EP3218913B1 - Apparatus for operating a rotary switch - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for actuating a rotary switch.

In the case of rotary switches, various parameters such as electrical durability, the force required to actuate the switch, and the opening and closing speed of the contacts often depend directly on the speed and force with which the rotary switch is actuated. Various devices for the operation of rotary switches are for example from the German utility model DE 17 20 869 U , the German patent DE 35 18 419 C2 and the French patent application FR 2 533 067 A1 known.

From the German patent application DE 31 00 602 A1 a rotary switch actuator with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. As a blocking means for limiting a rotational movement of a second drive member of the actuating device, an inhibiting member is provided with depressions, engage in the pins. As a release means for canceling the rotational movement limit is a circular arc-shaped control cam for the pins, which is provided in the first drive member serving as the drive-side coupling half of the actuator.

The object of the present invention is therefore to present a device of simple construction for actuating a rotary switch.

This object is solved by the subject matters of the independent claims. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

An object of the present invention is to provide, in a device for actuating a rotary switch, the speed and force required for contact actuation, ie the closing and opening of contacts from that for actuation largely uncouple the force and speed of the rotary switch. In other words, the device according to the invention is intended to close or open contacts largely independently of the force and operating speed used to actuate the rotary switch. For this purpose, the invention proposes a mechanism in which two drive members are coupled together by a spring, and are provided in the blocking and release means which lock or release a rotation of one of the drive members by the tensioned spring depending on the position of the other drive member. As a result, the movement of the user-operated drive member from the movement of the other drive member can be decoupled. In other words, the user operable drive member serves to release or lock the spring-driven movement of the other drive member so that the other drive member is moved regardless of the speed and force with which the one actuator is actuated by the user. The invention further proposes to use detents applied to guide sections of the two drive elements, wherein the guide section of one drive element has release stops as the release means and the guide section of the other drive element has two stops for the detents. The applied to the guide portions of both drive members pawls can both lock the spring-driven movement of the other drive member and release with appropriate movement of a drive member. The device according to the invention is comparatively simple in construction due to the design of the release and blocking means as integral components of the drive elements and the pawls resting on the guide sections of both drive elements, which is advantageous in particular in the production.

An embodiment of the invention relates to a device for actuating a rotary switch with a drive shaft, a first and a second drive member, wherein the first drive member rotatably coupled to the drive shaft and the second drive member is rotatably mounted on the first drive member, a spring, the first and second drive member resiliently coupled to each other, blocking means for limiting the rotational movements of the second drive member in a first and a second, opposite to the first direction of rotation, and release means for canceling the limitation of the rotational movement of the second drive member in predetermined rotational positions of the first drive member.

According to the invention the locking means on a first pawl and a second pawl for limiting the rotational movements of the second drive member, both pawls abut guide portions of the two drive members and the guide portion of the first drive member as release means release portions for the pawls and the guide portion of the second drive member as a blocking means two Has stops for the pawls.

The blocking and release portions may be provided on the guide portions such that in a first predetermined rotational position of the first drive member for a first switching state, the second drive member is locked by the engaging in a first stop second pawl for rotation in a first direction of rotation, that through a rotation of the first drive member in the first rotational direction by a predetermined angle to a second predetermined rotational position, the spring tensioned, the second pawl released by a first of the release portions and the second drive member by the spring force stored in the tensioned spring in the first direction of rotation to a second switching state is rotated, that in the second switching state, the second drive member is locked by the engaging in a second stop first pawl for rotation in a second, opposite to the first direction of rotation, and that by rotation of the first An operating organ in the second rotational direction by the predetermined angle, the spring tensioned, released the first pawl after rotation by the predetermined angle by a second of the release portions and the second drive member rotated by the spring force stored in the tensioned spring in the second direction of rotation back into the first switching state becomes.

At the first drive member, two release portions may be provided with an angular distance corresponding approximately to the predetermined angle and the second drive member may be provided a locking portion having the two stops for the first and second pawl.

The first and second pawls may be pivotally arranged about a common axis above the guide portions and pressed by a spring on the guide portions.

The first drive member may comprise a first portion at least partially surrounding the drive shaft and a second disk-shaped portion closing off the first portion, the second disk-shaped portion having at its edge the guide portion with the pawl release portions.

The second drive member may include a first portion at least partially surrounding the first portion of the first drive member and a second disc-shaped portion closing the first portion, the second disc-shaped portion having at its edge the guide portion with the two stops for the pawls and a gear portion.

The second drive member may be formed as a drive pinion, which can drive a coupled to an axis of a rotary contact body gear.

Further advantages and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

In the description, in the claims, in the abstract and in the drawings, the terms and associated reference numerals used in the list of reference numerals recited below are used.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Außenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Drehschalter mit einer Betätigungsvorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung;
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels der Betätigungsvorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung, die in dem in Fig. 1 gezeigten Drehschalter eingesetzt wird;
• Fig. 3 eine perspektivische Detailansicht des Antriebs der Betätigungsvorrichtung von Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 eine weitere perspektivische Detailansicht des Antriebs der Betätigungsvorrichtung von Fig. 2;
• Fig. 5 eine weitere perspektivische Detailansicht des Antriebs der Betätigungsvorrichtung von Fig. 2;
• Fig. 6 die perspektivische Detailansicht von Fig. 5, wobei ein Antriebsritzel entfernt ist;
• Fig. 7 eine Draufsicht auf den in Fig. 6 gezeigten Antrieb im Freilauf; und
• Fig. 8 eine weitere Draufsicht auf den in Fig. 6 gezeigten Antrieb im Anschlag bei geschlossenen Kontakten des Drehschalters.

The drawings show in

• Fig. 1 an external perspective view of an embodiment of a rotary switch with an actuator according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 a perspective view of an embodiment of the actuating device according to the invention, which in the in Fig. 1 shown rotary switch is used;
• Fig. 3 a detailed perspective view of the drive of the actuator of Fig. 2 ;
• Fig. 4 a further perspective detail view of the drive of the actuator of Fig. 2 ;
• Fig. 5 a further perspective detail view of the drive of the actuator of Fig. 2 ;
• Fig. 6 the perspective detail view of Fig. 5 with a drive pinion removed;
• Fig. 7 a top view of the in Fig. 6 shown drive in freewheeling; and
• Fig. 8 another plan view of the in Fig. 6 drive shown in the attack with closed contacts of the rotary switch.

In the following description, identical, functionally identical and functionally connected elements may be provided with the same reference numerals. Absolute values are given below by way of example only and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a rotary switch 50, in which the actuating device according to the invention is used. The housing 54 of the switch 50 conceals the actuating device. Such a rotary switch 50 is mounted for example in a control cabinet. For actuating the contact apparatus of the rotary switch, the switch 50 is provided with a rotary knob 52.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the actuator 10 according to the invention, as shown in the in Fig. 1 shown switch 50 can be used. The illustrated device 10 comprises a drive shaft 12 with a plug-on opening 120 for the rotary knob 52, which can be attached to the opening 120 in a rotationally fixed manner. Reference numeral 56 denotes a bearing for the drive shaft 12, which may be mounted on the inside, for example in a control cabinet, in particular on a cabinet door. In Fig. 2 Furthermore, a bevel gear 58 can be seen, which is driven by a rotatably mounted on the drive shaft 12 gear during rotation of the drive shaft 12. The elements 56 and 58 are not necessary components of the actuating device 10.

The actuator 10 comprises in addition to the drive shaft 12, a first drive member 12, a second drive member 16 and a two members 14 and 16 coupling coil spring 18 whose spring axis is parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and at its two ends is firmly clamped, with one end to the first drive member 14 and the other end to the second drive member 16 is fixedly coupled.

The first drive member 14 is rotatably coupled to the drive shaft 12, thus rotates with a rotation of the drive shaft with this. The second drive member 16 is rotatably mounted on the first drive member 14, namely as in Fig. 4 can be seen pushed over the first drive member 14.

By the coupling spring 18 a rotational movement of the first drive member 14 is in principle transmitted to the second drive member 16. In order to decouple the transmission of this rotational movement and thus the usually manual rotational movement via the rotary knob of a rotational movement of the second drive member 16, a first and second pawl 20 and 22 (see Fig. 3 ), which restrict or block the rotational movement of the second drive member 16. For this purpose, the pawls 20 and 22 are pivotable about a common axis 40 and are pressed by a arranged on the axis 40 spring 42 on guide portions 24 and 26 of the two drive members 14 and 16 respectively.

The guide section 24 of the first drive member 14 has two release sections 28, 30 as release means for the pawls 20, 22. The release portions 28, 30 are formed so that they lift the pawls 20, 22 radially so far that they no longer lock or block a rotational movement of the second drive member 16. Here, the release portions 28 and 30 are shaped so that they one or both pawls 20, 22 lift depending on the rotational position of the first drive member 14.

The guide portion 26 of the second drive member 16 has a locking portion 32 which forms two stops 320 and 322 for the pawls 20 and 22. Once a pawl 20, 22 engages in one of the stops 320, 322 and is not raised radially by a release portion 28, 30 of the first drive member, a rotational movement of the second drive member 16 in a first or a second, opposite to the first direction of rotation 34 and 36 locked.

Fig. 3 shows elements of the actuator 10 in a first switching state in which, for example, the contactor of the switching device is brought by the actuator in a position in which the contacts of the switching device are open. In the first Switching state engages the second pawl 22 in a pawl stop 322 of the locking portion 32 on the guide portion 26 of the second drive member 16 and blocks a rotational movement of this member in a first rotational direction 34 in order to achieve a second switching state. Now, if the drive shaft 12 and with it the rotatably connected first drive member 14 is rotated in the first rotational direction 34 by a predetermined angle of, for example, about 120 °, the spring 18 is tensioned by the rotation and upon reaching the second switching state corresponding position by the first Drive member 14, the second pawl 22 radially raised by the release portion 30 of the guide portion 24 of the first drive member 14, whereby the lock of rotational movement of the second drive member 16 is released and the spring force stored in the tensioned spring 18, a rotation of the second drive member 16 in the first rotational direction causes. This rotation causes the gear 38 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) is rotated over the gear portion 260, whereby the contact apparatus is brought into a position in which the contacts of the rotary switch, for example, are closed.

In this second switching state, the pawl 20 now engages in a pawl stop 320 of the locking portion 32 on the guide portion 26 of the second drive member 16 and blocks a rotational movement of this member in a second direction of rotation 36, which is opposite to the first direction of rotation 34, so that the second drive member 16 is prevented from being turned back to the first switching state. Now, if the drive shaft 12 and with it rotatably connected first drive member 14 is rotated in the second direction 36 by a predetermined angle of, for example, about 120 °, the spring 18 is again stretched by the rotation and upon reaching the first switching state corresponding position by the first drive member 14, the first pawl 20 radially raised by the release portion 28 of the guide portion 24 of the first drive member 14, whereby the lock of rotational movement of the second drive member 16 is released and stored in the tensioned spring 18 spring force rotation of the second drive member 16 in the second Direction of rotation causes. This rotation causes the gear 38 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) is rotated over the gear portion 260, whereby the contact apparatus is brought into a position in which the contacts of the rotary switch are open.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the two drive members 14 and 16 in the assembled state: the first drive member 14 has a first portion 140, with which it can be rotatably mounted on the drive shaft. A second section 142 of the organ 14 closes the first section 140 and is disc-shaped. At its edge, this section 142 has the guide section 24 with the two release sections 28 and 30 for the pawls. A first portion 160 of the second drive member 16 is rotatably mounted on the first portion 140 of the first member 14, in particular pushed over this section. The first portion 160 is closed by a disk-shaped portion 162, the edge of the guide portion has the guide portion 26 with the locking portions 32 for the pawls and a gear portion 260 for moving a gear of the contact apparatus of the rotary switch.

Fig. 5 shows a further view of the actuator 10 and Fig. 6 a view in which the second drive member 16 is removed. Fig. 7 and 8th show plan views of the actuator 10 with removed second drive member 16: in Fig. 7 a freewheeling position is shown, in which the first pawl 20 is radially raised by the release portion 28 and thereby can no longer lock the rotation of the second drive member 16 in the second direction of rotation 36. The second pawl 22, however, is not raised and can lock the rotation of the second drive member 16 in the first direction of rotation 34. Fig. 8 shows a position in which the second pawl 22 is radially raised by the release portion 30 and thus can not lock the rotation of the second drive member 16 in the first direction of rotation 34, while the first pawl 20 is not raised radially and the rotation of the second drive member 16th can lock in the second direction of rotation 36. At the in Fig. 8 shown state, the first drive member 14 is in the stop (positive engagement) and can not be further rotated in the first direction of rotation 34.

reference numeral

10

Rotary switch actuator

12

drive shaft

120

Rotary knob-attachment opening

14

first drive element

140

first portion of the second drive member 14th

142

second portion of the second drive member 14th

16

second drive element

160

first section of the second drive member 16

162

second portion of the second drive member 16th

18

feather

20

first latch

22

second latch

24

guide section

26

guide section

260

gear portion

28

release section

30

release section

32

blocking portion

320

Jack stop

322

Jack stop

34

first direction of rotation

36

second direction of rotation

38

gear

40

Pawl pivot axis

42

feather

50

rotary switch

52

rotary knob

54

switch housing

56

Drive shaft bearings

58

transmission

60

Rotary switch 50 contact apparatus

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus (10) for operating a rotary switch, having
   a drive shaft (12),
   a first and a second drive element (14, 16), wherein the first drive element (14) is coupled to the drive shaft (12) in a rotationally fixed manner, and the second drive element (16) is mounted on the first drive element (14) in a rotatable manner,
   a spring (18) which couples the first and the second drive element (14, 16) to one another with a spring-action,
   locking means (20, 22) for limiting the rotational movements of the second drive element (16) in a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation which is opposite the first direction of rotation, and
   release means (28, 30) for cancelling the limiting of the rotational movement of the second drive element (16) in prespecified rotation positions of the first drive element (14),
   characterised in that
   the locking means have a first latch (20) and a second latch (22) for limiting the rotational movements of the second drive element (16), wherein both latches (20, 22) bear against guide sections (24, 26) of the two drive elements (14, 16) and the guide section (24) of the first drive element (14) has release sections (28, 30) for the latches (20, 22) as release means and the guide section (26) of the second drive element (16) has two stops (320, 322) for the latches as locking means (20, 22).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the locking and release sections (28, 30, 32) are provided on the guide sections (24, 26) in such a way
   that in a first prespecified rotation position of the first drive element (14) for a first switching state the second drive element (16) is locked by the second latch (22) engaging into a first stop (320) for a rotation in a first direction of rotation (34),
   that as a result of a rotation of the first drive element (14) in the first direction of rotation through a prespecified angle as far as a second prespecified rotation position the spring (18) is tensioned, the second latch (22) is released by a first of the release sections (28) and the second drive element (16) is rotated by the spring force stored in the tensioned spring (18) in the first direction of rotation as far as a second switching state,
   that in the second switching state the second drive element (16) is locked by the first latch (20) engaging into a second stop (322) for a rotation in a second direction of rotation (36) which is opposite the first direction of rotation, and
   that as a result of a rotation of the first drive element (14) in the second direction of rotation through the prespecified angle the spring (18) is tensioned, the first latch (20) is released by a second of the release sections (30) after rotation through the prespecified angle and the second drive element (16) is rotated in the second direction of rotation back into the first switching state by the spring force stored in the tensioned spring (18).
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   two release sections (28, 30) with an angular distance corresponding approximately to the prespecified angle are provided on the first drive element (14) and
   a locking section (32), having the two stops (320, 322) for the first and second latch (20, 22), is provided on the second drive element (16).
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3,
   characterised in that
   the first and second latch (20, 22) are arranged pivotably about a common axis (40) above the guide sections (24, 26) and are pushed onto the guide sections (24, 26) by a spring (42).
5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that
   the first drive element (14) has a first section (140) that at least partially encompasses the drive shaft (12) and a second disc-shaped section (142) that closes off the first section (140), wherein the second disc-shaped section (142) has on its edge the guide section (24) with the release sections (28, 30) for the latches (20, 22).
6. Apparatus according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   the second drive element (16) has a first section (160) that at least partially encompasses the first section (140) of the first drive element (14) and a second disc-shaped section (162) that closes off the first section (160), wherein the second disc-shaped section (162) has on its edge the guide section (26) with the two stops (320, 322) for the latches (20, 22) and also a toothed-wheel section (260).
7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the second drive element (16) is embodied as drive pinion, which can drive a toothed wheel (38) coupled to an axis of a rotational contact body.

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