Patent Application
20210287865
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2020 203 056.1, filed on Mar. 10, 2020.
The present invention relates to electrical switching devices, and more particularly, to contactors or relays for high-voltage applications in automotive engineering.
Electrical switching devices, in particular contactors and relays, are used in the field of electrical engineering as electro-mechanically acting switches for closing or opening electrical circuits in countless devices and systems. Switching devices allow for the influence of comparatively strong current flows with comparatively weak control currents.
In the field of automotive engineering, the number of applications that have a need for such switches to influence current is increasing with the advancement of electromobility. The use of switches in vehicles, however, requires that special requirements be fulfilled with regard to weight, the required installation space, electrical safety, the achievable switching cycles, and the production costs, which do not necessarily apply to general electrical engineering applications.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved electrical switching devices, in particular contactors and relays, with regard to weight-related, geometrical, safety-related and/or economic aspects.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrical switching device includes a connection section for fastening and contacting an electrical conductor. The connection section has a fastening element for fastening the electrical conductor, a current-carrying element spaced apart from the fastening element and including a contact point, and an electrically conductive contacting element extending from the fastening element to the contact point of the current-carrying element and into an inner section of the electrical switching device.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
Technical solutions of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail through embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings. In the specification, the same or the like reference numerals refer to the same or the like elements. The illustration of the embodiments of the present disclosure made with reference to the attached drawings is aimed to explain the general inventive concept of the present disclosure, not to be construed as a limitation of the present disclosure.
In addition, in the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawings.
The schematic configuration of an electrical switching device 1 according to the invention shall be explained with reference to
As shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, fastening element 8 is configured as a screw-nut 10. Screw-nut 10 has in particular a hexagonal outer shape 12 and an internal thread 16 in insertion opening 14.
Furthermore, an electrically conductive contacting element 18 can be disposed at connection section 4, with contacting element 18 extending from fastening element 8 at least up to a contact point 20 of a current-carrying element 22 which is spaced from fastening element 8 and runs in inner section 6.
Contacting element 18 can be configured to be clamp-shaped. As shown in
On at least one of the legs 32a, contacting element 18 can include an opening 36a that is aligned with insertion opening 14 in the direction of insertion 15. In the embodiment shown, aligned opening 36a is realized by a bore 40 passing through a contact surface 38 of contacting element 18.
The other leg 32b can likewise include an opening 36b that is aligned or not aligned with insertion opening 14 in the direction of insertion 15. Contact point 20 can be disposed in opening 36b. As shown in
A contact member 48 can be located at an end 46 of current-carrying element 22 facing away from contact point 20. Contact member 48 can be arranged in particular opposite to a complementary switching mechanism element 50, for example, a contact bridge 52, and together form an electrical switching mechanism 110. This arrangement results in a separation point 54 at which an electrical circuit, into which electrical switching device 1 is integrated, can be closed or opened, respectively.
Contacting element 18 can be fabricated from a sheet metal material. Contacting element 18 is optionally a stamped and bent member 56. Alternatively, contacting element 18 can also be a cast or forged member.
As shown in
As can be seen from
Retaining screw 58 comprises an external thread 66 which is compatible with internal thread 16 of fastening element 8 when configured as a screw-nut 10, and can be used to establish a releasable screw connection 68. As an alternative to retaining screw 58, for example, a banana plug (not shown) can also be used as a fixation element 28 for electrical conductor 26 and be inserted into insertion opening 14. The banana plug can correspondingly be attached as part of cable lug 60 in place of eyelet 62 on end 64 of electrical conductor 26.
Fastening element 8 preferably has a greater mechanical strength than contacting element 18. In addition, contacting element 18 can be electrically conductive and preferably exhibit greater electrical conductivity than fastening element 8. Fastening element 8 is disposed in particular outside an intended current path 24 of electrical switching device 1. In this way, fastening element 8 can be configured gearing solely towards mechanical requirements. A current-conducting function is provided by contacting element 18 and the current-carrying element 22. In particular, fastening element 8 does not substantially need to fulfill any electrically conductive task, so that expensive materials that are sufficiently strong and at the same time sufficiently conductive, such as high-purity copper or other precious metals, can be dispensed with in fastening element 8. A material, which is characterized exclusively by high mechanical strength such as steel, preferably having a low volume requirement at the same time, can instead be selected for fastening element 8. Thus, weight, space requirements, and/or costs can be saved by employing an electrical switching device.
Fastening element 8 and contacting element 18 can be separate components that can be detached from one another. Alternatively, there can be a permanent connection, for example, a welded, soldered or adhesive bond, between fastening element 8 and contacting element 18.
Referring now to
Optionally, recess 72 can have a lateral access 80 which runs perpendicular to the direction of insertion 15. This is indicated in
Still referring to
Contacting element 18 configured as a clamp 30 can protrude with one leg 32a, 32b into the at least one receiving slot 82. Advantageously, leg 32b with opening 36b is introduced, plugged or pushed into the at least one receiving slot 82. This is shown in
Referring to
Electrical switching device 1 shown by way of example as a contactor 2 in
For each connection section 4, electrical switching device 1 preferably comprises a power cable 104 which is fastened to and contacted on the associated connection section 4. This attachment can be effected as explained above for electrical conductor 26. Connection sections 4 are preferably arranged on the same outer side 88 of housing 70 and may be separated from one another by a rib-shaped web 106 protruding from housing 70 in a direction opposite to direction of insertion 15.
In the embodiment shown, rib-shaped web 106 is shown as an end-to-end rib 108. To simplify the process of placing fastening element 8 into recess 72, rib 108 can comprise a centrally arranged break (not shown). For reasons of electrical safety, it must be ensured that the break is narrower than power cable 104 so that power cable 104 cannot pass through the break.
In interior 100 of electrical switching device 1, current-carrying elements 22 in pairs can be part of an electrical switching mechanism 110. For this purpose, a complementary switching mechanism element 50, for example, a contact bridge 52, is arranged or disposed opposite respective contact members 48 in interior 100 of electrical switching device 1. Contact bridge 52 is moved in accordance with incoming switching commands by way of an actuating coil 112 that is likewise located in interior 100 of electrical switching device 1.
It can be seen in the sectional illustration in
The electrical switching device shown as contactor 2 can be a DC contactor or an AC contactor. Alternatively, the present invention can also be used in relays or similar electrical switches.
It should be appreciated by those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrative, and many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various structures described in various embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.
Although the present disclosure have been described hereinbefore in detail with reference to the attached drawings, it should be appreciated that the disclosed embodiments in the attached drawings are intended to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure by way of example, and should not be construed as limitation to the present disclosure.
Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
It should be noted that, the word “comprise” doesn't exclude other elements or steps, and the word “a” or “an” doesn't exclude more than one. In addition, any reference numerals in the claims should not be interpreted as the limitation to the scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102020203056.1 | Mar 2020 | DE | national |
