Patent ID: 12230467

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to make objects, technical details and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure clear, the technical solutions of the embodiments will be described in a clearly and fully understandable way in connection with the related drawings. It is apparent that the described embodiments are just a part but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Based on the described embodiments herein, those skilled in the art can obtain, without any inventive work, other embodiment(s) which should be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in this disclosure shall have their ordinary meanings as understood by those with ordinary skills in the field to which this disclosure belongs. The words “first”, “second” and the like used in this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to extinguish different components. Similar words such as “comprising” or “including” refer to that the elements or objects appearing before the word cover the listed elements or objects appearing after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. “up”, “down”, “left”, and “right” are only used to express the relative positional relationship. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

Breaker can be used in a contactor to control the on and off of a current path. The contactor can be used for controlling the on and off of multiple current paths, for example, the on and off of three phase current paths. Generally, the breaker accommodates a plurality of contact assemblies (one contact assembly includes a stationary contact and a movable contact which correspond to each other and are used for controlling a current path) for controlling multiple phase current paths in a common housing, and for example, the plurality of contact assemblies are at least not completely spaced apart. Therefore, when a component in one of the contact assemblies is damaged, the whole breaker needs to be replaced, resulting in an increase in maintenance and replacement cost. In addition, in general, there is an underutilized space in the housing of the breaker used for controlling the multiphase current, so the structure of the breaker is not compact and the space utilization rate is low.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a breaker, which is only used for controlling one current path. The breaker includes a contact assembly, an actuating member and a housing. The contact assembly includes a first stationary contact including a first stationary contact portion, a second stationary contact including a second stationary contact portion, and a movable contact having a first movable contact portion and a second movable contact portion located at both ends of the movable contact. The actuating member is connected to the movable contact to actuate the movable contact in a first direction to move between an open position and a closed position. At the open position, the first movable contact portion is spaced apart from the first stationary contact portion and the second movable contact portion is spaced apart from the second stationary contact portion to turn-off the one current path. At the closed position, the first movable contact portion is in contact with the first stationary contact portion and the second movable contact portion is in contact with the second stationary contact portion to turn-on the one current path. The housing accommodates the contact assembly and the actuating member.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the breaker is only used for controlling one current path. One single housing accommodates only one contact assembly, for example, two stationary contacts and one movable contact corresponding to the two stationary contacts. Therefore, upon a component being damaged, only one breaker for controlling only one current path needs to be replaced, and it is not necessary to replace a breaker used for controlling a plurality of current paths and having more components, thereby reducing the cost. In addition, the breaker is modularized, and the modular breaker can be flexibly combined as required to design a breaker assembly or a contactor.

FIG.1shows a perspective view of a breaker according to the present disclosure, which shows the appearance of the breaker.FIG.2shows an internal plan view of a breaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated byFIG.1andFIG.2, the breaker includes a housing190, a contact assembly, an actuating member130, arc extinguishing devices140,140′, arc running pieces180,180′, an arc guiding piece150and magnetic resistance pieces160,160′.

Specifically, the housing190includes a first half shell191and a second half shell192. The housing190is used to accommodate the contact assembly, the actuating member130, the arc extinguishing devices140,140′, the arc running pieces180,180′, the arc guiding piece150and the magnetic resistance pieces160,160′.FIG.2shows a plan view of the interior of the breaker, in which the second half shell192is removed to show the interior of the breaker. Referring toFIG.2, a first direction X (up-down direction in the figure), a second direction Y (left-right direction in the figure) and a third direction Z (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in the figure) can be defined, and they are perpendicular to each other.

In an example, the contact assembly includes one first stationary contact110, one second stationary contact110′ and one movable contact120. The first stationary contact110includes a first stationary contact portion114(or a first stationary contact point), the second stationary contact110′ includes a second stationary contact portion115(or a second stationary contact point), and the movable contact120includes a first movable contact portion121(or a first movable contact point) corresponding to the first stationary contact portion114and a second movable contact portion122(or a second movable contact point) corresponding to the second stationary contact portion115. For example, the first stationary contact portion114, the second stationary contact portion115, the first movable contact portion121and the second movable contact portion122are all flat surfaces, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first stationary contact portion114and the first movable contact portion121constitute a first group of contact portions, and the second stationary contact portion115and the second movable contact portion122constitute a second group of contact portions. For example, the first stationary contact portion114and the first movable contact portion121face each other in the first direction X, and the second stationary contact portion115and the second movable contact portion122face each other in the first direction X.

The first stationary contact110and the second stationary contact110′ are J-shaped, which generally extend in the second direction Y, and a part of each of the first stationary contact110and the second stationary contact110′ oppositely extends out of the housing190in the second direction Y, thereby allowing an external circuit to be electrically connected to the two stationary contacts110,110′.

The movable contact120extends in the second direction Y, and the first movable contact portion121and the second movable contact portion122are located at both ends of the movable contact120. For example, the movable contact120may include a movable contact body and an iron cap.

The actuating member130passes through an opening in the middle of the movable contact120and is fixedly connected to the movable contact120, and the actuating member130moves in the first direction X to actuate the movable contact120to move between an open position (referring toFIG.2, for example) and a closed position in the first direction X. A part of the actuating member130extends upward out of the housing190in the first direction X.

The breaker also includes guide members171,172, which include a first guide member171and a second guide member172, which are spaced apart by a distance in the first direction X. The second guide member172is disposed at an opening of the housing190, and the actuating member130extends out of the housing190through the opening. The first guide member171is disposed below the movable contact120. The movable contact120is positioned between the first guide member171and the second guide member172.

Upon the movable contact120being at the closed position, the first movable contact portion121of the movable contact120is in contact with the first stationary contact portion114of the first stationary contact110to form electric connection, and the second movable contact portion122of the movable contact120is in contact with the second stationary contact portion122of the second stationary contact110′ to form electric connection, so as to turn-on a current path from the first stationary contact110to the second stationary contact110′ through the movable contact120. Upon the movable contact120being at the open position, the first movable contact portion121of the movable contact120is spaced apart from the first stationary contact portion114of the first stationary contact110for insulation, and the second movable contact portion122of the movable contact120is spaced apart from the second stationary contact portion115of the second stationary contact110′ for insulation. The current path from the first stationary contact110to the second stationary contact110′ through the movable contact120is turned-off.

Upon the movable contact120moving from the closed position to the open position, an electric arc may be generated between the first movable contact portion121and the first stationary contact portion114and the second movable contact portion122and the second stationary contact portion115. Therefore, it is needed to provide a device for guiding and extinguishing the electric arc to guide the generated electric arc away from the stationary contacts110,110′ and the movable contacts120and extinguish the electric arc, so as to prevent the ablation and potential safety hazard of components such as the stationary contacts110,110′ and the movable contacts120.

In the present embodiment, the arc extinguishing devices140,140′, the arc guiding piece150and the arc running pieces180,180′ are provided to guide and extinguish the electric arc. Through the reasonable setting of each component (e.g., position, size, shape, etc.), the breaker becomes compact, for example, fully occupies the space volume, and the arc extinguishing performance is improved, for example, the arc dead time is reduced, the arc blowing performance is improved and the arc zero crossing times is reduced.

In an example, the arc extinguishing devices140,140′ include a first arc extinguishing device140and a second arc extinguishing device140′, which are respectively used for the above-mentioned first group of contact portions and second group of contact portions. The arc running pieces180,180′ include a first arc running piece180and a second arc running piece180′, which are respectively used for the above-mentioned first group of contact portions and second group of contact portions. The magnetic resistance pieces160,160′ include a first magnetic resistance piece160and a second magnetic resistance piece160′, which are respectively used for the abovementioned first group of contact portions and second group of contact portions. The actuating member130and the arc guiding piece150are commonly used by the above-mentioned first group of contact portions and second group of contact portions.

In an example, the first stationary contact110and the second stationary contact110′, the movable contact120, the first arc running piece180and the second arc running pieces180′, the arc guiding piece150, the first arc extinguishing device140and the second arc extinguishing device140′, and the first magnetic resistance piece160and the second magnetic resistance pieces160′ are in mirror arrangement with respect to the axis in the first direction X. Furthermore, the arc guiding piece150, the movable contact120and the actuating member130are formed to be axisymmetric, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

For example, the first stationary contact110and the second stationary contact110′ may be approximately the same, the first arc running piece180and the second arc running piece180′ may be approximately the same, and the first arc extinguishing device140and the second arc extinguishing device140′ may be approximately the same. Therefore, only the first stationary contact110, the first arc running piece180, the first arc extinguishing device140and the first magnetic resistance piece160will be described in detail below, and the descriptions of the first stationary contact110, the first arc running piece180, the first arc running piece140and the first magnetic resistance piece160can also be applied to the second stationary contact110′, the second arc running piece180′ and the second arc extinguishing device140, respectively.

As illustrated byFIG.2, the first arc extinguishing device140includes a plurality of arc extinguishing grid sheets141. In this example, the first arc extinguishing device140includes six arc extinguishing grid sheets141, which may be other numbers, such as less than five or more than seven. The arc extinguishing grid sheets141are spaced apart from each other in the second direction Y, and extend in sheet shapes in the first direction X and the third direction Z. Due to the orientation of the first arc extinguishing device140, the volume of the breaker is reduced and the arrangement of various components of the breaker is more compact.

Similarly, the second arc extinguishing device140′ includes a plurality of arc extinguishing grid sheets arranged spaced apart from each other in the second direction Y.

The first arc running piece180is used to guide the electric arc from the first stationary contact110to the first arc extinguishing device140. For example, the first arc running piece180has a rounded L-shape, and includes a first arm portion181having a first arc running end portion extending in the second direction Y, a second arm portion182having a second arc running end portion extending in the first direction X, and a curved connecting portion183connecting the first arm portion and the second arm portion.

The first arc running end portion is disposed adjacent to the first stationary contact110. For example, the first arc running end portion is welded to a free end of the first stationary contact110close to the first stationary contact portion114. Therefore, the arc guiding performance of the arc running piece can be enhanced.

The first arc running piece180extends rightward and downward from the first arc running end portion in the first direction X and the second direction Y through the first arc extinguishing device140to the second arc running end portion. Because the first arc running piece180passes through the first arc extinguishing device140, the first arc running piece180can guide the electric arc into the first arc extinguishing device140more quickly and effectively, thus improving the arc extinguishing performance of the breaker. In the second direction Y, the first arc running end portion is located on the first side (i.e., inside) of the first arc extinguishing device140, and the second arc running end portion is located on the second side (i.e., outside) of the first arc extinguishing device140, which is opposite to the first side.

For example, a notch is provided in the arc extinguishing grid sheet141of the first arc extinguishing device140. The first arm portion181and the curved connecting portion183pass through the notches of the plurality of arc extinguishing grid sheets141of the first arc extinguishing device140, so that a projection of the first arc-running grid180on the third direction Z at least partially overlaps with projections of the plurality of arc extinguishing grid sheets141in the third direction Z.

Similarly, the second arc running piece180′ is used to guide the electric arc from the second stationary contact110′ to the second arc extinguishing device140′, and includes a third arc running end portion and a fourth arc running end portion. The third arc running end portion is disposed adjacent to the second stationary contact110′. The second arc running piece180′ extends leftwards and downwards from the third arc running end portion in the first direction X and the second direction Y through the second arc extinguishing device140′ to the fourth arc running end portion. In the second direction Y, the third arc running end portion is located on the third side (i.e., inside) of the second arc extinguishing device140′, and the fourth arc running end portion is located on the fourth side (i.e., outside) of the second arc extinguishing device140′, which is opposite to the third side. The second arc running piece180′ passes through the plurality of arc extinguishing grid sheets141of the second arc extinguishing device140′, so that a projection of the second arc running piece180′ on the third direction Z at least partially overlaps with projections of the plurality of arc extinguishing grid sheets141on the third direction Z. Therefore, the arc extinguishing performance of the breaker is improved.

The arc guiding piece150is approximately M-shaped, and includes a first arc guiding section151and a second arc guiding section152both extending in the first direction X. The first arc guiding section151is arranged between the movable contact120and the first arc extinguishing device140in the second direction Y to guide the electric arc from the movable contact120to the first arc extinguishing device140. The second arc guiding section152is arranged between the movable contact120and the second arc extinguishing device140′ in the second direction Y to guide the electric arc from the movable contact120to the second arc extinguishing device140′. An opening is provided in the arc guiding piece150, so that the movable contact120passes through the opening and moves. For example, the arc guiding piece150is an integral piece.

The first stationary contact110includes a first parallel section111, a second parallel section112, and a contact curved section113connecting the first parallel section111and the second parallel section112. The first parallel section111extends in the second direction Y within the housing190, and the second parallel section112extends out of the housing190in the second direction Y. The first stationary contact portion114is disposed on the first parallel section111of the first stationary contact110.

Similarly, the second stationary contact110′ includes another first parallel section, another second parallel section, and another contact curved section connecting the first parallel section and the second parallel section. The second stationary contact portion115is disposed on the first parallel section of the second stationary contact110′.

The first magnetic resistance piece160is positioned between the first parallel section111and the second parallel section112of the first stationary contact110in the first direction X. The first magnetic resistance piece160extends parallel to the first parallel section111of the first stationary contact110.

Similarly, the second magnetic resistance piece160′ is positioned between the first parallel section and the second parallel section of the second stationary contact110′ in the second direction Y. The second magnetic resistance piece160′ extends parallel to the first parallel section of the second stationary contact110′.

The positions of the various components are properly set, to obtain good arc extinguishing performance.

FIG.3shows an enlarged view of a part of the dotted line box A-A inFIG.2, andFIG.4shows an enlarged view of the first magnetic resistance piece160and the first parallel section111of the first stationary contact110inFIG.2.

Referring toFIG.3, for example, in the second direction Y, the shortest distance L1between the movable contact120and the first arc guiding section151is approximately equal to the shortest distance L2between the first arc guiding section151and the arc extinguishing grid sheet141.

For example, the first movable contact portion121, the first stationary contact portion114, the second movable contact portion120and the second stationary contact portion110′ are all flat surfaces. The distance L3between the first arc running piece180and the arc guiding piece150in the first direction X is the shortest. In the first direction X, the distance L3between the first arc running piece180and the arc guiding piece150is approximately equal to the distance L4between the first movable contact portion121and the first stationary contact portion114upon the movable contact120being at the open position.

For example, upon the movable contact120being at the open position, the first movable contact portion121is closer to the first stationary contact110than the arc guiding piece150in the first direction X, and the shortest distance L5between the first movable contact portion121and the arc guiding piece150at the open position is approximately equal to the shortest distance L1in the second direction Y between the movable contact120and the first arc guiding piece151.

Here, “approximately” refers to that the distances between the two pairs of components are equal to each other, but a small error is allowed, so that the two pairs of components have balanced arc guiding performance.

Referring toFIG.4, for example, the distance L6between the first magnetic resistance piece160and the first parallel section111of the first stationary contact110in the first direction X is less than 0.5 mm.

An embodiment according to the present disclosure further provides a breaker assembly, which includes a plurality of breakers, for example, the plurality of breakers as described above. The plurality of breakers are respectively used for controlling current paths of multiple phase currents, such as three phase current paths and two phase current paths. For example, the actuating members130of the plurality of breakers are connected to each other to move in linkage.

Because each of the breakers is only used for controlling one current path, it is possible to conveniently replace the breaker, combine the breakers to flexibly design the breaker assembly, and reduce the maintenance cost and modularize the breaker.

An embodiment according to the present disclosure further provides a contactor, which includes a breaker, such as a plurality of breakers. For example, the breaker is the abovementioned breaker.

The scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the above-described embodiments, but by the appended claims and their equivalents.