Description:The present invention relates to an electrical switching device, as well as a vehicle
comprising such an electrical switching device.
Frequently used electrical switching devices comprise two electrical contacts that
are movable relative to each other and an actuator configured to move either of the two
5 electrical contacts to open or close an electrical circuit including these two contacts. The
actuator is usually controlled by a control module that determines whether to open or close
the circuit, for example upon a command from a user or following the occurrence of an
electrical fault detected by the control module, or by a separate module.
The control modules and actuators are likely to generate heat during their operation.
10 In addition, the operation of the electronic components of which they are composed is
affected by the ambient temperature, so that many electrical switching devices are cooled,
for example via openings provided in the housing surrounding the electrical switching device
or by choosing to position the device in a location naturally traversed by air currents. For
example, in vehicles, the air flows generated when the vehicle is moving allow some of the
15 heat to be removed. In some cases, the switching devices are positioned in air-conditioned
compartments, such as passenger compartments.
However, these known cooling methods impose constraints on the positioning or
insulation, particularly electrical, of the switching devices. For example, ducts directing
cooling air to portions of the switching device to be cooled must be provided. In addition,
20 known cooling methods are not always sufficient, especially when the outside air flow
temperature generated is high when the vehicle is moving, such as in hot countries or in
summer.
There is therefore a need for an electrical switching device that is more adaptable,
especially in terms of positioning in a vehicle, than the switching devices of the state of the
25 art, while at the same time having good performance.
To this end, an electrical switching device is proposed, in particular for a railroad
vehicle, comprising a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact that is movable
relative to the first contact, an actuator and a control module suitable for controlling
movement of the second contact by the actuator, between a first position in which the first
30 and second contacts are electrically connected to each other and a second position in which
the first and second contacts are electrically disconnected from each other, the switching
device further comprising a thermoelectric module and a heat sink, the thermoelectric
module being interposed between the heat sink and the control module and being
configured to generate a heat flow, preferably by the Peltier effect, from the control module
35 to the heat sink.
2
This is a Divisional Application of Parent/Original Application 202217010766 Dated 28
February 2022
According to particular embodiments, the electrical switching device has one or
more of the following features taken alone or in any technically possible combination:
- the heat sink forms a housing delimiting an interior volume, the actuator, the control
module and the thermoelectric module being received in the interior volume;
5 - the control module and the thermoelectric module are mounted on an inner wall of
the housing;
- the control module comprises a printed circuit board, the thermoelectric module
being supported jointly against the printed circuit board and against the heat sink;
- the printed circuit board has a first face and a second face, the first face carrying a
10 set of electronic components, the second face carrying a set of conductive tracks
connecting the electronic components together, the thermoelectric module being in contact
with the second face;
- the thermoelectric module comprises a thermoelectric element having a hot face
and a cold face, the thermoelectric element being configured to generate the heat flow from
15 the cold face to the hot face, the thermoelectric module further comprising a first thermal
plate and a second thermal plate, the first thermal plate being clamped between the control
module and the thermoelectric element, the second thermal plate being clamped between
the heat sink and the thermoelectric element;
- the second thermal plate is made of graphite.
20 A railroad vehicle is also proposed, comprising an electrical switching device as
previously defined.
According to particular embodiments, the vehicle has one or more of the following
features taken alone or in any technically possible combination:
- the electrical switching device is a high voltage circuit breaker;
25 - the electrical switching device is attached to a roof of the railroad vehicle, the
electrical switching device extending in particular through an opening in said roof.
Features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following
description, given only as a non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended
drawings, in which:
30 [Fig 1] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an electrical switching device
according to the invention, comprising a control module, a thermoelectric module and a heat
sink, and
[Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the control module, thermoelectric
module and heat sink of Figure 1.
35 An example of an electrical switching device 10 is shown in Figure 1.
3
In particular, the switching device 10 is integrated into a vehicle 15 shown partially
in Figure 1. For example, the switching device 10 is attached to a roof 20 of the vehicle 15.
However, embodiments wherein the switching device 10 is arranged inside the vehicle 15,
such as in a passenger compartment, or under a floor of the vehicle 15 are also conceivable.
5 According to one variant, the switching device 10 is integrated into a fixed facility
such as a building.
The vehicle 15 is for example a railroad vehicle. In a variant, the vehicle 15 is a
motor vehicle, or a ship or an aircraft.
The switching device 10 comprises a first electrical contact 25, a second electrical
10 contact 30, an actuator 35, a control module 40, a thermoelectric module 45 and a heat sink
50.
The switching device 10 is configured to switch between a first configuration, in
which the first electrical contact 25 is electrically connected to the second electrical contact
30 and a second configuration, in which the first electrical contact 25 is electrically isolated
15 from the second electrical contact 30.
The switching device 10 is for example attached to the roof 20. According to one
embodiment, the switching device 10 extends through an opening in the roof 20.
The switching device 10 is, for example, a high voltage circuit breaker suitable for
providing isolation between the electrical contacts 25 and 30, in the second configuration,
20 when an electrical voltage between the two electrical contacts 25 and 30 is greater than or
equal to 5 kilovolts (kV).
In particular, the electrical contacts 25 and 30 form a vacuum switch interposed
between a catenary or pantograph and an electrical system, particularly a power
transformer, of the vehicle 15. In this case, the switching device 10 further comprises a plate
25 52 and an enclosure 54.
The plate 52 is for example a metal plate, in particular, of aluminum. The plate 52 at
least partially closes the roof opening 20 through which the switching device 10 extends.
The plate 52 is for example, supported by the roof 20 attached to an upper side of the roof
20 in particular.
30 The plate 52 defines a passage 55 through which the actuator 35 extends, in a
horizontal plane in particular.
The enclosure 54 extends from the plate 52, along a vertical direction of the vehicle
15 in particular. The enclosure 54 is suitable for electrically isolating the actuator 35 and the
contacts 25, 30 from the outside. The enclosure 54 is, for example, cylindrical or even
35 parallelepiped.
4
The enclosure 54 is made of an electrically insulating material. The enclosure 54
includes, for example, a vacuum bulb 60, within which the first and second electrical
contacts 25, 30 are received. In a manner known per se, a vacuum bulb allows electrical
currents to be switched at high voltages while maintaining a small distance between the
5 contacts 25 and 30, the vacuum then acting as an electrical insulator.
The switching device 10 is for example configured to perform electrical protection of
an electrical circuit comprising the contacts 25 and 30, and in particular to switch from the
first configuration to the second configuration in the event of detection of the electrical fault.
The electrical fault is, for example, a short circuit, a firing, an overvoltage or an overcurrent.
10 In a variant, the switching device 10 is a low-voltage circuit breaker, a contactor, or
a switch of some type.
Each of the first contact 25 and the second contact 30 is accommodated within the
enclosure 54.
The first contact 25 is, for example, a contact that is fixed relative to the roof 20. For
15 example, the first contact 25 is fixed to the enclosure 54.
The second contact 30 is a contact that is movable between a first position, in which
the second contact 30 abuts the first contact 25 and a second position, in which the second
contact 30 is spaced apart from the first contact 25. When the second contact 30 is in the
first position, the switching device 10 is in the first configuration, the switching device 10
20 being in the second configuration when the second contact 30 is in the second position.
The second contact 30 is, for example, movable along a vertical direction of the
vehicle 15 between its first and second positions.
The actuator 35 is configured to move the second electrical contact 30 between its
first and second positions.
25 The actuator 35 for example comprises an actuation member 65 and a drive member
70.
The actuator member 65 is connected to the second contact 30 by the drive member
70, which is, for example, a rod made of an electrically insulating material such as a
fiberglass-based laminate.
30 The actuating member 65 is configured to exert a first force on the drive member 70
causing the drive member 70 and the second contact 30 to move together, so as to move
the second contact 30 between the first and second positions.
The actuating member 65 for example comprises an electromagnet. However, other
types of actuating members 65 are conceivable.
5
According to one embodiment, the actuator 35 also comprises a return member such
as a spring, suitable for exerting a second force on the drive member 70, tending to move
the second contact 30 towards its second position. In this case, the first force tends to move
the second contact 30 towards the first position, the second contact 30 then being brought
5 back towards the second position by the return member when the actuating member 65
does not exert the first force.
In a variant, the actuating member 65 is suitable for exerting a first force, tending to
move the second contact 30 toward the first position, as well as a second force, tending to
move the second contact 30 toward its second position.
10 The control module 40 is configured to control switching of the switching device 10
between the first and second configurations. In particular, the control module 40 is
configured to control movement of the second contact 30 from the first position to the
second position or vice versa.
For example, the control module 40 is configured to generate a first switching
15 command and to transmit the first command to the actuator 35. The control module 40 is
further configured to generate a second switching command and to transmit the second
command to the actuator 35.
The first command is a command to switch from the first to the second configuration.
The second command is a switching command from the second to the first configuration.
20 The control module 40 is, for example, configured to detect the electrical fault and
to generate the first command upon detection of the electrical fault. In a variant, the control
module 40 is configured to generate the first command upon receiving an instruction from
an operator such as an instruction from a driver of the vehicle 15. In a variant, the control
module 40 is configured to generate the first command following receipt of an instruction
25 from a train system such as an on-board fault detection system of the train.
The control module 40 is, for example, configured to generate the second command
following receipt of an instruction from an operator.
In a variant or additionally, the control module 40 is configured to transmit
information about a status of the switching device 10 to remote equipment such as a vehicle
30 monitoring module 15. For example, the control module 40 is configured to transmit a
message comprising an indicator that has a first value when the switching device 10 is in
the first configuration and a second value different from the first value when the switching
device 10 is in the second configuration.
According to another variant, the control module 40 is configured to measure
35 parameter values of the switching device 10 and to transmit the measured values to remote
6
equipment such as a vehicle monitoring module 15. The parameter is, for example, an
electrical parameter such as an electrical voltage between the contacts 25 and 30, the
current flowing through the actuator, a current of an electrical current flowing between the
two contacts 25 and 30 or a thermodynamic parameter such as a temperature of the
5 switching device 10 or a humidity level in the air.
The control module 40 for example includes at least one printed circuit board 75, a
set of electronic components 80, and an enclosure 85.
A single circuit board 75 is present in the embodiment visible in Figure 2, but
embodiments in which multiple circuit boards 75 are present are also conceivable.
10 Each circuit board 75 is configured to support at least a portion of the electronic
components 80. For example, the printed circuit board 75 has a first face 90 and a second
face 95, with the electronic components 80 being carried on the first face 90.
Each of the first face 90 and the second face 95 is, for example, flat.
The second face 95 faces the heat sink 50.
15 Each printed circuit board 75 is made of an electrically insulating material, in
particular a plastic material.
According to one embodiment, the second face 95 carries at least one track made
of an electrically conductive material such as gold or copper. For example, the second face
95 carries a set of such tracks.
20 Each track connects together at least two electronic components 80. For example,
each track is electrically connected to the electronic components 80 through a via,
connecting the first face 90 to the second face 95 through the printed circuit board 75.
It should be noted that embodiments in which at least one track is carried by the first
face 90 are also conceivable.
25 The set of components 80, when connected together by the tracks, is configured to
form a module for generating the first command, a module for generating the second
command and, optionally, a module for measuring each parameter value and/or a module
for transmitting a message containing at least one measured value and/or at least one
configuration indicator of the switching device 10.
30 For example, the set of components 80 comprises a processor and a memory
including a set of software instructions. When executed on the processor, the software
instructions form, in particular, the module for generating the first command, the module for
generating the second command, the module for measuring values of each parameter,
and/or the module for sending a message.
7
In a variant or additionally, the set of components 80 includes a programmable logic
circuit, known as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). In particular, the FPGA is
configured to form the module for generating the first command, the module for generating
the second command, the module for measuring values of each parameter and/or the
5 module for sending a message.
According to another variant, the set of components 80 comprises a set of analog
components forming the module for generating the first command, the module for
generating the second command, the module for measuring values of each parameter
and/or the module for transmitting a message.
10 The enclosure 85 is configured to isolate each printed circuit board 75 and the
component assembly 80 from the actuator 35. In particular, the enclosure 85 at least
partially encloses a chamber accommodating each printed circuit board 75 and the
component assembly 80.
The enclosure 85 is, for example, attached to the heat sink 50. According to the
15 embodiment shown in Figure 2, the enclosure 85 interacts with the heat sink 50 to form the
chamber. For example, the enclosure 85 defines a recess closed by the heat sink 50 to
form the chamber. It should be noted that embodiments in which the chamber is entirely
delimited by the enclosure 85, particularly in which a wall of the enclosure 85 is interposed
between each printed circuit board 75 and the heat sink 85, are also contemplated.
20 The thermoelectric module 45 is interposed between the control module 40 and the
heat sink 50, in particular, the thermoelectric module 45 is in contact with the control module
40 and with the heat sink 50.
In particular, the thermoelectric module 45 is interposed between each printed circuit
board 75 and the heat sink 50, including bearing against the printed circuit board 45 and
25 against the heat sink 50. For example, the thermoelectric module 45 is in contact with the
second face 95 of each printed circuit board 75.
According to the example shown in Figure 2, the thermoelectric module 45 is housed
within the housing 85.
The thermoelectric module 45 is configured to generate a heat flow F from the
30 control module 40 to the heat sink 50. In particular, the thermoelectric module 45 is
configured to transfer heat from the control module 40 to the heat sink 50. In other words,
the thermoelectric module 45 is configured to cool the control module 40 and to heat the
heat sink 50 accordingly.
8
The thermoelectric module 45 is configured to generate the heat flow by
thermoelectric effect. In particular, the thermoelectric module 45 is configured to generate
the heat flow by the Peltier effect.
The Peltier effect consists in particular in cooling a junction between the ends of two
5 semiconductor electrodes, each having a different doping type from the doping type of the
other electrode, the cooling being accompanied by heating the other ends of the electrodes,
when an electric current passes through the junction.
The thermoelectric module 45 for example comprises a thermoelectric element 100,
a first thermal wafer 105, and a second thermal wafer 110.
10 The thermoelectric element 100 has a hot face 110 and a cold face 115.
The thermoelectric element 100 is configured to generate the heat flow F. In
particular, the thermoelectric element 100 is configured to generate the heat flow F from the
cold face115 to the hot face 110.
The thermoelectric element 100 is configured to generate the heat flow F by the
15 Peltier effect.
The thermoelectric element 100 for example comprises an envelope and a set of
electrodes connected in series in a manner known per se.
Each electrode is accommodated in the envelope.
The hot face 110 and the cold face 115 are external faces of the envelope. The hot
20 face 110 and the cold face 115 are, for example, parallel to each other. The cold face 115
is arranged opposite the control module 40, in particular opposite the second face 95 of
each printed circuit board 75.
For example, the hot face 110 is a face of a first portion of the envelope, the cold
face being a face of a second portion of the envelope.
25 The envelope is made of a thermally conductive material, such as a metallic
material.
Each electrode is made of a semiconductor material.
Each electrode is, for example, made of a single semiconductor material.
According to one embodiment, at least one electrode has a plurality of portions, each
30 portion being made of a semiconductor material different from the other portions of the
particular electrode.
Each electrode has a doping. Doping is defined as the presence of impurities in a
material, providing free charge carriers. Impurities are, for example, atoms of an element
not naturally present in the material.
9
When the presence of impurities increases the volume density of holes present in
the material as compared to the undoped material, the doping is p-type.
When the presence of impurities increases the density of free electrons present in
the material as compared to the undoped material, the doping is n-type.
5 Each electrode has a hot end and a cold end.
The electrodes are connected in series with each other.
The thermoelectric element 100 comprises a power supply suitable for generating
an electric current passing successively through all the electrodes.
Advantageously, the control module 40 is suitable for supplying electrical power to
10 the thermoelectric module 45. An electrical power supply cable extends, for example,
between the modules 40 and 45.
The electrodes define a set of junctions. Each junction is formed by the hot or cold
ends of two successive electrodes, these hot or cold ends being electrically connected to
each other. Thus, the current flowing through the electrode assembly flows from the hot end
15 of one electrode of the two electrodes forming the junction to the hot end of the other
electrode forming the junction, or from the cold end of one electrode to the cold end of the
other electrode.
The thermoelectric element 100 is configured so that the flow of current generates
the heating of the hot end of each electrode and the cooling of the cold end of each
20 electrode.
In particular, the electrodes are such that two successive electrodes have different
doping types, with each doping type selected from n-type and p-type doping.
The electrodes are arranged such that the hot end of each electrode is in contact
with the first portion of the envelope, the cold end being in contact with the second portion
25 of the envelope. Thus, as the electric current passes through each electrode, the cold face
115 is cooled by the cold ends of the electrodes and the hot face 110 is heated by the hot
ends of the electrodes, thus generating the heat flow F.
The first thermal plate 105 is interposed, particularly clamped, between the
thermoelectric element 100 and the control module 40. For example, the first thermal plate
30 105 is in contact with, particularly clamped between, the second face 95 and the cold face
115.
The first thermal plate 105 is configured to ensure good thermal contact between
the cold face 115 and the control module 40. In particular, the first thermal plate 105 is
configured to allow propagation of the thermal flux F from the control module 40 to the cold
10
face 115, in particular to increase an intensity of the thermal flux F compared to a case
where the cold face 115 would be in contact with the control module 40.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the first thermal plate 105 is configured to
ensure good thermal contact between the cold face 115 and the second face 95. In
5 particular, the first thermal plate 105 is configured to allow the propagation of the thermal
flow F from the second face 95 to the cold face 115, in particular to increase an intensity of
the thermal flow F compared to a case where the cold face 115 would be in contact with the
second face 95.
The first thermal plate 105 is configured, in particular, to deform when it is clamped
10 between the control module 40 and the cold face 115, so as to fill irregularities that might
be present on the cold face 115 and/or on the surface, in particular the second face 95, of
the control module 40.
The second thermal plate 107 is interposed, including clamped, between the
thermoelectric element 100 and the heat sink 40. For example, the second thermal plate
15 107 is in contact with, in particular clamped between the heat sink 50 and the hot face 110.
The second thermal plate 107 is configured to ensure good thermal contact between
the hot face 110 and the heat sink 50. In particular, the second thermal plate 107 is
configured to allow propagation of the thermal flux F from the hot face 110 to the heat sink
50, in particular to increase an intensity of the thermal flux F compared to a case where the
20 hot face 110 would be in contact with the heat sink 50.
The first thermal plate 105 is, in particular, configured to deform when it is clamped
between the heat sink 50 and the hot face 110, so as to fill irregularities that might be
present on the hot face 110 and/or on the surface of the heat sink 40.
The second thermal plate 107 is for example made of carbon, particularly graphite.
25 For example, the second thermal plate 107 comprises a set of graphene layers
superimposed in a direction perpendicular to the hot face 110. The second thermal plate
107 for example has a thickness of the order of 200 microns, such as between 180 microns
and 220 microns, before being clamped between the thermoelectric element 100 and the
heat sink 40.
30 The heat sink 50 is made at least partially of a metallic material such as aluminum.
The heat sink 50 forms, for example, a housing bounding an interior volume Vi. The
control module 40, the thermoelectric module 45 and the actuator 35 are at least partially
accommodated in the interior volume Vi. The housing is configured to prevent an operator
from accessing the actuator 35 and/or the control module 40 from outside the housing.
11
The interior volume Vi is, for example, delimited by the heat sink 50 and the plate
52. In particular, the interior volume Vi is delimited by the plate 52 in the vertical direction.
The heat sink 50 is, for example suspended from the roof 20. In particular, the heat
sink 50 is attached to the plate 52, which is itself attached to the roof 20. In particular, the
5 heat sink 50 rests against an underside of the plate 52.
The heat sink 50 is, for example, interposed between the roof 20 or the plate 52 and
a ceiling 120 of the vehicle 15 such as a ceiling of a passenger compartment of the vehicle
15.
The thermoelectric module 45 and the control module 40 are, for example, mounted
10 on an inner wall of the heat sink 50. In other words, the thermoelectric module 45 and the
control module 40 are attached to the heat sink 50, within the interior volume Vi.
According to one embodiment, each circuit board 75 is attached to the
thermoelectric element 100 via the first thermal board 105, with the thermoelectric element
100 attached to the heat sink 50.
15 The thermoelectric module 45 is, for example, attached to a planar face of the heat
sink 50.
The heat sink 50 has, for example, a parallelepiped shape. In particular, the heat
sink 50 has 4 vertical side walls and a horizontal bottom wall.
According to the example shown in Figure 2, the control module 40 and the
20 thermoelectric module 45 are attached to a side wall of the housing formed by the heat sink
50. For example, the faces 90, 95, 110 and 115 are vertical faces.
The control module 40 and the thermoelectric module 45 are, for example,
supported by the heat sink 50, in particular by a side wall, to which they are attached.
According to one embodiment, the heat sink 50 is covered at least partially with a
25 coating having an emissivity strictly greater than the emissivity of the material of which the
heat sink 50 is made. The coating then promotes the cooling of the heat sink 50 by radiation.
It should be noted that embodiments in which the heat sink 50 does not form a
housing are also possible. For example, the switching device 10 comprises a housing
delimiting the interior volume Vi, the heat sink coming into contact with the thermoelectric
30 module 45 through a wall of the housing.
In this case, the heat sink 50 may have any shape. For example, the heat sink 50 is
a support suitable for setting the housing, the actuator 35, the control module 40, the
thermoelectric module 45 and/or the contacts 25, 30 to a wall of the vehicle 15.
In a variant, the heat sink 50 is a heat sink attached to the housing of the switching
35 device 10, or simply a metal plate.
12
With the invention, the thermoelectric module 45 allows the control module 40 to be
cooled efficiently and thus increases its service life, while having small dimensions. The
thermoelectric module 45 therefore does not require significant adaptation of the switchgear
arrangement. This is particularly true when the heat sink 50 forms the housing delimiting
5 the interior volume Vi, since the thermoelectric module 45 in this case can be easily added
to existing switching devices, provided that the housings of these existing devices are
metallic.
When the thermoelectric module 45 rests against the printed circuit board, the heat
transfer between the control module 40 and the heat sink 50 is particularly efficient. The
10 second face 95, which does not include the components 80, is therefore relatively flat,
allowing good thermal contact with the thermoelectric module 45. The thermal plates 105
and 107 again allow improved thermal transfer and thus the cooling of the control module
40.
A graphite thermal pad 107 is very effective at transferring heat, particularly between
15 the hot face 110 and the heat sink 50, since the hot face 110 is flat and the heat sink 50 is
readily adapted to have a flat face. In this case, graphite is very suitable for forming a good
thermal interface between these flat faces.
Such a switching device 10 is particularly suitable for being carried in a vehicle,
where the relatively small available space makes it difficult to employ other cooling methods
20 with sufficient efficiency. In particular, high voltage circuit breakers are frequently used in
applications where space is limited, or where electrical insulation issues make it difficult to
employ certain cooling methods.
In particular, when the switching device 10 is attached to a roof 20 of the vehicle 15,
solar radiation impinging on the roof 20 or plate 52 is likely to raise the temperature of the
25 control module 40 to levels too high to be effectively cooled by known methods, including
by outside air flow. This is particularly the case when the vehicle 15 is traveling in a hot
country or in the summer, since the outside air is then at a temperature too high to effectively
cool the control module 40.
When the control module 40 and the thermoelectric module 45 are attached to a
30 side wall of the housing formed by the heat sink 50, the arrangement of the elements in the
interior volume Vi is facilitated.
13
I/We Claim:
1. An electrical switching device (10), in particular for a railroad vehicle (15), comprising a
first electrical contact (25), a second electrical contact (30) that is movable relative to the first
contact (25), an actuator (35) and a control module (40) suitable for controlling movement of the
second contact (30) by the actuator (35) between a first position, in which the first and second
contacts (25, 30) are electrically connected to each other, and a second position, in which the first
and second contacts (25, 30) are electrically disconnected from each other
the switching device (10) further comprises a thermoelectric module (45) and a heat sink
(50), wherein the thermoelectric module (45) comprises a thermoelectric element (100) having a
hot face (110) and a cold face (115), the thermoelectric element (100) being configured to generate
the thermal flow (F) from the cold face (115) to the hot face (110), the thermoelectric module (45)
further comprising a first thermal plate (105) and a second thermal plate (107), the first thermal
plate (105) being clamped between the control module and the thermoelectric element (100), the
second thermal plate (107) being clamped between the heat sink (50) and the thermoelectric element
(100).
2. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat sink (50) forms a
housing delimiting an interior volume (Vi), the actuator (35), the control module (40), and the
thermoelectric module (45) being received in the interior volume (Vi).
3. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control module (40) and
the thermoelectric module (45) are mounted on an inner wall of the housing (50).
4. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control module (40)
comprises a printed circuit board (75), the thermoelectric module (45) abutting both the circuit
board (75) and the heat sink (50).
5. The electrical switching device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the printed
circuit board (75) has a first face (90) and a second face (95), the first face (90) carrying a set of
electronic components (80), the second face (95) carrying a set of conductive tracks connecting the
electronic components (80) together, the thermoelectric module (45) being in contact with the
second face (95).
6. The electrical switching device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the second
thermal plate (107) is made of graphite.
14
7. A railroad vehicle (15) comprising an electrical switching device (10) as claimed in claim
1.
8. The railroad vehicle as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the electrical switching
device (10) is a high voltage circuit breaker.
9. The railroad vehicle as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the electrical switching
device (10) is attached to a roof (20) of the railroad vehicle (15), the electrical switching device
(10) extending in particular through an opening provided in said roof (20).
10. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric module
(45) is configured to generate a heat flow (F) from the control module (40) to the heat sink (50).
15
Date 01 August 2025
JAYA PANDEYA
IN/PA-1345
Agent for the Applicant
To,
The Controller of Patents
The Patent Office at New Delhi
ABSTRACT
ELECTRICAL SWITCHING DEVICE AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE
The object of the invention is an electrical switching device, in particular for a railroad
5 vehicle, comprising a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact that is movable
relative to the first contact, an actuator and a control module (40) suitable for controlling
movement of the second contact by the actuator, between a first position, in which the first
and second contacts are electrically connected to each other, and a second position, in
which the first and second contacts are electrically disconnected from each other.
10 The switching device further comprises a thermoelectric module (45) and a heat sink
(50), the thermoelectric module (45) being interposed between the heat sink (50) and the
control module (40) and being configured to generate a heat flow (F) from the control
module (40) to the heat sink (50), preferably by the Peltier effect,
15 Figure for abstract: Figure 2
16
, Claims:I/We Claim:
1. An electrical switching device (10), in particular for a railroad vehicle (15), comprising a
first electrical contact (25), a second electrical contact (30) that is movable relative to the first
contact (25), an actuator (35) and a control module (40) suitable for controlling movement of the
second contact (30) by the actuator (35) between a first position, in which the first and second
contacts (25, 30) are electrically connected to each other, and a second position, in which the first
and second contacts (25, 30) are electrically disconnected from each other
the switching device (10) further comprises a thermoelectric module (45) and a heat sink
(50), wherein the thermoelectric module (45) comprises a thermoelectric element (100) having a
hot face (110) and a cold face (115), the thermoelectric element (100) being configured to generate
the thermal flow (F) from the cold face (115) to the hot face (110), the thermoelectric module (45)
further comprising a first thermal plate (105) and a second thermal plate (107), the first thermal
plate (105) being clamped between the control module and the thermoelectric element (100), the
second thermal plate (107) being clamped between the heat sink (50) and the thermoelectric element
(100).
2. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat sink (50) forms a
housing delimiting an interior volume (Vi), the actuator (35), the control module (40), and the
thermoelectric module (45) being received in the interior volume (Vi).
3. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control module (40) and
the thermoelectric module (45) are mounted on an inner wall of the housing (50).
4. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control module (40)
comprises a printed circuit board (75), the thermoelectric module (45) abutting both the circuit
board (75) and the heat sink (50).
5. The electrical switching device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the printed
circuit board (75) has a first face (90) and a second face (95), the first face (90) carrying a set of
electronic components (80), the second face (95) carrying a set of conductive tracks connecting the
electronic components (80) together, the thermoelectric module (45) being in contact with the
second face (95).
6. The electrical switching device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the second
thermal plate (107) is made of graphite.
7. A railroad vehicle (15) comprising an electrical switching device (10) as claimed in claim
1.
8. The railroad vehicle as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the electrical switching
device (10) is a high voltage circuit breaker.
9. The railroad vehicle as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the electrical switching
device (10) is attached to a roof (20) of the railroad vehicle (15), the electrical switching device
(10) extending in particular through an opening provided in said roof (20).
10. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric module
(45) is configured to generate a heat flow (F) from the control module (40) to the heat sink (50).