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EP-4738419-A1 - CONTACT ARRANGEMENT COUNTERACTING LIFT-OFF

EP4738419A1EP 4738419 A1EP4738419 A1EP 4738419A1EP-4738419-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact arrangement (1) with a proximal fixed contact arrangement (2) having a proximal fixed contact section (2a), with a distal fixed contact arrangement (4) having a distal fixed contact section (4a), with a contact bridge (6a) movable in a switching direction (8) from an open position (10a) to a closed position (10b), which contacts the proximal and distal fixed contact sections in the closed position (10b) and electrically connects them to each other, and which is spaced apart from the proximal and distal fixed contact sections in the open position, and wherein the proximal fixed contact arrangement has a proximal base (14) and the distal fixed contact arrangement has a distal base (16), wherein the proximal fixed contact section projects from the proximal base in the direction of the distal base and the distal fixed contact section projects from the distal base in the direction of the proximal base, and wherein the contact bridge is arranged at least in the closed position at a height (18a) in the switching direction, which lies both between a height (18b) in the switching direction of the proximal base and a height (18c) in the switching direction of the proximal fixed contact section, and between a height (18d) in the switching direction of the distal base and the height (18e) in the switching direction of the distal fixed contact section. Such a contact arrangement or switching device reduces the risk of the contact bridge lifting in the event of a short circuit and thus the formation of arcs.

Inventors

  • WEIGEL, CHRISTFRIED

Assignees

  • TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251104

Claims (15)

  1. Contact arrangement (1) for a switching device (56) such as a relay or contactor, with a proximal fixed contact arrangement (2) having a proximal fixed contact section (2a), with a distal fixed contact arrangement (4) having a distal fixed contact section (4a), with a contact bridge (6a) movable in a switching direction (8) from an open position (10a) to a closed position (10b), which in the closed position (10b) contacts the proximal and distal fixed contact sections (2a, 4a) and electrically connects them to each other, and which in the open position (10a) is spaced apart from the proximal and distal fixed contact sections (2a, 4a), and wherein the proximal fixed contact arrangement (2) has a proximal base (14) and the distal fixed contact arrangement (4) has a distal base (16), wherein the proximal fixed contact section (2a) projects from the proximal base (14) in the direction of the distal base (16) and the distal fixed contact section (4a) projects from the distal base (16) in the direction of the proximal base (14), and wherein the contact bridge (6a) is arranged, at least in the closed position (10b), at a height (18a) in the switching direction (8) which is both between a height (18b) in the switching direction (8) of the proximal base (14) and a height (18c) in the switching direction (8) of the proximal fixed contact section (2a) and between a height (18d) in the switching direction (8) of the distal base (16) and a height (18e) in the switching direction (8) of the distal fixed contact section (4a).
  2. Contact arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the proximal base (14) and the distal base (16) are opposite each other in a reference direction (11), and wherein a direction (64) in which switching contacts (62) of the contact bridge (6a) are spaced apart from each other extends perpendicular to the switching direction (8) and at an angle (66) to the reference direction (11).
  3. Contact arrangement (1) according to claim 2, wherein the angle (66) is 90°.
  4. Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the proximal fixed contact arrangement (2) has a further proximal fixed contact section (2a) and the distal fixed contact arrangement (4) has a further distal fixed contact section (4a), and wherein the proximal fixed contact section (2a) is connected to the further proximal fixed contact section (2b) via the proximal base (14), and wherein the distal fixed contact section (4a) is connected to the further distal fixed contact section (4b), with a further contact bridge (6b) movable in the switching direction (8) from a further open position (12a) into a further closed position (12b), which in the further closed position (12b) contacts the further proximal and the further distal fixed contact section (2b, 4b) and electrically connects them to each other, and which in the further open position (12a) is spaced apart from the further proximal and the further distal fixed contact section (2b, 4b), and wherein the further contact bridge (6b) is arranged, at least in the further closed position (12b), at a height (18f) in the switching direction (8) which is both between the height (18b) in the switching direction (8) of the proximal base (14) and a height (18g) in the switching direction (8) of the further proximal fixed contact section (2a) and between the height (18d) in the switching direction (8) of the distal base (16) and a height (18h) in the switching direction (8) of the further distal fixed contact section (4a).
  5. Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the proximal fixed contact section (2a) is spaced from the proximal base (14) by a first proximal offset (22a) and the distal fixed contact section (4a) is spaced from the distal base (16) by a first distal offset (24a) in the switching direction (8), and/or wherein the further proximal fixed contact section (2b) is spaced from the proximal base (14) by a second proximal offset (22b) and the further distal fixed contact section (4b) is spaced from the distal base (16) by a second distal offset (24b) in the switching direction (8).
  6. Contact arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the first proximal offset (22a) and the first distal offset (24a) are identical, and wherein the second proximal offset (22b) and the second distal offset (24b) are identical, and wherein the first proximal offset (22a) and the first distal offset (24a) are different from the second proximal offset (22b) and the second distal offset (24b).
  7. Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the proximal and/or distal bases (14, 16) have at least one flat side (28) pointing in the switching direction (8).
  8. Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the proximal base (14) has at least one connection means (34) for receiving and/or fastening at least one current conductor (32) and/or wherein the distal base (16) has at least one connection means (34) for receiving and/or fastening at least one current conductor (32).
  9. Contact arrangement (1) according to claim 8, wherein the at least one connection means (34) comprises a connection tab (46) configured to be connected to the at least one current conductor (32).
  10. Contact arrangement (1) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one connection tab (46) extends at least in sections along the switching direction (8).
  11. Contact arrangement (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the at least one connection tab (46) does not intersect planes spanned by the proximal fixed contact section (2a) and the distal fixed contact section (4a) and/or spanned by the further proximal fixed contact section (2b) and the further distal fixed contact section (4b), respectively.
  12. Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the contact arrangement (1) has transition sections (40), wherein the proximal fixed contact section (2a) and the further proximal fixed contact section (2b) are each connected to the proximal base (14) via one of the transition sections (40), and/or wherein the distal fixed contact section (4a) and the further distal fixed contact section (4b) are each connected to the distal base (16) via one of the transition sections (40), wherein the transition sections (40) extend substantially along the switching direction (8).
  13. Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one of the fixed contact arrangements (2, 4) from the group of fixed contact arrangements (2, 4) comprising the proximal and distal fixed contact arrangements (2, 4) is monolithically formed.
  14. Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, with a blow-out device (52) having at least one blow-out magnet (54), wherein the blow-out device (52) is designed to generate at least one magnetic field for deflecting arcs generated in the open position (10a) or in the further open position (12a).
  15. Electrical switching device (56), with a contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, and with a drive device (60) designed to move the first contact bridge (6a) in the switching direction (8) from the first open position (10a) to the first closed position (10b) and the second contact bridge (6b) in the switching direction (8) from the second open position (12a) to the second closed position (12b).

Description

The present invention relates to a contact arrangement for a switching device such as a relay or contactor, as well as a switching device with such a contact arrangement, in particular for use in electromobility. Electrical switching devices such as relays or contactors are used to switch electrical currents. Switching devices usually have a contact bridge that serves to open or close the circuit. When closed, the contact bridge is in contact with fixed contacts, while when open, it is spaced apart from the fixed contacts. In the field of electromobility, for example during charging or in the drive train, very high currents of up to 27 kA and more occur in the event of a short circuit. Such high currents generate a repulsive force that pushes the contact bridge away from the fixed contacts. When the contact bridge is pushed away from the fixed contacts, arcing may occur, which may damage or even destroy the switching device. The contact bridge should therefore remain in contact with the fixed contacts at least until a fuse in the circuit trips. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide means that meet the requirements defined above. This object is solved by a contact arrangement for a switching device such as a relay or contactor, with a proximal fixed contact arrangement having a proximal fixed contact section,with a distal fixed contact arrangement having a distal fixed contact section,with a contact bridge movable in a switching direction from an open position to a closed position, which in the closed position contacts the proximal and distal fixed contact sections and electrically connects them to each other, and which in the open position is spaced apart from the proximal and distal fixed contact sections,and wherein the proximal fixed contact arrangement has a proximal base and the distal fixed contact arrangement has a distal base, wherein the proximal fixed contact section projects from the proximal base in the direction of the distal base and the distal fixed contact section projects from the distal base in the direction of the proximal base,and wherein the contact bridge is arranged, at least in the closed position, at a height in the switching direction which is both between a height in the switching direction of the proximal base and a height in the switching direction of the proximal fixed contact section and between a height in the switching direction of the distal base and the height in the switching direction of the distal fixed contact section. When an electric current flows through the above contact arrangement during operation, strong electromagnetic forces are generated, particularly in the area of the bases. Since the contact bridge is, in the switching direction, arranged between the bases and the fixed contact sections at least in its closed position, these electromagnetic forces press the contact bridge against the fixed contact sections, which at least makes it more difficult for the contact bridge to lift off the fixed contact sections and reduces the risk of arcing. The above invention may be further improved by the following features, each of which is advantageous in itself and may be combined with each other as desired. The proximal and distal bases may each be designed to be connected to a current conductor such as a busbar, a terminal, a contact bolt, a contact pin or an electrical plug. According to an advantageous embodiment, the proximal base and the distal base may be opposite each other in a reference direction, wherein a direction in which switching contacts of the contact bridge are spaced apart from each other may extend perpendicular to the switching direction and at an angle to the reference direction. Such a contact arrangement is particularly compact in the reference direction. A contact arrangement that is particularly compact in the reference direction is present when the angle to the reference direction is 90°. Of course, according to other embodiments, the contact bridge may also extend at a different angle, for example at an angle of approximately 45° to the reference direction. The switching contacts of the contact bridge may be designed to rest, in the closed position, against the proximal fixed contact section or the distal fixed contact section. In particular, the contact bridge may contact the proximal or distal fixed contact section in the closed position exclusively via the switching contacts of the contact bridge. The direction in which the switching contacts of the contact bridge are spaced apart from each other may correspond to a longitudinal direction of the contact bridge. The contact arrangement is particularly compact in the reference direction if the proximal fixed contact section and the distal fixed contact section are adjacent to each other at least in sections with respect to the direction along which the switching contacts of the contact bridge are spaced apart from each other and, in particular, overlap at least in secti