Electrical switching device

• US 6,046,661 A
• Filed: 03/23/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gruner AG
• Original Assignee: Gruner AG
• Inventors: Schmelz, Rainer, Reger, Arno
• Primary Examiner(s): DONOVAN, LINCOLN D
• Application Number:
  US09/045,845
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 335/78-86, 335/121, 335/124, 335/128, 335/177-179, 335/185-190
• US Class Current: 335/185
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/546 for contactors having bridging contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/56 Contact spring sets
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/643 intermediate part performing a rotating or pivoting movement H01H50/645, H01H50/66 - H01H50/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 51/2227 in which the movable part comprises at least one permanent magnet, sandwiched between pole-plates, each forming an active air-gap with parts of the stationary magnetic circuit H01H51/2209 takes precedence

Abstract

A device (11a; 11b) for switching an electrical circuit has a contact element (15a; 15b) which closes or opens the circuit between a first and a second terminal (13a, 14a; 13b, 14b). One end of the contact element (15a; 15b) is connected to the first terminal in a conducting fashion (13a; 13b). The second free end of the contact element (15a; 15b) closes the circuit in a first end position and opens the circuit in a second end position. A switchable magnetic field, preferably one whose polarity can be changed, moves, by means of an actuator device, the contact element (15a; 15b) into one of its two end positions. The activating device comprises a toggle lever (23a; 23b) to move the free end of the contact element (15a; 15b) into at least one of its two end positions. The device allows the holding power and/or the seating pressure of the free end of the contact element to be increased in its closed end position.

Claims

1. A device for switching an electrical circuit, the device comprising:

a housing;

a magnet coil mounted to the housing, said magnet coil having a polarity which is changeable;

an armature seated at said magnet coil for pivoting in response to changes in said polarity, said armature having a bottom;

an armature arm having an upper end rigidly connected to said bottom of said armature, said armature arm extending away from said armature bottom in a downward direction, said armature arm having a lower end;

a first connecting arm extending in a substantially horizontal direction, said first connection arm having a first end connected to said lower end of said armature arm for pivoting motion relative thereto, said first connecting arm having a second end;

a first pivot lever having an upper end mounted to said housing for pivoting about a fixed first pivot point, said first pivot lever extending in a downward slanting direction away from said fixed pivot point, said first pivot lever having a lower end mounted to said second end of said first connecting arm for pivoting relative thereto;

a first actuator arm having an upper end mounted to said second end of said first connection arm for pivoting relative thereto, said first actuator arm extending in a downward slanting direction away from said upper end thereof, said first actuator arm having a lower end; and

a first contact element communicating with said lower end of said first actuator arm, whereby a change in polarity of said magnet coil causes said armature and said armature arm to pivot, said first connecting arm to sidewardly displace, said first pivot lever to pivot in a downward direction to assume a more vertical orientation, said first actuator arm to pivot to assume a more vertical orientation and to displace said lower end thereof in a downward direction and press down said first contact element.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said armature comprises a permanent magnet.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said contact element comprises a resilient member having a first and a second end, said resilient member cooperating with said lower end of said actuator arm.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said contact element has a first contact head borne on said first end of said resilient member.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a second contact head, borne on said first end of said resilient member, proximate said first contact head.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein said contact element comprises a first member connected to said second end of said resilient member and extending in a slanting direction above said resilient member, wherein said actuator arm has a first opening through which said first member passes.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein said resilient element comprises a leaf spring having a curved section protruding sidewardly out of a plane of said leaf spring.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second connecting arm extending in a substantially horizontal direction away from said first connecting arm, said second connection arm having a first end connected to said lower end of said armature arm for pivoting motion relative thereto, said second connecting arm having a second end;

a second pivot lever having an upper end mounted to said housing for pivoting, about a fixed second pivot point, said second pivot lever extending in a downward slanting direction away from said fixed second pivot point, said second pivot lever having a lower end mounted to said second end of said second connecting arm for pivoting relative thereto;

a second actuator arm having an upper end mounted to said second end of said second connection arm for pivoting relative thereto, said second actuator arm extending in a downward slanting direction away from said upper end thereof, said second actuator arm having a lower end; and

a second contact element communicating with said lower end of said second actuator arm, whereby a change in polarity of said magnet coil causes said armature and said armature arm to pivot, said second connecting arm to sidewardly displace, said second pivot lever to pivot in a downward direction to assume a more vertical orientation, said second actuator arm to pivot to assume a more vertical orientation and to displace said lower end thereof in a downward direction and press down said second contact element.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said first connecting arm is mounted for moving together with said second connecting arm.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said first and said second connecting arm comprise a common rigid connecting arm.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said first contact element is antiparallel to said second contact element.