Control module, control module assembly, and electric switch including the control module assembly

Abstract

The present invention discloses a control module, a control module assembly and an electric switch including the control module assembly. The control module for the electric switch comprises: a body part (2), a main control shaft (4), an operating shaft (6) and a drive system, which operatively connects the main control shaft (4) to the operating shaft (6) so that the operating shaft (6) is suitable for being rotated by the main control shaft (4). The rotation axes of the main control shaft (4) and the operating shaft (6) are perpendicular to each other. The body part (2) comprises a first side wall (21), a second side wall (22), a top wall (23) and a bottom wall (24). The bottom wall (24) is provided with a bottom recess (8) suitable for accommodating a part of an additional device (3), and the bottom part (44) of the main control shaft (4) can be accessed through the bottom recess (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a control module for an electric switch, to a control module assembly for an electric switch comprising the control module, and to an electric switch comprising the control module assembly. Background Art

[0002] A known control module for an electric switch and a modular electric switch comprising the control module are disclosed in document EP 3561839. The known control module comprises a body portion, a main control shaft, an operating shaft and a drive system operatively connecting the main control shaft to the operating shaft such that the operating shaft is adapted to be rotated by the main control shaft. The main control shaft is adapted to be operated both from the direction of the top wall of the body portion and from the direction of the bottom wall of the body portion.

[0003] In some electrical switch assemblies, it is necessary to be able to operate the control module from the direction of the operating shaft. In the above-mentioned known control module, the operating shaft can be accessed from its two ends, but due to electrical safety regulations, it is not allowed to directly connect the operating handle to the operating shaft. Since intermediate positions between the conducting state and the non-conducting state are not allowed in the electrical switch, the direct connection is not allowed. Therefore, the drive system between the main control shaft and the operating shaft must be an indirect drive system that only allows the conducting state and the non-conducting state for the electrical switch without intermediate positions. In the known control module, the indirect drive system includes a separate actuator and two actuator springs connected between the body part and the actuator.

[0004] It is known in the art that a known control module is provided with an additional device, which includes an auxiliary control shaft extending parallel to the operating shaft of the control module and a transmission device, which is used to transfer torque from the auxiliary control shaft to the bottom of the main control shaft, so as to realize the rotation of the main control shaft through the auxiliary control shaft.

[0005] One of the problems associated with a control module assembly comprising a known control module and a known attachment device is that the dimensions of the control module assembly in the depth direction are greater than the corresponding dimensions of the control module without the attachment device. Depending on the dimensions of the pole module of the electric switch, the attachment device may also increase the overall dimensions of the electric switch in the depth direction. The depth direction is parallel to the axis of rotation of the main control shaft. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a control module, a control module assembly including the control module, and an electric switch including the control module assembly, so as to solve the above problems. The object of the present invention is achieved by the control module, the control module assembly, and the electric switch described below.

[0007] The present invention is based on the following concept: a bottom recessed portion suitable for accommodating a part of an additional device is provided on the bottom wall of the body portion of the control module.

[0008] An advantage of the control module assembly of the invention is that its dimensions in the depth direction are smaller than the corresponding dimensions of known control module assemblies.

[0009] In an embodiment, the dimensions of the control module assembly in the depth direction are the same as the corresponding dimensions of the control module without the attached device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 A known control module is shown;

[0012] Figure 2 Shown include Figure 1 A control module and electrical switches of two pole modules;

[0013] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 An exploded view of the control module;

[0014] Figures 4a to 4d The control module according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown from different directions;

[0015] Figure 5a to Figure 5c Shown from different directions including Figure 4a control module and control module components of additional devices; and

[0016] Figure 6 Shows Figure 5a Exploded view of the control module components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Figure 1 A known control module is shown. Figure 2 Shown include Figure 1 A control module and two known pole modules of the electrical switch. Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 The document EP 3561839 discloses Figures 1 to 3 The structure of the control module. Figures 1 to 3 The reference numerals used in the drawings are different from those used in the prior art document.

[0018] Figures 1 to 3 The known control module shown in has a body portion 2', a main control shaft 4' accessible from the direction of a top wall 23' and a bottom wall 24', and an operating shaft 6'. The top wall 23' and the bottom wall 24' are planar walls. Figure 2 It is shown that the dimensions of the body portion of the pole module in the longitudinal direction and in the depth direction are the same as the corresponding dimensions of the body portion of the control module.

[0019] Figures 4a to 4d The control module according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown from different directions. Figure 4a The control module is shown from one side. Figure 4b The control module is shown from below. Figure 4c The control module is shown from the other side. Figure 4d The control module is shown from above.

[0020] Figures 4a to 4d The control module shown in comprises a body portion 2 , a main control shaft 4 , an operating shaft 6 , and a drive system operatively connecting the main control shaft 4 to the operating shaft 6 , such that the operating shaft 6 is adapted to be rotated by the main control shaft 4 .

[0021] The body portion 2 has a depth direction, a width direction, and a longitudinal direction which are perpendicular to each other. Figure 4a In the image plane, the depth direction is the horizontal direction, the width direction is perpendicular to the image plane, and the longitudinal direction is the vertical direction. The body portion 2 includes a first side wall 21 and a second side wall 22 that are spaced a certain distance from each other in the width direction, and a top wall 23 and a bottom wall 24 that are spaced a certain distance from each other in the depth direction. The first side wall 21, the second side wall 22, and the top wall 23 are plane walls.

[0022] The main control shaft 4 is mounted to the body part 2, extends in the depth direction, and can rotate about a first rotation axis. The first rotation axis is parallel to the depth direction. The main control shaft 4 has a top portion 43 accessible from the direction of the top wall 23 and a bottom portion 44 accessible from the direction of the bottom wall 24. The main control shaft 4 is suitable for being connected to an operating handle (not shown) suitable for being operated by a user.

[0023] The operating shaft 6 is mounted to the body portion 2, extends in the width direction, and can rotate around a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis. The second rotation axis is parallel to the width direction. The operating shaft 6 has a first end 61 accessible from the direction of the first side wall 21 for transmitting torque to at least one pole of the electric switch to change the state of the at least one pole. The first end 61 of the operating shaft 6 is provided with a convex connecting member of a grooved shaft type. The operating shaft 6 also has a second end 62 accessible from the direction of the second side wall 22. The second end 62 of the operating shaft 6 is provided with a concave connecting member, which is suitable for connecting to a convex connecting member similar to the convex connecting member provided on the first end 61 of the operating shaft 6.

[0024] Figures 4a to 4d The internal structure of the control module is not shown. The internal structure corresponds to Figure 3The known structure shown in Figure 3 In the illustrated structure, the main control shaft 4' passes through the operating shaft 6', and the drive system is an indirect drive system, which includes a separate actuator 18' and two actuator springs 81' and 82' connected between the body part 2' and the actuator 18'. It should be noted that although the operating principles of known control modules can be used in the control module according to the present invention, it may be necessary to change some dimensions of the components, such as the depth dimension of the actuator. In an alternative embodiment, the drive system is an indirect drive system including some other known structures suitable for control modules.

[0025] Figure 4a and Figure 4c It is shown that the bottom wall 24 of the body portion 2 is provided with a bottom recess 8 adapted to accommodate a portion of an additional device. The bottom portion 44 of the main control shaft 4 can be accessed through the bottom recess 8.

[0026] The bottom recess 8 extends through the body portion 2 in the width direction. The dimension of the bottom recess 8 in the depth direction is approximately 17% of the dimension of the body portion. The dimension of the bottom recess 8 in the longitudinal direction is approximately 63% of the dimension of the body portion. In an alternative embodiment, the dimension of the bottom recess in the depth direction is greater than or equal to 5% of the dimension of the body portion, and the dimension of the bottom recess in the longitudinal direction is greater than or equal to 20% of the dimension of the body portion.

[0027] The bottom recess 8 is provided with two screw holes 71 and 72, which are suitable for fixing the attachment device to the bottom recess 8 by means of two screws. Each of the screw holes 71 and 72 extends parallel to the depth direction.

[0028] The bottom wall 24 of the body portion 2 includes a first support portion 11 and a second support portion 12, which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction so that the bottom recess 8 is located between the first support portion 11 and the second support portion 12. The first support portion 11 and the second support portion 12 extend further from the top wall 23 in the depth direction than the bottom recess 8. The first support portion 11 and the second support portion 12 define a support plane parallel to the plane defined by the top wall 23.

[0029] Figure 5a to Figure 5c Shown from different directions including Figures 4a to 4d The control module and control module components of the additional device 3 shown in FIG. Figure 6 Shows Figure 5a to Figure 5c Exploded view of the control module components.

[0030] exist Figure 5a to Figure 5c In the control module assembly, the additional device 3 is partially accommodated in the bottom recess 8. The additional device 3 includes an auxiliary control shaft 34 and a transmission device.

[0031] The auxiliary control shaft 34 extends in the width direction and can rotate about the third rotation axis. The auxiliary control shaft 34 can be accessed from the direction of the second side wall 22. The third rotation axis is parallel to the second rotation axis. The first rotation axis, the second rotation axis and the third rotation axis are mathematical lines.

[0032] The transmission device is suitable for transmitting torque from the auxiliary control shaft 34 to the bottom portion 44 of the main control shaft 4, so that the rotation of the main control shaft 4 through the accessory control shaft 34 is achieved. The transmission device includes a first gear 51 and a second gear 52. The first gear 51 has a plurality of first teeth and is stationarily connected to the auxiliary control shaft 34. The rotation axis of the first gear 51 coincides with the third rotation axis. The second gear 52 has a plurality of second teeth and is connected to the main control shaft 4. The rotation axis of the second gear 52 coincides with the first rotation axis. The plurality of second teeth are operatively connected to the plurality of first teeth to transmit torque from the first gear 51 to the second gear 52. The transmission ratio between the first gear 51 and the second gear 52 is 1:1.

[0033] The second gear 52 is an asymmetric gear to reduce the size of the attachment 3 in the width direction. The second gear 52 has only second teeth on its tooth sector. The central angle of the tooth sector is less than 180°. Since the angle between the extreme positions of the auxiliary control shaft 34 is approximately 135°, the asymmetric form of the second gear 52 is possible.

[0034] Figure 5b The control module assembly is shown from a direction parallel to the second axis of rotation. Figure 5b It is shown that the attachment device 3 is dimensioned such that it does not extend further in depth than the body portion 2 of the control module.

[0035] Figure 5c The control module assembly is shown from below such that the image plane is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. Figure 5c It is shown that the attachment device 3 is dimensioned such that it does not extend further than the first side wall 21 of the body portion 2 in the width direction.

[0036] An electric switch according to an embodiment comprises Figure 5a A control module assembly and at least one pole module 70' connected to the control module assembly. Figure 2 In contrast, at least one pole module 70 ′ is connected to the side surface of the first side wall 21 , since the side surface of the second side wall 22 is occupied by the attachment device 3 .

[0037] Each of the at least one pole module includes a pole module body, a pole shaft 170', a first fixed terminal 701', a second fixed terminal 702' and a movable contact. The pole shaft 170' is mounted to the pole module body, extends in the width direction, and is operatively connected to the first end 61 of the operating shaft 6 to rotate around the second rotation axis together with the operating shaft 6. The rotation axis of the pole shaft 170' coincides with the second rotation axis.

[0038] The first fixed terminal 701' is fixed to the pole module body. The second fixed terminal 702' is fixed to the pole module body. The movable contact is fixed to the pole shaft 170' and can rotate relative to the pole module body between a first position and a second position, in which the movable contact electrically connects the first fixed terminal 701' to the second fixed terminal 702', and in which the first fixed terminal 701' and the second fixed terminal 702' are disconnected from each other.

[0039] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways.The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A control module for an electric switch, comprising: A body portion (2), the body portion (2) having a depth direction, a width direction and a longitudinal direction perpendicular to each other, the body portion (2) comprising a first side wall (21) and a second side wall (22) spaced a certain distance from each other in the width direction, and a top wall (23) and a bottom wall (24) spaced a certain distance from each other in the depth direction; a main control shaft (4) mounted to the body portion (2), extending in the depth direction and rotatable about a first rotation axis, the main control shaft (4) having a bottom portion (44) accessible from the direction of the bottom wall (24); an operating shaft (6) mounted to the body portion (2), extending in the width direction, rotatable about a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis, and having a first end (61) accessible from the direction of the first side wall (21), for transmitting torque to at least one pole of the electrical switch to change the state of the at least one pole; as well as a drive system operatively connecting the main control shaft (4) to the operating shaft (6) such that the operating shaft (6) is adapted to be rotated by the main control shaft (4), Characterized in that the bottom wall (24) is provided with a bottom recess (8) suitable for accommodating a part of the additional device (3), and the bottom part (44) of the main control shaft (4) can be accessed through the bottom recess (8).

2. The control module according to claim 1, wherein: The main control shaft (4) has a top portion (43) accessible from the direction of the top wall (23).

3. The control module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The bottom recess (8) extends through the body portion (2) along the width direction.

4. The control module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The bottom wall (24) of the body portion (2) comprises a first supporting portion (11) and a second supporting portion (12), wherein the first supporting portion (11) and the second supporting portion (12) are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction so that the bottom recess (8) is located between the first supporting portion (11) and the second supporting portion (12).

5. The control module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The bottom recess (8) is provided with at least one screw hole (71, 72), and the at least one screw hole (71, 72) is suitable for fixing the attachment device (3) to the bottom recess (8) by means of at least one screw.

6. A control module assembly for an electric switch, comprising a control module according to claim 1 and an additional device (3) partially accommodated in a bottom recess (8), the additional device (3) comprising: an auxiliary control shaft (34) extending in the width direction and rotatable about a third rotation axis, the auxiliary control shaft (34) being accessible from the direction of the second side wall (22); and A transmission device is provided for transmitting torque from the auxiliary control shaft (34) to the bottom portion (44) of the main control shaft (4), so that the rotation of the main control shaft (4) through the auxiliary control shaft (34) is realized.

7. The control module assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The transmission device comprises: a first gear (51), the first gear (51) having a plurality of first teeth and connected to the auxiliary control shaft (34), the rotation axis of the first gear (51) coinciding with the third rotation axis; and A second gear (52), the second gear (52) having a plurality of second teeth and connected to the main control shaft (4), the rotation axis of the second gear (52) coincides with the first rotation axis, the plurality of second teeth being operatively connected to the plurality of first teeth to transfer torque from the first gear (51) to the second gear (52).

8. The control module assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The second gear (52) is an asymmetric gear to reduce the size of the attachment (3) in the width direction.

9. The control module assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The attachment (3) is dimensioned so that the attachment (3) does not extend further than the body portion (2) of the control module in the depth direction and does not extend further than the first side wall (21) of the body portion (2) in the width direction.

10. An electric switch, comprising the control module assembly according to claim 6 and at least one pole module connected to the control module assembly, each of the at least one pole module comprising: Pole module body; A polar shaft mounted to the polar module body, the polar shaft extending in the width direction and operatively connected to the first end (61) of the operating shaft (6) to rotate together with the operating shaft (6) around a second rotation axis; a first fixed terminal, the first fixed terminal being stationarily fixed to the pole module body; a second fixed terminal, the second fixed terminal being stationarily fixed to the pole module body; and A movable contact portion is stationarily mounted to the pole shaft and is rotatable relative to the pole module body between a first position and a second position, in which the movable contact portion electrically connects the first fixed terminal to the second fixed terminal in a conductive manner, and in which the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal are disconnected from each other.

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