Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
  • H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
  • H01R13/703—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling part
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2300/00—Orthogonal indexing scheme relating to electric switches, relays, selectors or emergency protective devices covered by H01H
  • H01H2300/018—Application transfer; between utility and emergency power supply
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
  • H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
  • H01R13/707—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch interlocked with contact members or counterpart

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an electrical appliance for switching on reserve power, said appliance being adapted for installation in an electric mains with primary power supply and comprising a casing having an input and an output which are electrically interconnected by a first line and adapted to be connected to the mains; a switch connected in said first line; and an appliance inlet connected to said first line by a second line.
• the invention concerns a mechanically locked inlet, viz. a reserve power inlet, enabling power supply from a reserve power unit to the electric mains of e.g. a building when the primary power supply fails, for instance because a sector fuse has blown, a power trans ⁇ mission line been damaged, or a switching station dropped out.
• Present-day electrical appliances for switching on reserve power relies either on at least two mechanically operated switches connected in series or on at least two electrically operated switches connected in series. In both cases, the appliance inlets are not touchproof, and the use of two switches (either mechanical or electrical) connected in series ensures that the inlet pins do not become live when the mains is connected.
• One object of the present invention is to provide an electrical appliance for switching on reserve power which is of simple and inexpensive design. Another object of the invention is to provide such an electrical appliance, which not only has few movable parts but also is highly reliable in service.
• Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an electrical device, which is touchproof, and easy to install and operate.
• these objects are achiev ⁇ ed by an electrical appliance characterised by an operat ⁇ ing cover which is movably mounted in said casing for shifting between a first position in which it covers the inlet and allows the switch to close the first line between the input and the output, and a second position in which it uncovers the inlet and causes the switch to open the first line between the input and the output, thus enabling current from a reserve power unit to flow, through a cable, or the like, and a flexible lead outlet, to the inlet and from there to the output via the second line, while the connection of the second line to the input is open.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of the inventive appliance with the operating cover in the first position
• Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the inventive device with the operating cover in the second position and with the appliance inlet uncovered to receive a flexible lead outlet
• Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line A-A in
• Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive appliance, the operating cover being in the first position,
• Fig. 5 is a schematic front view of the appliance in Fig. 4, the operating cover being in the second position and the appliance inlet being uncovered to receive the flexible lead outlet
• Fig. 6 is a side view of another alternative embodi ⁇ ment of the inventive appliance
• Fig. 7 is a schematic front view of the appliance in Fig. 6,
• Figs 8 and 9 are schematic front views illustrating yet another alternative embodiment of the inventive appli- ance, the operating cover being in the first and the second position, respectively, and
• Figs 10 and 11 are schematic front views illustrating an embodiment of the inventive appliance in which the ope ⁇ rating cover is connected to the switch.
• like details are identified by like numerals.
• the operating cover is indicated by full lines when in the first position and by broken lines when in the second position.
• Figs 1-3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of an electrical appliance 1 of the invention for switching on reserve power.
• This appliance comprises a housing or cas ⁇ ing 2 made of a suitable impact-resistant, electrically insulating material commonly used for enclosing switches or the like.
• the casing contains a switch 3 connected in a first line 4 which is enclosed in the casing 2 and con ⁇ nects an input 5 in the casing of the appliance 1 to the output 6 thereof.
• the switch 3 can thus close and open the electric connection (electric circuit) between the input 5 and the output 6 of the appliance 1.
• the appliance 1, with its input 5 and its output 6, is adapted for installation in an electric mains 7a, 7b with primary power supply.
• the switch 3 is operated by an operating means 8 projecting therefrom (see Fig. 3).
• the means 8 is nonrotatably connected to an operating cover 9.
• the appliance 1 further comprises a reserve power inlet 10 which is also enclosed in the casing 2 at a dis ⁇ tance from the switch 3, preferably in a compartment of the casing separate from the switch.
• the inlet 10 com ⁇ prises a socket adapted to cooperate with the plug of a flexible lead outlet 11 which, via a cable 12 or the like, is connected to a reserve power unit (not shown).
• the inlet 10 is further connected to the first line 4 by a second line 13 also enclosed in the casing 2. As is apparent from Fig. 2, the second line 13 is connected to the first line 4 at a point between the switch 3 and the output 6, for reasons given below.
• the operating cover 9 is movably mounted in the cas ⁇ ing 2.
• the operating cover is pivotable about an axis 14 coinciding with the axis of rotation of the operating means 8 of the switch 3.
• the operating cover is pivotable between two positions. In the first position, shown in Fig. 1, the operating cover 9 conceals the inlet 10, thus preventing anyone from accidentally touching or having access to the inlet socket which at all times is live. In this position, the switch 3 is closed, the input 5 is electrically connected to the output 6 by the first line 4 and the switch, and the primary power supply of the elec ⁇ tric mains 7a, 7b occurs through the appliance 1, as illu ⁇ strated by the arrows in Fig. 1.
• the operating cover 9 is pivoted to the second position shown in Fig. 2.
• the switch 3 is brought to its opening state and the appliance inlet 10 is uncovered, thus enabl ⁇ ing connection of the flexible lead outlet 11 to the inlet 10, i.e. connection of the socket and the plug.
• cur ⁇ rent from the reserve power unit can flow through the cable 12, the flexible lead outlet 11, the inlet 10, and the second line 13 to the first line 4 and the output 6, whence it flows to the user outlets along the internal electric mains 7b whereas not to the primary power supply 7a of the mains, since the switch 3 has opened the first line 4 between the switch and the input 5 and, consequent ⁇ ly, the connection of the second line 13 to the input 5, as illustrated by the arrows in Fig. 2.
• the flexible lead outlet 11 also prevents the operating cover 9 from being pivoted back to the first position, by the operating cover extend- ing beyond the flexible lead outlet on a level therewith, for which reason the switch 3 is mechanically maintained in the opening state, see especially Fig. 3.
• FIGs 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the inventive appliance.
• the operating cover 9 mounted in the casing 2 is not pivotable, but slidable in the longitudinal direction of the casing between said two positions.
• the operating cover 9 is not connected to the operating means 8 of the switch 3.
• the operating cover 9 may be slidably fixed to the casing by guide strips (Fig. 6), a nut and groove assembly, or any other optional means.
• the casing 2 is provided with abutment means (not shown) restricting the movement of the operating cover 9 which thus can only move between said two positions and is prevented from being inadvertently removed from the appliance 1.
• the operating cover 9 conceals the inlet 10, and the switch 3, in this embodiment a push-button switch, is in its closing state, connecting the input 5 to the output 6. Since the operat ⁇ ing means 8 of the switch is in its most projecting posi ⁇ tion when the switch is in the closing state, the operat ⁇ ing means 8 then extends past the operating cover 9 and mechanically prevents the latter from occupying the second position and uncovering the inlet 10.
• the operating means 8 To move the operating cover 9 to the second position (shown in Fig. 5), the operating means 8 must be depress ⁇ ed, so that the switch 3 is brought to its opening state. Then, the operating cover 9 can be moved to the second position, thus opening the first line 4 and uncovering the inlet 10 for connection to the flexible lead outlet (not shown), as above. Since the .operating means 8 is concealed by the operating cover 9, it is impossible to unintentionally turn on the switch 3. If the operating cover 9 is to be pivoted back to the first position, the flexible lead outlet must first be removed from the appliance inlet. After the operating cover has been moved to the first position, the switch 3 can be turned on, thus connecting the input 5 to the output 6, as shown in Fig. 4.
• Figs 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention which comprises a toggle switch 3 whose operating means 8 is a toggle which can be moved trans ⁇ versely of the longitudinal direction of the appliance 1.
• the operating cover 9 is slidable between a pair of parallel guide strips 15 in the casing 2.
• the toggle 8 here is in its uppermost position, the operating cover 9 is in the first position in which it covers the inlet 10, and the switch 3 is in its closing state in which the input 5 is connected to the output 6, and the operating cover is locked in this position (see Fig. 7).
• the operating cover 9 has a recess 16.
• the toggle 8 When the operating cover 9 is to be moved to the se ⁇ cond position, the toggle 8 must be returned to its lowermost position (shown by broken lines in Fig. 7), so that the switch 3 is brought to its opening state. Owing to its recess 16, the operating cover 9 can then be moved to the second position, thereby opening the first line 4 and uncovering the inlet 10 for connection to the flex- ible lead outlet (not shown), as above. As previously, the operating cover 9 prevents the switch 3 from being inadvertently turned on. The operating cover is returned to the first position as above.
• Figs 8 and 9 illustrate yet another embodiment of the inventive appliance, which has a rotary switch 3 whose operating means 8 is a disc-shaped knob.
• the knob 8 may occupy a vertical position, shown in Fig. 8, in which the operating cover 9 is in its first, locked position, covering the inlet 10, and the switch 3 is in its closing state, as above.
• the operating cover 9 has a recess 16 and a longitudinal slot 17.
• the knob 8 In order to move the operating cover 9 to the second position, shown in Fig. 9, the knob 8 must be turned in the recess 16 of the operating cover 9 to what is a hori ⁇ zontal position in the Figure, the knob 8 being aligned with the slot 17 and the switch 3 being in the opening state.
• the operating cover 9 may then be shifted to the second position in which the first line 4 is open and the inlet 10 is uncovered for connec ⁇ tion to the flexible lead outlet (not shown), as above.
• the slot 17 of the operating cover prevents the switch 3 from being unintentionally turned on, and the operating cover 9 is returned to the first position, as above.
• the operating cover is connected to the operating means of a switch, such as the toggle 8 of a toggle switch 3, as in the embodiment shown in Figs 1-3.
• the toggle 8 unlike the toggle 8 in Figs 6 and 7, can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the appliance 1.
• the toggle 8 may project through a recess 16 in the operating cover 9.
• the switch upon displacement of the operating cover, is moved between two positions in which the switch 3 is in the closing state (Fig. 10) and in the opening state (Fig. 11), respectively, the toggle can be connected to the operating cover in any optional manner.
• the switch is thus directly operated by the operating cover 9 being moved between its two positions. Otherwise, the appliance 1 functions as above.
• a spring means (not shown) is suitably arranged in the casing 2 to bias the operating cover 9 towards the first position so that it strives to cover the appliance inlet 10 as soon as the flexible lead outlet 11 has been removed there ⁇ from.

Landscapes

• Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
• Handcart (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
• Pens And Brushes (AREA)
• Stored Programmes (AREA)
• Generation Of Surge Voltage And Current (AREA)
• Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
• Unwinding Webs (AREA)
• Cookers (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20377358

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (2)

• 1989
  • 1989-11-01 SE SE8903658A patent/SE500980C2/sv unknown
• 1990
  • 1990-10-24 AT AT90916536T patent/ATE117465T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1990-10-24 EP EP90916536A patent/EP0500647B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1990-10-24 DE DE69016215T patent/DE69016215T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1990-10-24 WO PCT/SE1990/000687 patent/WO1991006990A1/en active IP Right Grant
• 1992
  • 1992-04-28 NO NO921630A patent/NO305625B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-04-30 FI FI921954A patent/FI921954A0/fi unknown

Patent Citations (2)

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