Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Electromagnetically actuated switches – With motor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-10
2001-03-20
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Electromagnetically actuated switches
With motor
C335S014000, C335S071000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204741
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor-operated mechanism for electrical switching devices, which is intended in particular for circuit-breakers. The coupling of the mechanism to the circuit-breaker is possible through a knob or a latching mechanism.
Coupling to a knob is advisable in order to obtain optimum devices and make them as narrow as possible. In that case, motor-operated mechanisms which bring about snap-action closing of the circuit-breaker are known. Those are described, inter alia, in French Patent Application 2 476 906, European Patent Application 0 034 966 A1, European Patent Application 0 150 756 A2, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,244, and European Patent Application 0 506 066 A1. Those mechanisms are relatively complex. In contrast therewith, there are motor-operated mechanisms having a simpler type of construction for circuit-breakers which themselves have snap-action closing. Such a mechanism is described in German Patent DE 690 24 176 T2. Those are generally unsuitable for circuit-breakers without a snap-action mechanism, since the switching speed is too low. The remote-controlled mechanisms in most cases are screwed onto the circuit-breaker and are constructed specifically for the characteristics of the respective breaker. In order to activate the motor-operated mechanism by a programmable controller, an actuating current should be kept as small as possible. As a result, actuation through the use of an operating magnet or, as in European Patent Application 0 506 066 A1, tripping of a latch through the use of a tripping magnet, appear to be disadvantageous. Manual actuation must be possible at any time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a motor-operated remote-control mechanism for electrical switching devices, in particular for circuit-breakers, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type in such a way that it can be used for different sizes with different switching characteristics, taking the required safety measures into account, with minimal power consumption and a simple construction.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a motor-operated mechanism with a gearwheel transmission and snap-action closing for electrical switching devices, in particular circuit-breakers, having a twist knob for actuation, comprising a driven gearwheel having a first pin, a second pin and an attachment; a driver reaching through the driven gearwheel for mounting the driven gearwheel centrally through the knob onto the driver, the driver gripping over and establishing a connection with the knob for manual actuation and transferring a driving force; a supporting lever mounted on the driver like the driven gearwheel and leading the driver and the supporting lever to a latching location, at a beginning of a switching-on operation; a prestressed spring received by the driven gearwheel and having a movable end supported on the first pin and simultaneously engaging in the supporting lever, the spring having a prestressing force passing from the first pin to the supporting lever; a resilient driver; a lug; an adjustment-free snap-action system; first and second limit switches; and a geared motor; the driven gearwheel continuing to rotate alone, stressing the spring further, until the second pin releases the latching location, and transfers a switching-on torque of the spring to the driver, the driver switching the circuit-breaker on with snap action, and subsequently the driven gearwheel with the resilient driver being driven resiliently against the knob, until the attachment moves the lug actuating the adjustment-free snap-action system and in turn actuating the first limit switch initiating reversing operation of the geared motor and of the driven gearwheel, for returning the driven gearwheel, the spring and the supporting lever to a starting position until the second limit switch ends the switching-on operation and carries out a switching-off movement in a manner analogous to the switching-on movement without snap action.
A comparison reveals the following:
Motor-operated mechanism
according to the invention
Conventional apparatus
1 limit switch
1 limit switch, cap
1 limit switch, closing
1 limit switch, electrical
separation when there is
mechanical separation
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a remote-controlled mechanism with a motor for circuit-breakers, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3893050 (1975-07-01), Salvati et al.
patent: 5289773 (1994-03-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5311161 (1994-05-01), Calder et al.
patent: 5361699 (1994-11-01), Compera
patent: 5440989 (1995-08-01), Becker
patent: 6130392 (2000-10-01), Blessitt et al.
patent: 31 07 223 A1 (1982-01-01), None
patent: 42 14 047 C2 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 43 22 027 A1 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 44 44 629 C1 (1996-01-01), None
patent: 690 24 176 T2 (1996-07-01), None
patent: 0 034 966 (1981-09-01), None
patent: 0 150 756 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 0 427 641 A1 (1991-05-01), None
patent: 0 506 066 A1 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 2 476 906 (1981-08-01), None
patent: 2-204038 (1990-08-01), None
Becker Guntram
Trinks Hagen
Weinhold Rolf
Donovan Lincoln
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Stemer Werner H.
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