Controller having interchangeable vacuum or air break contactors and having easily serviced parts

• US 4,839,477 A
• Filed: 03/07/1988
• Issued: 06/13/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Square D Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Square D Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Monson, Donald B., Tringali, Dominick, Kuiper, Gerald J., Orosz, Miklos J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Macon, Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US07/168,568
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 200/50 AA, 361/336, 361/338
• US Class Current: 200/50.21
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0006 for converting electric switches H01H13/564 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/28 using electromagnet for storing energy in a spring motor H01H3/30; for operating relays H01H45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/666 Operating arrangements

Abstract

The inventions solves the problem of convenient mounting of parts of controllers, and solves the problem of interchangeability of vacuum and air break contactors within a controller. A controller has a housing, an isolation switch mounted within the housing, a contactor mounted within the housing and connected electrically downstream from the isolation switch, and the controller has a receptacle which can accept either a vacuum contactor or an air break contactor. Also, the contactor has an operating coil and control components mounted on a side facing a door of the housing so that the coil can be replaced and the control components serviced without disturbing the contactor.

Claims

1. A controller for electric current comprising:

an enclosure;

an isolation switch mounted within said enclosure;

a receptacle connected electrically downstream from said isolation switch, said receptacle being capable of accepting a contactor having plug in electric connectors, and

said contactor selected from the group consisting of

an air break contactor, and

a vacuum break contactor.

2. An apparatus as in Claim 1 further comprising:

rails upon which a contactor may rest so as to facilitate sliding said contactor into electrical connection with said receptacle, and removing said contactor from electrical connection with said receptacle.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said electric current is a three phase alternating electric current.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said isolation switch is a three phase alternating current isolation switch.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receptacle is molded out of plastic.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

stabs for providing plug in connection for three phase alternating current, said stabs mounted within said receptacle, and said receptacle made of insulating material.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plug in electrical connectors comprise female connectors for mating with stabs supported by said receptacle.

8. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said contactor is mounted on wheels for ease of connection to said plug in electrical connector.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said contactor is mounted on skids for ease of connection to said plug, in electric connectors.

10. The controller of claim 1 wherein contacts of said contactor are in electrical series with contacts of said isolation switch, and further comprising interlock means for preventing operation of said isolation switch between opened and closed positions when the contacts of said contactor are closed.

11. A controller for three phase alternating electric current comprising:

an enclosure;

an isolation switch for three phase alternating electric current mounted within said enclosure;

a receptacle connected electrically downstream from said isolation switch, said receptacle being capable of accepting a contactor having plug in electric connectors,

said contactor selected from the group consisting of

an air break contactor; and

a vacuum break contactor; and

stabs for providing plug in connection for three phase alternating current, said stabs mounted within said receptacle, and said receptacle made of insulating material, and said plug in electrical connectors mounted on said contactor so as to mate with said stabs.

12. The controller of claim 11 wherein contacts of said contactor are in electrical series with contacts of said isolation switch, and further comprising interlock means for preventing operation of said isolation switch between opened and closed positions when the contacts of said contractor are closed.