Disconnector or earthing switch

Abstract

A disconnector or earthing switch for connecting three conductors of different phases to a respective switching tube, including a rotatable drive shaft including a worm and configured for operating the disconnector or earthing switch, the three respective switching tubes, which are arranged axially together movable between a connected position configured for connecting the three conductors and a disconnected position configured for not connecting the three conductors, a partially toothed worm wheel configured for translating a rotation of the worm into the axial movement of the three switching tubes between the connected position and the disconnected position, whereby the partially toothed worm wheel is unengaged with the worm in the connected position and the disconnected position, and a re-engagement device configured for again engaging the partially toothed worm wheel with the worm in the connected position and the disconnected position.

Claims

1. A disconnector or earthing switch for connecting three conductors of different phases to a respective switching tube, comprising a rotatable drive shaft comprising a worm and configured for operating the switch, the three respective switching tubes, which are arranged axially together movable between a connected position configured for connecting the three conductors and a disconnected position configured for not connecting the three conductors, a partially toothed worm wheel configured for translating a rotation of the worm into the axial movement of the three switching tubes between the connected position and the disconnected position, whereby the partially toothed worm wheel is unengaged with the worm in the connected position and the disconnected position, and a re-engagement device configured for again engaging the partially toothed worm wheel with the worm in the connected position and the disconnected position.

2. The switch according to claim 1, whereby tooths of the partially toothed worm wheel extends about ?180?.

3. The switch according to claim 1, whereby tooths of the partially toothed worm wheel extends about ?100?.

4. The switch according to claim 1, whereby the partially toothed worm wheel is provided as a pitch circle shaped disc having opposite end surfaces for engaging with the re-engagement device.

5. The switch according to claim 1, whereby the re-engagement device is configured chargeable by the partially toothed worm wheel reaching the connected position respectively the disconnected position for again engaging the partially toothed worm wheel with the worm.

6. The switch according to claim 1, whereby the re-engagement device is provided as a spring configured for applying a spring force onto the partially toothed worm wheel.

7. The switch according to claim 1, whereby the re-engagement device is provided as a repulsive magnet pair configured for applying a repulsive magnetic force onto the partially toothed worm wheel.

8. The switch according to claim 1, comprising a contact support holding the three switching tubes distant to each other and/or a guidance configured for guiding the axial movement of the respective switching tube.

9. The switch according to claim 1, comprising a fork and bolt connection configured for translating a rotation of the partially toothed worm wheel into the axial movement of the three switching tubes.

10. The switch according to claim 1, whereby each switching tube comprises a contact pin configured for connecting a contact tulip of the respective conductor.

11. The switch according to claim 1, whereby the three switching tubes are connected to ground.

12. The switch according to claim 1, whereby the switch is provided as fast acting earthing switch, make prof earthing switch or disconnector earthing switch.

13. Use of a partially toothed worm wheel for connecting three conductors of different phases to a respective switching tube, comprising a rotatable drive shaft comprising a worm and configured for operating the switch, the three respective switching tubes, which are arranged axially together movable between a connected position configured for connecting the three conductors and a disconnected position configured for not connecting the three conductors, the partially toothed worm wheel configured for translating a rotation of the worm into the axial movement of the three switching tubes between the connected position and the disconnected position, whereby the partially toothed worm wheel is unengaged with the worm in the connected position and the disconnected position, and a re-engagement device configured for again engaging the partially toothed worm wheel with the worm in the connected position and the disconnected position.

14. A system comprising: three conductors of different phases; and a disconnector or earthing switch comprising: a rotatable drive shaft comprising a worm and configured for operating the switch, three switching tubes, each arranged axially together movable between a connected position configured for connecting the three conductors and a disconnected position configured for not connecting the three conductors, a partially toothed worm wheel configured for translating a rotation of the worm into the axial movement of the three switching tubes between the connected position and the disconnected position, whereby the partially toothed worm wheel is unengaged with the worm in the connected position and the disconnected position, and a re-engagement device configured for again engaging the partially toothed worm wheel with the worm in the connected position and the disconnected position.

15. The system according to claim 14, whereby tooths of the partially toothed worm wheel extends about ?180?.

16. The system according to claim 14, whereby tooths of the partially toothed worm wheel extends about ?100?.

17. The system according to claim 14, whereby the partially toothed worm wheel is provided as a pitch circle shaped disc having opposite end surfaces for engaging with the re-engagement device.

18. The system according to claim 14, whereby the re-engagement device is configured chargeable by the partially toothed worm wheel reaching the connected position respectively the disconnected position for again engaging the partially toothed worm wheel with the worm.

19. The system according to claim 14, whereby the re-engagement device is provided as a spring configured for applying a spring force onto the partially toothed worm wheel.

20. The system according to claim 14, whereby the re-engagement device is provided as a repulsive magnet pair configured for applying a repulsive magnetic force onto the partially toothed worm wheel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] These and other aspects of the disclosure will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the implementations described hereinafter.

[0035] In the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a disconnector or earthing switch for connecting three conductors of different phases to a respective switching tube in a perspective view according to a preferred implementation,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a rotatable drive shaft and a partially toothed worm wheel of the disconnector or earthing switch according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view according to the preferred implementation,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows the rotatable drive shaft and the partially toothed worm wheel of the disconnector or earthing switch according to FIG. 1 fully engaged in a side view according to the preferred implementation,

[0039] FIG. 4 shows the rotatable drive shaft and the partially toothed worm wheel of the disconnector or earthing switch according to FIG. 1 partially engaged in a side view according to the preferred implementation,

[0040] FIG. 5 shows the rotatable drive shaft and the partially toothed worm wheel of the disconnector or earthing switch according to FIG. 1 disengaged in a side view according to the preferred implementation,

[0041] FIG. 6 shows the rotatable drive shaft and the partially toothed worm wheel of the disconnector or earthing switch according to FIG. 1 re-engaging in a side view according to the preferred implementation,

[0042] FIG. 7 shows the rotatable drive shaft and the partially toothed worm wheel of the disconnector or earthing switch according to FIG. 1 in a side view according to another preferred implementation, and

[0043] FIG. 8 shows the rotatable drive shaft and the partially toothed worm wheel of the disconnector or earthing switch according to FIG. 1 in a side view according to even another preferred implementation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a disconnector or earthing switch 1 for connecting three conductors 2 of different phases to a respective switching tube 3 in a perspective view according to a preferred implementation. The three conductors 2 are part of grid each thus carry a high voltage in a range of 36 to 800 kV. The disconnector or earthing switch 1 comprises a rotatable drive shaft 4, the three respective switching tubes 3, a partially toothed worm wheel 5 and a re-engagement device 6.

[0045] The rotatable drive shaft 4 is equipped with a worm 7 firmly connected to the rotatable drive shaft 4. The rotatable drive shaft 4 is being hold by two bearings 8 at a housing, not shown, of the disconnector or earthing switch 1. The worm 7 is arranged between the two bearings 8. One end 9 of the rotatable drive shaft 4 is configured for being operated by a motor or a handle, not shown, for operating the disconnector or earthing switch 1.

[0046] The three switching tubes 3 extend parallel to the rotatable drive shaft 4 and are being hold by a contact support 10 having a triangular form with one switching tube 3 arranged at one edge each. The three switching tubes 3 are such wise motion coupled by the contact support 10 and being hold by guidances 11 provided as sliding contacts at the housing. All three guidances 11 are connected to ground as shown in the figure for the earthing switch 1. On case of a disconnector said three guidances 11 can be connected to other conductors.

[0047] The three guidances 11 allow that the three switching tubes 3 can be axially moved together between a connected position, in which each one switching tube 3 electrically connects each one conductor 2, not shown in FIG. 1, and a disconnected position, in which each one switching tube 3 is electrically disconnected from each one conductor 2, shown in FIG. 1. Each tip of the three switching tubes 3 therefore comprises a contact pin 12 and each tip of the three conductors 2 comprises a corresponding contact tulip 13.

[0048] For axially moving the three switching tubes 3, the worm 7 engages with tooths 14 of the partially toothed worm wheel 5, as shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The partially toothed worm wheel 5 comprises an output shaft 15, which is hold by the housing via anther bearing 8. Such wise the output shaft 15 extends orthogonal to the rotatable drive shaft 4.

[0049] Firmly connected to the output shaft 15 is a fork and bolt connection 16, which connects to the output shaft 15 to a rod 17 connected in parallel and stationary to the three switching tubes 3 to the contact support 10. Two opposite arranged bolts extend from the rod 17, which are encompassed by two respective opposite arranged forks connected to the output shaft 15. Such way a rotation of the rotatable drive shaft 4 is translated into an axial movement of the three switching tubes 3 for moving the three switching tubes between the connected position and the disconnected position.

[0050] Now referring to FIGS. 2 to 6 showing the rotatable drive shaft 4 and the partially toothed worm wheel 5 of the disconnector or earthing switch 1 according to FIG. 1 according to the preferred implementation, FIGS. 2 and 3 show the rotatable drive shaft 4 and the partially toothed worm wheel 5 fully engaged i.e. tooths of the worm 7 engage with tooths 14 of the partially toothed worm wheel 5.

[0051] Said tooths 14 extend around 120? of a circumference of the partially toothed worm wheel 5. Thereby, the partially toothed worm wheel 5 is provided as a pitch circle shaped disc i.e. a piece of cake extending around 120?. Said pitch circle shaped disc comprises at its ends two opposite arranged end surfaces 20, which extend axial and radial in respect to the output shaft 15. In FIGS. 2 and 3 said end surfaces 20 do not engage with the re-engagement device 6

[0052] FIG. 4 shows the rotatable drive shaft 4 and the partially toothed worm wheel 5 of the disconnector or earthing switch 1 according to FIG. 1 partially engaged in a side view according to the preferred implementation approached the disconnected position in counterclockwise direction.

[0053] The re-engagement device 6, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, is provided as torsion spring having two spring legs 19 extending out of a torsion spring housing 18 of the re-engagement device 6 attached to the housing of the disconnector or earthing switch 1. It can be seen that, when the disconnected position is approached, one spring leg engages with one end surface 20 thereby loading the torsion spring respectively the re-engagement device 6 with a spring force.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows the rotatable drive shaft 4 and the partially toothed worm wheel 5 respectively the worm 7 and the tooths 14 fully disengaged in the disconnected position, while the torsion spring respectively the re-engagement device 6 is fully loaded with the spring force. Said spring force is directed in clockwise direction, opposite to the previous rotation direction of the partially toothed worm wheel 5. In addition, any further rotation of the rotatable drive shaft 4 does not result in an axial movement of the three switching tubes 3 anymore.

[0055] The spring force acting on the one end surface 20 then presses an outermost tooth flank of the partially toothed worm wheel 5 onto a tooth flank of a last tooth of the worm 7, as can be seen in FIG. 6. In an event of an intended clockwise movement of the partially toothed worm wheel 5, the re-engagement device 6 thus allows in the disconnected position for again engaging the partially toothed worm wheel 5 with the worm 7. The proposed solution makes it possible to restore engagement between the partially toothed worm wheel 5 and the worm 7 in the disconnected position, as well as in the connected position, not shown.

[0056] FIGS. 7 and 8 show the rotatable drive shaft 4 and the partially toothed worm wheel 5 of the disconnector or earthing switch 1 according to FIG. 1 in a side view according to two further preferred implementation. In FIG. 7, the re-engagement device 6 is provided as compression spring configured for applying a spring force onto the partially toothed worm wheel 5 and in FIG. 8, the re-engagement device 6 is provided as a repulsive magnet pair configured for applying a repulsive magnetic force onto the partially toothed worm wheel 5.

[0057] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed implementations. Other variations to be disclosed implementations can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed arrangements, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting scope.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0058] 1 disconnector or earthing switch [0059] 2 conductor [0060] 3 switching tube [0061] 4 rotatable drive shaft [0062] 5 partially toothed worm wheel [0063] 6 re-engagement device [0064] 7 worm [0065] 8 bearing [0066] 9 end [0067] 10 contact support [0068] 11 guidance [0069] 12 contact pin [0070] 13 contact tulip [0071] 14 tooths [0072] 15 output shaft [0073] 16 fork and bolt connection [0074] 17 rod [0075] 18 torsion spring housing [0076] 19 spring leg [0077] 20 end surface