EP3809435A1 - Protection circuit blocking device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a circuit breaker blocking device, in particular a motor protection switch blocking device, comprising two half-shell-shaped housing parts assembled to form a housing shell with a rear wall, in particular housing halves, which are connected to one another via a swivel joint which defines a pivot axis around which the two housing parts are positioned relative to one another Release position and a clamping position are pivotable, and an adjusting element which is adjustable between a basic position and a locking position, in particular rotatable about an axis of rotation, in order to transfer the two housing parts from the release position into the clamping position.

Description

The present invention relates to a circuit breaker blocking device, in particular a motor protection switch blocking device.

Motor protection switches are provided to protect electric motors from overload, failure of external conductors and / or short circuits, so that damage, in particular overheating, of the respective protected devices can be prevented. In addition, they are used to switch the motor on and off during maintenance. A motor protection switch has a rotary or push button as a handle with which the motor protection switch can be switched on and off manually, i.e. by hand. After a trip, the motor protection switch must be switched on again manually. In principle, however, a motor protection switch should only be switched on again when the cause of its switch-off is known and eliminated. Otherwise, restarting the device can lead to property damage and / or personal injury.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a circuit breaker locking device with which the handle of a circuit breaker, in particular the handle of a motor circuit breaker, for example in the case of maintenance, can be secured against being switched on again by unauthorized third parties.

This object is achieved by a circuit breaker locking device with the features of claim 1, and in particular by a circuit breaker locking device, in particular a motor protection switch locking device, comprising two half-shell-shaped assemblies to form a housing shell with a rear wall Housing parts, in particular housing halves, which are connected to one another via a swivel joint which defines a pivot axis about which the two housing parts can be pivoted relative to one another between a release position and a clamping position, in particular limited, in particular limited in both directions. The circuit breaker blocking device further comprises an adjustment element which is adjustable, in particular rotatable about an axis of rotation, between a basic position and a locking position, in particular limited, in particular limited in the direction of the locking position, in order to transfer the two housing parts from the release position to the clamping position.

The housing shell comprises two housing parts which are connected to one another via a swivel joint, so that the housing shell can assume a release position and a clamping position. In the release position, the housing shell can be placed on a housing of a motor protection switch in order to cover the handle of a motor protection switch. The housing shell can then be transferred in the direction of the clamping position by pivoting the two housing parts relative to one another and thus clamped on the housing of the motor protection switch. The pivoting of the two housing parts relative to one another takes place by moving an adjusting element into a locking position. The locking device according to the invention can, however, also be suitable for circuit breakers other than motor circuit breakers.

The two housing parts can each have a clamping jaw, in particular on their side facing away from the swivel joint, which are moved towards each other when the two housing parts are moved into the clamping position in order to clamp the circuit breaker locking device to a housing of a circuit breaker, in particular a motor circuit breaker. The two clamping jaws can each be provided with a self-adhesive friction lining or anti-slip lining in order to increase the effectiveness of the clamping of the locking device on a housing of a circuit breaker.

Furthermore, a locking device can be provided in order to fix the adjusting element in the locking position by means of a locking element, in particular a padlock, in order to secure the adjusting element against being moved into the basic position. In order to secure the housing shell on the housing of the motor protection switch against unauthorized removal, a locking device can be provided, which by means of a locking element, in particular a padlock, the adjustment element in the locking position and thus the housing shell in the clamping position and thus the circuit breaker locking device the housing of the motor protection switch. The circuit breaker locking device according to the invention can thus prevent unauthorized access to a handle of a motor circuit breaker. The locking device can be referred to in English as a "lockout" device.

The adjustment element can have a drive section which engages the two housing parts. The two housing parts can then be transferred from the release position into the clamping position by the drive section of the adjusting element.

According to a preferred embodiment, the drive section comprises a circular or oval, in particular elliptical or eccentric, in particular circumferential, control cam with two opposing flat areas and two opposing end areas. In the basic position of the adjusting element, the two end regions are preferably oriented in the direction of the pivot axis of the rotary joint. The adjustment element is preferably rotatably supported by means of the drive section, in particular the control cam of the drive section, in a recess formed in the rear wall of the housing shell, in particular in an opposing manner, the recess being proportionately in one housing part and proportionately in the other housing part is trained. By rotating the adjusting element from the basic position into the locking position, the two correspondingly rotated end areas push the two housing parts apart on the rear wall, so that the two housing parts are forced to pivot about the pivot axis of the swivel joint into the clamping position. It is preferred here if the drive section has a web, in particular a circumferential web, on both sides of the control cam, the adjusting element being held on the rear wall in the axial direction by the two webs.

The angle difference between the basic position and the locking position of the adjusting element can, for example, be in a range between 60 ° and 120 °, in particular between 80 ° and 100 °, in particular 90 °. In particular, the rotary movement of the adjusting element in the locking position can be limited by a stop.

The adjusting element preferably comprises a manually operable rotary handle, in particular arranged on an outside of the rear wall, which is at least non-rotatably, in particular fixedly, connected to the drive section in order to adjust the adjusting element between the basic position and the locking position. The rotary handle can be designed as a wing handle, in particular with two wings protruding radially from the axis of rotation in opposite directions. Such an adjusting element is easily accessible and easily rotatable.

On the rear wall of the housing shell, on at least one of the two housing parts, in particular on both housing parts, a, in particular a respective, stop for the rotary handle, in particular for one, in particular a respective one of the two wings of the wing handle, in the locking position of the adjusting element can be provided.

According to one embodiment, the locking device can include that at least one of the two stops, in particular both stops, has a respective eyelet, in particular have, and that one of the two wings has an eyelet, the eyelet of the wing and the eyelet of the associated stop in the Locking positions are aligned with one another so that a locking element can be passed through. In principle, the other wing can also have an eyelet. In this way, the setting of the adjustment element in the locking position and thus the two housing parts in the clamping position can be achieved in a simple manner, which is intuitively accessible to the user.

In general, it is preferred if the locking device has two eyelets which are aligned with one another in the locking position of the adjusting element, so that a locking element can be passed through, whereby the rotary handle of the adjusting element is fixed on the stop. In particular, it can be provided that of the two eyelets one eyelet is formed on the rotary handle and the other eyelet is formed on the blocking element explained below.

According to an alternative embodiment, the adjusting element can comprise a blocking element, in particular a slide. The blocking element is in particular adjustable, in particular displaceable, held on the rotary handle between an initial position and a blocking position, the blocking element in its blocking position blocking an adjustment of the adjustment element in the locking position into the basic position. This advantageously reliably prevents the adjusting element from rotating back out of the locking position - independently of locking by a locking element. A turning back of the adjusting element could otherwise, that is, without a blocking element, under certain circumstances when the circuit breaker device is locked, if the locking element used allows play between the eyelet and the stop.

The swivel joint preferably comprises that the housing shell has a swivel connection on each of two mutually opposite side walls. The respective rotary connection preferably comprises an opening in the one housing part and a pin, in particular expanding pin, formed on the other housing part and engaging, in particular latching, in the opening. A housing shell with such rotary connections is particularly easy to assemble from the two housing parts. In particular, the two housing parts can each have an opening and a pin. It is preferably provided that for the respective rotary connection one housing part is designed to be resilient in the area of the opening and / or the other housing part in the area of the pin in order to enable the two housing parts to be easily assembled.

It also has an advantageous effect on the production and storage costs if the two housing parts are of identical design. In this case in particular, the two housing parts are then housing halves. The two housing parts can, however, also be designed differently from one another, in particular of different sizes.

In particular, the two housing parts can each be designed as a plastic injection-molded part and / or in one piece, so that the two housing parts can be manufactured particularly easily. In addition, more complex shapes can easily be produced with an injection molding process.

The two housing parts can, for example, be pivotable relative to one another by an angle of less than 10 °, in particular in a range between 2 ° and 8 °. It is therefore sufficient if the clamping position differs from the release position by only a few angular degrees in order to achieve effective clamping of the locking device on a housing of a circuit breaker.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the pivoting movement of the two housing parts relative to one another in the release position by abutting a rear wall section of the one housing part against a rear wall section of the other housing part and / or in the clamping position by abutting at least one side wall section of the one housing part against a respective side wall section of the other housing part is limited.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims, the description of the figures and the drawing.

Fig. 1A

einen Motorschutzschalter und eine erfindungsgemäße Motorschutzschalter-Sperrvorrichtung in einer Freigabestellung,

Fig. 1B

den Motorschutzschalter und die Motorschutzschalter-Sperrvorrichtung aus Fig. 1A, wobei die Motorschutzschalter-Sperrvorrichtung eine durch ein Vorhangschloss gesicherte Klemmstellung einnimmt, in der sie an dem Motorschutzschalter festgeklemmt ist,

Fig. 2

die Motorschutzschalter-Sperrvorrichtung aus Fig. 1 in einer Explosionsdarstellung,

Fig. 3A, B

ein Verstellelement der Motorschutzschalter-Sperrvorrichtung aus den Fig. 1 und 2 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht und einer Frontalansicht,

Fig. 4A, B

eine Motorschutzschalter-Sperrvorrichtung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Erfindung in zwei verschiedenen perspektivischen Ansichten, und

Fig. 5

die Motorschutzschalter-Sperrvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 4A, wobei ein Blockierelement weggelassen ist.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawing. Show it

Figure 1A

a motor protection switch and a motor protection switch locking device according to the invention in a release position,

Figure 1B

the motor protection switch and the motor protection switch locking device Figure 1A , whereby the motor protection switch locking device assumes a clamping position secured by a padlock, in which it is clamped to the motor protection switch,

Fig. 2

the motor protection switch locking device off Fig. 1 in an exploded view,

Figures 3A, B

an adjusting element of the motor protection switch locking device from the Fig. 1 and 2 in a perspective view and a frontal view,

Figures 4A, B

a motor protection switch locking device according to a further embodiment of the invention in two different perspective views, and

Fig. 5

the motor protection switch locking device according to Figure 4A , wherein a blocking element is omitted.

In the Figure 1A and 1B a standard motor protection switch 11 is shown with a housing 13 and a rotary switch 15 that can be switched between an OFF and an ON position. A motor protection switch locking device 17 can be attached to the housing 13 of the motor protection switch 11 and then secured against being removed from the housing 13 by means of a padlock 19 in order to prevent the rotary switch 15 from being actuated (cf. Figure 1B ). This is particularly necessary if a manual restart of a previously triggered motor protection switch 11 by any third party is to be prevented.

The motor protection switch locking device 17 comprises two half-shell-shaped housing parts 21, in particular housing halves, which are assembled to form a housing shell 23 with a rear wall 25, two opposing side walls 27 and two opposing end walls 29 (see also Fig. 2 ). The two housing parts 21 are in the embodiment according to Figs. 1 to 3 designed identically, but can also be designed in different ways, in particular of different sizes. The two housing parts 21 are each produced by a plastic injection molding process and are therefore formed in one piece. The two housing parts 21 each have a protruding clamping jaw 41, via which the motor protection switch locking device 17 can be clamped to the housing 13 of the motor protection switch 11 and thus fastened. The two housing parts 21 are connected to one another via a swivel joint 31. The swivel joint 31 defines a pivot axis S in order to pivot the two housing parts 21 relative to one another. The rotary joint 31 has a rotary joint 33 on each of the two side walls 27 of the housing shell 23. For this purpose, the two housing parts 21 each have an opening 35 on one side wall 27 and a pin 37 on the other side wall 27. When the two housing parts 21 are put together, the pin 37 of one housing part 21 engages in the opening 35 of the other housing part 21 and vice versa, whereby the two rotary connections 33 and thus the rotary joint 31 are formed. Since the pins 37 are designed as expanding pins, they snap into the openings 35. In order to enable the two housing parts 21 to be assembled, the side walls 27 are designed to be resilient at least in the area of the openings 35 and / or the pins 37.

Furthermore, the motor protection switch locking device 17 comprises an adjusting element 39, which can be moved between a basic position, which is shown in FIG Figure 1A is shown, and a locking position shown in Figure 1B is shown, is rotatable about an axis of rotation D. The basic position and the locking position are offset from one another by at least substantially 90 °. Rotating the adjusting element 39 from the basic position into the locking position causes the two housing parts 21 to move out of a release position shown in FIG Figure 1A is shown, about the pivot axis S, in particular slightly, tilted against each other and thereby in a clamping position, which is shown in FIG Figure 1B is shown, transferred, whereby the two clamping jaws 41, which are each arranged at the free end of the respective housing part 21, are moved towards each other in order to clamp the housing 13 of the motor protection switch 11 between them and thus the motor protection switch locking device 17 on the housing 13 of the motor protection switch 11 to be attached. In order to increase the clamping effect, the two clamping jaws 41 are each provided with a strip-shaped friction lining 43 on their mutually facing sides.

The two housing parts 21 are limited to pivotability relative to one another by an angle of a few degrees, for example in a range between 2 ° and 8 °. The limitation is achieved in that in the release position a rear wall section of one housing part 21 abuts a rear wall section of the other housing part 21 and in the clamping position a respective side wall section of one housing part 21 abuts a respective side wall section of the other housing part 21.

The adjustment element 39 comprises a drive section 45 with a circumferential control cam 47, which is oval, in particular eccentric, and has two opposing flat areas 49 and two opposing end areas 51 (cf. in particular the Figures 3A and 3B ). The adjusting element 39 is rotatably supported via the drive section 45, in particular the control cam 47 of the drive section 45, in a recess 53 formed in the rear wall 25 of the housing shell 23, which is formed in a counter-shape to the drive section 45. The recess 53 is formed half in one housing part 21 and half in the other housing part 21.

Since the two end areas 51 in the basic position of the adjusting element 39 are oriented in the direction of the pivot axis S of the swivel joint 31, the drive section 45 engages the two housing parts 21 in such a way that when the adjusting element 39 is rotated from the basic position into the locking position, the two end areas 51 of the drive section 45 press the two housing parts 21 apart on the rear wall 25, so that the two housing parts 21 are driven into the clamping position for the aforementioned pivoting movement about the pivot axis S of the rotary joint 31. In order to fasten the adjusting element 39 axially fixed to the rear wall 25, a circumferential web 55 is provided on both sides of the control cam 47.

In order to effect the rotation between the basic position and the locking position, the adjusting element 39 comprises a manually operated rotary handle 57 which is permanently connected to the drive section 45 and which, when the motor protection switch locking device 17 is assembled, is arranged on an outside of the rear wall 25 and as a wing handle with two vanes 59 projecting radially from the axis of rotation D in opposite directions are formed.

To the motor protection switch locking device 17 in the clamping position according to Figure 1B To secure against removal from the housing 13 of the motor protection switch 11, one of the two wings 59 of the rotary handle 57 has an eyelet 61. In addition, a stop 63 protrudes from the rear wall 25 of the housing shell 23 on the two housing parts 21, the two stops 63 each also being provided with an eyelet 65. In the locked position of the adjusting element 39, a wing 59 of the rotary handle 57 abuts a respective one of the two stops 63, the eyelet 61 of one wing 59 with the eyelet 65 of the stop 63 and the wing 59 with the eyelet 61 in the locking position strikes, is aligned, so that a bracket of a padlock can be passed through the pair of eyelets 61, 65 formed in this way, so that the adjusting element 39 can be fixed in the locking position. The one wing 59, the eyelet 61, the one stop 63 and the associated eyelet 65 thereby form a locking device 67 according to the invention or are at least a part thereof.

In the Fig. 4 and 5 a further embodiment of a motor protection switch locking device is shown, in comparison with the first embodiment according to FIGS Figs. 1 to 3 Identical or identically acting features are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the differences from the first embodiment will primarily be discussed below, which essentially lie in the design of the adjusting element 39 and the stop 63 of the lower housing part 21 in the figures.

The adjusting element 39 of the embodiment according to FIGS Fig. 4 and 5 has a drive section 45 and a manually operated rotary handle 57, connected to the drive section 45, with a wing 59 with an eyelet 61, which connects the drive section 45 and the rotary handle 57 with the wing 59 with the eyelet 61 of the embodiment according to FIGS Figs. 1 to 3 correspond. In addition, the adjusting element 39 has a blocking element 69 which is inserted into a longitudinal opening 71 formed in the rotary handle 57. For this purpose, the blocking element 69 is clipped onto the rotary handle 57 via two spring-elastic latching projections 73 which engage behind the longitudinal opening 71. In addition, an eyelet 65 is formed in the blocking element 69. For this purpose, the stop 63 of the lower housing part 21 - in contrast to the embodiment according to FIG Figs. 1 to 3 - no eyelet open.

The blocking element 69 is along the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal opening 71 between a starting position (not shown) and a position in FIG Fig. 4 Locking position shown can be displaced. In the starting position, the blocking element 69 is displaced upwards in relation to the blocking position shown, so that the adjusting element 39 is easily moved out of its position into the Fig. 4 and 5 The locking position shown can be turned back into the basic position. If, however, the blocking element 69 is in its blocking position according to FIG Fig. 4 , a turning back of the adjusting element 39 from the locking position in the direction of the basic position is prevented by the blocking element 69.

In addition, in the blocking position of the blocking element 69, the eyelet 65 of the blocking element 69 is aligned with the eyelet 61 of the rotary handle 57, so that the eyelet pair 61, 65 thus formed - analogously to the eyelet pair of the embodiment according to FIGS Figs. 1 to 3 - A padlock can be passed through in order to fix the adjusting element 39 in the locking position. The wing 59, the eyelet 61, the stop 63 and the eyelet 65 in turn form a locking device 67 according to the invention or are at least a part of it.

List of reference symbols

11

Motor protection switch

13th

casing

15th

Rotary switch

17th

Motor protection switch locking device

19th

Padlock

21

Housing part

23

Housing shell

25th

Back wall

27

Side wall

29

Front wall

31

Swivel joint

33

Slewing ring

35

opening

37

Cones

39

Adjustment element

41

Jaw

43

Friction lining

45

Drive section

47

Control curve

49

Flat area

51

Forehead area

53

Recess

55

web

57

Twist grip

59

wing

61

eyelet

63

attack

65

eyelet

67

Locking device

69

Blocking element

71

Longitudinal opening

73

Locking projection

D.

Axis of rotation

S.

Swivel axis

Claims (16)

Circuit breaker blocking device, in particular motor protection switch blocking device, comprising
two half-shell-shaped housing parts (21) assembled to form a housing shell (23) with rear wall (25), in particular housing halves, which are connected to one another via a swivel joint (31) which defines a pivot axis (S) around which the two housing parts (21) are relative are pivotable to each other between a release position and a clamping position, and
an adjusting element (39) which can be adjusted between a basic position and a locking position, in particular rotatable about an axis of rotation (D), in order to transfer the two housing parts (21) from the release position to the clamping position. Circuit breaker locking device according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the two housing parts (21) each have a clamping jaw (41) which, when the two housing parts (21) are transferred into the clamping position, are moved towards one another in order to secure the circuit breaker locking device (17) to a housing (13) of a circuit breaker (11) , in particular motor protection switch, to be clamped,
the two clamping jaws (41) preferably each being provided with a self-adhesive friction lining (43). Circuit breaker blocking device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
a locking device (67) is provided to fix the adjusting element (39) in the locking position by means of a locking element (19), in particular a padlock, in order to secure the adjusting element (39) against being moved into the basic position. Circuit breaker locking device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the adjusting element (39) has a drive section (45) which engages on the two housing parts (21). Circuit breaker blocking device according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the drive section (45) comprises an in particular eccentric control cam (47) deviating from a circular shape with two opposite flat areas (49) and two opposite end areas (51),
wherein the two end regions (51) are preferably oriented in the basic position of the adjusting element (39) in the direction of the pivot axis (S) of the swivel joint (31), the adjusting element (39) by means of the drive section (45), in particular the control cam (47) of the drive section (45) is rotatably mounted in a recess (53), in particular counter-shaped, in the rear wall (25) of the housing shell (23), and wherein the recess (53) is partly in the one housing part (21) and partly in the other housing part (21) is formed. Circuit breaker blocking device according to claim 5,
characterized in that
the drive section (45) on both sides of the control cam (47) each one in particular having circumferential web (55), the adjusting element (39) being held by the two webs (55) in the axial direction on the rear wall (25). Circuit breaker locking device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the angle difference between the basic position and the locking position of the adjusting element (39) is in a range between 60 ° and 120 °, in particular between 80 ° and 100 °, in particular 90 °. Circuit breaker blocking device according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 7,
characterized in that
the adjusting element (39) comprises a manually operable rotary handle (57) which is arranged in particular on an outside of the rear wall (25) and which is at least non-rotatably, in particular fixedly, connected to the drive section (45) in order to move the adjusting element (39) between the To adjust the basic position and the locking position,
wherein the rotary handle (57) is preferably designed as a wing handle, in particular with two wings (59) protruding radially from the axis of rotation (D) in opposite directions. Circuit breaker locking device according to claim 8,
characterized in that
a stop (63) for the rotary handle (57) in the locking position of the adjusting element (39) is provided on the rear wall (25) of the housing shell (23) on at least one of the two housing parts (21). Circuit breaker locking device according to claim 3 and 9,
characterized in that
the locking device (67) has two eyelets (61, 65) which are aligned with one another in the locking position of the adjusting element (39) so that a locking element (19) can be passed through, whereby the rotary handle (57) of the adjusting element (39) on the stop (63 ) is fixed. Circuit breaker blocking device according to one of claims 8 to 10,
characterized in that
the adjusting element (39) comprises a blocking element (69), in particular a slide, the blocking element (69) being held on the rotary handle (57) so as to be adjustable, in particular displaceable, between an initial position and a blocking position, the blocking element (69) in its blocking position blocks an adjustment of the adjusting element (39), which is in the locking position, into the basic position. Circuit breaker blocking device according to claim 10 and 11,
characterized in that
of the two eyelets (61, 65), one eyelet (61) is formed on the rotary handle (57) and the other eyelet (65) is formed on the blocking element (69). Circuit breaker locking device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the swivel joint (31) comprises that the housing shell (23) each has a swivel connection (33) on two opposite side walls (27),
wherein the respective rotary connection (33) preferably comprises an opening (35) in one housing part (21) and a pin (37) formed on the other housing part (21) which engages, in particular latches, into the opening (35). Circuit breaker blocking device according to claim 13,
characterized in that
for the respective rotary connection (33) one housing part (21) in the area of the opening (35) and / or the other housing part (21) in the area of the pin (37) is designed to be resilient in order to assemble the two housing parts (21) enable. Circuit breaker locking device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the two housing parts (21) are identical, each designed as a plastic injection-molded part and / or in one piece, and / or the two housing parts (21) at an angle of less than 10 °, in particular in a range between 2 ° and 8 °, relative are pivotable to each other. Circuit breaker locking device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the pivoting movement of the two housing parts (21) relative to one another in the release position by abutting a rear wall section of one housing part (21) against a rear wall section of the other housing part (21) and / or in the clamping position by abutting at least one side wall section of one housing part (21) a respective side wall section of the other housing part (21) is limited.

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