CN110611372A

CN110611372A - Remote driver

Info

Publication number: CN110611372A
Application number: CN201910514492.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M.法尔特梅尔; R.赫特纳
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2018-06-14
Filing date: 2019-06-14
Publication date: 2019-12-24
Also published as: DE102018209591A1

Abstract

The remote drive (1) for a low-voltage protective switching device (100) according to the invention has a controllable drive device (20) for operating the protective switching device and an energy storage device (30) for supplying energy required for the drive device. The remote drive has a measuring device (40) for measuring a current capacity value of the energy storage device and a processing device (50) for processing the measured capacity value, wherein the measured capacity value is compared with a predefined setpoint value that can be set manually. In order to operate the protective switching device from a remote location, the remote drive is mechanically coupled to the low-voltage protective switching device via its drive. The current capacity value of the energy storage device is compared by the measuring device with a setpoint value predefined individually in order to generate conclusions about the aging behavior of the energy storage device during operation in this way. In this way preventive maintenance work can be planned and carried out in a simplified manner.

Description

Remote driver

Technical Field

The invention relates to a remote drive for a low-voltage protective switching device (e.g. a line or fault-current protective switching device), comprising a controllable drive device for operating the protective switching device and an energy storage device for supplying energy required for the drive device.

Background

The remote driver may enable operation of the low voltage protection switching device from a remote location. Such low voltage protectionSwitchgear, also called DIN rail mounting equipmentThe remote drive is mechanically coupled to the protective switching device and can be used to switch the protective switching device on and off from a distance. Such remote drives are known in principle from the prior art, for example from german patent document DE 10216055B 4.

For the remote switching function, the remote drive usually requires auxiliary electrical energy, the magnitude of which depends primarily on the type and size of the protective switching device to be switched on and off, since these parameters significantly influence the force required for operating the protective switching device. In this case, it plays a crucial role whether the protective switching device to be switched on and off is a single-pole or multi-pole protective switching device, and which frictional forces or torques have to be overcome accordingly when operating the respective protective switching device.

In order to design the remote drive as compactly as possible, a small compact power supply is used, which is generally too weak to directly supply the power required for operating the protective switching device. Furthermore, the remote drive must be able to reliably perform its function even when the power supply fails. In order to provide the energy required for the function of the remote drive, an electrical energy store, which is designed, for example, as a battery or a capacitor, is therefore used. However, both batteries and capacitors experience aging, particularly when operated at or in high temperatures, and their capacity decreases with increasing life. If the energy store has reached the end of its expected life, a new energy store is required to continue to ensure persistent availability of the functions of the remote drive. In particular, in systems or system components that are important for safety, it is absolutely impossible for the stored energy to be reduced by aging of the energy store to such an extent that it is no longer sufficient to carry out the predefined action of the remote drive, so that the function of the remote drive can no longer be ensured. Since replacing only the energy storage requires disassembly of the remote drive and is therefore generally cost prohibitive, the entire remote drive is typically replaced in the field by a technician below the minimum capacity of the energy storage.

Furthermore, it should also be noted with regard to the design/size of the energy store or its capacity that the remote drive is designed as a separate module, which can be used in combination with a plurality of different protection switching devices. This results in that, depending on the application of the remote drive, it should be possible to reliably carry out different switching processes with different loads or torques until the end of the service life is reached.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide an alternative remote drive which is characterized by a high reliability and (over the entire lifetime) a low overall cost while the application conditions are variable.

This technical problem is solved by a remote drive according to the invention. An advantageous embodiment of the remote drive according to the invention is also the subject of the invention.

The remote drive for a low-voltage protective switching device according to the invention has a controllable drive device for operating the protective switching device and an energy storage device for supplying the energy required for the drive device. The remote drive also has a measuring device for measuring a current capacity value of the energy storage device and a processing device for processing the measured capacity value, wherein the measured capacity value is compared with a predefined setpoint value that can be set manually.

Remote drivers are used to operate low voltage protection switching devices, such as line protection switches or fault current protection switches, from a remote location. For this purpose, the remote drive can be mechanically coupled to the low-voltage circuit breaker by means of a drive. In order to supply the energy required for switching the protective switching device on and off, the remote drive has an energy storage device, the current capacity of which can be determined by means of a measuring device. The processing device is electrically connected to the measuring device and has logic components in order to compare the measured volume value with a predefined target value during operation. The setpoint value can be set manually, for example, by an electrical installation person. In this way, conclusions about the aging behavior of the energy storage device during operation can be drawn by the processing device by comparing the measured actual value of the capacity with the set target value. In this way, preventive maintenance work can be planned and carried out more simply.

The predefined setpoint value depends on the respective application conditions, i.e. on the installation environment of the remote drive: depending on which type of protective switchgear the remote drive is coupled to in the field at the initial installation, an appropriate individualized rating is selected and set by the installer or technician. The setpoint value is therefore editable and depends primarily on the force required for switching the protective switching device on and off or the torque required in connection therewith.

In an advantageous development, the remote drive has a coding switch, by means of which a manual setting of the setpoint value is carried out.

The coding switch may be a potentiometer, such as a slide switch or a rotary switch. So-called DIP switches or jumpers can also be used as coding switches. The electrical installation personnel to be set up should be able to obtain the setting possibilities of the respective coding switch in a simple manner. This may be achieved, for example, by an arrangement on the housing surface of the remote drive. The remote drive therefore offers a simple possibility for setting the setpoint value manually directly by means of the encoder switch.

In a further advantageous development, the remote drive has a communication device for outputting a communication signal if the measured capacity value deviates from a predefined setpoint value in a predefined manner.

Here, the communication device is electrically coupled to the processing device. If the measured capacity value deviates from the set target value in a predefined manner, a corresponding communication signal is output by means of the communication device. With this information, the current state of the energy storage device, and thus the current state of the remote drive, can be monitored and forwarded as needed during operation. Accordingly, preventive maintenance work can be arranged more simply, without the energy storage device itself having to be checked for this purpose. Maintenance costs and the costs associated therewith are thereby significantly reduced.

In a further advantageous extension of the remote driver, the communication signal is sent to a display element of the remote driver.

The display element may be, for example, a display or a lamp/LED, which is arranged in a clearly visible manner on the front side of the remote driver and is therefore easy to read or recognize. The use of a display element arranged directly on the remote driver opens up a simple and low-cost possibility with regard to outputting communication signals, which is particularly advantageous if the technician or installer is already directly on site.

In a further advantageous development of the remote drive, the communication signal is transmitted to the superordinate system.

The superordinate system is, for example, a control center or a control room. In this way, the current state of the energy storage device can be monitored centrally. Accordingly, preventive maintenance work can be centrally arranged and coordinated without the technician or installer having to check the respective remote drive on site for this purpose.

In a further advantageous development, the remote drive has an interface for communication with the superordinate system.

The interface can be designed for communication with a superordinate system, either by wire or wirelessly (wireless). In this way, the installation of the remote drive, in particular the coupling to the superordinate system, is significantly simplified. Furthermore, the interface may also be used to input the respective setpoint value not directly on the device, but rather by means of a suitable editing device, which may be coupled to the communication device via the interface. Alternatively, the setpoint value can also be entered via a suitable operating interface of the control center or of the control cabin.

In a further advantageous development of the remote drive, the setpoint value is formed by a minimum capacity limit value below which the communication signal is generated.

Here, the minimum capacity limit value is a capacity lower limit, which corresponds to a "worst case" at the minimum: for remote drives which are provided for coupling to different switching devices and therefore have to carry out switching processes with different loads or torques, a lower capacity limit which marks the end of life is selected so that even in the worst case (worst case) functionality can be guaranteed. In the past, this has generally led to the end of life being indicated in the case of installed switching devices having only a small load, i.e. only a small torque required for the switching process, although the amount of energy supplied is still sufficient to carry out the switching process. When using the remote drive according to the invention, it is no longer necessary to replace the remote drive prematurely, since the installer can then adapt the minimum capacity limit to the respective existing installation environment. The actual life of the energy storage device and thus of the remote drive can thus be significantly extended for small mechanical loads coupled with the remote drive without the high switching reliability being impaired thereby. In addition, maintenance can be planned better, thus avoiding redundant testing and control work. Thereby significantly reducing the cost of preventive maintenance.

In an advantageous development of the remote drive, the energy storage device is formed by a battery or a capacitor.

The accumulator and the capacitor represent possible solutions for storing the energy required for the drive. In both cases, the respective storage device can be charged with a small charging current, so that the amount of energy required for the switching process of the remote drive is present. For this reason, only a relatively small power supply is required, so that the remote drive can be designed as compactly as possible. Furthermore, by using a battery or a capacitor, the functional capability of the remote drive can be maintained and thus guaranteed even in the event of a power grid voltage interruption. Thereby significantly improving the reliability of the remote drive and the safety of the switching device coupled to the remote drive.

In a further advantageous development, the remote drive is integrated in an existing insulating material housing of the low-voltage protective switching device.

In a further advantageous development, the remote drive is designed as a separate module which can be connected laterally to the low-voltage circuit breaker.

The remote drive may be housed and retained in a common housing of insulating material with the protection switching device coupled to the remote drive. However, it is also possible to design the remote drive modularly, i.e. as a separate module with its own housing, which can be mechanically coupled to the insulating material housing of the protective switchgear.

Drawings

Embodiments of the remote drive are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a remote drive in perspective;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the principle structure of a remote drive;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a remote drive coupled to a protection switching device;

fig. 4 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a remote driver coupled to a protection switching device according to fig. 3.

Like parts have like reference numerals throughout the various figures of the drawings. This description applies to all figures in which corresponding parts are equally recognizable.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a remote drive 1 in a perspective view. The remote drive 1 has an insulating material housing 2 with a front face 4, a fixing face 5 opposite the front face 4, and a narrow face 6 and a wide face 7 connecting the front face 4 and the fixing face 5. At the front face 4, an operating element 3 is arranged, which can be coupled to an operating element of the protection switching device 100 (see fig. 3) by means of a mating connector 8, in order to be able to operate the protection switching device 100 (in the coupled state) by means of the remote drive 1. By means of the fixing surface 5, the remote drive 1 can be fixed on a support rail or DIN rail (not shown), as it is mainly used in electrical installation distributors for equipment fixation. In addition, for connection to the protective switching device 100, the remote drive 1 also has two connecting plates 9, which are arranged on the front side 4 in the region of the broad faces 7 and can be inserted into sockets 109 formed on the housing 102 of the protective switching device 100 in order to mechanically connect the remote drive 1 to the protective switching device 100.

The principle structure of the remote drive 1 is schematically shown in a side view in fig. 2. The remote drive 1 has a drive device 20 for remotely operating the operating element 3. For this purpose, the actuating element 3 is arranged projecting on the engaging roller 11, so that the engaging roller 11 rotates about its axis of rotation 12 when the actuating element 3 is actuated. The meshing roller 11 has a toothed portion 13 on its circumference, and the toothed portion 13 meshes with a gear 21 of the drive device 20. The drive 20 also has an electric motor and a gear train in order to adapt the rotational speed of the electric motor to the required torque and thus to the mechanical load coupled to the actuating element 3. For clarity, the motor and transmission are not shown in fig. 2. Furthermore, the drive 20 can also be designed without a transmission, i.e. the electric motor is not driven via one or more gear stages but acts directly on the toothed segment 13.

In addition, the remote drive 1 has an energy storage device 30, which is electrically conductively connected to the drive device 20, in order to apply the energy required for the drive device 20 for operating the operating element 3. The energy storage device 30 can be, for example, a capacitor or a battery, which stores the amount of energy required for operating the operating element 3 with the mechanical load connected thereto as a buffer store and supplies it when required. For charging, the energy storage device 30 is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a power source 31. Since the power supply 31 is used only for charging the energy storage means 30 and does not have to provide the required amount of energy directly and immediately, the power supply 31 can be dimensioned small so that it can be integrated in a compact insulating material housing 2, for example in an insulating material housing 2 having a width of 2 division units or even 1.5 division units (1TE corresponding to about 18 mm). The power supply 31 can be connected in an electrically conductive manner to the mains voltage or the supply voltage via two lines 32 leading out.

In order to measure the current capacity value of the energy storage device 30, the remote drive has a measuring device 40, which measuring device 40 is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the energy storage device 30. In this case, the current capacity value of the energy storage device 30 can be detected continuously and at regular intervals or only when required. In the illustration of fig. 2, the measuring device 40 is arranged on the circuit board 10. The circuit board 10 can be a circuit board of an already existing remote drive 1, for example, for controlling and/or for communicating the remote drive 1 with a superordinate unit (e.g., a control room). However, it is not absolutely necessary to arrange the measuring device 40 on the circuit board.

The measuring device 40 is electrically conductively connected to a processing device 50, which is also arranged on the printed circuit board 10, via a conductor circuit of the printed circuit board 10. The processing device 50 can be, for example, a microprocessor, which compares the measured volume value acquired by the measuring device 40 with a predefined setpoint value and acquires a deviation between the two values. By means of a communication device 60, which is electrically conductively connected to the processing device 50, a communication signal is generated and transmitted to a superordinate station, for example a control room, when the measured capacity value deviates from a predefined setpoint value in a predefined manner. In this way, the superordinate station obtains information about the remaining capacity of the energy storage device 30 and thus the current state of the energy storage device 30.

The communication device 60 is likewise arranged on the printed circuit board 10 and is therefore electrically conductively connected to the processing device 50 and, if necessary, also to the measuring device 40 via the conductor paths of the printed circuit board 10. However, this is not mandatory: the electrical connections required for the remote drive 1 according to the invention can also be realized discretely, i.e. without the use of the circuit board 10, by the measuring means 40, the processing means 50 and the communication means 60. For forwarding the communication signals, the communication device 60 has an interface 61, which can be designed both as a wired and as a wireless interface, for example as a bluetooth interface.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the remote drive 1 coupled to the protective switching device 100, again in a perspective view. For the mechanical connection of the two devices (remote drive 1 and protection switching device 100), the broad face 7 of the remote drive 1 faces the broad face of the protection switching device 100. The protective switching device 100 shown in fig. 3 is designed as a three-pole, but this is merely by way of example. According to the invention, the remote drive 1 can be coupled with a single-pole protection switching device as well as with a multi-pole protection switching device. As long as the mating connector 8 to be used is matched to the width of the protective switching device 100 to be coupled in each case. In order to mechanically fix the remote drive 1 to the housing 102 of the protective switching device 100, the two connection plates 9 of the remote drive 1 are inserted into sockets 109 arranged correspondingly with respect to their position at the front face of the protective switching device 100. In this way, in addition to coupling the operating element 3 of the remote drive 1 with the operating element 103 of the protection switching device 100 by means of the mating connector 8, a further mechanical connection of the remote drive 1 with the protection switching device 100 is also achieved.

An equivalent circuit diagram of the remote driver 1 coupled to the protection switching device 100 according to fig. 3 is schematically shown in fig. 4. At the three-pole protective switching device 100, three electrical connecting lines L1, L2 and L3 are connected on the input side and on the output side, which are each associated with an electrical load circuit having an electrical load F1, F2 and F3, respectively. Inside the protective switching device 100, the input and output connections of the three connecting lines L1, L2 and L3 are each electrically conductively connected via a current path which is routed in the protective switching device 100. Via the switch contacts S1, S2 and S3 which are directly and exclusively associated with the respective current path, the current path can be interrupted as required, i.e. in the event of a corresponding situation, for example a short circuit, by opening the switch contacts S1, S2 and S3.

For operating the three switching contacts S1, S2 and S3, the protective switching device 100 has a switching mechanism (not shown in detail) which is connected to the drive 20 of the remote drive 1 via the operative connection 104. In this manner, the three switch contacts S1, S2, and S3 may be opened by the remote driver to interrupt the current paths associated with the three switch contacts S1, S2, and S3, thereby disconnecting the load circuits L1, L2, and L3 from the power network.

The method for determining the current capacity value of the energy storage device 30, based on the remote drive 1 according to the invention, therefore has the following steps:

a) the current capacity value is measured and,

b) the measured value is compared with a predefined setpoint value,

c) a communication signal is output when the measured capacity value deviates from a predefined setpoint value in a predefined manner.

In summary, the remote drive 1 according to the invention is therefore used to monitor the capacity of the energy storage device 30, from which conclusions can be drawn about the aging behavior of the energy storage device 30. For this purpose, a defined charging or discharging process of the energy storage device 30 is carried out. By measuring the voltage drop at the energy storage device 30 and the duration required for the charging or discharging process, the capacity of the energy storage device 30 can be calculated. From this capacity it can now be determined whether the energy storage device is still sufficient for the current application situation. If this is not the case, the system consisting of the remote drive 1 and the protective switching device 100 switches to a safe operating state and signals the need for maintenance. In this way, the energy storage device 30 can be matched to different protection switching devices 100 coupled to the remote drive 1 and thus to different mechanical loads.

In order to achieve as long a service life as possible for the remote drive in each conceivable configuration, the selection possibilities are implemented as follows: the minimum available capacity is compared with the amount of energy actually required for the switching process. This selection can be made, for example, by an installer or technician with the aid of suitable operating equipment and can also be adapted to the electrical installation if a change occurs. In this way, as long a life as possible is achieved for each combination consisting of remote drive 1 and protective switching device 100. Furthermore, the selection option can also be used to adapt the driving behavior (Fahrspielt), i.e. the combination of rotational speed and torque of the drive 20, to the respective combination.

List of reference numerals

1 remote drive

2 insulating material housing

3 operating element

4 front side

5 fixing surface

6 narrow surface

7 broad surface

8-mesh connector

9 connecting plate

10 circuit board

11 meshing roller

12 rotating shaft

13 tooth part

20 drive device

21 gear

30 energy storage device

31 power supply

32 wire

40 measuring device

50 processing device

60 communication device

61 interface

100 protective switching device

102 shell

103 operating element

104 are operatively connected

109 socket

L1, L2, L3 connecting wire

F1, F2 and F3 electrical load

S1, S2, S3 switch contact

Claims

1. A remote drive (1) for a low-voltage protection switching device (100),

-having a controllable drive device (20) for operating a low-voltage protective switching device (100),

-having an energy storage device (30) for providing the energy required for the drive device (20),

-having a measuring device (40) for measuring a current capacity value of the energy storage device (30),

-a processing device (50) for processing the measured volume value, wherein the measured volume value is compared with a predefined setpoint value that can be set manually.

2. Remote drive (1) according to claim 1, wherein the remote drive has a code switch by means of which a manual setting of the nominal value is carried out.

3. Remote drive (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the remote drive has a communication device (60) for outputting a communication signal when the measured capacity value deviates from a predefined nominal value in a predefined manner.

4. A remote driver (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the communication signal is sent to a display element of the remote driver.

5. Remote drive (1) according to claim 3, wherein the communication signal is sent to a superior system.

6. Remote drive (1) according to claim 5, wherein the communication means (60) have an interface for communicating with the superordinate system.

7. Remote drive (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the nominal value is formed by a minimum capacity threshold below which the communication signal is generated.

8. The remote drive (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the energy storage means (30) is constituted by an accumulator or a capacitor.

9. The remote drive (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the remote drive (1) is integrated in an existing insulating material housing of a low voltage protection switchgear (100).

10. The remote drive (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the remote drive (1) is designed as a separate module which can be connected laterally with the low-voltage protection switching device (100).