Device for tensioning an energy accumulator and method for tensioning an energy accumulator

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for tensioning an energy accumulator of an electrical switch, wherein the device comprises a ratchet, a locking pawl and a driving pawl operatively connected to the energy accumulator, wherein the locking pawl (300) prevents the ratchet from moving against a tensioning direction (S) and allows the ratchet to move in the tensioning direction (S), and wherein the driving pawl presses the ratchet in the tensioning direction (S).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for tensioning an energy accumulator of an electrical switch and a method for tensioning an energy accumulator of an electrical switch. Background Art

[0002] An electrical switch, such as a molded case circuit breaker (MCCB), typically has a handle that changes the switch state by operating the handle. For remote operation of the handle, a so-called motor drive (MO) can be provided that is placed on the electrical switch and operates the handle.

[0003] It is also possible that the operator cannot operate the handle due to the high force required to switch on an electrical switch, for example. Therefore, an energy accumulator can be provided in the motor drive so that the corresponding force is available for operating the handle. Such motor drives are known as stored-energy operators (SEOs).

[0004] DE 35 41 093 A1 discloses a drive device for tensioning an energy accumulator. For this purpose, a ratchet with a toothing and a transport pawl that can be moved forward and backward are provided. A cam and a locking lever, which can be supported on a locking element via a ratchet lever, are used to maintain the tensioned position of the energy accumulator.

[0005] Figure 1 A typical drive device is shown, which has a cam 2000, two-part conveying claws 4001, 4002 and a locking claw 3000. A disadvantage of this conventional arrangement is the relatively complex design with multiple parts. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for tensioning an energy accumulator, which device has as few components as possible, can be designed compactly, and reliably ensures the tensioning of the energy accumulator.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device for tensioning an energy accumulator of an electrical switch. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for tensioning an energy accumulator of an electrical switch by means of a device of the type described above.

[0008] According to the present invention, a device for tensioning an energy accumulator of an electrical switch, wherein the energy accumulator is moved in a tensioning direction (S) in order to be tensioned, the device includes a ratchet, a locking pawl and a driving pawl operatively connected to the energy accumulator, wherein the locking pawl prevents the ratchet from moving against the tensioning direction (S) and allows the ratchet to move in the tensioning direction (S), and wherein the driving pawl presses the ratchet in the tensioning direction (S).

[0009] The device according to the invention for tensioning an energy accumulator has the advantage that it essentially consists of only two parts and thus reduces the structural complexity of the motor drive for the energy accumulator.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first end of the drive pawl presses against the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel in the tensioning direction (S).

[0011] In a further embodiment, the first end of the drive pawl slides over the ratchet tooth during a movement of the drive pawl counter to the tensioning direction (S).

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the pressing movement of the drive pawl consists of a stepping movement. The stepping movement of the drive pawl can be generated by eccentrically mounting the drive pawl on the drive wheel. The second end of the drive pawl can be mounted on the drive wheel in a movable shaft.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the locking pawl allows a movement of the ratchet in the tensioning direction (S) by sliding over the ratchet tooth.

[0014] In one embodiment of the device, the ratchet wheel has essentially triangular teeth as ratchet teeth.

[0015] In another embodiment, the driving pawl spring and the locking pawl spring respectively move the driving pawl and the locking pawl toward the ratchet.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the ratchet wheel has a collar, via which the driving pawl and the locking pawl are guided by means of recesses inserted in the driving pawl and the locking pawl.

[0017] In another embodiment, the device comprises a housing. The device according to the invention can be detachably mounted on a housing of an electrical switch.

[0018] According to the present invention, the technical problem is also solved by a method for tensioning an energy storage device of an electrical switch, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

[0019] - pressing the ratchet wheel in the tensioning direction (S) by the driving pawl while allowing the ratchet wheel to move in the tensioning direction (S) by the locking pawl, and

[0020] When the ratchet wheel is prevented from moving counter to the tensioning direction (S) by the locking pawl, the driving pawl is pulled back counter to the tensioning direction (S).

[0021] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, these method steps are performed repeatedly several times. These method steps can be performed repeatedly until the energy storage device is fully charged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above-mentioned characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention and the ways and methods to achieve them will become clearer and more understandable with reference to the following description of the embodiments, which are explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] In the attached figure:

[0024] Figure 1 A conventional drive device for a tensioning accumulator is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 A device according to the invention for tensioning an energy accumulator is shown;

[0026] Figure 3 Shown is a driving pawl according to the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4A 、 4B 4C shows a locking pawl according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 Shows a ratchet with a flange according to the invention and a drive pawl with a cutout according to the invention; and

[0029] Figure 6 A method for tensioning an energy store of an electrical switch is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Figure 2 The device 100 according to the invention for tensioning an energy accumulator of an electrical switch is shown. The device 100 comprises a ratchet 200 operatively connected to the energy accumulator, a locking pawl 300 and a driving pawl 400 .

[0031] Here, the operative connection between the energy storage device and the ratchet 200 means, for example, that the energy storage device and the ratchet 200 are directly mounted on a common shaft. Alternatively, an indirect connection, for example, via a transmission, may exist between the energy storage device and the ratchet 200.

[0032] The accumulator moves in the tensioning direction (S) to tension, while the accumulator moves in the opposite direction to the tensioning direction (S) to release its energy. Figure 2 , the energy accumulator is tensioned by a movement of the ratchet 200 in the clockwise direction and releases its energy during a movement of the ratchet 200 in the counterclockwise direction.

[0033] The driving pawl 400 presses the ratchet 200 in the tensioning direction (S), and the stopping pawl 300 prevents the ratchet 200 from moving in the opposite direction to the tensioning direction (S) and allows movement in the tensioning direction (S). Figure 2 In the clockwise direction of the diagram, the accumulator is loaded or tensioned.

[0034] The ratchet 200 further includes ratchet teeth 201, 202, 203. The first end 401 of the driving pawl 400 presses the ratchet teeth 201, 202, 203 of the ratchet 200 in the tensioning direction (S). For example, the ratchet teeth 201, 202, 203 of the ratchet 200 may be substantially configured as triangular teeth.

[0035] When the driving pawl 400 moves counter to the tensioning direction (S), the first end 401 of the driving pawl 400 slides on the ratchet teeth 201 , 202 , 203 .

[0036] The squeezing movement of the drive pawl 400 thus consists of a stepping movement. This can be achieved, for example, by eccentrically mounting the drive pawl 400 on the rotatable drive wheel 500, thereby generating a stepping movement of the drive pawl 400. The mounting of the drive pawl 400 on the drive wheel 500 can be configured in a movable shaft 501 at the second end 402 of the drive pawl 400.

[0037] The pawl 300 allows the ratchet 200 to move in the tensioning direction (S) by sliding on the ratchet teeth 201 , 202 , 203 .

[0038] A driving pawl spring 450 is provided on the driving pawl 400 , and a stopping pawl spring 350 is provided on the stopping pawl 300 , which respectively move the driving pawl 400 and the stopping pawl 300 onto the ratchet 200 .

[0039] exist Figure 3 The drive pawl 400 with the drive pawl spring 450 is shown in more detail in FIG. Figure 4A 、 4B and 4C , in which the pawl 300 with the pawl spring 350 is shown in greater detail.

[0040] Figure 5 The ratchet 200 with the flange 260 and the drive pawl 400 are shown. The drive pawl 400 has a cutout 460 which engages in the flange 260 of the ratchet 200, so that the drive pawl 400 is guided by the flange 260 on the ratchet 200. The drive pawl spring 450 is also shown, as well as the force (F) of the spring on the ratchet 200. Figure 4C 3 shows the force (F) of the pawl spring 350 on the pawl 300 . The pawl 300 also has a recess 360 for guiding on the flange 260 of the ratchet 200 .

[0041] Figure 2 A device 100 according to the invention is shown with a housing 150. The device 100 according to the invention can be detachably mounted on a housing of an electrical switch.

[0042] Figure 6 The method 5000 according to the invention for tensioning an energy storage device of an electrical switch is shown. After the start 5001, the first method step occurs:

[0043] - While allowing the ratchet 200 to move in the tensioning direction (S) by the locking pawl 300 , the ratchet 200 is pressed 5010 in the tensioning direction (S) by the driving pawl 400 .

[0044] The following method steps are then followed:

[0045] When the ratchet 200 is prevented from moving counter to the tensioning direction (S) by the locking pawl 300 , the drive pawl 400 is pulled back 5020 counter to the tensioning direction (S).

[0046] The method ends 5099 at its end.

[0047] The two method steps of squeezing 5010 the ratchet 200 and retracting 5020 the drive pawl 400 can be repeated multiple times. The method steps 5010 and 5020 can be repeated until the energy accumulator is fully charged.

[0048] The device 100 according to the present invention can be used to drive a motor in an electrical switch. It tensions an energy accumulator, such as a spring accumulator. The device 100 can be housed in its own housing 150 and removably mounted on the housing of the electrical switch. The ratchet 200, which is operatively connected to the energy accumulator, is driven by the stepwise movement of the drive pawl 400 in and against the tensioning direction (S). This movement sequence, repeated in and against the tensioning direction (S), fully charges the energy accumulator.

Claims

1. A device (100) for tensioning an energy accumulator of an electrical switch, wherein: The energy accumulator is moved in a tensioning direction (S) in order to be tensioned, wherein the device (100) comprises a ratchet (200), a stop pawl (300) and a drive pawl (400) operatively connected to the energy accumulator, and wherein the stop pawl (300) prevents the ratchet (200) from moving against the tensioning direction (S) and allows the ratchet to move in the tensioning direction (S), characterized in that the drive pawl (400) presses the ratchet (200) in the tensioning direction (S), wherein the pressing movement of the drive pawl (400) consists of a stepping movement, and the drive pawl (400) is eccentrically mounted on a drive wheel (500) by This produces a stepping movement of the drive pawl (400), wherein the first end (401) of the drive pawl (400) presses the ratchet teeth (201, 202, 203) of the ratchet (200) in the tensioning direction (S), and the drive pawl (400) is mounted with the second end (402) on the drive wheel (500) in a movable shaft (501), and wherein the ratchet (200) has a flange (260) through which the drive pawl (400) and the locking pawl (300) are guided by means of recesses (460; 360) embedded in the drive pawl (400) and the locking pawl (300).

2. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein When the driving pawl (400) moves counter to the tensioning direction (S), the first end (401) of the driving pawl (400) slides over the ratchet teeth (201, 202, 203).

3. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein The locking pawl (300) allows the ratchet (200) to move in the tensioning direction (S) by sliding the locking pawl (300) over the ratchet teeth (201, 202, 203).

4. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein The ratchet wheel (200) has triangular teeth as ratchet teeth (201, 202, 203).

5. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein The driving pawl spring (450) and the stopping pawl spring (350) respectively move the driving pawl (400) and the stopping pawl (300) toward the ratchet (200).

6. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein The device (100) has a housing (150).

7. The device (100) according to claim 6, wherein The device (100) can be detachably mounted on a housing of an electrical switch.

8. A method (5000) for tensioning an energy accumulator of an electrical switch by means of a device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the following steps: - while allowing the ratchet (200) to move in the tensioning direction (S) by the stop pawl (300), pressing (5010) the ratchet (200) in the tensioning direction (S) by the drive pawl (400), and - When the ratchet (200) is prevented from moving against the tensioning direction (S) by the locking pawl (300), the driving pawl (400) is pulled back against the tensioning direction (S) (5020).

9. The method (5000) of claim 8, wherein: These method steps (5010; 5020) are carried out repeatedly several times.

10. The method (5000) according to claim 9, wherein: These method steps (5010; 5020) are repeated until the energy storage device is fully charged.

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