FR3029680A1 - CONTROL DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CUTTING APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (10) for electric switchgear (2), comprising a maneuvering handle (24) pivotable between a cut-off position and at least one closed position, a lockout tab ( 28) pivotable between a padlocking position and a lockout inhibiting position, a locking pin (38) translatable between a locking position in which the pin is housed in a hole (40) and a retracted position in which the pin is set back from the orifice, and a connecting piece (30) fixed on the operating handle with a degree of freedom in rotation relative thereto and receiving one end of a rod whose other end is intended to be coupled to an electrical cut-off shaft, the connecting piece comprising at least one lug (46a, 46b) capable of obstructing at least partially the orifice of the operating handle for preventing er translation of the locking pin into its locking position when a torque applied to the operating handle exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the general field of switching devices for electrical installation, such as switches, fuse switches, circuit breakers or inverter switches for the distribution of electrical energy. It relates more specifically to a manual control device for cutoff device. The main functions of a switchgear are to ensure the establishment and interruption of electric current under load, overload and short circuits, to protect a site and persons against electrical hazards, and to ensure the safety of users (especially during actuation, logging or isolation). In a known manner, a switching device comprises, in the same housing, a plurality of breaking poles corresponding to the cut-off devices of the electrical installation (switches, switches, etc.) which are each provided with two fixed contacts associated with two contacts. mobile, these movable contacts can take two distinct positions, either a closed position in which the circuit of the corresponding phase conductor is closed, or a cutoff position (or opening) in which the circuit of the corresponding phase conductor is open these positions respectively corresponding to the engaged and triggered positions of the switchgear. Such a switchgear generally comprises a switching pole actuating mechanism which is coupled to a cutoff shaft arranged to pass through the cutoff poles, this cutoff shaft being coupled to the various movable contacts of these poles. This operating mechanism is provided with a control device coupled to a transmission rod, either in direct contact or in indirect engagement via a remote element coupled to the operating mechanism by an extension rod of axis. Thus, by actuation of the control device, this kinematic chain makes it possible to move the movable contacts of the breaking poles from their closed position to their cut-off position (and vice versa) and thus to control an engagement or an abrupt triggering. of the switchgear. Moreover, for the safety of the users, especially during an intervention on the switchgear, it is known to be able to lock the control device when it is in the cutoff position in order to prevent any inadvertent actuation of this device. last to return it to the closed position. This padlocking is preferably carried out within the operating device, for example by means of a padlock tongue that can pivot relative to the handle between a lockout position in which it is released relative to the handle to allow the setting in place of padlock and a lockout prohibition position in which it is housed inside the handle. The use of such a lockout tab directly integrated in the operating handle has the disadvantage that in the case of welding between the fixed and movable contacts of the switchgear, the user can, by applying a large torque on the operating handle (and cause significant deformation of the kinematic chain), rotate it to put it in the cut position without the contacts come to put in complete cut position. In such a situation, the operating handle is in a cut-off position and can then be padlocked while the contacts are still in the closed position. The safety of the user wishing to intervene on the electrical installation is seriously compromised. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is thus to overcome such drawbacks by proposing a control device which makes it possible to prevent lockout of the operating handle when the contacts of the breaking device are welded. . According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a control device for electric switchgear, comprising: an operating handle adapted to be pivotable about a pivot axis between a breaking position and at least one position closure; 3029680 3 a locking tab integral with the operating handle and pivotable relative thereto between a lockout position and a lockout prohibition position; a locking pin attached to one end of the lockout tongue by a pivot connection and translatable between a locking position corresponding to the lockout position of the lockout tongue in which the pin is received in an orifice and a position retracted corresponding to the lockout prohibition position of the padlock tongue in which the pin is set back from the orifice; and a connecting piece fixed on the operating handle with a degree of freedom in rotation relative thereto and receiving one end of a rod centered on the pivot axis of the operating handle and of which another end is intended to be coupled to an electric cut-off shaft, the connecting piece comprising at least one lug adapted to at least partially obstruct the orifice of the operating handle to prevent the translation of the locking pin into its locking position when a torque applied to the operating handle exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The control device according to the invention is remarkable in that in the event of the presence of welded contacts, the torque applied to the operating handle will necessarily increase and exceed a predetermined threshold, causing the connecting piece to pivot and obstruction of the orifice by the lug of the connecting piece, so as to prevent the translation of the locking pin in its locking position and thus to prevent the padlock tongue from being put in the lockout position. Thus, in the event of the presence of welded contacts, the locking of the operating handle is no longer possible, which guarantees the safety of the user. In other words, the output of the padlock tongue is only possible if any effort on the control handle is released and the rod has completed its full rotation (not soldering contacts). In addition, the control device according to the invention allows the forcing of the welded contacts while preventing the lockout of the operating handle as a force is applied to it. Thanks to such a control device, it is possible to reduce the dimensioning of the components of the drive train and to increase the number of cutoff poles of the switchgear. The device can also be mounted on most switchgear devices.

The connecting piece may be pivotable relative to the operating handle about its pivot axis in a predetermined angular stroke. The device may further comprise at least one return spring mounted between the connecting piece and the operating handle to return the connecting piece to an initial position. Once the force that has been applied to the operating handle has been released, such a return spring makes it possible to return the connecting piece to its initial position, ie the position in which the pin no longer obstructs the orifice of the handle. The device may further comprise at least one indexing spring mounted between the end of the lockout tongue and the operating handle. This indexing spring makes it possible to return the lockout tab to its locked lockout position as soon as the padlocks are removed. The connecting piece may be a part made of a material capable of withstanding the forcing forces and having a passage for receiving the end of the rod, the connecting piece comprising a peripheral ring at which the pin is formed. and wherein is formed at least one groove cooperating with a screw screwed into the operating handle to form the degree of freedom in rotation 25 of the connecting piece relative to the operating handle. Furthermore, the locking pin can translate longitudinally in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the operating handle. The rod may be adapted to be coupled to the electrical cut-off shaft by means of a pinion gear meshing with a pinion coupled to the corresponding end of the rod. According to an application of the invention to the control of a reversing switch, the operating handle is able to be pivoted between a breaking position and two distinct closing positions. In this case, the connecting piece may have a degree of freedom in rotation relative to the operating handle in two opposite directions of rotation and may comprise two distinct lugs each capable of at least partially obstructing the orifice of the operating handle to prevent translation of the locking pin into its locking position when a torque applied to the operating handle exceeds a predetermined threshold. The invention also relates to an electrical switching device for electrical installation comprising a control device as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate embodiments having no limiting character. In the figures: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a power cut apparatus to which the invention applies; FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the cut-off poles of the cut-off apparatus of FIG. 1 in their closed and open position, respectively; FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the control device according to one embodiment of the invention; - Figures 5 and 6 show the operating handle of the control device of Figure 4 in a lockout position; - Figures 7 and 8 the operating handle of the control device of Figure 4 in a lockout position; and FIG. 9 shows the operating handle of the control device of FIG. 4 in another position of prohibition of lockout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention applies to any switchgear for an electrical installation which has a manual control, such as a reversing switch, a fuse switch, or a switch, in particular a control switch centered 2 like that shown in Figure 1.

302 96 80 6 The centrally controlled switch 2 of FIG. 1, its breaking poles, its mechanism for operating the breaking poles are only described here to give a non-limiting example of a complete kinematic chain to which apply 'invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the centrally-controlled switch 2 comprises, within a common housing 4, four cut-off poles 6 corresponding to cut-off devices of an electrical installation. The switch 2 also comprises an actuating mechanism 8 for the breaking poles comprising a control device 10 according to the invention which makes it possible to choose between a cut-off position (position "0") in which the four cut-off poles 6 are open, and a closed position (position "1") in which the four cutoff poles 6 are closed. This control device will be described later. In known manner, as represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, each breaking pole 6 is provided with two fixed contacts 12 which are associated with two movable contacts 14, these movable contacts being able to assume two distinct positions: either a closing position in 20 the circuit of the corresponding phase conductor is closed (FIG. 2), ie a cut-off (or opening) position in which the circuit of the corresponding phase conductor is open (FIG. 3), these positions respectively corresponding to the interlocked and triggered from switch 2.

More specifically, the movable contacts 14 are coupled to a cut-off shaft 16 extending along an axis XX and arranged to pass through all the electric breaking poles 6. This cut-off shaft is itself coupled to a same transmission rod 18 via a pinion gear 20 meshing with a pinion 22 coupled to the corresponding end of the transmission rod 18. Two springs 23, one end of which is fixed to the idler pinion angle 20 are put in compression during the rotation of the latter and thus help to switch the movable contacts 14 of the breaking poles from one position to another.

The transmission rod 18 extends along an axis YY perpendicular to the axis XX of the cutoff shaft 16. The end of this transmission rod opposite to that coupled to the gearwheel 22 is fixed on a operating handle 24 of the control device 10, either directly or via a rod 18a forming axis extension. In this way, the pivoting of the operating handle 24 causes pivoting of the corresponding cut-off shaft 16 about its axis XX in order to move the movable contacts 14 that they carry to put them in the closed position or in position cut. The operating handle 24 is thus able to pivot about a pivot axis coinciding with the axis YY of the transmission rod 18 between the cutoff position (position "0") and the closed position (position " 1 ") of the switch 2. As shown in Figure 4, the control device 10 comprises the operating handle 24 provided with a base 26 to be mounted on a remote element or on the operating mechanism 8 15 of switch-off poles, a padlock tab 28 mounted in the operating handle, a connecting piece 30 mounted in the operating handle on the opposite side to the padlock tongue, and a closure cap 32. The tab of FIG. padlock 28 is more precisely mounted on the operating handle 24 pivotable relative thereto between a lockout position (Figures 5 and 6) and lockout barring positions (Figures 7 and 8). In its padlocking position, the padlock tab 28 protrudes from the operating handle and the closing cap 32 and makes it possible to lock several padlocks (not shown in the figures) at the passages 34 made in the tongue. Conversely, in its lockout prohibition position, the lockout tab is retracted into the operating handle such that in this position the passages 34 for the padlocks are masked. The pivoting of the lockout tab is made about an axis ZZ perpendicular to the pivot axis YY of the operating handle and an indexing spring 36 mounted between the end of the lockout tab opposite to its free end. and the maneuvering handle makes it possible to return the lockout tab in its lockout prohibition position when no padlock is locked thereon. Furthermore, the end of the lockout tab which is opposite its free end is integral with a locking pin 38 via a pivot connection and can translate longitudinally in a direction parallel to the YY axis. pivoting of the operating handle between a locking position (FIGS. 5 and 6) corresponding to the padlocking position of the lockout tab and a retracted position (FIGS. 7 and 8) corresponding to the lockout prohibition position of the lockout tab. In its locking position, the locking pin 38 is housed in an orifice 40 formed in the base 26 of the operating handle. In its retracted position, the locking pin is recessed longitudinally with respect to the orifice 40, i.e., it is not accommodated therein. As for the connecting piece 30 of the control device, it is a piece of revolution that mounted inside the operating handle 24 and centered on the Y-Y axis of pivoting thereof. This connecting piece comprises in particular a passage 42 for receiving the end of the rod 18a forming axis extension or the end of the transmission rod 18 which is opposite to that coupled to the pinion 22. For this purpose, the passage 42 has a cross section of corresponding shape to a cross section of these ends.

The connecting piece 30 also comprises a peripheral ring 44 which is centered on the Y-axis, this ring having two lugs 46a, 46b protruding radially outwards. The connecting piece is positioned within the operating handle so that each of the lugs 46a, 46b can at least partially obstruct the orifice 40 of the operating handle in which the locking pin 38 can be housed by so as to prevent a translation thereof into its locking position. At its ring 44, the connecting piece 30 also comprises two grooves 48 (in the form of arcs) 35 each traversed by a screw 50 screwed into the operating handle 24. These screws 50 are the only ones fastening means of the connecting piece on the operating handle. Thus, the connecting piece has a degree of freedom in rotation relative to the operating handle. In other words, the connecting piece can pivot about the axis YY in both directions of rotation according to a determined angular stroke (or set of operation) as a function of the length of the grooves 48. The operation of the device control 10 is evident from the foregoing. In normal operation, that is to say in the absence of welding between the fixed contacts 12 and the movable contacts 14 of the cut-off poles 10 6, the pivoting of the operating handle 24 around its pivot axis YY makes it possible to pass from a cut-off position (position "1" corresponding to the switched-on position of switch 2) to a closed position (position "0" corresponding to the triggered position of the switch).

In this case, once the operating handle is in the open position, it is possible to extract the locking tab 28 from the handle (the locking pin 38 can be housed in the hole 40 of the base 26 provided for this purpose) and to secure the padlocks in the passages 34 thereof (Figures 5 and 6). It is then possible to intervene in complete safety on the electrical installation controlled by the switch 2. On the other hand, in the presence of welding between the fixed contacts 12 and the movable contacts 14 of the breaking poles 6, the user, which seeks to put the operating handle 24 from the cutoff position (position "1") to the open position (position "0" corresponding to the triggered position of the switch), will rotate the operating handle around its axis YY pivoting in a specific direction. The fixed contacts 12 and the movable contacts 14 being glued together, this pivoting movement will be blocked. The torque resulting from this movement applied to the operating handle - and thus to the transmission rod 18 - will increase (by forcing the maneuver by the user to reach 3 times the normal value) and cause relative pivoting. of the connecting piece 30 about the axis YY relative to the operating handle.

Once the fastening screws 50 of the connecting piece 30 on the operating handle will abut the bottom of the corresponding groove 48 (FIG. 7), the torque applied to the operating handle will have exceeded a predetermined threshold. and one of the lugs (the lug 46a in the example of Figures 7 and 8) will be positioned opposite the orifice 40 formed in the base by partially obstructing it.

5 In this case, even if the handle has been pivoted sufficiently to be placed in the fully open position (position "0" corresponding to the triggered position of the switch), the presence of the lug 46a opposite the The orifice 40 will prevent the locking pin 38 from translating and will become lodged in this hole and thus the locking tab 28 will come out of the operating handle (FIG. 8). Thus, any attempt to lock the handle is prohibited and no user will be allowed to intervene on the electrical installation controlled by the switch. The release of the force on the operating handle will allow it to return to a position indicating clearly and unambiguously that the switch 2 is always in a locked position. FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 applied to a reversing switch in which the user searches, in the presence of a welding of the fixed and moving contacts of the breaking poles, to pivot the control handle 24 from a second closed position (for example position "2") to the open position (position "0"). In this case, and in a manner similar to that previously described, the torque resulting from this pivoting movement applied to the operating handle - and thus to the transmission rod 18 - will increase and cause relative pivoting of the connecting piece 30 around the axis YY relative to the operating handle (in the other direction with respect to FIG. 7). Here, once the torque applied to the operating handle 30 has exceeded a predetermined threshold depending on the pivoting stroke of the connecting piece 30, it is then the lug 46b of the latter which will come opposite the port 40 to partially obstruct it and thereby prevent the locking pin from translating into the hole. Any attempt to remove the lockout handle 28 to lock the actuating tongue before an intervention will be in vain, even if the handle has been pivoted enough to be in the fully open position.

It will be noted that the connecting piece 30 is preferably a part made of a material capable of withstanding the forces of forcing, for example of metal alloy of zamac (or zamak) type, that is to say in alloy of zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper.

According to an advantageous arrangement shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 9, the control device 10 also comprises at least one return spring 52 which is mounted between the connecting piece 30 and the operating handle 24 to bring back the connecting piece in its initial position, that is to say in its position in which the lug is no longer opposite the orifice 40 of the base 26. Note that the control device as described above s applies to any switching device other than a switch, in particular to a reversing switch in which the operating handle can take more than two operating positions, namely an open position (corresponding to a triggered position of the switch). switch) and at least two closing positions (corresponding to triggered positions of the inverter switch). It will also be noted that, in the case of a cut-off device having only two operating positions, the connecting piece can of course have only one lug capable of preventing the translation of the locking pin into its locking position and a single groove for the relative pivoting of the connecting piece relative to the operating handle when welding the fixed and movable contacts of the breaking poles of the switchgear. 25

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Control device (10) for an electric switchgear (2), comprising: an operating handle (24) pivotable about a pivot axis (YY) between a breaking position and at least one closing position ; a lockout tongue (28) secured to the operating handle and pivotable thereto between a lockout position and a lockout position; a locking pin (38) fixed at one end of the lockout tongue by a pivot connection and translatable between a locking position corresponding to the lockout position of the lockout tab (28) in which the pin is housed in An orifice (40) and a retracted position corresponding to the lockout barring position of the lockout tongue in which the pin is set back from the orifice; and a connecting piece (30) fixed to the operating handle with a degree of freedom in rotation relative thereto and receiving an end of a rod (18, 18a) centered on the pivot axis of the operating handle and another end of which is intended to be coupled to an electric cut-off shaft (16), the connecting piece comprising at least one lug (46a, 46b) capable of at least partially obstructing the orifice of the handle actuating means to prevent translation of the locking pin into its locking position when a torque applied to the operating handle exceeds a predetermined threshold. 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting piece (30) is pivotable relative to the operating handle (24) about its pivot axis (Y-Y) in a predetermined angular stroke. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising at least one return spring (52) mounted between the connecting piece (30) and the operating handle (24) to bring the piece of link in an initial position. 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5 further comprising at least one indexing spring (36) mounted between the end of the lock tab (28) and the operating handle (24). 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connecting piece (30) is a part made of a material adapted to withstand the forcing forces and having a passage (42) for receiving the end of the rod (18, 18a), the connecting piece comprising a peripheral ring (44) at which the pin (46a, 46b) is formed and in which is formed at least one groove (48) cooperating with a screw ( 50) screwed into the operating handle (24) to form the degree of freedom in rotation of the connecting piece relative to the operating handle. 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the locking pin (38) translate longitudinally in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis (Y-Y) of the operating handle (24). 7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rod (18, 18a) is intended to be coupled to the electric cut-off shaft (16) via a pinion gear d ' angle (20) meshing with a pinion (22) coupled to the corresponding end of the rod. 8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the operating handle (24) is pivotable between a cutoff position and two distinct closing positions. 9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the connecting piece (30) has a degree of freedom in rotation relative to the operating handle in two opposite directions of rotation and comprises two lugs (46a, 46b). each of them being able to at least partially block the orifice (40) of the operating handle (24) to prevent the translation of the locking pin into its locking position when a torque applied to the operating handle exceeds a threshold predetermined. Electrical switching device (2) for electrical installation comprising a control device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.