US-20260128240-A1 - GLASS-TO-METAL-SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELECTROMECHANICAL SWITCHING DEVICE

US20260128240A1US 20260128240 A1US20260128240 A1US 20260128240A1US-20260128240-A1

Abstract

This disclosure presents apparatuses, systems, and devices that include a glass-to-metal-seal (GTMS) header for a low-voltage auxiliary switch. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a weld plate and a plurality of glass-to-metal-seal (GTMS) headers. Each GTMS header is inserted into the weld plate. In this embodiment, the apparatus also includes a plurality of bendable conductive inserts, each bendable conductive insert extending through one GTMS header of the plurality of GTMS headers.

Inventors

ALEKSANDAR PETROV MIHAYLOV
MICHAEL JOSEPH SANGERMANO

Assignees

SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241104

Claims (20)

1 . An apparatus comprising: a weld plate; a plurality of glass-to-metal-seal (GTMS) headers, each GTMS header inserted into the weld plate; and a plurality of bendable conductive inserts, each bendable conductive insert extending through one GTMS header of the plurality of GTMS headers.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each GTMS header includes: a cylindrical metal insert having an open center in which a bendable conductive insert of the plurality of bendable conductive inserts extends through; and glass within the open center that seals the bendable conductive insert to the cylindrical metal insert.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each cylindrical metal insert includes: a first circular portion for inserting into the weld plate; and a second circular portion that extends out from the weld plate; the first circular portion having a smaller diameter than the second circular portion.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each GTMS header is welded to the weld plate.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of overmoldings, each overmolding surrounding a portion of a GTMS header.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each overmolding surrounds a portion of the bendable conductive insert extending through the GTMS header.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each bendable conductive insert is positioned such that one end of each of the bendable conductive inserts is in a position to make or break a connection with an auxiliary switch in response to movement of the auxiliary switch; wherein when the connection with the auxiliary switch is closed, the auxiliary switch provides a signal that indicates a state of the moveable contact.
8 . An apparatus comprising: a weld plate; a main switch that includes: at least two main stationary contacts; a moveable contact for opening and closing a connection between the at least two stationary contacts; and a moveable assembly configured to move the moveable contact into an open state in which the connection between the at least two stationary contacts is open and a closed state in which the connection between the at least two stationary contacts is closed; and an auxiliary switch that includes: a first set of terminals; a plurality of glass-to-metal-seal (GTMS) headers, each GTMS header inserted into the weld plate and having a bendable conductive insert extending through the GTMS header, the bendable conductive inserts positioned such that one end of each of the bendable conductive inserts is in a position to make or break a connection with the first set of terminals in response to movement of the auxiliary switch; and wherein when the connection between the first set of terminals and the auxiliary switch is closed, the auxiliary switch provides a signal that indicates a state of the moveable contact.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each GTMS header of the plurality of GTMS headers includes: a cylindrical metal insert having an open center in which a bendable conductive insert of the plurality of bendable conductive inserts extends through; and glass within the open center that seals the bendable conductive insert to the cylindrical metal insert.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each cylindrical metal insert includes: a first circular portion for inserting into the weld plate; and a second circular portion that extends out from the weld plate; the first circular portion having a smaller diameter than the second circular portion.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each GTMS header is welded to the weld plate.
12 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of overmoldings, each overmolding surrounding a portion of a GTMS header.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each overmolding surrounds a portion of the bendable conductive insert extending through the GTMS header.
14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each bendable conductive insert is coupled at one end to an auxiliary contact switch of an electromechanical switching device.
15 . A method of assembling a glass-to-metal-seal assembly for an electromechanical switching device, the method comprising: inserting into a weld plate of an electromechanical switching device, a plurality of glass-to-metal-seal (GTMS) headers, each GTMS header having a bendable conductive insert extending through the GTMS header; welding each GTMS header to the weld plate to form a hermetically sealed arc chamber; and bending one end of each of the bendable conductive inserts such that the end of the bendable conductive insert is in a position to make or break a connection with terminals of an auxiliary switch of the electromechanical switching device in response to movement of the auxiliary switch.
16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising: applying a plurality of overmoldings to the plurality of GTMS headers.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein each overmolding surrounds a portion of the bendable conductive insert extending through the GTMS header.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein each GTMS header includes: a cylindrical metal insert having an open center in which a bendable conductive insert of the plurality of bendable conductive inserts extends through; and glass within the open center that seals the bendable conductive insert to the cylindrical metal insert.
19 . The method of claim 15 wherein each cylindrical metal insert includes: a first circular portion for inserting into the weld plate; and a second circular portion that extends out from the weld plate; the first circular portion having a smaller diameter than the second circular portion.
20 . The method of claim 15 further comprising: coupling another end of each of the bendable conductive inserts to outputs of the electromechanical switching device.

Description

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY The subject disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and devices that include a glass-to-metal-seal assembly for an electromechanical switching device. BACKGROUND Electromechanical switching devices, such as contactors and relays, are crucial components within electrical systems, tasked with efficiently managing the flow of electrical current between fixed contacts. In a typical configuration, a contactor includes a main switch having a moveable assembly configured to create or break the connection between the fixed contacts in response to movement of the actuator/plunger assembly. High-voltage contactors often include a hermetically sealed arc chamber that aids in the arc breaking characteristics of the contactor. Contactors and other similar devices sometimes also include an auxiliary switch to confirm the state of the main switch (open/closed). The auxiliary switch is typically mechanically coupled to the actuator, which is located inside the contactor's hermetically sealed arc chamber. In order to pass a low voltage signal from the inside to the outside of the hermetic chamber, this signal is often transferred using pins sealed with a glass to metal seal (GTMS). This GTMS is often done on large metal weld plates commonly found on hermetically sealed contactors. GTMS are created at high temperature, and the size of header directly influences process throughput. GTMS pins are also prone to damage and must be carefully handled, especially difficult when small pins are sealed to a large plate. SUMMARY This disclosure presents apparatuses, systems, and devices that include a glass-to-metal-seal (GTMS) assembly for an electromechanical switching device. Embodiments of the present disclosure replace the use of a large sealing piece for a smaller GTMS header that is welded into the larger structure. This reduces the cost and complexity of the overall assembly because the processing and material selection is on a small plate instead of the larger plate. Furthermore, this removes the risk of handling damage since the plates are smaller relative to the pins, and more can be fit on trays and more easily handled. In a particular embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a weld plate and a plurality of glass-to-metal-seal (GTMS) headers. Each GTMS header is inserted into the weld plate. In this embodiment, the apparatus also includes a plurality of bendable conductive inserts in which each bendable conductive insert extends through one GTMS header of the plurality of GTMS headers. In another embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a weld plate and a main switch. The main switch includes at least two main stationary contacts and a moveable contact for opening and closing a connection between the at least two stationary contacts. The main switch also includes a moveable assembly configured to move the moveable contact into an open state in which the connection between the at least two stationary contacts is open and a closed state in which the connection between the at least two stationary contacts is closed. In this embodiment, the electromechanical switching device assembly also includes an auxiliary switch. The auxiliary switch includes a first set of terminals and a plurality of glass-to-metal-seal (GTMS) headers. Each GTMS header is inserted into the weld plate and has a bendable conductive insert extending through the GTMS header. The bendable conductive inserts is positioned such that one end of each of the bendable conductive inserts is in a position to make or break a connection with the first set of terminals in response to movement of the auxiliary switch. When the connection between the first set of terminals and the auxiliary switch is closed, the auxiliary switch provides a signal that indicates a state of the moveable contact. In another embodiment, a method of assembling a glass-to-metal-seal assembly for an electromechanical switching device is disclosed that includes inserting into a weld plate of an electromechanical switching device, a plurality of glass-to-metal-seal (GTMS) headers. Each GTMS header has a bendable conductive insert extending through the GTMS header. In this embodiment, the method also includes welding each GTMS header to the weld plate to form a hermetically sealed arc chamber and bending one end of each of the bendable conductive inserts such that the end of the bendable conductive insert is in a position to make or break a connection with terminals of an auxiliary switch of the electromechanical switching device in response to movement of the auxiliary switch. The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally represent like parts of exemplary embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a dia