Abstract

A spring beam in a miniature electrical switch enables the two electrical contacts to either close or separate and supplies both current and necessary contact pressure between the contacts. Arc erosion and material transfer between the contacts occur, and those aspects depend on various parameters including the kinematics of the contacts. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the spring beam will affect the arc erosion and material transfer, but this topic has not been well studied. In this study, the material transfer phenomena between two AgCu contacts attached to a spring beam made of three different copper-based strip alloys were investigated after 30,000 switching operations under 12 V and 9 A in a direct-current resistive load circuit. For spring beams made of beryllium copper (BeCu) and titanium copper (TiCu) alloy, the material transfer occurred from the cathode to the anode. However, an opposite material transfer occurred for a spring beam made of Corson-type (CuNiSi) alloy. The make- and break-arc voltage waveforms were analyzed, and the results showed that the changes in arcing behaviors depend on the spring beam material. The properties of the spring beam materials responsible for the changed arcing behaviors are discussed and their relationship with the observed contact arc erosion and material transfer is analyzed.

Graphic Abstract

中文翻译：

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铜基弹簧合金选择对微型电气开关电触头电弧腐蚀的影响

摘要

微型电气开关中的弹簧梁使两个电气触点能够闭合或分离，并在触点之间提供电流和必要的接触压力。触点之间会发生电弧腐蚀和材料转移，这些方面取决于各种参数，包括触点的运动学。因此，弹簧梁的力学性能会影响电弧侵蚀和材料转移，但这一课题尚未得到很好的研究。在这项研究中，在直流电阻负载电路中，在 12 V 和 9 A 下进行 30,000 次开关操作后，研究了连接到由三种不同铜基带状合金制成的弹簧梁的两个 AgCu 触点之间的材料转移现象。对于由铍铜 (BeCu) 和钛铜 (TiCu) 合金制成的弹簧梁，材料从阴极转移到阳极。然而，由 Corson 型 (CuNiSi) 合金制成的弹簧梁发生了相反的材料转移。对接通和断开电弧电压波形进行了分析，结果表明电弧行为的变化取决于弹簧梁材料。讨论了导致电弧行为改变的弹簧梁材料的特性，并分析了它们与观察到的接触电弧侵蚀和材料转移的关系。

图形摘要