EP4068322A1 - Switching device with snap-action switching mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a switching device (1), in particular a multi-pole switching device for use on busbar systems. The switching device (1) has at least one switching contact (2), wherein the at least one switching contact (2) can be transferred from a contact position to an open position and vice versa, the switching device (1) having an actuatable snap-action switching mechanism (5) for transferring the at least one switching contact (2) from the contact position to the open position and vice versa.

Description

The present invention relates to a switching device. The invention relates in particular to a multi-pole switching device for use on busbar systems. Busbar systems are widely used and allow switching devices to be mounted directly on the busbar when they are installed. The dimensioning of the conductor rails of the busbar system primarily depends on the current load. Several conductor rails or busbars can be laid in parallel in switchgear. The busbars are usually made of aluminum or copper and are usually uninsulated, which simplifies the assembly of connection and switching elements.

Switching devices, in particular electrical load switches, in particular those with fuses, are used, for example, in industry and power plants both as busbar feeder switches and as outgoing switches for switching highly inductive loads (e.g. motors) including overloads.

The switching device according to the invention is in particular a switching device for use on a busbar system, the switching device covering a current range in which cylindrical fuses are used, for example D0 fuses. The inventive Switching device can be used, for example, as a back-up fuse for series installation devices, as a protective device for drives in production facilities and/or in photovoltaic installations.

A switching device that is designed for use on busbar systems is, for example, from EP 1 246 212 A2 known. Furthermore, the EP 1 271 583 A2 and the EP 2 747 104 B1 Switching devices designed for use on busbar systems.

When switching such a switching device, a switching contact is transferred from an open position to a contact position and vice versa.

In order to achieve a particularly high operating safety of the switching device, it is advantageous to switch on and/or off independently of the operator, in particular in order to make the switching device operable by laypersons. The requirement is therefore to design the switching device in such a way that the switching device is switched on and/or off independently of the operator, so that the actual switching process, in which the switching contact is transferred from the open position to the contact position and/or vice versa, is no longer carried out by the operator can be interrupted.

This object is achieved by a switching device designed according to patent claim 1 .

The switching device according to the invention is designed in particular as a multi-pole switching device for use on busbar systems. The switching device preferably has a plurality of fuse holders, in particular for cylindrical fuses, with the fuse holders preferably being arranged in a row transversely to the busbar system and in the longitudinal direction of the switching device. The switching device is in particular a load-break switch for a busbar system. The switching device has at least one switching contact, wherein the at least one switching contact can be transferred from a contact position to an open position and vice versa. In particular, the switching device has a number of fuse holders in an embodiment with a number of fuse holders Switch contacts, wherein the respective switch contact is assigned to one of the fuse holders, preferably the plurality of switch contacts can be actuated via a common slide that is slidably mounted in the housing.

The switching device has an actuatable snap-action mechanism for transferring the at least one switching contact from the contact position to the open position and vice versa. The snap-action switching mechanism has a joint arrangement with a first pivoted lever pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis, preferably fixed to the housing, and with a second pivoted lever pivoted about a second pivot axis, preferably fixed to the housing. The first pivoted lever and the second pivoted lever are connected to one another in an articulated manner via a connecting means, the connecting means being slidably mounted in the first pivoted lever while deforming a restoring means. When the switching contact is transferred from the contact position to the open position and/or vice versa, the first pivoted lever pivots up to a tipping point position against a restoring force of the restoring means, and after the tipping point position is exceeded, the restoring means supports further pivoting of the first pivoted lever. The connecting means is also slidably mounted in the second pivoted lever, the switching device having a guide structure, preferably fixed to the housing, the connecting means interacting with the guide structure when the switching contact is transferred from the contact position to the interrupted position and vice versa.

The restoring means thus supports pivoting of the first pivoted lever and thus switching of the switching device once the tipping point has been exceeded. The restoring means serves as a sort of energy store and thereby ensures reliable switching when the tipping point is exceeded.

For safety reasons, it is advantageous or even mandatory for switching mechanisms for switching switching devices to implement certain pivoting ranges in which pivoting of the pivoting lever during the switching process does not yet result in a movement of one or more of the contacts of the switching contact leads. It is therefore particularly advantageous with regard to reliable switching behavior to design the pivoting range of the first pivoted lever and/or the second pivoted lever to be particularly large. However, an increase in the pivoting range is not readily possible, particularly when the installation space available is limited. A limiting factor in the design of the pivoting angle range of the respective pivoting lever is therefore on the one hand the available installation space, which is particularly small in the case of switching devices for busbar systems, in particular for those with cylindrical fuses. On the other hand, the force acting on the switching contact, which is imparted by the second pivoted lever, must also be particularly large in order to ensure reliable switching of the switching contact. Due to the inventive design of the snap-action switchgear with a connecting means that is slidably mounted in the first pivoted lever and in the second pivoted lever for the articulated connection of the two pivoted levers, particularly large pivoting angle ranges for the first and/or the second pivoted lever can be achieved with a small installation space requirement for the snap-action switchgear. so that the process of shifting the rear derailleur can be finely and precisely tuned. Because the connecting means is movably mounted both in the first pivoted lever and in the second pivoted lever, the angular position of the two pivoted levers relative to one another during the switching process of the switching device can be varied over a wide range, in particular the length of the respective lever arm of the first pivoted lever and / or the second pivot lever, thus the distance of the connecting means from the first pivot axis or from the second pivot axis can be adjusted within wide ranges. The displacement of the connecting means in the first pivoted lever and in the second pivoted lever can be influenced by the guide structure in order to adjust the switching behavior of the snap-action rear derailleur, since the position of the connecting means in the first pivoted lever and in the second pivoted lever during the process of pivoting the first Pivoting lever can be adjusted. As a result, the forces to be applied during the shifting process or the force applied by the rear derailleur can be set particularly easily and precisely. The concept can be transferred to a wide variety of snap-action derailleurs and can be used very universally. In particular, complex designs or redesigns of the pivoting lever can be avoided, since the switching behavior can be adjusted by means of the guide structure. This saves development costs and costs for the production of prototypes.

Furthermore, the guide structure is also to be regarded as advantageous in terms of avoiding bouncing. When the snap-action switch mechanism flips over at the tipping point, particularly high forces act on the snap-action switch mechanism and the switching contact, so that the switching contact can bounce undesirably when the contact elements of the switching contact reach the contact position and/or the open position. The bouncing can be caused by the mechanical forces during or after the flipping of the snap-action switching mechanism, for example if the switching contact or a contact element of the switching contact is abruptly accelerated and abruptly decelerated in the contact position, in particular if a contact element of the switching contact suddenly moves in the direction after the tipping point has been exceeded of the other contact element of the switching contact or in the opposite direction and accordingly hits the other contact element or a stop at high speed. In this respect, such bouncing can be described as mechanically caused. Furthermore, in an energized switching device, i.e. a switching device to which electrical current is applied, when switching, in particular when switching into the contact position, the electromagnetic fields that then occur can contribute to an electromagnetic force that drives the contact elements apart or drives them together acting on the contact elements. This can then also lead to chattering of the switching contact, in particular of the contact elements of the switching contact, and/or amplify mechanically caused chattering. Such bouncing caused by electromagnetic forces can in this respect be referred to as electromagnetically caused. With an appropriate design, the guide structure can also be used to brake the movement of the snap-action mechanism by interacting with the connecting means after the tipping point has been exceeded, in order in this way to brake the movement of the snap-action mechanism and thus of the switching contact, in particular one of the contact elements, which is advantageous affects the service life of the snap-action mechanism and/or the switching contact and the safety when switching.

In particular, the use of such a snap-action switch in a switching device designed as a load-break switch for a 60 mm busbar system has proven to be particularly advantageous, since the space available for a snap-action switch in such a switching device is particularly small. It has been shown that by using a switching device designed according to the invention as a switching device for a 60 mm busbar system, the angular gain for the pivoting angle of the second pivoted lever is between 10° and 20° compared to a switching device with a snap-action switch mechanism in which the connecting means is stationary in the second pivoted lever is mounted.

When the switching contact is transferred from the interrupted position to the contact position and/or when the switching contact is transferred from the contact position to the interrupted position, the connecting means moves along a trajectory. The trajectory along which the connecting means moves when moving from the disconnected position to the contact position does not necessarily have to be identical to the trajectory when moving from the contact position to the disconnected position.

The trajectory preferably has a first trajectory curve section and a second trajectory curve section following the first trajectory curve section, wherein the connecting means interacts with the guide structure in the first trajectory curve section and does not interact with the guide structure in the second trajectory curve section. Thus, the movement of the connecting means in the area of the second trajectory curve section is not influenced by the guide structure. As a result, no additional frictional forces occur between the connecting means and the guide structure in the area of the second trajectory curve section, which could have a negative effect on the switching behavior of the snap-action rear derailleur. The trajectory preferably has a third trajectory section following the second trajectory curve section, with the connecting means interacting with the guide structure in the third trajectory curve section.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the trajectory consists of the first, the second and the third trajectory section.

The connecting means preferably interacts with the guide structure over the entire first trajectory curve section and/or the entire third trajectory curve section. In particular, the guide means does not interact with the guide structure over the entire second trajectory curve section.

It is considered advantageous if the connecting means rests against the guide structure in the contact position and/or the open position.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the connecting means is located in the second trajectory section in the tipping point position, so that the connecting means does not interact with the guide structure in the tipping point position. This avoids unwanted braking or impeding of the movement of the snap-action switching mechanism in the region of the tipping point position, as a result of which the guide structure does not have a negative effect on the desired abrupt switching of the snap-action switching mechanism.

The guide structure is preferably designed in such a way that in the first trajectory section the connecting means is displaced against the restoring force of the restoring means in the first pivoted lever and is also displaced in the second pivoted lever. The angular positions of the first pivoted lever and the second pivoted lever can thus be adjusted by means of the guide structure, in particular at the beginning of the shifting process, in particular in order to achieve favorable lever ratios at the beginning of the shifting process. This is necessary in particular when the first pivoted lever and the second pivoted lever are at an angle to one another in the contact position and/or disconnection position, in which a force exerted by the first pivoted lever on the second pivoted lever essentially along the connecting line of the connecting means to the second Pivot axis would act. Such a position of the two pivoted levers relative to one another, if the connecting means could not be displaced in the second pivoted lever, would mean that the snap-action rear derailleur could not be operated or could only be operated with great force, since the two pivoted levers are in or almost in a dead center position or over dead center position would. Due to the The displaceability of the connecting means in the second pivoted lever can, with a corresponding configuration of the displaceability, overcome the dead center or over-dead-centre position by changing the position of the connecting means in the second pivoted lever, but the angle gain, particularly in the case of limited installation space and thus limited displaceability of the connecting means in the second pivot lever, often insufficient to achieve the desired switching behavior.

Against this background, it is also considered advantageous if the connecting means in the second pivoted lever can be displaced from a first end position to a second end position, with the distance between the connecting means and the second pivot axis being greater in the first end position than in the second end position, with the guide structure is designed in such a way that when the switching contact is transferred from the disconnected position to the contact position and/or when the switch contact is transferred from the contact position to the disconnected position, the distance between the connecting means and the first pivot axis when the second end position is reached is less than this would be the case without the governance structure.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the connecting means is in the open position and in the first end position in the contact position. In the pivot point position, the connecting means is preferably in the second end position. It is considered particularly advantageous if the connecting means is in the second end position in the second trajectory section, preferably over the entire second trajectory section in the second end position.

Preferably, the joint arrangement has a third pivoted lever mounted pivotably about a third pivot axis, preferably fixed to the housing, the third pivoted lever interacting positively with the second pivoted lever when the second pivoted lever is pivoted with play in the pivoting direction of the second pivoted lever. As a result, the second pivoted lever can be pivoted through a limited angular range without the third pivoted lever pivoting. Consequently there is a certain amount of freewheeling between the second pivoting lever and the third pivoting lever. In such a design of the snap-action derailleur, the second pivoted lever is often also referred to as the freewheel lever or switching rod and/or the third pivoted lever as the rotor.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the third pivoted lever has stops spaced apart in the pivoting direction of the second pivoted lever in order to limit pivoting of the second pivoted lever relative to the third pivoted lever. For this purpose, the third pivoted lever preferably has a sector-shaped recess, with the second pivoted lever being arranged in this sector-shaped recess.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the third pivot axis is identical to the second pivot axis. As a result, the snap-action derailleur has a particularly simple design, since the second pivoted lever and the third pivoted lever can be mounted on one and the same bearing axis. This bearing axle is preferably a rod-shaped bearing axle, in particular a metal pin.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the joint arrangement has a toggle lever joint arrangement, in particular the third pivoting lever forms a lever of the toggle lever joint arrangement. In the contact position, the toggle joint arrangement is preferably in a dead center or over-dead center position. It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the toggle lever articulated arrangement is formed by the third pivoted lever, a fourth pivoted lever connected in an articulated manner to the third pivoted lever and a slide which is mounted displaceably in the switching device and to which the fourth pivoted lever is connected in an articulated manner, with a contact element of the switching contact being in the slide is stored. It is quite conceivable that one contact element is mounted in the slide in a stationary manner or is displaceable against a restoring force of a restoring means mounted in the slide, with the snap-action switching mechanism interacting with the slide.

In particular, the switching contact has a contact element that is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner in the switching device, in particular that one contact element is mounted in a slide and another contact element of the switching contact is mounted stationarily in the switching device.

The return mechanism of the snap-action mechanism preferably has one or more mechanical springs. In particular, the restoring means is formed by one or more mechanical springs. The one or more mechanical springs are preferably mounted in the first pivoting lever. In this context, it is considered to be particularly advantageous if the first pivoting lever has two legs running parallel, with each leg receiving a mechanical spring, in particular the respective leg passing through the spring assigned to it. The connecting means preferably passes through a slot formed in the respective leg. It is quite conceivable that the springs or the respective spring are arranged in a bearing pocket, with the two springs being supported on the connecting means via the bearing pocket.

It is considered advantageous if the first pivoted lever has an elongated hole and the second pivoted lever has an elongated hole, with the connecting means passing through the two elongated holes. The respective elongated hole is preferably designed as a straight elongated hole which extends along the longitudinal extent of the respective pivoted lever.

The connecting means is preferably in the form of a rod, in particular in the form of a metal pin.

The switching device preferably has a bearing structure, with the second pivoted lever being mounted in the bearing structure in a stationary manner and pivotable about the second pivot axis, and/or the third pivoted lever being mounted in the bearing structure in a stationary manner and pivotable about the third pivot axis, with the bearing structure having the guide structure. Such a configuration has the advantage that the switching device can be produced particularly inexpensively and easily, since the bearing structure assumes the task of bearing at least one of the pivoting levers can and at the same time realize the management structure. This design is also to be regarded as particularly advantageous with regard to assembly, since the bearing structure, the second pivoted lever and/or the third pivoted lever and any components that interact with the third pivoted lever can be preassembled and inserted as a unit in a housing of the switching device during the assembly process or can be used. It is quite conceivable that the first pivoting lever is also mounted in the bearing structure.

The guide structure is preferably formed by an outer edge of the bearing structure.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous, in particular with regard to simple assembly, if the bearing structure has two bearing plates, with the second pivoting lever and/or the third pivoting lever being arranged between the two bearing plates. The bearing plates are preferably mounted stationarily in a housing of the switching device, in particular mounted in a form-fitting manner in a receiving structure of the housing. The bearing plates are preferably mounted in the housing in the manner of a press fit. It is quite conceivable that a bearing axis forming the second pivot axis and/or a bearing axis forming the third pivot axis completely penetrates the two bearing plates and protrudes from the respective bearing plate on opposite sides of the bearing plates and is stationarily mounted in a counter-structure formed in the housing. As a result, the bearing structure is stationarily mounted in the switching device, in this case the housing of the switching device, in a particularly simple manner, and assembly is particularly easy, for example in the form of plug-in assembly.

The two bearing plates are preferably realized in one component, with two plate-shaped sections forming the two bearing plates. Such a component is preferably U-shaped, with the two legs of the U-shaped component forming the two bearing plates.

But it is also quite conceivable that the two bearing plates form separate components.

The guide structure, in particular the bearing structure, is preferably made of a metal or a metal alloy, preferably of high-grade steel. Since the guide structure in particular is exposed to high mechanical stress, a metal or a metal alloy is particularly well suited for the tasks of the guide structure. It is quite conceivable that a guide structure made from a metal and/or a bearing structure made from a metal is additionally coated, for example to prevent oxidation.

The first pivoting lever is preferably made of a metal or a metal alloy. The second pivoting lever is preferably made of a metal or a metal alloy. The connecting means for the articulated connection of the first pivoted lever to the second pivoted lever is preferably made of metal or a metal alloy. An axis forming the second pivot axis and/or the third pivot axis is preferably made of metal or a metal alloy.

The third pivoted lever and/or the fourth pivoted lever and/or the slide are preferably made of a plastic. The use of a plastic has proven to be sufficient for the stability of the respective component and metal components in the vicinity of the switching contact are also avoided. Furthermore, the use of plastic for these components has an advantageous effect on the overall weight of the switching device and the manufacturing costs of the switching device.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous if in the open position and/or in the contact position an angle enclosed by the first pivoted lever and the second pivoted lever is 80° to 100°, preferably the enclosed angle is 85° to 95°. With such an angular position, a particularly large pivoting range of the respective pivoted lever, in particular of the second pivoted lever, can be realized with a small installation space requirement. In connection with such an angular position of the first pivoted lever to the second pivoted lever, it is considered to be particularly advantageous if when transferring the switching contact from the open position to the contact position and/or when transferring the Switching contact from the contact position to the interrupted position, the included angle when the second end position of the connecting means is reached in the second pivoted lever is 100° to 120°. Such an angular position has proven to be particularly advantageous with regard to the expenditure of force for further transferring the snap-action switching mechanism from the disconnected position to the contact position or vice versa. The angle enclosed by the first pivoting lever and the second pivoting lever is the angle enclosed by a connecting line from the first pivoting axis to the connecting means and a connecting line from the second pivoting axis to the connecting means.

The switching device is preferably designed as a switching device for a busbar system, in particular as a load-break switch for a busbar system, the switching device having a number of fuse holders corresponding to the number of busbars and a switching contact assigned to the respective fuse holder. The fuse holders are designed in particular to hold a cylindrical fuse, in particular a D0 fuse. The fuse holders are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the switching device. The snap-action switching mechanism is preferably formed in the switching device at the end with respect to the longitudinal direction.

The switching device is designed in particular as a switching strip.

In one embodiment with a slide in which one of the contact elements of the switching contact is mounted, this contact element is preferably mounted in the slide so that it can be displaced against a restoring force of a restoring means. This ensures particularly secure contacting of the other contact of the switching contact in the contact position, with the restoring means exerting a force on the switching contact in the contact position of the switching contact in the contact position.

It is considered advantageous if the switching device has two fixed stops, with the third pivoted lever resting against one of the stops in each case in the open position and in the contact position.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the switching device can be actuated manually.

The switching device preferably has an actuating lever which interacts with the first pivoting lever and is mounted pivotably about a fourth pivot axis, preferably fixed to the housing, for manual actuation of the snap-action switchgear, the actuating lever and the first pivoting lever being connected to one another in an articulated manner via a connecting means, the connecting means being displaceable in the first actuating lever and/or is slidably mounted in the first pivoting lever. The actuating lever preferably has an elongated hole, with the connecting means passing through the elongated hole. The connecting means is preferably mounted in a stationary manner in the first pivoted lever.

It is considered advantageous if the switching device has cover flaps, with the cover flaps being pivotably mounted in the actuating lever. These cover flaps are used to cover the interior of the housing in the different positions of the operating lever. The cover flaps are preferably mounted stationarily in the actuating lever and have a guide means which is displaceably mounted in a guide structure fixed to the housing. The guide structure is designed in such a way that pivoting of the actuating lever leads to pivoting of the cover flaps with respect to the actuating lever. This design of the actuating lever with cover flaps can also be implemented independently of the snap-action switch mechanism according to the invention, thus generally on a switching device with an actuating lever.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the fourth pivot axis and the first pivot axis are identical. It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the actuating lever is made of a plastic.

The fuse holder or the fuse that can be inserted into the holder is in particular a D0 fuse, in particular a D02 fuse.

Fig. 1

eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Schaltgeräts in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 2

eine Innenansicht des Schaltgeräts gemäß Fig. 1 in einer Unterbrechungsstellung,

Fig. 3

einen Teilbereich der Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

der Teilbereich gemäß Fig. 3 in einer Kipppunktstellung,

Fig. 5

der Teilbereich gemäß Fig. 3 in der Kontaktstellung,

Fig. 6

eine weitere Innenansicht des Schaltgeräts gemäß Fig. 1 in der Unterbrechungsstellung,

Fig. 7

Anordnung eines Sprungschaltwerks und eines Schiebers des Schaltgeräts gemäß Fig. 1 in einer Unterbrechungsstellung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 8

Komponenten der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 7 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 9

Komponenten der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 7 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 10

eine Veranschaulichung des Bewegungsablaufs beim Überführen des Schaltgeräts von der Unterbrechungsstellung in die Kontaktstellung,

Fig. 11

eine Veranschaulichung des Bewegungsablaufs beim Überführen des Schaltgeräts von der Kontaktstellung in die Unterbrechungsstellung,

Fig. 12

eine weitere Veranschaulichung des Bewegungsablaufs beim Überführen des Schaltgeräts von der Unterbrechungsstellung in die Kontaktstellung.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following figures using an exemplary embodiment, without being restricted thereto. Show it:

1

an embodiment of the switching device according to the invention in a perspective view,

2

an interior view of the switching device according to FIG 1 in a break position,

3

a portion of 2 ,

4

the section according to 3 in a tipping point position,

figure 5

the section according to 3 in the contact position,

6

another interior view of the switching device according to FIG 1 in the break position,

7

Arrangement of a snap-action mechanism and a slide of the switching device according to 1 in a disconnected position in a perspective view,

8

Components according to the arrangement 7 in a perspective view,

9

Components according to the arrangement 7 in a perspective view,

10

an illustration of the sequence of movements when transferring the switching device from the open position to the contact position,

11

an illustration of the sequence of movements when transferring the switching device from the contact position to the open position,

12

a further illustration of the sequence of movements when transferring the switching device from the open position to the contact position.

the 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the switching device 1 according to the invention in a perspective view. At the in the 1 shown view is the switching device 1 in an off state, thus in a state in which a switching contact 2 of the switching device 1 is in an open position. In contrast, when the switching device 1 is switched on, the switching contact 2 is in a contact position.

The switching device 1 is designed here as a multi-pole switching device 1 for use on a busbar system with three busbars. Screens 35 can be arranged on the switching device 1 in order to prevent unintentional reaching into the area of the busbars. wherein the switching device 1 has three fuse holders 20 arranged in a row transversely to the busbar system, the respective fuse holder 20 being designed to accommodate a cylindrical fuse, in this case a D02 fuse. The respective fuse holder 20 of the switching device 1 is assigned a switching contact 2, an input current conductor 32 and an outgoing current conductor 36. The respective switching contact 2 has a first contact element 3 and a second contact element 4 . The switching contacts 2 are in turn arranged in series along a longitudinal direction X of the switching device 1 . The switching device 1 has a cover 27 which is pivotably connected to a housing 34 and which, in the closed position, covers the fuse holders 20 at the front.

The housing 34 of the switching device 1 is divided asymmetrically and has two housing parts, with the two housing parts being able to be plugged into one another so that the housing can be formed in this way. The housing parts are screwed together using separate screws. The housing parts are made of plastic and are designed as an injection molded part. The housing parts each have three foot-like fastening hooks 28 for plugging onto the three busbars of the busbar system, which are rectangular in cross-section.

A slide 16 is inserted between the two housing parts in the longitudinal direction X of the switching device 1, ie perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the busbars. This is used to accommodate the first contact element 3 of the respective switching contact 2, which is presently designed as a bridge contact. The second contact element 4 of the respective switching contact 2 is fixed to the housing in the housing 34 of the switching device 1 . The second contact element 4 serves to make contact with the respective busbar and is therefore also referred to as a busbar contact. The respective first contact element 3 is mounted in the slide 16 such that it can be displaced in the direction of displacement of the slide 16 against a restoring force of a restoring means (not shown in detail). The restoring means is preferably a compression spring, with this compression spring pressing the first contact element 3 in the direction of the second contact element 4 in the contact position of the switching contact 2 in order to ensure reliable contacting of the first contact element 3 and the second contact element 4 in the ensure contact. In the contact position, the first contact elements 3 make contact with the input current conductor 32 assigned to the respective fuse holder 20.

The switching device 1 is switched, and thus the switching contacts 2 are moved from the contact position to the open position and vice versa, in the present case by means of a manually operable actuating lever 22 which is pivotably mounted in the two housing parts about a fourth pivot axis 7 fixed to the housing. This actuating lever 22 is used in the present case to actuate a snap-action mechanism 5, which interacts with the slide 16 to transfer the switching contacts 2 from the contact position to the open position and vice versa.

In the operating lever 22 two cover flaps 30 are pivotally mounted. These cover flaps 30 are used to cover the interior of the housing in the different positions of the actuating lever 22. The cover flaps 30 have guide means at their ends, each of which is fixed to the housing Guide structure 33 is slidably mounted. The guide structure 33 is designed in such a way that a pivoting of the actuating lever 22 leads to a pivoting of the cover flaps 30 with respect to the actuating lever 22 .

The snap-action derailleur 5 has a joint arrangement with a first pivoting lever 6 mounted pivotably about a first pivoting axis 7 fixed to the housing, the first pivoting axis 7 and the fourth pivoting axis 7 being identical in the present case. The snap-action derailleur 5 also has a second pivoted lever 8 pivoted about a second pivot axis 9 fixed to the housing, the first pivoted lever 6 and the second pivoted lever 8 being articulated to one another via a connecting means 10, which is rod-shaped in the present case.

The connecting means 10 is slidably mounted in the first pivoted lever 6 and slidably mounted in the second pivoted lever 8, for which purpose the first pivoted lever 6 has a slot 17 and the second pivoted lever 8 has a slot 18, the connecting means 10 having the two slots 17, 18 interspersed. The respective elongated hole 17, 18 is formed along a direction of longitudinal extension of the respective pivoted lever 6, 8.

In the present case, the first pivoted lever 6 has two legs, with each leg having an elongated hole, with these two elongated holes forming the elongated hole 17 of the first pivoted lever 6 . The two legs each accommodate a mechanical spring, with these springs forming a restoring means 11 , with displacement of the connecting means 10 in the elongated hole 17 leading to a deformation of the restoring means 11 . The two springs are mounted in a bearing pocket 31, which are supported on the connecting means 10. When the first pivoted lever 6 is pivoted for the purpose of transferring the switching contacts 2 from the contact position to the open position and vice versa, the first pivoted lever 6 is pivoted to a tipping point position against a restoring force of the restoring means 11 and after the tipping point position has been exceeded, the restoring means 11 supports further pivoting of the first pivoting lever 6. After the tipping point position has been exceeded thus the further transfer of the switching contact 2 into the other position using the energy stored in the spring.

The first pivoted lever 6 is connected in an articulated manner to the actuating lever 22 via a connecting means 23 . The connecting means 23 is slidably mounted in a slot 24 of the actuating lever 22, whereby a certain freewheeling of the connecting means 23 is realized in the actuating lever 22, so that the operator of the actuating lever 22, after exceeding the tipping point position, can pivot the first pivoted lever 6 further and thus shift gears the switching contacts 2 can no longer prevent using the actuating lever 22.

As can be seen in particular from the interior views of the switching device 1, the space available for the snap-action switching device 5 in the switching device 1 is extremely small. The particular problem with such a small installation space is to ensure that the lever forces and the energy stored in the spring and the force applied by the spring at the tipping point are large enough to ensure reliable switching of the switching contacts 2 and still a sufficiently large pivoting range of the second pivoted lever 8 in order to define functional areas as precisely as possible when switching the switching device 1, in particular when pivoting the second pivoted lever 8. Functional areas are understood here to mean that during the switching process of the switching device 2 there should be no movement of the slide 16 and thus of the first contacts 3 in certain areas in order to ensure the safest possible operation of the switching device 1 . A movement of the slide 16 should, if possible, only take place in the area, in particular after the tipping point position has been exceeded. It is therefore advantageous if the second pivoted lever 8 has the largest possible pivoting range. Furthermore, it must be ensured that the leverage of the second pivoted lever 8 is sufficiently great after the tipping point position has been exceeded in order to actuate a toggle lever joint arrangement 15 interacting with the second pivoted lever 8 . The first pivoted lever 6 and the second pivoted lever 8 enclose an angle α of approximately 90° both in the contact position and in the open position.

In order to make the switching behavior and the forces to be applied for switching the switching device 1 particularly user-friendly and as homogeneous as possible, the switching device 1 has a guide structure 12 fixed to the housing, with the connecting means 10 being connected to the guide structure when the switching contact 2 is transferred from the contact position to the open position and vice versa 12 interacts. The displacement of the connecting means 10 in the first pivoted lever 6 and in the second pivoted lever 8 when the switching device 1 is switched is influenced by the guide structure 12, as a result of which the switching behavior of the switching device 1 is influenced and optimized in a particularly simple manner by the design of the guide structure 12 can.

When transferring the switching contact 2 from the open position to the contact position and vice versa, the connecting means 10 moves along a trajectory 13. This trajectory 13 is in the figure 5 indicated by the dashed line. The trajectory 13 has a first trajectory section and a second trajectory section following the first trajectory curve section, the connecting means 10 interacting with the guide structure 12 in the first trajectory section and not interacting with the guide structure 12 over the entire second trajectory section. The second trajectory section is followed by a third trajectory section, with the connecting means 10 interacting with the guide structure 12 in the third trajectory section. In the tipping point position, the connecting means 10 is located in the area of the second trajectory curve section and therefore does not interact with the guide structure 12, as a result of which the snap-action switching mechanism 5 can be flipped over as unhindered as possible. In the third trajectory section, the connecting means 10 makes contact with the guide structure 12 again, as a result of which the guide structure 12 brakes the movement of the snap-action switching mechanism 5 and in this way prevents unwanted bouncing of the snap-action switching mechanism 5 and the slide 16 interacting with it.

In the area of the first trajectory section, the connection means 10 is pushed against the restoring force of the restoring means 11 in the first pivoted lever 6 and in the second pivoted lever 8 from a first end position into a second end position due to the interaction with the guide structure 12 postponed. A distance of the connecting means 10 from the second pivot axis 9 is greater in the first end position than in the second end position, the guide structure 12 being designed in such a way that, when the switching contact 2 is transferred from the open position to the contact position and vice versa, a distance of the connecting means 10 from the first pivot axis 7 when the second end position is reached is less than would be the case without the guide structure 12 . the Fig. 11a) shows the jump switching mechanism 5 in a position at the beginning of the first trajectory curve section and the Fig. 11 b) shows the jump switching mechanism 5 in a position at the end of the first trajectory curve section. In the Fig. 11a) is the connecting means 10 in the first end position and in the Fig. 11 b) in the second end position. In the Fig. 11 b) the included angle α is approximately 110°.

After the second end position has been reached, the second pivoted lever 8 takes over the further guidance of the connecting means 10 and the connecting means 10 initially no longer interacts with the guide structure 12 when the first pivoted lever 6 is pivoted further, but only again when the connecting means 10 enters the third path curve section entry. In the area of the second trajectory section, the trajectory 13 is essentially determined by the pivoting movement of the second pivoted lever 8 and is therefore essentially in the shape of a circular arc.

The articulated arrangement has a third pivoted lever 14 which is mounted pivotably about a third pivot axis 9 and is also referred to as a rotor in connection with snap-action switching mechanisms of an electrical switching device. When the second pivoted lever 8 is pivoted, the third pivoted lever 14 interacts positively with the second pivoted lever 8 if there is play in the pivoting direction of the second pivoted lever 8 . In the present case, the third pivot axis 9 is identical to the second pivot axis 9 . In the present case, the third pivoted lever 14 has a sector-shaped recess in which the second pivoted lever 8 is arranged. In the present case, the sector-shaped recess has a free-running angle of approximately 70° on. In the contact position and in the disconnected position, the third pivoted lever 14 rests against stops 21 formed in the housing 34 .

The articulated arrangement has a fourth pivoted lever 25 , this fourth pivoted lever 25 being articulated to the third pivoted lever 14 and articulated, namely by means of a connecting means 26 , to the slider 16 . The third pivoted lever 14, the fourth pivoted lever 25 and the slider 16 form the toggle joint arrangement 15, the toggle joint arrangement 15 being in the contact position of the switching contacts 2 in a dead center position or an over-center position. This ensures a particularly reliable contact in the contact position. In the contact position, a spring 29 that interacts with the slide 16 and is supported on the housing 34 in the X direction is compressed.

The switching device 1 has a bearing structure 19 consisting of two, in this case separate, bearing plates, with a rod-shaped bearing axis forming the second pivot axis 9 being stationarily mounted in the two plates of the bearing structure 19 . The second pivoted lever 8 and the third pivoted lever 14 are arranged between the two bearing plates. The two ends of the connecting means 10 protrude outwards in relation to the third pivoting lever 14 and interact with an outer edge of the bearing structure 19 . This outer edge of the bearing structure 19 thus forms the guide structure 12.

• erster Schwenkhebel 6,
• zweiter Schwenkhebel 8,
• Verbindungsmittel 10, 23,
• Rückstellmittel 11,
• Lagerachsen, die die Schwenkachsen 7, 9 bilden,
• Druckfedern im Schieber 16.

In order to keep the weight and manufacturing costs of the switching device 1 as low as possible, apart from the current-carrying components, only those components made of a metal or a metal alloy are made that are exposed to a particularly high mechanical load and are not connected to current-carrying components. In the present case, the following components consist of a metal or a metal alloy:

• first pivot lever 6,
• second pivot lever 8,
• lanyards 10, 23,
• return means 11,
• Bearing axes that form the pivot axes 7, 9,
• Compression springs in slide 16.

• Betätigungshebel 22,
• Lagertasche 31,
• dritter Schwenkhebel 14,
• vierter Schwenkhebel 25,
• Schieber 16,
• Abdeckklappen 30.

The following components are made of plastic:

• operating lever 22,
• storage bag 31,
• third pivot lever 14,
• fourth pivot lever 25,
• slider 16,
• Cover flaps 30.

the 10 and 12 show a sequence of movements when the switching device 1 is transferred from an off position to an on position, thus when the switching contacts 2 are transferred from the open position to the contact position. The individual images of 10 and 12 are to be viewed in alphabetical order. The same applies to the 11 , which shows a sequence of movements when the switching device 1 is moved from the off position to the on position.

Reference List

1

switching device

2

switching contact

3

contact element

4

contact element

5

jump derailleur

6

first swing lever

7

first pivot axis/fourth pivot axis

8th

second swivel lever

9

second pivot axis/third pivot axis

10

lanyard

11

return means

12

management structure

13

trajectory curve

14

third pivot lever

15

toggle joint assembly

16

slider

17

Long hole

18

Long hole

19

warehouse structure

20

backup recording

21

attack

22

operating lever

23

lanyard

24

Long hole

25

fourth pivot lever

26

lanyard

27

cover hood

28

mounting hook

29

Feather

30

cover flaps

31

storage bag

32

input conductor

33

management structure

34

Housing

35

cover

36

outgoing current conductor

Claims (15)

Switching device (1), in particular load-break switch for a busbar system, the switching device (1) having at least one switching contact (2), the at least one switching contact (2) being transferrable from a contact position to an open position and vice versa, the switching device (1) has an actuatable snap-action switching mechanism (5) for transferring the at least one switching contact (2) from the contact position to the open position and vice versa, the snap-action switching mechanism (5) having a joint arrangement with a first pivoting lever (6) pivotably mounted about a first pivoting axis (7) and having a second pivoting lever (8) mounted pivotably about a second pivoting axis (9), the first pivoting lever (6) and the second pivoting lever (8) being articulated to one another via a connecting means (10), the connecting means (10) under deformation of a restoring means (11) is slidably mounted in the first pivoting lever (6), wherein a Ve the first pivoting lever (6) pivots when the switching contact (2) is transferred from the contact position to the open position and/or when the switching contact (2) is transferred from the open position to the contact position up to a tipping point position against a restoring force of the restoring means (11) and after the tipping point position has been exceeded, the restoring means (11) supports further pivoting of the first pivoted lever (6), the connecting means (10) being displaceably mounted in the second pivoted lever (8), the switching device (1) having a guide structure (12), the connecting means (10) interacting with the guide structure (12) when the switching contact (2) is transferred from the contact position to the open position and vice versa. Switching device (1) according to claim 1, wherein when transferring the switching contact (2) from the open position to the contact position and / or when transferring the switching contact (2) from the contact position in the In the interrupted position, the connecting means (10) moves along a trajectory (13), the trajectory (13) having a first trajectory section and a second trajectory section following the first trajectory section, the connecting means (10) interacting with the guide structure (12) in the first trajectory section and does not interact with the guide structure (12) in the second trajectory section, preferably the trajectory (13) has a third trajectory section following the second trajectory section, the connecting means (10) interacting with the guide structure (12) in the third trajectory section. Switching device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the connecting means (10) is located in the tipping point position in the second trajectory section. Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 3, the guide structure (12) being designed in such a way that in the first trajectory section the connecting means (10) is displaced against the restoring force of the restoring means (11) in the first pivoted lever (6) and in the second pivoted lever (8) is shifted. Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, the connecting means (10) being displaceable in the second pivoted lever (8) from a first end position into a second end position, a distance between the connecting means (10) and the second pivot axis (9 ) is greater in the first end position than in the second end position, the guide structure (12) being designed in such a way that when the switching contact (2) is transferred from the open position to the contact position and/or when the switching contact (2) is transferred from the Contact position in the interrupted position, a distance of the connecting means (10) from the first pivot axis (7) when the second end position is reached is less than would be the case without the guide structure (12). Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the joint arrangement can be pivoted about a third pivot axis (9). mounted third pivoted lever (14), wherein the third pivoted lever (14) interacts positively with the second pivoted lever (8) when pivoting the second pivoted lever (8) with play in the pivoting direction of the second pivoted lever (8), in particular the third pivot axis ( 9) is identical to the second pivot axis (9). Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, the joint arrangement having a toggle lever joint arrangement (15), in particular the third pivoted lever (14) forming a lever of the toggle lever joint arrangement (15), preferably the toggle lever joint arrangement (15) in the contact position in a dead center position or over dead center position. Switching device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a contact element (3) of the switching contact (2) is mounted in the switching device (1) so that it can be displaced linearly, in particular one contact element (3) is mounted in a slide (16). Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, the restoring means (11) having one or more mechanical springs, in particular the restoring means (11) being formed by one or more mechanical springs, the one or more mechanical springs in the first Pivoted lever (6) are mounted. Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, in which the first pivoted lever (6) has an elongated hole (17) and the second pivoted lever (8) has an elongated hole (18), the connecting means (10) connecting the two elongated holes (17 , 18) interspersed. Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, the switching device (1) having a bearing structure (19), the second pivoted lever (8) being mounted in the bearing structure (19) in a stationary manner and pivotable about the second pivot axis (9). and / or the third pivot lever (14) is stationary and about the third pivot axis (9) pivotally mounted in the bearing structure (19), wherein the Bearing structure (19) having the guide structure (12), preferably the guide structure (12) is formed by an outer edge of the bearing structure (19). Switching device (1) according to Claim 11, in which the bearing structure (19) has two bearing plates, the second pivoting lever (8) and/or the third pivoting lever (14) being arranged between the two bearing plates. Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein in the open position and/or in the contact position an angle (a) enclosed by the first pivoted lever (6) and the second pivoted lever (8) is preferably 80° to 100° the included angle (a) is 85° to 95°, in particular when transferring the switching contact (2) from the open position to the contact position and/or when transferring the switching contact (2) from the contact position to the open position, the included angle (a) when the second end position of the connecting means (10) is reached is 100° to 120°. Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13, the switching device (1) being designed as a switching device (1) for a busbar system, in particular being designed as a load-break switch for a busbar system, the switching device (1) having one corresponding to the number of busbars number of fuse holders (20) and a switching contact (2) assigned to the respective fuse holder (20), the fuse holders (20) being arranged along a longitudinal direction (X) of the switching device (1), the snap-action switching mechanism (5) with respect to the longitudinal direction (X) is formed at the end in the switching device (1). Switching device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 14, in which the switching device (1) can be actuated with an actuating lever (22) which interacts with the first pivoting lever (6) and is pivotably mounted about a fourth pivoting axis (7), the actuating lever (22 ) and the first pivoting lever (6) are connected to one another in an articulated manner via a connecting means (23), wherein the connecting means (23) is displaceably mounted in the actuating lever (22) and/or displaceably in the first pivoted lever (6), preferably the actuating lever (22) has an elongated hole (24), the connecting means passing through the elongated hole (24).

Images