Two pole contactor

• US 6,292,075 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson Electric International Limited (Johnson Electric Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: B L P Components
• Inventors: Connell, Richard Anthony, Darlow, Brian Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuyen T.
• Application Number:
  US09/380,117
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 335/185-195, 335/250-251, 335/257
• US Class Current: 335/185
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/54 by magnetic force combined with electrodynamic opening H01H77/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2050/025 containing inert or dielectric gasses, e.g. SF6, for arc prevention or arc extinction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/226 for bistable relays
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/045 Details particular to contactors H01H50/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/10 Electromagnetic or electrostatic shielding casings H01H50/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/20 movable inside coil and substantially lengthwise with respect to axis thereof; movable coaxially with respect to coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/54 Contact arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/642 intermediate part being generally a slide plate, e.g. a card
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/646 intermediate part being a blade spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/167 Circuits for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/38 Auxiliary contacts on to which the arc is transferred from the main contacts using arcing-horns H01H9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/56 for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point in the ac cycle

Abstract

A two pole contactor, particularly for a domestic electricity meter, comprising a solenoid with a plunger actuator and a movable contact for each pole mounted on a pivotal blade in a symmetrical opposed configuration. The plunger is connected to the blades by a leaf spring whose ends engage sliders connected to the blades to impart a similar and even movement to each blade.

Claims

1. A two-pole contactor comprising a solenoid having an actuator plunger, a fixed contact and a movable contact for each pole, each movable contact being mounted on a free end of a pivotable blade, the two blades being mounted in the contactor in a symmetrical mirror-image arrangement, in which the actuator plunger is connected to the center of a leaf spring having two ends, each end of the leaf spring engaging a respective said blade via a movable member, to thereby impart corresponding similar movements to the two blades.

2. A contactor as claimed in claim 1 in which an end of each blade opposite said free end is connected to a respective inlet bus-bar by a flexible spring portion, each blade and respective bus-bar being disposed in a parallel relationship, so that in operation electromagnetic forces urge each movable contact into closer contact with the respective fixed contact.

3. A contactor as claimed in claim 1 in which each blade is divided or bifurcated to provide two movable contacts for each pole.

4. A contactor as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a housing formed as a moulding in two halves, so that components of the contactor can be assembled into one of said two halves.

5. A contactor as claimed in claim 4 in which each said end of the leaf spring engages with said movable member which is connected to a respective blade and which is slidable in a groove of one of said halves of the housing.

6. A contactor as claimed in claim 1 in which there are two movable members for each pole, one being disposed above and the other below a respective blade.

7. A contactor as claimed in claim 1 in which the solenoid is adjustably mounted by fixed screws for positioning of the plunger.

8. A contactor as claimed in claim 1 in which each movable member is made of an electrically conductive material connected to a respective blade.