Remote drive

Abstract

A remote drive (1) according to the invention for a low-voltage protection switching device (100) has a controllable drive (20) for operating the protection switching device and an energy storage device (30) for providing the energy required for the drive. The remote drive has a measuring device (40) for measuring a current capacity value of the energy storage device and a processing device (50) for processing the measured capacity value, wherein the measured capacity value is compared with a predetermined manually settable target value. The remote drive is mechanically coupled to the low-voltage protection switching device by means of the drive means thereof in order to operate the protection switching device from a distance. A current capacity value of the energy storage device is compared with a personalized predefined target value by the measuring device in order to generate a conclusion about an aging characteristic of the energy storage device during operation in this manner. In this way, preventive maintenance work can be planned and carried out in a simplified manner.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of a patent application with an application date of June 14, 2019, Chinese patent application number 201910514492.9, and invention name “Remote Drive”. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates to a remote actuator for a low-voltage protective switchgear, such as a line or residual current protective switchgear, having a controllable drive device for operating the protective switchgear and an energy storage device for providing the energy required for the drive device. Background Art

[0003] Remote actuators enable the operation of low voltage protection switchgear from a distance. This type of low voltage protection switchgear is also known as DIN rail mounted equipment. Here, the remote actuator is mechanically coupled to the protective switch device and can be used to switch the protective switch device on and off from a distance. Such remote actuators are known in principle from the prior art, for example from German patent document DE 10216 055 B4.

[0004] For remote switching functions, the remote drive usually requires auxiliary power, the amount of which depends primarily on the type and size of the protective switchgear to be switched, because these parameters significantly affect the force required to operate the protective switchgear. Here, whether the protective switchgear to be switched is a single-pole or multi-pole protective switchgear and the friction or torque that must be overcome when operating the corresponding protective switchgear play a key role.

[0005] In order to design the remote drive as compactly as possible, a small and compact power supply is used, which is usually too weak to directly provide the power required for operating the protective switchgear. In addition, the remote drive must still be able to reliably perform its functions even when the power supply fails. Therefore, in order to provide the energy required for the functions of the remote drive, an electrical energy storage device, for example, a battery or a capacitor, is used. However, both batteries and capacitors experience aging, and their capacity decreases with the increase of life, especially when they are operated at high temperatures or are exposed to high temperatures. If the energy storage device has reached the end of its expected life, a new energy storage device is required to continue to ensure the permanent availability of the functions of the remote drive. In particular, it must not occur in systems or system components that are important for safety that the stored energy is reduced to the point where it is no longer sufficient to perform the predefined actions of the remote drive due to the aging of the energy storage device, thereby no longer ensuring the function of the remote drive. Since replacing only the energy storage device requires disassembling the remote drive and is therefore usually too costly, the entire remote drive is usually replaced on site by a technician when the minimum capacity of the energy storage device is lowered.

[0006] In addition, with regard to the design / dimensioning of the energy storage device or its capacity, it should be noted that the remote drive is designed as an independent module, which can be used in combination with a plurality of different protective switchgears. This means that, depending on the application of the remote drive, different switching processes with different loads or torques should be able to be reliably performed until the end of the service life. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative remote drive which is characterized by high reliability in variable application conditions and (over the entire life cycle) low overall costs.

[0008] This technical problem is solved by the remote drive according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments of the remote drive according to the invention are also the subject matter of the invention.

[0009] The remote driver for a low-voltage protection switchgear according to the invention comprises a controllable drive device for operating the protection switchgear and an energy storage device for providing the energy required for the drive device. In addition, the remote driver comprises a measuring device for measuring a current capacity value of the energy storage device and a processing device for processing the measured capacity value, wherein the measured capacity value is compared with a predetermined manually settable rated value.

[0010] The remote driver is used to operate a low-voltage protection switch device, such as a line protection switch or a residual current protection switch, from a distance. For this purpose, the remote driver can be mechanically coupled to the low-voltage protection switch device via a drive device. In order to provide the energy required for switching the protection switch device, the remote driver has an energy storage device, whose current capacity can be determined with the help of a measuring device. The processing device is electrically connected to the measuring device and has a logic component to compare the measured capacity value with a predefined rated value during operation. Here, the rated value can be set manually, for example, by an electrical installer. In this way, a conclusion about the aging characteristics of the energy storage device during operation can be derived by means of the device by comparing the measured actual capacity value with the set rated value. In this way, preventive maintenance work can be planned and performed more simply.

[0011] The predefined rated values ​​depend on the respective application conditions, i.e. on the installation environment of the remote drive: Depending on which type of protective switchgear the remote drive is coupled to on site during initial installation, the installer or technician selects and sets the appropriate individual rated values. The rated values ​​are therefore editable and depend primarily on the forces or, in relation to them, the torques required for switching the protective switchgear.

[0012] In an advantageous development, the remote drive has a coding switch, by means of which the setpoint value is manually set.

[0013] The coding switch can be a potentiometer, for example a slide switch or a rotary switch. So-called DIP switches or jumpers can also be used as coding switches. The electrical installer who is to make the settings should be able to easily access the setting possibilities of the corresponding coding switch. This can be achieved, for example, by an arrangement on the housing surface of the remote drive. Thus, a simple possibility for manually setting the setpoint value is provided directly on the remote drive by means of the coding switch.

[0014] In a further advantageous development, the remote driver has a communication device for outputting a communication signal when the measured capacity value deviates in a predefined manner from a predefined setpoint value.

[0015] The communication device is electrically coupled to the processing device. If the measured capacity value deviates from the set nominal value in a predefined manner, a corresponding communication signal is output by means of the communication device. With the help of this information, the current state of the energy storage device and thus the current state of the remote drive can be monitored during operation and forwarded if necessary. Preventive maintenance work can be arranged in a correspondingly simpler manner without having to check the energy storage device itself for this purpose. This significantly reduces the maintenance expenditure and the costs associated therewith.

[0016] In a further advantageous development of the remote driver, the communication signal is sent to a display element of the remote driver.

[0017] The display element can be, for example, a display or a light / LED which is arranged clearly and visibly on the front of the remote driver and is therefore easy to read or identify. The use of a display element arranged directly on the remote driver presents a simple and inexpensive possibility for outputting communication signals, which is particularly advantageous if a technician or installer is already directly on site.

[0018] In a further advantageous development of the remote drive, the communication signal is sent to a superordinate system.

[0019] The superordinate system is, for example, a control center or a control room. In this way, the current state of the energy storage device can be monitored centrally. Accordingly, preventive maintenance work can be centrally scheduled and coordinated without the technician or installer having to check the corresponding remote drive on site for this purpose.

[0020] In a further advantageous development, the remote drive has an interface for communicating with a superordinate system.

[0021] Here, the interface can be designed for wired or wireless communication with a superordinate system. In this way, the installation of the remote drive, in particular the coupling to the superordinate system, is significantly simplified. In addition, the interface can also be used to input the corresponding setpoint values ​​not directly on the device, but with the help of an editing device suitable for this purpose, which can be coupled to the communication device via the interface. Alternatively, the setpoint values ​​can also be input via a suitable operator interface in a control center or control room.

[0022] In a further advantageous development of the remote drive, the setpoint value is formed by a minimum capacity limit value, below which the communication signal is generated.

[0023] Here, the minimum capacity limit value is a capacity lower limit, which corresponds to the "worst case" at the minimum value: for remote drives that are provided for coupling to different switching devices and therefore have to implement switching processes with different loads or torques, the capacity lower limit that marks the end of life is selected so that the function can be guaranteed even in the worst case. In the past, this often led to the end of life being indicated when the installed switching device only had a small load, that is, only had a small torque required for the switching process, although the amount of energy provided was still completely sufficient to implement the switching process. When using the remote drive according to the invention, it is no longer necessary to replace the remote drive prematurely, because the installer can adapt the minimum capacity limit value to the respective existing installation environment. Therefore, for small mechanical loads coupled to the remote drive, the actual life of the energy storage device and therefore the actual life of the remote drive can be significantly extended, without compromising the high switching reliability. In addition, maintenance can also be better planned, so that redundant testing and control work can be avoided. The costs of preventive maintenance are thus significantly reduced.

[0024] In an advantageous development of the remote drive, the energy storage device is formed by a battery or a capacitor.

[0025] Storage batteries and capacitors represent possible solutions for storing the energy required for the drive. In both cases, the corresponding storage device can be charged with a small charging current so that the amount of energy required for the switching process of the remote drive is available. For this purpose, only a relatively small power supply is required, so that the remote drive can be designed as compactly as possible. In addition, by using storage batteries or capacitors, the functional capacity of the remote drive can be maintained and thus guaranteed even in the event of a network voltage interruption. This significantly improves the reliability of the remote drive and the safety of the switching device coupled to the remote drive.

[0026] In a further advantageous development, the remote drive is integrated into an existing insulating material housing of the low-voltage protection switchgear.

[0027] In a further advantageous development, the remote drive is designed as a separate module which can be connected laterally to the undervoltage protection switchgear.

[0028] The remote drive can be accommodated and held together with the protection switch device coupled to the remote drive in a common insulating material housing. However, the remote drive can also be designed modularly, that is, as an independent module with its own housing, which can be mechanically coupled to the insulating material housing of the protection switch device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The embodiments of the remote driver are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a remote driver is shown in perspective view;

[0031] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the principle structure of a remote driver;

[0032] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a remote driver coupled to a protective switchgear is shown;

[0033] Figure 4 Shown according to Figure 3 Equivalent circuit diagram of a remote driver coupled to a protective switchgear.

[0034] In the various figures of the drawings, identical parts are always provided with the same reference numerals. This description applies to all figures in which corresponding parts can be identified equally. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a remote actuator 1 is shown in a perspective view. The remote actuator 1 has an insulating material housing 2, which has a front side 4, a fixing side 5 opposite the front side 4, and a narrow side 6 and a wide side 7 connected to the front side 4 and the fixing side 5. An operating element 3 is arranged on the front side 4, which can be connected to an operating element of a protective switch device 100 by means of a mating connector 8 (see Figure 3) so that (in the coupled state) the protection switch device 100 can be operated by means of the remote driver 1. The remote driver 1 can be fixed to a support rail or DIN rail (not shown) by means of the fixing surface 5, such as it is mainly used in electrical installation distributors for device fixing. In addition, for connection with the protection switch device 100, the remote driver 1 also has two connection plates 9, which are arranged on the front side 4 in the region of the wide surface 7 and can be inserted into the socket 109 provided on the housing 102 of the protection switch device 100, so as to mechanically connect the remote driver 1 to the protection switch device 100.

[0036] exist Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the basic structure of the remote drive 1 is shown in a side view. The remote drive 1 has a drive device 20 for remotely operating the operating element 3. For this purpose, the operating element 3 is arranged protrudingly on the meshing roller 11, so that the meshing roller 11 rotates around its rotation axis 12 when the operating element 3 is operated. The meshing roller 11 has a toothing 13 on its circumference, which meshes with a gear 21 of the drive device 20. In addition, the drive device 20 also has a motor and a transmission mechanism to match the rotation speed of the motor to the required torque and thus to the mechanical load coupled to the operating element 3. For the sake of clarity, Figure 2 The motor and the transmission are not shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the drive device 20 can also be designed without a transmission, that is, the motor does not drive via one or more gear stages but acts directly on the toothing 13.

[0037] In order to apply the energy required for the drive device 20 to operate the operating element 3, the remote drive 1 also has an energy storage device 30, which is electrically connected to the drive device 20. The energy storage device 30 can be, for example, a capacitor or a battery, which stores the amount of energy required for operating the operating element 3 with the mechanical load connected thereto as a buffer memory and provides it when needed. For charging, the energy storage device 30 is electrically connected to a power supply 31. Since the power supply 31 is only used to charge the energy storage device 30 and does not have to directly and immediately provide the required amount of energy, the size of the power supply 31 can be designed to be small, so that it can be integrated in a compact insulating material housing 2, for example, in an insulating material housing 2 with a width of 2 subdivisions or even a width of 1.5 subdivisions (1TE corresponds to approximately 18 mm). The power supply 31 can be electrically connected to the mains voltage or supply voltage through two externally led wires 32.

[0038] In order to measure the current capacity value of the energy storage device 30, the remote driver has a measuring device 40 which is electrically conductively connected to the energy storage device 30. In this case, the current capacity value of the energy storage device 30 can be recorded continuously and at regular intervals or only when required. Figure 2 In the illustration of , the measuring device 40 is arranged on the circuit board 10. Here, the circuit board 10 can be an already existing circuit board of the remote drive 1, which is used, for example, for controlling and / or for enabling the remote drive 1 to communicate with a superordinate unit (e.g., a control room). However, it is not mandatory to arrange the measuring device 40 on the circuit board.

[0039] Here, the measuring device 40 is electrically conductively connected to a processing device 50 which is also arranged on the circuit board 10 via a conductor track of the circuit board 10. The processing device 50 can be, for example, a microprocessor which compares the capacity value acquired, i.e. measured, by the measuring device 40 with a predetermined nominal value and acquires a deviation between the two values. By means of a communication device 60 which is electrically conductively connected to the processing device 50, when the measured capacity value deviates from the predetermined nominal value in a predefined manner, a communication signal is generated and sent to a higher-level station, such as a control room. In this way, the higher-level station obtains information about the remaining capacity of the energy storage device 30 and thus obtains the current state of the energy storage device 30.

[0040] Here, the communication device 60 is also arranged on the printed circuit board 10 and is therefore electrically conductively connected to the processing device 50 and, if necessary, also to the measuring device 40 via the conductor paths of the printed circuit board 10. However, this is not absolutely necessary: ​​the electrical connection required for the remote drive 1 according to the invention can also be realized by the measuring device 40, the processing device 50 and the communication device 60 discretely, that is, without using the printed circuit board 10. In order to forward the communication signals, the communication device 60 has an interface 61, which can be designed as a wired and wireless, for example as a Bluetooth interface.

[0041] Figure 3 The schematic diagram of the remote driver 1 coupled to the protection switch device 100 is shown again in a perspective view. For the mechanical connection of the two devices (remote driver 1 and protection switch device 100), the wide side 7 of the remote driver 1 faces the wide side of the protection switch device 100. Figure 3The protection switch device 100 shown in is designed as a three-pole, but this is only as an example. According to the invention, the remote driver 1 can be coupled to a single-pole protection switch device as well as to a multi-pole protection switch device. As long as the engagement connector 8 to be used matches the width of the protection switch device 100 to be coupled respectively. In order to mechanically fix the remote driver 1 to the housing 102 of the protection switch device 100, the two connecting plates 9 of the remote driver 1 are inserted into the sockets 109 arranged correspondingly with respect to their positions at the front of the protection switch device 100. In this way, in addition to coupling the operating element 3 of the remote driver 1 with the operating element 103 of the protection switch device 100 by means of the engagement connector 8, an additional mechanical connection of the remote driver 1 to the protection switch device 100 is also achieved.

[0042] exist Figure 4 The schematic diagram shows the Figure 3 Equivalent circuit diagram of a remote driver 1 coupled to a protective switchgear 100. At the three-pole protective switchgear 100, three electrical connection lines L1, L2 and L3 are connected on the input side and the output side, which are respectively associated with an electrical load circuit with a respectively corresponding electrical load F1, F2 and F3. Inside the protective switchgear 100, the input connections and the output connections of the three connection lines L1, L2 and L3 are respectively connected in an electrically conductive manner via a current path guided in the protective switchgear 100. Via the switch contacts S1, S2 and S3 directly and uniquely associated with the corresponding current path, the current path can be interrupted as required, i.e. in the event of a corresponding situation, such as a short circuit, by opening the switch contacts S1, S2 and S3.

[0043] In order to operate the three switch contacts S1, S2 and S3, the protective switchgear 100 has a switching mechanism (not shown in detail), which is connected to the drive device 20 of the remote drive 1 via an operative connection 104. In this way, the three switch contacts S1, S2 and S3 can be disconnected by the remote drive in order to interrupt the current path associated with the three switch contacts S1, S2 and S3, thereby isolating the load circuits L1, L2 and L3 from the power network.

[0044] Therefore, the method for determining the current capacity value of the energy storage device 30 based on the remote drive 1 according to the invention has the following steps:

[0045] a) measure the current capacity value,

[0046] b) comparing the measured value with a predetermined setpoint value,

[0047] c) Outputting a communication signal when the measured capacity value deviates from a predefined setpoint value in a predefined manner.

[0048] In summary, the remote drive 1 according to the invention is therefore used to monitor the capacity of the energy storage device 30, from which conclusions can be drawn about the aging behavior of the energy storage device 30. For this purpose, a defined charging or discharging process of the energy storage device 30 is carried out. By measuring the voltage drop at the energy storage device 30 and the duration required for the charging or discharging process, the capacity of the energy storage device 30 can be calculated. Based on this capacity, it can now be determined whether the energy storage device is still sufficient for the current application. If this is not the case, the system consisting of the remote drive 1 and the protective switch device 100 switches to a safe operating state and signals a maintenance requirement. In this way, the energy storage device 30 can be adapted to different protective switch devices 100 coupled to the remote drive 1 and thus to different mechanical loads.

[0049] In order to achieve the longest possible service life for the remote drive in every conceivable configuration, a selection option is implemented as follows: the minimum available capacity is compared with the amount of energy actually required for the switching process. This selection can be made, for example, by an installer or technician using a suitable operating device and can also be adapted to the electrical installation in the event of changes. In this way, the longest possible service life is achieved for every combination of remote drive 1 and protective switchgear 100. In addition, the driving behavior, i.e. the combination of rotational speed and torque of the drive 20, can also be adapted to the corresponding combination by means of the selection option.

[0050] Reference numerals list

[0051] 1 Remote Drive

[0052] 2Insulating material housing

[0053] 3 Operating elements

[0054] 4 Positive

[0055] 5Fixed surface

[0056] 6 Narrow side

[0057] 7 wide noodles

[0058] 8 Engagement connector

[0059] 9 Connecting plate

[0060] 10 Circuit Board

[0061] 11 meshing roller

[0062] 12 Rotation Axis

[0063] 13 teeth

[0064] 20 drive device

[0065] 21 Gear

[0066] 30Energy storage device

[0067] 31 Power Supply

[0068] 32 wires

[0069] 40 Measuring device

[0070] 50 Processing device

[0071] 60 communication devices

[0072] 61 interfaces

[0073] 100 protection switchgear

[0074] 102 Shell

[0075] 103 operating elements

[0076] 104 valid connections

[0077] 109 socket

[0078] L1, L2, L3 connecting wires

[0079] F1, F2, F3 electrical load

[0080] S1, S2, S3 switch contacts

Claims

1. A remote driver (1) for a low-voltage protection switchgear (100), the remote driver (1) having - a controllable drive device (20) for providing the force required to operate the low-voltage protection switchgear (100), - an energy storage device (30) for providing the energy required for the drive device (20), - a measuring device (40) for measuring a current capacity value of the energy storage device (30), - a processing device (50) for processing the measured capacity value, wherein the measured capacity value is compared with a predetermined setpoint value, - an operating device, wherein the rated value is manually set to a minimum capacity of the energy storage device by means of the operating device before the low-voltage protection switch device is mechanically coupled to the remote drive, and the minimum capacity satisfies the minimum force required for mechanically operating the low-voltage protection switch device (100). 2 . The remote drive ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the remote drive has a coding switch, by means of which the setpoint value is manually set.

3. The remote driver (1) according to claim 1, wherein the remote driver has a communication device (60) for outputting a communication signal when the measured capacity value deviates from a predefined setpoint value in a predefined manner.

4. The remote driver (1) according to claim 3, wherein the communication signal is sent to a display element of the remote driver.

5. The remote drive (1) according to claim 3, wherein the communication signal is sent to a superordinate system. 6 . The remote drive ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the communication device ( 60 ) has an interface for communicating with the superordinate system.

7. Remote drive (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the rated value is formed by a minimum capacity limit value, below which the communication signal is generated.

8. The remote drive (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the energy storage device (30) is constituted by a battery or a capacitor.

9. The remote driver (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the remote driver (1) is integrated into an existing insulating material housing of a low-voltage protection switchgear (100).

10. The remote driver (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the remote driver (1) is designed as an independent module which can be laterally connected to the low-voltage protection switchgear (100).

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