Patent ID: 7433170
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: H01F,H01H

Abstract:
1. A contactor, comprising: a separable conduction path comprising a moveable contact arm electrically separable from a stationary conduction strap; an actuator in mechanical communication with the separable conduction path; a magnetic stator and a magnetic armature arranged in field communication with each other and with an excitation coil responsive to a coil current that serves to generate a magnetic field directed to traverse the stator and the armature; and a controller having a processing circuit adapted to control the coil current in response to the current and voltage at the coil such that the coil current is controlled in response to the position and closing speed of the separable conduction path prior to the separable conduction path closing during an open-to-close action; wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to estimate the speed of the armature relative to the stator in response to the current and voltage at the coil and to compare the estimated speed of the armature with a predetermined target speed characteristic stored in a memory.