System

Abstract

A system includes a control device including an actuator, a movement of which is adapted to cause a movement of an actuator plunger; and a switching element. The switching element includes a switch slide adapted to follow a movement of the actuator plunger; a first terminal and a second terminal; contacting members adapted to connect the first terminal to the second terminal; and contact breaking member adapted to disconnect the first terminal from the second terminal in response to an inward displacement of the switch slide exceeding a first distance. The switching element further includes a jump system, responsive to displacement of the switch slide, adapted to bring the contacting members together to connect the first terminal to the second terminal if the inward displacement of the switch slide exceeds a second distance that is less than the first distance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, two embodiments of a system including a control device and a switching element will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in FIGS. 1A to 6, of which:

FIG. 1A shows a control device installed into a control panel or control board and a switching element not yet connected to the control device;

FIG. 1B illustrates the opening circuit and the monitor or signaling circuit;

FIG. 2 shows a system including a switching element connected to a control device, the system being in its initial state and ready to operate;

FIG. 3 shows the system of FIG. 2 after the command device has been activated and the switching element has opened the opening circuit;

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the system where the maximum opening between the contact bridge and the contactors has been extended in the switching element;

FIG. 5 illustrates the operating principle of the system; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the system.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a control device including an actuator, a movement of which is adapted to cause a movement of an actuator plunger; anda switching element including, a switch slide adapted to follow a movement of the actuator plunger,a first terminal and a second terminal,contacting members adapted to connect the first terminal to the second terminal,contact breaking member adapted to disconnect the first terminal from the second terminal in response to an inward displacement of the switch slide exceeding a first distance, anda jump system responsive to displacement of said switch slide, the jump system adapted to bring the contacting members together to connect the first terminal to the second terminal if the inward displacement of said switch slide exceeds a second distance that is less than the first distance.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the jump system is further adapted to bring the contacting members apart from each other to disconnect the first terminal from the second terminal in response to the inward displacement of said switch slide being less than a third distance that is less than said second distance.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the jump system is further adapted to allow the contacting members to remain together if the inward displacement of said switch slide exceeds the third predefined distance but is less than the first predefined distance, thus adapted to keep the first terminal connected to the second terminal.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the control device is adapted to cause an inward displacement of said switch slide having a magnitude of a fourth distance when the control device is connected with the switching element directly or indirectly when the actuator is at least one of not actuated and its initial state.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the fourth distance is larger than the third distance but less than the second distance.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein the switching element includes a first stopper and a second stopper, and wherein the jump system is adapted to remove a contact bridge that resides on the first stopper and on the second stopper in response to the inward displacement of said switch slide exceeding said fourth distance.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the switching element includes a third terminal electrically connected to said first stopper, and a fourth terminal electrically connected to said second stopper and wherein the contact bridge is adapted to connect the third terminal to the fourth terminal when the contact bridge resides on the first stopper and on the second stopper.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said first stopper and said second stopper is a resilient stopper.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said resilient stopper is a stopper spring.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the switching element further includes a resilient return member adapted to promote outward movement of said switch slide.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising: a normally closed switching element installed at least one of next to the switching element, on top of the switching element and below the switching element, the normally closed switching element including a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the actuator plunger of the control device is adapted to move the switch slide of the switching element and the switch slide of the normally closed switching element in response to a movement of the actuator.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control device is an emergency off push-button or mode switch.

13. A system according to claim 2, wherein the third distance is less than a displacement caused by mechanical connection between the control device and the switching element if the control device and the switching element are properly connected to each other.

14. A system according to claim 2, wherein the jump system is further adapted to allow the contacting members to remain together if the inward displacement of said switch slide exceeds the third predefined distance but is less than the first predefined distance, thus adapted to keep the first terminal connected to the second terminal.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control device is adapted to cause an inward displacement of said switch slide having a magnitude of a third distance when the control device is connected with the switching element directly or indirectly when the actuator is at least one of not actuated and its initial state.

16. A system according to claim 5, wherein the switching element includes a first stopper and a second stopper, and wherein the jump system is adapted to remove a contact bridge that resides on the first stopper and on the second stopper in response to the inward displacement of said switch slide exceeding said fourth distance.

17. A system according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said first stopper and said second stopper is a resilient stopper.

18. A system according to claim 2, wherein said control device is an emergency off push-button or mode switch.

19. A system comprising: a control device including an actuator, a movement of which is adapted to cause a movement of an actuator plunger; anda switching element including, slide means for following a movement of the actuator plunger,a first terminal and a second terminal,means for connecting the first terminal to the second terminal,means for disconnecting the first terminal from the second terminal in response to an inward displacement of the slide means exceeding a first distance, andmeans, responsive to displacement of said slide means, for bringing the means for connecting together to connect the first terminal to the second terminal if the inward displacement of said slide means exceeds a second distance that is less than the first distance.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the means for bringing is further for bringing the contacting members apart from each other to disconnect the first terminal from the second terminal in response to the inward displacement of said slide means being less than a third distance that is less than said second distance.