EP1284494B1 - Latch mechanism for a circuit breaker, particularly for a protective switch for a motor - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a switching mechanism for an electrical switching device according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a known switching mechanism is for example in the EP 0 327 502 shown.

Electrical switching devices have, inter alia, a contact point arrangement with a fixed and a movable contact piece assembly, a thermal and / or electromagnetic release and a switching mechanism, which cooperates on the one hand with the or the triggers and on the other hand with the movable contact piece arrangement, in the case of a trigger is a latch mechanism unlatched by the trigger, and the contact opening is usually via a toggle lever system, which in conjunction with other levers and tabs, the movement of the switching mechanism transmits to the contacts and this opens permanently. The toggle lever system is moved by an actuator via a translational movement (push button), a rotary or tilting movement (knob, lever) and placed in an over-center position. By this movement of the toggle lever system, which is usually supported on the clinker mechanism, a power storage is stretched. This latching mechanism acts on transmission parts and thus on the contact point arrangement. When switching this is closed via the switch lock and opened when switching off. By triggering the latching mechanism is unlatched, in which the support of a pawl is disabled, so that the toggle lever system can collapse. The switching mechanism acts in the collapse of the toggle lever system due to the spring force in an opening manner. When automatically resetting the actuator to the original position (off position) the Verklinkerungsmechanismus is activated again, so that the switching mechanism can be turned on again. The switch lock can trigger unaffected when holding the actuator in the on position. In contact welding, the actuator must not enter the release position and indicate to the operator a contact opening.

From the EP 0 612 089 A2 is a switching mechanism with rotary drive according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. The control unit is used to divert the axis of rotation by 90 ° via two rotatably mounted parts with bevel gear. The second pivotable part with a bevel gear contains a banana-shaped recess which moves the toggle lever. By supporting the toggle lever on a latch when switching the switching mechanism of the energy storage is tensioned with two compression springs and closed by a lever mechanism with contact carrier part of the contactor or turned on the device. When you turn off the switching mechanism, the rear derailleur is unlatched via a sliding mechanism, so that the opening of the contact point arrangement or switching off happens abruptly.

With this arrangement, a large number of parts are present, so that the manufacturing costs are high. Also, a 90 ° turn twice to achieve contact closure or contact opening. The fact that when switching off the switching mechanism is unlatched via a sliding mechanism, the burden of Verklinkungsstelle, which consists of a metal / plastic combination (change of on / off), large and it can come early to the so-called Durchschnappern.

From the DE 42 01 026 A1 is a switching mechanism has become known, which can be turned on both by pressing a button and a rotary drive. The switching mechanism is switched on via a rocker, which is a lever of the toggle lever system. This rocker is switched on by a button and by another Button for switching off the switch lock moves. With the rotary drive, the rocker is moved by a deflection of the rotation axis by 90 ° by means of additional parts. Due to the movement of the toggle lever system beyond a dead center position, the toggle lever system tensions the energy accumulator via a transmission lever, which acts on the tappets via an additional lever and closes the contact pieces. Switching off is not sudden, because a snap mechanism for the switch-off does not exist. The speed of the contact opening is therefore slowed down and thus increases due to the longer arc exposure of the Abbrand the Kontaktstükke.

The object of the invention is to provide a switching mechanism of the type mentioned, in which the number of parts is reduced compared to the known arrangements and, moreover, the mechanical stress and thus the wear of the switching mechanism can be reduced. In addition, the arrangement should act as a snap mechanism, in particular when switching off, so that switching off is sudden.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, therefore, the switching mechanism has a first lever, which is rotatably mounted at one end stationary, a second lever which is rotatably connected at one end to the other end of the second lever and forms part of Verklinkungsstelle, wherein both levers approximately parallel to each other and run approximately perpendicular to the direction of the force of the trigger, and the other end is mounted in the region of the stationary bearing of the first lever on a headband, and a third lever which is fixedly rotatably supported at one end and the other end of the Verklinkungsstelle with the other end forms. Furthermore, according to the invention a toggle lever arrangement of an articulated on the third lever intermediate lever and a tab whose free end is linearly guided and coupled to the movable part of the contact point, wherein the linear guide extends approximately perpendicular to the direction of the trigger, provided.

The advantage of this arrangement is essentially that the number of parts reduced and beyond the wear of the individual parts are reduced, so that the risk of a so-called snap-through is no longer given.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a rotatably mounted between Verklinkungsstelle and trigger connection element may be provided which holds the first and thus the second lever in Verklinkungsstelle in verklinktem state and releases the second lever for opening the latch when triggered.

In this case, the connecting element can be acted upon permanently in the holding direction by means of a spring.

According to a further embodiment, a holding surface is integrally formed on the connecting element, which cooperates with a support surface on the first lever in closed position, however, when released from the support surface is released and releases the first lever.

It is further provided that the at the other end of the second lever with its one end hinged headband is resiliently pressed at its other end against a stop and so forms a movable pivot point for the first and second lever.

According to a further embodiment, the tab may have at the end at which it is connected to the intermediate lever, a nose which cooperates with a projection on the headband, so that upon pivoting of the tab and the headband pivots.

Further advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention can be found in the further subclaims.

Reference to the drawing, in which an embodiment of the invention is shown, the invention and further advantageous refinements and improvements of the invention and other advantages will be explained and described in detail.

Fig. 1 bis 5

eine Einsicht in ein Schaltschloß in unterschiedlichen Stellungen,

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Schaltschloßträgers in einem Motorschutzschalter,

Fig. 7 und 8

die Übertragung der Bewegung des Schaltschlosses auf eine Doppelkontaktstelle in Aus- und Einschaltstellung und

Fig. 9

eine Drehknopfsteuerung zur Übertragung der Drehwegegung eines Drehknopfes auf das Schaltschloß

Show it:

Fig. 1 to 5

an insight into a switching mechanism in different positions,

Fig. 6

a perspective view of a switch carrier in a motor protection switch,

FIGS. 7 and 8

the transmission of the movement of the switching mechanism to a double contact point in off and on position and

Fig. 9

a knob control for transmitting the Drehwegegung a knob on the switch lock

It is now referred to the Fig. 8 ,

The Fig. 8 shows a switching mechanism 10 from the side whose output is coupled at 11 to a first arm 12 of an L-shaped rotary lever 13, the second arm 14 acts on a contact carrier 15 to which a contact bridge 16 is attached, the two movable contact pieces 17 and 18 carries. The movable contact pieces 17 and 18 cooperate with fixed contact pieces 19 and 20, which are fixed to arc guide rails 21, 22. The arc guide rails 21, 22 limit arc tray stacks not shown in more detail and serve to guide the arcing base formed on the fixed contact piece 19 or 20 into the arc splitter stack.

The L-shaped rotary lever is movably and rotatably mounted at 23; the first arm 12 is acted upon by a compression spring 24, such that the Durckfeder 24 tends to pivot the rotary lever clockwise in the Ausschalttrichtung so that the second arm 14 can strike a shoulder 25 on the contact carrier 15 as soon as the switch lock the first arm 12th has released. The Fig. 7 shows the switch-off position: The compression spring 24 has pivoted the rotary lever, so that the second arm 14 strike the shoulder 25 and could bring the contact carrier 15 together with the contact bridge 16 in the off position.

The switching mechanism 10 is as out Fig. 6 seen, received in a switch lock carrier 26. He has a receiving space 27, in which the switching mechanism is inserted.

It is now referred to the FIGS. 1 to 5 ,

The Fig. 1 shows the switch lock in closed position. It has a first lever 30, which has an approximately banana-shaped contour and is rotatably mounted at one end at 31 stationary. The other end of the first lever 30 is pivotally connected via a hinge 32 to a second lever 33, which partially covers the first lever 30. At this second lever 33 is a nose 34, which forms part of a Verklinkungsstelle in the manner described below. The other end of the second lever is rotatably mounted at 35 with an approximately U-shaped control lever 36, the other end of which is pressed by a compression spring 37 against a projection 37 a. The two levers 30 and 33 are approximately parallel to each other. On the nose 34 opposite side of the first lever 30, a Abstütznase 38 is formed, which is supported against a support surface 39 of a rotatably mounted rotary member 40, which rotary member 40 has an attack area 41, on which a thermal or electromagnetic triggering element can attack and the rotary member 40 pivoted clockwise. About a double leg spring 42, the rotary member 40 is acted counterclockwise, so that it at the end of the triggering in the in Fig. 1 drawn position can be moved back.

The switching mechanism further has a third lever 43 which is bent approximately L-shaped and whose first leg 44 is rotatably mounted on the diametrically opposite to the rotary member 49 side at 45. This first leg 44 extends approximately parallel to the first and the second lever 30, 33. Perpendicular to the first leg 44, a second leg 46 is connected, the free end forms a support surface 47 for the nose 34. Approximately in the middle of the second leg 46 is a toggle lever assembly 48 is connected with two tabs 49 and 52 articulated, the first tab 49 hinged at its free end at 50 on the second leg 46 and articulated at its other end at 51 with the second tab 52 connected is. In the Fig. 1 shown position (Verklinkungsstellung) extend the first and second tabs 49, 52 approximately parallel to the first leg 44 and to the first and second levers 30 and 33, wherein the pivot point 51 on the hinge point 45 side facing a connecting line between the hinge point 50 on the second leg 43 and the support point 53, the tab 52 and the support point 53 a ( Fig. 6 ) is located on the housing 26. When the tabs 49 and 52 are aligned with each other, a dead center has been reached; the Fig. 1 shows the position in the so-called first stable and latched position. In other words, in the Verklinkungsstellung form the first and second levers 30, 33 with the control lever 36 has a U-shape, which is supplemented by the tabs 49, 48 to an E-shape. The nose 34 and the support surface 47 are located approximately in the middle of the so-called leg of the U-shape, which is formed from the two levers 30, 33. The control lever 36 connects to the "free end" of the so-called leg formed from the levers 30, 33.

On the first leg 44 engages a compression spring 54, which wants to pivot the third lever 43 in a clockwise direction and holds in this way the two tabs 49 and 52 in the so-called first stable position. On the second tab 52, a nose projection 55 is formed, which cooperates in a manner shown below with a corresponding nose projection 56 on the control lever 36, see below.

The switch lock accordingly has two Verklinkungsstellen, namely the Verklinkungsstelle 38/39 and Verklinkungsstelle 34/47.

The Fig. 2 shows the switching mechanism in a release position in which the Verklinkungsstelle 38 and 39 is unlatched, because the attack area 41 has a force in the direction of arrow P, thus approximately parallel to the second leg 46 and approximately perpendicular to the levers 30,33 has acted. Characterized the first lever 30 is released and pivoted due to the compression spring 37 via the control lever 36 and the second lever 33, so that the second Verklinkungsstelle 34 and 47 is released; Thus, the third lever 43 can pivot counterclockwise and so releases the toggle lever assembly 48 so that it can move to the second stable position, see Fig. 3 , wherein the support point 53 can move in the direction which then runs parallel to the first leg 44 in the direction of the second leg 46.

The movement of the support point 53 acts on the rotational movement of a rotary knob, as will be shown below.

At the hinge point 51, a pin (with the same reference numeral) is formed, which engages in a link 60 on a rotary knob or rotary actuator 61. About this gate 60, the rotary knob 61 is pivoted or rotated at a trip on the one hand and when turning the toggle lever assembly 48 from the elimination, see Fig. 4 in the closed position, see Fig. 1 spent.

To turn off the knob acts on the backdrop 51 on the hinge, whereby the tab 48 against the arrow A ( Fig. 2 ) is moved. The nose 55 presses on the tab 48 on the nose 56 of the control lever 36 and twists this, so that it pivots about the support point on the projection 37a in a clockwise direction. As a result, the second lever 33 is taken and so unlatches the Verklinkungsstelle 34/47, so that the switch can turn off.

Claims (11)

1. Latch mechanism for an electrical switching device, in particular for a motor circuit breaker, the input of the said electrical switching device being coupled to a thermal or electromagnetic release and the output of the said electrical switching device being coupled to the moving part of a contact point, having a latching point which can be unlatched by the release, and having a switching handle (61) with which the latching point is unlatched for disconnection and latched for connection, the said latch mechanism comprising:

   - a first lever (30) which is rotatably mounted in a fixed position at one (31) of its ends,

   - a second lever (33) which is rotatably connected to the other end of the first lever (30) (at 32) at one end and forms part of the latching point, with the two levers (30, 33) running approximately parallel to one another and approximately perpendicular to the direction (P) of force of the release, and the other end of the said second lever being mounted on a control link (36) in the region of the support, which is in a fixed position, of the first lever,

   - a third lever (43) which is rotatably mounted in a fixed position at one end (at 45) and forms the other part of the latching point with the other end, and

   - a toggle lever arrangement (48) comprising an intermediate lever (49), which is connected in an articulated manner to the third lever (43), and a tab (52), the free end of the said tab being guided in a linear manner and being coupled to the moving part of the contact point (18, 20; 17, 19), with the linear guide running approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement of the release, characterized in that a pin (51) is integrally formed on the hinge shaft of the toggle lever arrangement (48), the said pin being guided in a cam or slotted link groove (60) in the switching handle (61) which is in the form of a rotary handle.
2. Latch mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that a rotatably mounted connecting element (40) is provided between the latching point (34, 47) and the release, the said connecting element firmly holding the first lever (30) and therefore also the second lever (32) in the latching position in the latched state and releasing the first lever for the purpose of opening the latching arrangement in the event of a tripping operation.
3. Latch mechanism according to Claim 2, characterized in that the connecting element (40) is permanently acted on by means of a spring (42) in the direction in which the connecting element (40) acts on the first lever (33) in the latching position.
4. Latch mechanism according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a supporting surface (39) is provided on the connecting element (40), the said supporting surface interacting with a supporting lug (38) on the first lever (30) in the connected position and therefore forming a further latching point, but being set free from the supporting lug and releasing the first lever (30) in the event of a tripping operation.
5. Latch mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control lever (36) which is connected in an articulated manner to the other end of the second lever (33) by way of one of its ends is pressed against a stop (37a), which is in a fixed position, in a resilient manner at its other end and therefore forms a moving fulcrum for the first and second levers.
6. Latch mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tab (52) has a lug projection (55) at the end at which it is connected to the intermediate lever (49), the said lug projection interacting with a projection (56) on the control link (36) so that the control link (36) also pivots when the tab (52) pivots.
7. Latch mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the third lever (43) is in the form of an L with a first limb (44) which runs approximately parallel to the dead centre line of the tabs (52, 49) and of which the free end (at 45) is rotatably mounted in a fixed position, and with a second limb (46) which runs approximately perpendicular to the dead centre line and forms part of the latching point with a free end.
8. Latch mechanism according to Claim 7, characterized in that a spring (54) strikes the first limb (44), the said spring acting on the third lever (43) in the direction of the latching point (34, 47) and therefore acting on the toggle lever arrangement in its locked first stable position (connected position, see Fig. 1).
9. Latch mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the slotted link (60) forms a Z shape.
10. Latch mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that a section in the form of an arc of a circle runs between the two parallel sections of the slotted link (60), the centre point of the said section in the form of an arc of a circle being the centre point of the rotation axis of the rotary handle.
11. Latch mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rotary handle is mounted such that the parallel sections run in the direction of the movement of the moving part of the contact point.

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