US 11,967,470 B2
Method and device for determining contact thickness change of a contactor
Junfeng Liao, Shanghai (CN); and Benfeng Tang, Shanghai (CN)
Assigned to Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed by Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed on Sep. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/465,152.
Prior Publication US 2023/0061652 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. H01H 1/00 (2006.01); H01H 50/54 (2006.01); H01H 73/04 (2006.01); H01H 71/04 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 1/0015 (2013.01) [H01H 50/546 (2013.01); H01H 73/045 (2013.01); H01H 2071/044 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining contact thickness change in a contactor, said method comprising:
sensing, using a position sensor, a first displacement distance moved by an armature of the contactor from a reference location to a first transition point during a switch-off operation of the contactor at a first contactor life reference time when movable contacts and fixed contacts of said contactor define a first contact thickness;
sensing, using the position sensor, a second displacement distance moved by the armature from the reference location to a second transition point during a switch-off operation of the contactor at a second contactor life reference time after said first contactor life reference time when said movable contacts and said fixed contacts define a second contact thickness that is less than said first contact thickness; and
using said first displacement distance and said second displacement distance to determine a contact thickness change between said first contact thickness and said second contact thickness.