Signals and indicators – Indicators – Rotary indicator with actuating means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-11
2001-05-22
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Indicators
Rotary indicator with actuating means
C116S288000, C116S293000, C116S296000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234106
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a position indicator of a motor drive for the actuation of a step switch, of a tap changer or of a dipping coil.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a position indicator is already known from the internal company paper “Motorantriebe MA 7, Betriebsanweisung” [translated: Motor Drive MA 7, Operation Instructions”, translator's note], Impressum BA 40/90 de-0391/2000 of the applicant.
Thereby the position indicator is designed as a direct integral component of the controlling gear. There are a switching-phase indicating disk and a position indicating disk, both of which are actuated within the controlling gear. The position display itself is done through the indicia arranged on the frontal, i. e. peripheral side of the respective disk, which turn together with this disk. The frontal sides are visible from the outside in a certain area and the thereon displayed indicia are readable.
The switching-phase indicating disk rotates just like the eccentric disk of the controlling gear, which actuates the individual contacts in a predetermined switching sequence, each time the step switch is switched from one phase or the like to another neighboring phase, each time by a full rotation.
On its frontal side it is provided with indicia which represent, respectively illustrate with digits or other symbols, the individual switching phases, i.e. switching sequence taking place one after the other during a switch.
A green field indicates the rest position of the cam switch.
The starting point of a switching phase, i.e. the stationary state of the motor drive, is represented by a red central mark within the green area.
The position-indicating disk is provided on its frontal side with digits or the like, which correspond to the possible switch position of the respective step switch or the like.
The position indicating disk rotates each time there is a switch from one step of the step switch to a neighboring other step, each time by an angle, i.e. by a phase which corresponds to the distance between two neighboring indicia.
Thus by means of the switching-phase indicator disk, the known position indicator shows each time in which area of the switching sequence the motor drive is located at that time, during a switch.
Further by means of the position-indicating disk it also indicates the operational position wherein the drive motor is located (in the stationary state).
The disadvantage of this known position indicator is the poor visual representation of the switching operation, i.e. of the respective switching sequence to be passed. It is not easy to recognize whether an initiated switching operation is in its initial stage or close to its completion.
A further disadvantage consists in that the displays, which as already explained are located on each of the frontal sides of the two disks can not be read from a greater distance. Since both disks are components of the controlling gear and the frontal discs can not be made as thick as desired, an enlargement of the digits or of other symbols is precluded by the construction conditions.
A further disadvantage of the known position indicator consists in that it can not indicate which operational positions have already been assumed during the preceding actuation of the motor drive, i.e. which control range of the step switch or the like has been used up to the present point in the practical operation, if at all. However such information is of increasing importance for service, setting and monitoring functions. It is important to know for instance whether a step switch was switched through its entire control range or it was operated basically only in a narrowly limited area, and whether this narrowly limited area is in a given case close to one of the end positions. All this information can not be obtained from the known position indicator.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a generic position indicator, which offers a good visual representation of information, easy readability from great distances and additional information about the control ranges traversed in the past.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, this object is attained in a position indicator for a motor drive for actuating a step switch, tap changer, or dipping coil, the position indicator. The position indicator according to the invention has a display board having front and back faces, a first circular array of symbols on the front face corresponding to individual switching phases traversed during changeover of the motor drive from one operational position into another neighboring operational position, a first shaft extending through the board centrally of the first array and defining a first axis, and a pointer on the shaft at the front face rotatable through positions aligned with the symbols. A second circular array of symbols on the front face associated with individual possible stationary operational positions of the step switch, the tap changer, or the dipping coil surrounds a second pointer shaft projecting through the board centrally of the second array and defining a second axis. A second pointer at the front face on the second shaft is rotatable through positions aligned with the symbols of the second array. Respective trailing pointers pivotal on the axis and not driven by the second shaft flank the second pointer and have entrainment formations engageable therewith so that as the second pointer moves and engages either of the pointers it displaces same. A gear mechanism on the back face connects the second shaft to the first shaft for movement of the second pointer angularly codirectionally with the first pointer between adjacent symbols of the second display on rotation of the first pointer through 360°.
An advantage of the position indicator according to the invention consists in that the entire display is uncoupled from the controlling gear; separate display dials and pointers sweeping the same for position indication are provided.
A further advantage of the position indicator of the invention consists in that due to the selected pointer arrangement, the display is generally more eye-catching, clearer and easier to recognize.
The pointers used for the display offer a better overview about the relation of the present operational position within the entire control range. At a single glance it offers the information whether the associated step switch or the like is in the middle or at the upper or lower end of its work range. Furthermore the selected pointer arrangement offers a better overview of the time lapse of the respective switch, the corresponding pointer gives an easily recognizable overview as to the present stage wherein the motor drive can be found during a switch within the sequence to be traversed.
The trailing pointers provided according to the invention as a component of the position display give at a glance the information in which control range, i.e. with which operation positions the step switch or the like has been so far operated.
The size, shape, color and the symbol writing of the dials and the pointers can be easily adjusted to the respective requirements. The display by means of circular dials and pointers is also more familiar to the human eye and produces fewer reading errors than the necessarily smaller symbols on the frontal sides of the disks according to the state of the art.
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Dohnal Dieter
Neumeyer Josef
Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Dubno Herbert
Francis Faye
Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
Wilford Andrew
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