Electrical connectors – With magnet
Patent
1997-09-29
1999-07-13
Abrams, Neil
Electrical connectors
With magnet
439700, H01R 1130
Patent
active
059217839
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electromechanical connecting device having magnets to urge electrical contacts into a conducting relation, but in which the magnets do not themselves actually conduct the electrical current.
A predecessor connecting device is described in EP 0 573 471 B1. The previously known connecting device, which consists of a switching mechanism that functions as a conventional socket-outlet and a tripping mechanism that functions as a plug, provides a connecting device which exhibits a very small overall depth and meets high safety requirements.
In the electromechanical connecting device according to EP 0 573 471 B1, both the mechanical and the electrical contact are performed via magnets. Accordingly, both the operating slide, which can be connected to power supply contacts, and the actuating magnet are electrically conductive. The power connection is led directly via contact points to tripping magnets in the tripping mechanism, which are likewise electrically conductive. The magnets are surrounded by an earthing (or grounding) ring which is flush with the insulating housing of the switching mechanism. A disadvantage of this arrangement, however, is that in the case of a short circuit electrical conduction causes damage to the heat-sensitive magnetic assemblies. Moreover, because of the conduction of voltage and current through both the contact points and magnets, the previously known device is still of relatively wide construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the electromechanical connecting device mentioned at the beginning, and in particular to ensure greater reliability and to increase the magnetic adhesion.
It is a further object of the invention that the magnets no longer participate in the conduction of current or voltage. Rather, the current is conducted solely by contact pairs. Thus only an electrically conductive bridge is required for the operating slide to conduct current, the slide producing contact between the power supply contacts through the bridge. The operating slide itself can be electrically non-conductive, as can be the actuating magnets arranged thereon.
A further object of the invention is to increase the reliability of the device by arranging the contact pairs in the inner region. The contact pairs can be constructed to be more stable and thus more reliable, by, for example, being constructed in the form of wide contact pins.
A further object of the invention is to reduce heat problems that arise with the magnets. This object is achieved because the magnets no longer participate in current conduction--should a short circuit occur, the magnets will not be damaged by heat. Moreover heat which is produced by a possible film of moisture can be dissipated in a simple way via the earthing ring, as shown and described herein, when the actuating magnets and the tripping magnets are in contact with the earthing ring when the present invention is in the connected state.
A further very advantageous refinement of the invention is that the operating slide is constructed at least approximately in a circular fashion, and that a plurality of actuating magnets are spaced from one another in the outer circumferential region of the operating slide.
If the magnets are arranged in this case in appropriate codings, for example in alternating north-south combinations having 180.degree. symmetry, a very rapid return of the operating slide is achieved during cycles of the tripping mechanism. The relatively large angular lengths which occur in this case give rise even in the event of small rotations to fields of opposite polarity and thus to correspondingly high repulsion forces, with the result that the operating slide returns to the non-connected rest state.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description that follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of the present invention, showing the s
REFERENCES:
patent: 3431428 (1969-03-01), Van Valer
patent: 3521216 (1970-07-01), Tolegian
patent: 3808577 (1974-04-01), Mathauser
patent: 4317969 (1982-03-01), Riegler et al.
patent: 4874316 (1989-10-01), Kamon et al.
Bullinger Achim
Fritsch Klaus-Dieter
Neidlein Hermann
Abrams Neil
Biggi Brian J.
Bullinger Achim
Fritsch Klaus-Dieter
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