FR2865313A1 - Bistable operating device for circuit breaker, has core mounted movably on movable shaft and comprising axial blind housing extending on part of length of core, where one end of shaft engages in housing - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a core (30) movably mounted on a movable shaft (20) and made of magnetic material, where the core can slide freely on the shaft. The core has an axial blind housing (30A) that extends on a part of a length of the core. An end of the shaft engages in the housing, and the core has a drum (31) of large diameter, a drum (32) of small diameter, and an upset (33) formed at junction between the drums. An independent claim is also included for a circuit breaker of a battery of an electric installation embarked on a vehicle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION REFERS

  The present invention relates to a bistable maneuvering device, in translation, of a movable shaft between a first and a second stable positions.

  It relates more particularly to a device comprising a magnetic material core mounted to move on the shaft and translational displacement means of said core which comprise a coil which surrounds said core and which is intended to be supplied with pulses of electric current to generate a magnetic field generating the tensile force of said core.

  The invention also relates to an accumulator battery circuit breaker of an electrical installation to embark on a vehicle comprising such an operating device.

  Other advantageous applications of the invention include the production of actuators for solenoid valves or electromechanical, electro-hydraulic or electropneumatic control devices.

BACKGROUND

  WO 02/065497 discloses already a bistable actuating device as mentioned above in which the core has a cylindrical shape of revolution and is pierced with a through axial bore in which the shaft is engaged so that the latter crosses said core.

  In addition according to this document, there is provided on the shaft a clip forming a stop against which the core bears to drive the shaft in translation. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Compared to the prior art, the present invention proposes a new bistable maneuvering device of a mobile shaft in translation, which is simplified and which makes it possible to obtain a compact assembly, with a low inertia, a very short response time, a small number of parts, including moving parts, while increasing the reliability of the operating device, and reducing the energy consumption necessary for the displacement of the shaft.

  More particularly, the present invention provides an operating device as defined in the introduction wherein the core comprises a blind axial housing which extends over a portion of the length of said core and in which is intended to engage an end of the 'tree.

  Thus, advantageously, in the device according to the invention, the magnetic mass of the core being larger, the magnetic field generated by the passage of the current in the coil is stronger and the tensile force of the core is larger which improves the operation of said device for reduced power consumption.

  In addition, the fact that said axial housing extends only over a portion of the length of the core reduces the guide length between the shaft and the core, which makes it possible to reduce the phenomena of friction between the two parts and the risks. mechanical blocking by improving the efficiency of the device.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the operating device according to the invention said blind axial housing extends over a length less than or equal to half the length of the core.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the operating device according to the invention, said axial housing of the core comprises at its mouth an enlargement intended to accommodate an anti-wear washer adapted to bear on an abutment integral with the shaft to drive it. in translation. This anti-wear washer is made of a less hard metal material than the core.

  Thus, during operation of the operating device, the stop is protected because it is the anti-wear washer which rubs on it and not the core itself which is very hard.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the operating device according to the invention, the core comprises two drums of different diameters, namely, a first large diameter drum adapted to bear on an abutment integral with the shaft to drive the latter. in translation, and a second small-diameter drum comprising means for positioning the shaft in one of its stable positions, and said axial housing of the core extends over a portion of the length of said first barrel.

  According to this preferred embodiment, the core comprises a recess formed at the junction between the first and second barrels, able to bear against a fixed portion of said operating device for positioning the shaft in the first of its stable positions.

  According to other advantageous features of the bistable actuating device according to the invention: it comprises means for guiding the core around the shaft in rotation; the rotation guide means comprise a track formed in the hollow in the core and at least one pin secured to a fixed portion of said operating device and intended to cooperate with said track; the core comprises at one end located on the side of said track a notch and said fixed part carrying said pin comprises a polarizer, said notch and said polarizer being adapted to index the respective positions of the core and said fixed part in a mounting machine of said core in said fixed part carrying said pin, to avoid during assembly a crushing of the pin against the core; said track comprises three identical modules juxtaposed each covering an angular sector of 120 and there are provided three pins disposed at 120 on said fixed part; the track comprises, per module, a stable position and two intermediate receiving positions of the corresponding pin disposed on either side of the stable position, as well as ramps from one position to the next position; the track and each pin form means for positioning the shaft in the second stable position; it comprises a return spring interposed between said core and another fixed part of said operating device; it comprises a carcass enclosing the coil and which is fixed to each fixed part of said operating device; the nucleus is monobloc.

  In addition, the invention proposes a storage battery circuit breaker for an on-vehicle electrical installation, which comprises a bistable actuating device as mentioned above.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

  The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be achieved.

  In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a bistable maneuvering device according to the invention; Figures 2A to 2C are schematic longitudinal sectional views of the bistable actuator device according to the invention in three different positions of the shaft, namely its first and second stable positions and an intermediate position; Figure 3A is a schematic perspective view of a circuit breaker according to the invention with a partial tear at the carcass and the supply coil of the operating device; Figures 3B and 3C are detail views of the core of the actuator shown in Figure 3A positioned in two positions of the shaft, namely an intermediate position and the second stable position; and Figure 4 is a schematic view of a module of the guide track carried by the core of the bistable actuator according to the invention.

  In Figure 3A there is shown a circuit breaker 1 of a storage battery of an installation to embark on a vehicle.

  This circuit breaker 1 comprises a housing 1A in which are disposed two fixed contacts 3 and a movable contact 2, in the form of a bar, intended to come into contact with the fixed contacts 3.

  Each fixed contact 3 is connected via a metal rod 9 to a terminal 4 for supplying electric current. One of the fixed contacts 3 is connected to the negative pole terminal while the other fixed contact 3 is connected to the positive pole terminal identified by a ring 4 'of color.

  The movable contact 2 is able to be displaced in translation between two positions, namely a first position in which the movable contact 2 bears against the fixed contacts 3 and a second position in which it is placed at a distance from the fixed contacts 3.

  This movable contact 2 is secured by means of a nut 7 at the end of a shaft 20 movable in translation between a first and a second stable position corresponding to the first and second positions of the movable contact 2 explained above.

  The shaft 20 is preferably made of non-magnetic material.

  The casing 1A of the circuit breaker 1 also contains, and this is the main object of the present invention, a bistable actuating device 100 of the shaft 20.

  This bistable maneuvering device 100 is able to translate the shaft 20 in translation between its first and second stable positions.

  As shown more particularly in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C, this bistable actuating device 100 comprises a carcass 10 of cylindrical shape of revolution and defining inside a housing 11 closed at the front by a flange before 90 and at the rear by a rear flange 40.

  As shown more particularly in FIG. 1, the front flange 90 is a disc traversed at its center by a bore which opens, on the side of its inner face facing the carcass 10, on a cylindrical bearing 91.

  The front flange 90 has on both sides of the cylindrical bearing 91 holes 92 in which fasteners 82, here screws, engage a coil 80.

  The shaft 20 passes through the bore of the front flange 90 and the cylindrical bearing 91 to engage in the inner housing 11 of the carcass 10.

  The shaft 20 carries at its end 20A located inside the carcass 10, the side of the rear flange 40, a movable core 30.

  This core 30, here monobloc and made of magnetic material, comprises two barrels 31,32 of different diameters, namely, a first barrel 31 of large diameter and a second barrel 32 of small diameter. The first and second barrels 31, 32 of the core 30 have a cylindrical shape of revolution. At the junction between the first and second barrel 31,32, a recess 33 is formed.

  Advantageously, according to the invention, as shown in particular in FIG. 2A, the core 30 comprises a blind axial housing 30A which extends over a portion of the length of said core 30 and in which is intended to engage the end 20A of the shaft 20. This blind axial housing 30A extends over a length less than or equal to half the length of the core 30 and, in particular, it extends over a portion of the length of said first barrel 31 of large diameter of the core.

  It will be noted that the end 20A of the shaft 20 is not connected to the core 30 in said axial housing 30A and that said core can slide freely on the shaft 20.

  The rear flange 40 also has the shape of a disk pierced at its center with a bore 43 which opens, on the side of its inner face facing the carcass 10, on a bearing 41 whose inner diameter corresponds to the clearance to the outside diameter of the second small diameter barrel 32 of the core 30. The second small diameter barrel 32 of the core 30 is engaged in the bearing 41 carried by the rear flange 40. At the free end of the bearing 41, there is provided a annular seal 50.

  The front and rear flanges 90, 40 are fixed to the carcass 10 by crimping, for example, and are therefore fixed parts of the maneuvering device.

bistable 100.

  On the side of the front flange 90, inside the carcass 10, the shaft 20 carries a return spring 70 threaded onto the shaft 20 and engaged at least partially in the bearing 91 of the front flange 90. The return spring 70 is held on the shaft 20 between two stops 71,72 carried by cylinders threaded onto the shaft, one of the cylinders bearing the front stop 71 being engaged in the bore of the front flange 90 and abutting against the bottom of said bearing 91.

  On the side of the rear stop 72, there is provided a clip 60 forming a stop engaged in an annular groove of the shaft 20 to be secured to the latter.

  As shown in Figures 2A to 2C, the first large diameter drum 31 of the core 30 bears on the clip 60 forming a stop. To do this, said axial housing 30A of the core 30, has at its mouth, provided at the corresponding end of the first shaft 31 of the core 30, an enlargement 30B for receiving a wear washer 60A adapted to bear on the clip 60 is integral with the shaft 20. The anti-wear washer 60A is made of a less hard metal material than the core 30. Thus, during operation of the operating device 100, the clip 60 is protected because it is the washer anti 60A-wear that rubs on the clip 60 and not the 30 core itself which is very hard.

  The return spring 70 is a spring which works in compression and, as will be described later, it is able to bring the shaft 20 from its second stable position to its first stable position.

  The work of the return spring 70 is assisted by another return spring 5 mounted on the end of the shaft 20 which protrudes from the bistable actuator 100. This other larger return spring 5 is compressed between the nut 7 which holds the movable contact 2 and a washer 8 fixed on the shaft 20 by means of a clip 6 engaged in another annular groove of the shaft 20.

  In addition, there is provided in the bistable actuator 100 translational displacement means of the core 30 from the rear flange 40 to the front flange 90.

  Here, these translational displacement means of the core 30 comprise a coil 80 positioned in the housing 11 inside the carcass 10 so that its body 80A surrounds the core 30. As shown in the figures, the cylindrical body 80A of revolution of the coil has an inner bore 83 whose diameter is equal to the clearance to the outer diameter of the first drum 31 of large diameter of the core 30. The body 80A of the coil 80 externally carries a coil of conductive son 80B to form the coil 80. II further door at its two ends 81,84 flanges being positioned against the inner faces of the rear flanges 40 and before 90 closing the carcass 10.

  The coil 80 is intended to be supplied with pulses of electric current to generate a magnetic field generating the tensile force of said core 30 from the rear flange 40 to the front flange 90.

  In this regard, it is interesting to note that here the magnetic mass of the core 30 is greater than if said core was traversed by the shaft as provided by the state of the art, thus the magnetic field generated by the passage of the current in the coil 80 is stronger and the tensile force of the core is greater, which improves the operation of the bistable actuator 100.

  In addition, the fact that said axial housing 30A extends only over a portion of the length of the core 30 reduces the guide length between the shaft 20 and the core 30 which reduces the friction phenomena between the two parts and the risks of mechanical blockage by improving the efficiency of the device.

  Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1, 2A to 2C and 3A to 3C, the second small diameter barrel 32 of the core 30 comprises positioning means 34 of the shaft 20 in one of its stable positions. Here, these positioning means 34 carried by the second shaft 32 of the core are adapted to position the shaft 20 in the second stable position which is a recessed position of the rear flange 40, shown in Figures 2C and 3C. This second stable position corresponds to the contacting of the movable contact 2 with the fixed contacts 3.

  These positioning means comprise a track 34 formed in recess on the second small diameter shaft 32 of the core 30 and at least one pin 42 integral with the bearing 41 and intended to cooperate with the track 34.

  This track 34 associated with the pin 42 also forms means for rotating the core 30 around the shaft 20.

  Here the track 34 comprises three identical modules, a module of which is shown in detail in FIG. 4, juxtaposed and each covering an angular sector of 120. It is also provided on the bearing 41 three pins 42 arranged at 120 from each other which each cooperate with a module of the track 34.

  As shown more particularly in Figure 1, each pin 42 is engaged in a hole through the cylindrical wall of the bearing 41 so that it forms a projection inside the bearing 41 to cooperate with the track 34 of the second shaft 32 core 30 engaged in said bearing 41.

  Advantageously, as shown more particularly in Figure 3A, the core 30 has at its end located on the side of said track 34 a notch 35 and the rear flange 40 secured to the bearing 41 carrying each pin 42 has on its outer face a polarizer 44 ( here a hole), said notch 35 and said polarizer 44 being adapted to index the respective positions of the core 30 and the rear flange 40 integral with the bearing 41 in a machine for mounting said core 30 in the bearing 41 carrying each pin 42, to avoid when mounting a crush of each pin 42 against the core 30.

  Thus, by indexing the positions of the core 30 and the rear flange 40 in the mounting machine, it is certain that mounting the core 30 in the bearing 41 integral with the rear flange 40, each pin 42 is positioned in the bottom of a recess of a module of the track 34 carried by the core 30 as shown in Figure 3A for example.

  As shown in Figure 4, the track 34 carried by the second shaft 32 of the core 30 comprises, per module, a stable position P5 and two intermediate positions P3, P7 receiving the corresponding pin 42, arranged on either side of the stable position P5, as well as ramps R1-R4 passing from one position to the next position.

  Advantageously, the annular recess 33 formed at the junction between the first and second drums 31, 32 of the core 30 is able to bear against the circular edge of the bearing 41, a fixed part of the bistable actuator 100, to position the shaft in the other of its stable positions, here in its first stable position corresponding to the position in which the movable contact 2 is placed at a distance from the fixed contacts 3 so as to be out of electrical contact.

  In particular, in this first stable position of the shaft 20, the recess 33 of the core 30 is positioned in abutment against the annular seal 50 carried by the end of the bearing 41 and projects outwardly from the rear flange 40.

  It should be noted that in this first stable position, the pins 42 are not supported with any edge of the track 34 and they do not intervene to place the shaft 20 this stable position, only the recess 33 intervenes.

  The fact that by resting the recess 33 against the edge of the bearing 41 is positioned the shaft 20 in one of its stable positions, less mechanically solicits the pins 42 which do not bear against a bottom of the track 34 than to position the shaft 20 in its second position

stable.

  The bistable maneuvering device 100 is more robust than a device in which the two stable positions of the shaft are given by the cooperation of the pions with the bottom of the track, since it makes it possible to perform a greater number of positioning cycles. of the tree before a pawn is damaged.

  With reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C, 3A to 3C and 4, we will now describe the operation of the bistable actuator 100.

  In FIGS. 2A and 3A, the shaft 20 is positioned in its first stable position which is a projecting position, that is to say a position in which the second small diameter barrel 32 of the core 30 projects from the flange Rear 40 closing the housing 11 inside the carcass 10 of the operating device 100.

  In this position, the recess 33 formed at the junction of the first and second drums 31,32 of the core 30 is in abutment against the end of the bearing 41 by compressing the seal 50, and each pin 42 is positioned in each track module 34 in the position PI, P'l at a distance d from the bottom of the track 34. This distance d is preferably greater than or equal to one millimeter.

  When the coil 80 is powered by an electric current pulse, the core 30 is subjected to the action of a traction force generated by the magnetic field generated by the coil 80 in the core, which tends to move the core in translation 30 from the rear to the front, that is from the rear flange 40 to the front flange 90. The race of the core is limited by the abutment of the front face of its first barrel 31 against the end of the bearing 91 carried by the front flange 90 (see Figure 2B).

  Simultaneously, the return spring 70 interposed between said core 30 and the front flange 90 is compressed and is housed completely in the bearing 91 carried by the front flange 90 (see Figure 2B).

  The core 30 is supported by the anti-wear washer 60A on the abutment 60 secured to the shaft 20 to translate the shaft 20 in translation displacement amplitude of the core 30 so that the moving contact 2 is move towards fixed contacts 3.

  Simultaneously, the return spring 5 also compresses.

  During this translational movement of the core 30, each pin 42 cooperates with the corresponding module of the track 34 to take the intermediate position P2 bearing against the ramp R of the corresponding module so that each ramp RI guides each pin 42 to the intermediate position P3. The movement of each of the pins 42 in each module of the track 34 causes the rotation of an angle of 30 of the core 30 concomitantly with its translational movement.

  When the core 30 reaches the position shown in Figure 2B bearing against the bearing 91 carried by the front flange 90 of the operating device, each pin 42 has reached the intermediate position P3 in the corresponding module of the track 34.

  The electrical pulse having ceased, the supply of the coil 80 being cut, the core 30 is then subjected to the restoring force of the return spring 70 assisted by the return spring 5 which tends to bring the core 30 back to its position. initial position, that is to say projecting from the rear flange 40.

  During this movement in translation of the core, each pin 42 navigates in each module of the track 34 so as to successively take the positions P4 and P5. The position P4 of each pin 42 corresponds to a bearing against a ramp R2 tending to bring it to a stable position at the bottom of the track, the position P5.

  As each pin 42 moves from the position P3 to the position P5 which corresponds to a locked position of the pin at the bottom of a recess of each track module, the core always pivots in the same direction by an angle of 30 around the 20. This position P5 of each pin 42 locked at the bottom of a recess of each module of the track 34 corresponds to the second stable position of the shaft 20 which is a recessed position inside the maneuvering device. bistable 100 in which the movable contact 2 is in contact with the fixed contacts 3.

  In this second stable position of the shaft 20, the return spring 70 is further compressed relative to the initial position of the shaft 20 corresponding to the first stable position shown in Figure 2A.

  When a new electrical pulse is given to the coil 80, it generates a magnetic field generating a tensile force of the core 30 from the rear to the front, as previously described.

  During this displacement in translation, each return spring, and in particular the return spring 70, compresses again. The core 30 drives the shaft 20 in translation by the bearing of the wear washer 60A against the abutment 60 integral with the shaft 20, and each pin 42 carried by the bearing 41 moves in each track module 34 so as to assume the position P6 bearing against the ramp R3 to reach the position P7 which is an intermediate position. The transition from the P5 position to the P7 position of each pin 42 causes the rotation of an angle of 30 of the core 30 in the same direction as the previous rotations. There is no turning back.

  Finally, the supply of the coil 80 being cut again, the return spring 70 aided by the return spring 5 tends to relax and to push the core 30 again towards the rear flange 40 of the maneuvering device thus causing the shaft 20 to its first stable position shown in Figure 2A.

  During this translational movement, each pin 42 moves in each module of the track 34 so as to successively assume the position P8 bearing against the ramp R4 of the corresponding module of the track 34 to the position P'1 of origin. This passage from the position P7 to the position P'1 causes the rotation of an angle of 30 of the core 30 in the same direction until it abuts by its recess 33 annular against the end of the bearing 41 bearing against the annular seal 50.

  The displacement of the core 30 causes the displacement of the shaft 20 which causes the moving contact 2 away from the fixed contacts 3. The shaft 20 then resumes its original position which is its first stable position in which it maintains the moving contact 2 away from the fixed contacts 3.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown but the skilled person will be able to make any variant within his mind.

Claims (1)

13 Claims   1. A bistable maneuvering device (100), in translation, of a shaft (20) movable between a first and a second stable position, comprising a core (30) of magnetic material movably mounted on the shaft (20) and translational displacement means of said core (30) which comprise a coil (80) which surrounds said core (30) and which is intended to be supplied with electrical current pulses to generate a magnetic field generating a traction force of said core (30); ), characterized in that said core (30) comprises a blind axial housing (30A) which extends over a part of the length of said core (30) and in which is intended to engage one end (20A) of the tree (20).   2. Bistable actuator (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said blind axial housing (30A) extends over a length less than or equal to half the length of the core (30).   3. bistable operating device (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said axial housing (30A) of the core (30) comprises at its mouth a widening (30B) for receiving an anti-wear washer ( 60A) adapted to bear on a stop (60) integral with the shaft (20) to drive it in translation.   4. Bistable actuator (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that said anti-wear washer (60A) is made of a less hard metal material than the core (30).   5. Bistable actuator (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the core (30) comprises two drums (31,32) of different diameters, namely, a first barrel (31) of large diameter adapted to bear on a stop (60) integral with the shaft (20) to drive the latter in translation, and a second small diameter shaft (32) comprising positioning means (34) of the shaft ( 20) in one of its stable positions, and in that said axial housing (30A) of the core (30) extends over a portion of the length of said first shaft (31).   6. Bistable operating device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the core (30) comprises a recess (33) formed at the junction between the first and second drums (31,32), able to bear against 2865313 a fixed portion (40,41) of said operating device for positioning the shaft (20) in the first of its stable positions.   7. Bistable operating device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises means for guiding the core (30) around the shaft (20) in rotation.   8. Bistable actuator (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the rotation guiding means comprise a track (34) formed recess in the core (30) and at least one pin (42) secured to a fixed part (40,41) of said operating device and intended to cooperate with said track (34).   9. A bistable actuator (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that the core (30) has at one end located on the side of said track (34) a notch (35) and said fixed portion (40,41). carrying said pin (42) comprises a polarizer (44), said notch (35) and said polarizer (44) being adapted to index the respective positions of the core (30) and said fixed part (40,41) in a machine of mounting said core (30) in said fixed portion (40,41) carrying said pin (42), to avoid during assembly a crushing of the pin (42) against the core (30).   10. Bistable actuator (100) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that said track (34) comprises three identical modules juxtaposed each covering an angular sector of 120 and there are provided three pins (42) arranged at 120 on said fixed portion (40,41).   Bistable operating device (100) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the track (34) comprises, per module, a stable position (P5) and two intermediate positions (P3, P7) of reception of the corresponding pin (42) disposed on either side of the stable position (P5), as well as ramps (R1-R4) for moving from one position to the next position.   12. A bistable actuator (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that the track (34) and each pin (42) form means for positioning the shaft (20) in the second stable position.   13. Bistable actuator (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a return spring (70) interposed between said core (30) and another fixed portion (90) of said device maneuvering.   14. A bistable actuator (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a carcass (10) enclosing the coil (80) and which is secured to each fixed portion (40,90) of said operating device.   15. Bistable actuator (100) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the core (30) is monobloc.   Battery circuit breaker (1) of an on-vehicle electrical installation, characterized in that it comprises a bistable actuator (100) according to one of claims 1 to 15.