WO2013114396A2

WO2013114396A2 - An actuating system for electrical components

Info

Publication number: WO2013114396A2
Application number: PCT/IN2013/000025
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rohit Patil; Onkar KULKARNI
Original assignee: Larsen And Toubro Limited
Priority date: 2012-01-18
Filing date: 2013-01-15
Publication date: 2013-08-08
Also published as: WO2013114396A3

Abstract

The present invention provides a mechanism for coupling and actuating plurality of electrical component (200). The mechanism includes at least two seats (204), at least one shaft (202), at least two pin housing (208), and at least one pin (210). The two seats (204) are configured on opposite lateral sides (220a) and (220b) of each of the electrical component (200). The shaft (202) is adapted to detachably secure with the seat (204) on either side of the electrical component (200). The two pin housing (208) are configured on opposite lateral sides (220a) and (220b) of each of the electrical component (200). The pin (210) is adapted to detachably secure with the pin housing on either side of the electrical component (200). Therefore, the pin (210) and the shaft (202) can be attached on both the side of the component (200), which enables to detachable secure other similar components on both the later side (220a) and (220b) of the component (200).

Description

An Actuating System for Electrical Components

Field of the Invention

The invention present inventions relates to an actuating system for electrical components, and more particularly to an actuation mechanism for coupling electrical devices such as auxiliary devices, circuit breakers and the like.

Background of the Invention

Auxiliary devices are additional devices which are connected to m iniature circuit breakers. Examples of auxiliary devices are auxiliary contact, shunt release, under- voltage release, overvoltage release, and the l ike. These auxiliary devices are usually coupled mechanically on lateral sides, i .e., side by side to connect a series of devices as per requirement. Also, the auxil iary devices are provided with actuation mechanisms which couple with the devices for actuation operation of the devices.

Actuation mechanisms are two part mechanism comprising of a male actuation element and a female actuation element, each one of which is fixedly associated to different sides of the auxiliary modular devices (for example the male fitting element on a right side and the female fitting element on a left side of the auxiliary device). Thus a series of auxiliary devices can be actuated by engaging the male actuation element on to the female actuation element.

However, since the male actuation element is on the right side and female actuation element on the left side and are fixed in position, the male actuation element and the female actuation element can only be coupled and actuated on one side of the auxiliary device and not on the other side of the auxiliary device even i f there is a requirement. The auxiliary devices thus are limited to be coupled and actuated along one side i.e. left side or right side as shown in figure 1 . To overcome the above lim itation, actuation mechanisms have been devised that enable the auxiliary device to be mounted along different sides as per requirement. Such actuation mechanism comprises a first actuation element and a second actuation element. The first actuation element is mounted on a slider and housed in a handle of the auxil iary device, and couples with a handle of a circuit breaker. However, the sl ider is not al igned with the axis of rotation, but eccentrically which poses a risk of breakage. Further, the second actuation element is a metallic shaft which is curved twice about an angle of 90° and engages with a seat on the auxiliary device. To disengage the shaft from one side of the auxiliary device and engage the same shaft to another side of auxi liary device, the shaft has to be careful ly rotated. This operation is quite difficult and complex to perform in light of the very small size of the shaft and the seat.

Furthermore, when a chain of devices are mounted together in a complex electrical board, there is no indication of direction of connectivity of devices, and also there would be a confusion in identifying which auxi liary device is connected to which other auxiliary device or circuit breaker.

Therefore, there is a need for an actuation mechanism for coupling a plural ity of electrical devices which overcomes the above limitations.

Statement of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a mechanism for coupling and actuating plural ity of electrical component 200, the mechanism comprising:

at least two seats 204 configured on opposite lateral sides 220a and 220b of each of the electrical component 200;

at least one shaft 202 adapted to detachably secured with the seat 204 on either side of the electrical component 200;

at least two pin housing 208 configured on opposite lateral sides 220a and 220b of each of the electrical component 200; and at least one pin 210 adapted to detachably secured with the pin housing on either side of the electrical component 200,

wherein the pin 21 0 and the shaft 202 can be attached on both the side of the component 200, which enables to detachably secure other similar components on both the later side 220a and 220b of the component 200.

Objects of the Invention

Object of the present invention is to provide a coupling and actuating system for electrical components, which enables coupling and actuation an auxil iary device on either side of the electrical component.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coupl ing and actuating mechanism for electrical components, which enables easi ly adaptability for coupl ing on either side.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a coupling and actuating mechanism for electrical components, which is robust in construction.

One more object of the present invention is to provide a coupling and actuating mechanism for electrical components, which is easy to operate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 shows various auxiliary modular electrical components prov ided with the actuating system of the present invention;

Fig. 2 a perspective view of the electrical component;

Fig. 3 a perspective view of a shaft of the electrical component of fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a front view of a seat of the electrical component; Fig. 5 shows a perspective of two electric components for coupling;

Fig. 6 shows a locking of the shaft with the electrical component;

Fig. 7 shows sectional view of the shaft and electrical components for coupling with each other;

Fig. 8 shows flag and a window for indication of locking status; Fig. 9 shows two electric components coupled with each other; and Fig. 10 shows two electric components coupled with each other. Description of the Invention

Various embodiment of the present invention provide an actuation mechanism for coupling a plurality of electrical devices, the mechanism comprising a shaft for each electrical device, the shaft having a variable cross-section, the shaft adapted to reversibly engage with an internal operating system of the electrical devices; and a seat on a casing of each electrical device, the seat providing an access to the internal operating system of the electrical devices.

Figure 2, shows an electrical device 200 provided with an actuation mechanism for coupling a plurality of electrical devices (herein-after referred to as the actuation mechanism) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The electrical device 200 has a casing 220 with two lateral faces (or sides) 220a and 220b. The casing 220 of the electrical device 200 houses an internal operating system (not shown) of the electrical device 200. The actuation mechanism enables electrical device 200 to couple to other electrical devices (say electrical device 200A, shown in figure 5) along either sides 220a, 220b or both. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the actuation mechanism includes a shaft 202 for each electrical device, such as the electrical device 200, and a seat 204 on each electrical device 200.

Figure 3 shows the shaft 202 of the actuation mechanism in greater detail. The shaft 202 has a variable cross-section from a first e portion 202a to a second portion 202b, and has a plate 202c between the first portion 202a and the second portion 202b. In an embodiment, the first e portion 202a has a rectangular cross-section and second portion 202b has a circular cross section.

In another embodiments, the length of a portion of the first portion 202a is longer compared to the length of the second portion 202b.

In yet an embodiment of the invention, the shaft 202 is detachable and capable of reversibly engaging on both sides (220a, b) of the electrical device 200, i.e., shaft 202 can reversibly engage with the electrical device 200 on the sides 220a and 220b of the casing 220 enabling the electrical device 200 to couple from both the sides 220a and 220b. The shaft 202 is capable of being coupled with the seat 204 provided on the electrical device 200. The Seat 204 enables the shaft 202 to engage with the internal operating system of the electrical device 200.

Figure 4 shows the seat 204 of the actuating mechanism in greater detail in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The seat 204 is provided on the sides 220a and 220b of casing of each of the electrical device 200. The seat 204 includes a pair of windows 204a, b. Each of the window 204a, b enables both the first portion 202a of the shaft 202 and the second portion 202b of the shaft 202 to engage with the internal operating system, through the seat 204 and the plate 202c of shaft adapts to the seat 204 to close the windows 204ab of seat 204 on the casing 220 of the electrical device 200.

Figure 5 i llustrates the coupling of the electrical devices 200 and with other electrical devices 200A using the actuation mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, the shaft 202 engages the electrical device 200 with the other electrical device 200A, wherein the first portion 202a of the shaft 202 engages with the seat 204 of the electrical device 200 and the second portion 202b of the shaft 202 engages with a seat 204A on the electrical device 200A.

In an embodiment, the actuation mechanism further comprises a pin housing 208, a pin 2 10 and means for securing the pin 210 on each of electrical devices such as the electrical device 200. Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the pin 2 10 of the actuation mechanism housed in pin housing 2 1 0 of electrical device 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

The pin 21 0 is slid-able in the pin housing 208 between a first pin position 2 1 0a and a second pin position 210b. Means for securing are provided in the pin housing 208 for the pin 210 to be detachably secured in the first pin position 210a and the second pin position 21 0b. In an embod iment, means for securing may be a snap fitting mechanism which holds the pin 210 in the first pin position 21 0a and the second pin position 21 0b detachably.

In an embodiment, when the pin 210 is in the first pin position 21 0a and the second pin position 210b, the pin 210 protrudes out of the pin housing 208 on the sides 220a and the 220b of electrical device 200 and leaves a space 214 behind in the pin housing 208, respectively. The space 214 enables a pin 2 1 OA (not shown) of the electrical device 200A to couple with the electrical device 200. I n this regard, the first pin position 21 0a and the second pin position 2 1 0b enables electrical device 200 to couple on both the sides 220a and 220b to other the another electrical device 200 A. For example, when the pin 210 is in the first pin position 21 0a, the pin 21 0 enables the electrical device 200 to couple to the another electrical device 200A from the first side 220a, and the space 2 14 enables yet another electrical device 200B to couple at the second side 220b as il lustrated in figure 7. In an embodiment, the pin 2 10 enables the internal operating system of the electrical device 200 to couple with the handle (not shown) of the other electrical devices (200A and 200B). In various embodiments, the electrical devices (such as 200, 200A, 200B) may be a circuit breaker, an auxiliary device and the like. In this regard, when an auxil iary device is coupled to a circuit breaker internal operating system of the auxiliary device is coupled to the handle and internal operating system of the circuit breaker via the actuation mechanism of present invention.

Working i llustration of actuation mechanism for coupling electrical devices in accordance with an embodiment of the invention shal l now be explained with reference to figure 9. An auxi liary device 900 is coupled to a circuit breaker 900A using the actuation mechanism which enables coupling from either side, enabling assembly of the electrical devices as per requirement.

Actuation mechanism includes a shaft 902 and shaft 902A for electrical devices 900 and 900A respectively. A seats 904 and 904A provided on lateral sides of each the electrical device 900 and 900A, a pin housing 908, and a pin 910 provided on each electrical device 900 and 900A. The shaft 902 is detachable and capable of reversibly engaging with the seat 904 provided on the electrical devices 900 and 900A on either side. The electrical devices 900 and 900A are coupled using shaft 902 which is coupled at seat 904 of electrical device 900 and seat 904 of electrical device 900A. Seat 904 enables shaft 902 to engage with an internal operating system 950 of electrical devices 900 and 900A, thereby connecting internal operating system of electrical devices 900 and 900A. Once devices are coupled, the pin 91 0 provided in pin housing 908 of the electrical device 900 is engaged with the pin housing 908 of 900A, and the pin 91 0 of the electrical device 900 couples with a handle means of the other electrical device 900A and enables electrical devices to be actuated.

Another illustration of actuation mechanism for coupl ing electrical devices on both sides of the electrical device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in figure 1 0. Accordingly, the present invention a mechanism for coupling and actuating plurality of electrical component 200 provides advantages of enabl ing coupling and actuation an auxi liary device on either side of the electrical component. Further, the mechanism enables easily adaptabi lity for coupling on either side. Moreover, the mechanism is is robust in construction.

The foregoing description of the invention has been set merely to il lustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since mod ifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to person skil led in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

We Claim:

1 . A mechanism for coupling and actuating plurality of electrical component 200, the mechanism comprising:

at least two pin housing 208 configured on opposite lateral sides 220a and 220b of each of the electrical component 200; and

at least one pin 21 0 adapted to detachably secured with the pin housing 208 on either side of the electrical component 200,

wherein the pin 2 1 0 and the shaft 202 can be attached on both the side of the component 200, which enables to detachable secure other similar components on both the later side 220a and 220b of the component 200.

2. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shaft 202 comprises, a first portion 202a circular in cross section;

a second portion 202b rectangular in cross section; and

a plate 202c disposed between the first portion 2020a and second portion 202b, wherein the plates 202c disposes against the seat 204.

3. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pin 21 0 detachably secured with the pin housing 208 by snap fitting mechan ism .