High-voltage or medium-voltage switching system

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system comprising at least one switching unit 1, which has a rotary switch 1A and a drive unit 10 for rotating the rotary switch, the drive unit 1 having a drive motor 9. The drive unit 1 has an actuation unit for actuating the drive motor 9, which is formed in such a way that when the drive motor 9 is operated the rotary switch 1A adopts a plurality of predetermined switching positions. The actuation unit has a switching member 17 for switching the drive motor 9 on and off and a rotatable body 16, as well as an activation element 18, which cooperates with the rotatable body 16, for activating the switching member 17. The activation element 18 and the switching member 17 ensure, together with the rotatable body 16, that the drive motor 9 is only switched on and off in particular rotational positions which correspond to particular switching positions of the switching unit 1, in such a way that the different switching positions can be approached highly precisely.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16: A high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system including at least one switching unit, the at least one switching unit comprising: a rotary switch including a plurality of predetermined switching positions; and a drive unit configured to rotate the rotary switch, the drive unit including: a drive motor; an actuation unit configured to actuate the drive motor such that the drive motor moves the rotary switch between the plurality of predetermined switching positions, the actuation unit including: a switching member configured to switch the drive motor on and off; a rotatable body; an activation element configured to cooperate with the rotatable body to activate the switching member; wherein the rotatable body is configured to have a plurality of predetermined rotational positions corresponding to the plurality of predetermined switching positions of the rotary switch; and wherein when the rotatable body is in one of the predetermined rotational positions the activation element is in a first position of the activation element engaged with the rotatable body and the switching member is in a first switching state, and when the rotatable body is outside of the predetermined rotational positions the activation element is in a second position of the activation element disengaged from the rotatable body and the switching member is in a second switching state.

17: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 16, wherein: the actuation unit includes a release unit configured to release the activation element by moving the activation element from a position in which the activation element is engaged with the rotatable body into a position in which the activation element is disengaged from the rotatable body.

18: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 17, wherein: the activation element is pivotable about an axis; and the release unit includes a bolt guided displaceably in a longitudinal direction such that the bolt acts on the activation element to pivot the activation element from the position in which the activation element is engaged with the rotatable body into the position in which the activation element is disengaged from the rotatable body.

19: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 18, wherein: the actuation unit is configured such that to rotate the rotary switch from one position of the plurality of predetermined switching positions to another position of the plurality of predetermined switching positions: the release unit is actuated causing the activation element to be disengaged from the rotatable body such that the drive motor is switched on; and the rotary switch is rotated by the drive motor until the activation element comes into engagement with the rotatable body such that the drive motor is switched off.

20: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 16, wherein: the drive motor is an electric motor; and the switching member is an electrical switch configured to open and close a circuit including the drive motor.

21: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 16, wherein: the rotatable body includes a disc positioned on a rotatable driven shaft of the drive unit.

22: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 21, wherein: the disc includes a plurality of recesses circumferentially distributed on the disc; and the activation element includes a latch configured to engage the recesses in the disc, the recesses corresponding to the predetermined rotational positions of the disc and to the predetermined switching positions of the rotary switch.

23: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 16, wherein: the actuation unit includes a position detector including a plurality of switching position sensor elements; and the rotatable body is configured such that in each of the predetermined rotational positions of the rotatable body at least one of the switching position sensor elements is engaged with the rotatable body depending on the rotational position of the rotatable body.

24: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 23, wherein: the rotatable body includes a side face and a plurality of recesses circumferentially distributed on the side face; and each of the switching position sensor elements is configured to engage a respective one of the plurality of recesses when the rotatable body is in a respective one of the plurality of predetermined rotational positions corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of predetermined switching positions of the rotary switch.

25: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 23, wherein: the position detector includes a plurality of electrical switches or buttons configured to be actuated by the switching position sensor elements.

26: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 16, wherein: the actuation unit includes at least one end position sensor element; and the rotatable body is configured such that in a predetermined end position the at least one end position sensor element is engaged with the rotatable body.

27: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 26, wherein: the rotatable body includes a side face and a plurality of recesses circumferentially distributed on the side face; and the actuation unit includes switches or buttons configured to be activated by the at least one end position sensor element.

28: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 16, wherein: the drive unit includes a driven shaft; the rotary switch includes a drive shaft and a switch contact arrangement connected to the drive shaft to be rotatable about a central axis of the drive shaft; and the at least one switching unit further includes a traction drive connecting the driven shaft of the drive unit to the drive shaft of the rotary switch.

29: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 16, wherein: the rotary switch is configured such that in the plurality of predetermined rotational positions of the rotatable body corresponding to the plurality of predetermined switching positions of the rotary switch, electrical connections can be established between terminal contacts of two or more of a power switch, a disconnect switch and a grounding switch.

30: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 29, wherein the rotary switch is configured such that: in one of the predetermined rotational positions of the rotatable body an electrical connection is established between the terminal contacts of the power switch and the grounding switch; in another of the predetermined rotational positions of the rotatable body any electrical connections between the terminal contacts of the power switch, the disconnect switch and the grounding switch are interrupted; and in another of the predetermined rotational positions of the rotatable body an electrical connection is established between the terminal contacts of the power switch and the disconnect switch.

31: The high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system of 30, wherein the rotary switch is configured such that: in another of the predetermined rotational positions of the rotatable body an electrical connection is established between the terminal contacts of the disconnect switch and the grounding switch; and in another of the predetermined rotational positions of the rotatable body an electrical connection is established between the terminal contacts of the power switch, the disconnect switch and the grounding switch.

32: A switch gear comprising: a rotary switch including a plurality of predetermined switching positions; a drive motor; and an actuator configured to actuate the drive motor such that the drive motor moves the rotary switch between the plurality of predetermined switching positions, the actuator including: a motor switch configured to switch the drive motor on and off; a rotatable body; an activation element configured to cooperate with the rotatable body to activate the motor switch; wherein the rotatable body is configured to have a plurality of predetermined rotational positions corresponding to the plurality of predetermined switching positions of the rotary switch; and wherein when the rotatable body is in one of the predetermined rotational positions the activation element is in a first position of the activation element engaged with the rotatable body and the motor switch is in a first switching state, and when the rotatable body is outside of the predetermined rotational positions the activation element is in a second position of the activation element disengaged from the rotatable body and the motor switch is in a second switching state.

33: The switch gear of claim 32, wherein: the activation element includes a pivoted lever; and the switch gear further includes a release actuator configured to pivot the pivoted lever from a position in which the pivoted lever is engaged with the rotatable body into a position in which the pivoted lever is disengaged from the rotatable body.

34: The switch gear of claim 33, wherein: the rotatable body includes a plurality of recesses circumferentially distributed on the rotatable body; and the pivoted lever includes a latch configured to engage the recesses in the rotatable body, the recesses corresponding to the predetermined rotational positions of the rotatable body and to the predetermined switching positions of the rotary switch.

35: The switch gear of claim 32, further comprising: a position detector including a plurality of switching position sensor elements; and wherein the rotatable body is configured such that in each of the predetermined rotational positions of the rotatable body at least one of the switching position sensor elements is engaged with the rotatable body depending on the rotational position of the rotatable body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Hereinafter, two embodiments of the invention are described in detail, with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1A shows a first switching position of the switching unit of the high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system,

[0028] FIG. 1B shows a second switching position of the switching unit of the high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system,

[0029] FIG. 1C shows a third switching position of the switching unit of the high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system,

[0030] FIG. 1D shows a fourth switching position of the switching unit of the high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system,

[0031] FIG. 1E shows a fifth switching position of the switching unit of the high-voltage or medium-voltage switching system,

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of the drive unit of a first embodiment having three switching positions,

[0033] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rotatable disc of the actuation unit of the drive unit of FIG. 2,

[0034] FIG. 4 is a drawing of the rotatable disc of the actuation unit to illustrate the functionality of the position detection means and of the end position switching means,

[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of the drive unit of a second embodiment having five switching positions,

[0036] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the rotatable disc of the actuation unit of the drive unit of FIG. 5, and

[0037] FIG. 7 is a drawing of the rotatable disc of the actuation unit for illustrating the functionality of the position detection means and of the end position switching means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIG. 1A to lE are highly simplified schematic drawings of an electrical switching system, which is described in detail in DE 10 2007 004 950 A1 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,679,019), to which reference is hereby explicitly made and which is incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 1A to lE show the individual switching positions of the switching unit. The switching unit 1 has a rotary switch 1A, which comprises a power switch 2 or load disconnect switch (merely outlined), a disconnect switch 3 and a grounding switch 4. The individual switching positions can be adopted by rotating a switching contact arrangement 5, referred to in DE 10 2007 004 950 A1 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,679,019) as a central switch. The switching contact arrangement 5 is connected to a drive shaft 6, which is mounted rotatably about a central axis. The switching unit 1 may also be referred to as a switchgear.

[0039] FIG. 1A shows a switching position (angle of rotation 0) in which an electrical connection between the terminal contacts 2A of the power switch 2 or load disconnect switch and the terminal contacts 4A of the grounding switch 4 can be established so as to ground the cable outlet 8.

[0040] FIG. 1B shows the disconnect position (angle of rotation 45), in which the electrical connection between the terminal contacts 2A, 3A, 4A of the power switch 2 or load switch, of the disconnect switch 3 and of the grounding switch 4 is interrupted.

[0041] FIG. 1C shows the operating position (angle of rotation 90), in which an electrical connection between the terminal contacts 2A of the power switch 2 or load disconnect switch and the terminal contacts 3A of the disconnect switch 3 can be established so as to connect the busbar 7 to the cable outlet 8.

[0042] FIG. 1D shows a switching position (angle of rotation 180) in which an electrical connection between the terminal contacts 3A, 4A of the disconnect switch 3 and of the grounding switch 4 can be established so as to ground the busbar 7.

[0043] FIG. 1E shows a switching position (angle of rotation 270) in which an electrical connection between the terminal contacts 2A, 3A, 4A of the power switch 2 or load disconnect switch, of the disconnect switch 3 and of the grounding switch 4 can be established so as to ground the cable outlet 8 and the busbar 7.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of the drive unit 10 for rotating the rotary switch 1A of a first embodiment. This embodiment provides the switching positions shown in FIG. 1A to 1C (three-position switch). FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial views of the drive unit 10.

[0045] Hereinafter, only the parts of the drive unit 10 which are important to the invention are described. The drive unit 10 has a drive motor 9, which in the present embodiment is an electric motor. The drive train comprises a first transmission 11, the longitudinal axis of which is positioned in a horizontal plane on the axis of the motor 9, a second transmission 12, the longitudinal axis of which extends in a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis of the first transmission 11, and a third transmission 13, the longitudinal axis of which extends in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis of the second transmission 12. In this way, for motor voltages between 48 V DC and 220 V DC or AC, the relatively high torques of up to 600 Nm required for rotating the rotary switch can be produced at the transmission output. On a shaft 11A of the first transmission 11, a fixing piece 14 for a hand crank is provided so as to make manual operation possible.

[0046] The switching unit 1 and the drive unit 10 are separate structural units, which are arranged physically close together. The driven shaft 13A of the third transmission 13 drives the central drive shaft 6 of the switching unit 1. In the present embodiment, the driven shaft 13A of the third transmission 13 is connected to the drive shaft 6 of the switching unit 1 via a traction drive 15, in particular a chain drive, which preferably has a transmission ratio of 1:1 (FIG. 5).

[0047] The drive unit 10 has an actuation unit for actuating the drive motor 9, which has a rotatable body 16 which is connected to the driven shaft 13A of the drive unit 10. The actuation unit may also be referred to as an actuator. In the present embodiment, the rotatable body is a disc 16. When the drive motor 9 rotates the driven shaft 13A along with the disc 16 through 360, at the transition ratio of 1:1 the drive shaft 6 of the switching unit is likewise rotated through 360, in such a way that the switching contact arrangement 5 also rotates through 360. As a result, the position of the disc 16 exactly corresponds to the switching position of the rotary switch.

[0048] The actuation unit of the drive unit 10 has a switching member 17, which in the present embodiment is an electrical switch 17 for switching the electric motor 9 on and off. The switching member 17 may also be referred to as a motor switch. When the switch 17 is closed the drive motor 9 is switched on, and when the switch is open the drive motor is switched off. The switch 17, which may be a three-phase switch having a plurality of contact pairs, is activated by an activation element 18, which is formed as a latch which engages in recesses 19a to 19c which are provided circumferentially distributed on the circumferential face of the disc 16 in predetermined switching positions. The front portion of the activation element 18 has a shoulder 18A which engages in the recesses 19a to 19c, and the rear portion has a shoulder piece 18B. The central portion of the activation element 18 is mounted pivotably about a horizontal axis 20. Thus the activation element 18 may also be referred to as a pivoted lever. The positions of the recesses 19a to 19c on the circumference of the disc 16 correspond to the individual rotational positions of the switching contact arrangement 5 of the switching unit 1, in other words to the switching positions of the switching unit. Thus, for example, the recesses 19a and 19b are at an angle of 45, and the recesses 19b and 19c are at an angle of 45.

[0049] Furthermore, the actuation unit has a release unit 21, by means of which the activation element 18 can be pivoted about the axis 20 from the position in which the front shoulder 18A is engaged with the disc 16 into a position in which the front shoulder 18A is disengaged from the disc 16, in other words the latch is released. The release unit 21 has an electromagnetically operated drive 21A for a bolt 21B, which is guided displaceably in the longitudinal direction and which acts on the rear shoulder 18B of the activation element 18 in such a way that the activation element can be pivoted from the engagement position into the release position so as to activate the switch 17. In the engagement position, the switch 17 is open, in such a way that the circuit which includes the electric motor 9 is interrupted, whilst the switch 17 is closed in the release position in such a way that the motor 9 is switched on.

[0050] The control unit further has a control circuit (not shown), which may have electrical and electronic components, for example semiconductors or relays. To switch the switching unit 1 from one switching position into another switching position, for example from the operating position into the disconnect position, the actuation unit actuates the release unit 21 for a predetermined time interval, in such a way that the activation element 18 is released and the switch is closed, in such a way that the electric motor 9 is switched on. The disc 16 of the drive unit 10 and the switching contact arrangement 5 of the switching unit 1 rotate clockwise or anticlockwise, depending on the running direction of the motor 9, synchronously until the front shoulder 18A of the activation element 18 engages in the next recess 19a to 19c again. At this point in time, the motor 9 stops, since the desired switching position has been reached.

[0051] The predetermined time interval for the release of the activation element 18 is calculated in such a way that the bolt 21B is retracted before the shoulder 18A of the activation element 18 engages in the recess 19a to 19c of the next switching position. However, the control system may also provide that the time interval is calculated to be longer, for example that the activation element 18 is still being held in the release position when the next recess is reached, in such a way that the motor 9 is only stopped when the position after the next is reached. As a result, individual switching positions can be skipped.

[0052] For proper operation of the switching system, the actuation unit not only ensures that the individual switching positions are exactly set, but also prevents the possibility of unreliable switching positions being adopted.

[0053] Furthermore, the actuation unit has a position detection means 22 so as to be able to detect the individual switching positions. The position detection means 22 may also be referred to as a position detector. The position detection means 22 has a plurality of switching position sensor elements 22A, 22B, 22C. In the present embodiment, three switching position sensor elements 22A, 22B, 22C are arranged side by side in a horizontal plane on a side face of the disc 16. Recesses 23a, 23b, 23c are assigned to the switching position sensor elements 22A, 22B, 22C, and are provided on the opposite side of the disc 16 at a corresponding radius, in such a way that the sensor elements 22A, 22B, 22C can come into engagement with or are out of engagement with the recesses 23a, 23b, 23c as the disc rotates. The switching position sensor elements 22A, 22B, 22C may have resiliently biased rollers on which the disc can roll along. The sensor elements 22A, 22B, 22C activate electrical switches or are formed as electrical switches. Each sensor element 22A, 22B, 22C may also have a plurality of buttons or switches 22a, 22b, so as to increase the redundancy, in such a way that the rotational position of the disc 16 can be detected even if a button or switch fails. In the present embodiment, the sensor elements 22A, 22B, 22C each have two switches 22a, 22b or buttons, which are closed when both switches or buttons engage in the recess 23a, 23b, 23c. Otherwise, the switches are open. However, the motor control system may also provide that the switches 22a, 22b or buttons are open when both switches or buttons engage in the recess 23a, 23b, 23c and are closed otherwise.

[0054] The recesses 23a, 23b, 23c for the switching position sensor elements 22A, 22B, 22C are arranged on the disc 16 in such a way that the position of the switches (buttons) 22a, 22b when the switch 17 interrupts the motor circuit in the operational position, disconnect position or grounded cable outlet position reflects the associated circuit (operational position, disconnect position, grounded cable outlet position). The position of the switches (buttons) 22a, 22b (open or closed) corresponds to a coding for the rotational position of the disc 16 or for the switching position of the switching unit 1. The control circuit is configured in such a way that the position of the switch (button) is evaluated so as to detect the position of the disc 16.

[0055] To protect the drive means against faulty operation and in the event of a fault in the control system, compulsory interruption of the motor circuit is provided. If the disc 16 rotates past the desired switching position because the activation element 18 does not enter into engagement with the disc 16, the electric motor 9 is switched off automatically shortly after overshooting the desired switching position. For this purpose, the actuation unit has an end position switching means 24.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the end position switching means 24 has two end position sensor elements 24A, 24B, which are arranged alongside the switching position sensor elements 22A, 22B, 22C in the horizontal plane. The end position sensor elements 24A, 24B, which actuate electrical switches (buttons) or are formed as electrical switches, can engage in recesses 25a, 25b, which are provided on the opposite side face of the disc 16 at the corresponding radius. The recesses 25a, 25b for the end position sensor elements 24A, 24B are arranged in such a way that, immediately after the desired switching position is overshot, the relevant switch is activated. In the present embodiment, the switch is closed if the end position sensor element 24A, 24B does not engage in the corresponding recess 25a, 25b and is closed if the end position sensor element 24A, 24B engages in the recess 25a, 25b. In the embodiment, the switches are arranged in the circuit which includes the electric motor 9, in such a way that the circuit is interrupted and the motor is switched off if the end position sensor element 24A, 24B engages in the associated recess 25a, 25b after overshooting the desired switching position.

[0057] FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of the drive unit 10 for rotating the rotary switch of a second embodiment. This embodiment also provides the switching positions shown in FIGS. 1D and 1E as well as the switching positions shown in FIG. 1A to 1C (five-position switch). FIGS. 6 and 7 are partial views of the drive unit 10. The parts of the alternative embodiment which correspond to those of the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0058] The alternative embodiment differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4 in that, instead of three recesses 19a, 19b, 19c, two further recesses 19d, 19e are provided on the circumferential face of the disc 16 for the three switching positions, so as to be able to reproduce five switching positions. Furthermore, for detecting the additional switching positions, two further switching position sensor elements 22D, 22E are provided, which may each comprise two switches 22a, 22b (buttons).

[0059] When the grounded busbar and cable outlet position is reached, the activation element 18 falls into the recess 19e. Once the grounded busbar position is reached, the activation element falls into the recess 19d. The indications for the two additional positions are detected analogously to the case of the three-position switch, by way of the switching position sensor element 22D for the grounded busbar and cable outlet position and the switching position sensor element 22E for the grounded busbar position. In this context, the switching position sensor elements are activated and released from the recesses 23a, 23b, 23c for the position indications, as in the case of the three-position switch. The recesses 23a, 23b, 23c and the switching position sensor elements 22A, 22B are arranged in such a way that the three recesses 23a, 23b, 23c of the three-position switch on the side face of the disc 16 are sufficient for coding all of the switching positions. The basic functionalities and processes of the three-position switch are still maintained.