Electrical connectors – Including arc suppressing or extinguishing means
Patent
1991-12-13
1993-01-05
McGlynn, Joseph H.
Electrical connectors
Including arc suppressing or extinguishing means
H01R 1300
Patent
active
051765292
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for the connection of control current lines, in particular for withdrawable units in low voltage switchgear.
2. Background Information
Low voltage switchgear, such as motor control centers or power distribution installations, have employed withdrawable unit design for many years, in cases where it is necessary to be able to quickly replace components assembled into a functional unit, to achieve short down times for the electrical operating equipment when maintenance work is required, or to achieve brief operational interruptions caused by defective functional components.
For testing or maintenance purposes, it is currently customary to insert or remove the withdrawable unit into or from a test position, whereby only the load current is interrupted, and the control current to the individual functional components is continued in this position.
The continuation of the control current is achieved by contacting the connecting elements which carry the control current even in the test position.
If the withdrawable unit is pulled out farther, the control current feed is also interrupted. This position is customarily called the disconnected position.
The position in which both the load current and the control current are fed is called the "On" position.
An apparatus of the type described above is disclosed in OS 2515152. In that case, the connecting elements are designed as sliding contacts, which slide over one another from the "On" position to the test position.
In such a case, the connecting elements can suffer wear and damaging abrasion on account of the sliding metal connecting elements.
An additional contact apparatus which is also suitable for the control current connection, is realized by means of a form-fit. Such an apparatus is disclosed in OS 3114837.
The connection designated an overtravel contact consists of a contact finger which is equipped with expanded portions for a positive connection with a contact pin, whereby the connection is released by means of a tripping sleeve.
This type of connection has the disadvantage that it is complex and expensive, and takes up a relatively large amount of space. It is therefore not well suited for a large number of control lines.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to create an apparatus for the connection of control current lines, in particular for withdrawable units in low voltage switchgear, employing simple means which eliminate the disadvantages indicated above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved by the invention described in the characteristic portion of claim 1. The movable contact strip can accompany the travel of the withdrawable unit between the test position and the "On" position, so that the control lines remain connected for this distance.
The refinement of the invention characterized in claim 2 is advantageous for the accomplishment of the object indicated above. In this refinement, the contact occurs automatically during insertion, before reaching the test position, while during extraction of the withdrawable unit, the disconnection from the test position also occurs automatically.
That can be accomplished in particular by the use of spring elements, which are characterized in claims 3 and 4, to prevent the movement of the movable contact strips by means of a catch. It is particularly advantageous if the catch during insertion is hard enough that the contact strips engage one another, while during the extraction of the withdrawable unit, they are not yet disconnected, but this separation to the disconnected position of the withdrawable unit is caused by the limit of the guide pins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings contain a schematic illustration of one preferred embodiment of the invention:
FIG. 1 shows an disassembled view of the invention, in perspective.
FIG. 2 shows an assembled view of the invention, in perspective.
FIG. 3 shows an overhead plan view of the apparatus in the "On" posi
REFERENCES:
patent: 2002177 (1935-05-01), Hastings
patent: 2386332 (1945-10-01), Miller
patent: 2689898 (1954-09-01), West
patent: 3588399 (1971-06-01), Vlosca
Heinz Joachim
Winkler Johannes
Klockner-Moeller GmbH
McGlynn Joseph H.
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