Redundant switching device - has two contact pairs in redundant lines operated by common mechanical reversible actuator e.g. temp. sensitive bimetal strip coupled via spring and has interrogation unit for fault monitoring.

摘要

The device has 2 parallel, redundant electrical lines (2), each contg. a redundant switch (4) with at least one pair of contacts. The 2 switches (4) are operated by a common mechanical dead-point spring and a pivot plate (14), via a continuously adjustable displacement source, so that the switches act as a dual switch (10), coupled to an interrogation device, for determining the switch condition of both pairs of switch contacts. Pref. the displacement sensor is directly acted on by a mechanical linear or rotary movement, or acts as a transducer for a non-mechanical physical parameter, e.g. a temp.-dependent expansion element or a bimetallic element. USE/ADVANTAGE - Eg for vehicle main and redundant stand-by switches, which are changed over when current sensed failure occurs in one line. Reliable diagnosis of function of switch contact pairs.