This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(a)-(d) of German Application No. 10 2005 040 246.1, filed Aug. 24, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a power breaker for switching electrical voltage for an electrical device or load, and also relates to a power supply assembly arrangement for switching an electrical current between an external power supply and at least one electrical device or load.
For example, a power breaker in accordance with the present invention can be used as a power supply assembly arrangement for an electrical device, such as a heater, a lawnmower, an electric vehicle or the like.
The technical book “Fachkunde Elektrotechnik”, [specialist knowledge on electrical engineering], 24th edition, 2004, page 110,
The invention provides a clear and space-saving design for a power breaker or a power supply assembly arrangement for switching electrical currents that makes it possible for the power lines to be laid or supplied in a clear manner.
The goal of laying or supplying power lines in a clear manner is achieved in a power breaker according to the present invention, which is configured in a parallelepipedal shape having four longitudinal sides, two opposing transverse sides, an electromagnetic coil having its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the power breaker, an input connection, an output connection, and a moving contact path arranged parallel to the electromagnetic coil that is electrically connected to either the input connection or the output connection.
The goal is also achieved in a power supply arrangement for switching an electrical current between an external power supply and at least one load by configuring the power breaker in a power supply arrangement with the external power supply electrically connected to at least one of the input connections of the power breaker in the power supply assembly arrangement and the at least one load electrically connected to at least one of the output connections of the power breaker in the power supply assembly arrangement by configuring the moving contact path and the coil such that they are longitudinally parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the parallelepipedal shape. This results, overall, in a narrow, elongate design, which makes it possible for the power lines to be laid and supplied in a compact and clear manner.
One embodiment of the invention also comprises a parallelepipedal shaped housing that protects the power breaker against environmental influences and completely insulates the power breaker from its environment.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the coil and the moving contact path are arranged longitudinally parallel one on top of the other along the longitudinal axis of the parallelepipedal shape. This arrangement achieves a particularly narrow shape, which has a small base surface.
Another aspect of the invention provides for the input connection and the output connection to be arranged on opposing sides of the parallelepipedal shape. This connection arrangement allows the relatively thick lines for the current to be switched so as to be distributed on two sides of the power breaker. In this arrangement, the entire area of one side is thus available for the connection of an incoming line and the connection of an outgoing line, and the incoming line and the outgoing line can be associated in a clear manner with different sides of the power breaker.
In a preferred embodiment, the input connection and the output connection are arranged on the transverse sides. This is particularly advantageous since these transverse sides have the greatest distance from one another.
Furthermore, an embodiment of the present invention provides for the power breaker to be arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB). This facilitates a simple PCB layout, for example, for the tracks or traces for the control lines for the coil or the signal lines for a sensor on the power breaker PCB.
Another aspect of the invention provides for the power breaker to be equipped with an insulating link, which acts as a carrier and a mount for the moving contact path, holding the moving contact path at a distance from the printed circuit board. This feature makes it possible to realize a simple and cost-effective design of the power breaker.
Furthermore, another-embodiment of the invention provides for the insulating link to be fixed to the printed circuit board. The insulating link represents a central component of the power breaker and, by fixing the link to the PCB, the insulating link can be subjected to particularly high loads.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for contact with the coil via conductor tracks arranged on the printed circuit board. This arrangement makes it possible to make contact with the power breaker in a quick and fault-free manner.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for the moving contact path to be aligned with its broad side essentially parallel to the printed circuit board. This alignment allows for a simple articulation of an actuator for moving the contact path. This is particularly true in the case of a contact path lying above the coil and, when used in a transparent housing, the moving contact path can be used for a self-clarifying understanding of the operation of the power breaker since the power breaker is similar in plan view to a circuit diagram.
Furthermore, another aspect of the invention provides for the moving contact path to have a length, which approximately corresponds to the length of the parallelepipedal shape of the power breaker, between a mount and a contact. Owing to the relatively long length of the moving contact path, only a slight bend in the contact path is required for a switching movement, and thus thick contact paths, which are suitable for high power, can also be moved by means of relatively small coils.
The invention also provides for the coil to form part of an approximately parallelepipedal electromagnet, which is oriented vertically and by means of which, with the interconnection of an actuating lever and a plunger, the moving contact path can be actuated in the manner of a contact lug. As a result, a power breaker according to the invention can be constructed using few components.
Finally, the invention provides for the output connection, the input connection and the moving contact path to be in the form of a stamped, bent part, with the moving contact path being integral to the output connection or the input connection. As a result, the number of individual parts can be reduced and, at the same time, soldered joints, which are susceptible to breakage can be avoided.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the power breaker is used advantageously in a power supply assembly arrangement for switching an electrical current for an electrical device with the external power supply line being electrically connected to at least one of the input connections, and the load being electrically connected to at least one of the output connections. As a result, it is possible for the power lines to be laid or supplied in a clear manner and for the overall design to be clear and space-saving.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides for a power supply assembly arrangement having at least one terminal block in the parallelepipedal shape of the power breaker, and including an input connection and the output connection. Where the terminal block input connection and output connection are directly electrically connected to each other, the input connection, output connection and electrical connection (EV) can be formed as an integral stamped, bent part. Such a terminal block is of simple design and can be added to the arrangement in modular fashion, primarily for the arrangement of an additional non-switchable electrical feed line to the load.
Furthermore, the invention provides for the power breakers and/or the terminal blocks to be arranged next to one another and/or one on top of the other in the form of a grid, said power breakers and/or terminal blocks in this case lying parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of their parallelepipedal shape. A module comprising power breakers and/or terminal blocks is compact and provides optimum accessibility for the purpose of making contact with the power breakers and/or terminal blocks.
In a preferred embodiment, the modular arrangement is accommodated in a housing, from which the input connections and the output connections protrude. This allows for simple contact-making and at the same time protects the modular arrangement from environmental influences.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides for the output connection to be in the form of a plugging lug, and an output connection current conductor, to be configured with a latching plugging connection. This allows for simple assembly of the output connection arrangement in the electrical device.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides for the input connection to be in the form of a contact plate having a hole, and a current conductor, associated with the input connection, having a bore, which can be fixed to the input connection by means of a screw. This provides a connection which is safeguarded against tensile loads and is suitable, in addition, for supplying higher currents.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides for contact to be made with two or more adjacent output connections by means of a multipole plug. This makes possible rapid connection of the output connections.
Finally, another embodiment of the present invention provides each power breaker and/or terminal block with a dedicated output connection and for two or more power breakers and/or terminal blocks to be supplied with a common input connection, which is in the form of an integral stamped, bent part, that is fixed to the printed circuit board. This configuration results in the simplification of the power supply of a large number of loads since only one power supply line is required for a group of power breakers and/or terminal blocks, which act as a distribution board.
Further details of the invention will be described in the drawing with reference to schematically illustrated exemplary embodiments.
a shows a side view of a power breaker;
b shows a schematic, perspective view of the power breaker illustrated in
a illustrates a side view of a power breaker 1. The power breaker 1 has a parallelepipedal shape 2. The parallelepipedal shape 2 is delimited by four longitudinal sides 3a to 3d lying in a longitudinal direction LQ of the parallelepipedal shape 2, a first transverse side 4 and a second transverse side 5 (cf. also
As shown in
The invention is not restricted to exemplary embodiments illustrated or described. Rather, it comprises developments of the invention within the scope of the patent claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2005 040 246 | Aug 2005 | DE | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070046405 A1 | Mar 2007 | US |