TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an arrangement for controlling the operation of switch
contacts and has an important application in an arrangement for controlling the operation
of switch contacts utilized for tap changing in the stabilization of a mains alternating
current supply or utilized in the control of mains alternating current supplied to
an electric motor forming part of a mains voltage stabilizer.
[0002] When switch contacts are utilized to supply alternating current to a load, for example
in the tap changing arrangement referred to above, arcing or sparking will occur at
the switch contacts each time the contacts "open" and "close", unless the opening
and closing is coincident with a zero crossing point of the voltage wave form of the
supply. Such arcing and sparking is disadvantageous in that not only does it result
in the generation or radio frequency interference, but it also causes pitting of,
and build-up of material on, the contact surfaces. Moreover, repeated failure to open
and close the contacts at the zero crossing point of the voltage wave form may cause
the distorted contacts to weld together so that they can no longer be operated.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] When switch contacts are utilized for tap changing in the stabilization of a mains
alternating current supply they usually take the form of assemblies of electromagnetically
operated relays arranged to open and close their associated contacts in selected combinations
to vary the tapping points in accordance with variations in the supply voltage. In
order to ensure that the relay contacts open and close at or near a zero crossing
point it has been proposed to select relays with operating characteristics such that
the delays in the opening and closing of the contacts, as a result of energisation
and the de-energisation of the relay windings, are such as to bring about the desired
result. It has also been proposed to bend the relay contacts from their normal positions
in an endeavour to adjust the opening and closing times so that they more nearly approach
a zero crossing of the voltage wave form.
[0004] The selection of relays with suitable operating characteristics may not be entirely
satisfactory since the operating tolerances within a given batch of supposedly similar
relays may vary widely. Moreover, the adjustment by bending of the contacts is somewhat
empirical and may fail to achieve the desired object since the bends in the contacts
tend to straighten out with repeated use.
[0005] An object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for controlling the operation
of switch contacts which alleviates the above-mentioned disadvantages.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to the present invention an arrangement for controlling the operation of
switch contacts comprises means for providing a first signal indicating that operation
of the switch contacts is required, timing means arranged to provide a second signal
at a time indicative of a zero crossing of an alternating voltage being switched by
the switch contacts, and delay means arranged to delay the second signal to compensate
for mechanical and/or electrical inertia of an operating means for the switch contacts,
and means for energising the operating means in response to the first and second signals
so that operation of the switch contacts will occur at or near toa zero crossing of
the alternating voltage.
[0007] In one embodiment of the invention the switch contacts are utilized for tap changing
in the stabilization of a,mains voltage supply, and the means for providing the first
signal indicating that operation of the switch contacts is required comprises an arrangement
for monitoring the fluctuations in the mains supply voltage.
[0008] In the above embodiment of the invention the arrangement for monitoring the fluctuations
in the mains voltage supply comprises comparison means arranged to produce one or
more signals each indicative of an increase or a decrease in the main supply voltage
relative to a reference voltage.
[0009] When the switch contacts are utilized for tap changing they may be arranged in either
the input side or the output side of a transformer.
[0010] In another embodiment of the invention the switch contacts are utilized to vary the
sense of the current applied to an electric motor driving a continuously variable
tapping on a transformer, and the means for providing the first signal indicating
that operation of the switch contacts is required comprises an arrangement for monitoring
the fluctuations in the output voltage of the transformer.
[0011] In this other embodiment the arrangement for monitoring the fluctuations in the output
voltage of the transformer comprises comparison means arranged to produce one or more
signals indicative of an increase or a decrease in the output voltage of the transformer
relative to a reference voltage.
[0012] The delay means may be arranged to provide delays of different durations depending
on whether the operating means is to be energised or de-energised.
[0013] The operating means may be the operating winding of an electromagnetic relay and
the switch contacts the relay contacts.
[0014] The operating winding of the relay may be energised by a transistor arranged to be
turned on and off in response to the first and second signals.
[0015] The timing means may comprise rectifying means arranged to sample the alternating
voltage and to provide a second signal at each zero crossing point of the alternating
voltage.
[0016] Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Figure 1 is a block schematic circuit diagram of a control arrangement in accordance
with the invention having switch contacts adapted for tap changing in the stabilization
of a mains alternating current supply.
[0018] Figure 2 is a more detailed circuit diagram of the control arrangement shown in Figure
1;
[0019] Figure 3 is a block schematic circuit diagram of a control arrangement in accordance
with the invention having switch contacts adapted to vary the sense of the current
applied to an electric motor driving a continuously variable tapping on a transformer;
and
[0020] Figure 4 is a modification of the control arrangement shown in Figure 3.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring in the first instance to Figure 1, the control arrangement comprises two
electromagnetically operated relays 1 and 2 which are arranged to select tapping points
4, 5 and 6 on an auto transformer 7 so as to provide a stabilized output voltage at
output terminals 9 and 10 despite fluctuations in a mains input voltage applied to
input terminals 11 and 12. The relay 1 has changeover contacts comprising a movable
ccontact 13 and fixed contacts 14 and 15 connected respectively to tapping points
4 and 5. The relay 2 has a movable contact 16 connected to input terminal 11 and fixed
contacts 18 and 19 connected respectively to the movable contact 13 and the tapping
point 6.
[0022] A winding 21 inductively coupled to the auto transformer 7 is arranged to apply a
30 volt alternating current supply to a full wave rectifier 22 arranged to feed a
stabilized power supply 23 providing a 24 volt D.C. supply voltage. A lead 24 connected
to one side of winding 21 supplies an alternating voltage to a timing and delay circuit
25 which rectifies the alternating voltage and provides a timing signal indicative
of each zero crossing of the voltage wave form of the mains alternating current applied
to input terminals 11 and 12. The timing and delay circuit 25 is arranged to delay
the timing signal by an amount corresponding to the mechanical and electrical inertia
of the electromagnetic relays 1 and 2.
[0023] In a typical electromagnetic relay suitable for the present tap changing arrangement,
the mechanical inertia of the armature and contacts and the electrical inertia due
to the inductance of the relay winding amount to substantially 8 milliseconds when
the typical relay is being energised and amount to substantially 5 milliseconds when
the typical relay is being de-energised. For this reason the timing and delay delay
circuit 25 is arranged to provide two delayed timing signals respectively on output
leads 27 and 28 which are connected to two latch circuits 29 and 30. The output lead
27 is also connected to a start circuit 31 to apply the delayed timing signal thereto
for a purpose to be described later.
[0024] A transformer 33 having a primary winding 34 connected across the input terminals
11 and 12 also has a centre tapped secondary winding 35 connected to a mains voltage
sampler 37 by way of two diodes 38 and 39. The output from the mains voltage sampler
37 is applied to a dual comparator 40 which compares the sampled mains voltage with
two stabilized reference voltages provided respectively by reference voltage circuits
41 and 42. The dual comparator 40 and the latch circuits 29 and 30 are energised from
the stabilized D.C. power supply 23. The dual comparator 40 is provided with an output
lead 43 connected to a SET input of latch circuit 29 directly and to a RESET input
of latch circuit 29 by way of an inverter 44. The dual comparator 40 is also provided
with a further output lead 45 connected to a RESET input of latch circuit 30 directly
and to a SET input of latch circuit 30 by way of an inverter 46. The output of latch
circuit 29 is connected to the base of a transistor 47 arranged to energise the relay
1 from the D.C. power supply 23 while the output of latch circuit 30 is connected
to the base of a transistor 48 arranged to energise the relay 2 from the D.C. supply
23. The output of the start circuit 31 is connected to the trigger electrode of a
silicon controlled rectifier 49 which is connected to the emitter electrodes of the
transistors 47 and 48.
[0025] The control arrangement shown in Figure 1 operates in the manner described below
to effect operation of the switch contacts at or near to a zero crossing point of
the mains alternating voltage whenever fluctuations of the mains voltage applied to
input terminals 11 and 12 occur. When the mains voltage is between the reference voltages
of reference voltage circuits 41 and 42 the output signals provided by the dual comparator
40 on output leads 43 and 45 are both in a logic "high" state. If the mains voltage
falls below the low reference voltage of reference voltage circuit 41 or rises above
the high reference voltage of reference voltage circuit 42 the relevant output changes
to the logic "low" state. Thus if the mains voltage rises above the high reference
voltage of reference voltage circuit 42, the output signal provided by dual comparator
40 on output lead 43 goes to a logic "low" state. This RESETS the normally set latch
circuit 29 which provides an output signal at the instant that an input signal from
the delay circuit 25 is received on lead 28. This output signal from latch circuit
29 turns off transistor 47 thus releasing relay 1 so that tapping point 4 is selected
by movable contact 13 at the zero crossing point. This is the position of the contacts
13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19 illustrated in the drawing.
[0026] If the mains voltage now falls to a value between the two reference voltages of reference
voltage circuits 41 and 42 the output signal on output lead 43 goes to a "high" logic
state and SETS the latch circuit 29 which provides an output signal at the instant
that a signal from delay circuit 25 is received on lead 27. This output signal from
the latch circuit 29 turns on the transistor 47 thus operating relay 1 so that tapping
point 5 is selected by movable contact 13 at the zero crossing point.
[0027] If the voltage then falls to a value below the low reference voltage of reference
voltage circuit 41 the output signal provided by the dual comparator 40 on output
lead 45 goes to a logic "low" state. -This SETS the latch circuit 30 which provides
an output signal at the instant that an input signal from the delay circuit 25 is
received on lead 28. This output signal from the latch circuit 30 turns on transistor
48 thus energising relay 2 so that tapping point 6 is selected by movable contact
16 at the zero crossing point.
[0028] In order to avoid "chatter" of the contacts 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19 when the circuit
is first switched on, the transistors 47 and 48 are prevented from being turned until
after a delay determined by the start circuit 31. This gives the control arrangement
time to "warm up" and become fully operational. To this end the start circuit is arranged
to trigger the silicon controlled rectifier 49 in the emitter/collector circuits of
both the transistors 47 and 48. Moreover, the signal provided by the delay circuit
25 on lead 27 ensures that the initial closing of the relay contacts takes place at
a zero crossing point.
[0029] Referring now to Figure 2 in which the same reference numerals as those used in Figure
1 have been used to denote similar parts or assemblies of components forming such
parts. As before the switch contacts 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19 are changeover contacts
of two relays 1 and 2 arranged to select tapping points on an auto transformer 7 to
provide a stabilized output voltage at output terminals 9 and 10.
[0030] The transformer 33 again has a secondary winding 35 feeding a mains voltage sampler
37 by way of two diodes 38 and 39. The assembly of components forming the mains voltage
sampler 37 includes three resistors 51, 52 and 53 and two capacitors 54 and 55. The
dual comparator 40 is formed by an integrated circuit in the form of a "window discriminator"
which compares the sampled mains voltage with the two reference voltages provided
respectively by reference voltage circuits 41 and 42.
[0031] The assembly of components forming the delay circuit 25 includes two resistors 57
and 58 which provide charging current for a capacitor 59. A ramp signal is produced
across capacitor 59 by two resistors 61 and 62 and a diode 63 which remove the charge
from capacitor 59 at each zero crossing of the mains alternating voltage. The ramp
signal is supplied to the input of a schmitt trigger circuit formed by two resistors
65 and 66 and two inverters 67 and 68 connected in cascade, the ratio of the two resistors
67 and 68 providing positive feedback. When the ramp signal across capacitor 59 has
charged to approximately 5.9 volts the schmitt circuit will trigger with the output
of inverter 68 going positive to 12 volts. Resistors 65 and 67 provide hysteresis
so that the schmitt circuit will not reset until the voltage across capacitor 59 has
fallen to approximately 5.1 volts. A similar schmitt trigger circuit is provided by
resistors 70 and 71 and inverters 72 and 73 except that the ramp signal may be set
to a larger amplitude by a resistor 74.
[0032] The latch circuit 29 has an assembly of components including two capacitors 76 and
77 and two resistors 78 and 79 feeding two NOR gates 80 and 81 arranged to turn on
and off the transistor 48 which supplies energising current to relay 2. Similarly
the latch circuit 30 has an assembly of components including two capacitors 83 and
84 and two resistors 85 and 86 feeding two NOR gates 87 and 88 arranged to turn on
and off the transistor 47 which supplies energising current to relay 1.
[0033] The operation of the control arrangement is similar to that described with reference
to Figure 1 in that the contacts 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19 are only operated in response
to signals generated by the comparator 40 after a delay produced by the delay circuit
25 which ensures that tap changing by the contacts is coincident with a zero crossing
of the mains voltage wave form. The delay circuit 25 again provides two delayed timing
signals which compensate for both the mechanical and electrical inertia of the relays
1 and 2, one delayed signal being for the inertia during energisation and "pull in"
of a relay 1 or 2 and the other delayed signal being for the inertia during de-energisation
and "drop out" of a relay 1 or 2. The delays may be adjusted to suit the operating
characteristics of particular relays 1 and 2. Moreover, a start circuit 31 which includes
two resistors 90 and 91, a diode 92 and a capacitor 93 ensures-that the control arrangement
has time to warm up when first switched on before it becomes fully operative, and
that the initial closing of the contacts will occur at a zero crossing point.
[0034] Although the arrangement described above has relatively simple combinations of switching
contacts involving only two sets of changeover contacts, it will be appreciated that
other embodiments of the invention may have more complex "trees" of switch contacts
with correspondingly large numbers of tapping points. Moreover, although in the illustrated
arrangements the contacts are arranged in the input side of the transformer they.could
equally well be arranged on the output side. A single relay having contacts controlling
two tapping points could also be used.
[0035] Turning now to Figure 3, the control arrangement comprises two electromagnetically
operated relays 101 and 102 arranged to reverse the direction of the energising current
through an electric motor 103 depending on whether an alternating output voltage developed
at output terminals 104 and 105 of an auto-transformer 106 is rising or falling. One
side of the energising winding 107 of the electric motor 103 is connected to the output
terminal 104 by way of a fixed contact 108 and a movable contact 109 of the relay
102. The other side of the winding 107 is connected to the output terminal 104 by
way of a fixed contact 110 and a movable contact 111 of the relay 101. The winding
107 is shunted by a capacitor 112. The electric motor 113 is arranged to drive a continuously
variable tapping point 114 on the transformer 106 which is supplied with mains alternating
voltage by way of input terminals 115 and 116.
[0036] A transformer 117 has its primary winding 118 connected across output terminals 104
and 105 and has its secondary winding arranged to apply a 30 volt alternating current
supply to a full wave rectifier 22 arranged to feed a stabilized power supply 23 providing
a 24 volt D.C. supply voltage. A lead 24 connected to one side of winding 119 supplies
an alternating voltage to the timing and delay circuit 25 which rectifies the alternating
voltage and provides a timing signal indicative of each zero crossing of the mains
alternating voltage developed acorss output terminals 104 and 105. The timing and
delay circuit 25 is arranged to delay the timing signal by an amount corresponding
to the mechanical and electrical inertia of the electromagnetic relays 101 and 102.
[0037] The primary winding 118 of the transformer 117 is connected to a mains voltage sampler
37 by way of two diodes 38 and 39. As before the output from the mains voltage sampler
37 is applied to a dual comparator 40 which compares the sampled mains voltage with
two stabilized reference voltages provided respectively by reference voltage circuits
41 and 42. The dual comparator 40 is provided with an output lead 43 connected
[0038] to a SET input of latch circuit 29 directly and to a RESET input of latch circuit
29 by way of an inverter 44. The dual comparator 40 is also provided with a further
output lead 45 connected to a RESET input of latch circuit directly and to a SET input
of latch circuit 30 by way of an inverter 46. As before the output of latch circuit
29 is connected to the base of a transister 47 arranged to energise the relay 101
while the output of latch circuit 30 is connected to the base of a transister 48 arranged
to energise the relay 102. The output of the start circuit 31 is connected to the
trigger electrode of a silicon controlled rectifier 49 which is connected to the emitter
electrodes of the transisters 47 and 48.
[0039] The control arrangement shown in Figure 3 operates in the manner described below
to effect operation of the relay contacts 108, 109, 110 and 111 at zero crossing points
of the mains alternating voltage, whenever the mains output voltage at output terminals
104 and 105.fluctuates above or below the reference voltages of reference voltage
circuits 41 and 42. When the voltage across output terminals 104 and 105 is above
the reference voltage of reference voltage circuit 42 the relay 101 is energised to
close contacts 110 and 111 and drive the electric motor so that the variable tapping
points 114 is moved in a direction such as to reduce the output voltage. The delay
produced by the timing and delay circuit 25 ensures that the operation of the contacts
110 and 111 is coincident with a zero crossing point of the mains voltage wave form.
[0040] When the voltage across output terminals 104 and 105 falls below the reference voltage
of reference voltage circuit 42 the relay 101 is de-energised so that contacts 110
and 111 are opened and energising current is no longer supplied to the electric motor
103 which stops. The timing and delay circuit 25 provides a delay which ensures that
the opening of the contacts 110 and 111 is coincident with a zero crossing of the
voltage wave form.
[0041] If now the alternating voltage across output terminals 104 and 105 falls below the
reference voltage of reference voltage circuit 41, relay 102 is energised to close
contacts 108 and 109 and drive the electric motor in the reverse direction, to move
the variable tapping point 114 in a direction such as to raise the voltage at output
terminals 104 and 105. The delay provided by the timing and delay circuit 25 is such
as to ensure that the closing of the contacts 108 and 109 is coincident with a zero
crossing of the mains voltage wave form.
[0042] When the voltage at output terminals 104 and 105 rises above the reference voltage
of reference voltage circuit 41 the relay 102 is de-energised so that contacts 108
and 109 are opened and the electric motor 103 is de-energised. The delay produced
by the timing and delay circuit 25 is such as to ensure that the opening of the contacts
108 and 109 is coincident with a zero crossing of the mains voltage wave form. As
before the start circuit 31 ensures that the control arrangement has time to warm
up when first switched on before it becomes fully operative so that the initial closing
of the contacts of either of the relays 101 and 102 will take place at a zero crossing
point.
[0043] Turning finally to the modified arrangement shown in Figure 4, the transformer 106
is connected across the output terminals 104 and 105 and is coupled to the input terminals
115 and 116 by way of a buck/boost transformer 121. One end of the secondary winding
of the transformer 121 is connected to a fixed tapping point 124 on the transformer
106 while the other end of the secondary winding 122 is connected to a continuously
variable tapping point 125. As before the electric motor is arranged to drive the
tapping point 125 in a manner such as to stabilize the output voltage at terminals
104 and 105. As before the delay produced by the timing and delay circuit 25 is such
as to ensure that whenever the relays 101 and 102 are energised or de-energised the
resultant opening and closing of their associated contacts 108, 109, 110 and 111 will
always take place at a zero crossing of the alternating voltage.
[0044] As a practical matter it has been found that with a 50 Hz mains alternating current
supply the operation of the arrangement of the invention is satisfactory if the contacts
operate within 2 milliseconds on either side of the zero crossing point of the alternating
voltage and gives excellent results if the contacts operate within one millisecond
on either side of the zero crossing point of the alternating voltage.
1. An arrangement for controlling the operation of switch contacts comprising means
for providing a first signal indicating that operation of the switch contacts is required,
timing means arranged to provide a second signal at a time indicative of a zero crossing
of an alternating voltage being switched by the switch contacts, and delay means arranged
to delay the second signal to compensate for mechanical and/or electrical inertia
of an operating means for the switch contacts, and means for energising the operating
means in response to the first and second signals so that operation of the switch
contacts will occur at or near to a zero crossing of the alternating voltage.
2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the switch contacts are utilized
for tap changing in the stabilization of a mains voltage supply and the means for
providing the first signal indicating that operation of the switch contacts is required
comprises an arrangement for monitoring the fluctuations in the mains supply voltage.
3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the arrangement for monitoring the
fluctuations in the mains voltage supply comprises comparison means arranged to produce
one or more signals each indicative of an increase or a decrease in the main supply
voltage relative to a reference voltage.
4. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the switch contacts utilized
for tap changing are arranged in the input side of a transformer.
5. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the switch contacts utilized
for tap changing are arranged in the output side-of the transformer.
6. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the switch contacts are utilized
to vary the sense of the current applied to an electric motor driving a continuously
variable tapping on a transformer, and the means for providing the first signal indicating
that operation of the switch contacts is required comprises an arrangement for monitoring
the fluctuations in the output voltage of the transformer.
7. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the arrangement for monitoring the-fluctuations
in the output voltage of the transformer comprises comparison means arranged to produce
one or more signals indicative of an increase or a decrease in the output voltage
of the transformer relative to a reference voltage.
8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the delay means is arranged
to provide delays of different durations depending on whether the operating means
is to be energised or de-energised.
9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the operating means is
the operating winding of an electromagnetic relay and the switch contacts are the
relay contacts.
10. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the operating winding of the relay
is energised by a transistor arranged to be turned on and off in response to the first
and second signals.
11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the timing means comprises
rectifying means arranged to sample the alternating voltage and to provide a second
signal at each zero crossing point of the alternating voltage.
12. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the delay produced by
the delay is such that the switch contacts operate within a period of two milliseconds
on either side of the zero crossing point of the alternating voltage.
13. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, including further delay means
which ensures that there is a predetermined warm up time before the arrangement becomes
fully operative, and that the first closing of a switch contact occurs at a zero crossing
point of the alternating voltage.