Coil actuator for a switching device and related switching device

1. A coil actuator for an associated current switching device which can be actuated during its operation from an open position to a closed position to allow a current flowing therethrough and from said closed position to said open position to interrupt such flowing current, said coil actuator comprising:

a coil electromagnet arranged to move between a rest position and an actuating position, wherein the movement from the rest position to the actuating position causes the actuation of said switching device,

wherein said coil actuator includes electronic means arranged to count an operation time (T open , T close ) which is indicative of the duration of said actuation of the switching device.

2. The coil actuator according to claim 1 , wherein said electronic means includes:

detection means arranged to detect a first event and driving means operatively associated to said detection means and operatively connected to said coil electromagnet, said driving means being arranged to electrically drive the coil electromagnet to cause the movement of such coil electromagnet from the rest position to the actuating position upon the detection of said first event by the detection means, said detection means being arranged also to detect a second event which is indicative of the end of the actuation of the switching device; and

counting means operatively associated to said detection means and arranged to start the counting of said operation time (T open , T close ) when the first event is detected by the detection means and to stop such counting when the second event is detected by the detection means.

3. The coil actuator according to claim 2 , wherein said driving means includes a power input circuit arranged to be operatively connected to and receive an input voltage (V in ) from at least a power source, said detection means being arranged to sense a voltage indicative of said input voltage (V in ) and to detect a first threshold value (V th _ launch ) and a second threshold value (V th _ release ) of such input voltage (V in ), wherein the detection of said first threshold value (V th _ launch ) and the detection of said second threshold value (V th _ release ) correspond to said first event and said second event, respectively.

4. The coil actuator according to claim 3 , wherein said counting means are operatively connected to the power input circuit, wherein said power input circuit is arranged to be operatively connected to said at least a power source to continuously receive therefrom at least a minimum input voltage (V in _ min ) suitable for supplying the counting means.

5. The coil actuator according to claim 4 , wherein said comparing means are operatively connected to said power input circuit, wherein said minimum input voltage (V in _ min ) is suitable for continuously supplying also the comparing means.

6. The coil actuator according to claim 4 , wherein said power input circuit is arranged to be operatively connected to a trip circuit supervisor to receive therefrom at least said minimum input voltage (V in _ min ), said detection means being arranged to detect said minimum input voltage (V in _ min ) and said driving means being arranged to electrically drive the coil electromagnet to generate a coil supervisor current (I cs ) flowing through the coil electromagnet when the input voltage (V in ) is detected to be in a range a between said minimum voltage (V in _ min ) and said release threshold value (V th _ release ) by the detection means.

7. The coil actuator according to claim 6 , wherein the comparing means are operatively associated with the driving means in that said driving means are arranged to reduce said coil supervisor current (I cs ) when the comparing means detects that the counted operation time (T open , T close ) exceeds said predetermined temporal range (T range ).

8. The coil actuator according to claim 3 , wherein said detection means are arranged to receive at least one configurable parameter, wherein said at least one configurable parameter includes said first threshold value (V th _ launch ) and said second threshold value (V th _ release ).

9. The coil actuator according to claim 2 , wherein said driving means are operatively connected to at least one power source to receive power for holding the coil electromagnet in the rest position, and said detection means are arranged to detect the falling of a voltage (V supply ) generated by said at least one power source below a predetermined undervoltage threshold value, wherein the detection of such voltage falling corresponds to said first event.

10. The coil actuator according to claim 2 , wherein said driving means are arranged to apply a configurable delay time between the detection of the first event and the driving of the coil electromagnet.

11. The coil actuator according to claim 2 comprising:

comparing means operatively associated with said counting means and arranged to compare the counted operation time (T open , T close ) to a predetermined temporal range (T range ).

12. The coil actuator according to claim 11 , wherein said electronic means is configured to generate an alarm signaling when the counted operation time (T open , T close ) exceeds said temporal range (T range ).

13. The coil actuator according to claim 11 , wherein said comparing means are arranged to receive at least one configurable parameter, wherein said at least one configurable parameter includes said temporal range (T range ).

14. The coil actuator according to claim 2 , wherein said electronic means are arranged to provide a continuous power supply to said counting means at least for a time specified to complete the counting operation.

15. The coil actuator according to claim 14 , wherein said electronic means are arranged to provide a continuous power supply to said comparing means at least for a time specified to complete the comparison operation.

16. The coil actuator according to claim 15 , wherein said counting means and said comparing means are suitable for being operatively connected to energy storage means to receive therefrom the power for completing the counting operation and the comparison operation, respectively.

17. A switching device, comprising at least a coil actuator according to claim 1 .

18. The switching device according to claim 17 , comprising:

a trip circuit supervisor connected to a power input circuit of the coil actuator, said trip circuit supervisor being configured for detecting the reduction of the current (I tc ) flowing therethrough below a predetermined threshold, and for generating an alarm signaling upon such detection.

19. A switchgear comprising at least a coil actuator according to claim 1 .

20. A switchgear comprising at least a switching device according to claim 19 .