| 摘要 |
A modular contactor particularly useful in an aircraft performs the function of making/breaking a main electrical circuit, the function of coordinated switching of the solenoid coil, and the function of communicating the contactor's status for a plurality of auxiliary outputs. The modular contactor includes a mounting base to which both a contactor module and an auxiliary function module are releasably mounted. The contactor module includes at least one contact for making/breaking a main electrical circuit and a sensor providing an electrical signal of the contactor's status. The auxiliary function module includes electrical circuitry for providing a plurality of auxiliary outputs communicating the contactor's status and coordinated switching of the solenoid coil. Respective electrical connectors on the contactor module and the auxiliary function module make electrical contact with one another when the modules are both releasably mounted on the mounting base for transmitting the electrical signal of the sensor of the contactor module to the circuitry in the auxiliary function module for providing a plurality of auxiliary outputs communicating the contactor's status and for transmitting the command signal through the auxiliary function module to the solenoid coil in the contactor module. Advantageously, when one function fails, only the defective module needs to be replaced or repaired. Also, this contactor offers the flexibility of providing any number of auxiliary outputs, using different auxiliary function modules, without affecting the performance or mechanical packaging of the module which performs the making/breaking of the main electrical circuit. Mechanical interfaces at auxiliary switches and the solenoid's coil transfer switch are also eliminated.
|
