Switching device

• US 6,034,585 A
• Filed: 10/21/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Donhauser, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuyen T.
• Application Number:
  US09/171,509
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 335/128, 335/132, 335/105, 335/130, 335/131, 335/129, 335/106, 335/202
• US Class Current: 335/132
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/54 by magnetic force combined with electrodynamic opening H01H77/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/546 for contactors having bridging contacts

Abstract

The invention relates to a switching device having a main electromagnetic drive for connecting and disconnecting a moving contact piece to fixed contact elements, and having an auxiliary electromagnetic drive which, in the event of an overload current flowing via the moving contact piece, in the ON state exerts an additional contact pressure of the contact piece on the fixed contact elements. A lever mounted in the moving contact carrier is also is provided to transmit the additional contact pressure.

Claims

1. A switching device, comprising:

a main electromagnetic drive;

fixed contact elements;

a moving contact piece;

a moving contact carrier;

a contact pressure spring, the moving contact piece being held in a window of the moving contact carrier via the contact pressure spring, the contact pressure spring pressing the moving contact piece onto the fixed contact elements when the main electromagnetic drive is in an "on" state;

an auxiliary electromagnetic drive including a coil winding, the coil winding being coupled in series to one of the fixed contact elements; and

a lever mounted in the moving contact carrier, the lever operatively coupled to the auxiliary electromagnetic drive and transmitting a force from the auxiliary electromagnetic drive onto the moving contact piece to provide an additional pressure of the moving contact piece on the fixed contact elements in the event of an overload current flowing via the moving contact piece.

2. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the lever is rotatably mounted in a rocker manner in the moving contact carrier, the lever including a first lever arm resting on the moving contact piece and a second lever arm coupled to an armature of the auxiliary electromagnetic drive.

3. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the lever is rotatably mounted in a rocker manner in the moving contact carrier, the lever including a lever arm connected to the contact pressure spring and acting via the contact pressure spring on the moving contact piece, the lever arm resting on the moving contact piece after the contact pressure spring has been deflected.

4. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the main electromagnetic drive and the auxiliary electromagnetic drive are firmly connected to a housing of the switching device.