WO2015162508A1 - Commutateur électrique - Google Patents

Commutateur électrique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2015162508A1
WO2015162508A1 PCT/IB2015/052264 IB2015052264W WO2015162508A1 WO 2015162508 A1 WO2015162508 A1 WO 2015162508A1 IB 2015052264 W IB2015052264 W IB 2015052264W WO 2015162508 A1 WO2015162508 A1 WO 2015162508A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
handle
contact
arrangement
electrical switch
switch
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2015/052264
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michael William LIEBENBERG
Original Assignee
Circuit Breaker Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Circuit Breaker Industries Ltd filed Critical Circuit Breaker Industries Ltd
Publication of WO2015162508A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015162508A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
    • H01H71/526—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever the lever forming a toggle linkage with a second lever, the free end of which is directly and releasably engageable with a contact structure
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
    • H01H71/528—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever comprising a toggle or collapsible link between handle and contact arm, e.g. sear pin mechanism
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/32—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts
    • H01H3/46—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts using rod or lever linkage, e.g. toggle
    • H01H2003/463—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts using rod or lever linkage, e.g. toggle using a blade spring lever for perpendicular force transmission

Definitions

  • THIS invention relates to an electrical switch and more particularly but not exclusively, to a make-first-break-last electrical switch.
  • a switch In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can break an electrical circuit by interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another.
  • the most common form of switch is a manually operated electromechanical device with one or more sets of electrical contacts, which are connected to external circuits. Each set of contacts can be in one of two states. The set of contacts can be "closed”, meaning the contacts are touching and electricity can flow between them, or "open”, meaning the contacts are separated and the switch is non-conducting.
  • the mechanism actuating the transition between these two states may take various forms, and can for example be toggle-type flip switch mechanism.
  • a circuit breaker is a special kind of automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload currents or short circuit faults.
  • a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.
  • an electrical connector assembly comprising mating electrical connectors and having a power or signal circuit and a ground circuit (such as an electrical switch, and including a circuit breaker)
  • a ground circuit such as an electrical switch, and including a circuit breaker
  • the neutral and/or ground circuit should in certain circumstances be made before the power or signal circuit when the connectors are mated.
  • the power or signal circuit should be broken before the ground and/or neutral circuit. In other words, it is desirable for the neutral connection to be made first and broken last.
  • an electrical switch including: an electrical contact set comprising a first, stationary contact and a second, dispiaceable contact, the displaceable contact being dispiaceable between a connected position in which the contacts abut, and a disconnected position in which the contacts are spaced apart; and
  • a switching mechanism for displacing the second contact between the connected and disconnected positions, the switching mechanism including a handle arrangement which is displaceable between an OFF position, in which the second contact is in the disconnected position, and an ON position, in which the second contact is in the connected position;
  • the second contact is displaced from the disconnected position to the connected position before the handle arrangement reaches the ON position when displaced from the OFF position, and in that the second contact is displaced from the connected position to the disconnected position when the handle arrangement is already partially displaced away from the ON position towards the OFF position.
  • the handle arrangement to displace the second contact from the disconnected position to the connected position when the handle arrangement is displaced about half of its travel from the OFF to the ON position.
  • the handle arrangement to displace the second contact from the connected position to the disconnected position when the handle arrangement is displaced about half of its travel from the on to the off position.
  • the handle arrangement to displace the second contact from the disconnected position to the connected position when the handle arrangement is displaced less than a corresponding handle arrangement of a conventional prior art switch.
  • the handle arrangement to displace the second contact from the connected position to the disconnected position when the handle arrangement is displaced more than a corresponding handle arrangement of a conventional prior art switch.
  • a linking arrangement may connect the handle arrangement to the second contact.
  • the effective length of the linking arrangement may be adjustable.
  • the effective length is automatically and dynamically adjusted when the handle arrangement is displaced between the ON and ON positions.
  • the effective length of the linking arrangement may be longer when the handle arrangement is in the Off position, than when the handle arrangement is in the OFF position.
  • the linking arrangement includes a rigid linking member.
  • the linking arrangement includes a resilient linking member.
  • a first end of the resilient linking member may be connected to the handle arrangement, and more particularly to a pin extending from the handle arrangement
  • the second end of the resilient linking arrangement may be connected to the second contact, and more particularly to a pivotable arm on which the second contact is located.
  • a first end of the rigid linking member may include a slot In which the pin of the handling arrangement is slldeably received.
  • the second end of the rigid linking member may be connected to the second contact, and more particularly to a pivotable arm on which the second contact is located.
  • the handle arrangement to exert a compressive force on the resilient linking member when the handle arrangement is displaced from the off position towards the on position, in order for the resilient linking member to displace the second contact, and in particular the pivotable arm of the second contact, from the disconnected position to the connected position.
  • the resilient linking member is also provided for the resilient linking member to be compressed to the effective length of the rigid linking member upon further displacement of the handling arrangement towards the on position.
  • a further feature of the invention provides for the handling arrangement to include a handle, and a handle link, with the handle and the handle link being pivotably , but independently, mounted about the same pivot axis.
  • the handle may have a lever end which is in use engaged by a user, and an actuating end which in use engages the handle link.
  • the actuating end of the handle may be at least partially circular, and may include a triangular receiving aperture for receiving the end of the handle link therein, the receiving aperture approximating a removed sector of the circular actuating end.
  • the handle link to be pivotable inside the receiving aperture between a first position in which one side of the handle link abuts one side of the receiving aperture, and a second position in which an opposing side of the handle link abuts an opposing side of the receiving aperture.
  • the handle and the handle link to be angularly dispiaceabie relative to one another between 20 and 50 degrees, preferably between 30 and 45 degrees.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of the electrical switch In accordance with the invention, the switch being in an ON position with the contact set connected;
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of the electrical switch in accordance with the prior art, the switch being in an ON position with the contact set connected;
  • Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the linking arrangement of the electrical switch of Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is a plan view of the switch of Figure 1 in an OFF position;
  • Figure 5 is a plan view of the switch of Figure 2 in an OFF position;
  • Figure 6 is a plan view of the switch of Figure 1 with the handle arrangement being displaced from the OFF position towards the ON position up to the point where the contact set of the switch is in a connected position;
  • Figure 7 is a plan view of the switch of Figure 2 with the handle arrangement being displaced from the OFF position towards the ON position up to the point where the contact set of the switch is in a connected position;
  • Figure 8 is a plan view of the switch of Figure 2 with the handle arrangement being displaced from the OFF position
  • an electrical switch in accordance with the invention is generally Indicated by reference numeral 10. It should be noted that the inventive concept can find application in various switches and switch configurations, and can specifically also be used in circuit breakers.
  • the electrical switch 10 shown in Figures 2, 5, 7 and 9 comprises a plastic housing which houses the contact set and the switching arrangement 100.
  • a line terminal 12 is provided, and in use an external electric conductor (not shown) is connected thereto.
  • the line terminal 12 is in electrical contact with a first contact 16 of the contact set.
  • the first contact 16 is a stationary contact
  • a load terminal 13 is provided in an opposite end of the casing, and in use an external electric conductor (not shown) is connected thereto.
  • the load terminal 13 is in electric contact with a second contact 20 of the contact set via an electrical conductor 14 housed inside the housing 11.
  • a rigid and stationary carriage 15 is secured to the housing 11, and in use carries, inter alia, the switching arrangement 100 and the second contact arrangement 20.
  • the second contact arrangement 20 includes a pivotable arm 21, with the contact 22 located on one end of the arm 21.
  • An opposite end of the arm 21 is pivotably secured to the carriage 15 at a pivot point 21.1.
  • a linking arm connecting point 21.2 is provided in a proximal zone of the pivotable arm.
  • the pivotable ami is therefore pivotably displaceable between a connected position ( Figure 2) in which the first contact 16 and the second contact 22 abut, and a disconnected position ( Figure 5) in which the first contact 16 and the second contact 22 are spaced apart.
  • the switching arrangement 100 comprises a toggle type switch including a switch handle 101 and a switch body 102.
  • the switch body is pivotably secured to the carriage 15, which allows the switch to be pivotably displaceable between an on position ( Figure 2) and an off position ( Figure 5).
  • the switch handle 101 extends from the housing 11 in order to be accessible by a user of the switch.
  • An actuating extension 103 extends radially outwardly from the circular switch body 102.
  • a linking arm 104 connects the actuating extension 103 to the pivotable arm 21.
  • a first end 104.1 of the linking arm 104 is pivotably secured to the actuating extension, whereas an opposing second end 104.2 is pivotably secured to the connecting formation 21.2 provided on the pivotable arm 21 of the second contact arrangement 21.
  • displacement of the switch handle 101 translates in displacement of the actuating extension 103.
  • the actuating extension 103 in turn pushes the pivotable arm downward ( Figure 7) or upward ( Figure 9) depending on the particular action that is taking place.
  • the new and inventive electrical switch 10 shown in Figures 1 , 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 11 comprises a plastic housing which houses the contact set and the switching arrangement 30.
  • a line terminal 12 is provided, and in use an external electric conductor (not shown) Is connected thereto.
  • the line terminal 12 is in electrical contact with a first contact 16 of the contact set
  • the first contact 16 is a stationary contact.
  • a load terminal 13 is provided in an opposite end of the casing, and in use an external electric conductor (not shown) is connected thereto.
  • the load terminal 13 is in electric contact with a second contact 20 of the contact set via an electrical conductor 14 housed inside the housing 11.
  • a rigid and stationary carriage 15 is secured to the housing 11, and in use carries, inter alia, the switching arrangement 100 and the second contact arrangement 20.
  • the second contact arrangement 20 includes a pivotable arm 21, with the contact 22 located on one end of the arm 21.
  • An opposite end of the ami 21 is pivotably secured to the carriage 15 at a pivot point 21.1.
  • a linking arm connecting point 21.2 Is provided in a proximal zone of the pivotable arm.
  • the pivotable arm is therefore pivotably dispiaceable between a connected position ( Figure 1) in which the first contact 16 and the second contact 22 abut, and a disconnected position ( Figure 4) in which the first contact 16 and the second contact 22 are spaced apart.
  • the switch arrangement 30 of the new electrical switch 10 differs from the prior art switch arrangement 100 in a number of aspect, with the end goal being a configuration where the contacts connect or 'make' earlier compared to a conventional electrical switch during the OFF-ON switch sequence of the electrical switch 10, and where the contacts disconnect or 'break' later compared to a conventional electrical switch during the ON- OFF switch sequence of the electrical switch 10.
  • the switch arrangement 30 includes a switch handle 31 extending from a disc-like switch body 32.
  • the switch body 32 is located inside the housing 11 , and is pivotably connected to the carriage 15.
  • the switch handle 31 protrudes from the housing 11 in order to be accessible by a user of the switch 10.
  • the switch arrangement 30 also includes an actuating extension 34 (reference numeral 103 in the prior art switch) but in this case the actuating extension 30 is not integrally formed with the switch body 32. Instead, a first end 34.1 of the actuating extension is pivotably securable about the same pivot axis of the switch body 32.
  • the switch body 32 includes a receiving aperture 33 for receiving the first end 34.1 of the actuating extension 34 therein.
  • the receiving aperture 33 is in the form of an open sector that has been removed from the disc-like switch body 32.
  • the actuating extension 34 does not fit snugly inside this aperture 33, but can rather pivot between a first position in which one side of the actuating extension 34 abuts a first face 33.1 of the receiving aperture 33, and a second position in which an opposing side of the actuating extension 34 abuts an opposing, second face 33.2 of the receiving aperture 33.
  • the importance of this configuration will become apparent when the displacement of the switching arrangement from an on (connected) position ( Figure 1) to an OFF (disconnected) position ( Figure 4) is discussed, as illustrated in Figure 8.
  • a linking arrangement 40 links the switch arrangement 30 with the second contact arrangement 20.
  • the configuration of the link arrangement 40 is substantially different compared to the switch link 104 used in the prior art.
  • the linking arrangement comprises a first, resilient link member 41 and a second, rigid link member 42 that cooperate to form a composite link member having an automatically adjustable length.
  • the resilient link member 41 has a first end 41.1 that is pivotably connected to the second end 34.2 of the actuating extension 34, and a second end 41.2 that is pivotably connected to the pivotabie arm 21 of the second contact arrangement 20, and more particularly to the connecting formation 21.2 on the pivotabie arm.
  • the resilient link member is in the form of an undulating brass strip which can be lengthwise compressed when a sufficient compressive force Is exerted thereon.
  • the rigid link member 42 has a first end 42.2 that is linked to the first end 41.1 of the resilient link member 41, and a second end 42.3 that is pivotably connected to the pivotabie arm 21 of the second contact arrangement 20, and more particularly to the connecting formation 21.2 on the pivotabie arm.
  • a slot 42.1 is provided in the first end 42.2 of the rigid link member 42.
  • a securing pin 43 that secures the first end 41.1 of the resilient link member 41 to the actuating extension 33 extends through this slot, and thus operatively links the rigid link member 42 and the resilient link member 41.
  • the rigid link member 42 will therefore accommodate some compression (and hence contraction) of the resilient link member 41 , until the pin 43 abuts a bottom end of the slot 42.1, at which point the rigid link member 41 will act as a iimiter that will prevent further compression of the resilient link member 41.
  • the effective length of the link arrangement 40 is therefore variable, and can vary between the length of the uncompressed resilient link member 41 (when the handle is in the off position) and the length of the rigid link member 42 (when the handle is in the on position).
  • the effective length of the link arrangement is essentially variable because a resilient link member 41 is used.
  • the rigid link member 42 acts as a limiter so as to provide a lower limit to the extent to which the length of the link arrangement can be reduced.
  • the linking arrangement of the new switch is therefore longer than a conventional switch when the handle is in an off position, but the same length as a conventional switch then the handle is in an on position.
  • the effective length of the link arrangement will be that of the uncompressed resilient link member 41 , which is longer than the length of the conventional rigid link member 104 used in the prior art switch as described above.
  • the second contact arrangement 20 will be actuated early on in the displacement cycle between the off and on positions of the handle, and an early make or connection is ensured.
  • the contact set connects when the handle is displaced roughly 20 degrees of the full 80 degree displacement. In other words, the second contact 22 will engage the first contact 16 when the switch handle 31 is displaced about 25% of the entire stroke of the switch handle 31. This is about 40 degrees before connection will take place when a conventional switch is used.
  • the pin 43 will engage the bottom of the slot 42.1, and further displacement of the switch handle 31 will not result in additional compression of the resilient link member 41.
  • the effective length of the link arrangement 40 mil be the same as the length of the switch link 104 of the conventional switch.
  • the distance or delay is determined by the included angle of the sector that defines the re DC blocking aperture.
  • the switching handle exerts a force onto the actuating extension immediately (the two components being integrally formed) and the break or disconnection takes place after a very small displacement of the switch handle.
  • the exact same handle displacement if the two switches are placed side by side and the handles are displaced simultaneously) will thus result in the switch in accordance with the invention to break or disconnect after the conventional switch, resulting in a break last situation when the new switch is used for the neutral or ground connection.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un commutateur électrique, et plus particulièrement mais non exclusivement un commutateur électrique à fermeture initiale et ouverture finale. Le commutateur (10) comprend un ensemble de contact électrique comprenant un premier contact fixe (16) et un second contact mobile (22), le contact mobile pouvant se déplacer entre une position connectée dans laquelle les contacts sont en butée, et une position déconnectée dans laquelle les contacts sont écartés. Le commutateur comprend en outre un mécanisme de commutation servant à déplacer le second contact entre la position connectée et la position déconnectée, le mécanisme de commutation incluant un agencement de poignée (31) pouvant être déplacé entre une position arrêt, dans laquelle le second contact (22) est en position déconnectée, et une position marche, dans laquelle le second contact (22) est en position connectée. Le second contact (22) est déplacé de la position déconnectée à la position connectée avant que l'agencement de poignée (31) n'atteigne la position marche lorsqu'il est déplacé depuis la position arrêt, et le second contact (22) est déplacé de la position connectée à la position déconnectée lorsque l'agencement de poignée (31) est déjà partiellement déplacé de la position marche vers la position arrêt.
PCT/IB2015/052264 2014-04-25 2015-03-27 Commutateur électrique WO2015162508A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA201403078 2014-04-25
ZA2014/03078 2014-04-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2015162508A1 true WO2015162508A1 (fr) 2015-10-29

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ID=52875732

Family Applications (1)

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PCT/IB2015/052264 WO2015162508A1 (fr) 2014-04-25 2015-03-27 Commutateur électrique

Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO2015162508A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018073019A1 (fr) * 2016-10-22 2018-04-26 Eaton Industries (Austria) Gmbh Disjoncteur avec nombre réduit de composants

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2116791A (en) * 1934-12-27 1938-05-10 Square D Co Circuit breaker
DE4008506A1 (de) * 1990-03-16 1991-09-19 Willem Brandhorst Verfahren zur ansteuerung der schaltbewegung eines elektrischen schalters und elektrischer schalter
EP0897186A2 (fr) * 1997-08-14 1999-02-17 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Mécanisme de commutation pour un disjoncteur

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2116791A (en) * 1934-12-27 1938-05-10 Square D Co Circuit breaker
DE4008506A1 (de) * 1990-03-16 1991-09-19 Willem Brandhorst Verfahren zur ansteuerung der schaltbewegung eines elektrischen schalters und elektrischer schalter
EP0897186A2 (fr) * 1997-08-14 1999-02-17 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Mécanisme de commutation pour un disjoncteur

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018073019A1 (fr) * 2016-10-22 2018-04-26 Eaton Industries (Austria) Gmbh Disjoncteur avec nombre réduit de composants
CN110168693A (zh) * 2016-10-22 2019-08-23 伊顿智能动力有限公司 具有减小数量的部件的断路器
CN110168693B (zh) * 2016-10-22 2021-06-08 伊顿智能动力有限公司 具有减小数量的部件的断路器

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