Adapter device for control and operation of a contactor coil

Abstract: An adapter device for control and operation of a contactor coil enables the simultaneous connection of the device to the coil terminals, together with additional means of control. The device has a container (1) consisting basically of two parts (10 and 11), in which means of housing (6) of the additional means of control have been provided, which can be an antiparasitic module. It includes coil connecting tongues (7), which have means making possible the internal connection of the additional means of control, on being situated in the means of housing, the simultaneous connection being made to the terminals of the coil of both components. The container (1) has means of retention and protection (16) of the additional means of control, preventing dis-connection from being produced by the self-vibrations of connection-disconnection of the contactor, all that forming a compact unit. The container (1) is further endowed with means (16, 17, 18) making possible the introduction/removal of said additional means of control, in order to change them at any time. The additional means of control have a casing (20) equipped with a cover (24) that makes possible the introduction/removal of connecting clamps (22) to the tongues (7), between which the additional control electronics is interconnected.

Description: The invention with which we are concerned pertains to an adapter device for control and operation of a contactor coil, for which it is endowed with means enabling it to be connected to said coil, and it is intended to make possible the simultaneous connection to the contactor coil of second control means, like the devices used to eliminate noises, transient currents and harmonics occurring in the power network. The invention is applicable in the industry in which the use of contactors is needed, as in the case of engine starting or capacitor battery supply, in order to make corrections of the power factor produced in the power network on connecting up different electric machines. In general, the invention is applicable in any installation in which the use of a contactor is needed. In the state of the art, the use of contactors is extremely well known for starting of the motors of industrial machines in which it is necessary to control and operate the coil in order to determine the state of operation of the contactor, or where features like connection or disconnection timing, among others, need to be provided, for which adapter devices have been developed, which plug in directly to the coil terminals of the contactor. The document DE-U-8906072 discloses an adapter device for control and operation of a contactor coil according to the preamble of claim 1. This type of device has the disadvantage that, when it is desired to connect to the contactor coil another additional control module, like an antiparasitic module, which, on the other hand, is becoming more and more necessary to meet the standards in force, the problem exists of having to remove the adapter device for control and operation of the coil and thus be able to connect an additional module, since simultaneous use of the two components is difficult and in some cases impossible, which is unacceptable for most users. Given this problem, the different manufacturers choose to incorporate the other additional module in the adapter device for control and operation of the coil, the characteristics of which have been calculated for the contactors used on the market that have the greater power and voltage, which is not very efficient for most of the line of contactors, in addition to the fact that, depending on the application, the use of another more efficient type of module might be necessary, like a diode, R-C network, etc. The possibility also exists of drawing cables outside the coil, making the parallel connection of the additional module, the latter remaining hanging from the contactor, with the disadvantage that represents, since due to the vibrations it could lead to their disconnection or rupture. Furthermore, this arrangement does not make possible easy change of the additional module. To solve the problems indicated above, the invention has developed a new adapter device for control and operation of a contactor coil which, like the conventional ones, has a container inside which a printed circuit is included, endowed with two tongues that emerge through the container outside for connection to the contactor coil. In addition, the printed circuit has the corresponding electronic components mounted, which vary in accordance with the task for which it is applied. Like the conventional devices, the device of the invention has means making possible connection from outside in order to apply voltage and control the contactor coil and the adapter device itself. Now, the adapter device of the invention is characterized in that it is endowed with means allowing for the incorporation inside of additional control means (like a harmonic suppressor, noise suppressor, transient current suppressor, etc.) simultaneously and without occupying additional space. For that purpose, the container has means of housing the additional control means; and, furthermore, the coil connecting tongues are endowed with means that permit internal connection of the additional control means, when said additional control means are situated in the means of housing, so that, on connection of the adapter device to the contactor coil, the additional control module is also connected to same. On the other hand, the container is endowed with means of retention of the additional control means in the means of housing of the container, all with a view to preventing disconnection from being produced by the vibrations generated during the connection-disconnection operations of the contactor. Furthermore, the container has means that allow the introduction/removal of said additional control means, so that the latter can be easily replaced at any time and all so that any type of additional control means can be coupled. The means of housing of the additional control means in the container are determined by a recess that is crossed by the coil connecting tongues. Furthermore, the additional control means are housed in a casing, from the back side of which the connecting tongues emerge, between which the additional electronic control components are connected, and which press on the coil connecting tongues. To facilitate this connection, the tongues are flat and have a greater width or widening in the area of connection, although, of course, they can assume any other configuration, like cylindrical, trapezoidal, etc. The means permitting introduction/removal of the additional control means in the container are determined by the appropriate means of retention of said additional control means and are constituted by a cover that closes the container and affords access to the recess. The cover is foldable and is hinged at one of the edges of the container and its closure is effected by means of two lateral extensions ending in claws that are retained in two notches provided on the side walls of the container. On the other hand, the additional control means have a foldable cover that closes the casing, inside which guides have been provided, in which the connecting clamps are inserted and retained. Likewise, in order to close the foldable cover of the casing, the latter has lateral extensions ending in claws that are retained in two holes machined in the side walls of the casing. The container as well as the casing have means that permit a single position of the casing inside the container, these means being formed by a projection machined in the casing and another projection machined in the container, so that the former is coupled on the latter and buffers it. The cover of the container, as already noted, is foldable, for which purpose it is hinged on the edge of the projection determining the single position of the casing in the container. To facilitate the introduction/removal of the casing in the container, the latter has at its mouth two openings that are opposite each other with lateral extensions in the casing, so that said extensions are accessible from outside, in order to facilitate introduction/removal of the casing and, therefore, of the additional control means in the container. The lateral extensions are determined by inclined walls endowed with small notches that facilitate gripping by the user's fingers. It is to be noted that the container consists basically of two main parts: one forming the back cover, in which is included the projection with the closing cover, and the other forming a casing. The part constituting the back cover is endowed with lateral tongues engaging in housings provided in the casing formed by the container. In this way, the adapter device for control and operation of the contactor coil of the invention makes possible the simultaneous connection of additional control means, like means permitting the elimination of noises, harmonics and transients, so that said additional control means can be changed instantly in a simple manner and any type of additional control module can be coupled. The casing means allowing for single position in the container, furthermore, provide greater space for electronic components, contributing to the fact that any additional control means can be included in said casing. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows an exploded view in perspective of the adapter device for control and operation of a contactor coil, according to the invention, in which the second means of control formed by the casing, with its corresponding connecting tongues introduced in the container forming part of said adapter device of the invention, have also been represented in an exploded view. Figure 2 shows a view in perspective of the device of the invention, in which the back cover of the container is not included, in order to show clearly the connection of the additional means of control on the tongues of the device. Figure 3 shows a view in perspective of the invention with its cover foldable from the back cover, open in order to facilitate introduction of the additional control means. Figure 4 shows an exploded view in perspective of a working example of the additional control means. Figure 5 shows a view in perspective of the application of the device of the invention on a contactor. The device of the invention is constituted from a container 1 in which is included the corresponding printed circuit 2 forming the means of support of the electronic components that permit control and operation of a contactor coil, like switches 3 and 4 or means of outside connection 5, which make it possible to supply the different voltages to the coil, in order to be able to control the state it is in, as well as to control the adapter device properly. These means of connection 5 are determined in accordance with the variant container 1. The rest of the components making control and operation of the coil possible are provided in the lower face of the printed circuit 2 and a view of same has not been represented, because it is extremely well known and is not the subject of this invention. In the container 1 means of housing have been provided, formed by a recess 6 that is delimited at the top, in this variant, by switches 3 and 4 and in which tongues 7 connecting to the coil of the contactor 8 have been provided. In this embodiment, the tongues 7 are flat and are endowed in their lower area with a widening 9, the function of which will be subsequently described, together with the rest of the different components that make up the device of the invention. The container 1 consists of three parts 10, 11 and 34, one constituting the back cover 11, another 10 forming a casing and another the front cover 34. In order to retain the back cover 11 on the casing 10, the latter has housings 12 in which lateral tongues 13 are inserted, producing the engagement between both parts. In addition, the back cover 11 is endowed with sheath-like projections 14 through which the connecting tongues 7 run, the function of which is to insulate the ends going to the terminals of the contactor coil. Furthermore, the back cover 11 has a projection 15 that widens the recess 6 to a greater extent, which is accessed through a foldable cover 16 hinged on the edge of the projection 15. In order to close and open the foldable cover 16, the latter has two lateral extensions 17 that each end in claws 18 retained in two partitions 19 provided on the interior side walls of the casing 10 of the container 1. The recess 6 allows for housing additional control means, formed by a casing 20, endowed with a projection 21 that complements projection 15 of the container 1, in order to obtain a great volume for housing the additional control means and at the same time for determining a single position of the casing 20 in relation to the container 1. The edge of projection 21 is extended along a foldable cover 24 that is endowed with lateral extensions 25, each ending in claws 30 to carry out closing, being retained in two holes 27 machined in the side walls of the casing 20. In addition, guides 26 have been provided inside the casing 20, where the connecting clamps 22 are inserted, between which the electronic components 28 constituting the additional control means are connected, in order to eliminate noises, suppress harmonics, overvoltages, etc. In this way, the same casing 20 can house different combinations of electronic components 28. The connecting clamps 22 emerge from the casing 20, so that, after positioning of the projection 21 in relation to projection 15 of the container, insertion of the casing 20 in the housing 6 is made possible, all of that after opening of the removable cover 16 of the container 1. Once the casing 20 is inserted in the housing 6, the connecting clamps 22 are situated on the edge of the widenings 9, so that, on pressing of the casing 20, the connecting clamps 22 are inserted in the widening 9; hence, when the container 1 is connected to a contactor 8, the additional control means as well as the means of control of the coil are also connected to the terminals of said coil of contactor 8. In order to connect the tongues 7 on the terminals of the coil of the contactor 8, its terminal has openings 29 through which said connecting tongues 7 are inserted, an easily accessible compact unit being obtained, which at the same time makes it possible to control the state of the coil of the contactor 8 and enables additional control means to be included, which can be easily substituted according to the user's needs, depending on the different circumstances in which the contactor 8 is applied. It is to be noted that the removable cover 16 of the container 1 has an additional closing component 32 and, furthermore, an elbowed projection 33 has been provided, which forms a conventional means of positioning of the casing in the housing 35 of the contactor 8. The casing 20 has extensions 23 that are accessible through the openings 31 in the container 1, facilitating their removal/introduction. The extensions 23 are inclined surfaces endowed with a plurality of small steps to facilitate gripping.

Claims: Adapter device for control and operation of a contactor coil, the adapter device having a container inside which a printed circuit (2) is included, endowed with two tongues (7) that emerge through the container outside for connection to the coil of the contactor (8), the printed circuit (2) having the corresponding electronic components mounted and with means of connection (5) from outside, all in order to apply voltage from outside and to control the coil of the contactor (8) and the adapter device itself, characterised in that the container (1) has means of housing (6) additional means of control, said additional means of control being, for example, an antiparasitic module; the coil connecting tongues (7) have means making possible the internal connection of the additional means of control, when said additional means of control are situated in the means of housing (6), so that, when the adapter device is connected to the coil of the contactor (8), the additional control means are also connected to said coil; the container (1) has means of retention of the additional means of control in the means of housing (6) of the container (1), said means of retention preventing disconnection from being produced by the vibrations generated during the connection-disconnection operations of the contactor; and the container (1) has means that allow the introduction/removal of said additional means of control, in order to replace them at any time, without unplugging the device from the contactor (8). Adapter device according to Claim 1, wherein the means of housing (6) of the additional control means in the container (1) are determined by a recess (6) that is crossed by the connecting tongues (7) to the coil of the contactor (8). Adapter device according to Claim 1, wherein the means permitting introduction/removal of the additional control means in the container are determined by the means of retention of said additional control means. Adapter device according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the means permitting introduction/removal of the means of retention of said additional control means in the container are determined by a foldable cover (16) that closes on the container (1) and affords access to the cavity (6). Adapter device according to Claim 4, wherein the foldable cover (16) is hinged on one of the edges of the container (1). Adapter device according to Claim 5, wherein closing of the foldable cover (16) is carried out by means of two lateral extensions (17) that each end in claws (18), which are retained in two partitions (19) provided on the side walls of the container (1). Adapter device according to Claim 1, wherein the additional control means are housed in a casing (20), from the back side of which two connecting tongues (22) emerge, to which the additional electronic control components (28) are connected, and which press on the connecting tongues (7) to the coil of the contactor (8). Adapter device according to Claim 7, wherein the casing (20) that houses the additional control means has a foldable cover (24) that closes on the casing (20) and guides (26) in which the connecting clamps (22) are inserted and retained. Adapter device according to Claim 8, wherein the foldable cover (24) has lateral extensions (25), each ending in claws (30) that are retained in two holes (27) machined in the side walls of the casing (20). Adapter device according to Claim 1, wherein the container (1) as well as the casing (20) are endowed with means making possible a single position of the casing inside the container. Adapter device according to Claim 10, wherein the means that permit a single position of the casing (20) inside the container (1) are formed by a projection (21) machined in the casing (20) and another projection (15) machined in the container (1), so that the former is coupled on the latter and buffers it. Adapter device according to Claims 8 and 11, wherein the foldable cover (16) of the container (1) is hinged at the edge of the projection (21), it having been arranged for foldable cover (24) of the casing (20) to be hinged at the edge of projection (15). Adapter device according to Claim 1, wherein the container (1) has at its mouth two side openings (31) that are opposite each other, with lateral extensions (23) included in the casing (20), so that the latter are accessible from out-side, introduction/removal of the additional control means in the container (1) being facilitated; and said lateral extensions (213) consisting of an inclined surface endowed with a plurality of small steps that facilitate gripping. Adapter device according to Claims 1 to 5 and 12, wherein the container consists of three parts (10, 11 and 34), the first one forming a casing (10) in which the projection (15) with the foldable cover (16) is included, the second one forming a back cover (11) and the third are forming the front cover (34), the back cover (11) having lateral tongues (13) engaging in housings (12) provided in the casing (10) formed by the container. Adapter device according to Claim 1, wherein the connecting tongues (7) are flat and present a widening (9) at the bottom, where the connecting clamps (22) are inserted. Adapter device according to Claim 1, wherein the connecting tongues (7) have a geometric shape suitable to permit insertion of the clamps (22).

Inventors: GALIAN JOSE MUNOZ, GIMINEZ MIGUEL ORTIZ, GALIAN, JOSE MUNOZ, GIMINEZ, MIGUEL ORTIZ
Applicants: GE POWER CONTROLS IBERICA S A, GE POWER CONTROLS IBERICA, S.A.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H01H50
IPC codes: H01H50