EP1941525B1 - Latching device for a spring-type drive - Google Patents

Abstract

Latching device with a resetting device (1), with a triggering device (2) for producing a triggering force which acts in a first direction (12), with a compression element (9) and with an upper and a lower supporting element (4, 5) which, in the latched state, are arranged one above the other in a housing (3) and are connected to each other by at least one coupling means (6) in such a manner that they are at a distance from each other, and which, in the latched state, are acted upon, to provide a spring-type drive, by a compressive force (F) applied along a line of action via the compression element (9), wherein the lower supporting element (5), loaded by the compressive force (F) in the latched state, is deflected against a stop (11) and is held in this position, and in which position paths of movement of the upper and of the lower supporting element (4, 5) are defined in the housing (3) by means of guides (7a, 7b), wherein the path of movement for the lower supporting element (5) runs essentially perpendicular to the path of movement of the upper supporting element (4).

Description

The invention relates to a Verklinkungseinrichtung with a return device, with a triggering device, with a pressure element and in a housing superimposed support members which are acted in verklinktem state with a force applied via a pressure element pressing force for a spring drive.

State of the art

Such Verklinkungseinrichturigen for spring drives are used for example on high-voltage circuit breakers. The memory spring contained in a spring-loaded drive can be held in a tensioned state by a latching device. By a Verklinkungseinrichtung a comparatively large stored energy of the tensioned storage spring is controlled releasable. To release the stored energy, the latching device has a triggering device which operates with a comparatively low energy compared to the energy to be released.

It has already been suggested to apply the principle of the roller support to a latching device. In this principle, four rollers are arranged one above the other, wherein the two middle rollers are not arranged in the alignment of the two outer rollers. A compressive force is introduced from above by a support pawl via a pressure element and transferred to the uppermost roller, so that it transmits over the two middle rollers supporting the lowest roller. When tripping, the two middle Rolls of a triggering device against their flight deviation shifted until there is a misalignment in the opposite direction. After a release operation, the two middle rollers are removed from a holding position and the support effect is canceled; the two middle rollers are pushed out laterally and clear a path for the pressure element. The voltage applied to the pressure element supporting pawl can thus cover a predetermined path and the previously tensioned memory spring is released.

In this principle of tripping, however, it follows that the stroke of the pressure element can only be as large as the amount of diameter of the two inner rollers. At the desired enlargement of the stroke of the pressure element, therefore, the diameters of at least the inner rollers would have to be increased, which would also result in an increase in the total Verklinkungseinrichtung result and thus an increased material and space required by itself.

Furthermore, the document discloses DE 11 08 301 A a contact arrangement for electrical switches comprising a main switching piece comprising a plurality of individual switching pieces connected in parallel and a break-off contact piece. In the US-A-4445934 is a latching device suitable for Bowden cables described.

task

The invention has for its object to provide a Verklinkungseinrichtung for a spring drive available, which can reliably hold large forces and at the time of release releases the power of a memory spring as quickly as possible. The energy required for triggering must be as small as possible.

This object is achieved according to claim 1 by a Verklinkungseinrichtung with a reset device, with a triggering device for generating a force acting in a first direction triggering force, with a pressure element and with an upper and a lower in the latched state in a housing stacked support elements, with at least a coupling are connected to each other so that they have a distance from each other, and which are acted upon in the latched state with a force applied over the pressure element along a line of action pressure force for a spring drive, wherein the lower support member deflected in the latched state by the pressure force against a stop and is held in this position, and are set in the movement paths of the upper and lower support member by guides in the housing, wherein the trajectory for the lower support member substantially perpendicular to Bew the upper support element and the triggering force caused by the triggering device disengages the lower support element from the stop; and in which, upon actuation of the triggering device, the lower support element is displaceable perpendicular to the line of action of the pressure force applied to the upper support element by the pressure element.

Advantageous embodiments are specified in the respective subclaims.

The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that a large stroke of the pressure element is made possible with a small release stroke, a small release force and low mass of the moving parts. This arrangement also allows a fast response when a trigger command for a spring-loaded drive occurs. Furthermore, the material and manufacturing costs compared to existing ones Solutions lower. The stop may for example be designed such that in a lying directly under the direction of action of the pressure element region of the first guide a recess in the first guide is provided so that the lower support member is deflectable in the direction of action and there in a corresponding acting as a stop Recess is held stable. However, the stop may also be in an alternative position.

Advantageously, it can be provided that the restoring device can be pressed by a spring in the direction of the lower support element.

The restoring device can be pressed according to an embodiment either by a compression spring against the lower support element and thus against the tripping force generated by the triggering device or it is designed so that the lower support member by means of a tension spring against the first direction can be pulled.

Furthermore, it can be advantageously provided that the return device is guided along the first direction in the housing.

By guiding the return device in the housing, further auxiliary equipment is unnecessary. This allows a compact housing, which also allows mechanical protection for the return device. In order to enable mobility of the lower support element, the return device can move both back and forth along the first direction.

Further, it can be advantageously provided that the restoring device and the lower support element by a on the Resetting spring acting coil spring in the direction of the triggering device are movable.

Furthermore, it can be advantageously provided that the guides each have a linear course.

Linear guides can be manufactured cost-effectively. In addition, occur in linear guides low frictional forces.

In a further embodiment can be advantageously provided that at least one support element is guided laterally in the housing integrated slot tracks.

Thus, in this embodiment, no arrangement of separate guide elements for the at least one support element is required.

Advantageously, in the tripped state, the stop point of the upper support element with the coupling can be located above the line of action of the restoring force of the return device.

This has the effect that, when the lower support element is acted upon by the force caused by the restoring device, a displacement of the upper support element in the direction of the pressure element and the support pawl is possible.

A further advantageous embodiment can provide that the support elements guided in the housing in slot tracks protrude laterally out of the housing at least on one side and the coupling is fastened to their projecting ends.

The lateral connection of the support elements enables a simplified assembly of the latching device. Thus, the support elements can be inserted into the slot tracks and connected in a simple manner outside of the housing with the coupling. It can be provided that the support elements are connected angle stiff with the coupling. However, it can also be provided that the support elements are rotatably connected to the coupling. By the rotatable mounting of the support elements, the friction is reduced during movement of the support elements in the slot tracks. As a result, the necessary forces necessary for the movement of the individual movable elements are reduced.

Advantageously, the coupling can be set variable in length.

This variability of the length of the coupling causes adjustability of the stroke of the pressure element. In the latched state, a force is applied to the support elements and the coupling via the pressing element. For unlatching the support pawl and thus releasing the storage spring of a spring drive a certain stroke through the pressure element and consequently for the support pawl is necessary. Different spring storage drives need to release the support pawl different strokes of the pressure element. A change in the length of the coupling makes it possible to use the Verklinkungseinrichtung for different spring drives with different requirements in terms of the stroke of the pressure element or the support pawl. Advantageously, the end positions of the lower support element can be adjusted accordingly.

In an alternative embodiment, the pressure element may be variable in its length. This has the advantage that at a change in length of the coupling, the support pawl can still be kept at the same position when the pressure element is extended, for example, in coupling shortening as a countermeasure.

Advantageously, a variation of the stroke of the pressure element can also be effected in that the length of the displacement path of at least one support element is variable.

This can advantageously be achieved in that the displacement path of the lower support element is limited by the restoring device.

An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in a drawing and will be described in more detail below.

Figur 1

die Verklinkungseinrichtung im ausgelösten Zustand und

Figur 2

die Verklinkungseinrichtung im verklinkten Zustand.

It shows

FIG. 1

the latching device in the tripped state and

FIG. 2

the latching device in the latched state.

On the basis of in FIG. 1 in the released state latching device is initially described their basic structure. The Verklinkungseinrichtung has a housing 3, which serves as a chassis for receiving additional attachments. The housing 3 is, for example, a metallic cast or milled part. On the housing 3, a restoring device 1 is arranged, which is arranged in the interior of a sleeve 10 along the sleeve 10 slidably. At the side facing away from the sleeve 10 side of the housing 3 is a triggering device 2 arranged. The triggering device 2 has a cam 2a. The triggering device 2 is rotatably mounted, so that the cam 2a can cause a lifting movement on a release bolt 2b during a rotational movement of the triggering device 2. The release bolt 2b is movable back and forth in substantially the same direction as the return device 1.

Furthermore, the housing 3 has a first and a second guide 7a, 7b. The guides 7a, 7b are introduced into the housing 3 in the form of continuous slot webs. The first guide 7a is assigned to an upper support element 4. The second guide 7b is associated with a lower support element 5. The support elements 4, 5 slide in each case in one of the two guides 7a, 7b. The guides 7a, 7b are arranged in such a way to each other that they are perpendicular to each other. The slots which form the guides 7a, 7b touch each other in the form of an L. However, the guides can also be made separated from each other. By means of the guides 7a, 7b are defined along straight trajectories for the support elements 4, 5. The support elements 4, 5 are spaced from each other. They are each cylindrical and project beyond surfaces of the housing 3. To fix the distance of the support elements 4, 5 to each other, a coupling 6 is used. The coupling 6 is designed in the form of a tab which is arranged parallel to the area projecting from the support elements 4, 5. Advantageously, on the hidden side of in FIG. 1 illustrated embodiment, a similar configuration of the coupling can be provided so that a symmetrical guidance of the support elements 4, 5 is ensured. The support elements 4, 5 may be rotatably connected to the coupling 6. Thereby, the friction in a movement of the support elements 4, 5 can be reduced in the guides 7a, 7b. A pressure element 9 is pin-shaped, wherein the pin longitudinal axis is aligned parallel to the first guide 7a such that the pin 9 protrudes into the first guide 7a and with the upper support member 4 can connect to a compressive force F on the upper support member 4th exercise.

The guides 7a, 7b are arranged perpendicular to each other, so that an L-shape is formed. The guides 7a, 7b themselves each have a substantially linear design. In the region of the intersection of the two guides 7a, 7b, the second guide in the direction of the release bolt 2b on the triggering device 2 slightly above a body edge of the first guide 7a outgoing worked out and forms there a stop 11. This stop 11 serves to form an overstroke to to cause a stable position position of the support elements 4, 5 in the latched state.

In the following, a transfer of the Verklinkungseinrichtung is described from its tripped state to a latched state. Driven by a tensioned spring 8, which is supported on a side remote from the housing 3 bottom portion of the sleeve 10, the restoring device 1 is driven in the direction of the lower support member 5 against this. In this case, the lower support member 5, guided by the second guide 7b, moves on a linear path in the direction of the release bolt 2b of the release device 2. Since the lower support member 5 is connected via the coupling 6 with the upper support member 4, the upper support member. 5 entrained and moves in the first guide track 7a in the direction of the pressure element 9. In this case, due to the position of the pressure element 9 in the path of movement of the upper support member 4, the pressure element 9 is moved out of the housing 3 partially. The pressure element 9 brings with it a compressive force F. a working in the direction of the upper support element direction of action. At the free end of the pressure element 9, for example, a support pawl of a spring-loaded drive can be arranged. About this support pawl a tensioned storage spring of a spring drive is blocked. About the pressure element 9 a provision of the support pawls is feasible.

Upon reaching the region of the first guide 7a immediately below the action device of the pressure element 9, the coupling 6 with the two support elements 4, 5 assumes an unstable position. The upper support member 4 has at this moment the largest distance from the second guide 7b. With a continuation of the movement of the lower support member 5 in the direction of the stop 11 is a slight return movement of the upper support member 4 in the direction of the second guide 7b, so that the coupling 6 with the two support elements after reaching the stop 11 assumes a stable position. With a pressure load of the pressure element 9, a latched position of the latching device can thus be permanently ensured. This pressure load is transmitted for example by a spring element on the pressure element 9.

For positioning the lower support element 5 in a dead center position, a stop may be provided in one of the guides, which allows a deflection substantially transversely to one of the guideways. The stop may be formed, for example, on the end of the lower support element 5 associated with the second guide 7b, so that the stop 11 is aligned transversely to the first guide 7a, in which the upper support member 4 is movable. In an L-shaped arrangement of the two guides 7a, 7b, this may be a cutout, which is an overstroke of the lower Supporting element 5 allows and acted upon by the pressure force is held in this dead center position. Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the abutment is located at the end of the first guide 7a associated with the upper support element 4, that is, the abutment is then arranged transversely to the second guide 7b, which is assigned to the lower support element 5. Also in this case, the lower support member is held stable due to the applied pressure force in a dead center position. A lateral withdrawal from the stop thus formed can be carried out in the same manner as described below.

After reaching the latched position (see FIG. 2 ) is now the spring 8 in a relaxed state. The reset device 1 could in the in the FIG. 1 shown position to be moved back, since the coupling 6 is supported with the support elements on the stop 11 and is stored stable.

To trigger the Verklinkungseinrichtung and a transfer of Verklinkungseinrichtung from the latched in the tripped state, a rotational movement of the triggering device 2 can be generated, whereby the cam 2a presses the release pin 2b in a first direction 12. The cam 2b, which was previously behind the stop 11, on which the lower support member 5 is supported, leaves this position and pushes the lower support member 5 in the first direction 12 while applying a release force out of the stop. In this case, an overstroke is generated and via the coupling 6, the upper support member 4 is moved against the force applied by the pressure element 9 compressive force. Are the attachment points of coupling 6 and the respective support elements 4, 5 on the line of action of the force acting on the pressure element 9 compressive force, an unstable position is reached. With the other Moving the release bolt 2b, the unstable position is exceeded and driven by the force applied to the pressure element 9 compressive force F, the upper support member 4 is pressed in the direction of the second guide 7b. In this case, the lower guide member 5 intersects the line of action of the compressive force F. By the positive guidance of the lower support member 5 within the second guide 7b and the coupling 6 between the support members 4, 5, the lower support member 5 is moved in the first direction 12. If the restoring device 1 has not yet been returned to its released position, it will now be displaced against the force of the spring 8. Due to the spacing of the upper support member 4 and the lower support member 5 via the coupling 6 prevents the upper support member 4 is introduced into the region of the first guide 7a. By varying the length of the coupling 6, the stroke of the pressure element 9 caused by the movement of the upper support element 4 can be varied.

Claims (12)

1. Latching device having a resetting device (1), having a triggering device (2) for the production of a triggering force acting in a first direction (12), having a compression element (9) and having an upper and a lower supporting element (4, 5) which are arranged one above the other in a housing (3) in the latched state and which are connected to each other by at least one coupling rod (6) in such a way that they are at a distance from each other and which, in the latched state, are acted on with a compressive force (F) applied along a line of action via the compression element (9), to provide a spring-type drive, in the latched state the lower supporting element (5) being deflected against a stop (11) under the loading of the compressive force (F) and being held in this position,
   and in which movement paths of the upper and the lower supporting element (4, 5) are defined by guides (7a, 7b) in the housing (3), the movement path for the lower supporting element (5) running substantially perpendicular to the movement path of the upper supporting element (4), and the triggering force effected by the triggering device (2) moving the lower supporting element (5) away from the stop (11),
   and in which, when the triggering device (2) is actuated, it being possible for the lower supporting element (5) to be displaced perpendicular to the line of action of the compressive force applied to the upper supporting element (4) by the compression element (9).
2. Latching device for a spring-type drive according to Claim 1, characterized in that the resetting device (1) can be forced in the direction of the lower supporting element (5) by a spring (8).
3. Latching device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the resetting device (1) is guided along the first direction in the housing (3).
4. Latching device for a spring-type drive according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the resetting device (1) and the lower supporting element (5) can be moved in the direction of the triggering device (2) by a helical spring acting on the resetting device (1).
5. Latching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guides (7a, 7b) each have a linear course.
6. Latching device for a spring-type drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one supporting element (4, 5) is guided laterally in slot tracks integrated in the housing (3).
7. Latching device for a spring-type drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the triggered state, the stop point of the upper supporting element (4) with the coupling rod (6) is located above a line of action of the resetting force of the resetting device.
8. Latching device for a spring-type drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting elements (4, 5) guided in slot tracks in the housing (3) project sideways out of the housing (3), at least on one side, and the coupling rod (6) is fixed to their projecting ends.
9. Latching device for a spring-type drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the coupling rod (6) can be varied.
10. Latching device for a spring-type drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the compression element (9) can be varied.
11. Latching device for a spring-type drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the displacement travel for at least one supporting element (4, 5) can be varied.
12. Latching device for a spring-type drive according to Claim 11, characterized in that the length of the displacement travel of the lower supporting element (5) is limited by a constructional configuration of the resetting device (1).

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