Control device of the spring type particularly for a high-voltage or medium-voltage circuit breaker or switch

• US 9,672,996 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Alstom SA)
• Original Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Suter, Ernst, Ardyna, Simon, Von Allmen, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R.
• Application Number:
  US14/646,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20150325386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 200400, 200 1901, 200 1903, 200 1907, 200 1913, 200 1918, 200 1919, 200 192, 200410, 200411, 200416, 200419, 200424, 200430, 200501, 74 1029, 74108, 74 63, 74 70, 74 75, 74 8934, 74116, 74111, 742163, 74318, 74457, 74567, 74579 R, 74592, 74575, 74577 S, 74577 R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/30 using spring motor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/3005 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/3015 using cam devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/3021 using unidirectional coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/3031 Means for locking the spring in a charged state
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/34 using ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/38 using spring or other flexible shaft coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/40 using friction, toothed, or screw-and-nut gearing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/42 using cam or eccentric

Abstract

The control device possesses a rigid main part combining most of the functional elements of this type of control device. It is made up of two portions of a rotary shaft, having placed between them a cam and a support arm that are connected together by a pivot that is offset relative to the axis of rotation. A toothed wheel having an inner set of teeth is placed around the support arm that is provided with a rachet system. The toothed wheel has an outer set of teeth-driven by a motor, via an intermediate gearwheel. The pivot controls the compression of the actuator spring by the assembly rotating. The device is applicable to high and medium voltage circuit breakers and switches.

Claims

1. A spring type control device comprising:

a spring for delivering energy in order to move a movable contact of a circuit breaker or a switch;

a rotary shaft for transmitting energy needed for loading the spring;

a toothed wheel receiving the energy delivered by the spring via an outer set of teeth and designed to drive the rotary shaft while loading the spring;

a ratchet system for coupling and uncoupling the toothed wheel and the rotary shaft;

a cam secured to the rotary shaft for transmitting the energy delivered by the spring to the movable contact of the circuit breaker or switch;

a support arm secured to the rotary shaft and carrying the ratchet system and around which the toothed wheel is placed; and

a pivot fastened to the support arm, being axially offset relative to the rotary shaft and mechanically connected to the spring;

wherein the rotary shaft, the cam, the support arm, and the pivot constitute a single part in the form of a crankshaft, the pivot being placed centrally between the cam and the support arm, the pivot being connected to a first end of the spring by a connecting rod, the connecting rod having a first end pivotally connected on the pivot and having a second end connected to the first end of the spring, the rotary shaft being made up of two portions, one of the portions beside the cam and the other portion beside the support arm.

2. A spring type control device comprising:

a spring for delivering energy in order to move a movable contact of a circuit breaker or a switch;

a rotary shaft for transmitting energy needed for loading the spring;

a toothed wheel receiving the energy delivered by the spring via an outer set of teeth and designed to drive the rotary shaft while loading the spring;

a ratchet system for coupling and uncoupling the toothed wheel and the rotary shaft;

a cam secured to the rotary shaft for transmitting the energy delivered by the spring to the movable contact of the circuit breaker or switch;

a support arm secured to the rotary shaft and carrying the ratchet system and around which the toothed wheel is placed; and

a pivot fastened to the support arm, being axially offset relative to the rotary shaft and mechanically connected to the spring,

wherein the rotary shaft, the cam, the support arm, and the pivot constitute a single part in the form of a crankshaft, the pivot being placed centrally between the cam and the support arm, the pivot being connected to a first end of the spring by a connecting rod, the connecting rod having a first end pivotally connected on the pivot and having a second end connected to the first end of the spring, the rotary shaft being made up of two portions, one of the portions beside the cam and the other portion beside the support arm, and

wherein the support arm possesses at least three angularly offset branches with peripheral surfaces supporting the toothed wheel by contacting the tips of teeth of an inner set of teeth, the ratchet system being placed on one of the branches to co-operate with the inner set of teeth of the toothed wheel.

3. A circuit breaker using a spring type system, comprising:

a spring for delivering energy in order to move a movable contact of a circuit breaker or a switch;

a rotary shaft for transmitting energy needed for loading the spring;

a toothed wheel receiving the energy delivered by the spring via an outer set of teeth and designed to drive the rotary shaft while loading the spring;

a ratchet system for coupling and uncoupling the toothed wheel and the rotary shaft;

a cam secured to the rotary shaft for transmitting the energy delivered by the spring to the movable contact of the circuit breaker or switch;

a support arm secured to the rotary shaft and carrying the ratchet system and around which the toothed wheel is placed; and

a pivot fastened to the support arm, being axially offset relative to the rotary shaft and mechanically connected to the spring;

wherein the rotary shaft, the cam, the support arm, and the pivot constitute a single part in the form of a crankshaft, the pivot being placed centrally between the cam and the support arm, the pivot being connected to a first end of the spring by a connecting rod, the connecting rod having a first end pivotally connected on the pivot and having a second end connected to the first end of the spring, the rotary shaft being made up of two portions, one of the portions beside the cam and the other portion beside the support arm; and

wherein the support arm possesses at least three angularly offset branches with peripheral surfaces supporting the toothed wheel by contacting the tips of teeth of the inner set of teeth, the ratchet system being placed on one of the branches to co-operate with the inner set of teeth of the toothed wheel.