CN221101981U - Locking device for circuit breaker and circuit breaker assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a locking device for a circuit breaker and a circuit breaker assembly. The locking device for a circuit breaker comprises: a lock body having a main body portion and an operating portion movably connected to the main body portion, wherein the main body portion is configured with an outer side surface to form a grip portion, the operating portion defining a pressing portion and a lock hole adapted to mount a stopper lock to restrict movement of the operating portion relative to the main body portion; and a clip spring mounted to the lock body, one end of the clip spring being mounted to the operating portion, the other end extending to the main body portion and being configured with a pair of free ends protruding from the main body portion, the pair of free ends being movable closer to each other in response to an external force acting on the pressing portion.

Description

Locking device for circuit breaker and circuit breaker assembly

Technical Field

The utility model relates to the technical field of industrial safety, in particular to a locking device for a circuit breaker and a circuit breaker assembly.

Background

The circuit breaker can be used for closing or breaking current and carrying current under normal loop conditions, and can also be used for carrying and breaking current in a specified time under abnormal loop conditions. In some cases, the contacts of the circuit breaker are opened and closed by manual operation or electric operation. For this reason, the circuit breaker may be provided with an operable handle, which is rotated in a forward or reverse direction to perform the operation. The handle is operated in compliance with safety production specifications. For example, in the maintenance of equipment, in order to ensure the safety of the staff, the circuit breaker must be opened. During the period, once the handle is misoperated, the breaker is accidentally switched on, so that the safety of operators is seriously threatened, and even serious safety accidents are caused.

Accordingly, there is a need in the industry to improve the safety protection locking devices of circuit breakers.

Disclosure of utility model

The present utility model aims to provide a locking device for a circuit breaker which solves at least some of the technical problems mentioned above.

The present utility model is also directed to a circuit breaker assembly employing the improved latching apparatus described above.

According to one aspect of the present utility model, there is provided a locking device for a circuit breaker, comprising: a lock body having a main body portion and an operating portion movably connected to the main body portion, wherein the main body portion is configured with an outer side surface to form a grip portion, the operating portion defining a pressing portion and a lock hole adapted to mount a stopper lock to restrict movement of the operating portion relative to the main body portion; and a clip spring mounted to the lock body, one end of the clip spring being mounted to the operating portion, the other end extending to the main body portion and being configured with a pair of free ends protruding from the main body portion, the pair of free ends being movable closer to each other in response to an external force acting on the pressing portion.

Through the locking device that this scheme provided, when external force acted on the pressing part of lock body, for example, pressed the pressing part with the hand, the jump ring synchronous motion who installs in it is pushed to the pressing part, thereby leads to a pair of free ends of jump ring to be close to each other to shorten the interval between the free ends. Thereby, a pair of free ends can be easily inserted into the pair of locking holes of the circuit breaker. When the external force disappears, for example, the hand is released, the pair of free ends of the clamp spring are separated from each other and reset due to the inherent elasticity of the free ends, so that the distance between the pair of free ends is increased, the clamp spring (or the whole locking device) is mounted to the circuit breaker, the rotation of the adjacent operating handle is limited, the accidental switching of the opening or closing state of the circuit breaker due to the false touch of the operating handle is prevented, and the industrial production safety is ensured. The degree of approaching and separating the free ends of the clamp spring from each other can be controlled by applying an external force to the pressing part, and can be adjusted steplessly so as to adapt to circuit breakers of various specifications.

In some embodiments, the snap spring comprises two legs arranged opposite each other and a connecting section connected between the two legs, wherein the connecting section is mounted to the operating portion, the two legs extend from the operating portion to the body portion, and ends of the two legs protrude away from each other from the body portion as the free ends.

In some embodiments, each leg comprises a first section connected to the connection section and a second section connected between the first section and the free end, wherein a distance between the second sections of the two legs tapers in a direction away from the connection section, and the body portion defines two angled slots oppositely disposed and conforming to the second sections of the two legs, the second section of each leg abutting against a slot bottom of the respective angled slot.

In some embodiments, the free ends of the two legs extend away from each other along a common line from the respective chute.

In some embodiments, the operating portion includes: a pressing part; a locking part connected to the pressing part and forming an accommodating space with the pressing part, wherein the locking hole is formed at the locking part; a telescoping portion connected between the locking portion and the main body portion; wherein said one end of said snap spring is embedded in said receiving space and two legs of said snap spring extend to said body portion on opposite sides of said locking portion.

In some embodiments, a first stop is formed on a side of the pressing portion facing the accommodating space, a second stop and a stop protrusion spaced apart from the second stop are formed on a side of the locking portion facing the leg of the clip, the one end of the clip forms a stop fit with the first stop, and the leg of the clip is embedded between the second stop and the stop protrusion.

In some embodiments, the body portion includes a base, the telescoping portion is connected between the locking portion and the base, and the pair of free ends of the snap spring extend away from the base.

In some embodiments, the body portion comprises: a shoulder extending around the operating portion and adapted to form a stop fit with a stop lock mounted to the locking aperture; and a connecting part connected between the shoulder and the base at opposite sides of the operating part.

In some embodiments, the connection has a third stop that forms a stop fit with the leg of the clip spring.

According to another aspect of the present utility model, there is provided a circuit breaker assembly comprising: a circuit breaker having a housing and an operating lever pivotably mounted to the housing, wherein the housing is formed with a pair of locking holes on a pivot path of the operating lever; a locking device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pair of free ends are adapted to be received in the pair of locking apertures so as to form a detent engagement with the handle by the locking device.

Additional features and advantages of the utility model will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from the practice of the utility model.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present utility model are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a locking device according to an embodiment of the utility model, wherein an angle of the locking device is shown.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a locking device according to an embodiment of the utility model, wherein another angle of the locking device is shown.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a locking device according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a lock body of a locking device according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a circlip of a locking device according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 7 is an enlarged view at a of fig. 6.

Reference numerals illustrate:

1. A locking device; 2. a lock body; 21. a first end; 22. a second end; 3. a main body portion; 3

1. A shoulder; 32. a connection part; 321. a third stopper; 322. a grip portion; 33. a base; 3

31. A chute; 332. a hollow structure; 4. an operation section; 41. a pressing part; 411. a first stopper; 42. an accommodation space; 43. a locking part; 431. a lock hole; 432. a second stopper; 433. a stop protrusion; 44. a telescopic part; 5. clamping springs; 51. a support leg; 511. a first section; 512. a second section; 513. a free end; 52. a connection section; 6. a circuit breaker; 61. a housing; 611. a locking hole; 612. a locking hole; 62. operating handle

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, illustrative aspects of the disclosed latching apparatus for a circuit breaker and circuit breaker assembly are described in detail. Although the drawings are provided to present some embodiments of the utility model, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated, removed, or partially sectioned to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure. The position of part of components in the drawings can be adjusted according to actual requirements on the premise of not affecting the technical effect. The appearances of the phrase "in the drawings" or similar language in the specification do not necessarily refer to all figures or examples.

Certain directional terms used hereinafter to describe the drawings, such as "inner", "outer", "above", "below" and other directional terms, will be understood to have their normal meaning and refer to those directions as they would be when viewing the drawings. Unless otherwise indicated, directional terms described herein are generally in accordance with conventional directions as understood by those skilled in the art.

The terms "first," "second," and the like, as used herein, do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

The utility model provides a locking device suitable for a circuit breaker, which is used for preventing a handle of the circuit breaker from rotating caused by false touch, limiting the circuit breaker to a desired state (opening or closing) and preventing the state from being accidentally switched. The locking device has a simple structure and is convenient for one-hand operation.

Fig. 1 to 3 exemplarily show the structure of the locking device. As shown in the figure, the locking device 1 consists of a lock body 2 and a clamp spring 5, and is simple to operate and install and low in cost.

Referring in combination to fig. 4, the lock body 2 has opposite first 21 (or "upper end") and second 22 ends (or "lower end"). The lock body 2 is mainly composed of two parts including a main body part 3 and an operating part 4 movable relative to the main body part 3. The operating portion 4 is provided with a pressing portion 41, a locking portion 43, and a telescoping portion 44 in order from the first end 21 to the second end 22. The side surface of the pressing portion 41 facing away from the locking portion 43 is configured as a pressing surface against which an external force acts. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressing portion 41 is configured in a plate shape protruding from the locking portion 43 all around. Thus, the pressing portion provides a larger pressing surface, facilitating stable application of the external force.

The lock portion 43 is connected between the pressing portion 41 and the expansion portion 44. A receiving space 42 for attaching the clip spring 5 is formed between the lock portion 43 and the pressing portion 41. A locking hole 431 may be formed at an approximately middle position of the locking portion 43 for mounting a stopper lock (e.g., padlock). The stop lock can limit the movement of the operating portion 4 relative to the body portion 3 and thus limit the deformation and movement of the circlip 5. This will be described in detail later.

The telescoping portion 44 is connected between the locking portion 43 and the main body portion 3. The movement of the operating portion 4 with respect to the body portion 3 is mainly achieved by means of the elastic properties of the telescopic portion 44. Specifically, the expansion and contraction part 44 allows the pressing part 41 and the locking part 43 to move together with respect to the main body part 3 by virtue of elastic properties brought about by its configuration or material or a combination of both. In the illustrated embodiment, the telescoping portion 44 is configured in an upright wave shape, having spring-like elastic properties. When the pressing portion 41 is forced, the plurality of waves of the telescoping portion 44 are pressed and come close to each other, and when the pressing portion 41 is released, the plurality of waves of the telescoping portion 44 are reset away from each other due to their own inherent elasticity. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that telescoping portion 44 may be replaced with any suitable shape or material or combination of both. For example, in one embodiment, telescoping portion 44 may be, for example, cylindrical, made of an elastomeric material. In another embodiment, telescoping portion 44 may be configured as a spiral or replaced with a spring.

The body portion 3 is provided with a base 33 at the second end 22, and a telescopic portion 44 of the operating portion 4 is connected between the base 33 and the locking portion 43. Two opposite sides of the base 33 in the lateral direction are each formed with a chute 331, and the interval between the bottoms of the two chute 331 tapers in the direction from the first end 21 to the second end 22 (as shown in fig. 3). The body portion 3 is formed with a shoulder 31 near the first end 21, the shoulder 31 extending around the operating portion 4. The shoulder 31 is configured to form a stop fit with a locking member to be mounted to the lock hole 431, so that after the locking member is mounted to the lock hole 431, once the pressing portion 41 is pressed, the movement of the operating portion 4 with respect to the main body portion 3 is restricted by the locking member. For this reason, the position of the shoulder 31 is designed to be located under the locking hole 431 in a natural state to facilitate the installation of the locking member. The connecting portion 32 is connected between the shoulder 31 and the base 33, and is located on opposite sides of the operating portion 4 in the lateral direction. The connecting portion 32 is configured with an outer peripheral contour to form a grip portion 322 that is convenient for a human hand to grasp. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting portion 32 is in the shape of two bars opposite to each other, but in other embodiments the connecting portion 32 may be replaced by any suitable shape, such as a shape surrounding the operating portion 4 similar to the shoulder 31.

To facilitate one-handed operation, the shoulder 31 is configured to protrude all around from the connecting portion 32 (or from the grip portion 322). Thus, when the pressing portion 41 is pressed and held by the hand of the grip portion 322, the shoulder portion 31 can form a stop fit with the gripped finger, functioning to prevent the locking device 1 from slipping down from the hand.

As also shown in fig. 1 to 3, a clip spring 5 is mounted to the lock body 2 and is elastically deformable in response to a force applied to the operation portion 4. As shown in detail in fig. 5, the snap spring 5 may be made of steel and be bent to a proper shape so that an intended deformation is generated when an external force acts thereon, and the deformation is automatically restored after the external force is removed, thereby allowing the snap spring to return to an original state.

In the embodiment shown, the snap spring 5 comprises two legs 51 and a connecting section 52 connected between the two legs 51. The connecting section 52 is inserted into the accommodation space 42 formed between the pressing portion 41 and the locking portion 43, and the two legs 51 extend to the base 33 of the main body portion 3 at the second ends 22 at the laterally opposite sides of the locking portion 43, respectively. Each leg 51 is formed from a first section 511, a second section 512 and a free end 513. The first sections 511 protrude integrally bent from the connecting section 52, and the distance between the first sections 511 of the two legs 51 is substantially constant. The second section 512 is connected to the first section 511 at an angle (e.g., an obtuse angle), and the spacing between the second sections 512 of the two legs 51 tapers in the direction from the first end 21 to the second end 22. The free ends 513 are connected to the second section 512 at an angle (e.g., an acute angle) and the free ends 513 of the two legs 51 extend away from each other. In the embodiment shown, the free ends 513 of the two legs 51 extend away from each other along the same straight line.

As described above, the base 33 of the main body portion 3 of the lock body 2 is formed with two inclined grooves 331 on both lateral sides, the inclined grooves 331 being conformed to the second sections 512 of the legs 51, as shown in fig. 3. When the circlip 5 is mounted to the lock body 2, the second sections 512 of the legs 51 are embedded in the corresponding side angled slots 331 and abut against the bottom of the angled slots 331, while the free ends 513 of the circlips protrude from the corresponding angled slots 331. When the pressing portion 41 of the lock body 2 is moved relative to the lock body 2 by receiving the pressure applied from the outside, the clip spring 5 is synchronously pressed, and the second section 512 of the clip spring 5 moves downward along the chute 331 and brings the two free ends 513 close to each other due to its inherent elasticity. When the external force is removed, the telescopic portion 44 of the operating portion 4 is elastically restored, the jump ring 5 is lifted up, the second section 512 of the jump ring 5 moves up the chute 331 and the two free ends 513 are gradually moved away from each other.

In one embodiment, a hollow structure 332 penetrating in the thickness direction may be formed at the base 33, and the hollow structure 332 may be an inverted triangle including two inclined surfaces corresponding in position to and conforming to the two inclined grooves 331. Forming such a hollow structure 332 can reduce the weight of the lock body 2 and reduce the raw materials required for the lock body 2, reducing costs.

In order to firmly mount the snap spring 5 to the lock body 2, a stop structure may be provided on the lock body 2. As shown in fig. 1 and 4, a first stopper 411 is formed on the side of the pressing portion 41 facing the locking portion 43. After the connecting section 52 of the snap spring 5 is inserted into the accommodation space 42 between the pressing portion 41 and the locking portion 43, the first stopper 411 catches the connecting section 52 of the snap spring 5 from the outside, preventing it from coming out of the accommodation space 42. Corresponding stop structures can also be provided for the first sections 511 of the snap springs 5 extending past on opposite sides of the locking portion 43 of the operating part 4. As shown in fig. 1 and 4, the side of the locking portion 43 facing the first section 511 of the snap spring 5 is formed with a second stopper 432 and a stopper protrusion 433 spaced apart from and opposite to each other, wherein the stopper protrusion 433 may be a rail extending from the pressing portion 41. The first section 511 of the snap spring 5 is clamped in the space between the second stop 432 and the stop projection 433 so as to be movable only in its axial direction and not in its radial direction. A third stop 321 can also be provided on the connecting portions 32 of the main part 3 of the lock body 2 opposite each other and on opposite sides of the telescopic portion 44, which further forms a radial movement stop for the first section 511 of the clamping spring 5.

Fig. 6 and 7 show schematic views of the locking device 1 according to the above embodiment mounted to the circuit breaker 6 to prevent the circuit breaker 6 from switching the on/off state. As shown, the circuit breaker 6 includes a housing 61, an operation lever 62 pivotably mounted to the housing 61, and an operation mechanism, a contact mechanism, a breaking mechanism, an arc extinguishing mechanism, and the like located in the housing 61. The structure of these mechanisms and the arrangement within the housing may be selected from the prior art and will not be described in detail herein. As is well known, the switching of the circuit breaker 6 between the open and closed states is achieved by rotation of the operating lever 62. The locking device 1 can maintain the circuit breaker 6 in a desired state by preventing the rotation of the operating handle 62, preventing a production safety accident that may be caused by accidental switching.

In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 61 is formed with pairs of locking holes on the pivot path of the lever 62, wherein each pair of locking holes is disposed spaced apart and opposite from each other. Fig. 7 shows that the housing 61 is formed with two pairs of locking holes 611, 612 for respectively holding the circuit breaker 6 in the open and closed states.

When the circuit breaker 6 has been in a desired state as shown in fig. 6 and 7, a pair of locking holes 611 are exposed. The locking device 1 is operated to apply an external force to the pressing portion 41 of the lock body 2. As mentioned above, the pair of free ends 513 of the snap spring 5 will be brought closer together and folded. When the pair of free ends 513 of the clip spring 5 are folded sufficiently to fit between the exposed pair of locking holes 611, the pair of free ends 513 are aligned with the pair of locking holes 611, respectively, and the pressing portion 41 is released. The snap springs 5 are released due to their inherent elasticity, and the pair of free ends 513 are moved away from each other and protrude further into the corresponding locking holes 611. Thereby, the locking device 1 is mounted to the housing 61. The pivoting of the operation lever 62 is blocked by the locking device 1, and thus the circuit breaker 6 cannot switch states. The extent to which the pair of free ends 513 of the clip spring 5 are folded can be controlled by the magnitude of the external force applied to the pressing portion 41. In other words, when the external force applied to the pressing portion 41 is small, the pair of free ends 513 of the clip 5 are folded to a small extent, and when the external force applied to the pressing portion 41 is large, the pair of free ends 513 of the clip 5 are folded to a large extent. Thereby, the same specification of the locking device 1 can be adapted to different specifications of the circuit breaker 6. In order to prevent the locking device 1 from being separated from the circuit breaker 6 by a malfunction, a locking piece may be mounted to the locking hole 431.

It should be understood that although the present disclosure has been described in terms of various embodiments, not every embodiment is provided with a separate technical solution, and this description is for clarity only, and those skilled in the art should consider the disclosure as a whole, and the technical solutions in the various embodiments may be combined appropriately to form other embodiments that will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present utility model and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model. Any equivalent alterations, modifications and combinations thereof will be effected by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and principles of this utility model, and it is intended to be within the scope of the utility model.

Claims (10)

1. A locking device for a circuit breaker, comprising:

A lock body (2) having a main body portion (3) and an operating portion (4) movably connected to the main body portion (3), wherein the main body portion (3) is configured with an outer side face to form a grip portion (322), the operating portion (4) defining a pressing portion (41) and a lock hole (431) adapted to mount a lock for restricting movement of the operating portion (4) relative to the main body portion (3);

A snap spring (5) mounted to the lock body (2), one end of the snap spring (5) being mounted to the operating portion (4), the other end extending to the main body portion (3) and being configured with a pair of free ends (513) protruding from the main body portion (3), the pair of free ends (513) being movable closer to each other in response to an external force acting on the pressing portion (41).

2. Locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the snap spring (5) comprises two legs (51) arranged opposite each other and a connecting section (52) connected between the two legs (51), wherein the connecting section (52) is mounted to the operating part (4), the two legs (51) extend from the operating part (4) to the body part (3), and the ends of the two legs (51) protrude away from the body part (3) as the free ends (513).

3. The locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that each leg (51) comprises a first section (511) connected to the connecting section (52) and a second section (512) connected between the first section (511) and the free end (513), wherein the distance between the second sections (512) of the two legs (51) tapers in a direction away from the connecting section (52), while the body part (3) defines two chute grooves (331) arranged opposite and conforming to the second sections (512) of the two legs (51), the second section (512) of each leg (51) abutting against the groove bottom of the corresponding chute groove (331).

4. A locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that the free ends (513) of the two legs (51) project away from each other along the same straight line from the respective chute (331).

5. The locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the operating portion (4) comprises:

a pressing part (41);

A locking portion (43) connected to the pressing portion (41) and forming an accommodating space (42) with the pressing portion (41), wherein the locking hole (431) is formed at the locking portion (43);

a telescopic portion (44) connected between the locking portion (43) and the main body portion (3);

wherein said one end of said snap spring (5) is embedded in said accommodation space (42), and two legs (51) of said snap spring (5) extend to said body portion (3) on opposite sides of said locking portion (43).

6. The locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that a first stop (411) is formed on the side of the pressing portion (41) facing the accommodation space (42), a second stop (432) and a stop projection (433) spaced from the second stop (432) are formed on the side of the locking portion (43) facing the leg (51) of the snap spring (5), the one end of the snap spring (5) forms a stop fit with the first stop (411), and the leg (51) of the snap spring (5) is embedded between the second stop (432) and the stop projection (433).

7. Locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the body part (3) comprises a base (33), the telescopic part (44) being connected between the locking part (43) and the base (33), the pair of free ends (513) of the snap spring (5) projecting away from the base (33) from each other.

8. The locking device according to claim 7, wherein the body portion (3) comprises:

A shoulder (31) extending around the operating portion (4) and adapted to form a stop fit with a stop lock mounted to the locking aperture (431);

and a connecting portion (32) connected between the shoulder portion (31) and the base (33) at opposite sides of the operating portion (4).

9. Locking device according to claim 8, characterized in that the connection (32) has a third stop (321) forming a stop fit with the leg (51) of the snap spring (5).

10. A circuit breaker assembly, comprising:

A circuit breaker (6) having a housing (61) and an operation lever (62) pivotably mounted to the housing (61), wherein the housing (61) is formed with a pair of locking holes on a pivot path of the operation lever (62);

Locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said pair of free ends (513) is adapted to be threaded into said pair of locking holes so as to form a rotation-locking fit by said locking device (1) with said operating handle (62).