Patent ID: 8976502
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A switching device comprising: at least a movable contact and a fixed contact that are adapted to be coupled or uncoupled during a switching operation of said switching device; an electromagnetic actuator comprising an excitation coil, in which an excitation current circulates during a switching operation, and a movable plunger, which is operatively coupled to said movable contact through a kinematic chain, said movable plunger being operated between a start position and a stop position during a switching operation; power supply means that supply said excitation current to said excitation coil during a switching operation; sensor means that generate sensing signals indicative of the intensity of said excitation current; control means for controlling the switching operations of said switching device, said control means receiving the sensing signals generated by said sensor means; wherein said control means are arranged so that, during the execution of a switching operation, said control means: send a first control signal to said power supply means to start with the supply of said excitation current from a first instant onwards; determine, on the base of the information provided by said sensing signals, a second instant, at which said power supply means will stop the supply of said excitation current, said second instant occurring before said movable plunger has reached said stop position during the movement from said start position towards said stop position; send a second control signal to said power supply means to stop with the supply of said excitation current from said second instant and until said movable plunger reaches said stop position; wherein said plunger is configured to commence movement from the start position toward the stop position when said excitation current reaches a peak value.