FR2916300A1 - DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE CONTACT OR NON-CONTACT OF TWO PARTS AND AN ELECTRIC APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for controlling the contacting or non-contacting of two parts (5, 6) of which at least one is movable relative to the other, comprising an operating shaft (1) connected in a manner articulated with respect to a frame (2), said shaft (1) being able to be rotated between a first position corresponding to a position of contact of the two parts and a second position corresponding to a position known as the distance of the two parts a compression spring (4) capable of being compressed by said shaft (1) and acting upon its decompression on the moving part (6) so as to bring said movable part (6) into a position of contact with the fixed part (5) and separation means of the two parts adapted to bring the two aforementioned parts in the aforementioned removal position, said spring (4) cooperating with one said first (4a) of its ends, with the operating shaft (1), and by s the opposite end said second (4b) with the movable part (6). This device is characterized in that it comprises return means for returning the force exerted on the operating shaft (1), by the first end (4a) of the spring (4) during its decompression, on the piece mobile (6), so that said movable part receives two forces exerted respectively by the two ends of the spring, the resultant of the two forces corresponding to these two forces to ensure a significant tightening between the two aforementioned parts.

Description

1 DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE CONTACT OR NON-CONTACT OF TWO

  PARTS AND ELECTRIC APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE.

  The present invention relates to a device for controlling the placing in contact or out of contact of two parts, at least one of which is movable relative to the other, comprising an operating shaft connected in an articulated manner relative to a frame, said shaft being adapted to be rotated between a first position corresponding to a contact position of the two parts and a second position corresponding to a so-called distance position of the two parts, a compression spring adapted to be compressed by said shaft and to act during its decompression on the moving part so as to bring said movable part in a position of contact with the fixed part and means for separating the two parts able to bring the two aforementioned parts in the aforementioned removal position, said spring cooperating by one said one of its ends, with the operating shaft by its opposite end said second, with the piece mo bile.

  There is known a control device of the kind mentioned above as described in document FR 2 609 839, this device ensuring the control of a sectioning or an earthing. This device comprises an operating shaft rotatably mounted relative to a frame and hingedly connected to one end of a spring system whose opposite end is hingedly connected to an output shaft connected in an articulated manner. auditing and controlling the movement of the moving part. In this device, the ground is effected by a rotation of the actuating shaft causing compression of the spring until a dead point. Under the action of the spring, the operating shaft continues its rotation by a few degrees by releasing a hooking roller via a connecting rod. The roller thus released, the output shaft rotates under the action of the spring, and causes the cutting of the contacts. During this rotation of the output shaft, the latter drives the latching roller to bring it into contact with a stop.

  The opening to the ground is performed by the reverse rotation of the operating shaft. The connecting rod then drives the roller, which in turn drives the output shaft.

  In a mechanism of this type, the effort of the drive spring decreases as a function of its stroke. To obtain a great effort when the contacts are closed, it is necessary either to put a very powerful spring, or to use a system of crankshaft approaching a neutral point, system which requires a good dimensional control and thus adjustments.

  In addition, during the compression phase of the spring, it is necessary to maintain the output shaft in its position by means of a fastening system in the form of a roller, and to release it once the spring compressed.

  The present invention relates to a device for controlling the contacting and the putting out of contact of two parts relative to each other, of simple design, which allows the two parts to come into contact with a speed independent of each other. the operator and to ensure a significant contact pressure.

  For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a device for controlling the placing in contact or out of contact of two parts of the kind mentioned above, this device being characterized in that it comprises return means for returning the exerted force by the first end of the spring during its decompression, on the moving part, so that said movable part receives two forces exerted respectively by the two ends of the spring, the resultant of the two forces corresponding to these two forces to ensure a clamping important between the two parts mentioned above.

  According to a particular embodiment of the invention, these return means comprise a driving rod connected in an articulated manner by one of its ends, said first, to the operating shaft, and by its opposite end said second, to the moving part.

  According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the maneuvering shaft comprises two ends disposed on either side of its axis of articulation to the frame, the spring is connected in an articulated manner by its so-called first end, on the one so-called second ends of the operating shaft, and its so-called second end, is hingedly connected to the moving part.

  According to another particular characteristic, the distance separating, on the one hand, the axis of articulation of the operating shaft from the frame, and, on the other hand, the axis of articulation of the connecting rod to the operating shaft. , corresponds substantially to the distance separating the axis of articulation of the shaft from the housing and the axis of articulation of the first end of the spring to said shaft.

  According to another characteristic, the operating shaft, the connecting rod and the spring are dimensioned in such a way that the evolution of the lever arms during the placing in contact of the fixed and moving parts makes it possible to compensate for the decrease in the effort the spring during its elongation, so that a constant force is applied to the movable contact.

  According to another characteristic, the aforementioned device can take three stable positions, namely a closed equilibrium position in which the parts are in contact and the spring in partially decompressed position, an open equilibrium position in which the parts are separated and the spring in a fully compressed position and a neutral position in which the parts are separated and the three axes of articulation respectively of the connecting rod on the operating shaft, the spring on the operating shaft, and the spring on the movable contact, are aligned in which position the direction of the forces transmitted by the spring is such that no torque is applied to the operating shaft and position beyond which the spring becomes motor and causes the operating shaft and the movable contact.

  According to another characteristic, the operating shaft comprises a stop adapted to cooperate with the connecting rod to limit the rotational travel of the operating shaft beyond the neutral position of the passage position, after an opening maneuver .

  The present invention further relates to an electrical protection apparatus comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, the movable contact being controlled by a control device having the previously mentioned features taken alone or in combination. According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the movable contact is a grounding contact. According to another particular characteristic, it is an earthing switch 5 having a closing power.

  But other advantages and features of the invention will appear better in the detailed description which follows and refers to the accompanying drawings given by way of example and in which: - Figure 1 is a partial side view of a device for controlling an electrical apparatus according to the invention, in an open position of the contacts,

  FIG. 2 is a view identical to the previous figure, the device being in an unstable equilibrium position,

  FIG. 3 is a view identical to the previous ones, the device being in a closed equilibrium position,

  FIG. 4 is a view identical to the previous ones, the device being in an intermediate position between the aforementioned unstable equilibrium position of FIG. 2 and the closed equilibrium position of FIG. 3, and

  FIG. 5 is a graphical representation illustrating the driving force E in DaN exerted by the spring on the moving contact as a function of the travel C of the movable contact in mm.

  In FIGS. 1 to 4, a control device O of the contacts of an earthing switch according to the invention comprises an operating shaft 1 connected in an articulated manner along an axis X to a frame 2. This operating shaft is also hingedly connected (at 30 Y) by one of its ends, at one end 3a of the ends of a driving rod 3, and at its opposite end lb (Z), at a spring of This driving rod 3 and the compression spring 4 are connected to each other in a hinged manner by their other end 3b, 4b, to a connection axis U, this connection axis U being connected. in an articulated manner on the one hand, to a movable contact 6, and on the other hand, to a guide rod 7 also connected in an articulated manner to the frame. The fixed contact 5 is rigidly connected to the frame in order to withstand the efforts of maintaining the two contacts 5, 6 in the closed position. This device has two stable equilibrium positions and an unstable equilibrium position. The first stable equilibrium position is the open position shown in FIG. 1. In this position, the driving rod 3 is in abutment with an opening stop 8 integral with the operating shaft 1.

  The second stable equilibrium position is the closed position shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the moving contact is in abutment with the fixed contact. The unstable equilibrium position shown in FIG. 2 is that in which the three hinge axes respectively, the hinge axis Y of the connecting rod 3 on the shaft 1, the hinge axis Z of the shaft 1 to the spring 4 and the hinge axis U of the rod 3 on the movable contact 6, are aligned. In this position, called the neutral passage, the direction of the force transmitted by the spring is such that no torque is applied to the operating shaft. The assembly can therefore switch either to the open position or to the closed position. During these two tilting phases, the mechanism operates autonomously under the action of the compression spring as will be explained in the following. During this autonomous maneuver of the mechanism, the operating shaft is subjected to a torque exerted by two forces, which forces vary according to the length of the spring and according to the evolution of the lever arms D1 ', D2' (FIG. 4). The first force, named FI, is exerted directly by the lower end of the spring 4b and is retransmitted to the operating shaft 1 via the driving rod 3. The second force named F2, is the result of the force transmitted to the operating shaft 1 by the upper end 4a of the spring 4. This second force F2 is retransmitted along F3 to the movable contact 6 by means of the two lever arms D1 and D2. When the system leaves the neutral position of the passage, this torque exerted on the operating shaft, tends to turn it in the counterclockwise direction to reach the closed position, or in the clockwise direction to reach the open position . 6 To close the contacts from the open position illustrated in Figure 1, it is therefore necessary to perform an external action to cause the rotation of the operating shaft in the counterclockwise direction to exceed the line of passage of neutral, position shown in Figure 2. Once this alignment exceeded, the spring 4 becomes a motor and drives the shaft 1 in rotation always in the same direction until the closure of the contacts (Figure 3). This is achieved by the decompression of the spring, which acts through its two opposite ends 4a, 4b by exerting two forces respectively FI acting on the movable contact 6 and on the operating shaft, and F2 acting on the operating shaft 1 and retransmitted to the moving contact by the connecting rod 3.

  Conversely, to make the opening of the contacts from the closed position illustrated in Figure 3, it is necessary to perform an external action to perform the rotation of the operating shaft 1 to exceed the position of passage of Neutral position shown in Figure 2. In this position, the spring is in a state of maximum compression. Once this position is exceeded, the spring becomes motor and by its decompression, drives the shaft in rotation until the opening stop 8 comes into contact with the rod as shown in Figure 1. The analysis of the closed equilibrium position of FIG. 3 shows that the device makes it possible, on the one hand, to directly apply the force F1 of the lower end of the spring 4 to the movable contact 6 and, on the other hand, to return the F2 effort on the movable contact 6 through the operating shaft 1 and the drive rod 3. The resultant R forces applied to the moving contact is about twice the effort provided by the first end 4a of the spring 4. In addition, the value of this effort resultant R varies very little whatever the position of the fixed contact 5 during the last two thirds of the race as shown in FIG. variation of the lever arms D1 'and D2' makes it possible to compensate for the drop in e the force of the spring during its elongation. The lower the F1 and F2 forces, the more the effort F3 increases.

  A control device has thus been produced according to the invention making it possible to bring the mobile contact against the fixed contact with a speed independent of the operator. At the end of the movement, this device ensures, thanks to the compression spring, a significant contact pressure to allow the flow of current. The system is maintained in open position 7 by contacting the drive rod on a workpiece forming a stop of the operating shaft under the action of the compression spring. The use of the force of both ends of the spring allows the use of a lower force spring (about half the contact force to obtain).

  The evolution of the lever arms during the closure of the contacts to compensate for the decrease in the spring force on the last two thirds of the race, it follows a retransmitted effort on the contacts that remains constant on a large race. This absence of variation of effort according to the race guarantees the same level of effort irrespective of the erosion, the matting, the creep, the loss of race, etc ... contacts.

  This absence of variation of effort as a function of the stroke makes it possible to dispense with a contact-pushing device or a device for adjusting the contacting position. This device allows the minimization of the number of parts, the compactness of the whole, the reduction of the realization costs.

  This principle is well suited for driving contacts when significant end-of-travel forces are required (eg end-to-end contacts), see all contacts that require overtravel to compensate for wear, matting, etc. It is applicable to all electrical functions without breaking capacity, particularly of the disconnector type. This principle can be used to simply apply a holding force (ex: clamping), clamping several parts together. It is also well suited for all earthing switch functions with breaking capacity.

For other applications, it may be coupled to a shaft to transform the linear output movement into a rotational movement. It can also be associated with a cam system to adapt the efforts transmitted to specific needs. It can also be used, with the disengagement of the operating shaft and the drive rod, for all switch functions, or even circuit breakers with the hooking arrangement for tripping.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given by way of example. On the contrary, the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the described means as well as their combinations if these are carried out according to its spirit.

Claims (10)

  1. Device for controlling the placing in contact or out of contact of two parts, at least one of which is movable relative to the other, comprising an operating shaft connected in an articulated manner relative to a frame, said shaft being suitable to be rotated between a first position corresponding to a position of contact of the two parts and a second position corresponding to a so-called distance position of the two parts, a compression spring able to be compressed by said shaft and to act when its decompression on the moving part, so as to bring said movable part into a position of contact with the fixed part, and separation means of the two parts adapted to bring the two aforementioned parts in the aforementioned removal position, said spring cooperating by one said first of its ends, with the operating shaft and its opposite end said second, with the moving part, characterized in that i 1 comprises return means (1,3) for returning the force exerted on the operating shaft (1) by the first end of the spring (4a) during its decompression, on the movable part (6), so that that said movable part (6) receives two forces exerted respectively by the two ends (4a, 4b) of the spring (4), the resultant of the two forces F1, F2 corresponding to these two forces making it possible to ensure a significant tightening between the two aforementioned parts (5,6).   2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that said return means comprise a drive rod (3) connected in an articulated manner by one (3a) of its ends, said first, to the shaft of maneuver (1), and by its opposite end (3b) said second, to the moving part (6).   3. Control device according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating shaft (1) has two ends (la, lb) disposed on either side of its hinge axis X to the frame, in that the spring (4) is hingedly connected at its so-called first end (4a) to one of the so-called second ends (1b) of the operating shaft, and its second end (4b) is connected articulated to the moving part (6).   4. Control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the distance separating, on the one hand, the axis of articulation X from the operating shaft (1) to the frame (2), and on the other hand, the hinge pin Y of the connecting rod (3) to the operating shaft (1) substantially corresponds to the distance between the hinge axis X of the shaft (1) and the frame ( 2) and the axis of articulation of the first end (4a) of the spring (4) to said operating shaft (1).   5. Control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the operating shaft (1), the connecting rod (3) and the spring (4) are dimensioned in such a way that the evolution of lever arm Dl 'and D2' when the fixed and moving parts (5, 6) are brought into contact makes it possible to compensate for the decrease in the force of the spring (4) during its elongation, so that a constant force is applied on the moving part (6).   6. Control device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the aforementioned device can take three stable positions, namely a closed equilibrium position in which the parts (5, 6) are in contact and the spring (4) in a partially decompressed position, an open equilibrium position in which the pieces (5, 6) are separated and the spring (4) in a fully compressed position and a neutral position in which the pieces (5,6) are separated and the three axes of articulation respectively the hinge axis Y of the connecting rod (3) on the operating shaft (1), the hinge axis Z of the spring (4) on the operating shaft (1), and the hinge axis U of the spring (4) on the moving part (6), are aligned, in which position the direction of the forces transmitted by the spring (4) is such that no torque is applied to the operating shaft (1), and position beyond which the spring (4) becomes motor and drives the operating shaft (1) and the moving part (6).   7. Control device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the operating shaft (1) comprises a stop (8) adapted to cooperate with the connecting rod (3) to limit the rotational stroke of the operating shaft (1) beyond the neutral position of the passage, after an opening maneuver.   8. Electrical protection apparatus comprising a fixed contact (5) and a movable contact (6), the movable contact (6) being controlled by a control device D according to any one of the preceding claims. 10   9. Electrical protection device according to claim 8, characterized in that the movable contact (6) is a ground contact.   10. Electrical protection device according to claim 9, characterized in that it is an earthing switch with a closing power.