EP2560183A1 - Electric switch - Google Patents

Abstract

The switch (10) has an electrical contact bridge (30) supported in a rotor housing (20) and pivotable relative to the housing. A releasing device releases a spring device of a latch (80) in case of error. An operating lever (200) takes on, off and releasing positions, where the spring device is stressed during pivoting of the lever from the releasing position to the off position. The lever is designed such that the lever acts together with a lever device (100) and the housing rotates in a rotor off-position by the lever device when the housing is located outside the rotor off-position. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating an electrical switch.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical switch, in particular an electrical circuit breaker.

Such a switch is from the German patent application DE 10 2008 039 066 A1 known. This switch comprises a rotor housing and a rotatably mounted in the rotor housing electrical contact bridge, which is pivotable between an on and an off position and relative to the rotor housing. In the on position, the electrical contact bridge connects contact elements of the contact bridge with stationary contact elements of the switch. In the off position, the contact elements of the contact bridge and the stationary contact elements of the switch are disconnected. To turn on and off the contact bridge can be pivoted by the rotor housing is rotated; while the rotating rotor housing pivots with the contact bridge. In addition, the contact bridge can pivot without rotation of the rotor housing, ie relative to the rotor housing, namely, when the current flowing through the contact bridge current becomes too large: In this case, the contact bridge is pivoted about a caused by the current magnetic force relative to the rotor, thereby the contact elements of the contact bridge and the stationary contact elements of the switch are separated from each other.

The invention has for its object to provide a switch that works very reliable.

This object is achieved by a switch with the features according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the switch according to the invention are specified in subclaims.

Thereafter, according to the invention, an electrical switch, in particular an electrical circuit breaker, provided with a rotor housing which can be rotated from a rotor setting into a rotor exhibition and vice versa, at least one electrical contact bridge rotatably mounted in the rotor housing, which is pivotable relative to the rotor housing and together with the rotor housing, a switch lock associated with the rotor housing, a triggering device which in the Error case, a spring device of the switching mechanism triggers and thereby cause a rotation of the rotor housing from the rotor setting in the rotor exhibition, an actuating lever which can assume an on position, an off position and a tripped position, wherein upon pivoting of the actuating lever of the tripped Position in the off position, the spring means of the switching mechanism is clamped, and a lever device, wherein the actuating lever is designed such that it interacts with the lever device when pivoting from its released position in its off position and the rotor housing rotates by means of the lever means in the rotor exhibition, when the rotor housing is outside the rotor exhibition.

A significant advantage of the electrical switch according to the invention is the fact that it is always ensured that when pivoting the actuating lever from the released position in the off position always the rotor housing is also brought into its correct rotor exhibition, if not already previously passed in the transition from the on position of the switch in the released position. Thus, as soon as the operating lever is brought into the off position, due to the inventively provided lever device always ensured that the rotor housing occupies the correct rotor exhibition and the switch is switched on again.

Another significant advantage of the switch according to the invention is that the spring means of the switching mechanism with respect to the spring force only needs to be dimensioned so that the spring force of the spring device is sufficient, to rotate the rotor housing from the rotor setting into the rotor exhibition in the error-free case. It must therefore not be provided by an oversizing of the spring device for the case that due to contamination, for example by burning in the event of overcurrent through the switch, possibly higher forces for rotating the rotor housing in the rotor exhibition could be necessary than in normal operation is expected. If there is a jamming of the rotor housing, the pivoting of the rotor housing into the rotor exhibition is forced at the latest when the actuating lever is pivoted from the released position into the off position, if the rotor housing has not previously occupied the rotor exhibition.

The lever device is preferably connected via a connection with the rotor housing and via another connection with a switch frame, a switch housing or a switch lock of the switch in combination.

The tripping device can be, for example, an electrical tripping device, preferably one which triggers in the event of an overcurrent and switches off the switch.

With regard to the design of the actuating lever, it is considered advantageous if the actuating lever has a projection which abuts when pivoting from the released position in the off position on a lever of the lever device and this pivots when the rotor housing outside the rotor exhibition is located, and the lever of the lever device passes without touching or touching when the rotor housing is already in the rotor exhibition.

In order to keep the forces when pivoting the actuating lever as low as possible and to allow easy operation, for example by an operator, it is considered advantageous if the actuating lever during pivoting from the released position in the off position cooperates with the lever device before the spring device of the switching mechanism is tensioned by the pivoting movement. In this embodiment, the tensioning operation for tensioning the spring device and the "correction rotation" of the rotor housing in the rotor exhibition, from time to time, so that an operator or an operating mechanism for pivoting the operating lever is not charged twice.

To design a cooperation of the actuating lever with the lever device structurally simple and inexpensive, it is considered advantageous if the lever of the lever device has a slope and the projection of the actuating lever when pivoting from the released position in the off position on the slope of Levers bump when the rotor housing is outside the rotor display.

The lever means preferably comprises a pivotable lever and a movable rod articulated to the pivotable lever. In such an embodiment of the lever device, it is considered advantageous if a lever end of the pivotable lever is pivotally mounted on a switch frame, a switch housing or a stationary part of the switching mechanism, the other end of the lever pivotable lever is pivotally connected to a rod end of the movable rod and the other rod end of the movable rod is in communication with the rotor housing.

On the pivotable lever, for example, the aforementioned slope may be attached, with which cooperates the projection of the actuating lever.

The other rod end of the movable rod is preferably mounted on the rotor housing, and preferably on a pin, which is particularly preferably integrally formed on the rotor housing.

The actuating lever preferably has an operating section which allows operation by an operator. An actuating lever designed in this way thus forms a handle of the electrical switch with which an operator can make the switchover of the switch.

The invention also relates to a method for operating an electrical switch. According to the invention is provided with respect to such a method that is rotated by pivoting an actuating lever from a tripped position to an off position, a rotor housing of the switch in the rotor exhibition, when the rotor housing is outside the rotor exhibition, and at the same time or only after a spring means of Switching the switch is tensioned.

With regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the above statements in connection with the electrical switch according to the invention, since the advantages of the method according to the invention essentially correspond to those of the electrical switch.

Figur 1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel für einen erfindungsgemäßen Schalter in einem Querschnitt im ausgelösten Zustand, wobei sich ein Rotorgehäuse des Schalters in einer unerwünschten Zwischenposition zwischen der Rotoreinstellung und der Rotorausstellung befindet,

Figur 2

die Zwischenposition des Rotorgehäuses in einer dreidimensionalen Darstellung beispielhaft näher im Detail,

Figur 3

das Zusammenwirken eines an einem Betätigungshebel angeformten Vorsprungs mit einer Schräge an einer Hebeleinrichtung beispielhaft näher im Detail,

Figur 4

den Vorsprung gemäß der Figur 3 beim Herunterdrücken eines Hebels der Hebeleinrichtung beispielhaft näher im Detail,

Figur 5

den Schalter gemäß Figur 1 im Querschnitt mit der Stellung des Betätigungshebels wie in Figur 4 gezeigt,

Figur 6

die Rotorausstellung des Rotorgehäuses in einer dreidimensionalen Darstellung beispielhaft näher im Detail,

Figur 7

den Vorsprung gemäß der Figur 3 nach dem Passieren der Schräge und nach dem Herunterdrücken des Hebels der Hebeleinrichtung beispielhaft näher im Detail und

Figur 8

den Schalter gemäß Figur 1 im Querschnitt mit der Stellung des Betätigungshebels wie in Figur 7 gezeigt.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments; thereby show exemplarily:

FIG. 1

An embodiment of a switch according to the invention in a cross-section in the tripped state, wherein a rotor housing of the switch is in an undesirable intermediate position between the rotor setting and the rotor exhibition,

FIG. 2

the intermediate position of the rotor housing in a three-dimensional representation by way of example closer in detail,

FIG. 3

the interaction of an integrally formed on an actuating lever projection with a slope on a lever device by way of example in more detail,

FIG. 4

the projection according to the FIG. 3 when depressing a lever of the lever device, for example, closer in detail,

FIG. 5

the switch according to FIG. 1 in cross-section with the position of the operating lever as in FIG. 4 shown,

FIG. 6

the rotor exhibition of the rotor housing in a three-dimensional representation by way of example closer in detail,

FIG. 7

the projection according to the FIG. 3 after passing the bevel and after depressing the lever of the lever means example closer in detail and

FIG. 8

the switch according to FIG. 1 in cross-section with the position of the operating lever as in FIG. 7 shown.

For the sake of clarity, the same reference numbers are always used in the figures for identical or comparable components.

In the FIG. 1 one sees an electrical switch 10 in a cross section. It can be seen a rotor housing 20 which is rotatable along a double arrow P from a rotor setting in a rotor exhibition and vice versa. Within the rotor housing 20 is a contact bridge 30, which is also pivotable along the double arrow P together with the rotor housing 20 or relative to the rotor housing 20. The axis of rotation about which the contact bridge 30 and the Rotor housing 20 are rotatable or pivotable, is in the FIG. 1 designated by the reference numeral 40. Relative rotation of the contact bridge 30 relative to the rotor housing 20 can occur, for example, in the case of an overcurrent, which causes a sufficiently large electromagnetic force to switch off the contact bridge 30 and thus of the current flowing through the switch 10.

The contact bridge 30 is formed by a first contact arm 50 and a second contact arm 51. Each of the two contact arms 50 and 51 is equipped at the contact arm end with a contact element. The contact elements cooperate with two stationary contacts of the switch 10, which in the FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity are not shown in detail.

In the presentation according to FIG. 1 is the switch 10 in its tripped position. In this tripped position, the switch, if one in the FIG. 1 not shown, the rotor housing 20 accordingly, ie in the FIG. 1 counterclockwise, turns. If the contact bridge 30 has not previously been opened by an electromagnetic force in the event of an overcurrent, it is rotated by the rotating rotor housing 20 and forcibly opened, so that then no electric current can flow through the contact bridge 30.

In the tripped position of the switch, the rotor housing 20 should be in its rotor position; due to a fault, for example due to contamination of the switch 10 in the region of the rotor housing 20, however, the rotor housing 20 is in accordance with the illustration FIG. 1 in an (undesired) intermediate position between the rotor setting and the rotor exhibition; this will be explained in more detail below.

The FIG. 1 also shows a switch lock 80, the one spring means 81 and a further detail not in detail shown components of the switching mechanism 80 with the spring means 81 associated switch lock lever 82 includes. The switch lock lever 82 is in communication with the rotor housing 20.

The switching mechanism 80 cooperates with the already mentioned and not shown triggering device of the switch 10, which triggers the spring means 81 of the switch lock 80 in the event of an error, for example in the event of an overcurrent, thereby actuating the switch lock lever 82 and thus turning the rotor housing 20 of the Will cause rotor setting in the rotor exhibition.

Due to a jamming or excessive friction, for example, due to contamination in the region of the rotor housing 20, it is in the illustration according to FIG. 1 come to an incomplete pivoting or turning of the rotor housing 20 in the rotor exhibition. As already mentioned, the rotor housing 20 is shown in the illustration FIG. 1 in an undesirable intermediate position between the rotor setting and the rotor display.

The FIG. 2 shows the position of the rotor housing 20 in a three-dimensional representation in more detail. It can be seen that a lower edge 21 of the rotor housing 20 has a distance to the contact arm 51 of the contact bridge, whereby a gap 90 is formed. Had the spring force of the spring means 81 of the switching mechanism 80 (see. FIG. 1 ) was sufficient to rotate the rotor housing 20 in the rotor exhibition, the lower edge 21 would abut directly on the contact arm 51 and close the gap 90.

Referring again to the FIG. 1 In addition, a lever device 100, which comprises a pivotable lever 110 and a movable rod 120, can be seen. A lever end of the pivotable lever 110 is fixed to a fixed pivot axis 130 of the switch 10. The pivot axis 130 may, for example, on the switch frame or switch housing the switch 10 or attached to a stationary component of the switch lock 80.

The other end of the lever pivotable lever 110 is connected via a pivot joint 140 with a rod end of the movable rod 120. The other rod end of the movable rod 120 is attached to the rotor housing 20.

As reflected in the FIG. 1 can be caused by pivoting the pivoting lever 110 about the fixed pivot axis 130 up or down a corresponding translational displacement of the movable rod 120 along the longitudinal axis of the rod. The movable rod 120 is mounted on the rotor housing 20 such that upon movement of the movable rod downwardly, the rotor housing 20 is rotated about the axis of rotation 40 in the direction of rotor exposure.

The FIG. 1 also shows an actuating lever 200, which is also in its tripped position. For example, the operating lever 200 may include an operating section 201 that allows operation by an operator. An actuating lever 200 designed in this way thus forms a handle of the electrical switch with which an operator can make the switching of the switch 10.

The actuating lever 200 is pivotally mounted about a pivot bearing 210 and can be brought by pivoting along the direction of the arrow P1 from its released position to its off position. From this off position, the actuating lever 200 can be brought in the direction of arrow P2 in its on position. Order from in the FIG. 1 shown triggering position to turn on the switch 10, the actuating lever 200 must first be pivoted to the off position. In this pivoting of the actuating lever 200, the spring means 81 of the switching mechanism 80 is tensioned and with the already mentioned and in of the FIG. 1 Not shown release device latched, whereby the spring means 81 is held in a tensioned state. After cocking and latching, the switch is ready to be switched on again, and the actuating lever 200 can be pivoted from the off position to the on position.

In addition to a tensioning of the spring device 81, when the actuating lever 200 is pivoted from the released position into the off position, the rotor housing 20 is also moved from the position shown in FIG FIGS. 1 and 2 shown unwanted intermediate position rotated in the rotor exhibition. For this purpose, the lever device 100 is provided, which cooperates with the actuating lever 200. The FIG. 3 shows the interaction of the operating lever 200 with the lever device 100 in more detail.

It settles in the FIG. 3 recognize that the actuating lever 200 has a projection 210 which cooperates with a bevel 220 on the pivotable lever 110. If the actuating lever 200 is pivoted counterclockwise along the direction of the arrow P1, then the projection 210 is pushed against the bevel 220, so that the pivotable lever 110 about the stationary pivot axis 130 in the FIG. 3 is pivoted down. Due to the articulated connection of the movable rod 120, this is accompanied by a depression of the movable rod 120, whereby the rotor housing 20 is rotated along the direction of the arrow P (see FIG. FIG. 1 ) and the gap 90 (see. FIG. 2 ) is closed.

The FIG. 4 shows an intermediate stage in the pivoting of the actuating lever 200 of the in the FIG. 1 shown tripped position in the off position. It can be seen that the projection 210 has passed the slope 220 and thus no longer cooperates with the lever device 100. In the further course of the pivoting operation of the actuating lever 200 along the direction of the arrow P1, the spring device 81 of the switching mechanism 80 is then tensioned and latched in the cocked position (cf. FIG. 1 ). The switch 10 is thus in his Off position brought, in which it is switched on again and by pivoting the actuating lever 200 along the direction of the arrow P2 according to FIG. 1 can be turned on again.

The FIG. 5 shows the switch 10 in the position of the operating lever 200 according to FIG. 4 , It can be seen that the rotor housing 20 has been further rotated by the Nachuntendrücken the movable rod 120 and has reached its rotor exhibition. The corresponding position of the rotor housing 20 relative to the contact bridge 30 is in a three-dimensional representation in the FIG. 6 shown. It can be seen that the lower edge 21 of the rotor housing 20 rests against the contact arm 51 of the contact bridge 30 and the rotor housing 20 has reached its rotor exhibition.

The FIG. 7 shows the operating lever 200, after being moved from the in FIG. 1 shown triggered position has been pivoted to its off position. It can be seen that the protrusion 210 has completely passed the slope 220 and is at a distance therefrom.

The FIG. 8 shows the off position of the operating lever 200 again in another illustration. The spring device 81 of the switch lock 80 is tensioned and latched, the rotor housing 20 is rotated in its rotor exhibition and the switch 10 now ready to turn. By pivoting the operating lever 200 along the direction of the arrow P2, the switch 10 can now be turned on. When switching on, the protrusion 210 is guided past the bevel 220 in a non-contact or possibly only touching manner, since the rotor housing 20 is located in the rotor display and thus the movable rod 120 as well as the pivotable lever 110 of the lever device 100 have an in the FIG. 8 occupy lower position in which they do not interact with the projection 210. In other words, the arrangement of the lever device 100 is thus selected such that the projection 210 and the lever device 100 interact exclusively with each other when the rotor housing 20 is outside its Rotor exhibition is located, so for example, in the FIG. 1 shown intermediate position between the rotor setting and the rotor exhibition occupies.

While the invention has been further illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

switch

20

rotor housing

21

side shell

22

side shell

23

slot

30

Contact bridge

40

axis of rotation

50

contact

51

contact

60

contact element

61

contact element

80

switch lock

81

spring means

82

Switch lock lever

90

gap

100

lever means

110

lever

120

pole

130

swivel axis

140

pivot

200

actuating lever

201

operating section

210

Swivel bearing, projection

220

slope

P

arrow

P1

arrow

P2

arrow

Claims (10)

Electric switch, in particular electric circuit breaker, with a rotor housing (20) which can be rotated from a rotor setting to a rotor exhibition and vice versa, - At least one in the rotor housing (20) rotatably mounted electrical contact bridge (30) which is pivotable relative to the rotor housing (20) and together with the rotor housing (20), a switching mechanism (80) in communication with the rotor housing (20), a triggering device which, in the event of a fault, triggers a spring device (81) of the switch lock (80) and thereby can cause the rotor housing (20) to rotate from the rotor setting into the rotor display, - An actuating lever (200) which can assume an on position, an off position and a tripped position, wherein upon pivoting of the actuating lever (200) from the tripped position to the off position, the spring means (81) of the switch latch (80), and a lever device (100), - Wherein the actuating lever (200) is designed such that it cooperates when pivoting from its released position in its off position with the lever means (100) and rotates the rotor housing (20) by means of the lever means (100) in the rotor exhibition, if the rotor housing (20) is outside the rotor exhibition. Electric switch according to claim 1,
characterized in that the actuating lever (200) has a projection (210) which, upon pivoting from the released position into the off position, strikes a lever (110) of the lever device (100) and pivots it when the rotor housing ( 20) is located outside the rotor exhibition, and the lever (110) of the lever device (100) without contact or touching happens when the rotor housing (20) is already in the rotor exhibition. Electric switch according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that - The actuating lever (200) when pivoting from the released position in the off position with the lever device (100) cooperates before by the pivoting movement, the spring means (81) of the switching mechanism (80) is tensioned. Electric switch according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the lever (110) of the lever device (100) has a bevel (220) and the projection (210) of the actuating lever (200) during pivoting from the released position into the Position on the slope (220) of the lever (110) abuts when the rotor housing (20) is outside the rotor exhibition. Electric switch according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the lever means (100) comprises a pivotable lever (110) and a movable rod (120) articulated to the pivotable lever (110). Electric switch according to claim 5,
characterized in that - A lever end of the pivotable lever (110) is pivotally mounted on a switch frame, a switch housing or a stationary part of the switching mechanism (80), - the other end of the lever of the pivotable lever (110) is pivotally connected to a rod end of the movable rod (120) and - The other rod end of the movable rod (120) with the rotor housing (20) is in communication. Electrical switch according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that on the pivotable lever (110), the slope (220) is mounted, with which the projection (210) of the actuating lever (200) cooperates. Electrical switch according to one of the preceding claims 5-7,
characterized in that the other rod end of the movable rod (120) is hinged to the rotor housing (20). Electric switch according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the actuating lever (200) forms a handle of the electrical switch (10). Method for operating an electrical switch, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by pivoting an actuating lever (200) from a tripped position to an off position - A rotor housing (20) of the switch (10) is rotated in the rotor exhibition, when the rotor housing (20) is outside the rotor exhibition, and - Simultaneously or only after a spring means (81) of a switching mechanism (80) of the switch (10) is tensioned.

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