Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Fritz Pohl

Wilfried Jaehner

Ludwig Niebler

Norbert Zimmermann

Peter Hartinger

Norbert Mitlmeier

Bardo Koppmann

Robert Adunka

Alf Wabner

David Walter Branston

Norbert Elsner

Jorg Kieser

Reinhard Schmid

Christian Schreckinger

Manfred Kleemeier

Hubert Grosse-Wilde

Karl-Hans Bärnklau

Reinhard Solleder

Reinhard Steger

Dieter Harr

Gert Vogel

Alf c/o Siemens Ltd A&D Division Wsgr-Pd Wabner

A method is disclosed for operating a switching device using at least one electromagnetic drive, which has a displaceable armature for opening and closing at least one main contact of the switching device. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a modification of the magnetic flux between a first position, when the main contact is deactivated, and a second position, when the main contact is activated, is identified in the electromagnetic drive and a solenoid current of the electromagnetic drive is restricted to a predetermined minimum current value in the second position, if the magnetic flux modification exceeds a predeterminable value. One advantage of at least one embodiment is that an actuation displacement of the armature can be identified as reliable, if an associated modification of the magnetic flux is also measured. The metrological recording of the magnetic flux is contactless.

Method and device for operating a switching device

A method and a device are disclosed for the secure operation of a switching device including at least one main contact which can be switched on and off and which includes contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor and the contact bridge are actively connected to each other such that the corresponding main contact can be opened or closed when switched on and off. In at least one embodiment, the method includes the following: a) the path difference, which returns the anchor after switching on and off, is recognised, b) devices which are used to open welded main contacts are released by a release device when the recognised path difference exceeds a predetermined value and a specific time duration of time has run out after switching off.

Method and device for the secure operation of a switching device

A method and a device for the secure operation of a switching device are disclosed, including at least one main contact which can be switched on and off and which includes contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and also at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor acts upon the contact bridge when it is switched on or off such that the corresponding main contact is opened and closed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: a) the displaceable contact bridge of the at least one main contact recognizes when an opening point has been exceeded after being switched off, and b) the additional operation of the switching device is interrupted, according to a predetermined duration of time, when the opening point is not exceeded.

A method and a device for secure operation of a switching device including at least two main contacts which can be switched on and off and include contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and a control magnet having a displaceable anchor. The method may include producing an electric control signal to release a contact breaking device when the control magnets are switched on and off. The emitted control signal lies outside the ON state of the switching contact during the regular operation of the switching device and releasing the contact breaking device in defective operation of the switching device if the switching contact remains in the ON state when the control magnets are switched on or off. The switching contact may connect through the control signal to release the contact breaking device.

Method and device for securely operating a switching device

A method and a device are disclosed for the secure operation of a switching device including at least two main contacts which can be switched on and off and which includes respectively, contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor acts upon the contact bridge when it is switched on and off such that the corresponding main contact is opened or closed. At least one embodiment of the inventive method includes the following steps: a) release device for a force element remains in a first state in order to interrupt the main contact as long as the main contacts are closed when switched on and open when switched off, and b) the release device are transferred into a second state if at least the main contact is welded after switching off.

A method and device are disclosed for safely operating a switching device with at least one main contact, which can be switched on or off, and which has contact elements and a moving contact bridge, and with at least one control magnet, which has a moving armature. During switching on and off, the armature acts upon the contact bridge whereby closing and opening the corresponding main contact. At least one embodiment of the method includes the following: a) identifying whether the moving contact bridge of the at least one main contact has surpassed an opening point after the switching off; and b) interrupting the further operation of the switching device when the opening point has not been surpassed after a predetermined period of time.

Method and device for the safe operation of a switching device

Power switches are provided with measures for preventing a recommendation of the arc from the secondary current path to the main current path and/or measures for returning the current limiter during the recommutation of the light art. A corresponding arrangement for carrying out the method is provided with means in the power switch and/or current limiter for preventing a switch failure of the current limiter disposed in the secondary current path of the power switch. The current limiter can be especially a PTC current limiter.

Method for operating a switch with a connectable current limiter and corresponding arrangement

The current-limiting mechanism is provided in particular in order to protect electromechanical contactors from being welded by a short-circuit load. In a first step, the current-limiting mechanism closes a bridging contact of a first bridging current path in order to reduce the current load on the contactor. In a second step, its bridging function is taken over by a switching arc and by a second bridging current path, In the further course of the disconnection process, the switching arc commutates from the bridging contact onto associated running rails or arc runners and runs into an arcing chamber of the current-limiting mechanism. As a result, the short-circuit is interrupted.

Device for short-circuit protection

A method of monitoring state parameters in a switching device records and evaluates sensor signals of sensors which are susceptible to an interference caused by external electrical or magnetic fields. A temporal sequence of the sensor signals is evaluated by determining whether the sensor signals are disturbed or undisturbed. The interference in the sensor signals is suppressed by generating evaluation signals which correspond to the undisturbed signals. A device for monitoring state parameters of a switching device includes sensors for recording sensor signals and includes a passive interference suppression device and an active interference suppression device for suppressing the interference.

Method of monitoring state parameters in a switching device, and associated device

To determine the remaining lifetime of contactor contacts, the contact spring action at the clearance gap can be determined as a substitute criterion for contact erosion, and to determine the erosion of the contact points, the change in spring action during the shutdown cycle can be measured and converted to the remaining lifetime, for which purpose, the time of the armature movement from the start of the armature movement to the start of contact opening is measured with the solenoid actuator having an armature with solenoids and associated yoke. The measured values of the time signal t of contact opening on the load side of the switching device monitored and the time signal t are determined by voltageless signaling of the start of armature movement. In particular for use in three-phase systems, the switching voltage is measured as a voltage change at an artificial neutral point. In the respective arrangement, a voltageless signal line is provided between the switching device and analyzer unit.

Method of establishing the residual useful life of contacts in switchgear and associated arrangement

A method for determining switchgear-specific data at contacts in switchgear and/or operation-specific data in a network connected to the switchgear includes detecting a so-called contact follow-through travel at a switching path as an equivalent criterion for an erosion of contacts, particularly for contactor contacts. A resilience change during a shutdown cycle is measured, can be used to determine the erosion and can be converted into a remaining contact life for the contacts. Accurate measurement of the armature movement from a start of the armature movement to a start of contact opening is required for that purpose. Switching states of a switching device and of the electrical network are additionally detected from signals for resilience detection. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Method for determining switchgear-specific data at contacts in switchgear and/or operation-specific data in a network connected to the switchgear and apparatus for carrying out the method

A residual current device includes a residual current tripping circuit for actuating a release, and an additional monitoring device for checking the release, in which case a device is provided for electrically decoupling the residual current tripping circuit from the monitoring device.

Fault-current protective switchgear

To determine the remaining lifetime of contactor contacts, the contact spring action at the gap is determined as a substitute criterion for contact erosion, and to determine the erosion of the contacts, the change in spring action during a shutdown cycle is measured and converted to remaining lifetime. With a yoke and armature solenoid actuator with a solenoid, the armature path from the start of the armature movement to the start of contact opening must be measured. The time of separation of the armature from the yoke of the contactor solenoid actuator is determined from the voltage on the solenoid. The increase in magnetic resistance of the magnetic circuit when the magnetic armature is raised is determined. In the respective arrangement with an analyzing unit for determination and display of the remaining lifetime, the analyzing unit has means for detecting and measuring the voltage on the solenoid.

An electromechanical switching device includes at least one moveable contact and an associated drive in a device housing. Magnetic field sensors which are disposed at a suitable location inside and/or outside the device housing detect magnetic field values that are each linked to one of a plurality of switching states. The device housing has a switching handle which is intended for manual release. Through the use of a miniature inductance element with a ferrite core as a highly sensitive magnetic field sensor, a position of the switching handle or of a part coupled thereto is monitored and/or a current flowing in the switching device is detected.

Growing community of inventors

Hemhofen, Germany

Fritz Pohl