Contact device of a starter contactor

Abstract

A contact device (15) of a starter contactor (1) comprising:a contact rod (17) made of an electrically insulating material,a contact strip (19) made of an electrically conducting material comprising a hole (19a) in which is mounted the contact rod (17),a squashing spring (25),a restoring spring (27), the contact device (15) also comprises a closure clip (33) of radial width greater than or equal to the diameter of the squashing spring (25), a radial notch (33a) being made in the closure clip (33), the radial notch (33a) receiving a portion of the contact rod (17), the squashing spring (25) being mounted compressed between the closure clip (33) and the contact strip (19) which is in abutment on a retaining collar (17a) of the contact rod (17).

Claims

1. A contact device (15) of a starter contactor (1), comprising: a contact rod (17) made of electrically insulating material, the contact rod (17) having a retention collar (17a); a contact plate (19) made of electrically conductive material comprising a hole (19a) in which the contact rod (17) is fitted; a compression spring (25); a return spring (27) having a rigidity lesser than the rigidity of the compression spring (25); and a closure clip (33) having a radial width larger than or equal to an outer diameter of the compression spring (25), the closure clip (33) having a radial notch (33a) receiving a portion of the contact rod (17), the compression spring (25) being fitted compressed between the closure clip (33) and the contact plate (19) abutting the retention collar (17a) for retention of the contact rod (17).

2. The contact device (15) according to claim 1, wherein the contact rod (17) comprises a closure collar (17b), and wherein the closure clip (33) abuts the closure collar (17b) of the contact rod (17).

3. The contact device (15) according to claim 2, wherein the closure collar (17b) is in a single piece with the contact rod (17).

4. The contact device according to claim 3, wherein the retention collar (17a) is in a single piece with the contact rod (17).

5. The contact device (15) according to claim 2, wherein the closure collar (17b) is in a single piece with the contact rod (17).

6. The contact device according to claim 2, wherein the retention collar (17a) is in a single piece with the contact rod (17).

7. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein the retention collar (17a) is in a single piece with the contact rod (17).

8. The contact device (15) according to claim 1, wherein the compression spring (25) is in contact with the contact plate (19).

9. The contact device (15) according to claim 8, wherein the compression spring (25) comprises a turn at the end of the compression spring which is in contact with the contact plate (19), this turn comprising a portion of flat surface perpendicular to the axis of revolution of the compression spring (25).

10. The contact device (15) according to claim 1, wherein the return spring (27) is retained by friction around an end of the contact rod (17), and is supported on the retention collar (17a).

11. A starter comprising a contact device (15) according to claim 1.

12. A contact device (15) of a starter contactor (1), comprising: a contact rod (17) made of electrically insulating material, the contact rod (17) having a retention collar (17a) and a closure collar (17b); a contact plate (19) made of electrically conductive material comprising a hole (19a) in which the contact rod (17) is fitted; a compression spring (25); a return spring (27); and a closure clip (33) having a radial width larger than or equal to an outer diameter of the compression spring (25), the closure clip (33) having a radial notch (33a) receiving a portion of the contact rod (17); the compression spring (25) being fitted compressed between the closure clip (33) and the contact plate (19) abutting the retention collar (17a) for retention of the contact rod (17); the closure clip (33) abutting the closure collar (17b) of the contact rod (17); the closure clip (33) comprising a first peripheral centering edge (33b) configured to surround the closure collar (17b) at least partially to retain the closure clip (33) in position around the contact rod (17).

13. The contact device (15) according to claim 12, wherein the closure clip (33) comprises a second peripheral centring edge (33c ) which is configured to be surrounded at least partially by the end of the compression spring (25), in order to keep said compression spring (25) centred around the contact rod (17).

14. The contact device (15) according to claim 13, wherein the closure collar (17b) is in a single piece with the contact rod (17).

15. The contact device according to claim 13, wherein the retention collar (17a) is in a single piece with the contact rod (17).

16. The contact device (15) according to claim 12, wherein the closure collar (17b) is in a single piece with the contact rod (17).

17. The contact device according to claim 12, wherein the retention collar (17a) is in a single piece with the contact rod (17).

18. A contact device (15) of a starter contactor (1), comprising: a contact rod (17) made of electrically insulating material, the contact rod (17) having a retention collar (17a); a contact plate (19) made of electrically conductive material comprising a hole (19a) in which the contact rod (17) is fitted; a compression spring (25); a return spring (27); and a closure clip (33) having a radial width larger than or equal to an outer diameter of the compression spring (25), the closure clip (33) having a radial notch (33a) receiving a portion of the contact rod (17); the compression spring (25) being fitted compressed between the closure clip (33) and the contact plate (19) abutting the retention collar (17a) for retention of the contact rod (17); the closure clip (33) and the contact plate (19) applying a pre-stress of 45 N 10% on the compression spring (25).

19. A contact device (15) of a starter contactor (1), comprising: a contact rod (17) made of electrically insulating material, the contact rod (17) having a retention collar (17a) and a closure collar (17b); a contact plate (19) made of electrically conductive material comprising a hole (19a) in which the contact rod (17) is fitted; a compression spring (25); a return spring (27); and a closure clip (33) having a radial width larger than or equal to an outer diameter of the compression spring (25), the closure clip (33) having a radial notch (33a) receiving a portion of the contact rod (17); the compression spring (25) being fitted compressed between the closure clip (33) and the contact plate (19) abutting the retention collar (17a) for retention of the contact rod (17); a diameter of the hole (19a) in the contact plate (19) being larger than the diameter of the closure collar (17b) and smaller than the diameter of the retention collar (17a).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description provided with reference to the appended drawings which represent possible embodiments by way of non-limiting indication.

(2) In these drawings:

(3) FIG. 1A represents a view in axial cross-section of a starter contactor according to an embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 1B represents a view in axial cross-section of a starter contactor according to another embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 2 represents an exploded view of a contact device according to the present invention;

(6) FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d represent a diagram of a closure clip according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d represent diagrams of a closure clip according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 5 represents a cross-section of the contact device according to the invention in the assembled state;

(9) FIG. 6 represents a figure of a contact device according to the invention in the assembled state.

(10) In these figures, the same reference numbers designate identical elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

(11) Contactor 1

(12) FIGS. 1A and 1B show a diagram of a starter contactor 1 comprising a cover 3 containing a set of coils 5. The set of coils 5 defines in its centre a tubular chamber 7 in which a magnetic core 9 is arranged. The magnetic core 9 comprises a fixed part 9a and a mobile part 9b which can be displaced in translation under the effect of the set of coils 5, between a position of rest represented in FIG. 1, and an active position in which the mobile part 9b comes into contact with the fixed part 9a of the magnetic core 9. A helical spring 11 assists the return to the position of rest in the absence of a supply of power to the set of coils 5. The set of coils 5 comprises a pull-in coil 5a and a contact coil 5b, the two coils 5a and 5b being supplied with power in order to displace the mobile part 9b of the magnetic core 9 from its position of rest to its active position, then the mobile part 9b is retained in the active position by the contact coil 5b alone, such as to limit the consumption of the set of coils 5.

(13) The mobile part 9b of the magnetic core 9 is connected to a fork 13 (represented partially) which drives the displacement of a pinion launcher (not represented) of the starter towards the crown (not represented) of the thermal engine to be started, when the mobile part 9b of the magnetic core 9 is displaced towards its active position.

(14) In addition, the displacement of the mobile part 9b of the magnetic core 9 to the active position gives rise to the displacement in translation relative to the cover 3 of a contact rod 17 of a contact device 15, between a position of rest represented in FIG. 1, and an active position. The contact device 15 comprises a contact rod 17 provided with a retention collar 17a which is integral in translation with the contact rod 17, and a contact plate 19 fitted on the contact rod 17. The passage to the active position of the contact rod 17 gives rise to putting into contact of the contact plate 19 with at least one electrical terminal. In the present case, the contact plate 19 comes into contact with two electrical terminals 21 and 23, in order to supply power to the electric motor (not represented) thus giving rise to rotation of the pinion. In addition, the contact plate 19 is mobile relative to the contact rod 17, between an initial position in which the contact rod 17 is in a position of rest, and a final position in which the contact rod 17 is in the active position. In the initial position, the contact plate 19 is in contact with the retention collar 17a, and in the final position, a gap is formed between the retention collar 17a and the contact plate 19 because of the contact with the electrical terminals 21 and 23.

(15) The contact device 15 also comprises a compression spring 25 fitted on the contact rod 17, which is positioned around a portion of the contact rod 17, and is designed to be compressed when the contact plate 19 comes into contact with the electrical terminals 21 and 23, and a return spring 27 which is designed to facilitate the return of the contact device 15 to the position of rest when power is no longer supplied to the coils 5a and 5b.

(16) In the embodiment in FIG. 1A, in the position of rest the plate is in contact with the fixed core.

(17) In the embodiment in FIG. 1B, in the position of rest the plate is not in contact with the fixed core, but it is the stop 17B which is in contact with the fixed core. This makes it possible to prevent the plate from being deformed when the spring 25 shown in FIG. 2 thrusts the plate towards the position of rest.

(18) Contact Device 15

(19) The contact device will now be described in detail on the basis of FIG. 2.

(20) FIG. 2 represents an exploded view of a contact device 15 according to the invention. The contact device comprises a contact rod 17 made of electrically insulating material, for example polymer material. The contact rod 17 comprises a first radial surface forming a retention collar 17a with a first diameter, and a second radial surface forming a collar 17b for closure of a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. The retention 17a and closure 17b collars are in a single piece with the contact rod 17, i.e. they are integral with the contact rod 17. The contact plate 19 is made of conductive material, for example copper, and comprises a circular central hole 19a, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the closure collar 17b and smaller than the diameter of the retention collar 17a.

(21) Thus, the contact plate is fitted on the contact rod 17 by inserting the contact rod 17 in the hole 19a in the contact plate 19, as indicated by the arrow 29. The contact plate 19 then comes into contact with the retention collar 17a of a first side of the retention collar 17a. The width of the plate is substantially equal to the diameter of the retention collar 17a, such that the retention collar 17a covers substantially the width of the contact plate 19, which contributes to the stability of the contact plate 19. The compression spring 25, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the hole 19a in the contact plate 19, is positioned around the contact rod 17, and comes into contact with the contact plate 17 as indicated by the arrow 31.

(22) The compression spring 25 comprises at least one turn at its end, a portion of which comprises a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of revolution of the compression spring 25. This flat surface is obtained for example by grinding at the end of the spring in contact with the contact plate 17, such as to obtain a flat surface at the end of the compression spring 25, and increase the area of contact between the compression spring 25 and the contact plate 17, and thus improve the stability of the contact plate 17, in particular during the passage of the contact rod 17 into the active position. The contact device 15 also comprises a closure clip 33, the radial width of which is larger than, or equal to, the diameter of the compression spring 25, and in which a radial notch 33a is provided, the width of which is smaller than the diameter of the closure collar 17b, and is designed to receive a portion of the contact rod 17.

(23) The closure clip 33 is positioned around the contact rod 17, against the radial surface formed by the closure collar 17b, as represented by the arrow 35. The closure clip thus comes between the compression spring 25 and the closure collar 17b, such as to retain the compression spring 25 and the contact plate 19 in position on the contact rod 17.

(24) The closure clip 33 is thus fitted on the contact rod 17 after the contact plate 19 and the compression spring 25, the fitting of the closure clip 33 requiring compression of the compression spring 25 in order to be fitted on the contact rod 17.

(25) The closure clip 33 then applies pre-stressing on the compression spring 25, which then applies a force on the contact plate 19 in the direction of the retention collar 17a, which contributes towards keeping the contact plate 19 supported to the maximum on the retention collar 17a. The compression spring 25 can also comprise a turn comprising a flat portion perpendicular to the axis of revolution of the compression spring 25 at its second end in contact with the closure clip 33, such as to increase the contact surface between the compression spring 25 and the closure clip 33.

(26) The return spring 27 is positioned on the contact rod, supported on a second side of the retention collar opposite the first side, as indicated by the arrow 37. The inner diameter of the return spring 27 is slightly smaller than, or substantially equal to, the diameter of the end of the contact rod 17 which is designed to receive the return spring 27, such that the friction between the return spring 27 and the contact rod 17 makes it possible to keep the return spring 27 in position on the contact rod 17, in particular before it is fitted in the contactor 1.

(27) As for the compression spring 25, the return spring 27 can comprise, at one of its ends at least, a turn comprising a flat portion perpendicular to the axis of revolution of the return spring 27, such as to obtain an end with a flat surface, and to maximise the surface of contact with the retention collar 17a on the one hand and the cover 3 of the contactor 1 on the other.

(28) Closure Clip 33

(29) The closure clip will now be described in greater detail on the basis of FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 5.

(30) In order to ensure the centring and retention in position of the closure clip 33, the latter comprises a peripheral centring edge 33b on its face which is designed to come into contact with the closure collar 17b, as represented in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, the peripheral centring edge 33b having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the closure collar 17b, such as to be positioned around the latter, whilst leaving a minimum gap between the two. The closure clip 33 thus surrounds the closure collar 17b at least partially.

(31) According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, the closure clip 33 comprises a second peripheral centring edge 33c on its second face which is designed to be in contact with the compression spring 25, with the second peripheral centring edge 33c having a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the compression spring 25, such as to surround the end of the compression spring 25 at least partially, whilst limiting the gap between the latter and the closure clip 33. This second peripheral centring edge 33c makes it possible to retain the compression spring 25 in a position centred around the contact rod 17. The two peripheral centring edges 33b and 33c can be different, for example in the case when the diameter of the compression spring 25 and of the closure collar 17b are different, but can also be identical in the case when the diameter of the compression spring 25 and the closure collar 17b are substantially identical, such as to facilitate the production of the closure clip 33, and reduce the production costs.

(32) FIG. 5 represents a cross-section of the device, the closure clip 33 of which is, according to the embodiment in FIGS. 4a to 4d, in the state in which it is fitted on the contact rod 17. The first peripheral centring edge 33b is positioned around the closure collar 17b, and the second peripheral centring edge 33c is positioned in the centre of the compression spring 25, thus permitting retention and centring of the compression spring 25 around the contact rod 17.

(33) Compression Spring 25 and Return Spring 27

(34) The compression 25 and return 27 springs are helical springs which are generally made of metal, for example steel. In the present invention, the rigidity of the compression spring 25 is greater than the rigidity of the return spring 27. In addition, the compression spring 25 is compressed between the contact plate 19 and the closure clip 33, such that, in the state of rest of the contact device 15, a pre-stress of between 40 N and 50 N is applied to the compression spring 25. FIG. 6 represents a figure of the contact device 15 in the assembled state. This contact device 15 comprises only five parts, i.e. the contact rod 17, the return spring 27, the contact plate 19, the compression spring 25 and the closure clip 33. This small number of parts makes it possible to reduce the cost of the device and make the assembly simpler and faster, which also makes it possible to reduce the assembly costs.

(35) As previously described, in operation, the power supply to the set of coils 5 thus gives rise to the displacement of the contact rod into the active position, which gives rise to putting into contact of the contact plate with the electrical terminals 21 and 23. At this moment, the compression spring 25 applies a force to the contact plate 19 which is at least 20 N more than the force exerted by the return spring 27 on the contact rod 17, because of the difference in rigidity between the compression spring 25 and the return spring 27. The force exerted by the return spring 27 on the contact rod 17 is contained in an interval ranging from 25 to 40 N. The force exerted by the compression spring 25 on the contact plate 19 is for example 51 N, whereas the force exerted by the return spring 27 on the contact rod 17 is 28 N. This greater force of the compression spring 25 compared with the return spring 27 makes it possible to limit the gap formed between the contact plate 19 and the retention collar 17a in the final position of the contact plate 19, i.e. at the moment of the contact with the electrical terminals 21 and 23. The rebound to which the contact plate 19 is subjected is thus reduced during the passage into the active position of the contact rod 17, such that power is supplied to the electric motor without any poor contacts. In addition, when power is no longer supplied to the coils 5a and 5b of the set of coils 5, the return spring 27 makes it possible to disconnect the contact plate 19 from the electrical terminals 21 and 25, such as to permit the return of the contact plate 17 to the position of rest.

(36) Thus, the use of a compression spring 25 with a large diameter, a large number of turns, a turn comprising a flat portion perpendicular to its axis of revolution at one of its ends at least, and the rigidity of which is greater than the rigidity of the return spring 27, makes it possible to obtain a contact device which is more stable during the passage from the position of rest to the active position, when the contact plate 19 comes into contact with the electrical terminals 21 and 23, thus making it possible to reduce greatly, or even eliminate, the rebound effect caused by the contact plate 19 approaching the electrical terminals 21 and 23, or due to the balancing of the compression spring 25 after this approach.

(37) The contact device 15 according to the present invention thus makes it possible, by means of its structure and its reduced number of parts, to obtain a contact device 15 which is reliable in the long term, with a reduced production cost, and which reduces or eliminates the rebound effect during the activation of the contactor 1.