Contact device

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to a contact device and more specifically to a contact device to be attached to an electromagnetic switch for increasing the number of contacts.

Description of the Related Art

[0002] An electromagnetic contactor, such as an auxiliary relay, usually has auxiliary contacts. Occasionally, more auxiliary contacts are needed due to construction of a controlled circuit. In such a case, a separate contact device is attached to an electromagnetic contactor or an auxiliary relay to increase the number of the auxiliary contacts.

[0003] Fig. 3 is a side-elevational view showing a conventional contact device 1 attached to a head portion of a conventional electromagnetic contactor 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the contact device 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the electromagnetic contactor 2 of Fig. 3. When the two are to be connected together, frame hook portions 12 formed on a frame 11 of the contact device 1 are inserted in an engaging portion 21 of the electromagnetic contactor 2 to effect the desired connection. At this time, a contact support connector portion 13a of the contact device 1 is connected to a contact support 22 of the electromagnetic contactor 2. Through the operation of the contact support 22 of the electromagnetic contactor 2, a contact support 13 of the contact device 1 is driven (upward and downward in the drawings) to thereby open and close a contact (not shown).

[0004] A conventional a-contact is shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, fixed a-contacts 14a are mounted within a frame 11. A conventional b-contact is shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, fixed b-contacts 14b are mounted within the frame 11. The movable contact 15a (Fig. 6), 15b (Fig. 7) is supported on the contact support 13 through a contact spring 16. In the a-contact construction, the movable contact 15a is provided in corresponding relation to the fixed contact 14a, and in the b-contact construction, the movable contact 15b is provided in corresponding relation to the fixed contact 14b.

[0005] In such conventional contact devices, considering the disengagement of the contact support 13 from the frame 11 when all the contacts are of a b-contact construction as shown in Fig. 7, the movable contact 15b is engageable with a distal end 14b₁ of the U-shaped fixed b-contact 14b, which thus serves as a stopper for preventing the contact support 13 from becoming disengaged from the frame 11.

[0006] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a conventional b-contact construction which differs from that of Fig. 7 in that each fixed b-contact 14b is of a flat plate-like shape, and that a cover 17 is provided to serve as a stopper for preventing the contact support 13 from being disengaged from the frame 11.

[0007] As discussed above, conventional contact devices are shown in Figs. 6 - 8. The conventional contact device of a b-contact construction needs a stopper so that a contact support can not be disengaged from a frame. In Fig. 7, a fixed contact has a U-shaped cross-section, and a problem arises from this that since the width H of this U-shape is large, its dimension in a direction of movement of the contact support is large. With respect to the example shown in Fig. 8, since the cover is provided as a stopper, the number of the component parts as well as the time required for assembly is increased, resulting in increased costs.

[0008] A contact device having the features of the first part of claim 1 is known from DE-U-7 135 631.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a contact device which does not increase the dimension of a stopper, provided for preventing the disengagement of a contact support, in a direction of movement of the contact support, and also does not cause increased costs.

[0010] This object is solved by a contact device having the features of claim 1.

[0011] The contact device comprises fixed contacts fixed to a frame, a contact support mounted within said frame and being movable in its axial direction, and a movable contact mounted on said contact support through a contact spring, the contacts being opened and closed by the axial movement of said contact support, wherein a projecting piece is formed on an inner end of said contact support and projects from the opposite sides of said inner end; and the distance between the opposite ends of said projecting piece is greater than the distance between said fixed contacts.

[0012] In this construction, the projecting piece is formed on the inner end of the contact support, and therefore even in the case where the movable contact is arranged outwardly (the right side as shown in the drawings) of the fixed contacts, when the contact support supporting the movable contact is moved, the projecting piece formed on the inner end of the contact support is abutted against the rear surface of the fixed contacts, so that the contact support will not be disengaged from the frame. The projecting piece can be very thin, and therefore the dimension in the direction of movement of the contact is not increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] 

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an a-contact device;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a b-contact device according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a side-elevational view, showing a contact device attached to an electromagnetic contactor in an overhung manner;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the contact device of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the electromagnetic contactor of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional a-contact device;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional contact device; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of yet another conventional b-contact device.

[0014] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an a-contact device. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a b-contact device. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, fixed contacts attached to a frame 11 have a flat plate-like shape. In an a-contact device, there are provided fixed a-contacts 14a. In a b-contact device, there are provided fixed b-contacts 14b. Each of movable contacts 15a and 15b is supported on a contact support 13 through a contact spring 16, and is provided at contact support windows 19-1 and 19-2, respectively.

[0016] In the a-contact device shown in Fig. 1, the movable contact 15a is disposed inwardly (the left side as shown in Fig. 1) of the fixed a-contact 14a. Therefore, when the contact support 13 moves in a right-hand direction, the movable contact 15a is brought into contact with the fixed a-contact 14a, so that the contact support 13 will not become disengaged from the frame 11.

[0017] In the b-contact device shown in Fig. 2, the movable contact 15b is disposed outwardly (the right side as shown in Fig. 1) of the fixed b-contact 14b. Therefore, when the contact support 13 is moved in a right-hand direction, the contact support 13 will tend to disengage from the frame 11. However, a projecting piece 18 formed on an inner end of the contact support 13 abuts against the rear surfaces of the fixed b-contacts 14b, thereby preventing the disengagement.

[0018] According to the present invention, the projecting piece is formed on the inner end of the contact support, and therefore the projecting piece performs the function of a stopper so that the contact support will not be disengaged from the frame. Further, there is no need to increase the number of the component parts and also no need to bend the fixed contact into a U-shaped cross-section, and therefore the cost of the material of the fixed contact is reduced to thus achieve a cost reduction. Further, since the fixed contact has a flat plate-like shape, its dimension in the direction of movement of the contact support is decreased, and an inexpensive, small-size contact device can be achieved.

Claims

1. A contact device, comprising:
means (11) for housing the contact device;
a first contact portion (14a,14b) attached to a first contact arm, said first contact arm fixedly depending from said housing means (11) in a first direction;
a second contact portion (15a,15b) attached to a second contact arm, said second contact arm being alternately moveable within said housing means (11) in an engaging direction, perpendicular to said first direction so as to bring said second contact portion (15a,15b) into engaged relationship with said first contact portion (14a,14b) and a disengaging direction perpendicular to said first direction so as to bring said second contact portion (15a,15b) out of engaged relationship with said first contact portion (14a,14b); and
means (13) for supporting said second contact arm and movable with said second contact arm within said housing means (11) alternately in said engaging and disengaging directions, including a stopper (18) spaced from said second contact arm extending from said supporting means (13) in the first direction for stopping movement of said supporting means (13) within said housing means (11) to prevent disengagement of the supporting means (13) from the housing means (11),
characterized in that the stopper (18) engages said first contact arm of said first contact portion (14b), said second contact arm being located on said supporting means (13) so that said first contact arm extends between said second contact arm and said stopper (18).

2. The contact device of claim 1, further including means (16) for urging said second contact arm into engagement with said first contact arm.

3. The contact device of claim 1, wherein said urging means (16) includes a spring connecting said second contact arm and said supporting means (13).

Ansprüche

1. Kontaktvorrichtung mit einem Gehäuse (11), einem ersten Kontaktteil (14a,14b), welches an einem ersten Kontaktarm angebracht ist, wobei sich der erste Kontaktarm ortsfest von dem Gehäuse (11) in eine erste Richtung erstreckt,
einem zweiten Kontaktteil (15a,15b), welches an einem zweiten Kontaktarm angebracht ist, wobei der zweite Kontaktarm innerhalb des Gehäuses (11) wechselweise bewegbar ist in eine Eingriffrichtung, welche senkrecht zu der ersten Richtung ist, um so das zweite Kontaktteil (15a,15b) in Eingriff mit dem ersten Kontaktteil (14a,14b) zu bringen, und in eine Entkupplungsrichtung, welche senkrecht zu der ersten Richtung ist, um so das zweite Kontaktteil (15a,15b) außer Eingriff mit dem ersten Kontaktteil (14a,14b) zu bringen, und
Mittel (13) zum Tragen des zweiten Kontaktarms und Bewegen des zweiten Kontaktarms innerhalb des Gehäuses (11) wechselweise in der Eingriffrichtung und der Entkupplungsrichtung, einschließlich eines Stoppers (18) welcher entfernt von dem zweiten Kontaktarm sich von dem Trägermittel (13) in die erste Richtung erstreckt, um die Bewegung des Trägermittels (13) innerhalb des Gehäuses (11) derart zu stoppen, daß das Entkuppeln des Trägermittels (13) von dem Gehäuse (11) verhindert wird,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
der Stopper (18) in Eingriff mit dem ersten Kontaktarm des ersten Kontaktteils (14b) kommt, wobei der zweite Kontaktarm derart auf dem Trägermittel (13) angeordnet ist, das der erste Kontaktarm sich zwischen dem zweiten Kontaktarm und dem Stopper (18) erstreckt.

2. Kontaktvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei weiterhin Mittel (16) zum Einbringen des zweiten Kontaktarms in Eingriff mit dem ersten Kontaktarm vorgesehen sind.

3. Kontaktvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Einbringmittel (18) eine Feder aufweisen, welche den zweiten Kontaktarm und das Trägermittel (13) verbindet.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de contact comprenant :
   un moyen (11) pour loger le dispositif de contact ;
   une première partie de contact (14a, 14b) fixée à un premier bras de contact, ledit premier bras de contact dépendant de façon fixe dudit moyen de boîtier (11) suivant une première direction ;
   une seconde partie de contact (15a, 15b) fixée à un second bras de contact, ledit second bras de contact pouvant être déplacé selon un mouvement de va-et-vient dans ledit moyen de boîtier (11) suivant une direction de mise en contact, perpendiculaire à ladite première direction, de manière à amener ladite seconde partie de contact (15a, 15b) selon une relation de contact avec ladite première partie de contact (14a, 14b) et suivant une direction de séparation perpendiculaire à ladite première direction de manière à amener ladite seconde partie de contact (15a, 15b) selon une relation de non contact par rapport à ladite première partie de contact (14a, 14b) ; et
   un moyen (13) pour supporter ledit second bras de contact et mobile avec ledit second bras de contact à l'intérieur dudit moyen de boîtier (11) selon un mouvement de va-et-vient suivant lesdites directions de mise en contact et de séparation, incluant un moyen d'arrêt (18) espacé dudit second bras de contact s'étendant depuis ledit moyen de support (13) suivant la première direction pour arrêter le déplacement dudit moyen de support (13) dans ledit moyen de boîtier (11) afin d'empêcher la séparation du moyen de support (13) vis-à-vis du moyen de boîtier (11),
   caractérisé en ce que :
   le moyen d'arrêt (18) entre en contact avec ledit premier bras de contact de ladite première partie de contact (14b), ledit second bras de contact étant positionné sur ledit moyen de support (13) de telle sorte que ledit premier bras de contact s'étende entre ledit second bras de contact et ledit moyen d'arrêt (18).

2. Dispositif de contact selon la revendication 1, incluant en outre un moyen (16) pour pousser ledit second bras de contact pour l'amener en contact avec ledit premier bras de contact.

3. Dispositif de contact selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit moyen de poussée (16) inclut un ressort qui connecte ledit second bras de contact et ledit moyen de support (13).

Drawing