Operating mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating mechanism for opening and closing at least one contact, which operating mechanism comprises, a base frame, a bridge body movable relative to the base frame between a closed position and an opened position, a rod mechanism of a first and a second link, a cam arranged on a shaft, a locking lever fixedly arranged with one end to the first link and moves with the first rod between a locked position and an unlocked position, a control shaft having a D-shaft portion with a flat surface portion and a semi cylindrical surface portion, and a lock position, in which the path of the second end of the locking lever intersects with the circumference of the cross-section of the D-shaft portion.

Claims

1. An operating mechanism for opening and closing at least one contact the operating mechanism comprises: a base frame; a bridge body movable relative to the base frame between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the bridge body has a contact surface with a length and a width, the contact surface is configured to extend in a length direction over and be in contact with them operating rod of the at least one contact; a rod mechanism formed of a first link and a second link, wherein a first end of each of the two links are affixed together and rotate about a common axis, wherein a second end of first link and the base frame are affixed together and rotate about a second common axis and a second end of the second link and a bridging body are affixed together and rotate about a third common axis; a cam arranged on a shaft, wherein the shaft is arranged adjacent to the rod mechanism, wherein the shaft extends parallel to the common axis of the rod mechanism and wherein the cam is in operating contact with the common axis; wherein a locking lever fixedly arranged with one end to the first link and moves with the first link between a locked position and an unlocked position; a control shaft having a D-shaft portion with a flat surface portion and a semi-cylindrical surface portion; wherein the D-shaft portion can be rotated between a pass position, in which a path of the second end of the locking lever is positioned outside of a circumference of the cross-section of the D-shaft portion, and a lock position, in which the path of the second end of the locking lever intersects with the circumference of the cross-section of the D-shaft portion.

2. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a first spring is arranged to the control shaft to urge the control shaft in the lock position.

3. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a roller is arranged on the locking lever and wherein the roller forms the second end of the locking lever.

4. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a cam follower is arranged on the common axis and wherein the cam follower is configured to be in contact with the cam.

5. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a profile of the cam has a closing profile section for urging the rod mechanism into a stretched position, an opening profile section for folding the rod mechanism and an idle profile section, further comprising a closing spring for urging the closing profile section of the cam in contact with the common axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a part of an embodiment of an operating mechanism according to the invention.

(3) FIGS. 2A-2C show the embodiment of FIG. 1 in schematical view.

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B show a detail of the D-shaft portion in the pass position and the lock position respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows an operating mechanism 1 for opening and closing a contact. The operating mechanism 1 has a base frame (not shown) and a bridge body 3 with which operating rods of contacts can be operated.

(6) A rod mechanism of two links 4, 5, which are hinged on one end. A cam follower 6 is provided at this hinge axis. The first link 4 is hinged with the other end 7 to the base frame and the second link 5 is hinged with the other end 8 to the bridge body 3.

(7) A camshaft 9 with a cam 10 is provided in operating contact with the cam follower 6 to urge the rod mechanism 4, 5 in a stretched position in which the contacts are closed and a collapsed position in which the contacts are opened. A closing spring 11 is connected to the camshaft 9 to assist in the closing movement.

(8) A locking lever 12 is fixedly arranged to the first link 4 and provided with a roller 13 on the free end of the locking lever 12. A control shaft 14 with a D-shaft portion 15 is provided adjacent the roller 13, to lock the locking lever 12 when the rod mechanism 4, 5 is stretched and the contacts are closed.

(9) FIG. 2A shows the operating mechanism 1 as shown in FIG. 1 in more schematic view. The bridge body 3 is in a raised position, such that contacts 17 arranged against the contact surface 18 of the bridge body 3 are in an open position. The rod mechanism 4, 5 is collapsed position and the locking lever 12 is rotated away from the D-shaft portion 15, which is urged by a spring 16.

(10) In FIG. 2B the cam shaft 9 is rotated such that the cam 10 operates on the cam follower 6 and pushes the rod mechanism 4, 5 in a stretched position, such that the bridge body 3 is moved down and the contacts 17 are closed. This closing action is assisted by the closing spring 11.

(11) When the rod mechanism 4, 5 is moved to the stretched position, the locking lever 12 with the roller 13 moves along the path 19 and arrives at the D-shaft portion 15, which is positioned in a pass position, where the locking lever 12 with roller 13 can pass the D-shaft portion 15.

(12) FIG. 2C shows the position of the bridge body 3 in closed position, in which the contacts 17 are also closed. The locking lever 12 with roller 13 has passed the D-shaft portion 15, which is rotated by the spring 16 in the lock position, which prevents the rod mechanism 4, 5 to return to the position of FIG. 2A. This allows for the camshaft 9 to be rotated further in order to re-energize the closing spring 11.

(13) FIG. 3A shows the D-shaft portion 15. The cross-section has a circumference with a straight portion 20 and a semi cylindrical portion 21. In the pass position as shown in FIG. 3A, the path 19 of the locking lever 12 is positioned outside of the cross-section of the D-shaft portion 15.

(14) FIG. 3A shows the D-shaft portion 15 in the lock position, where the path 19 intersects with the cross-section of the D-shaft portion 15.