly are disposed on a region of said moving contact which is thinner in comparison with said thickening, such that said first fixed contact assembly, said second fixed contact assembly and said third fixed contact assembly in the first position are spaced apart from said moving contact and do not electrically contact said moving contact.

15. The rapid safety switch according to claim 12, wherein: said first fixed contact assembly has a first fixed contact on a first side of said moving contact and a second fixed contact on the first side of said moving contact; said second fixed contact assembly has a first second fixed contact on a second side of said moving contact and a second fixed contact on the second side of said moving contact; and said third fixed contact assembly has a first third fixed contact on the second side of said moving contact and a second third fixed contact on the first side of said moving contact.

16. The rapid safety switch according to claim 15, wherein said first fixed contact assembly, said second fixed contact assembly and said third fixed contact assembly are in each case impinged by a force and disposed in such a manner that said first fixed contact assembly, said second fixed contact assembly and said third fixed contact assembly in the first position each do not electrically contact said moving contact, and in the second position electrically contact said moving contact and are pushed onto said moving contact by a holding force.

17. The rapid safety switch according to claim 16, wherein each of said fixed contacts is formed by a conductor line-contact combination, and wherein: each of said conductor line-contact combinations is formed by: a movable element which is formed with at least one of a woven-fabric tape, strands, or blades, and wherein said movable element: has a first moving element end and a second moving element end; and said first moving element end has a first moving element connection which is formed by a process selected from the group consisting of welding, pressing, soldering and brazing, and said second moving element end has a second moving element connection which is formed by a process selected from the group consisting of welding, pressing, soldering, and brazing; a fixed contact which is disposed on said first moving element connection or said second moving element connection; and said fixed contact is disposed to be movable by said movable element.

18. The rapid safety switch according to claim 17, wherein each fixed contact has one, two or more fixed contact fingers, and wherein said fixed contact fingers at said first moving element end or said second moving element end are individually connected to said movable element.

19. The rapid safety switch according to claim 17, wherein: each conductor line-contact combination is disposed in a U-shape, with a first leg of a U and a second leg of a U, such that, in the second position of the rapid safety switch, a current flowing through said conductor line-contact combinations causes a repellant force between the respective first leg of the U and the second leg of the U, and thus pushes in each case said fixed contact against said moving contact, thereby increasing a contact pressure.

20. The rapid safety switch according to claim 11, wherein: said first terminal, said second terminal, said third terminal and said fourth terminal are disposed on a side opposite said electromagnetic release mechanism; and said moving contact is connected to said fourth terminal by way of one or more conductor lines.

21. The rapid safety switch according to claim 20, wherein a current supply to said moving contact is effected on a same side as the connections for said fixed contacts.

Description

[0047] The invention will be explained in more detail hereunder by means of an exemplary embodiment. The specific design embodiment of the exemplary embodiment is not to be understood as in any way limiting the general design embodiment of the method according to the invention and the installation according to the invention; rather, individual features of the design embodiment of the exemplary embodiment can be freely combined with one another and with the above-described features in an arbitrary manner.

[0048] FIG. 1: shows a schematic sectional illustration of a safety switch according to the invention in the open and latched state;

[0049] FIG. 2: shows a schematic sectional illustration of a safety switch according to the invention in the closed and unlatched state;

[0050] FIG. 3: shows a schematic sectional illustration of a safety switch according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 4: shows a schematic perspective illustration of a safety switch according to the invention;

[0052] FIG. 5: shows a schematic illustration of a conductor line/contact combination according to the invention for a safety switch according to the invention;

[0053] FIG. 6: shows a schematic illustration of a conductor line/contact combination according to the invention with fixed contact fingers for a safety switch according to the invention;

[0054] FIG. 7: shows a schematic illustration of a moving contact according to the invention for a safety switch according to the invention;

[0055] FIG. 8: shows a schematic illustration of an assembly according to the invention of fixed contacts about the moving contact, viewed from a first side of the moving contact, for a safety switch according to the invention; and

[0056] FIG. 9: shows a schematic illustration of an assembly according to the invention of fixed contacts about the moving contact, viewed from a second side of the moving contact, for a safety switch according to the invention.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a safety switch 100 according to the invention in the open and latched state.

[0058] The safety switch 100 has a housing, wherein an open housing rear side 114, a first housing side 117, a second housing side 118 and a housing front side of the housing are visible in FIG. 1. The housing upper side 115 and the housing lower side 116 are not illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0059] In the open state illustrated in FIG. 1, the fixed contacts 215, the first first fixed contact 215 and the first second fixed contact 225 being visible here, do not contact the moving contact 200, i.e. the fixed contacts 215 are electrically separated, i.e. isolated, from the moving contact 200. The latching mechanism 310 is locked, the safety switch 100 thus being latched. The latching mechanism 310 can be released, thus unlatched, by the electromagnetic release mechanism 300. The unlatching of the latching mechanism 310 has the effect that an energy store, here a mechanical energy store in the form of a spring accumulator 340, in particular in the form of a disk-spring pack, releases the stored energy, here in particular in the form of a movement of the moving contact 200. The spring accumulator 340 is able to be tensioned, thus able to be impinged with energy again, by means of the operating-tool interface 120. Furthermore, after the spring accumulator 340 has been tensioned the latching mechanism by means of the operating-tool interface 120 is transferred from the unlatched position to the latched position again so that a new switching action can again be released by means of the electromagnetic release mechanism 300. The electromagnetic release mechanism 300, the latching mechanism 310 and the spring accumulator 340 here form the drive of the safety switch 100.

[0060] The spring accumulator 100 is mechanically connected to the moving contact 200, wherein the spring accumulator 340 is preferably mechanically connected to the moving contact 200 by way of an electrically isolating connection piece 190.

[0061] The moving contact is connected in a movable yet electrically conducting manner to a fourth terminal 240, wherein the movable and electrically conducting connection is preferably performed by means of one or a plurality of conductor lines 250, in particular two conductor lines 250.

[0062] The fourth terminal 240 is disposed on the open housing rear side 114. The first terminal 210, the second terminal 220 and the third terminal 230 are also disposed on the open housing rear side 114. The first terminal 210, the second terminal 220, the third terminal 230 and the fourth terminal 240 here are disposed so as to be electrically isolated from one another, this here being able to be implemented by dielectric intermediate elements, not shown, by a spacing not shown here but in FIG. 4, or by an isolating coating.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional illustration of the safety switch 100 according to the invention of FIG. 1 in the closed and unlatched state.

[0064] The safety switch 100 has a housing, where in an open housing rear side 114, a first housing side 117, a second housing side 118 and a housing front side of the housing are visible in FIG. 2. The housing upper side 115 and the housing lower side 116 are not illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0065] In the closed state e illustrated in FIG. 2, the fixed contacts 215, the first first fixed contact 215 and the first second fixed contact 225 being visible here, electrically contact the moving contact 200. The latching mechanism 310 is unlocked, the safety switch 100 thus being unlatched. The latching mechanism 310 is released i.e. unlatched, by the electromagnetic release mechanism 300.

[0066] The fixed contacts 215, the first first fixed contact 215 and the first second fixed contact 225 being visible here, are in each case connected to an evasive movement restriction 150 and a fixed contact finger support 160. The first receptacle 216 for the evasive movement restriction 150 and the second receptacle 217 for the fixed contact finger support, which are in each case utilized for connecting, are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 but not in FIG. 2.

[0067] The spring accumulator 340 is able to be tensioned, thus again able to be impinged with energy, by means of the operating-tool interface 120. After the spring accumulator 340 has been tensioned, the latching mechanism by means of the operating-tool interface 120 is furthermore transferred from the unlatched position to the latched position of FIG. 1 again, so that a new switching action can again be released by means of the electromagnetic release mechanism 300. The electromagnetic release mechanism 300, the latching mechanism 310 and the spring accumulator 340 here too form the drive of the safety switch 100.

[0068] The moving contact is connected in a movable yet electrically conducting manner to a fourth terminal 240, wherein the movable and electrically conducting connection is preferably performed by means of one or a plurality of conductor lines 250, in particular two or four conductor lines 250.

[0069] The fourth terminal 240 is disposed on the open housing rear side 114. The first terminal 210, the second terminal 220 and the third terminal 230 are also disposed on the open housing rear side 114. The first terminal 210, the second terminal 220, the third terminal 230 and the fourth terminal 240 here are disposed so as to be electrically isolated from one another, this being able to be implemented by dielectric intermediate elements, not shown, by a spacing not shown here but in FIG. 4, or by an isolating coating.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a safety switch 100 according to the invention with the open housing rear side 114, the housing front side 113 having the operating-tool interface 120, the housing upper side 115 and the housing lower side 116 having connection elements 130. The connection elements 130 serve for electrically and/or optically contacting in order to actuate monitors of the safety switch 100, thus offering a communications interface.

[0071] Illustrated in the illustration of FIG. 3 are the first second fixed contact 225, the second second fixed contact 225 and the first third fixed contact 235 on one side of the moving contact 200.

[0072] Some of the connection elements 130 are connected to the electromagnetic release mechanism 300 so that the electromagnetic release mechanism 300 can be released and optionally also monitored by way of this connection. Furthermore optionally, some connection elements 130 are connected to a position sensor 315 in such a manner that the position of the latching mechanism can be monitored.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a safety switch 100 according to the invention, with the open housing rear side 114, the housing lower side 116 having connection elements 130, the first housing side 117 and the second housing side 118.

[0074] The first terminal 210, the second terminal 220, the third terminal 230 and the fourth terminal 240 are disposed so as to be electrically isolated from one another on the open housing rear side 114, this here being implemented by a spacing of the first terminal 210, of the second terminal 220, of the third terminal 230 and of the fourth terminal 240. The fourth terminal 240 here is additionally fastened by an optional, electrically isolating holding element 245.

[0075] The fourth terminal 240 is connected in an electrically conducting manner to the moving contact 200, not shown here, by way of four visible conductor lines 250, wherein two of the conductor lines 250 are visible and two conductor lines are obscured by the fourth terminal 240.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a current line/contact combination 1 according to the invention, having a fixed contact 215 and a moving element 255. The moving element 255 has a first moving element end 256 and a second moving element end 257. The first moving element end 256, by means of welding, pressing and/or soldering/brazing, forms a first moving element connection, and the second moving element end 257, by means of welding, pressing and/or soldering/brazing, forms a second moving element connection. By way of example, the fixed contact 215 is disposed here on the second moving element connection at the second moving element end 257. By way of example, the first moving element connection at the first moving element end 256 here preferably has two fastening means receptacles 254. By way of example, the fixed contact 215 here has a first receptacle 216 for an evasive movement restriction 150 not shown.

[0077] Furthermore shown is an optional second receptacle 217 on the fixed contact, the former serving for receiving a fixed contact finger support not shown here.

[0078] The fixed contact 215 is connected to the second moving element connection in such a manner that the fixed contact 215 is able to be moved by the moving element 255. In particular, the fixed contact is in this way capable of performing an evasive movement in relation to a moving contact not shown, wherein the moving contact has a moving direction 201, and the fixed contact 215 can perform a movement in a further moving direction 203 which is perpendicular to the moving direction 201 of the moving contact.

[0079] The connection between the fixed contact 215 and the second moving element connection is preferably performed by means of welding, pressing, screwing, riveting and/or soldering/brazing, particularly preferably by means of welding.

[0080] Furthermore optionally provided are force-introduction points 218 which enable a force, in particular a spring force, to be applied to the fixed contacts 215, which force is preferably directed counter to the possible direction of the evasive movement.

[0081] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a conductor line/contact combination 1 according to the invention, having fixed contact fingers 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d and a moving element 255 having a first moving element end 256 and a second moving element end 257.

[0082] The moving element 255, in a first moving element portion 255a, toward the second moving element end 257 is slotted or segmented in such a manner that moving element end segments 255b, 255c, 255d, 255e are formed, each being connected to a fixed contact finger 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d. As a result, each of the fixed contact fingers 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d in this exemplary embodiment is individually movable.

[0083] The first moving element end 256, by means of welding, pressing and/or soldering/brazing, forms a first moving element connection and the second moving element end 257, by means of welding, pressing and/or soldering/brazing, forms a second moving element connection. By way of example, the fixed contact fingers 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d are here disposed on the second moving element connection at the second moving element end 257. By way of example, the first moving element connection at the first moving element end 256 here preferably has two fastening means receptacles 254. By way of example, the fixed contact fingers 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d here have in each case first receptacles 216 for an evasive movement restriction not shown.

[0084] Furthermore shown is an optional second receptacle 217 on the individual fixed contact fingers 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d, the former serving for receiving a fixed contact finger support not shown here.

[0085] The fixed contact fingers 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d are connected to the second moving element connection in such a manner that the fixed contact fingers 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d are able to be moved by the moving element 255. In particular, the fixed contact fingers are in this way capable of performing an evasive movement in relation to a moving contact not shown, wherein the moving contact has a moving direction 201, and the fixed contact 215 can perform a movement in a further moving direction 203 which is perpendicular to the moving direction 201 of the moving contact.

[0086] The connection between the fixed contact fingers 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d and the second moving element connection, or the moving element segments 255b, 255c, 255d, 255e, respectively, is preferably performed by means of welding, pressing, screwing, riveting and/or soldering/brazing, particularly preferably by means of welding.

[0087] Furthermore optionally provided are force-introduction points 218 which enable a force, in particular a spring force, to be applied to the fixed contact fingers 215a, 215b, 215c, 215d, which force is preferably directed counter to the possible direction of the evasive movement.

[0088] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a moving contact 200 according to the invention for a safety switch 100 according to the invention.

[0089] The moving contact 200 here possesses a thickening 207 having a side 205 for coupling to the spring accumulator 340, wherein the coupling to the spring accumulator can take place by way of an electrically isolating connection piece 190 shown in FIG. 1. On the side opposite the coupling side 205, the thickening 207 here has an optionally radiused edge 206 or shoulder 206 of the thickening 207 of the moving contact 200.

[0090] The thinner region 208 of the moving contact 200 has an upper side 204 of the moving contact 200. The moving contact has: [0091] a first extent 201 which is also a moving direction of the moving contact 200; [0092] a second extent 202 of the moving contact 200; and [0093] a third extent 203 of the moving contact 200, which is also a further moving direction 203 perpendicular to the moving direction 201 of the moving contact 200.

[0094] In the state assembled in an orderly manner, the moving contact is thus movable along the moving direction 201.

[0095] The thickening 207 of the moving contact 200 serves for electrically contacting the fixed contacts 215 in the closed state, while the fixed contacts in the opened state are situated in the environment of the thinner region 208 of the moving contact 200, so as to be electrically isolated from the moving contact 200.

[0096] As a result of the movement of the moving contact 200 in the moving direction 201 of the moving contact 200, the moving contact can be transferred from the closed state to the open state and vice versa.

[0097] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of an assembly according to the invention of fixed contacts 215, 215, 235 about the moving contact 200, viewed from a first side 203a of the moving contact 200, having a conductor line 250, for a safety switch 100 according to the invention.

[0098] The moving contact 200 again has a thickening 207 with a shoulder 206 and a thinner region 208.

[0099] Disposed on the first side 203a of the moving contact 200 are a first first fixed contact 215 and a second first fixed contact 215 in a first fixed contact assembly 214, and a second third fixed contact 235 of the third fixed contact assembly 234. The open state of the safety switch 100 is illustrated. In the preferred embodiment shown, the first fixed contact assembly 214 and the second third fixed contact 235 are spaced farther apart from one another than the first first fixed contact 215 and the second first fixed contact 215. This larger spacing between the first fixed contact assembly 214 and the third fixed contact assembly 234 has the effect of an improved electrical isolation of different phases and at the same time offers a compact design of the safety switch 100.

[0100] FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of an assembly according to the invention of fixed contacts 225, 225, 235 about the moving contact 200, viewed from a second side 203b of the moving contact 200, having a conductor line 250, for a safety switch 100 according to the invention.

[0101] The moving contact 200 again has a thickening 207 with a shoulder 206 and a thinner region 208.

[0102] Disposed on the second side 203b of the moving contact 200 are a first second fixed contact 225 and a second second fixed contact 225 in a second fixed contact assembly 224, and a first third fixed contact 235 of the third fixed contact assembly 234. The open state of the safety switch 100 is illustrated. In the preferred embodiment shown, the second fixed contact assembly 224 and the first third fixed contact 235 are spaced farther apart from one another than the first second fixed contact 225 and the second second fixed contact 225. This larger spacing between the second fixed contact assembly 224 and the third fixed contact assembly 234 has the effect of an improved electrical isolation of different phases and at the same time offers a compact design of the safety switch 100.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0103] 1 Conductor line/contact combination [0104] 100 Rapid safety switch [0105] 110 Switch housing of the rapid safety switch (100) [0106] 112 Housing external sides, total of six [0107] 113 Housing front side [0108] 114 Open housing rear side [0109] 115 Housing upper side [0110] 116 Housing lower side [0111] 117 First housing side [0112] 118 Second housing side [0113] 120 Operating-tool interface [0114] 130 Connection elements [0115] 150 Evasive movement restriction [0116] 160 Fixed contact finger support [0117] 190 Electrically isolating connection piece [0118] 200 Moving contact [0119] 201 First extent of the moving contact and moving direction of the moving contact 200 [0120] 202 Second extent of the moving contact 200 [0121] 203 Third extent of the moving contact 200 and further moving direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving contact 200 [0122] 203a First side of the moving contact 200 [0123] 203b Second side of the moving contact 200 [0124] 204 Upper side of the moving contact 200 [0125] 205 Side for coupling to the spring accumulator 340 [0126] 206 Radiused edge; shoulder of the thickening 207 of the [0127] moving contact 200 [0128] 207 Thickening on the moving contact 200 [0129] 208 Thinner region of the moving contact 200 [0130] 210 First terminal [0131] 214 First fixed contact assembly [0132] 215 First first fixed contact and fixed contact [0133] 215 Second first fixed contact [0134] 215a First fixed contact finger [0135] 215b Second fixed contact finger [0136] 215c Third fixed contact finger [0137] 215d Fourth fixed contact finger [0138] 216 First receptacle [0139] 217 Second receptacle [0140] 218 Force-introduction points [0141] 220 Second terminal [0142] 224 Second fixed contact assembly [0143] 225 First second fixed contact [0144] 225 Second second fixed contact [0145] 230 Third terminal [0146] 234 Third fixed contact assembly [0147] 235 First third fixed contact [0148] 235 First third fixed contact [0149] 240 Fourth terminal [0150] 245 Holding element [0151] 250 Conductor line [0152] 254 Fastening means receptacle [0153] 255 Moving element [0154] 255a First moving element portion [0155] 255b Moving element segment [0156] 255c Moving element segment [0157] 255d Moving element segment [0158] 255e Moving element segment [0159] 256 First moving element end [0160] 257 Second moving element end [0161] 300 Electromagnetic release mechanism [0162] 310 Latching mechanism [0163] 315 Position encoder [0164] 340 Spring accumulator