Switching Device Having A Damping Element For A Contact System During Abrupt Switching On

Abstract

A switching device having a damping element for a contact system during abrupt switching on, wherein the contact system has a contact slide and a switching piece movably guided therein, and the movable switching piece is mounted opposite a fixed switching piece, where the contact slide has at least one projection that is operatively connected to the damping element when the switching device is switched on abruptly.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. A switching device comprising: a fixed switching piece; a damping element for a contact system during abrupt closing, the contact system including: a contact slide including at least one projection which, upon the abrupt closing of the switching device, engages with the damping element; and a movable switching piece movably guided in the contact slide and mounted opposite the fixed switching piece,

11. The switching device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the contact slide has a U-shaped configuration, with a center piece and two lateral guides, upon which at least one projection is arranged.

12. The switching device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the damping element is a stamped-bent part.

13. The switching device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the damping element is a stamped-bent part.

14. The switching device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the damping element has a U-shaped configuration, with two parallel and mutually-spaced apart lateral segments and a bridging piece.

15. The switching device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the damping element has a U-shaped configuration, with two parallel and mutually-spaced apart lateral segments and a bridging piece.

16. The switching device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the damping element has a U-shaped configuration, with two parallel and mutually-spaced apart lateral segments and a bridging piece.

17. The switching device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lateral segments of the damping element include recesses which, upon the abrupt closing of the switching device, engage with at least one projection on the contact slide.

18. The switching device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: a baffle; wherein the damping element is positioned below the baffle.

19. The switching device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the damping element is configured as a leaf spring element.

20. The switching device as claimed in claim 10, wherein, in the mounted state, the contact slide is positively enclosed by the damping element.

21. The switching device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the switching device is a power switch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments, and with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a partial section of a switching device in accordance with the invention, with a contact system and a damping element;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the contact system with its damping element in accordance with the invention;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the contact system with its damping element, in the disconnected state in accordance with the invention;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the contact system with its damping element, in the closed position in accordance with the invention; and

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the contact system with its damping element, after abrupt closing in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a switching device in accordance with the invention the invention, which is enclosed by a housing and has a contact system, comprising a contact slide 1, into which a movable switching piece 2 with contacts is guided, and a fixed switching piece 3 mounted opposite the movable switching piece 2. The contact slide 1 is preferably configured in a U-shaped manner, with a center piece 4 and two lateral guides 5, 6. A contact load spring 7 is arranged between the lateral guides 5, 6 of the contact slide 1. Above the center piece 4 of the contact slide 1, an operating lever 8 is arranged, which cooperates with the contact system.

[0040] The principle of rapid closing is based upon the fact that the closing motion of the contact system, comprised of a contact slide 1, a movable switching piece 2 and a fixed switching piece 3, is tripped by the closing motion of the operating lever 8, and is thus under the overriding control of the manually-actuated mechanism comprised of the actuator, the breaker mechanism and the transmission train. During the closing process, the movable switching piece 2 is maintained at a certain distance from the fixed switching pieces 3 by the operating lever 8, until the overriding manually-actuated mechanism has completed the closing process. Only then will the contact system be released, whereby the contacts are closed by the pre-tensioned stored-energy spring, in a type of snap-on action.

[0041] The contact load spring 7 is mounted on a plastic dome in the lower part of the switching device. A baffle 9 is positioned on the housing base. The contact slide 1, the contact load spring 7 which is positioned between the lateral guides 5, 6 of the contact slide 1, and the baffle 9, are enclosed by a damping element 10, which is preferably configured as a leaf spring element or as a catch spring, such that the damping element 10 rests on the lateral guides 5, 6 of the contact slide 1 and is routed below the baffle 9.

[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates how the damping element 10 encloses the unit comprised of the contact slide 1, the contact load spring 7 and the baffle 9. The damping element 10 is preferably configured in a U-shape, with a bridging piece 11 and two parallel and mutually-spaced lateral segments 12, 13. The lateral segment 12 of the damping element 10 rests on the lateral guide 5 of the contact slide 1. The lateral segment 13 of the damping element 10 likewise rests on the lateral guide 6 of the contact slide 1. The baffle 9 is positioned on the bridging piece 11 of the damping element 10, and passes between the lateral segments 12, 13 such that the damping element 10 encloses the lateral guides 4, 5 of the contact slide, the contact load spring 7 positioned between the latter, and the baffle 9. FIG. 2 also shows be seen that the lateral segments 12, 13 of the damping element 10 are provided with recesses 14, which are configured to engage with the lateral guides 5, 6 of the contact slide 1.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows the contact system in accordance with the invention, with the damping element in the disconnected state. In the disconnected state, the contacts are open and the operating lever 8 rests on the contact slide 1. In this switching state, the damping element 10 is inactive. In FIG. 3, projections 15 are represented, which are arranged at the ends of the lateral guides 5, 6 of the contact slide 1. After rapid closing, these projections 15 cooperate with the recesses 14 in the damping element 10.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows the contact system in accordance with the invention, with the damping element 10 in the closed state. In the closed state, the operating lever 8 is not directly in contact with the contact slide 1. In this switching state, the contacts on the movable switching piece 2 and the fixed switching piece 3 are closed. Here, again, the damping element 10 is inactive.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows the contact system in accordance with the invention with the damping element 10, following abrupt closing. In this case, the contacts remain closed. The contact slide 1 attempts to accelerate, but is arrested by the damping element 10. The arresting process is achieved by the cooperation of the projections 15 on the lateral guides 5, 6 of the contact slide 1 with the recess 14 on the lateral segments 12, 13 of the damping element 10. The damping element 10 is preferably configured as a catch spring, and forms the mating component for a preferably trapezoidal thickening on the contact slide. The movement of the contact slide 1 is thus effectively arrested. The use of this damping element 10 prevents the rebounding of the contact slide 1 from the operating lever 8 associated with its kinetic energy, and the re-opening of the contacts during its reverse motion. The risk of the fusion of the contacts, and the consequent destruction of the device, no longer arises.

[0046] The switching device in accordance with the invention with a damping element for the contact system is characterized in that the use of the damping element prevents the rebounding of the contact slide from the operating lever associated with its kinetic energy, and the re-opening of the contacts during its reverse motion. The risk of fusion of the contacts, and the consequent destruction of the device, no longer arises. A further advantage is provided, in that no deviation from customary installation procedures is required, as the spring element can simply be bridged upon the installation of the contact slide. During normal operation, i.e., between the on and off state of the device, the damping element has no impact upon the freedom of movement of the contact slide. Only where the contact slide disengages from the bridge is it effectively arrested by the catch spring, in order to prevent rebounding.

[0047] Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those element which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.