Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Switching systems
Patent
1994-05-16
1996-06-25
Shoop, Jr., William M.
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Switching systems
307116, 324415, 340644, G01R 31327
Patent
active
055302998
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for determining mechanical parameters of an electric switching device exposed to environmental influences. The electric switching device has at least one energy storage device for preparing for a switch movement for switching-on, at least one switch chamber having switch contacts, a contact-force spring adapted to be cocked by the energy storage device upon the switching-on, and a drive device for transmitting a switch movement to the switch chamber.
Known methods of the above-mentioned type, such as methods used in the product testing departments of the electrical industry, serve to examine the manner of operation of the switching devices under the influence of the environment, thereby obtaining information as to whether the switching device is suitable for its intended use. Such investigations are important, in particular for the power switches of power engineering since the reliability of the general power supply depends upon the proper operation of such power switches. Influences of the environment such as air pressure, temperature, dirt, and similar influences can vary within wide limits and can affect the mechanical and/or electrical switching capability of an electric switch.
The object of the present invention is to develop a method of the above mentioned type which uses a simple test, carried out after the manufacture of a switching device, to predict whether the switching device is suitable for a given intended use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method of the present invention achieves this object by the following steps: drive movement, with a measuring device for determining the speed of the component; switching device; environmental influence.
If a number of switching devices are examined by this method, it will be highly probable that a distribution of certain properties will be detected. This distribution is unavoidable even in instances of careful manufacture. For instance, variations in the energy content of spring storages, variations in the viscosity of lubricants, differences in the friction of bearings and similar phenomena as a function of the different intensity of an environmental influence will be detected. All of these influences affect the speed of operation of the drive means of the switching device. For instance, the speed towards the end of the switching-on movement can be used as a criterion for the evaluation. If the speed is not sufficiently great, then a latching, necessary to maintain the switched-on condition, does not take place and the switching device returns entirely or partly into the switched-off condition.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, determining the speed of the moving component of the drive device at a large number of times is not necessary. Rather, comparing the speeds measured during a switching process at least two successive times during the movement of the component and repeating this step for all measurements is sufficient.
Despite limiting the number of measurements to two points in time, a high degree of certainty as to the behavior of the drive means can be obtained in accordance with a further development of the present invention by the following steps: of the switch chamber contact each other in the course of the switching movement; and position is latched, thereby securing it. In this way, whether sufficient residual energy is still available towards the end of the switching-on process to latch the drive means with the switch contacts of the switching device properly closed can be predicted.
Based on the method steps explained above, currently manufactured switching devices can be tested by measuring them with a normal value of the selected environmental influence. Further, to obtain the permissible range of use of the switching device, the values ascertained are compared with reference values obtained from measurements with variable values of the environmental influence selected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustra
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Besslein Bernd
Nutzel Jurgen
Reinert Werner
Zinn Peter
Kaplan Jonathan S.
Shoop Jr. William M.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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