EP2436021B1 - Switching unit for a circuit breaker with flip switch - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to the field of automation of manually operated by means of rocker arms circuit breakers. In particular, the invention relates to a switching unit for actuating a rocker arm of a circuit breaker according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating a switching unit for actuating a rocker arm according to the preamble of claim 10.

STATE OF THE ART

DE-A-102 44 231 exemplifies such a switching unit. This known device makes it possible to remotely operate mechanical, manually operated circuit breaker by means of a switching unit from a remote control center. For this purpose, this known device on a driven claw for actuating a toggle switch of the circuit breaker. The disadvantage of this known device that correct operation of the circuit breaker is not guaranteed if the claw is not moved away from the rocker arm.

Another switching unit is off EP-A-0 801 411 known.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned, which ensures reliable operation of a circuit breaker.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1, by a circuit breaker having the features of claim 9 and by a method having the features of claim 10.

According to the invention, the drive unit has a second element, which is freely movable with respect to the first element by a free travel. Through this free travel can be ensured that the freedom of movement of the rocker arm is not limited by the switching unit. This can ensure that the rocker arm of the circuit breaker can move freely, ensuring that the function of the circuit breaker is not affected.

This inventive method for operating a switching unit allows in a particularly simple manner, the automation of a developed for manual operation circuit breaker. Consequently, the circuit breaker can be operated by means of the inventive method from a control center. According to a preferred embodiment of the switching unit, this has a driven spindle, a cooperating with the spindle spindle nut, which is displaceable by rotation of the spindle along this spindle, and a cooperating with the spindle nut slide, which is movable by means of the spindle nut along the spindle the slider is designed to actuate the rocker arm, and wherein the slider relative to the spindle nut to the Leerweg is displaceable. This embodiment of the drive unit is a special simple design of the drive unit, which has a free travel, possible. Characterized in that there is a rotational movement on the drive side with respect to the spindle nut, a favorable motor can be used, which requires a relatively low energy to operate.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the switching unit, the drive unit can be blocked. This can ensure that, for example, during maintenance of the rocker arm of the circuit breaker can not be operated by the switching unit. This serves in particular for the protection of the person carrying out the maintenance work.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

in Ansicht einen Schutzschalter mit einer daran montierten Schalteinheit, welche in Schnittdarstellung gezeigt ist;

FIG. 2

eine Teilansicht der in FIG. 1 dargestellten Schalteinheit und des Kippschalters des Schutzschalters, in welcher der Kipphebel, ein zum Betätigen des Kipphebels bestimmter Schieber und eine Spindel mit einer darauf angeordneten Spindelmutter zum Verschieben des Schiebers entlang der Spindel gezeigt ist, wobei der Kipphebel in seiner "Aus" Position und der Schieber in einer Extremalposition in Ausschaltrichtung gezeigt ist;

FIG. 3

die Teilansicht gemäss FIG. 2, wobei der Kipphebel in seiner "Aus" Position und der Schieber ebenfalls in seiner "Aus" Position gezeigt ist;

FIG. 4

die Teilansicht gemäss FIG. 2, wobei der Kipphebel und der Schieber während der Einschaltbewegung gezeigt sind;

FIG. 5

die Teilansicht gemäss FIG. 2, wobei der Kipphebel in seiner "Ein" Position und der Schieber in seiner Extremalposition in Einschaltrichtung gezeigt ist;

FIG. 6

die Teilansicht gemäss FIG. 2, wobei der Kipphebel in seiner "Ein" Position und der Schieber ebenfalls in seiner "Ein" Position gezeigt ist;

FIG. 7

die Teilansicht gemäss FIG. 2, wobei der Kipphebel in seiner "Trip" Position gezeigt ist; Punktiert ist die Position des Kipphebels und des Schiebers gemäss FIG. 6 gezeigt;

FIG. 8

die Teilansicht gemäss FIG. 2, wobei der Kipphebel in seiner "Aus" Position und der Schieber in seiner Extremalposition in Ausschaltrichtung gezeigt ist; und

FIG. 9

eine Teilansicht der Schalteinheit, die insbesondere eine Sperrvorrichtung zum Blockieren einer Spindel zeigt.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawing. This shows purely schematically

FIG. 1

in view of a circuit breaker with a switching unit mounted thereon, which is shown in sectional view;

FIG. 2

a partial view of in FIG. 1 shown switching unit and the toggle switch of the circuit breaker, in which the rocker arm, a specific purpose for operating the rocker arm slide and a spindle with a spindle nut arranged thereon for displacing the slider along the spindle is shown, wherein the rocker arm in its "off" position and the slide is shown in an extreme position in Ausschaltetrichtung;

FIG. 3

the partial view according to FIG. 2 with the rocker arm in its "off" position and the slider also shown in its "off"position;

FIG. 4

the partial view according to FIG. 2 wherein the rocker arm and the slider are shown during the switch-on movement;

FIG. 5

the partial view according to FIG. 2 showing the rocker arm in its "on" position and the slider in its extreme position in the turn-on direction;

FIG. 6

the partial view according to FIG. 2 with the rocker arm in its "on" position and the slider also shown in its "on"position;

FIG. 7

the partial view according to FIG. 2 wherein the rocker arm is shown in its "trip"position; Dotted is the position of the rocker arm and the slider according to FIG. 6 shown;

FIG. 8th

the partial view according to FIG. 2 with the rocker arm in its "off" position and the slider in its extreme position in the disconnection direction; and

FIG. 9

a partial view of the switching unit, which shows in particular a locking device for locking a spindle.

The reference numerals used in the drawings and their meaning are listed in the list of reference numerals. Basically, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures. The described embodiments are exemplary of the subject invention and have no limiting effect.

WAY FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the FIG. 1 to 8 For example, a circuit breaker 10 is shown, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker 10 has a rocker arm 12, by means of which the electrical switching contacts of the circuit breaker 10 can be opened or disconnected. Such circuit breakers 10 are typically used for voltages up to 1200V and currents up to 0.5A. If an inadmissible operating condition is applied to the circuit breaker, for example, if too high a voltage or too high current is applied, the circuit breaker opens the electrical switching contacts automatically.

The rocker arm 12 of the circuit breaker 10 has three stable switching positions, one in the FIG. 2, 3, and 8 shown "off" position in which the electrical switching contacts are separated, one in the FIG. 5 and 6 shown "on" position, in which the electrical switch contacts are closed and an in FIG. 7 shown "Trip" position. Manually, the rocker arm 12 in a switch-on direction E (see FIG. 2 ) are moved from the "off" position to the "on" position. In a manual movement in Ausschaltetrichtung A, the rocker arm can be moved from the "on" position to the "off" position. In the event of a fault, that is, if an inadmissible operating condition occurs, the electrical switching contact opens and the rocker arm 12 is moved from the "on" position to a "trip" position, which between the "on" position and "off" position of the rocker arm 12th lies. As a result, a viewer of the circuit breaker 10 can recognize beyond doubt whether the contacts of the circuit breaker 10 have been opened by an inadmissible operating condition or not. If the rocker arm 12 is in the "trip" position, the rocker arm 12 must first be moved to the "off" position so that the electrical switch contacts can be closed by flipping the rocker arm 12 from the "off" position to the "on" position ,

In principle, can be dispensed with circuit breakers on the "trip" position, with such circuit breakers can not be seen whether the electrical contacts were opened manually or due to an impermissible operating condition. The present invention can be used for circuit breakers with "trip" position as well as circuit breakers without "trip" position.

By the movement of the rocker arm 12 from the "off" position to the "on" position, thereby closing the electrical switch contacts, a spring is typically tensioned. The stored energy in the spring is used in particular for opening the electrical switch contacts in the event of a fault. When disconnecting the switching contacts, it is important that they are separated quickly, so that an arc ignited between the switching contacts to be disconnected is quickly extinguished and the circuit breaker is not damaged by the arc.

Since the movement of the rocker arm 12 is coupled to the relative movement of the electrical switch contacts to be separated from each other, it is particularly important when disconnecting the electrical switch contacts that the movement of the rocker arm 12 is not important obstructed, so that the circuit breaker 10 works as intended. If the freedom of movement of the rocker arm 12 is obstructed, it can not be ensured that the circuit breaker 10 operates as intended.

On the circuit breaker 10, a switching unit 20 is placed for automatically actuating the rocker arm 12 of the circuit breaker 10. By means of such a switching unit 20, the rocker arm 12 designed for manual actuation can be actuated automatically via the switching unit 20. For this purpose, the switching unit 20 is supplied on the one hand with its own power supply and connected via a data line with a control center or the like.

As in FIG. 1 1, the switching unit 20 has a supporting structure 22 which is formed by two clamping arms 24 and a bridge 26 connecting these clamping arms 24. The support structure 22 has at the clamping arms 24 cams (not shown in the figures), which engages in recesses formed on the housing of the circuit breaker 10. Alternatively, the support structure 22 can also be attached non-positively to the housing of the circuit breaker 10. Other mounting options, such as by gluing are also conceivable.

On the support structure 22, in particular, a drive unit 31 is held, which converts a rotational movement into a linear movement, wherein the linear movement takes place along a stretch S. The drive unit 31 has a first element 32 'movable by the distance S. Furthermore, according to the invention, the drive unit 32 has a second element 34 ', which is freely movable with respect to the first element 32' by a free travel L.

In the present embodiment, the first element 32 'is formed by a driven spindle nut 32 and the second element 34' by a slider 34, wherein the slider 34 is freely displaceable relative to the spindle nut 32 by the free travel L. The free travel L has, for example, a minimum length of 1 mm, preferably of 3 mm and most preferably of 5 mm. A maximum length of the free travel L has, for example, a length of 40 mm, preferably 30 mm and particularly preferably 15 mm.

By means of the second element 34 'and the slider 34 of the rocker arm 12 of the circuit breaker 10 is actuated. Since, according to the invention, the second element 34 'or the slide 34 is freely movable about the free travel L, the switching unit 20 according to the invention makes it possible to prevent the function of the circuit breaker 10 from being impaired, in particular that the intended function of the rocker arm 12 is not hindered by the switching unit 20 becomes.

On the support structure 22, a driven spindle 30 of the drive unit 31 of the switching unit 20 is rotatably supported. An axial direction X of the spindle 30 extends at right angles to the axis of rotation D of the rocker arm 12 of the circuit breaker 10. In particular, the axial direction X of the spindle 30 extends at least approximately in the direction of a circular movement path of the rocker arm 12 approximated linear direction of movement of the rocker arm 12 and thus in the direction of the track S.

The spindle nut 32 is mounted on the spindle 30 and guided by the support structure 22 such that by rotating the spindle 30 about its own axis, the spindle nut 32 in the axial direction X of the spindle 30 and thus by the distance S is movable. Consequently, the drive unit 31 converts by means of the driven spindle 30 and the spindle nut 32 a rotational movement in a linear movement.

Next, the switching unit 20 to the drive unit 31 belonging to slider 34 which is movable in the axial direction X of the spindle 30 and is guided by the support structure 22. The slider 34 engages around the spindle 30 in the circumferential direction of the spindle 30. In the axial direction X of the spindle 30, the slider 34 has a first counter-abutment surface 36 and a second counter-abutment surface 38, which interact with stop surfaces 40 formed end-to-end on the spindle nut 32 for the slide to move in the axial direction X. The first counter-abutment surface 36 is spaced from the second counter-abutment surface 38 by a distance in the axial direction X, which is greater than the distance of the stop surfaces 40 of the spindle nut 32 by the distance of the first counter-abutment surface 36 to the second counter-abutment surface 38, which is greater than the distance Stop surfaces 40 to each other, is formed on the drive unit 31 of the Leerweg L.

Further, the slider 34 is adapted to actuate the rocker arm 12 of the circuit breaker 10. For this purpose, the slider 12 has two drivers 42, 44, wherein the first driver 42 is intended to actuate the rocker arm 12 in the switching-on direction E, and the second driver 44 is intended to actuate the rocker arm 12 in the disconnecting direction A. The switch-on direction E is defined by the switch-on movement of the rocker arm 12 from its "off" position in the direction of the "on" position. The switching-off direction A is defined by the switch-off movement of the rocker arm from its "on" position in the direction of the "off" position. In the present embodiment, the first driver 42 and the second driver 44 are integral components of a claw 46, which is intended to engage around the rocker arm 12.

The spindle 30 is driven by a motor 50. The rotational movement of the motor 50 is converted via the spindle 30 and the spindle nut 32 in a linear movement in the axial direction X. The motor 50 is controlled by a control logic 52 of the circuit breaker 10.

In order to detect the "Trip" position of the circuit breaker by the switching unit 20, the switching unit 20 has a button 54 on. If the slider 34 is brought by the rocker arm 12 in its corresponding to the "trip" position position, the button 54 is closed, whereby a signal is output to the control logic 52 until the slider 34 leaves the position corresponding to the "Trip" position. Likewise, the button 54 at each movement of the slider 34 from the position corresponding to the "off" position of the slider 34 in the position corresponding to the "on" position of the slider 34, a signal to the control logic 52, since the button 54 is briefly closed or is opened. Similarly, a signal is given to the control logic if the slider 34 is moved in the reverse direction.

The support structure 22 and the elements held thereon are at least partially enclosed in a housing 60 of the switching unit 20. The housing 60 has a viewing window 62 through which the position of the slider 34 in the axial direction X of the spindle 30 is displayed. For this purpose, the slider 34 has an indicator needle 64. By the indicator needle 64, a user can recognize whether the rocker arm 12 is in the "on" position, the "off" position or in the "trip" position.

Preferably, a maximum possible movement distance of the slider 34 in the axial direction X of the spindle 30 is selected to be greater than an actuating distance of the rocker arm 12 from the "on" position to the "off" position of a certain type of circuit breaker. This allows the switching unit 20 to be mounted on different types of protective switches.

Further, the housing 60 is an in FIG. 1 and 9 shown locking device 70 for the spindle 30 is arranged. By means of this locking device 70, the operation of the circuit breaker 10 via the switching unit 20 can be mechanically prevented. This is especially important for maintenance on a circuit protected by the circuit breaker.

The locking device 70 is held by a locking slide 72 held on the housing 60 with two locking surfaces 74 (see FIG FIG. 9 ), which cooperate for locking the spindle 30 with this. The locking slide 72 is displaceable in a direction R perpendicular to the axial direction X of the spindle 30 from an unlocking position to a locking position back and forth. In the locking position of the locking slide 72 can be locked in position for example by means of a U-lock. Furthermore, a screw intended for mounting the switching unit 20 on the circuit breaker 10, for example a screw for fixing the switching unit 20 to the circuit breaker 10, can be arranged such that in the locking position of the blocking slide 72 the armature is not accessible for mounting or dismounting the switching unit 20 or of the circuit breaker 10th

The spindle 30 has at its end remote from the motor 50 end portion 75 a square shape. The two locking surfaces 74 are arranged on two projections 76 formed on the locking slide 72. By moving the locking slide 72 perpendicular to the axial direction X of the spindle 30, the end portion 75 of the spindle 30 passes between the two locking surfaces 74, these locking surfaces 74 abut two side surfaces of the square-shaped end portion 75, whereby the spindle 30 is locked.

Thus, the locking device 70 in each rotational position of the spindle 30 reliably from its unlocked position in which the locking surfaces 74 away from the spindle 30 , in the locked position, in which the locking surfaces 74 abut against the side surfaces of the square-shaped end portion 75 of the spindle 30, is displaceable, the locking slide 72 has a device which rotates the spindle 30 - if necessary - such that the locking surfaces 74th are aligned parallel to two side surfaces of the square-shaped end portion 75. For this purpose, at each of the projections 76 on that side, which faces the spindle 30 in the unlocked position of the locking slide 72, a surface 78 for aligning the spindle is provided. In the direction of movement R of the locking slide 72, the surface 78 offset from each other, that is not opposite each other, arranged. This prevents the spindle 30 from jamming when inserted into the locking device 70.

By the described locking device 70, the spindle 30 and consequently the drive unit 31 can be blocked.

The circuit breaker 10 is operated as follows.

Before mounting the switching unit 20 on the circuit breaker 10, the rocker arm 12 of the circuit breaker 10 is in its "off" position. The switching unit 20 is placed on the circuit breaker 10 such that the claw 46 surrounds the rocker arm 12 (see FIG. 2 ).

Before the switching unit 20 can reliably actuate the rocker arm 12 without affecting the operation of the circuit breaker 10, the switching unit 20 is calibrated to the respective circuit breaker 10.

First, the slider 34 is moved from its initial position in the switch-on direction E to that position due to the rotation of the motor 50, the rotation of the spindle 30 coupled with the rotation of the motor 50, and the spindle nut 32 linearly moved by the rotation of the spindle 30 which the first driver 42 touches the rocker arm 12 (see FIG. 3 ). This position is detected by monitoring a load current of the motor 30 driving the spindle 30. As soon as the first driver 42 touches the rocker arm 12 and because the rocker arm 12 can only be moved out of its "off" position with the expenditure of force, the load current increases abruptly. This position of the slider, in which the first driver 42 is applied to the rocker arm 12 in its "off" position is referred to as "off" position of the slider 34.

Preferably, the "off" position of the slider 34 is approached twice in the switching-on direction E, in order to refer to this position.

In order to shift the rocker arm 12 from its "off" position to its "on" position, the slider 34 is moved further in the switch-on direction E (see FIG FIG. 4 ). The rocker arm 12 thereby jumps into its "on" position. The slider 34 is moved in the switch-on direction E until the first driver 42 is applied to the rocker arm 12 in its "on" position (see FIG. 5 ). This position is in turn detectable by measuring the load current and is referred to as extremal position of the slider 34 in the switch-on direction E.

In order not to impair the function of the circuit breaker 10, it is necessary to give the rocker arm 12 in its "on" position, so that the rocker arm 12, if an error is detected by the circuit breaker, in the "Trip" position - or if the Circuit breaker has no "trip" position, can tilt directly to the "off" position. For this purpose, the motor 50 with reversed direction of rotation in comparison to the direction of rotation of the motor 50 for moving the slider 34 in the switch-on direction E, driven, whereby the spindle nut 32 is moved away from the first counter stop surface 36 of the slider 34 in Ausschaltetrichtung A. As the spindle nut 32 moves toward the second counter-abutment surface 38, the slider 34 initially remains in the extreme position in the turn-on direction E. As soon as the spindle nut 32 contacts the second counter-abutment surface 38, the slider 34 is moved in the turn-off direction A. The slider 34 is preferably moved until the second driver 44 of the slider 34 is applied to the rocker arm 12 in its "on" position (see FIG. 6 ). This position of the slider 34 is in turn detectable by measuring the load current. This position of the slider 34 in which the second cam 44 abuts on the rocker arm 12 in the "on" position is referred to as the "on" position of the slider 34.

The "off" position and the "on" position of the slider 34 are stored in the control logic 52 as absolute positions by counting Hall sensor signals to each other, so that these positions can be approached directly. Furthermore, by measuring the load current, the two extreme positions in the switch-on direction E and switch-off direction A can also be determined and stored. Thereby, it can be prevented that the motor 50 unintentionally moves into a mechanical stop and thereby becomes overloaded.

After the calibration of the switch unit 20 placed on the circuit breaker 10, the switch unit 20 operates as follows.

If the switching unit 20 receives a power-on signal from the control center, the slider 34 is moved over the extreme position in the turn-on direction E in the "on" position (see FIG. 3 to 6 ). If the switching unit 20 receives a turn-off signal from the control center, the slider 34 is moved over the extremal position in the turn-off direction A in the "off" position (see FIG. 6, 8 and 3 ). By the movement of the slide on the respective Exremalposition in the switch-on direction E or in Ausschaltrichtung A in the "on" position or in the "off" position, the system of circuit breaker 10 and switching unit 20 is immediately ready to execute a further switching command from the control center.

If the switching unit 20 is in the "on" position and consequently the electrical contact of the circuit breaker 10 is closed, the rocker arm 12 must be able to pivot freely from the "on" position to the "trip" position in the event of a fault (see FIG. 6 and 7 ). This is necessary because in a hindrance of the free movement of the rocker arm 12, the trouble-free operation of the circuit breaker 10 would not be guaranteed. In particular, the circuit breaker 10 and / or the electrical equipment to be protected could be damaged and / or destroyed.

This free movement of the rocker arm 12 from the "on" position (see FIG. 6 such as FIG. 7 ; in FIG. 7 the "On" position is shown dotted) in the "Trip" position (see FIG. 7 ) is determined by the free travel L (in FIG. 2 shown) of the slider 34 relative to the spindle nut 32 is reached. In the "on" position of the slider 34, the spindle nut 32 abuts against the second counter-abutment surface 38 of the slider 34. Upon movement of the rocker arm 12 from the "on" position to the "trip" position, the slider 34 is moved by the moving rocker arm 12 in the turn-off direction A to the Fault path F (see FIG. 7 ) emotional. This movement is not hindered by the spindle nut 32 because of the free travel L between the first counter-abutment surface 36 and the second counter-abutment surface 38. Consequently, the function of the circuit breaker 12 can be ensured.

If the rocker arm has a "trip" position, the free travel L is dimensioned such that upon movement of the rocker arm 12 from the "on" position to the "trip" position, the spindle nut 32 does not come into abutment against the first counter-abutment surface 36 otherwise the error-free operation of the circuit breaker 10 would not be guaranteed. If the rocker arm does not have a "trip" position, i. if the rocker arm 12 pivots in the event of a fault directly from the "on" position to the "off" position, the free travel L is dimensioned such that upon movement of the rocker arm 12 from the "on" position to the "off" position, the spindle nut 32nd does not come into abutment against the first counter stop surface 36, since otherwise the faultless operation of the circuit breaker 10 would not be guaranteed.

In other words, in the event of a fault, the second element 34 ', which is formed by the slider 34 in the exemplary embodiment, is actuated by the rocker arm 12. In this case, the second element 34 'is shifted in Ausschaltetrichtung A by the Fehlerfallwegstrecke F. So that this displacement of the second element 34 'caused by the rocker arm 12 in the event of a fault does not affect the operation of the circuit breaker 10, the free travel L is at least the same size as the fault path F. In particular, the idle travel L can be chosen to be greater than the fault path F.

The "trip" position of the slider 34 and consequently of the rocker arm 12 is determined by means of the button 54 (see FIG FIG. 1 ) detected. The button 54 is positioned in the axial direction X of the spindle 34 such that the button 54 provides a continuous signal if the slider 34 is in the "trip" position. The signal of the button 54 is forwarded by the control logic 52 to a remote control center for controlling the switching unit 20.

After switching off the circuit breaker 10 due to an error, that is, if the rocker arm 12 automatically moves from the "on" position to the "trip" position is, and a triggered by the control center Einschaltbefehl, after which the slider 34 is moved over the extreme position in the turn-off direction A in the "on" position, it may happen that the error in the circuit, which is protected by the circuit breaker is not resolved. Consequently, the circuit breaker 10 will again detect a fault and open the electrical contacts immediately, whereby the rocker arm 12 is again moved from the "on" position to the "trip" position.

Such a switch-on attempt of the circuit breaker 10 while there is a fault in the circuit to be protected, for example due to a short circuit in the circuit to be protected, must not be done as often as desired in a short period of time, otherwise the protective shell 12 and / or the switching unit 20 could be damaged. Therefore, the control logic 52 is designed so that only a limited number of turn-on operations are performed in a certain period of time.

In a second exemplary embodiment, which is not shown in the drawing, the drive unit of the switching unit has a linear motor. This linear motor is used in place of the motor disclosed in connection with the first embodiment, the spindle rotatably driven by the motor, and the spindle nut driven by the spindle. A linearly driven, first element of the linear motor forms an equivalent to the spindle nut element which cooperates with the slider. Otherwise, the second embodiment is equivalent to the first embodiment and is also operated equivalently to the first embodiment. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 10 breaker 60 casing 12 rocker arm 62 window 20 switching unit 64 indicator needle 22 supporting structure 70 locking device 24 clamping arms 72 blocking slide 26 bridge 74 arresting 28 cam 75 End area of the spindle 30 spindle 76 projections 31 drive unit 78 area 32 spindle nut A the disconnection 34 pusher D Rotary axis of the rocker arm 36 first counter-attack surface e switching-on 38 second counter-attack surface F Event of an error distance 40 stop surfaces L leerweg 42 first driver X Axial direction of the spindle 44 second driver 46 claw 50 engine 52 control logic 54 button

Claims (10)

1. Switching unit for actuating a toggle lever (12) of a circuit breaker (10), in particular a power circuit breaker, with a drive unit (31), which has at least one driven first element (32'), which is movable linearly by a distance (S), wherein the drive unit (31) has a second element (34'), which is freely movable with respect to the first element (32') by an idle motion (L), and wherein the idle motion (L) serves the purpose that an intended function of the toggle lever (12) is not impeded by the switching unit (20), characterized in that, in the event of a fault, the toggle lever (12) of the switching unit (10) moves by a fault motion distance (F) from an "on" position in the direction of an "off" position, and in that the idle motion (L) is chosen to be at least as great as the fault motion distance (F).
2. Switching unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second element (34') serves the purpose of actuating the toggle lever (12) of the circuit breaker (10).
3. Switching unit according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the drive unit (31) has a driven spindle (30), a spindle nut (32), which interacts with the spindle (30), is displaceable along this spindle (30) by rotation of the spindle (30) and forms the first element (32'), and a slide (34), which interacts with the spindle nut (32), is movable along the spindle (30) by means of the spindle nut (32) and forms the second element (34'), and wherein the slide (34) is designed for actuating the toggle lever (12).
4. Switching unit according to Claim 3, characterized in that the slide (34) has a first abutment face (36) and a second abutment face (38), which are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction (X) of the spindle (30), wherein, for moving the slide (34) in the axial direction (X) of the spindle (30), the first abutment face (36) or the second abutment face (38) interacts with the spindle nut (32), wherein the spacing between the first abutment face (36) and the second abutment face (38) is chosen such that the spindle nut (32) interacts at most with one of the two abutment faces (36, 38) at a time.
5. Switching unit according to Claim 4, characterized in that the spacing between the first abutment face (36) and the second abutment face (38) in the axial direction (X) of the spindle (30) is greater than an extent of the spindle nut (32) in the axial direction (X) of the spindle (30).
6. Switching unit according to one of Claims 4 to 5, characterized in that a moving distance (S) of the slide (34) in the axial direction (X) of the spindle (30) is chosen to be greater than an actuating distance of the toggle lever (12).
7. Switching unit according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the drive unit (31) is driven by a linear motor, wherein an element driven by the linear motor forms the first element, and the drive unit (31) has a slide that interacts with the driven, first element and forms the second element, and wherein the slide is designed for actuating the toggle lever.
8. Switching unit according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive unit (31) can be blocked.
9. Circuit breaker (10), which has a toggle lever (12), with a switching unit (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 8 mounted on the circuit breaker (10) for actuating the toggle lever (12).
10. Method for operating a switching unit (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the switching unit (20)
    has a driven, linearly movable first element (32') and a second element (34'), which interacts with the first element (32') and can be moved by means of the first element (32') along a distance (S), wherein, by means of the second element (34'), the toggle lever (12) can be changed over from the "off" position into the "on" position when there is a movement of the second element (34') in the switching-on direction (E) and can be changed over from the "on" position into the "off" position when there is a movement of the second element (34') in the switching-off direction (A),
    characterized by the following method steps

    - moving the first element (32') while taking along the second element (34') in the switching-on direction (E) until the toggle lever (12) reaches the "on" position,

    - moving the first element (32') by an idle motion (L) in the switching-off direction (A), the second element (34') not being moved thereby,

    - in the event of a fault, moving the toggle lever (12) of the switching unit (10) by a fault motion distance (F) from an "on" position in the direction of an "off" position, the idle motion (L) being chosen to be at least as great as the fault motion distance (F).

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