EP1869688B1 - Multi-pole switching device with an additional housing and a mutual mechanical locking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a main housing (2) and an auxiliary housing (3), in which a rotating contact is arranged with the contacts for a pole and an inter-linkable actuating mechanism (9). The switching device is locked mechanically at the opposite side with another switching device that is configured laterally at the auxiliary housing over an actuating mechanism in auxiliary housing. An independent claim is also included for the auxiliary housing for the multi-polar switch device.

Description

The invention relates to a multi-pole switching device comprising a main housing and a separate, laterally attached to the main housing additional housing.

Such a switching device is offered in the form of a four-pole contactor from Siemens AG in Germany. Housed in the main housing are three movable contacts for three poles and an actuator which is operatively connected to the contacts and which can switch the contacts to an open position and to a closed position. Laterally on the main housing, the additional housing is secured by a latching connection, in which a contact and an operatively connected to this contact actuator are housed for a further pole. The actuator in the additional housing and the actuator in the main housing are coupled together. The mechanical coupling ensures that the contact in the additional housing is according to the contacts in the main housing either in the open position or in the closed position.

The lateral attachment of a separate additional housing opens up the possibility of resorting to a three-pole contactor in the manufacture of the four-pole contactor, whose manufacturing costs for certain performance classes due Mass production are low. For this purpose, only the additional housing with the components therein must be made separately. In a further step, the actuators are coupled, and attached the additional housing to the three-pole main housing.

From the DE 38 20 113 C1 is an additional switch for lateral attachment to a multipolar circuit breaker known, wherein an actuator of the auxiliary switch is coupled to an actuator of the line switch by means of a driving pin. The actuator of the auxiliary switch is operatively connected to a movable contact of the auxiliary switch via a freewheel. The freewheel can be canceled by simple modification, so that the additional switch can be used either as an auxiliary switch or signal switch.

From the EP 0 650 178 A1 a multi-pole switching device is known which comprises a main housing and a separate, laterally attached to the main housing additional housing. Movable contacts in the main housing can be operated with an actuator disposed in the main housing, which is mechanically coupled to an actuator in the additional housing. About the actuator in the additional housing, the switching device can be mechanically coupled with another, laterally arranged on the additional housing switching device.

Furthermore, for example, from the DE 195 48 480 C1 or even from the DE 103 28 499 B3 known, side by side or laterally arranged switching devices, which then form a switchgear unit to lock each other mechanically. The mechanical locking is intended to prevent the two switching devices arranged next to one another simultaneously assuming the switched-on switching state. Thus, the mechanical interlock between the adjacent switching devices ensures that the contacts only one switching device in the closed position. Such a mechanical interlock is known for example in a reversing contactor circuit of a three-phase motor whose direction of rotation is changed by interchanging two outer conductors. A simultaneous closing of the contacts in both contactors would lead to a two-pole short circuit in the space provided for the interchangeable outer conductors.

In the known four-pole contactor with additional housing, a mechanical lock between a first and second contactor is not possible if the second contactor is arranged on the side of the first contactor, where the additional housing is located. In this case, the second contactor would abut directly on an outer wall side of the additional housing, which faces away from the main housing of the first contactor. In terms of mechanical controllability the contactor to be flexible, in the known design of Siemens, the additional housing can be detached from a side wall of the main housing and placed on the opposite other side wall of the main housing, the additional housing must be rotated or turned accordingly, so that a connection side wall of the additional housing continue to the main housing is facing.

However, the adaptation of the contactor described above by conversion of the additional housing for the purpose of mechanical locking with another contactor may be expensive. So not only the connection between additional housing and main housing must be solved and then closed again, but also be taken care that the actuator of the additional housing is mechanically coupled in the then new position of the additional housing on the other side wall of the main housing with the actuator in the main body ,

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a switching device with main housing and separate additional housing, which can be locked in a simple manner - as independent of the position of the additional housing - with a laterally arranged further switching device mechanically.

The object underlying the invention is achieved with the switching device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments can be taken from the subclaims.

The switching device is characterized according to claim 1 characterized in that via the actuator in the additional housing, the switching device with each other can be arranged laterally on the additional housing switching device mutually mechanically locked. By this mechanical locking on the actuator in the additional housing can be a switching device consisting of two switching devices produce, with a switching device is applied directly to the additional housing of the other switching device. A conversion of the additional housing, as described above from the prior art, is not necessary. This simplifies the formation of switchgear units consisting of two switching devices, which must be mutually mechanically locked. The two switching devices of the switchgear unit must necessarily be executed not identical. It is possible that one of the switching devices has no additional housing, in which case all the contacts or all poles are accommodated in the main housing.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the additional housing has a connection side wall facing the main housing and an outer side wall facing away from the main housing, wherein at least one opening for a locking body is provided in the outer side wall of the additional housing. The locking body may be disposed between the auxiliary housing and the other switching device of the switching device unit and engage in a suitable manner through the opening in the additional housing to cooperate with the actuator housed there. Due to the mechanical coupling between the actuator in the additional housing and the actuator in the main body of the locking body also interacts with the actuator in the main body.

The main housing may have a connecting side wall facing the additional housing and an outer side wall facing the additional housing, wherein an opening for the locking body is provided in the outer side wall and in the connecting side wall of the main housing. For example, two identically placed side by side switching devices could thus be mutually mechanically locked by the locking body, wherein the outer side wall of the additional housing of the first switching device rests against the outer side wall of the second switching device. Between these two outer side walls of the locking body may be provided, which then cooperates through the openings in the outer side walls with the actuator in the additional housing of the first switching device or with the actuator in the main housing of the second switching device.

It should be noted that the opening for the locking body in the connecting side wall of the main housing in the inventive Switching initially has no function, since a mutual mechanical locking between the actuator in the additional housing and the actuator in the main body is not useful. Rather, a mechanical coupling between the actuators is provided by which it is ensured that the contacts in the main housing and the contacts or the contact in the additional housing are in the same switching position. The mechanical interlock between two switching devices, however, prevents both switching devices are in the switched position switch. However, said opening in the connection side wall can then be used when the main housing without additional housing to be mechanically locked with another switching device.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuating member in the additional housing on one of the outer side wall of the additional housing side facing a recess which cooperates with the locking body. Accordingly, the actuating member in the main housing on one of the outer side wall of the main housing facing side and on one of the connecting side wall facing side each having a recess for the locking body. In the locked state of one of the switching devices of the locking body cooperates with a recess of the respective actuator such that a movement of the actuator is blocked in the direction of the closed position of the contacts.

The locking body may be spherical, cylindrical or barrel-shaped. In a preferred embodiment, the locking body in the openings, for example, the outer side wall of the additional housing of the first switching device and the outer side wall of the second switching device, wherein the two openings are exactly opposite. If a switching device is now switched on or, in other words, the contacts closed, the actuating member of this switching device presses the locking body into the preferably dome-shaped recess of the actuating member of the other switching device. In this case, the locking body is still partially in the opposite openings of the side walls, with the result that a relative movement of the actuating member of the other Switching device to the side walls from this position is not possible and this actuator is blocked. In this context, be on the DE 103 28 499 B3 referenced, in which such interaction of locking body and actuator with recesses is described in detail.

The additional housing may be formed in two pieces and consist of a lower housing part and a housing upper part, which are preferably connected to one another via latching connections. The housing parts can be made of plastic and manufactured by injection molding. Due to the only two-piece design, the manufacturing costs for the additional housing can be kept low.

Also, the actuator can be kept in the additional housing only by the mechanical coupling to the actuator in the main body in the respective switching position. Springs or the like, which hold the actuator in position, are not necessary, which greatly simplifies the structure. The lateral guide, which holds the actuator in the additional housing along the operating direction, may be formed as a simple sliding guide.

For each pole, two fixed contacts and a contact bridge may be provided, the latter being intended to represent the moving contact. A fixed contact may comprise a terminal or the like, by means of which power lines can be connected to the switching device. In the closed position, the contact bridge connects the two fixed contacts with each other, so that a current flow through the switching device is made possible.

In a preferred embodiment, a fixed contact in the main housing is constructed identical to a fixed contact in the additional housing. Thus, the fixed contacts used in the main housing can be used without modification in the additional housing, which simplifies the production of the switching device. Accordingly, the contact bridges in the main housing and in the additional housing be identical, so that even by this measure, the number of different components is kept small.

In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical coupling between the actuator in the auxiliary housing and the actuator in the main housing via a pin which engages through the connecting side wall of the additional housing and the connecting side wall of the main housing takes place. Such a pin can be made of metal and is a mass-produced, which can be obtained inexpensively.

In a preferred embodiment, the additional housing in the outer side wall has an opening through which the pin can be guided during assembly in the direction of the main housing. Thus, the mechanical coupling between the actuator in the auxiliary housing and the actuator in the main housing can be easily produced when the additional housing is already applied laterally to the main housing. In this case, it merely has to be ensured that holes or openings provided for the pin are aligned in the actuators, so that from the side the pin can be guided by the actuating member in the additional housing into the actuating member in the main housing.

In a preferred embodiment, a connection module is provided for driving the switching device, which can be connected via two lines, which are guided in each case a groove in the connecting side wall of the main housing with a drive for the actuator in the main housing. The groove may have an undercut behind which engages a hook formed on the connection side wall of the additional housing. Thus, the groove is used not only for receiving the cables for the connection module, but also the positive connection between the additional housing and the main housing.

The invention also relates to an additional housing for a multi-pole switching device, as has been described above in its various embodiments.

Figur 1

ein Schaltgerät in perspektivischer Ansicht von oben;

Figur 2

das Schaltgerät in seitlicher Perspektive als Explosionsdarstel- lung;

Figur 3

das Schaltgerät in gegenüber Figur 2 geänderter Perspektive;

Figur 4

ein Zusatzgehäuse des Schaltgerätes mit darin befindlichen Bau- teilen in Explosionsdarstellung; und

Figur 5

das Zusatzgehäuse in zu Figur 4 geänderter perspektivischer An- sicht.

Reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing, the invention is explained in detail. Show it:

FIG. 1

a switching device in a perspective view from above;

FIG. 2

the switching device in a lateral perspective as an exploded view;

FIG. 3

the switching device in opposite FIG. 2 changed perspective;

FIG. 4

an additional housing of the switching device with components contained therein in an exploded view; and

FIG. 5

the additional housing in too FIG. 4 changed perspective view.

FIG. 1 shows a switching device, which is designated in its entirety by 1. The switching device 1 comprises a main housing 2 and a laterally attached thereto additional housing 3. Lateral limits the switching device 1 on the one hand by an outer side wall 4 of the main housing 2 and an outer side wall 5 of the auxiliary housing 3. The main housing 2 and the additional housing 3 also form a first main terminal side. 6 and a second main terminal side 7. The main connection sides 6, 7 extend perpendicular to the outer side walls 4, 5.

At the first main connection side 6, the switching device 1 has four terminals 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d arranged next to one another. The terminals 8a, 8b, 8c are accommodated in the main housing 2. The terminal 8d, however, sits in the additional housing 3. On the second main connection side, the switching device 1 has four other terminals, but in the representation of FIG. 1 not to be seen.

The switching device 1 shown here is a four-pole contactor corresponding to the number of terminals on each main terminal side 6, 7. Each pole is associated with a movable contact, which connects in a closed position, the terminals 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d on the first main terminal side 6 polweise with the corresponding terminals on the second main terminal side 7. The movable contacts are connected via a housed in the main housing 2 actuator 9, which in the illustration of FIG. 1 However, only partially seen from above. About one in FIG. 1 not shown mechanical coupling is the actuator 9 with an actuator 10 (s. FIG. 4 , in FIG. 1 not shown), which guides the movable contact in the auxiliary housing 3.

The actuator 9 is driven by a not shown here and accommodated in the main housing 1 magnetic drive. The control of the magnetic drive via a connection module 11, which is disposed adjacent to a housing top 12 on the additional housing 3.

In the FIG. 2 a connection side wall 13 of the additional housing 3 is visible, which in the assembled state on a connection side wall 14 (s. FIG. 3 ) of the main housing 2 is applied. The connection side wall 14 of the main housing 2 has two superimposed openings 15, 16. In the opening 15 is a circular through hole, while the opening 16 is formed as a slot.

The outer side wall 5 of the additional housing 3 has two openings 17, 18 arranged one above the other. By running as a circular hole opening 18 can be a metal pin 19 push during assembly, through which the located in the additional housing 3 actuator 10 (s. FIG. 4 ) and the actuator 9 located in the main housing 2 can be mechanically coupled together. Mechanical coupling here means that each movable in the X direction perpendicular to the upper side 12 of the housing actuators 9, 10 each have an identical switching position. Due to the switching stroke of the actuating member 9 in the X direction, the opening 16 is correspondingly formed as a slot. The pin 19, which engages in the assembled state of the switching device 1 through the opening 16 in the actuator 9, but is not in the plane of the outer side wall 5 can therefore be moved in the X direction.

In the presentation of the Figures 2 and 3 Housing parts 20, 21, which form mainly the first main terminal side 6 and the second main terminal side 7, shown in exploded position. In the assembled state, the housing parts 20, 21 abut against one another centrally on the housing upper side 12 and completely close the main housing 2, apart from the recess for the actuator 9, from above.

For the attachment of the additional housing 3 to the main housing 2 serve two mutually parallel grooves 22 in the connecting side wall 14 of the main housing 2. In these grooves 22 can be introduced from above in the X direction on the connecting side wall 13 of the additional housing 3 molded springs or hooks 23 please refer FIG. 5 ). The cross-sectionally L-shaped hook 23 has a free hook end 24 which, when the hook 23 has been guided into the groove 22, engages behind an undercut of the groove 22 which is barely visible in the figures. Due to the interaction of groove 22 and hook 23 main housing 2 and additional housing 3 in the Y direction (perpendicular to the X direction) are firmly connected.

In addition, the grooves 22 each receive a connection conductor 25, which connects the connection module 11 with the arranged in the lower part of the main housing 2 magnetic drive for the actuator 9. For fixing the connecting conductor 25 in the groove 22 rail-shaped systems 38 are provided (see FIG. 5 ), which are each provided in parallel adjacent to the hooks 23 on the connecting side wall 13 of the additional housing 3 and press the connecting conductor 25 against the respective groove bottom.

FIG. 4 shows in exploded view the additional housing 3 and housed therein components. The additional housing 3 consists of an upper housing part 26 and a lower housing part 27, wherein the lower housing part 27 mainly the outer side wall 5 and the connecting side wall 13 of the additional housing 3 forms. The upper housing part 26 forms together with the Housing parts 20, 21 of the main housing 2, the first and second main terminal side 6, 7 of the switching device 1. About a locking connection, consisting of four locking lugs 28 on the upper housing part 26 and correspondingly shaped locking recesses 29 on the lower housing part 27, the two housing parts 26, 27 can connect to each other ,

The above-mentioned movable contact is formed as a contact bridge 30, which is guided by the actuator 10. In a closed position, the contact bridge 30 connects the terminal 8d on the first main terminal side 6 with a corresponding terminal 31 on the second main terminal 7. The terminals 8d, 31 are parts of fixed contacts 32, 33, the same design as the contact bridge 30th find in the main body 2 use.

Further shows FIG. 4 two mutually opposite arc plates 34, 35. They serve to arcs, which can form when disconnecting the contact bridge 30 of the fixed contacts 32, 33, lead and delete in a suitable manner.

On one of the outer side wall 5 facing side 36, the actuator 10 has a dome-shaped recess 37. This dome-shaped recess 37 serves to receive a spherical locking body, which cooperates with the recess 37 on the one hand and with a recess of an actuating member of a switching device, which can be placed on the outer side wall 5 to form a switchgear unit. The locking body supports it in the opening 17 and in a corresponding opposite opening of the other switching device and ensures that the so mechanically mutually locked switching devices are not turned on simultaneously, ie not simultaneously the actuator 36 of the first switching device 1 and the actuator of the other switching device are in a lower position, in which the contact bridge 30, the fixed contacts 32, 33 together. The opposite opening of the other switching device is formed in the same manner as the opening 15 in the connecting wall 14 of the main housing 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

switchgear

2

main body

3

additional housing

4

Outside wall

5

Outside wall

6

first main connection side

7

second main connection side

8th

clamp

9

actuator

10

actuator

11

connection module

12

top

13

Connection sidewall

14

Connection sidewall

15

opening

16

opening

17

opening

18

opening

19

pen

20

housing part

21

housing part

22

groove

23

hook

24

hook end

25

connecting conductors

26

Housing top

27

Housing bottom

28

locking lug

29

engaging recess

30

Contact bridge

31

clamp

32

fixed contact

33

fixed contact

34

Arc plate

35

Arc plate

36

page

37

recess

38

Attachments

X

direction

Y

direction

Claims (15)

1. Multi-pole switching device (1), which comprises a main housing (2), in which a moveable contact for a respective pole and an actuating member (9) operatively connected to the contacts are arranged, and a separate additional housing (3), which is laterally fastened to the main housing (2) and in which a contact and an actuating member (10) operatively connected to this contact are arranged for at least one further pole, the actuating member (10) in the additional housing (3) being mechanically coupled to the actuating member (9) in the main housing (2), characterised in that the switching device (1) can be mutually mechanically locked by means of the actuating member (10) in the additional housing (3) to a further switching device, which can be arranged laterally on the additional housing (3), wherein mutually mechanically locked switching devices cannot be simultaneously switched on.
2. Switching device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional housing (3) has a connecting side wall (13) facing the main housing (2) and an outside wall (5) opposite the main housing (2), at least one opening (17) for a locking body being provided in the outside wall (5) of the additional housing (3).
3. Switching device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the main housing (2) has a connecting side wall (14) facing the additional housing (3) and an outside wall (4) opposite the additional housing (3), and an opening (15) for the locking body is provided in each case in the outside wall (4) and in the connecting wall (14) of the main housing (2).
4. Switching device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the actuating member (10) in the additional housing (3) has, on a side (36) facing the outside wall (5) of the additional housing (3), a recess (37), which cooperates with the locking body.
5. Switching device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the actuating member (9) in the main housing (2) in each case has, on a side facing the outside wall (4) of the main housing (2) and on a side facing the connecting side wall (14), a recess for a locking body.
6. Switching device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the locking body is spherical, cylindrical or barrel-shaped.
7. Switching device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the additional housing (3) is configured in two-pieces and consists of a lower housing part (27) and an upper housing part (26), which are preferably connected to one another by means of a latching connection (28, 29).
8. Switching device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that two fixed contacts (31, 32) and one contact bridge (30) are provided for each pole, the contact bridge (30) being the moveable contact.
9. Switching device (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that a fixed contact in the main housing (2) is structurally similar to a fixed contact (31, 32) in the additional housing (3).
10. Switching device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that a contact bridge in the main housing (2) is structurally similar to a contact bridge (30) in the additional housing (3).
11. Switching device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterised in that the mechanical coupling between the actuating member (10) in the additional housing (3) and the actuating member (9) in the main housing (2) takes place by means of a pin (19), which engages through the connecting side wall (13) of the additional housing (3) and the connecting side wall (14) of the main housing (2).
12. Switching device (1) according to claim 11, characterised in that the additional housing (3) in the outside wall (5) has an opening (18), through which the pin (19) can be guided in the direction of the main housing (2) during assembly.
13. Switching device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 12, characterised in that to activate the contactor (1), a connection module (11) is provided, connectable by means of two lines (25), which are guided in a respective groove (22) in the connecting side wall (14) of the main housing (2), to a drive for the actuating member (9) in the main housing (2).
14. Switching device (1) according to claim 13, characterised in that the groove (22) has an undercut, behind which a hook (23) formed on the connecting side wall (13) of the additional housing (3) engages.
15. Additional housing (3) for a multi-pole switching device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the multi-pole switching device (1) comprises a main housing (2), in which a moveable contact for a respective pole and an actuating member (9) operatively connected to the contacts are arranged, wherein a contact and an actuating member (10) operatively connected to this contact are arranged in the additional housing (3), which can be laterally fastened to the main housing (2), for at least one further pole and wherein the actuating member (10) in the additional housing (3) can be mechanically coupled to the actuating member (9) in the main housing (2), characterised in that the switching device (1) can be mutually mechanically locked by means of the actuating member (10) in the additional housing (3) to a further switching device which can be arranged laterally on the additional housing (3), wherein mutually mechanically locked switching devices cannot be switched on simultaneously.

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