Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Contact moved by sudden release of stored energy
Patent
1996-04-12
1997-11-18
Walczak, David J.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Contact moved by sudden release of stored energy,
74 2, 464 44, H01H 500
Patent
active
056878354
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drive for an electric high voltage circuit breaker, in particular to a drive with a revolving crank and a backstop mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
German Patent No. 36 23 247 describes a drive for an electric high voltage circuit-breaker with a revolving crank driven by means of a drive spring. The drive described in German Patent No. 36 23 247 includes a backstop that is used principally to permit stepwise tensioning of the drive spring by rotation of the driving shaft, backward rotation of the driving shaft after each tensioning step being prevented by the backstop.
A backstop of this kind can also be used after a switching operation, i.e. when the energy storage mechanism is discharged and the crank is moving beyond its bottom dead center, to prevent the crank from moving backwards so that it comes to rest more quickly and the energy storage mechanism can accordingly be quickly recharged and so that the crank does not damage or endanger other parts of the switch when pivoting back.
Given the large drive forces necessary during operation of a high voltage circuit-breaker, this backstop must also be configured to ensure that it operates as desired over the long term.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a drive for an electric high voltage circuit-breaker with a revolving crank that may be driven by means of an energy storage mechanism between an upper dead center and a bottom dead center, and a backstop that prevents the crank from moving backwards against the driving direction after it moves beyond the bottom dead center.
An object of the present invention is to provide a high voltage circuit breaker drive that can operate reliably with a long operating life by alleviating the mechanical loads on the backstop.
The object is achieved, according to the present invention, by the fact that the backstop has a friction clutch with a first ring that is firmly coupled to the crank, and with a second return stop ring, that are rotatable in relation to one another when a releasing force is overcome.
As a result of the friction clutch according to the present invention, the backstop does not take effect abruptly, but rather in damped form. When large forces occur, the friction clutch will initially slip, and after the switching operation the crank will pivot back some distance opposite to the driving direction, before the backstop engages and the crank is immobilized. Slippage of the friction clutch dissipates a portion of the excess energy, for example by friction.
An advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides for elastic means, to press the first ring against the second ring creating a frictional engagement, to be provided. Mechanical coupling of the first ring to the second ring is thus guaranteed by means of a frictional engagement, the releasing force of the friction clutch being adjustable by means of the force with which the first ring and second ring are pressed against each other.
A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides for the rings to be arranged lying concentrically inside one another; for the mutually facing peripheral surfaces of the rings to be configured conically and in complementary fashion to one another; and for elastic means to compress the rings in the axial direction to be provided.
The result is a particularly simple physical configuration in which, depending on the configuration of the cone, high frictional forces can be achieved between the first ring and the second ring by means of relatively low pressing forces. In addition, a single helical spring is sufficient to exert the pressure, and a relatively small size for the friction clutch is achieved.
A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides for the rings to have recesses at their mutually facing delimiting surfaces; and for elastic elements, which each engage into at least one recess of each of the rings and are elastically deformable when the rings rotate with respect to on
REFERENCES:
patent: 2569144 (1951-09-01), Benson
patent: 4240300 (1980-12-01), Tanaka
patent: 4491709 (1985-01-01), Chabot et al.
patent: 4762971 (1988-08-01), Yabe
patent: 4805706 (1989-02-01), Stone
Niemeier Hans
Schuler Klaus
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Walczak David J.
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