Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Interlocking – Between plural switches
Patent
1998-06-11
1999-12-21
Luebke, Renee S.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Interlocking
Between plural switches
200 5036, 200552, H01H 926
Patent
active
060052023
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a switching device having a first moveable contact carrier which has a first recess, in which, depending on the operating state, a latch engages under the loading of a spring force via a first housing opening of the switching device.
RELATED TECHNOLOGY
DE-A 14 47 403 has discloses a mutual mechanical locking system for two components, for example for two contactors. The two components are held in a freely moveable fashion in such a way that when one component is moved out of the rest position by a force exerted on it, the other component has its movement blocked. Mounted between the two components are two displaceable elements which are both held against a spring force by magnets fitted reciprocally on the components. Latching points are provided reciprocally on the components in such a way that one component latches tight with an appropriate element as soon as the other component leaves the rest position when the magnet action is canceled with respect to this element.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,214 discloses two push buttons which are connected to one another by a locking mechanism. This ensures that in each case only the contact of one push button can be closed while that of the other push button remains in the open state.
DE 24 40 361 B2 discloses a switching device with a mechanical locking system of moveable parts. What is disclosed is a mechanical locking system of parts which can be moved in parallel and moved to and fro, for example of switching inserts in switching devices, which locking requires no special adjusting measures and is easy to assemble by the customer. It is ensured by means of a locking piece that, for example, as parts which can be moved in parallel and are to be locked operating heads of a contactor cannot simultaneously be located in the ON position. Rather, only one operating head can be in the ON position, while the other one is held in the OFF position.
A problem with switching devices, such as contactors, is that after switching on has been performed the moveable contact carrier must be held in the ON position even if an interruption occurs in the power supply to the switching device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention in conjunction with a switching device including a contract carrier to provide a mechanical locking system which, after the switching device has been switched on, maintains the ON position of the contact carrier in the event of failure of the power supply. A further aim of the present invention is to construct the switching device such that the mechanical locking system can be deactivated with the aid of an electric signal.
The present invention therefore provides a switching device in which, upon transition of the switching device into the ON position, a latch engages in a first recess via a first housing opening of the switching device, the switching device being connected to an unlocking device which has a second moveable contact carrier, having a second recess, in which a first arm of a rotatably mounted angle lever engages in the OFF position via a second housing opening in the unlocking device. When the unlocking device is switched on said angle lever is pivoted round in such a way that it actuates the latch by means of its second arm and thus releases the first contact carrier.
It is advantageous when the latch is designed as a pawl which is rotatably mounted in a bearing, since the pawl can be constructed as a part requiring little room, and the bearing can be used in the same design as in the case of turning combinations, for example of contactors. As a result, the bearing is a part which can be produced cost-effectively in high batch quantities.
If there is provided for loading the latch with spring force a spring which acts on the latch, on the one hand, and on the housing of the unlocking device, on the other hand, the force for pivoting the latch is provided in a particularly simple way.
The switching device and the unlocking device are advantageously i
REFERENCES:
patent: 3428764 (1969-02-01), Drees et al.
patent: 4385214 (1983-05-01), Sullivan
patent: 4409575 (1983-10-01), Hisadome
patent: 4720614 (1988-01-01), Wulff
Drexler Johann
Gobel Ralph-Ronald
Sorgel Norbert
Luebke Renee S.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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