Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Solid contact – Push button operated
Patent
1998-10-30
2000-08-15
Scott, J. R.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Solid contact
Push button operated
H01H 1356
Patent
active
061039837
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to manually operated mechanisms controlling the opening or closing of electric switching members (on-off switches, etc.), especially circuit breakers.
These mechanisms in general make it possible to perform switching in one direction by pushing-in a control button and to disengage switching in the other direction by acting either on the same control button or on another button.
In the case of circuit breakers, disengagement in the other direction, when the same button is used, is theoretically achieved by pulling on the pushed-in button; the pulled-out position is in any case the one to which the button returns automatically when the circuit is broken. However, in the case of on-off switches, disengagement usually is achieved by pushing the pushed-in button in again, the button then coming free and being able to return to its position of rest (push-button action).
Under certain conditions, these types of action are not the most practical to use and it may be preferable, for example, for disengagement of a circuit breaker to be achieved by pushing the pushed-in button in again. This is the case, for example, with circuit breakers placed in a very confined space such as the cockpit of an aircraft. However, the solution that consists in replacing within a circuit breaker the button that can be disengaged by pulling with a pushbutton of the "on-off switch" type is only partially satisfactory because it entails a movement that is the opposite of what the user is accustomed to performing in the case of a circuit breaker.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to alleviate this drawback, the invention proposes a new mechanism for manual operation which can be used for a circuit breaker but which can also be adapted to an on-off switch or any other type of electric switching member. This mechanism comprises a minimum number of parts and has a low manufacturing cost.
To achieve this, the invention proposes a system for manually controlling an electric switching member, comprising a control button, a guide for the movement of a moving element of the switching member, the moving element being able to move between a position of rest and a work position, the control button being able to move between a stable pushed-in position and a stable pulled-out position, a mechanism such that an action of pushing on the button when it is in the pushed-in position causes a change from the work position to the position of rest and a return of the button to the pulled-out position, and such that an action of pulling on the button when it is in the pushed-in position also causes a change from the work position to the position of rest and the return of the button to the pulled-out position, characterized in that the mechanism comprises: button, which can also tilt into an abutting position which prevents its longitudinal movement and which can finally be made to move longitudinally; movement of the link; position; abutting position;
It will be noted that patent DE 4301213 has already proposed a switch which, having been actuated into the work position by a control button, can return to a position of rest, either by pushing it again, or by pulling on the control button, the latter action being considered as a wrong move and return to a position of rest serving merely to prevent damage to the mechanism when the user erroneously pulls on the control button.
The control mechanisms of the prior art are adapted to a single type of switching member; they are complicated and expensive and make no attempt to secure the return of the switching member to the position of rest in normal operation either by pushing or by pulling the control button.
The mechanism proposed by the invention has the advantage of comprising a minimum number of mechanical parts and of being of a low manufacturing cost.
The link is shaped in such a way as to push the switching member towards its work position or as to pull it towards its position of rest.
The link remains jammed in its abuttin
REFERENCES:
patent: 5128647 (1992-07-01), Truchet
patent: 5257001 (1993-10-01), Truchet et al.
patent: 5264818 (1993-11-01), Truchet et al.
patent: 5426274 (1995-06-01), Bruggemann et al.
Fernandez Francis
Truchet Bernard
Vergnes Jean-Marie
Crouzet Automatismes
Scott J. R.
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