Switch, contact protection assembly and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

Provided are a switch (200), a contact protection assembly (100) for the switch (200), and a manufacturing method thereof. The contact protection assembly (100) comprises: a protection cover assembly (101), the protection cover assembly being rotatably connected to a movable blade (201) of the switch (200), the movable blade (201) being capable of rotating about a first axis (203) of the switch (200) to change the engagement state of a contact finger (2011) of the movable blade (201) and a fixed contact (202); a second axis (103), the second axis being arranged at a distance from the first axis (203); and an actuating rod (102), the actuating rod The contact protection assembly (100) is connected between the protective cover assembly (101) and the second shaft (103) and is configured to rotate around the second shaft (103) as the movable blade (201) rotates, wherein the second shaft (103) is arranged parallel to the first shaft (203) so that the actuating rod (102) can push or pull the protective cover assembly (101) to rotate between a covering position and an exposed position, wherein the protective cover assembly (101) covers the contact finger (2011) in the covering position and exposes the contact finger (2011) in the exposed position. With the contact protection assembly (100), foreign matter such as ice covering the contact finger (2011) can be easily removed as the protective cover assembly (101) rotates. This arrangement enables the switch (200), such as an earthing switch, to meet the requirements of relevant standards, which require that: when the contact finger (2011) is covered by a 20 mm layer of ice, the engagement of the contact finger (2011) with the fixed contact (202) will not be affected. In this way, the stability of the switch (200) is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to switches, and more particularly to contact protection assemblies for switches and methods of manufacturing the same. Background Art

[0002] In electrical engineering, disconnect switches, disconnectors or isolator switches are used to ensure that a circuit is completely de-energized for inspection or maintenance. Such switches are commonly used in power distribution and industrial applications where a machine must have its driving power removed for adjustment or repair. High-voltage disconnect switches are used in substations to allow equipment such as circuit breakers, transformers and transmission lines to be isolated for maintenance. Disconnectors are not usually used for normal control of circuits, but only for safety isolation. Disconnectors can be operated manually or automatically.

[0003] The earthing switch is a protective device used after the circuit breaker and the isolator. After the circuit breaker and the isolator are opened, some charges remain in the power line due to their capacitance. If these charges are not removed from the power line, they can be dangerous to people working on the power line. Therefore, in order to protect these people and release the trapped charges, the earthing switch is used so that the trapped charges are connected to the ground. Under normal operating conditions, the isolator is closed, but the earthing switch is open. And during faults or maintenance, the isolator is open, but the earthing switch is closed.

[0004] Disconnectors and earthing switches used in transmission lines are often located outdoors and are susceptible to obstruction by foreign matter such as ice and snow. Icing of power transmission lines during winter storms is a long-standing problem that can cause power outages and result in significant repair costs. Summary of the invention

[0005] Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a contact protection assembly and a corresponding switch to at least partially solve the above problems and other potential problems.

[0006] In a first aspect, a contact protection assembly for a switch is provided. The contact protection assembly comprises: a protective cover assembly rotatably connected to a movable blade of the switch, the movable blade being able to rotate about a first axis of the switch to change the engagement state of a contact finger of the movable blade with a fixed contact; a second axis arranged at a distance from the first axis; and an actuating rod connected between the protective cover assembly and the second axis and configured to be able to rotate about the second axis as the movable blade rotates, wherein the second axis is arranged parallel to the first axis so that the actuating rod can push or pull the protective cover assembly to rotate between a covering position and an exposing position, wherein the protective cover assembly covers the contact finger in the covering position and exposes the contact finger in the exposing position.

[0007] By using the contact protection assembly, foreign matter such as ice covering the contact fingers can be easily removed by rotating the protection cover assembly. This arrangement enables switches such as earthing switches to meet the requirements of relevant standards, which require that: when the contact fingers are covered with a 20 mm layer of ice, the engagement of the contact fingers with the fixed contacts will not be affected. In this way, the stability of the switch is improved.

[0008] In some embodiments, the contact protection assembly further includes a fixed protection cover disposed on the fixed contact and configured to facilitate engagement or disengagement of the contact finger with the fixed contact. This arrangement allows the contact finger to be disengaged from the fixed contact even when exposed to ice and snow, thereby further improving the stability of the switch using the contact protection assembly.

[0009] In some embodiments, the fixed protective cover at least partially encloses the fixed contact, and the fixed protective cover includes an opening suitable for the contact finger to move into the fixed protective cover to engage with the fixed contact. This arrangement further ensures the stability of the switch without affecting the engagement operation. In addition, the fixed protective cover can provide guidance for the contact finger.

[0010] In some embodiments, the protective cover assembly includes: a protective cover arranged adjacent to a first side of the contact finger and adapted to cover the contact finger when the movable blade is in the breaking position; and a follower rod arranged adjacent to a second side of the contact finger opposite to the first side, the follower rod including a first end and a second end, the first end being fixedly connected to the protective cover via a connecting rod located between the contact fingers, and the second end being rotatably connected to the actuating rod. This arrangement can prevent the actuating rod from interfering with the support arm of the movable blade and reduce the cost of the protective cover assembly at the same time.

[0011] In some embodiments, the protective cover assembly further comprises: a support sleeve arranged at a fixed end of the stylus finger adjacent to the support arm of the movable blade, the support sleeve being suitable for allowing the connecting rod to pass through; and a fixed block arranged between the support sleeves. This arrangement provides a reliable fulcrum for the rotation of the protective cover.

[0012] In some embodiments, the end of the protective cover adjacent to the connecting rod has a rounded shape. Therefore, even in the case where thick ice covers the contact finger and the protective cover, the protective cover can be smoothly rotated.

[0013] In some embodiments, the driven rod forms a non-zero angle with respect to the extension direction of the protective cover. In this way, a dead angle of transmission can be avoided to facilitate the driving of the protective cover.

[0014] In some embodiments, in response to the movable blade rotating to achieve the engagement of the contact finger with the fixed contact, the actuating rod is adapted to rotate the protective cover assembly away from the insulator of the disconnector, and the fixed contact is arranged on the insulator of the disconnector. This arrangement can well prevent interference between the protective cover assembly and the insulator of the disconnector, thereby further improving the stability of the switch.

[0015] In some embodiments, the second shaft is rotatably arranged on a support member, the support member is arranged on a side of the movable blade adjacent to the insulator, and the contact protection assembly further includes a universal joint arranged between the actuating rod and the second shaft and between the actuating rod and the driven rod. In this way, the driving rod can be freely rotated with a simple structure, thereby reducing material and assembly costs.

[0016] In some embodiments, the universal joint includes: a first joint, the first joint is connected to the actuating rod by a first fastener having a left-hand thread; and a second joint, the second joint is connected to the actuating rod by a second fastener having a right-hand thread. By driving the left-hand thread and the right-hand thread on the opposite ends of the rod, the distance between the universal joints can be easily adjusted, thereby reducing maintenance and assembly costs.

[0017] In some embodiments, the support member includes a through hole adapted for the first shaft to pass therethrough.

[0018] In some embodiments, the fixed protective cover is integrally formed of nylon material. In this way, the fixed protective cover can be easily formed and is waterproof.

[0019] In a second aspect, a switch is provided. The switch comprises: a fixed contact adapted to be arranged on an insulator of an isolating switch; a first shaft arranged adjacent to a base of the insulator away from the fixed contact; a movable blade capable of rotating about the first shaft to change an engagement state of a contact finger of the movable blade with the fixed contact; and a contact protection assembly as described above. By means of the contact protection assembly, the stability of a switch such as an earthing switch can be improved.

[0020] In a third aspect, a method for manufacturing a contact protection assembly is provided. The method includes: providing a protective cover assembly, which is rotatably connected to a movable blade of a switch, and the movable blade can rotate around a first axis of the switch to change the engagement state of the contact fingers of the movable blade and the fixed contact; providing a second axis, which is arranged at a distance from the first axis; and providing an actuating rod, which is connected between the protective cover assembly and the second axis and is configured to rotate around the second axis as the movable blade rotates, wherein the second axis is arranged parallel to the first axis so that the actuating rod can push or pull the protective cover assembly to rotate between a covering position and an exposed position, and the protective cover assembly covers the contact fingers in the covering position and exposes the contact fingers in the exposed position.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method further includes providing a stationary protective cover disposed on the stationary contact and configured to facilitate engagement or disengagement of the contact finger with the stationary contact.

[0022] It should be understood that this summary is not intended to identify the key or essential features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become readily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent through a more detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals generally represent like components in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective view of a disconnector and an earthing switch in an open position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 shows a top view of a disconnector and an earthing switch in an open position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a contact protection assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 4 A side view of a disconnector and an earthing switch in an intermediate position between an open position and a closed position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0028] Figure 5 A perspective view showing a disconnector and an earthing switch in an intermediate position between an open position and a closed position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 6A front view of a disconnector and an earthing switch in an intermediate position between an open position and a closed position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0030] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a disconnector and an earthing switch in a closed position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 8 shows a front view of a disconnector and an earthing switch in a closed position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] Fig.9A and Fig. 9B A perspective view and a bottom view respectively show a stationary contact and a stationary protective cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0033] Fig.10 A flow chart of a method for manufacturing a contact protection assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0034] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers are used to refer to the same or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to a number of example embodiments. It will be understood that these embodiments are discussed only to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and thereby implement the present disclosure, rather than to present any limitation on the scope of the subject matter.

[0036] As used herein, the term "including" and its variations should be understood as open terms, meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" should be understood as "based at least in part on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" should be interpreted as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" should be understood as "at least one other embodiment". The terms "first", "second", etc. may refer to different or the same objects. Other definitions, both explicit and implicit, may be included below. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the definitions of terms are consistent throughout the description.

[0037] In high-voltage power distribution systems, especially high-voltage transmission lines, disconnectors and earthing switches are common components for facilitating line maintenance. The fixed contacts of the earthing switch are usually arranged at the free ends of the insulators of the disconnector. The support arm of the movable blade of the earthing switch can rotate to drive the contact fingers arranged at the ends thereof to engage or disengage with the fixed contacts. In this way, the grounding circuit can be connected or disconnected.

[0038] Since disconnectors and earthing switches for transmission lines are usually located outdoors, ice often forms on the contact fingers in some areas during winter. The ice often covers the contact fingers to prevent engagement with the fixed contacts, thereby affecting the maintenance of the transmission lines. In addition, in some cases, the contact fingers and the fixed contacts in an engaged state may be bound or blocked by ice or other foreign objects, resulting in the contact fingers being unable to disengage from the fixed contacts.

[0039] To at least partially address the above and other potential problems, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a contact protection assembly for a switch and an associated switch. Figure 1 A perspective view of a disconnector and an earthing switch in an open position is shown; Figure 2 shows a top view of the disconnector and earthing switch in an open position; and Figure 3 A perspective view of a contact protection assembly is shown.

[0040] As shown, in general, the contact protection assembly 100 for the switch 200 includes a protective cover assembly 101 and an actuating rod 102. The switch 20 may refer to any suitable switch having a similar structure, and a grounding switch is used as an example hereinafter to describe the concept of the present disclosure. The protective cover assembly 101 is coupled to the movable blade 201 of the switch 200. The movable blade 201 can rotate around an axis (for ease of discussion, the axis is referred to as a first axis 203) to change the engagement state of the contact finger 2011 of the movable blade 201 with the fixed contact 202.

[0041] The protective cover assembly 101 is rotatable on the movable blade 201 about an axis perpendicular to the movable blade 201. One end of the actuating rod 102 is coupled to the protective cover assembly 101, and the other end of the actuating rod 102 is coupled to a shaft (the shaft is referred to as a second shaft 103), such as Figures 1 to 3 As the movable contact 201 rotates, the actuating rod 102 may rotate.

[0042] According to an embodiment of the present application, the second axis 103 is parallel to the first axis 203. In this way, as the movable blade 201 rotates, the actuating rod 102 can push or pull the protective cover assembly 101 to rotate between two positions. For ease of discussion, the two positions are referred to as the covering position and the exposed position. The covering position corresponds to the disconnected position of the contact finger 2011, in which the contact finger 2011 is disengaged from the fixed contact 202, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2Similarly, the exposed position corresponds to the closed position of the contact finger 2011, in which the contact finger 2011 is engaged with the fixed contact 202. In the covered position, the protective cover assembly 101 covers the contact finger 2011 to protect the contact finger 2011 from the ice layer or prevent the contact finger 2011 from being affected by the ice layer. In the exposed position, the protective cover assembly 101 exposes the contact finger 2011 to facilitate the engagement of the contact finger 2011 with the fixed contact 202.

[0043] That is, as the movable blade 201 rotates to perform the engagement of the contact finger 2011 with the fixed contact 202, the actuating rod 102 pulls the protective cover assembly 101 from the covering position to the exposed position. In order to explain the principle of the present disclosure, a virtual triangle ABC is introduced, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 as shown in . Figure 4 A side view of the disconnector 200 and the movable blade 201 in an intermediate position is shown. The intermediate position is a position of the movable blade 201 between the open position and the closed position. That is, the intermediate position is a position through which the movable blade 201 moves from the open position to the closed position, and is a position through which the movable blade 201 moves from the closed position to the open position.

[0044] Return to reference Figure 4 As shown, the first side AB of triangle ABC is from the first axis 203 to the second axis 103, the second side AC is from the first axis 203 to the point where the protective cover assembly 101 is connected to the actuator rod 102, and the third side BC is from the second axis 103 to the point of the protective cover assembly 101 as described above.

[0045] It should be understood that the lengths of the first side AB and the third side BC are constant. Figure 1 and Figure 2 When the movable blade 201 is rotated from the off position to the off position shown in FIG. , the angle between the first side AB and the third side BC is close to 180 degrees, resulting in a relatively large length of the second side AC. Figure 4 In the middle position shown in FIG. , the angle between the first side AB and the third side BC gradually decreases, thereby causing the second side AC to become shorter.

[0046] Since the protective cover assembly 101 is rotatably coupled to the movable blade 201, the shortening of the third side AC will cause the protective cover assembly 101 to rotate about the pivot point, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 201, the movable blade 201 moves from Figures 4 to 6 The intermediate position shown in FIG is further rotated to Figure 7 and Figure 8In the closed position shown in FIG, the angle between the first side AB and the third side BC gradually becomes smaller, which further shortens the second side AC.

[0047] In this way, the protection cover assembly 101 is further rotated to the exposed position by the actuating rod 102 to expose the contact finger 2011 so as to engage with the fixed contact 202. Even when there is an ice layer on the contact finger 2011 and the protection cover assembly 101 is in the covering position, with the above rotation of the protection cover assembly 101, the ice layer will be removed so as not to affect the engagement of the contact finger 2011 with the fixed contact 202. Through the above arrangement, the protection cover assembly 101 can completely remove ice layers of 20 mm and above, which fully meets the requirements of relevant standards.

[0048] Similarly, during the rotation of the movable blade 201 from the closed position to the open position, the angle between the first side AB and the third side BC gradually increases, thereby causing the second side AC to become longer. In this way, the protective cover assembly 101 will be pushed to rotate from the exposed position to the covered position.

[0049] Therefore, as the contact protection assembly 101 rotates, foreign matter such as ice covering the contact finger can be easily removed. This arrangement enables a switch such as an earthing switch to meet the requirements of relevant standards, which require that: when the contact finger is covered with a layer of ice with a thickness of 20 mm, the engagement of the contact finger 2011 with the fixed contact 202 will not be affected. In this way, the stability of the switch 200 is improved.

[0050] In addition, it can be seen from the above that the rotation of the protective cover assembly 101 does not require an additional drive mechanism at all, but only requires a simple connecting rod mechanism. This arrangement can be applied not only to new devices, but also to improve conventional switches, thereby improving the stability of conventional switches with low material and assembly costs.

[0051] In some embodiments, Fig.9A and Fig. 9B As shown in FIG, the contact protection assembly 100 may further include a fixed protection cover 104 disposed on the fixed contact 202. The fixed contact 202 and the contact finger 2011 in the engaged state will not be damaged by snow or ice through the fixed protection cover 104. In this way, the disengagement of the fixed contact 202 and the contact finger 2011 will not be restricted or hindered by the ice covering them.

[0052] In some embodiments, the fixed protective cover 104 may at least partially enclose the fixed contact 202. For example, the fixed protective cover 104 may include an opening 1041 for the contact finger 2011 to move into the fixed protective cover 104 to engage with the fixed contact 202. The opening 1041 may also provide a guide for the movement of the contact finger 2011 in the fixed protective cover 104 to facilitate the contact finger 2011 to engage with the fixed contact 202.

[0053] In some embodiments, the fixed protection cover 104 may be integrally formed of a nylon material. The nylon material has excellent water resistance and is easy to shape, which reduces manufacturing costs and improves the water resistance of the fixed contact 202.

[0054] Return to reference Figure 6 and Figure 8 In some embodiments, in order to achieve the above-mentioned functions of the protective cover assembly 101, the protective cover assembly 101 may include a protective cover 1011 and a driven rod 1012. As shown, the protective cover 1011 is arranged adjacent to one side of the contact finger 2011 (for the convenience of discussion, the side is referred to as the first side), and the driven rod 1012 is arranged adjacent to a second side of the contact finger 2011 opposite to the first side. That is, the protective cover 1011 and the driven rod 1012 are arranged on two opposite sides of the contact finger 2011. This arrangement can prevent interference between the actuating rod 102 and the supporting arm 2012 of the movable blade 201.

[0055] When the movable blade 201 is in the breaking position, the protective cover 1011 is used to cover the contact finger 2011. It should be understood that the size of the protective cover 1011 including the width and length of the protective cover 1011 is greater than or equal to the size of the contact finger 2011. In this way, the contact finger can be well protected.

[0056] The protective cover 1011 is fixedly coupled to a first end of the driven rod 1012 via a connecting rod 1013. The connecting rod 1013 is arranged between the contact fingers 2011. A second end of the driven rod 1012 opposite to the first end is rotatably coupled to the actuating rod 102. Point C at which the protective cover assembly 101 as described above is coupled to the actuating rod 102 is located at the second end of the driven rod 1012.

[0057] As from Figure 6 and Figure 8 It can be clearly seen that, in some embodiments, the driven rod 1012 may be at a non-zero angle relative to the extension direction D1 of the protective cover 1011. This arrangement can facilitate the driving of the driven rod 1012 by the actuating rod 102 by avoiding dead angle driving.

[0058] In addition, in some embodiments, Figure 2As shown in , the end of the protective cover 1011 adjacent to the connecting rod 1013 has a rounded shape. The rounded shape of the end can prevent snow and ice from adhering to the protective cover 1011, which is conducive to the rotation of the protective cover 1011 with a covered ice layer.

[0059] In some embodiments, in order to fully support the connecting rod 1013 between the contact fingers 2011 and to fix the contact fingers 2011, the protective cover assembly 101 may further include a fixing block 1014, which is arranged at a fixing end of the contact finger 2011 adjacent to the supporting arm 2012. In addition, in order to facilitate the rotation of the protective cover 1011 around the connecting rod 1013, supporting sleeves may be provided at both ends of the fixing block 1014 for the connecting rod 1013 to pass through.

[0060] In one aspect, the fixing block 1014 can fix the contact finger 2011 to the support arm 2012. In another aspect, the fixing block 1014 can be used as a support base for the support sleeve to facilitate positioning of the protective cover 1011 and the connecting rod 1013 and rotation of the contact cover assembly 101 as a whole around the connecting rod 1013 disposed in the support sleeve.

[0061] like Figures 1 to 8 As shown in FIG, as the movable blade 201 rotates to achieve engagement of the contact fingers with the fixed contacts 202, the protective cover assembly 101 rotates away from the insulator 204 of the disconnector 210. This arrangement effectively avoids possible interference of the protective cover assembly 101 with the insulator 204, thereby improving the stability of the switch 200 and even the disconnector.

[0062] The above arrangement can be implemented in any suitable manner. For example, in some embodiments, the second shaft 103 is rotatably arranged on the support member 205. The support member 205 is arranged on a base for arranging the insulator 204. Figure 6 As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2 , the support member 205 is arranged on a side of the movable blade 201 adjacent to the insulator 204. Figure 6 In the front view shown, the movable blade 201 and the actuating rod 102 are in a “cross structure”. The “cross structure” enables the protective cover assembly 101 to rotate in a direction away from the insulator 204.

[0063] In order to compensate for the relative rotation between the actuating rod 102 and the driven rod 1012 or the second rod 103 during the rotation of the actuating rod 102 , a universal joint 105 may be arranged between the actuating rod 102 and the second shaft 103 and between the actuating rod 102 and the driven rod 1012 .

[0064] In some embodiments, the universal joint 105 may include a first joint and a second joint. The first joint is coupled to the actuating rod 102 via a first fastener having a left-hand thread, and the second joint is coupled to the actuating rod 102 via a second fastener having a right-hand thread. In other words, the fasteners arranged at the two ends of the actuating rod 102 have threads in opposite directions. In this way, the pivot points at the two ends of the actuating rod 102 can be easily adjusted to facilitate maintenance of the contact protection assembly 100.

[0065] It should be understood that the above arrangement of the contact protection assembly 100 is for isolating a switch or one phase of the switch. In other words, the contact protection assembly 100 can be arranged to each phase of the switch 200. In addition, in some embodiments, the insulators 204 in the three phases are driven to rotate by only one driving mechanism.

[0066] Specifically, in some embodiments, the support member 205 includes a through hole 2051 for the first shaft 203 to pass through. The movable blades in the three phases are driven by a common first shaft 203, and the first shaft 203 extends through the support members in the three phases. Suitable fixing measures such as anchoring ears can be used to fix the movable blades 201 of the three phases to the first shaft 203 driven by the drive mechanism. In this way, the movable blades 201 in the three phases can be driven by one drive mechanism.

[0067] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a switch, which includes the contact protection assembly 100 as described above. The switch 100 may be a grounding switch, which includes a fixed contact 202 arranged on an insulator 204 of an isolating switch 201, a first shaft 203 arranged adjacent to a base for the insulator 204, and a movable blade 201, which can rotate around the first shaft 203 to change the engagement state of a contact finger 2011 of the movable blade 201 and the fixed contact 202. With the contact protection assembly 100 as described above, the switch 200 has excellent resistance to ice and snow.

[0068] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing the contact protection assembly 100 . Fig.10 A flow chart 500 illustrating the method is shown. As shown, in block 510, a protective cover assembly 101 is provided that is rotatably coupled to a movable blade 201 of a switch 200.

[0069] In frame 520, a second axis 103 is provided, the second axis 103 being arranged at a distance from the first axis. In frame 530, an actuating rod 102 is provided, the actuating rod 102 is coupled between the protective cover assembly 101 and the second axis 103 and is configured to be rotatable about the second axis 103 as the movable blade rotates. When the second axis 103 is parallel to the first axis 203, the actuating rod 102 can push or pull the protective cover assembly 101 to rotate between the covering position and the exposed position to protect the contact finger from the influence of the ice layer.

[0070] In some embodiments, the method may further include providing a fixed protective cover 104, which is arranged on the fixed contact 202 and is configured to facilitate the engagement or disengagement of the contact finger 2011 with the fixed contact. In this way, the fixed contact 202 can be well protected and the disengagement of the fixed contact 202 from the contact finger can be well protected.

[0071] It should be understood that the order of the above steps does not mean that the method must be performed in this order, and the order of these steps can be adjusted or performed simultaneously.

[0072] It should be understood that the above detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to illustrate or explain the principles of the present disclosure, rather than to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, any modifications, equivalent alternatives and improvements, etc. should be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure. At the same time, the attached claims of the present disclosure are intended to cover all changes and modifications that fall within the scope and boundaries of the claims or the equivalents of the scope and boundaries.

Claims

1. A contact protection assembly for a switch, the contact protection assembly comprising: a protective cover assembly (101), the protective cover assembly (101) being rotatably connected to a movable blade (201) of the switch (200), the movable blade (201) being capable of rotating about a first axis (203) of the switch (200) to change an engagement state between a contact finger (2011) of the movable blade (201) and a fixed contact (202); a second axis (103) arranged at a distance from the first axis (203); and an actuating rod (102) coupled between the protective cover assembly (101) and the second shaft (103) and configured to be rotatable about the second shaft (103) as the movable blade (201) rotates, The second axis (103) is arranged parallel to the first axis (203) so that the actuating rod (102) can push or pull the protective cover assembly (101) to rotate between a covering position and an exposing position, wherein the protective cover assembly (101) covers the contact finger (2011) in the covering position and exposes the contact finger (2011) in the exposing position.

2. The contact protection assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: A fixed protective cover (104) is arranged on the fixed contact (202) and is configured to facilitate the engagement or disengagement of the contact finger (2011) with the fixed contact (202).

3. The contact protection assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The fixed protective cover (104) at least partially encloses the fixed contact (202), and the fixed protective cover (104) comprises an opening (1041), wherein the opening (1041) is suitable for allowing the contact finger (2011) to move into the fixed protective cover (104) to engage with the fixed contact (202).

4. The contact protection assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The protective cover assembly (101) comprises: a protective cover (1011) disposed adjacent to a first side of the contact finger (2011) and adapted to cover the contact finger (2011) when the movable blade (201) is in an off position; and A follower rod (1012), the follower rod (1012) is arranged adjacent to a second side of the contact finger (2011) opposite to the first side, the follower rod (1012) includes a first end and a second end, the first end is fixedly connected to the protective cover (1011) via a connecting rod (1013) located between the contact fingers (2011), and the second end is rotatably connected to the actuating rod (102).

5. The contact protection assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The protective cover assembly (101) further comprises: a support sleeve, the support sleeve being arranged at a fixed end of the stylus (2011) adjacent to the support arm (2012) of the movable blade (201), the support sleeve being suitable for allowing the connecting rod (1013) to pass through; and A fixing block (1014), wherein the fixing block (1014) is arranged between the supporting sleeves.

6. The contact protection assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The end of the protection cover (1011) adjacent to the connecting rod (1013) has a circular shape.

7. The contact protection assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The driven rod (1012) forms a non-zero angle with respect to the extension direction (D1) of the protection cover (1011).

8. The contact protection assembly according to claim 4, wherein: In response to the movable blade (201) rotating to achieve engagement of the contact finger (2011) with the fixed contact (202), the actuating rod (102) is adapted to rotate the protective cover assembly (101) away from an insulator (204) of a disconnect switch (210), wherein the fixed contact (202) is arranged on the insulator (204) of the disconnect switch (201).

9. The contact protection assembly according to claim 8, wherein: The second shaft (103) is rotatably arranged on a support member (205), the support member (205) being arranged on a side of the movable blade (201) adjacent to the insulator (204), and The contact protection assembly (100) further comprises a universal joint (105) arranged between the actuating rod (102) and the second shaft (103) and between the actuating rod (102) and the driven rod (1012).

10. The contact protection assembly according to claim 9, wherein: The universal joint (105) comprises: a first connector coupled to the actuation rod (102) via a first fastener having left-hand threads; and A second connector is coupled to the actuation rod (102) via a second fastener having right-hand threads.

11. The contact protection assembly according to claim 9, wherein: The supporting member (205) comprises a through hole (2051) suitable for allowing the first shaft (203) to pass through.

12. The contact protection assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The fixed protective cover (104) is integrally formed of nylon material.

13. A switch comprising: A fixed contact (202), the fixed contact (202) being adapted to be arranged on an insulator (204) of a disconnector (210); a first shaft (203) disposed adjacent to a base for the insulator (204) remote from the fixed contact (202); A movable blade (201), the movable blade (201) being rotatable about the first axis (203) to change the engagement state between the contact finger (2011) of the movable blade (201) and the fixed contact (202); and A contact protection assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A method for manufacturing a contact protection assembly, comprising: A protective cover assembly (101) is provided, wherein the protective cover assembly (101) is rotatably connected to a movable blade (201) of a switch (200), wherein the movable blade (201) is rotatable about a first axis (203) of the switch to change an engagement state between a contact finger (2011) of the movable blade (201) and a fixed contact (202); providing a second axis (103), the second axis (103) being arranged at a distance from the first axis (203); and providing an actuating rod (102) coupled between the protective cover assembly (101) and the second shaft (103) and configured to be rotatable about the second shaft (103) as the movable blade (201) rotates, The second axis (103) is arranged parallel to the first axis (203) so that the actuating rod (102) can push or pull the protective cover assembly (101) to rotate between a covering position and an exposing position, and the protective cover assembly (101) covers the contact finger (2011) in the covering position and exposes the contact finger (2011) in the exposing position.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: A fixed protective cover (104) is provided, which is arranged on the fixed contact (202) and is configured to facilitate the engagement or disengagement of the contact finger (2011) with the fixed contact (202).

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