SWITCHING CONTACT DRIVE DEVICE AND SWITCHING DEVICE

Abstract

A switching contact drive device contains a transmission with an energy store. The energy store is enclosed in a housing. The housing guides a relative movement, particularly a deformation of the energy store. The switching contract drive device is provided for driving an electrical switching device such as a circuit breaker.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A switching contact drive device, comprising: a transmission with an energy store for an electrical switching device; and a store housing enclosing said energy store.

9. The switching contact drive device according to claim 8, wherein said store housing directs a relative movement of said energy store.

10. The switching contact drive device according to claim 8, further comprising a joining point incorporated in said store housing transversely to a relative movement of said energy store.

11. The switching contact drive device according to claim 10, wherein said store housing has a gate passage for guiding a movement of said energy store and said gate passage is disposed transversely to said joining point.

12. The switching contact drive device according to claim 8, wherein said transmission has a transmission housing and said store housing is mounted on a mating surface of said transmission housing.

13. The switching contact drive device according to claim 11, wherein said store housing has form-fitting elements, said gate passage is centered in a mating surface by means of said form-fitting elements.

14. The switching contact drive device according to claim 8, wherein said store housing directs a deformation of said energy store.

15. An electrical switching device, comprising: switching contact points, including a first switching contact point and a second switching contact point which are moveable relative to one another; and a switching contact drive device for generating a relative movement between said switching contact points, said switching contact drive device containing a transmission with an energy store and a store housing enclosing said energy store.

Description

[0022] In the drawing:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a switching contact drive device, and a switching device; which

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a module of a store housing, as in the switching contact drive device according to FIG. 1, viewed in the direction of a joining point surface, and which

[0025] FIG. 3 shows an alternative perspective view, wherein the joining point surface in FIG. 2 is now averted from the viewer.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a switching contact drive device 1, which is coupled to an electrical switching device 2 via a shaft 3. The electrical switching device 2 is, for example, a high-voltage circuit-breaker, which comprises a switching chamber, in which a first switching contact point 4 is moveably arranged relative to a second switching contact point 5. The two switching contact points 4, 5 constitute part of a current path, which can be closed or opened by means of the electrical switching device 2. To this end, the first switching contact point 4 is moveably mounted, and is connected to the shaft 3 via a kinematic chain. In the present case, the second switching contact point 5, by way of an example, is configured in a stationary arrangement. Additionally, electrical switching devices 2 can also be employed, in which both the first and the second switching contact point 4, 5 are driven. Embodiments of the switching contact points 4, 5 can vary, depending upon the type of switching chamber selected. For example, the switching chamber can be a vacuum switching tube, within which the switching contact points 4, 5 are moveable relative to one another, wherein the switching contact points 4, 5, for example, are configured as butt-connected axial magnetic field contacts. Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that the two switching contact points 4, 5 comprise a rated current section and an arcing section, and are arranged within an electrically insulating fluid for their part. The rated current sections of the switching contact points 4, 5 are protected by the arcing sections against severe erosion, for example associated with switching arcs.

[0027] The switching contact drive device comprises a transmission housing 6. In the present case, the transmission housing 6 is constituted, for example, in the form of a block or a plurality of shells, for the positioning of transmission components relative to one another. To this end, the transmission housing 6 comprises force conversions elements, such as a plurality of shafts on which, for example, gearwheels and couplings are mounted, which are operatively connected with one another in order to execute a force conversion within the transmission. The force conversion elements are ultimately connected to the shaft 3, via which a drive motion is transmitted to at least one of the switching contact points 4, 5 which are moveable relative to one another.

[0028] In order to generate a relative movement between the switching contact points 4, 5, the switching contact drive device 1 comprises a first energy store 7 and a second energy store 8. The two energy stores 7, 8 are respectively arranged in a first store housing 9 and a second store housing 10. In the present case, the two energy stores 7, 8 are configured as coil springs, which are compressed for the purposes of energy storage, and are expanded for the purposes of a release of the stored energy. The first store housing 9 encloses the first energy store 7. The second store housing 10 encloses the second energy store 8. The energy stores 7, 8, with respect to their coil axes, are enclosed on the shell side by the respective store housings 9, 10. The second store housing 10 is connected to the transmission housing 6, and is integrally molded. For example, in the context of a casting process, the second store housing 10 can be integrally cast.

[0029] In the present case, it is provided that, for safety reasons, charging of the second energy store 8 is executed directly, wherein the energy temporarily stored in the second energy store 8 is released, in order to execute the indirect charging of the first energy store 7. As a result, recharging of the first energy store 7 by the second energy store 8 is permitted. This increases the reliability of the switching contact drive device in that, additionally to the initiation of an ON/OFF switching operation, which is powered by the first energy store 7, re-tensioning or recharging of the first energy store 7 can be executed by means of the energy supply temporarily stored in the second energy store 8. The option is thus provided for a further increase in the number of independently executable switching operations of the switching contact points 4, 5 of the electrical switching device 2.

[0030] Compression of the first energy store 7 or the second energy store 8 is executed by a movement of a free end of the respective energy store 7, 8 against an abutment, which is constituted by a mating surface of the transmission housing 6. In order to execute the movement, a connecting rod 11a, 11b is coupled to one free end of the respective energy store 7, 8 in each case. The connecting rods 11a, 11b are routed through the coil windings of the first or second energy store 7, 8 in the direction of the abutment, i.e. in the direction of the transmission housing 6. Here, the connecting rods are correspondingly connected to the further force conversion elements of the transmission such that, as required, tensioning or tension relief can be executed via the respective connecting rod 11a, 11b and thus, additionally, a movement introduced for the tensioning of the energy store 7, 8, or energy released via the coupling rods 11a, 11b. In the second store housing 10, on the shell side, a gate passage 12 is arranged in diametrical opposition in each case. The gate passages 12 are respectively oriented in a linear profile, wherein the gate passages 12 are respectively swept by a sliding block 13, which projects into the respective gate passage 12. The sliding blocks 13 are arranged on a shaft, which is coupled to the connecting rod 11b such that a movement of the connecting rod 11b, and a resulting relative movement of the second energy store 8, is executed in a controlled manner by a sweep of the sliding block 13 in the gate passage 12. A compression or expansion of the second energy store 13 in a linear direction, i.e. in the direction of the coil windings of the second energy store 8, is permitted accordingly. The position of the sliding block 13 in the gate passages 12 represents the state of charge of the second energy store 8. Correspondingly, a charged symbol or a discharged symbol 14a, 14b is arranged in the corresponding region of the gate passage 12.

[0031] For the constitution of the first store housing 9 of the first energy store 7, an alternative variant of embodiment is preferred. In this case, a modular structure of the first store housing 9 is provided, wherein a first module 15 is employed. The first module 15 is represented in greater detail, in perspective views, in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the present case, the first store housing 9 comprises a single first module 15. The first module 15 is connected to the transmission housing 6, which constitutes a section (module) of the first store housing 9. The first store housing 9 is constituted by the cooperation of the section of the first store housing 9 which is provided by the transmission housing 6, and the first module 15. The first module 15 is connected by means of bolts 16, which project through fixing tabs 17, in an angularly rigid arrangement to the transmission housing 6. The first store housing 9 comprises further gate passages 18. The further gate passages 18 show a linear extension, and are essentially oriented in parallel with the gate passages 12 of the second store housing 10. The further gate passages 18 are thus constituted by the first module 15, and by the section of the transmission housing 6 to which the first module 15 is fitted. The further gate passages 18 thus traverse a joining point 19, which is arranged between a joining point surface 21 of the first module 15 and the joining point surface of the transmission housing 6 which constitutes a section of the first store housing 9.

[0032] Alternatively, it can also be provided that, instead of a molding of a section of the first store housing 9 onto the transmission housing 6, said section can also be constituted in the form of a separate module, which is correspondingly bolted onto the transmission housing 6. Thus, as required, and depending upon the axial extension or number of modules to be interconnected, store housings 9 of shorter or longer construction can be constituted for the first energy store 7. Correspondingly, storage springs of shorter or longer construction can be employed for the constitution of the first energy store 7. In order to ensure the mechanical stability of the first store housing 9, the respective section of the further gate passages 18, in the region of the first module 15, is bridged by brackets 20 such that, in each case, a further sliding block 13a can project into the respective gate passage 18, and guidance is permitted by means of the further gate passages 18. With respect to the function of the further sliding blocks 13a and the charged/discharged symbols 14a, 14b, comments with respect to the second store housing 10 apply mutatis mutandis.

[0033] The structure of the first module 15 for the first store housing 9 will now be described in greater detail, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, a joining point surface 21 is arranged to face the viewer, along which the joining point 19 extends. In the joining point surface 21, or from the joining point surface 21, shoulders 22 project, which constitute a complementarily shaped mating arrangement. The shoulders 22 can project into a mating surface (e.g. a joining point surface) which is configured in alignment with the joining point surface 21, for example of a further module or the transmission housing 6, such that a stable transition for the gate passage 18 is constituted in the region of the joining point 19. Mounting flanges 17 permit a bolting of the first module 15, for example to the transmission housing 6. Moreover, at the periphery of the first module 15 of the first store housing 9, further moldings 23 are provided, by means of which, for example, a retention of alarm switches or a guide function for the drive elements of the alarm switches is possible. For the guidance of a drive element, for example a push rod, a slot-like recess, for example, can be arranged in one of the further moldings 23, in which a longitudinal guidance of a push rod for an alarm switch is executed.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the free end (c.f. FIG. 1) of the first module 15 of the first store housing 9. In FIG. 3, the joining point surface 21 which faces the viewer in FIG. 2 is averted from the viewer. Additionally to the recesses in the mounting flanges 17, the wall of the first module 15 can preferably incorporate recesses which are oriented in the direction of the gate passages 18, in which, for example, further fastening means can be positioned.