CN106449195B

CN106449195B - Device for actuating a control element and electrical switch

Info

Publication number: CN106449195B
Application number: CN201610461602.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P.丹尼利斯; Z.霍扎; T.霍拉克; J.韦尔兹尔
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2015-08-04
Filing date: 2016-06-23
Publication date: 2020-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-23
Also published as: EP3128531A1; DE102015214827A1; EP3128531B1; CN106449195A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for operating a control (910) of an electrical switch (900) having electrical contacts (920, 921). The device (100) comprises an arm (130) for actuating a control element (910) of the electrical switch (900), wherein the arm (130) is operatively connected to a mechanical bridge (200), wherein the bridge (200) can be moved linearly along a fixed axis (500), wherein the bridge (200) is formed in two parts from a first part (210) and a second part (220), and the two parts (210, 220) can be moved along the fixed axis (500), wherein the first part (210) of the bridge (200) is operatively connected to the arm (130) and the second part (220) is held by a spring (600) on the first part (210), and wherein the second part (220) of the bridge (200) is driven along the fixed axis (500) by a mechanical mechanism.

Description

Device for actuating a control element and electrical switch

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for actuating an actuating element of an electrical switch having electrical contacts, and to an electrical switch having such a device.

Background

Electrical switches, in particular electrical power switches, are usually switched on and off with operating controls. The actuating element has at least one "off" and "on" position. The controls are typically operated by an operator. For remote actuation of the actuation element of such an electrical switch, a motor drive is used, which can be attached to the electrical switch and can actuate the actuation element. A distinction is made between motor drives which are mounted directly on the front side of the actuating element or are formed laterally on the actuating element and actuate the actuating element via the arm.

The electrical contacts of the switch can be switched on and off by actuating the actuating element. The electrical contacts of the switch melt due to an overcurrent or overload condition, so that the switch can no longer be switched to the "off" position. Dangerous situations arise in the motor drive, so that a command to switch the electrical switch into the "off" position causes damage to the motor drive or to the mechanical mechanism of the electrical switch.

There is also the danger that the switch will remain in a position adjacent to the "off position, giving the operator the impression that the electrical switch has been switched off and that there is no longer current flow. In this case, safe actuation of the electrical switch cannot be achieved for the operator.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved device which enables particularly safe handling by an operator of an electrical switch even in the event of melting of the contacts.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a device for actuating an actuating element of an electrical switch having electrical contacts. It is provided that the device comprises an arm for actuating an actuating element of the electrical switch, which is in operative connection with a mechanical bridge, which can execute a linear movement along a fixed axis, wherein the bridge is formed in two parts from a first part and a second part, and the two parts are movable along the fixed axis, the first part of the bridge is in operative connection with the arm and the second part is held by a spring on the first part, and wherein the second part of the bridge is driven along the fixed axis by means of the mechanical element.

The device according to the invention has the advantage that, when the arm for operating the operating element is jammed or locked (for example by melting of the electrical contacts), damage to the arm is avoided because a closed connection is formed between the first and second parts of the bridge by the spring.

In one embodiment of the device, the spring arrangement has a spring constant which allows the force applied to be greater than the counterforce of the electrical switch during a switching operation, but does not exceed the maximum permissible switching force.

In one design of the device, in the event that a reaction force of the electrical switch is exceeded during a switching operation by the arm driven by the bridge, the first part is separated from the second part against the spring force and the arm no longer continues to move in the first direction. It is advantageous here to avoid damage to the arm or the device or the appliance switch.

In a further embodiment of the device, the spring is designed as a compression spring, and energy is stored in the compressed compression spring when a reaction force of the electrical switch is exceeded during a switching operation of the arm driven by the bridge. Alternatively, the spring can also be designed as a tension spring, and energy is stored in the tensioned tension spring in the event that the reaction force of the electrical switch is exceeded when the arm driven by the bridge performs a switching operation.

In one embodiment of the device, the energy stored in the spring causes the arm to move in a second direction against the first direction. This ensures that, for example, when the contact melts, the control element also moves into the "on" position, and thus the operator does not read an incorrect state of the control element of the electrical switch.

In a further embodiment of the device, a movement of the arm in a first direction moves the operating part of the electrical switch into the "off" position, and a movement of the arm in a second direction moves the operating part of the electrical switch into the "on" position.

In one embodiment of the device, the mechanical means comprise a driven wheel with a bolt, wherein the bolt interacts with a projection on the second part of the bridge in order to drive the bridge.

The object is also achieved according to the invention by an electrical switch having a control element for switching an electrical switch and the device according to the invention described above, wherein an arm of the device surrounds the control element, such that a movement of the arm in a first direction moves the control element of the electrical switch into the "off" position and a movement of the arm in a second direction moves the control element of the electrical switch into the "on" position.

Drawings

The above-mentioned properties, technical features and advantages of the present invention, as well as, for example, the ways and methods of carrying out the invention, will be more clearly and clearly explained by means of the following detailed description of embodiments with the help of the attached drawings. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a device for actuating a control element, which device has an arm and a bridge consisting of a first part and a second part;

fig. 2 shows a device for operating a control element when the reaction force of an electrical switch is exceeded;

fig. 3 shows a device for actuating a control element with a compressed pressure spring;

fig. 4A and 4B show a device for operating a control element with a compressed pressure spring;

FIG. 5 illustrates the apparatus for operating the controls after the stored energy has caused the arms to move in opposite directions; and

fig. 6 shows an electrical switch with a control member and an arm member.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a device 100 for operating a control 910 of an electrical switch 900 having

electrical contacts

920, 921. The device 100 comprises an arm 130 for operating a handle 910 of the electrical switch 900. The control is shown in detail in fig. 6, fig. 6 showing the switch 900 with

electrical contacts

920, 921 and the control 910. The electrical switch 900 can be switched to an "on" position or an "off" position by operation of the control 910. According to fig. 6, the control 910 is, for example, in the "on" position in the right position and is switched to the "off" position to the left. The control 910 is thus operated by the device 100, i.e. the arm 130 surrounds the control 910 and the arm 130 performs a movement to the right or to the left. The arm 130 has an opening 131 into which the handle 910 protrudes.

According to fig. 1, the arms 130 corresponding to fig. 6 are in operative connection with a mechanical bridge 200, which can perform a linear movement along a fixed axis 500. Bridge 200 is formed in two parts from a first part 210 and a second part 220. The first part 210 and the second part 220 are thus likewise movable along the fixed axis 500. First member 210 of bridge 200 is operatively connected to arm 130. According to fig. 1, arm 130 is mechanically rigidly mounted to a first part 210 of bridge 200.

First member 210 of bridge 200 is connected to second member 220, i.e., spring 600 holds second member 220 to first member 210. The spring 600 according to fig. 1 is drawn to the right and acts so that the first part 210 and the second part 220 are pressed together. The device 100 additionally comprises a mechanical mechanism that causes the second part 220 of the bridge 200 to be driven along the fixed axis 500. According to fig. 1, the mechanical mechanism comprises a drive wheel 800 with a pin 810, wherein said pin 810 co-acts with a projection 221 on the second part 220 of the bridge 200. Projection 221 projects out according to fig. 1 at the lower part of second part 220 of bridge 200, so that pin 810 can push bridge 200 according to fig. 1 in first direction 510 when driving wheel 800 is turned.

The spring constant of the spring 600 is designed such that the force applied when the switching operation is performed by the spring 600 is greater than the reaction force of the electrical switch 900. This means that the spring constant is chosen such that the first part 210 and the second part 220 of the bridge 200 are pressed together by the spring 600 in case, for example, the

contacts

920, 921 do not melt during normal and non-faulty switching. In the case where the force at which the operating switch is implemented is higher than the reaction force of the electrical switch 900 (such as occurs when the

electrical contacts

920, 921 melt), the spring constant is configured such that the maximum allowable switching force is not exceeded. That is, in the event that

electrical contacts

920, 921 melt, first component 210 of bridge 200 disengages relative to second component 220.

This is shown in more detail in fig. 2, where first section 210 of bridge 200 is shown separated relative to second section 220. For example, the melted

electrical contacts

920, 921 result in the operating member 910 not being able to fully switch to the "off" position based on the melted

electrical contacts

920, 921. In this case, it may occur that the first member 210 is separated from the second member 220 in a state where the pressure spring 600 is compressed. This means that the arm 130 is no longer moving in the first direction 510, but energy is stored in the compressed pressure spring 600.

In fig. 3, second part 210 of bridge 200 is shown further away from first part 210 than in the view of fig. 2. This allows more energy to be stored in the spring 600, which is further compressed as a compression spring.

Fig. 4A also shows bridge 200 having first member 210 and second member 220 that separate based on

contacts

920, 921 becoming stuck (e.g., due to melting).

Fig. 4B shows a view of an arm 130 that can manipulate a handle 910 of the electrical switch 900, and also shows the bridge 200 with the first and

second components

210 and 220 separated from each other.

In fig. 5, it is shown that the energy previously stored in the spring 600 is released and the bridge 200 moves along the fixed axis 500 in the second direction 520 against the first direction 510. Peg 810 no longer interacts with projection 221 on second part 220 of bridge 200, since peg 810 is spatially distant from bridge 200 due to the circular movement of its drive wheel 800, and therefore no longer interacts.

The energy in the compressed pressure spring 600 is already so great that the arm 130 pulls the control member 910 back to the initial position. This is typically the "on" position, indicating to the operator that the device 100 cannot switch the electrical switch 900 to the "off" position. The position of the control 910 thus corresponds to the state of the

electrical contacts

920, 921, which cannot be separated from each other due to melting. The operator knows that the electrical switch 900 has a functional fault and can purposefully overcome the functional fault.

The device 100 can have a tension spring instead of a compression spring, wherein the energy of the driven arm 130 is stored in the form of tension spring tension.

It is advantageous to avoid that the device 100 exerts too much force on the actuating element 910 by the motor drive for actuating the actuating element 910 of the electrical switch 900, so that the switching mechanism of the electrical switch 900 is damaged. Likewise, the apparatus 100 also ensures that the position of the control 910 corresponds to the actual physical state of the

contacts

920, 921. Damage to the motor drive when the

contacts

920, 921 melt is likewise avoided by the device 100. For example, arm 130 has a length when device 100 is laterally mounted on switch 510, thereby also having a degree of leverage that allows the switch to deform or bend. It is clear to the operator from the state of fig. 5 that there is a fault on the electrical switch 900. In addition, the electrical switch 900 can also be interrogated for this fault by a microswitch, so that a remote access can indicate that it has a functional fault.

Claims

1. A device (100) for operating a lever (910) of an electrical switch (900) having electrical contacts (920, 921), characterized in that the device (100) comprises an arm (130) for operating the lever (910) of the electrical switch (900), the arm (130) being in operative connection with a mechanical bridge (200), the bridge (200) being capable of performing a linear movement along a fixed axis (500), wherein the bridge (200) is formed in two parts from a first part (210) and a second part (220), and both parts (210, 220) are movable along the fixed axis (500), the first part (210) of the bridge (200) being in operative connection with the arm (130), and the second part (220) being held by a spring (600) on the first part (210), and wherein, the second part (220) of the bridge (200) is driven along a fixed axis (500) by a mechanical mechanism, wherein, in case a reaction force of the electrical switch (900) is exceeded when a switching operation is performed by the arm (130) driven by the bridge (200), the first part (210) is separated from the second part (220) against a spring force, and the arm (130) no longer continues to move in the first direction (510).

2. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the spring (600) is designed with a spring constant that allows for an applied force that is larger than the reaction force of the electrical switch (900) but does not exceed a maximum allowed switching force when performing a switching operation.

3. Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the spring (600) is designed as a pressure spring and energy is stored in the compressed pressure spring in case the reaction force of the electrical switch (900) is exceeded when the arm (130) driven by the bridge (200) performs a switching operation.

4. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the spring (600) is designed as a tension spring and energy is stored in the stretched tension spring in case the reaction force of the electrical switch (900) is exceeded when the arm (130) driven by the bridge (200) performs a switching operation.

5. The apparatus (100) of claim 3 or 4, wherein the arm (130) is moved in a second direction (520) against the first direction (510) by energy stored in the spring (600).

6. The apparatus (100) of claim 5, wherein movement of the arm (130) in a first direction (510) moves the handle (910) of the electrical switch (900) toward an "off" position, and movement of the arm (130) in a second direction (520) moves the handle (910) of the electrical switch (900) toward an "on" position.

7. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical mechanism comprises a driven wheel (800) with a peg (810), wherein the peg (810) co-acts with a protrusion (221) on the second part (220) of the bridge (200) in order to drive the bridge (200).

8. An electrical switch (900) having a control member (910) for switching the electrical switch (900) and an apparatus (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an arm member (130) of the apparatus (100) surrounds the control member (910) such that movement of the arm member (130) in a first direction (510) moves the control member (910) of the electrical switch (900) towards an "off" position and movement of the arm member (130) in a second direction (520) moves the control member (910) of the electrical switch (900) towards an "on" position.