Functional test process for a mechanical switching element

• US 6,169,405 B1
• Filed: 04/13/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Baltzer, Martin, Schuckar, Detlev, Gonzalez, Rocco
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vincent Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/000,287
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 324/424, 324/423, 324/418, 340/635, 340/644, 340/661, 340/664, 361/153, 361/154, 361/159, 361/187
• US Class Current: 324/424
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3272 Apparatus, systems or circuits therefor G01R31/3275 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0062 Testing or measuring non-electrical properties of switches, e.g. contact velocity monitoring contacts H01H1/0015; monitoring gas density H01H33/563; monitoring vacuum H01H33/668; calibrating H01H69/01; adjusting H01H71/74; testing of electrical properties G01R31/333

Abstract

In the functional test process for a mechanical switching element, particularly a trigger in a high-voltage power switch, a coil core (2) is set in motion by the magnetic action of a current flowing through a coil (1). The electrical pulse is cut off as soon as the derivative of the measured current characteristic reaches a particular valve. This makes it possible to stop the movement of the core (2) and the plunger (4) without triggering the power switch.

Claims

1. A functional test process for a mechanical switching element including a coil and a movable coil core, the process comprising the steps of:

setting the coil core in motion by a magnetic action of a current flowing through the coil;

applying a voltage to the coil to generate an electrical pulse;

measuring a characteristic of the current through the coil using a monitoring device;

differentiating the characteristic of the current through the coil using the monitoring device; and

cutting off the voltage as soon as a derivative of the characteristic of the current reaches a predetermined value.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical switching element is a trigger in a high-voltage power switch.

3. The process according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

cutting off the voltage when a sign of the derivative of the characteristic of the current changes after a start of the electrical pulse.

4. The process according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

using a constant voltage source to generate the electrical pulse.

5. The process according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating a pulse-width-modulated sequence of additional pulses in the coil after the voltage is cut off, wherein a current average of the pulse-width-modulated sequence of additional pulses over time causes a controlled movement of the coil core.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the cutting off step includes cutting off the voltage as soon as a derivative of the characteristic of the current reaches a predetermined value so that an armature moves only minimally in the coil.

7. A functional test process for a mechanical switching element including a coil and a movable coil core, the process comprising:

setting the coil core in motion by a magnetic action of a current flowing through the coil;

applying a voltage to the coil to generate an electrical pulse, a level of the electrical pulse is less during the functional test process than during an actual triggering process;

measuring a characteristic of the current through the coil using a monitoring device;

differentiating the characteristic of the current through the coil using the monitoring device; and

cutting off the voltage when a derivative of the characteristic of the current reaches a predetermined value.

8. A device for implementing a functional test process, the device comprising:

a pulse emitter for supplying an electrical pulse;

a monitoring device for measuring and differentiating a characteristic of a current in a coil;

a comparator coupled to the monitoring device;

an adjustment device for adjusting a threshold value of the comparator; and

a control device for cutting off the electrical pulse, wherein the control device cuts off the electrical pulse as soon as a derivative of the characteristic of the current reaches a predetermined value, and wherein the control device includes a modulation device for pulse-width-modulated control of the coil.