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(11) | EP 0 086 906 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Electromagnetically controlled switching apparatus Elektromagnetisch betätigte Schaltanordnung Dispositif interrupteur à commande électromagnétique |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The invention is concerned with an electromagnetically operated switch, provided with a fixed magnetic core and a spring raised armature, locked against undesired switching-in by mechanical shocks, the locking consisting of two movable plates positioned according to the direction of switching and situated between a part of the fixed magnetic core and the armature near the path of the magnetic field of the switch, which plates are mounted on the armature and are rotatable in opposite directions in order to deviate in opposite directions when the switch is energized, whereas the plates under spring pressure are maintained in the locking position where the coil is not energized.
[0002] Such an electromagnetically operated switch is known from FR-A-1.194.362. This known switch has a rather complicated construction, is subject to the wear of its locking elements, can be unlocked in an easy way and is rather bulky.
[0003] Thus, for use in, for example, war-ships, such as submarines, the said switch is not sufficiently suitable.
[0004] In order to obviate the above-mentioned disadvantages, the switch according to the present invention is characterized in that the movable plates in the closing direction of the switch are formed as impact plates between the fixed magnetic core and the armature, so that when the switch is energized, these impact plates deviate in opposite directions into a cavity of the armature which faces towards the magnetic core and each of these impact plates is provided with a spring to place or maintain the impact plates in the locking position.
[0005] Other switches of known art can be found in documents US-A-1.921.272 and NL-A-66.09867. The said known switches are also unsuitable for use in war-ships, such as submarines.
[0006] The invention will be illustrated more clearly below with the aid of the drawing of an embodiment.
Figure 1 shows an electromagnetically operated switch according to the invention with impact plates in the locking position when the switch is not energized.
Figure 2 shows the switch according to the invention, the impact plates being attracted at the moment of energisation.
Figure 3 shows the switch of the invention with the impact plates in the hidden position after switching on.
Figure 4 shows the switching apparatus in a locking position of the impact plates in the case of a shock from the direction of the arrow A.
Figure 5 shows a cross-section of Figure 1 where one can see a view of one of the impact plates of the invention.
[0007] The electromagnetically operated switch is provided with a housing 1 wherein a fixed magnetic core 4 is arranged, around which a coil 5 has been positioned. The movable armature 3 with a contact holder 2 is situated above the fixed magnetic core. In an electromagnetically operated switch the armature 3 moves towards the magnetic core 4 when current is fed through the coil 5. At the same time the switching contacts are closed.
[0008] If a shock were to occur when the switch is not energized, which may be the case with military installations, in particular, the armature 3 could be moved to the fixed magnetic core 4, while this is not desirable at that moment, as a result of which the contacts of the switch cause an incorrect switching on of an electric circuit.
[0009] However, provisions have been made in the switch of the invention to lock the anchor 3 in its position according to Figure 1 in relation to the fixed magnetic core 4.
[0010] One can see in Figure 1 that a safety plate 8 is positioned in a cavity 10 of the armature 3. Two movable impact plates 7 are rotatably positioned on this safety plate 8 and, in the locked position of Fgiure 1, can strike a pressure distributing plate 6, which is arranged on the fixed magnetic core 4.
[0011] When the switch is in the opened position according to Figure 1, the two impact plates 7 are pressed against the safety plate 8 by springs 9 (see Figure 5), so that there is a minimum of space between the fixed parts 4, 5 and 6 and the movable parts 2, 3, and 8. In the case of a mechanical shock one or both of the impact plates 7 prevent the switch from undesired moving and switching on its contacts, because the impact plates 7 are received by the pressure distributing plate 6, which distributes the pressure of the mechanical shock over a large surface.
[0012] The switch should normally be able to switch on when the current is switched on. The two impact plates 7 are pulled outwards by the magnetic field drawn with dotted lines, in Figure 2, which makes the way clear for the movable upper portion 3, after which these plates 7 are hidden in the cavity 10 of Figure 3.
[0013] When the current is switched off, the impact plates 7 are pressed back into the starting position according to Figure 1 by the springs 9 at the same time as the armature 3.
[0014] Should there be a mechanical shock in the case of an opened, non-energized switch, as indicated in Figure 4 by an arrow A, the one impact plate 7 will be knocked outwards under its own weight, while the other impact plate 7 presses itself even more firmly into the locking position and prevents the movable parts of the switch from moving to the fixed parts.
[0015] It will be clear from the above that each of the impact plates 7 is rotatable in a direction opposed to that of the other impact plate 7.
[0016] For the rest, each of the impact plates is rounded off at the end remote from the armature 3 in a direction opposed to the direction of movement of the impact plate 7 in question to facilitate their movement away from their cooperation with the pressure distributing plate 6. This serves to reduce any friction, while each impact plate 7 is formed at its extremity with two protruding legs, see Figure 5.
1. An electromagnetically operated switch (1) provided with a fixed magnetic core
(4, 5) and a spring raised armature (3), locked against undesired switching-in by
mechanical shocks, the locking consisting of two movable plates (7) positioned according
to the direction of switching and situated between a part of the fixed magnetic core
(4, 5) and the armature (3) near the path of the magnetic field of the switch, which
plates (7) are mounted on the armature (3) and are rotatable in opposite directions
in order to deviate in opposite directions when the switch is energized, whereas the
plates (7) under spring pressure (9) are maintained in the locking position when the
coil (5) is not energized, characterized in that the movable plates (7) in the closing
direction of the switch are formed as impact plates (7) between the fixed magnetic
core (4, 5) and the armature (3) so that when the switch is energized these impact
plates (7) deviate in opposite directions into a cavity (10) of the armature (3) which
faces towards the magnetic core (4, 5) and each of these impact plates (7) is provided
with a spring (9) to place or maintain the impact plates (7) in the locking position.
2. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that a pressure distributing plate
(6) is arranged on the face of the fixed magnetic core (4, 5) directed towards the
armature (3).
3. Switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each impact plate (7) is
rounded off at the end remote from the armature (3) in a direction opposed to the
direction of movement of each impact plate (7).
1. Elektromagnetisch betätigter Schalter (1) mit einem festen Magnetkern (4, 5) und
einem federbelasteten Anker (3), der gegen unerwünschten Einschalten durch mechanische
Stöße gesperrt ist, wobei die Sperre aus zwei bewegbaren Platten (7) besteht, die
in der Richtung des Schaltens angeordnet und zwischen einem Teil des festen Magnetkernes
(4, 5) und dem Anker (3) nahe des Verlaufes des Magnetfeldes des Schalters vorgehen
sind und welche Platten (7) auf dem Anker (3) gehaltert und in entgegengesetzte Richtungen
drehbar sind, um in entgegengesetzte Richtungen auszuweichen, wenn der Schalter betätigt
wird, wohingegen die Platten (7) unter Federdruck (9) in der Sperrstellung gehalten
sind, wenn die Spule (5) nicht erregt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die bewegbaren
Platten (7) in Schließrichtung des Schalters als Stoßplatten (7) zwischen dem festen
Magnetkern (4, 5) und dem Anker (3) ausgebildet sind, so daß, wenn der Schalter betätigt
wird, diese Stoßplatten (7) in entgegengesetzte Richtungen in eine Ausnehmung (10)
des Ankers (3) ausweichen, die dem Magnetkern (4, 5) gegenüberliegt, und jede dieser
Stoßplatten (7) mit einer Feder (9) versehen ist, um die Stoßplatten (7) in der Sperrstellung
anzuordnen oder in dieser zu halten.
2. Schalter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Druckverteilplatte (6)
auf der Oberfläche des festen Magnetkernes (4, 5) angeordnet ist, die gegen den Anker
(3) gerichtet ist.
3. Schalter nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jede Stoßplatte (7)
am vom Anker (3) entfernten Ende in einer Richtung abgerundet ist, die der Richtung
der Bewegung jeder Stoßplatte (7) entgegengesetzt ist.
1. Commutateur à commande électromagnétique (1) pourvu d'un noyau magnétique fixe
(4, 5) et d'une armature relevée par ressort (3), bloqué à l'encontre des commutations
non souhaitées sous l'effet de chocs mécaniques, le blocage consistant en deux plaques
mobiles (7) placées en fonction du sense de la commutation et situées entre une partie
du noyau magnétique fixe (4, 5) et l'armature (3), au voisinage du trajet du champ
magnétique de commutateur, lesquelles plaques (7) sont montées sur l'armature (3)
et peuvent tourner dans des sens opposés lorsque le commutateur est mis sous tension,
de sorte que les plaques (7) sous l'effet de la pression du ressort (9) sont maintenues
dans la position de blocage lorsque la bobine (5) n'est pas sous tension, caractérisé
en ce que les plaques mobiles (7) dans le sens de la fermeture de commutateur sont
formées comme des plaques d'impact (7) entre le noyau magnétique fixe (4, 5) et l'armature
(3), de sorte que, lorsque le commutateur est mis sous tension, ces plaques d'impact
(7) se déplacent dans des sens opposés dans une cavité (10) de l'armature (3) qui
fait face au noyau magnétique (4, 5), et en ce que chacune de ces plaques d'impact
(7) est pourvue d'un ressort (9) pour placer ou maintenir les plaques d'impact (7)
dans la position de blocage.
2. Commutateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'une plaque de répartition
de pression (8) est montée sur la face du noyau magnétique fixe (4, 5) qui est dirigée
vers l'armature (3).
3. Commutateur selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que chaque plaque
d'impact (7) est arrondie à son extrémité opposée à l'armature (3), dans le sens opposé
au sens de son déplacement.