Method for closing a switch and switch for performing the method

• US 9,734,958 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Humann, Jrg
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R.
• Application Number:
  US14/421,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20150206667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 200257
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/36 by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/42 Knife-and-clip contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/50 Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/121 Load break switches

Abstract

An embodiment relates to a method for closing a switch and a switch for performing the method, the switch having a stationary switch contact including a stationary contact face, a movable switch contact including a movable contact face parallel to the stationary contact face and lying under pressure against the stationary contact face in the closed state, and an elastic transversal offset of the contact faces which ensures that pressure is applied when the contact surfaces lie against each other. To guarantee closing during a short-circuit, a displaceable counter-pressure element is provided which presses against the movable contact face in the open position and at least reduces the transversal offset. The counter-pressure element moves in conjunction with the movable switch contact towards the closed position when the switch closes. The counter-pressure element stops moving during the closing movement, while the movable contact face continues to move into the closed position.

Claims

1. A method for closing a switch, the switch including a stationary contact area and a moving contact area, the moving contact area being movable from an open position to a closed position in which the moving contact area bears against the stationary contact area, the two contact areas lying in a common contact plane, and the two contact areas each running parallel to one another and including an elastic transverse offset in the open position, the contact areas being pressed against one another by the transverse offset in the closed position, the method comprising:

pressing, via a moving counter-pressure element, the moving contact area in a direction of the common contact plane in the open position, as a result of which a transverse offset is at least reduced;

moving the counter-pressure element in a direction of the closed position together with the moving switching contact when the switch is closed; and

stopping the counter-pressure element during a course of a closing movement, while the moving contact area initially continues to be moved, in a sliding manner on the counter-pressure element, until it is in the closed position, wherein

the moving contact area is moved in the contact plane or in a plane which is parallel to the contact plane before and after stopping, wherein the moving contact area, after stopping, slides into the closed position in a manner bearing against at least one of the counter-pressure element and the stationary contact area, wherein the counter-pressure element butts against a stationary stop, formed by the stationary switching contact, during the course of the closing movement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving contact area is pressed in the direction of the common contact plane during a course of an opening movement.

3. A switch, comprising:

a stationary switching contact, including a stationary contact area;

a moving switching contact, including a moving contact area, wherein the two contact areas each run parallel to one another, the switch including an open position and a closed position into which the moving contact area is movable, wherein the moving contact area bears against the stationary contact area, with pressure being applied, in the closed position, and

including an elastic transverse offset of the contact areas in the open position; and

a counter-pressure element, the counter-pressure element pressing against the moving contact area in the open position and at least reducing the transverse offset, the counter-pressure element being moved in a direction of the closed position together with the moving switching contact when the switch is closed, and the counter-pressure element staying still during a course of an closing movement, while the moving contact area continues to move into the closed position, wherein

the moving contact area is moved in a contact plane or in a plane which is parallel to the contact plane before and after stopping, wherein the moving contact area, after stopping, slides into the closed position in a manner bearing against at least one of the counter-pressure element and the stationary contact area, wherein the counter-pressure element butts against a stationary stop during the course of the closing movement, and wherein the stop is formed by the stationary switching contact.

4. The switch of claim 3, wherein the touch area between the switching contacts increases in size during the course of the closing movement when the moving contact area slides into the closed position in a manner bearing against the stationary contact area.

5. The switch of claim 3, wherein the stationary switching contact is in the form of a contact blade, and the moving switching contact is in the form of spring-action contact elements which face one another, the contact blade sliding between the spring-action contact elements during the course of the closing movement.

6. The switch of claim 3, wherein the counter-pressure element presses the moving contact area in the direction of the common contact plane during a course of an opening movement.