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EP-4742290-A1 - CONTACTOR WITH LEVER FORCE REDUCTION

EP4742290A1EP 4742290 A1EP4742290 A1EP 4742290A1EP-4742290-A1

Abstract

A contactor comprising a motor (1) and at least one beam (2) associated with a group comprising at least one input terminal (3) and at least one output terminal (4), the at least one beam (2) being designed to be driven by the motor (1) to move between an open and a closed position, each beam (2) being designed to electrically connect the input terminals (3) and the output terminals (4) of the associated group when in the closed position, while being electrically isolated from the rest of the contactor. Each beam (2) comprises a first rotating pivot (5) connecting the beam (2) to a mechanically fixed element of the contactor and a second rotating pivot (6) disposed at a first distance from the first rotating pivot (5), such that a lever effect is generated when a linear force generated by the motor (1) is applied via a connecting rod (7).

Inventors

  • AYME, Nicolas
  • BREMOND, Xavier
  • CARDOT, Benoît

Assignees

  • Safran Electrical & Power

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251104

Claims (6)

  1. A contactor comprising a linear motor (1) and at least one beam (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) associated with a group comprising at least one input terminal (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) and at least one output terminal (4, 4a, 4b, 4c), the at least one beam (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) being designed to be set in motion by a linear force generated by the linear motor (1) in order to move from one to the other between an open position and a closed position, each beam (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) being designed to electrically connect the at least one input terminal (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) and the at least one output terminal (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) included in the group to which the beam (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) is associated, when it is in the closed position, while being electrically isolated from the rest of the contactor, the contactor being characterized in that Each beam (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) comprises a first rotating pivot (5, 5a, 5b, 5c) and a second rotating pivot (6, 6a, 6b, 6c), the first rotating pivot (5, 5a, 5b, 5c) connecting the beam (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) to a mechanically fixed element of the contactor, such as a chassis or housing, the second rotating pivot (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) being disposed at a first distance from the first rotating pivot (5, 5a, 5b, 5c), so that a lever effect is generated when a linear force generated by the linear motor (1) is applied via element (7), the second rotating pivot (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) being disposed on at least one beam (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) so as to connect at least one beam (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) to the element (7) connected to the output of the linear motor (1).
  2. Contactor according to claim 1, in which at least two beams (2,2a,2b,2c) are each associated with their own first rotating pivot (5,5a,5b,5c) and their own second rotating pivot (6,6a,6b,6c), the second rotating pivots (6,6a,6b,6c) being connected to the same element (7) connected to the output of the linear motor (1), the at least two beams (2,2a,2b,2c) being rotated simultaneously and uniformly.
  3. Contactor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first pivots in rotation (5,5a,5b,5c) of at least two beams (2,2a,2b,2c) are formed by the same axis, the at least two beams (2,2a,2b,2c) sharing the same second pivot in rotation (6,6a,6b,6c), the at least two beams (2,2a,2b,2c) being rotated simultaneously and uniformly.
  4. Contactor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a beam (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) associated with a group comprising at least two input terminals (3,3a,3b,3c) and/or at least two output terminals (4,4a,4b,4c), the beam (2,2a,2b,2c) having at least one end comprising several members, each member being designed so as to connect a terminal (3,3a,3b,3c,4,4a,4b,4c) of the group associated with the beam, the at least one end comprising several members then being able to connect several terminals (3,3a,3b,3c,4,4a,4b,4c) simultaneously.
  5. Contactor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each terminal (3,3a,3b,3c,4,4a,4b,4c) and each face of an end of the beam (2,2a,2b,2c) or of a member of the beam (2,2a,2b,2c) opposite a terminal (3,3a,3b,3c,4,4a,4b,4c) is provided with an electrical contact (8).
  6. Aircraft equipped with a contactor according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Description

technical field The invention relates technically to electrical contactors and more particularly, aeronautical contactors. Previous techniques The contactors commonly used in aircraft, both airplanes and helicopters, are typically direct-translation contactors. They consist of an input terminal, an output terminal, and a motor that drives a beam in translation. The beam's translation causes it to move between two positions: an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the conductive beam is in contact with both terminals of the contactor. The beam's translation speed depends on the motor's actuation speed and dictates its dimensions. Therefore, a powerful motor is necessary to achieve a fast beam movement speed. The motor is primarily sized according to the distance the beam must travel to establish contact and according to the permissible time to go from an open state to a closed state. Furthermore, it is complicated for the beam to make contact with the input terminal and the output terminal at the same time. One aim of the invention is to provide a contactor that reduces the time between the contact of the beam with the input terminal and the contact of the beam with the output terminal. Another objective of the invention is to reduce the cost and weight of contactors compared to the prior art. Description of the invention The invention relates to a contactor comprising a motor and at least one beam associated with a group comprising at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal, the at least one beam being designed to be set in motion by the motor in order to move from one to the other between an open position and a closed position, each beam being designed to to electrically connect at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal within the group to which the beam is associated, when it is in the closed position, while being electrically isolated from the rest of the contactor. Each beam comprises a first rotating pivot and a second rotating pivot, the first rotating pivot connecting the beam to a mechanically fixed element of the contactor, such as a chassis or casing, the second rotating pivot being positioned at a first distance from the first rotating pivot, so that a lever effect is generated when a linear force generated by the motor is applied via a connecting rod. The second rotating pivot can be arranged on at least one beam so as to connect at least one beam to the connecting rod connected to the engine output. The second rotating pivot can be formed by means of a crankshaft, whose crank is fixed to the first rotating pivot, the connecting rod connected to the output of the engine being fixed to the crank. At least two beams can each be associated with their own first rotating pivot and their own second rotating pivot, the second rotating pivots being connected to the same connecting rod connected to the output of the engine, the at least two beams being rotated simultaneously and uniformly. The first rotational pivots of at least two beams can be formed by the same axis, the at least two beams sharing the same second rotational pivot, the at least two beams being rotated simultaneously and uniformly. The contactor may include a beam associated with a group comprising at least two input terminals and/or at least two output terminals, the beam having at least one end comprising several members, each member being designed to connect one terminal of the group associated with the beam, the at least one end comprising several members then being capable of connecting several terminals simultaneously. Each terminal and each face of an end of the beam or of a member of the beam opposite a terminal may be provided with an electrical contact. The invention also relates to an aircraft equipped with a contactor as described above. Brief description of the drawings Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: the figure [ Fig 1 ] illustrates the main elements of a contactor according to the invention in an open position, the figure [ Fig 2 ] illustrates the main elements of a contactor according to the invention in a closed position, the figure [ Fig 3 ] illustrates the main elements of an alternative embodiment of the contactor according to the invention equipped with a crankshaft, the figure [ Fig 4 ] illustrates the main elements of another embodiment of the contactor according to the invention, equipped with arms connected in series, in an open position, the figure [ Fig 5 ] illustrates the main elements of another embodiment of the contactor according to the invention, equipped with arms connected in series, in a closed position, the figure [ Fig 6 ] illustrates the main elements of another embodiment of the contactor according to the invention equipped with arms connected in parallel,